Lesson Eight Small Kicks in Superland

Lesson Eight Small Kicks in Superland

New Words and Expressions

1. Kicks: (informal) a feeling of intense pleasure or excitement刺激， 乐趣 E.g: That song really gives me a kick. I love it.

This is for a special purpose. I am not doing this for kicks.

2. Saloon: (in the United States) a place where alcoholic drinks are sold and drunk in the 19th century; an old-fashioned term for “bar”. (19世纪美国西部的)酒馆 compare: Salon

3. Claustrophobic: (adj) feeling extremely anxious when you are in a small enclosed space 患幽闭恐惧症的

“Claustro” comes from the Latin word “claustrum” (enclosure), and “phobic” is the adjective form of “phobia” (fear)

Note: Feeling claustrophobic is perhaps a widespread phenomenon with the urban people in today’s Western society. Problems in the modern city such as congested traffic and overcrowded living space have caused its dwellers to feel the constant psychological pressure of being cramped (crowded).

e.g: I get claustrophobic in elevators. 在电梯里，我感到幽闭恐惧。 a claustrophobic atmosphere 一种能导致幽闭恐惧症的气氛

4. Urge: ①(n) a strong wish or need强烈的欲望，迫切的要求，冲动 urge to do sth: I felt a sudden urge to scream.

②(v) (a): to strongly advise someone to do sth催促，力劝（某人） urge sb to do sth: Brown urged her to reconsider her decision.

(b): to strongly suggest that something should be done极力主张，强烈要求，强调

The UN has urged restraint in the current crisis.联合国极力主张在当前危机中要保持克制。

5. Clothe: to disguise/ cover

clothe sth in: wrap sth up in; cover sth completed with e.g: an angel clothed in flames

6. wholesome: (adj) likely to make you healthy对健康有益的 well-balanced wholesome meals营养均衡的保健餐 7 solely: merely solely for pleasure

8. hedonist: （n）someone who believes that pleasure is the most important thing in life享乐主义者

(n) hedonism; (adj) hedonistic 9. precise: exact

The precise details of the sale have not yet been released. 这次销售的准确详情还没有发布。

10. pointless: ①not likely to have any useful result无益的，无用的 a pointless quarrel

It is pointless to do sth: I think it would be pointless to discuss this issue again.

②without any purpose or meaning 无目标的，无意义的 a pointless waste of money无意义地浪费金钱

11. excess：①[U] a large amount of something than is allowed or needed过分；过量 do sth to excess: Drinking is OK as long as you don’t do it to excess. 饮酒可以，但不要过量。

②（adj）additional and not wanted or needed because there is already enough of sth过多的，多余的

Cut the excess fat from the meat.

Excessive: much more than is reasonable or necessary过分的，过度的，过多的 12. lure: (usually singular) sth that you think is attractive, or the power that sth has to attract you 诱惑物，诱惑力，吸引力

Settlers were drawn to the West by the lure of free land. 移民被自由土地的诱惑力吸引到了西部。

13. prowl：v. ①if an animal prowls, it moves around an area quietly, especially because it is hunting another animal（尤指捕食的动物）悄悄来回游走于（某处） ②to walk around a place because you do not have anything to do 徘徊，闲荡（+around/about）

Kim prowled restlessly around the room.金在房间里不安地踱来踱去。

14. aisle: a long passage between rows of seats, shelves, etc in a building or a plane通道，过道

15. overflow: ①v. If a river, lake, or container overflows, it is so full that the water, material etc inside flows over its edges（从…）溢出；泛滥 overflow with: a trash can overflowing with papers

②(singular) the amount of sth or the number of of people that cannot be contained in a place because it is already full容纳不下的物（人）， 超出的数额 The overflow will be accommodated in another hotel.

16. back-breaking: (adj) sth that is physically very difficult and makes you very tired （工作）累死人的，非常繁重的

17. carton: ①(AmE) a large container with smaller containers of goods inside it（可内置小盒子的）盒，箱

e.g: a carton of cigarettes一条香烟

②a box made of cardboard or plastic that contains food or drink硬纸盒，厚纸箱，塑料盒

18. powder: a dry substance in the form of very small grains粉，粉末

Powdered: (adj) produced or sold in the form of a powder制成粉状的，以粉状出售的

e.g: powdered milk; powdered soap (laundry detergent; washing powder)

20. onion: a round white vegetable with a brown skin and many layers, that has a strong taste and smell

21. wrap: to wind or fold cloth, paper etc around sth（用布、纸等）包，裹（某物） e.g: a present wrapped in shiny paper用闪光纸包着的一份礼物 wrap sth/sb in sth: Wrap the cake in tinfoil.

Wrap sth up: I haven’t even wrapped my presents up yet!

