word-a-day：：

esteem敬重（名詞）

（noun） A favorable opinion of a person， often mixed with a feeling of admiration and warm regard. （NOTE： also used as verb meaning “to hold in high regard.”）

EXAMPLE： Our companys modest boss is both friendly and intelligent， so the other employees and I all hold her in great esteem.

我們公司的老板謙虛，既友善又聰明，其他員工和我都對她高度尊敬。

gleanings 1.搜集來的信息（名詞）；2.落穗（名詞）

1. （noun） Small amounts of information gathered bit by bit over time.

EXAMPLE： Great scienti？ic studies often result from the gleanings of many patient researchers.

出色的科學報告經(jīng)常來自眾多耐心的科研人員所搜集來的信息。

2. （noun） Small but useful bits of grain left in a ？ield after a harvest.

EXAMPLE： After gathering their annual crop， the farmers were able to feed their livestock with the gleanings that remained.

在收集了每年的莊稼之后，農(nóng)民們可以將余下的散落麥穗用來喂牲口。

holdup 1.搶劫（名詞）；2.障礙（名詞）

1. （noun） A face-to-face robbery occurring in a speci？ic location， such as a bank， that involves the intimidation of a group， such as bank customers.

EXAMPLE： Our bank maintains strong security， and has not experienced a holdup in over ？ifty years.

我們銀行的安保措施很嚴密，50多年來從未遭遇過搶劫。

2. （noun） Anything that blocks or delays a process.

EXAMPLE： The factory manager has just discovered a serious holdup that often delayed production， and wants to ？ix it immediately.

工廠經(jīng)理剛發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個經(jīng)常拖延生產(chǎn)的嚴重阻礙，他要立即修復(fù)它。

luncheonette小餐館（名詞）

（noun） A small restaurant open for breakfast and lunch only， usually offering quick service and simple food at low prices.

EXAMPLE： Because we usually dont have a lot of time， my coworkers and I often like to eat lunch in the luncheonette across the street from our o？ice.

由于我們通常沒有多少時間，同事和我經(jīng)常喜歡去辦公室所在那條街對面的小餐館吃午餐。

moviegoer電影迷（名詞）

（noun） Someone who enjoys going to movie theaters frequently.

EXAMPLE： Im an avid moviegoer， and try to go see a couple new movies every month.

我是一名狂熱的電影愛好者，每個月都要去電影院看一兩部新電影。

phrase-a-day：

cow someone into something威脅某人做某事

To intimidate someone into a certain behavior； to frighten by making threats.

EXAMPLE： My ferocious aunt often cows her timid husband into buying her expensive clothing and jewelry they cannot afford.

我的兇猛的姑媽通常威脅她的膽怯的丈夫，給她買他們難以負擔的昂貴衣服和珠寶。crocodile tears鱷魚的眼淚，虛情假意（成語）

（IDIOM） Any expression of false， insincere sorrow， usually as a way of hiding ones secret joy at someone elses misfortune.

EXAMPLE： My jealous cousin wept crocodile tears when her sisters handsome boyfriend broke up with her.

當她聽到姐姐和帥男友分了手，我那充滿嫉妒的表姐假意悲傷。

have one foot in the grave垂老之人

Describing someone as elderly and probably useless. （NOTE： impolite but common humorous expression）

EXAMPLE： “To grow and prosper， our company needs young and enthusiastic new managers with fresh ideas，” our elderly president joked， “instead of old people like me with one foot in the grave.”

我們的老總裁開玩笑說：“為了增長和繁榮，我們公司需要年輕、有熱情、能夠提供新點子的新經(jīng)理人，而不是像我這樣的垂老之人?！?/p>

long face不愉快的臉色

A sad and miserable facial expression.

EXAMPLE： When my brother returned home from the basketball championship game with a long face， I knew right away that his favorite team had lost.

我弟弟看完籃球總決賽后回家，一臉不愉快，我立即明白，他最喜歡的球隊輸了球。

nooks and crannies隱匿處（傳統(tǒng)詞組）

（TRADITIONAL COLLOCATION） Small， sometimes hidden places， or parts of something， in which it may often be di？icult to ？ind something.

EXAMPLE： After our grandfather died， we looked in all the nooks and crannies of his huge old house， but we were unable to ？ind the album of old photographs he often talked about.

我們祖父去世后，我們查找了他的大房子的各個角落，但是未能找到他經(jīng)常提及的老照片相冊。

to back off后撤

To retreat from a situation in order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation.

EXAMPLE： My two brothers often argue at family gatherings， but my sister prefers to back off.

我的兩個兄弟經(jīng)常在家庭聚會上吵架，但我妹妹喜歡選擇退后。