Week 2 day 1: to the point

英语词汇
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1

Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was named “Silent Cal” by reporters because of his
laconic speech. One Sunday, after Mr. Coolidge had listened to an interminable sermon, a
throng of newsmen gathered around him. An intrepid reporter accosted the Chief Executive:
“Mr. President, we know that the sermon was on the topic of sin. What did the minister say?”
“He was against it,” the reticent Coolidge replied.

朗读视频：01.1100 Words you need to know - Week2 Day1 - To the point_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

2

sermon

词性：n.
音标： [ˈsɜːrmən]
释义：布道; 讲道; 讲道文章; 一大通教训；冗长的讲话

A sermon is a speech, usually religious in nature, given by a priest, preacher, rabbi, or other religious leader as part of a service.

Although most sermons focus on Bible passages, you can use the word sermon more generally to refer to any speech that contains a moral lesson. Sports coaches are known to deliver moving sermons, as are teachers and camp counselors. But if you come in late, after missing your curfew, the last thing you want to hear is a sermon by your mom on the importance of keeping your word.


That sermon really inspired me.


I’m not here to listen to a sermon.

3

throng

词性：n. v.
音标： [θrɔːŋ]
释义：人群，大群人，众多；蜂拥而至; 挤满

A throng is a crowd of people or animals. On the crowded platform, the throng of passengers attempted to push their way into the already overcrowded subway car.

When used as a noun, throng means a tightly packed crowd of people or animals. As a verb, it means to push together or squeeze into an area. The science fiction movie fans thronged into the auditorium when they heard their favorite actor had entered the building. The word comes to us from the Middle English term meaning “push” or “force one’s way,” which is exactly what you’d have to do if you got stuck inside a throng of people.


I take her hand, lead her through a gyrating throng.

4

accost

词性：n. v.
音标： [əˈkɔːst]
释义：走过去跟…讲话; 跟…搭讪; （乞丐等）上前向…乞讨; （妓女等）勾搭，勾引，引诱

To accost is to approach someone aggressively or confront them in an inappropriate way.

Accost describes a confrontation — one that’s often aggressive in nature. You’re likely to be accosted by angry picketers if you wear your finest fur coat to a march against animal cruelty. The paparazzi make their living by accosting celebrities, pushing in close to snap candid photos as the stars leave their limos.


And I’m accosted by two prostitutes.


Did Santa Claus accost you in the bathroom?


We need you to accost anyone who stops to talk to a child or a young woman, anyone who stops to talk to any stranger at all.


My sister, Pamela, she was just recently accosted by one of those black coons.


A decent woman gets accosted on our streets and there’s not a man here with the courage to say a thing!


I mean, some creepy girl accosting you like you’re some kind of charity.

5

reticent

词性：adj.
音标： [ˈrɛtɪsənt]
释义：寡言少语的; 有保留的; 含蓄的; 谨慎的; 沉默的

Reticent means either quiet or restrained. If you’re reticent about your feelings, you like to keep them to yourself, and you’re probably quiet in rowdy groups where everyone is talking over each other.

The original meaning of reticent describes someone who doesn’t like to talk. Be careful in your context, however. Reticent can refer to someone who is restrained and formal, but it can also refer to someone who doesn’t want to draw attention to herself or who prefers seclusion to other people. Don’t confuse reticent with reluctant, which means unwilling.


Humans are very reticent to torture each other.


You know what happens the first time. People are a little shy, a little reticent.


my government is extremely reticent… to engage in military action.


I understand a certain baseline level of nervousness, you’re about to say something that you know people are going to think you’re crazy and of course, that’ll make you nervous and reticent.


Because of my reticence, they assumed I was stupid.

6

the sword of Damocles—any imminent danger (a king seated one of his subjects
underneath a sword that was hanging by a hair, in order to teach him the dangers a
king faces)
Although the president of the company seemed quite secure, he always complained that
there was a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

达摩克利斯是公元前4世纪意大利叙拉古的僭主狄奥尼修斯二世的朝臣，他非常喜欢奉承狄奥尼修斯。他奉承道：狄奥尼修斯实在很幸运，能拥有这样至高的权力和威信。狄奥尼修斯提议与他交换一天的身份，那他就可以尝到作为首领的滋味。在晚上举行的宴会里，达摩克利斯非常享受成为国王的感觉。当晚餐快结束的时候，他抬头才注意到王位上方仅用一根马鬃悬挂着的利剑。因为狄奥尼修斯在他的统治下树敌许多，他以此剑表示，即使拥有如此多的权势财富，也得处处提防想干掉他的人。达摩克利斯立即失去了对美食和美女的兴趣，并请求僭主放过他，他不想再拥有如此高的权位了。


We all have to agree to be gentlemen… but the sword of Damocles is hanging over everybody’s head.

