Language Café

Literary device in which ultimately virtue is rewarded and vice punished. In modern literature it is often accompanied by an ironic twist of fate related to the character's own conduct.

A friend who is only there when circumstances are pleasant or profitable, but will drop you at the first sign of trouble.

Definition: Incessantly bother.Etymology: Jason, in quest for the golden fleece, encounters King Phineus, who is continually tormented by Harpies. The Harpies are winged creatures whose origins might actually represent wind spirits. To King Phineus, the Harpies are grotesque women who constantly snatch his food and drink and will not let him be.

Definition: To catch a person in the act of doing something wrong. Etymology: The first term referred to blood on a murderer's hands and originally signified only that crime. Later it was extended to any offense.

Definition:This is a lie you tell because you think its beneficial for all parties. For example it can be used to avoid hurting someone's feelings, protecting child's innocence, and passing pleasantries. Etymology:In medieval Europe, intangible things like magic or spells could be "white" or "black" depending on if they were "good" or "bad". Hence, a "white" lie is one that will harm no one.

Definition: A person who is always lucky is said to have the Midas touch.Etymology: Perhaps one of mythology's most famous tales is that of King Midas, who was granted the wish that everything he touched turned to gold. However, he soon realized that he could not eat, or drink, or even hug his daughter. Wisely, he rescinded his wish, and by immersing himself in the river Pactolus, lost the "golden touch".

【So psyched】1. I am so psyched to see you after so many years.2. The children were so psyched that they were allowed to adopt a cat.3. I am so psyched about the party tonight.Definition: To be excited or pumped up about something.Etymology: To put into the right psychological frame of mind.******激动 兴奋(的都神经了)1. I was so psyched to see Chinese swimmer Sun Yang win gold medals. But seeing him cry like a baby, Psyche! 看中国游泳健将孙杨得金牌,我超级兴奋,但看到他哭,我也不知所措起来.2. Qixi is a traditional Chinese holiday to celebrate love and needlework. On that day, Mary was so psyched to receive an embroidery from her boyfriend.七夕是歌颂爱情和女红的中国传统节日.那天,当玛丽收到男友送她的刺绣礼物时,她无比开心激动.【Fourth estate】1. President Nixon was worried the fourth estate was keeping his power in check and investigating his wiretapping.2. The fourth estate convinced the public that the war in South East Asia was unwinnable.3. Some think the fourth estate is bias against the American police force.Definition: In government there is usually an executive, a legislature and a judiciary. So the fourth estate is the media, which acts as a check and balance system.Etymology: The earliest use in this sense described by Thomas Carlyle in his book On Heroes and Hero Worship: "Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate."******新闻界 报界 舆论监督1. Social media has become the fourth estate in exposing corruptions. 社交媒体已经成为揭露贪污腐败的舆论监督平台.2. Usually it's the fourth estate to bear the blame if there is a rift between facts provided by the police and the victim. 当警察和受害者提供的事实有不同时,人们总把矛头指向媒体报道的不实. 【Outfox】1. Don't get outfoxed by that femme fatale, she will seduce you and leave you in ruins.2. The General did not want to admit that he got outfoxed by his enemy.3. The entire TV series House of Cards is about Frank outfoxing people.Definition: To outsmart or outmaneuver.Etymology: Foxes are considered cunning.******算计 比...更狡猾1. There is no way for the smart and capable Monkey King to outfox the Buddha. 孙悟空再聪明能干也算计不过如来佛.2. Allowing small children to outfox their mom is such a disappointing thing. Mothers should learn and grow at the same time with their kids.允许小孩子们比母亲更聪明其实是令人遗憾的事,妈妈们应该和孩子一起学习成长.

#Strong suit# 强项After failing to drive a manual car, Elliot's dad concluded driving wasn't his strong suit.After charming many women at the party, it was clear that women were Mike's strong suit.After singing at Karaoke, people realized that singing was Thomas's strong suit.Definition: StrengthsEtymology: From the card game bridge, where your strongest cards are all in one suit (heart, club, spade and diamond).******强项Making public speeches is his strong suit and he also loves to serve the community. So he decided to run for neighborhood committee chief. 演讲是他的强项,他又热爱服务社区.所以,他决定竞选当居委会主任.Communication is not his strong suit. We need to find him a quiet desk job. 沟通不是他的强项,我们需要给他找一份清净的工作.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx# On the rebound # 恢复(元气)反弹Jane was on the rebound after the divorce by dating a rebound guy.Wall Street is on the rebound a day after stock prices plunged to new lows.Community basketball is a sign that the poor community was on the rebound.Definition: Reacting to or recovering from an unhappy experience, especially the end of a love affair.Etymology: This metaphoric term, alluding to a basketball bouncing back, has been used in the present sense since the mid-1800s.******恢复(元气)反弹He is on the rebound after the car accident. 车祸后,他逐渐恢复了元气.The mother's encouraging attitude helped the depressed girl get on the rebound.妈妈的鼓励态度帮助女儿从低落的情绪中走出来.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxDouble whammy 祸不单行 双重打击 雪上加霜Critics claim that the cuts in public spending coupled with a pay freeze is a double whammy which will affect low-paid workers badly.Sending people to jail for small offenses, like not paying parking tickets, is a double whammy, since prisoners cost a lot, and the convict will have difficulty finding work afterwards.Smoking is a double whammy because it is bad for your health and it is expensive.Definition: A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or when two setbacks occur at the same time.Etymology: "Wham" is a forceful, resounding blow.******祸不单行 双重打击 雪上加霜She got stuck in the war-torn country in her visit and had to postpone her study in college. It's a double whammy! 她被滞留在那个战乱的国家,还因此不得不推迟学业,真是祸不单行啊.It's a double whammy for the TV station to see its budget being reduced and people quitting one after another. 电视台遇上预算削减,再加上不断有人辞职,真是雪上加霜.

