词句学习

godfather
n.
教父

He really wants to fulfil his role as godfather properly.
他确实想好好履行作为教父的职责。

ostensible
D.J.[ɔˈstensəbəl]
K.K.[ɑˈstɛnsəbəl]
adj.
(指理由等)假装的,表面的
The ostensible reason wasn’t the real reason.
表面上的理由并不是真正的理由。
ostensibly 
adv.
表面上地

obsolete 
adjective
no longer produced or used; out of date
废止的；过时的

pageant [color=blue][/color]
[ˈpadʒ(ə)nt]
noun
a public entertainment consisting of a procession of people in elaborate, colourful costumes, or an outdoor performance of a historical scene
盛装的游行庆典；露天演出的历史剧

■a thing that looks impressive or grand, but is actually shallow and empty
华而不实的东西

■(historical)a scene erected on a fixed stage or moving vehicle as a public show
(史)露天舞台场景；活动舞台场景

■(亦作 beauty pageant)(N. Amer.)a beauty contest
(北美)选美比赛

under the auspices of

在…的帮助或支持下;有…赞助的

The examination was held under the auspices of the government.
这次考试是由政府主办的。

The association is under the auspices of Word Bank.
这个组织是在世界银行的赞助下办的。

civic  [/color]
adjective
[attrib.]of or relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal
城镇的，市政的，市府的

civic and business leaders.
市政及商界要人（领袖）。

at any rate [color=brown]
whatever happens or may have happened
无论如何，不管怎样；至少

for the moment, at any rate, he was safe.
不管怎样，他目前很安全。

■used to indicate that one is correcting or clarifying a previous statement or emphasizing a following one
［用以表示对上文的纠正、澄清或者对下文的强调］至少

the story, or at any rate, a public version of it, was known and remembered.
这个故事，或者说至少像街坊所传的，是人人皆知、铭记在心的。

meager[/color]
D.J.[ˈmi:gə]
K.K.[ˈmiɡɚ]
adj.
瘦的

meager arms
瘦削的手臂

粗劣的;不足的;贫乏的

meager cultural resources
贫乏的文化资源

He could not support his family on his meager salary.
他靠微薄的工资无法养家。

ingenuity [color=blue]
[ˌɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪti]
noun
[mass noun]the quality of being clever, original, and inventive
机灵；独创性；创造力

stretch  [color=indigo][/color]
verb
[no obj.]
(of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking
（柔软或弹性物）伸展，延伸；延展；被拉长；被拉宽
my jumper stretched in the wash.
我的针织套衫洗后变宽松了。
rubber will stretch easily when pulled.
橡胶很容易被拉长。
■[with obj.]cause to do this
使伸展，伸张；使伸长
stretch the elastic.
把松紧带拉长。
■[with obj. and adverbial]pull (something) tightly from one point to another or across a space
拉紧；拉直；撑大，绷大
small squares of canvas were stretched over the bamboo frame.
小块帆布被紧绷在竹架上。
■last or cause to last longer than expected
（使）过分延长，（使）过度延续
[no obj.]her nap had stretched to two hours.
她午睡了长达两小时。
[with obj.]stretch your weekend into a mini summer vacation.
把你的周末延长成一个小暑假。
■[no obj.](of finances or resources) be sufficient or adequate for a certain purpose
（资金，资源）足够，够用
my budget won't stretch to a weekend at a health farm.
我计划好的钱不够去健身庄园度周末。
■[with obj.]make great demands on the capacity or resources of
大量要求，大量需求
the cost of the court case has stretched their finances to the limit.
那件诉讼案的费用使他们的财务状况紧张到了极限。
■[withobj.]cause (someone) to make maximum use of their talents or abilities
使…最大限度利用（才能，能力）
it's too easy—it doesn't stretch me.
它太容易了，我无需尽全力。
■[withobj.]adapt or extend the scope of (something) in a way that exceeds a reasonable or acceptable limit
夸大，夸张
to describe her as sweet would be stretching it a bit.
把她描绘成可人儿是夸张了一点。
straighten or extend one's body or a part of one's body to its full length, typically so as to tighten one's muscles or in order to reach something
舒展（身体或其部位）；伸出（身体或其部位）去拿
the cat yawned and stretched.
猫打个呵欠，伸伸懒腰。
[with obj.]stretching my cramped legs.
伸一伸我发麻的双腿。
we lay stretched out on the sand.
我们舒展着身体躺在沙滩上。
[no obj., with adverbial]extend or spread over an area or period of time
延续
the beach stretches for over four miles.
那海滩绵延四英里多。
the long hours of night stretched ahead of her.
等待她的是漫漫长夜。

  常用词组

at full stretch

with a part of one's body fully extended
尽量伸展（身体部位）

■using the maximum amount of one's resources or energy
最大限度使用，全力地

increased export business kept our production plants at full stretch.
增长的出口贸易使我们的生产厂家一直在全速运转。

at a stretch

in one continuous period
不停地，连续地，一口气地

I often had to work for over twenty hours at a stretch.
我经常不得不连续工作20小时以上。

used to indicate that something is just possible but only with difficulty or in extreme circumstances
勉强地；尽量地

it is aimed at one age group, adults, or, at a stretch, business studies students.
它的目标是一个年龄组的人，即成年人，或者勉强扩大到包括商科学生。

by no (或 not by any) stretch of the imagination

used to emphasize that something is definitely not the case
任凭如何异想天开也不是，怎么想象也不是

by no stretch of the imagination could Carl ever be called good-looking.
卡尔无论如何也称不上好看。

stretch one's legs
go for a short walk, typically after sitting in one place for some time
（久坐后）散步

stretch a point

allow or do something not usually acceptable, typically as a result of the particular circumstances
（因特殊情况）作出让步，通融
since your daughter is one of my regular patients, I'm stretching a point.
既然你的女儿常来我这里看病，我就破一次例。