#英语笃学# Words&Phrases

1

breakthrough

: an important development that may lead to an agreement or achievement.

n.突破，突破性进展，重要的新发现

After working through a lot of problems, he finally had a breakthrough to succeed.

解决了许多问题之后，他终于有了突破性进展。

2

outlet

: a pipe or hole through which liquid or gas can flow out

n.出口；表现机会，发泄方法。

Water came out of the wall through several outlets.

水从墙上的几个出口排了出来。

3

cast off

:（formal）to get rid of something because you no longer want or need it

v. 抛弃，丢弃；解缆放船

They cast off their old furniture.

他们丢弃了旧家具。

4

boil down to

: get down to；to have (something)as the main or basic part

v.归结起来，问题是

Most of my problems boil down to not having enough money.

我大多数的问题归结起来就是缺钱。

5

clear the air

: dispel differences or negative emotions

v.消除误会

They cleared the air, talking about their problems, and became friends again.

他们消除误会，直言不讳，重新成为了朋友。

6

deliberate

: done on purpose rather than by accident

adj.故意的；深思熟虑的；从容不迫的；

v.仔细考虑；研讨

Your making me fall wasn't an accident - it was deliberate!

你害我跌倒不是意外，牛久是故意的。

7

spiral

: a shape or design, consisting of a continuous curved line that winds around a central point, with each curve further away from the centre

adj.螺旋的；n. 螺旋，螺线；v.不断急剧地上升或下降，螺旋形行进

I love walking up the spiral staircase.

我喜欢走螺旋形楼梯。

8

precipitate

: to suddenly force somebody/something into a particular state or condition

adj.突如其来的，仓促的，迅猛的；

v.【气象】凝结；促成；使...沉淀，猛摔；

n.沉淀物，冷凝物

They did not expect the rain to be precipitate as quickly as it did.

他们没料到这雨下得如此突然。