Get out of hand 失控Things got out of hand at the party, and three windows were broken.The President was forced to arrest some gangsters, after organized crime in the country was getting out of hand.Martin hired a dog whisperer after his pet dog's attacks on the post man were getting out of hand.Definition: If a situation gets out of hand, it cannot be controlled any moreEtymology: Refers to how the problem is out of your hand's reach.******失控Many parents are afraid that their children will get out of hand when studying overseas. So they call them every day to check in on them. 许多家长怕孩子在国外学习失控,就天天打电话查他们.If we ignore small mistakes, they will grow into big ones and once they get out of hand, we won't be able to fix them. 小洞不补,会成大洞,大洞一旦失控, 将根本无法修补.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOn the rocks 触礁 搁浅 遇到危机That bank is on the rocks. Don't deposit your money in it.Kelvin's marriage was on the rocks after only 3 months.His financial state was on the rocks because he had too much student loan debt.Definition: In a state of ruin or bankruptcy.Etymology: This expression, alluding to a ship running aground on rocks and breaking apart, has been used figuratively for other disasters since the late 1800s.******触礁 搁浅 遇到危机The two companies' relationship was on the rocks. They need to find someone to help thaw the tension. 这两家公司的关系遭遇危机(变得很僵),很需要有人来帮助化解.If the world economy is on the rocks, China's economy will inevitably be affected. 世界经济如果触礁,中国经济势必受影响.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxUp the ante 提价 提高门槛 加大难度(投入)By adding new scanners, the TSA is upping the ante for smugglers.The club owner is upping the ante for nightclub entertainment by introducing new talented performers.Nicole upped the ante on the poker game, by raising it to a $100 buy-in.Definition: To raise the cost or risk of an activity.Etymology: Based on the literal meaning of up the ante: to increase the amount of money each person must risk in a card game or other activity involving the risk of losing money.******提价 提高门槛 加大难度(投入)Many people are complaining that some western countries have upped the ante for immigration. 许多人抱怨有些西方国家提高了申请移民的门槛.The real estate developer upped the ante by building more apartments in a country with a housing bubble. 在房地产市场泡沫中,房地产开发商依然加大力度建造公寓.

Grasp at straws 抓(救命)稻草 想方设法 有病乱投医Mark was grasping at straws to come up with a reason to convince his girlfriend to stay.John could not answer the teacher's question, and was just grasping at straws.Caitlin was grasping at straws looking for her backup tapes.Definition: To make a futile attempt at something.Etymology: Derived from how straws are flimsy.******抓(救命)稻草 想方设法 有病乱投医Someone told him that his old house would soon be demolished. Since then he has been grasping at straws to stop it. 自从有人告诉他他家的老房子很快要被拆,他想方设法地想要阻止它.A girl fainted in the subway train and her friend was grasping at straws by shouting for help. 女孩在地铁车厢里晕倒,女孩的朋友为她拼命求救. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPush comes to shoveWhen push came to shove the President decided to intervene and provide free vaccinations to vulnerable children, and ignore anti-Vax parents.If push comes to shove you need to buy a new car to replace that clunker.It is only when push comes to shove you know who your real friends are.Definition: Refers to something that can be done if the situation becomes so bad that you must do it.Etymology: Pushing someone may nudge them, shoving them may cause them to fall to the ground.******事态恶化 变得糟糕For the time being, the leaking fridge is still functioning. But if push comes to shove, we need to buy a new one.目前冰箱有些小漏,暂时还能凑合用.不过一旦变得更糟,我们就该买新的了.Chinese currency keeps depreciating, when push comes to shove, we will have to consider buying some US dollars for future travels. 人民币一直在贬值,但要是继续这么贬值下去,情况不利,我们就该考虑买些美金以备今后旅行用. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxTake under one's wingHaymish will usually take the new student's under his wing at the boarding school.Everyone who lost their homes during the fire was taken under the wing by the charity organization.Alan Turing took many crossword puzzle specialists under his wing.Definition: To help and protect someone, especially someone who is younger than you or has less experience than you.Etymology: Based on the idea of a bird that protects its babies by spreading its wings over them.******保护 庇护 罩着It is man's instinct to take women he loves under his wing. But nowadays many women are taking men under their wing. 男人的本能是保护他爱的女人,但当今社会反倒是许多女人在保护男人.It's ok to take your students under your wing, but don't keep them there for too long, otherwise they will forget how to fly on their own. 你可以保护你的学生,但不要庇护他们太久,否则他们会忘了怎样独立飞行的.No worry! I will take you under my wing. 别担心!我会罩着你的.