英音 /ˈʃɔːtˌkʌm.ɪŋ/

美音 /ˈʃɔːrtˌkʌm.ɪŋ/

(noun, C, usually plural) a fault or a failure to reach a particular standard
（可数名词，常用复数形式shortcomings）缺点，短处，弱点

例句：

1. Whatever his shortcomings as a husband, he was a good father to his children. 不管作为一个丈夫他有何缺点，他却是孩子们的好父亲。

2. Like any political system, it has its shortcomings. 和任何政治体制一样，它也有不足之处。

3. Marriages usually break down as a result of the shortcomings of both partners. 婚姻常因为配偶双方的缺点而破裂。

4. She poked fun at people’s shortcomings. 她拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

5. I recognize my own shortcomings. 我承认自己的缺点。

比喻一起经历过困难的朋友，也就是我们常说的“死党”。

英音 /kəmˈpeə(r)/ /ˈfeɪ.v(ə)r.ə.bli/
美音 /kəmˈper/ /ˈfeɪ.vɚ.ə.bli/

If something compares favourably with something else, it is better than it.
比起…来要好，比得过…

The hotel certainly compared favourably with the one we stayed in last year. 这家酒店当然比我们去年住的那家要好。

The city compares favorably with other parts of Brazil. 这个城市比巴西的其它地方好。

You’ll see that our offer compares favorably with the quotations you can get elsewhere.你会发现我们的报价比你在别处拿到的报价要便宜。

英音 /tɪə(r)/

美音 /tɪr/

(noun,C) one of several layers or levels
（可数名词）（多层、多层次中的）一层

We sat in one of the upper tiers of the football stands.我们坐在足球场看台的上层位置。

My wedding cake had four tiers, each supported by small pillars. 我的结婚蛋糕有4层，每层都由小柱子撑着。

I don’t understand why you think we need yet another tier of management. 我不明白你为什么认为我们还需要一个管理层级。

英音 /ˌsɜː.kəmˈvent/

美音 /ˌsɝː.kəmˈvent/

(vt, formal) to avoid something, especially cleverly or illegally
（及物动词，正式用语）（尤指巧妙或非法地）逃避，规避，绕过

Ships were registered abroad to circumvent employment and safety regulations. 船只在外国注册以规避雇用及安全规定。

They found a way of circumventing the law. 他们找到了规避法律的途径。

Military planners tried to circumvent the treaty. 军事策略家们企图绕开这一条约。

Roosevelt occasionally attempted to circumvent him. 罗斯福偶尔会试图避开他。

They opened an office abroad in order to circumvent the tax laws. 他们在外国开设了一个办事处，以避开税法。

The theory: Effective time management keeps you on track, circumventing stress. 研究认为，有效的时间管理使你井井有条，远离压力。

Hard commodities played the role of money to circumvent capital controls. 硬商品发挥了规避资本管制的作用。

Load balancing strategy data generated by the program data can circumvent these shortcomings. 通过程序生成负载均衡策略数据可以规避这些缺点。

To take effective measures to circumvent and defuse financial risks is very important. 有效地采取措施来规避和化解财务风险是非常重要的。

People who use drugs to circumvent serious emotional difficulties are choosing avoidance. 选择用药物来回避烦恼的人就是在选择逃避。

There are many ways for urban and rural residents to circumvent birth restrictions. 城乡居民有很多办法可以绕开生育限制规定。

Index number problem is a barrier which can’t be circumvented in these studies. 指数基准问题是横亘其中一道绕不过去的坎。

Although Account Maintenance Checks are conducted regularly, we encourage you to keep track of the domains you have listed for sale with Sedo. This will circumvent domains being removed automatically without your knowledge from our marketplace moving forward. 虽然定期进行账户维护检查，但我们鼓励您跟踪您在Sedo中列出的待售域名。这将避免以后您的域名被自动从我们的市场中删除而您自己还不知情。

to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone
经常出入（某场所）；（与某人）厮混

hang out clothes 晾晒衣服
hang out a white flag 悬挂白旗（投降）

You still hang out at the pool hall?
你仍然经常出没于台球厅吗？

I’ve been hanging out backstage with the band.
我一直在后台与乐队混在一起。

We used to hang out at the mall a lot.
我们过去经常去商场闲逛。

They spent the whole day hanging out by the pool.
I don’t know why he hangs out with James, they’ve got nothing in common.
Haven’t you got anything better to do than hang out at the shopping centre?
They enjoyed hanging out with each other when they were kids.

something that you dislike at first, but that you start to like after you have tried it a few times
后天养成的嗜好；假以时日并多次尝试而喜欢上的东西

Olives are an acquired taste.
橄榄这种东西吃得多就爱吃了。

Living alone is an acquired taste.
独处是一种修得的境界。

And let’s face it, you are an acquired taste
而实事求是的来说，你并不是那种人见人爱的类型。

For many people, her dry humor is an acquired taste.
很多人是慢慢才喜欢上她的冷面幽默的。

Let’s just say it’s an acquired taste.
我想这是一种后天养成的习惯。

Broad beans are very much an acquired taste
要慢慢适应才能吃得惯蚕豆。

a party for a woman who is going to have a baby soon, when she is given presents for her baby
（为即将分娩的女子举行聚会并送上给孩子礼物的）迎婴聚会

When a baby is on the way, the parents aren’t the only ones that get excited. Odds are that the future grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, and other loved ones will also be eager to welcome the newest member of the family. A baby shower is one of the most traditional ways in which your loved ones come together to express their joy at your pregnancy. It’s a time for friends and family to share time with the expectant parents and to “shower” them with gifts, love, and good wishes before the birth. 

