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Dictionary.com词典新添词汇

时间:2017-04-24 23:22来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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Welcome to another edition of Words to the Wise!

Languages, as you all know, are always changing. Last month, we learned about some new words that the American dictionary Merriam-Webster added to its online dictionary. They included conversational1 words like “photobomb” and “binge-watch,” along with scientific words like propopagnosia.

Dictionary.com also announced it added new words to its online search system -- 300 of them to be exact. I have Anne Ball here with me in the Learning English studio. And we are going to explain and discuss some of these new additions. Hi, Anne.

Hey, Ashley.

So, Anne, I know you looked into some of Dictionary.com’s new word choices. What can you tell us about them?

Well, first, I can tell you that I can’t tell you about some of the new words because they are...inappropriate to talk about on the air.

Uh oh! Well, let’s only talk about the ones that are appropriate, or okay, for broadcast!

Well, of course. So, there are a lot of them. It would take a lot of effort and time to learn them all. You may feel like you are on the struggle bus if you try to study all of these new words at once!

Struggle bus? Are you describing a vehicle that is having trouble operating, or is this one of those new expressions?

Well, you've got that right, you guessed it! It’s one of Dictionary.com’s new entries. “Struggle bus” is a slang expression. It describes a situation that seems difficult or frustrating2 -- such as trying to learn 300 new words all at one time!

That would be difficult. You know, I feel like I am on the struggle bus today. It is probably because I didn’t eat breakfast.

Oh! Are you serious? You didn't eat breakfast? Well, what you need now is a superfood. That is another of Dictionary.com’s new words.

Superfood? That sounds like you might need to put a superhero’s cape3 on your dinner table!

Well, not exactly! A superfood is any food that has a lot of vitamins and nutrients4. It is very good for your health and helps your immune system. Some superfoods are kale, blueberries, and pomegranates. They're all delicious. And eating superfoods could help you “slay5” the day.

Help me slay? That sounds a bit violent, Anne.

Well, yes. To “slay” literally6 means “to kill by violence.” But, as a slang expression, “slay” means “to impress,” or to do well and be successful.

I have actually heard that one before. People say it when someone says something really funny, too. For example, you might say “your joke slayed me!”

Yep! And, you know, if someone has a smart, or just really funny, response to someone, they might use another one of Dictionary.com’s new phrases -- “mic drop!”

Okay. So “mic” is short for microphone, right?

Yes. A “mic drop,” signals the end of a winning performance or even a statement. It means nothing can top -- or better -- what was just said or done.

Okay, so often it is done as a gesture, right?

Uh-huh.

A person will hold their hand out and pretend they're dropping a mic, or microphone. I remember former President Barack Obama did it at the end of an informal and funny speech he gave at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

I remember that. That’s right. And the origin goes back to the 1980s. Competitive rap artists would drop the mic when they believed they had won the rap contest. And comedians7, people who tell jokes, also would sometimes drop the mic at the end of a performance. [It's] kind of like saying, "I'm done."

Yeah, of a really good performance, probably. Well, so “mic drop” shows a lot of confidence.

Exactly. But a “mic drop” could lead to a smackdown.

Again with this violence! I have heard "smackdown” used to describe a fight or physical contest -- like a wrestling competition.

The verb “smack” does mean to hit someone or something with a lot of force. It kind of makes a sound, like [that.] But as a slang expression, a smackdown means a sharply critical comment. It might be hurtful to someone, or at least hurt their image!

So, it might be something you hear in American politics...

Oh, especially in the last election, definitely. In fact, a lot of the exchanges that President Trump8 and his then-rival Hillary Clinton had during those presidential debates that we all watched, were described by some people as a “smackdown.”

Okay. I remember those well! Well, Anne, maybe we should end this Words to the Wise here, before one of us slays9 the other with a smackdown!

Oh, good one!

Maybe even a mic drop, right?

Wow. You may have seemed like you were on the struggle bus during this lesson, but you were definitely learning and paying attention!

Words in This Story

inappropriate - adj. not right or suited for some purpose or situation

struggle bus - slang. a situation, task, etc., that seems difficult or frustrating

frustrating - adj. causing feelings of annoyance10 or anger

superfood - n. a food considered very good for one’s health

slay - slang. to impress strongly, often by humor

mic drop - slang. 1) something, especially a statement or action, that displays confidence;2) the act of intentionally11 dropping one’s microphone at the end of aspeech or performance, displaying a bold confidence that it has been very impressive or cannot be topped.?

smackdown - slang. a severe criticism or defeat


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 conversational SZ2yH     
adj.对话的,会话的
参考例句:
  • The article is written in a conversational style.该文是以对话的形式写成的。
  • She values herself on her conversational powers.她常夸耀自己的能言善辩。
2 frustrating is9z54     
adj.产生挫折的,使人沮丧的,令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 );挫败;使受挫折;令人沮丧
参考例句:
  • It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间,真令人懊恼。
  • It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
4 nutrients 6a1e1ed248a3ac49744c39cc962fb607     
n.(食品或化学品)营养物,营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
  • Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 slay 1EtzI     
v.杀死,宰杀,杀戮
参考例句:
  • He intended to slay his father's murderer.他意图杀死杀父仇人。
  • She has ordered me to slay you.她命令我把你杀了。
6 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实
参考例句:
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
7 comedians efcac24154f4452751c4385767145187     
n.喜剧演员,丑角( comedian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The voice was rich, lordly, Harvardish, like all the boring radio comedians'imitations. 声音浑厚、威严,俨然是哈佛出身的气派,就跟无线电里所有的滑稽演员叫人已经听腻的模仿完全一样。 来自辞典例句
  • He distracted them by joking and imitating movie and radio comedians. 他用开玩笑的方法或者模仿电影及广播中的滑稽演员来对付他们。 来自辞典例句
8 trump LU1zK     
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭
参考例句:
  • He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
  • The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手,作为他的王牌。
9 slays c2d8e586f5ae371c0a4194e3df39481c     
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • No other infection so quickly slays. 再没有别的疾病会造成如此迅速的死亡。
  • That clown just slays me. 那小丑真叫我笑死了。
10 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
参考例句:
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
11 intentionally 7qOzFn     
ad.故意地,有意地
参考例句:
  • I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
  • The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所,因此没有资格再获得提供住房。
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