7

@Chatbot 你是一个英语教学的大师，你会用通俗易懂的方式给学生讲解各类英语知识，现在请你给我解释下上面帖子中我着重讲解的单词，介绍下这些单词在正式文书和口语中的各类含义，各举几个地道，自然的例子。介绍下这些单词的来历，以及我如何才能记住这些单词呢？

8

当然，@Tristan。我将详细解释上面提到的单词，包括其来源、含义，以及如何在正式文书和口语中使用。为了帮助记忆，我也会提供一些小贴士。

  1. Sermon

    • 词性: 名词 (n.)
    • 音标: [ˈsɜːrmən]
    • 释义: 布道；讲道；冗长的道德训诫
    • 来历: 来源于拉丁语“sermonem”，意思是“交谈”或“辩论”。
    • 正式文书中的用法：
      • “The pastor delivered a moving sermon on the value of forgiveness.”
    • 口语中的用法：
      • “I got a long sermon from my parents about responsibility after missing my curfew.”
    • 记忆技巧：
      • 联系“service” (服务)和“religion” (宗教)，因为布道通常在宗教服务中进行。用“ser”开头的两个词可以帮助记住它与宗教布道相关。

  2. Throng

    • 词性: 名词 (n.), 动词 (v.)
    • 音标: [θrɔːŋ]
    • 释义: 人群；大量；拥挤
    • 来历: 来源于古英语“thrang”，意思是“紧张，拥挤”。
    • 正式文书中的用法：
      • “A throng of protesters gathered outside the courthouse.”
    • 口语中的用法：
      • “Let’s avoid the throng at the mall and shop online instead.”
    • 记忆技巧：
      • 想象一个拥挤的场景，比如音乐会或大型活动，将“throng”与“crowd” (人群)联系起来。

  3. Accost

    • 词性: 动词 (v.)
    • 音标: [əˈkɔːst]
    • 释义: 搭讪；突然走近并与之说话（通常是带有侵犯性）
    • 来历: 来源于拉丁语“accostare”，意思是“走到……旁边”。
    • 正式文书中的用法：
      • “She was accosted by a stranger asking for money.”
    • 口语中的用法：
      • “I was accosted by a salesperson as soon as I entered the store.”
    • 记忆技巧：
      • “Accost” 听起来像“a-cost”，记住可能会“付出代价”(cost)来应对一个突然出现的侵扰者。

  4. Reticent

    • 词性: 形容词 (adj.)
    • 音标: [ˈrɛtɪsənt]
    • 释义: 沉默的；有保留的；谨慎的
    • 来历: 来源于拉丁语“reticentia”，意思是“沉默”。
    • 正式文书中的用法：
      • “The lawyer remained reticent during the interrogation.”
    • 口语中的用法：
      • “He became reticent about his plans after the initial excitement wore off.”
    • 记忆技巧：
      • 将“reticent”与“reserved” (保留的)联系起来，注意两个词的首字母“r”。

  5. Sword of Damocles

    • 词性: 短语
    • 音标: /sɔrd ʌv ˈdæməkliːz/
    • 释义：达摩克利斯之剑；指悬在头上的危险或担忧
    • 来历: 出自古希腊传说，达摩克利斯是一个仰慕权力但不明白权力背后危险的臣子。他的故事用来描述任何盛大的权力总是伴随着严重的风险。
    • 正式文书中的用法：
      • “The looming layoffs were like a sword of Damocles over the employees’ heads.”
    • 口语中的用法：
      • “Living in a war zone feels like having a sword of Damocles hanging over you.”
    • 记忆技巧：
      • 想象一把悬在头上的剑，将这种紧张感和日常担忧联系起来。

通过使用与这些单词相关的情景和视觉化的记忆方法，你可以更好地记住这些词汇并在适当的场合使用它们。希望这些解释和技巧对你有帮助！