22. mold: (BrE) mould V. ①to shape a soft substance by pressing or rolling it or by

putting it into a mold使…成形，用模子制作；浇铸

Mold sth into: Mold the sausage meat into little balls. 把灌肠用的碎肉捏成丸子。

②to influence the way someone’s character or attitudes develop影响（某人性格或态度）的形成，塑造

I enjoy working with children, helping to mold their young minds. 我喜欢和小孩子打交道，帮着塑造他们稚嫩的头脑。 23. hundredweight: 英担（重量单位）

24. rind: [C,U] the thick outer skin of some types of fruit, such as oranges（某些果实的）外皮

25. hump: ① [C] one of the two raised parts on the back of a camel

②a large round shape that rises above the surface of the ground or a surface巨大鼓包，圆形隆起物

I could just make out the hump of a hill in the distance. 我只能依稀辨认出远处隆起的山丘。

26. groan: v. ①to make a long deep sound because you are in pain, upset, or disappointed（因疼痛、心烦、或失望而）呻吟，抱怨 The kids all groaned when I switched off the TV.

②to make a sound similar to someone groaning发嘎吱声

27. heave: ①to pull or lift something very heavy with one great effort（用很大力气）拉，举，抬

heave sth onto/into/towards etc: He heaved the package onto his back.他使劲地将包背到了背上。

heave at/ on sth: He heaved on the rope with all his strength.他用尽全力拉动绳子。

②to throw sth heavy using a lot of effort（用力）扔，抛（重物）

③heave a sigh: She heard him heave a great sigh and then saw that he was crying.她听见他长长地叹了口气，然后就看见他在哭。

28. tonnage: n. [C,U] ①the size of a ship or the amount of goods it can carry, shown in TONS（表示船舶大小的）吨位；载重吨位

②the total number of TONS that sth weighs（以吨位计的）总重量，总吨数 29. checker: [C] (AmE) someone who works at the checkout in a supermarket（超市的）收银员 30. reassemble:

Assemble: v. ①to gather a large number of things or people together in one place召集，收集

Over the years we’ve assembled a huge collection of old books.

②if a group of people assemble in one place, they all go there together 集合，聚集 A large crowd had assembled opposite the American Embassy.一大群人聚集在了美国大使馆对面。 31. tower: n&v.

(v)① to be much taller than the people or things around you高处许多，高耸，屹立

tower about/ over

e.g: Graham was 6 ft 5, and towered over the rest of us.

② to be much better than any other person or organization that does the same thing as you （比…）优秀许多，高踞（于…之上）

Mozart towers over all other composers.莫扎特高踞于其他所有作曲家之上。 32. pyramid: n [C] ①a large stone building with four triangular walls that slope in to a point at the top, especially in Egypt and Central America.金字塔

②a pile of objects that have been put into the shape of a pyramid摆成金字塔形的一堆东西

e.g: a pyramid of oranges

33. awesome: adj. ①extremely impressive, serious, or difficult so that you feel great admiration, worry, or fear令人敬畏的

the awesome sweep of the scenery令人叹为观止的景色 ②(AmE) very good

e.g: Their last concert was really awesome.他们最后的那场音乐会真不错。

34. tempt: v. ①to make someone want to have or do sth, even though they know they really should not引诱，诱使

If you leave valuables in your car it will tempt thieves.

be tempted: I’m tempted to buy that dress even though it’s expensive.

②to try to persuade someone to do sth by making it seem attractive怂恿，引诱（某人）去做

tempt sb into doing sth: The ads hope to tempt people into buying their brand of coffee.

tempt sb to do sth: free gifts to tempt people to join吸引人们参加的免费礼品 (n) temptation: [C,U]①a strong desire to have or do sth even though you know you should not引诱，诱惑

temptation to do sth: Their might be a temptation to cheat if students sit too close together.

resist/ overcome (the) temptation抵挡/战胜诱惑

②[C,U] something that makes you want to have or do sth, even though you know you should not很有诱惑力的东西（事）

Having candy in the house is a great temptation.

35. ambience: n (singular, U) the way a place makes you feel气氛，情调，环境 e.g: a restaurant with a friendly ambience一家氛围友好的餐厅

36. inferior: adj ①not good, or less good in quality, value, or skill than someone or sth else（质量，价值，技能等）差的，次的

I felt very inferior among all those academics.与那些大学教师在一起，我自惭形秽。

inferior to: This machine is technically inferior to Western models.这台机器在技术上不如西方国家的机型先进。

②(formal) lower in rank低级别的，下级的 an inferior court of law初级法院，下级法院

(n) [C] someone who has a lower position or rank than you in an organization下级，下属，部下

Compare: superior