Sally plans to throw a baby shower for her friend.
萨丽计划为朋友举行一个迎婴聚会。

I’m looking for a place to have my sister’s baby shower.
我正在找地方给姐姐举行一个迎婴聚会。

I’m cleaning the house before my baby shower tomorrow.
我正在为明天举办迎婴派对打扫房子。

Baby shower gifts filled her apartment.
迎婴派对礼物塞满了她的公寓。

Stella McCartney hosted what must have been the most fashionable baby shower ever.
斯特拉·麦卡特尼举办了一场一定是有史以来最时尚的迎婴派对。

在美国各式各样的派对当中，Baby Shower当属最温馨可爱的一种。名为Baby Shower，却不是给婴儿沐浴，而是给准妈妈的一场“物浴”和“灵浴”：在婴儿预产期的前一两个月内，准妈妈的女性好友将准妈妈的女朋友们、女同事们、女亲戚们召集起来，共同把祝福、忠告、礼物连同幽默洒向准妈妈，为的是帮助她做好物质和精神上的双重准备。在这样一个全然女性的喜庆世界里，总是友情浓浓、脂粉气香香、欢笑声阵阵。

Baby Shower的由来已久，早在美国殖民地时代，妇女们就聚集在准妈妈的家中，一边缝制婴儿衣服、裁剪尿片，一边传授育儿经。在商品发达的今天，婴儿用品应有尽有，凡想得到的都买得到。大家都带着精心选购的礼物来到派对的场所，或是主办人的家中，或是公司里，或是教堂内。即将出世的宝宝若是个男孩，那么房间布置会是蓝色调；若是个女孩，则是粉色调。房内最宽大舒适的椅子一定是准妈妈的“宝座”， 椅子上还会系着一串蓝色气球，粉色气球。

送礼物玩游戏 准妈妈心欢喜

头胎的准妈妈一般得到的礼物比较丰厚。从零开始，当然需要较多的帮助。记得我的一位洋亲戚的Shower甚是隆重，姐妹们对这位怀第一胎的准妈妈都非常慷慨，送的仅是衣物就足够让宝宝穿上半年，众人开玩笑说要给这宝宝办时装秀了。此外还有婴儿房装饰品、小床用品、沐浴用品、尿片、玩具等等琳琅满目的礼品。而我两周后参加的一位朋友的Shower则低调多了，大家只是送给她一些婴儿衣物，因她已是第三胎的准妈妈,家里有了不少婴儿用品的积累，朋友们聚在一起主要为庆贺和聊天。

崇尚幽默的美国人当然会趁机在派对上搞笑逗乐，其实也是为准妈妈洗“躁”。对于将为人母一职，准妈妈们哪个不是又喜悦又焦躁？派对上的游戏给她们一个放松的机会。比如，让来宾们用婴儿奶瓶喝饮料，看谁喝得最快。这样一个大人喝奶嘴的场面不让人喷笑才怪！给“冠军”颁奖一个小围兜，又会引发一阵笑声。再如，把不同的巧克力各涂在一张新尿片上，看谁最有本事闻得出巧克力的种类。如此形似的尿片，有人见了都会掩鼻。巧克力爱好者们则不惜竞鼻，赢了有巧克力犒劳呢。

an arm and a leg（俚语）一大笔钱，昂贵的代价，经常与charge/cost/spend/pay等动词连用，表示收费贵/花费很多钱。

1. He’s a very good plastic surgeon. Plus, he’s fresh out of medical school, so he won’t charge you an arm and a leg like others usually do.
他是个非常出色的整形医生。而且他刚从医学院毕业，不会像其他老资格的同行那样收过高的费用。

2. You must have spent an arm and a leg!
你肯定是付出了昂贵的代价！

3. I’m sick of paying rent in this town because it costs an arm and a leg!
我讨厌在这个镇上付房租，因为太贵了!

4. These resort hotels charge an arm and a leg for a decent meal.
这些度假酒店吃顿像样的饭都要花很多钱。

5. This ring cost me an arm and a leg. I’m gonna pop the question to Mary. Wish me luck!
这个戒指花费了我很多钱。我要向玛丽求婚！ 祝我好运！

6. Fixing the car is going to cost an arm and a leg. Why don’t you buy a used car?
修车是要很多钱的。你为什么不买一辆二手车呢？

7. Hey, your new car is really worth an arm and a leg！
嘿，你的新车真的很值钱呐！