【英语时差8，16】唇膏上瘾

 Is lip balm addictive²? That's the question Yael and Don discuss on this Moment of Science.   Y: I am a lip balm addict¹. Sometimes I catch myself applying some of this stuff just ten minutes or so after applying it the last time. I don't even know I'm doing it.

D: I don't think you're really addicted³ to lip balm. True addictions⁴ involve serious withdrawal⁵ symptoms. If you quit using lip balm, however, chances are you would be uncomfortable for a little while, but you'd adapt and get over your lip balm fixation. After all, our lips, if left alone, and unlicked, can stay moist on their own.

Y: I don't know about all that. I'm sure I'd freak out without my lip balm.

D: A lot of people feel addicted to lip balm, Yael, but there are reasons behind this. For instance, a lot of lip balms actually contain ingredients that are drying to lips. At the same time, these same ingredients are often what give lip balms that tingling⁶ sensation which makes us think they are doing good things for our lips. So we find ourselves reapplying to get that tingle⁷ which in turn dries out our lips, making us think we need another fix. Also, flavored lip balms can encourage us to lick our lips, which also dries them out, making us reapply the lip balm.

Y: What do I do?

D: Read labels and follow directions. Lip balm can be very helpful in replacing lost moisture in cold and windy weather. Medicated lip balms can help heal severely⁸ chapped lips. However, most lip balms are designed for limited use, not for every day. If you think you're using lip balm too much you might try to wean yourself off slowly.  

1 addict   

v.使沉溺；使上瘾；n.沉溺于不良嗜好的人

参考例句：

• He became gambling addict,and lost all his possessions.他习染上了赌博，最终输掉了全部家产。
• He assisted a drug addict to escape from drug but failed firstly.一开始他帮助一个吸毒者戒毒但失败了。

2 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

3 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

4 addictions   

瘾( addiction的名词复数 )； 吸毒成瘾； 沉溺； 癖好

参考例句：

• He has removed the stigma of drug addictions. 他已经洗去吸毒的污点了。
• Intelligent people are good at using reason to control excessive addictions. 智慧的人善于用理性来控制过度的嗜欲。

5 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

6 tingling   

v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 tingle   

vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动

参考例句：

• The music made my blood tingle.那音乐使我热血沸腾。
• The cold caused a tingle in my fingers.严寒使我的手指有刺痛感。

8 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。