【精选】Lesson 3 单词 Retreat From Excellence.docVIP

Lesson 3 Retreat From Excellence 1. intervene: to become involved in an argument, fight, or other difficult situation in order to change what happens intervene in --- The police dont usually like to intervene in disputes between husbands and wives. --- The army will have to intervene to prevent further fighting. 2. plaintive: a plaintive sound is high, like someone crying, and sounds sad 3. custodian: 1) someone who is responsible for looking after something important or valuable custodian of --- Farmers are custodians of the land for the next generation. 2) especially American English someone who looks after a public building --- a custodian at the stadium 4. reassuring: making you feel less worried or frightened -- a reassuring smile it is reassuring (for somebody) to do something Its reassuring to know that problems are rare. 5. patella: knee cap 6. esophagus: the tube which food passes down from your mouth to your stomach 7. wield: 1) wield power/influence/authority etc to have a lot of power or influence, and to use it --- The Church wields immense power in Ireland. 2) to hold a weapon or tool that you are going to use --- She had her car windows smashed by a gang wielding baseball bats. 8. hypodermic: an instrument with a very thin hollow needle used for putting drugs directly into the body through the skin 9. axiom: a rule or principle that is generally considered to be true 10. platitude: a statement that has been made many times before and is not interesting or clever - used to show disapproval --- His excuse was the platitude boys will be boys. 11. count: to be important or valuable --- First impressions really do count. count for --- His promises dont count for much. --- His overseas results count for nothing . 12. take issue with somebody/something: to disagree or argue with someone about something -- It is difficult to take issue with his analysis. take issue with somebody over something --- I must take issue with you over what you