shell game

 

shell game

= a deceptive or misleading situation

The politician's promises were nothing but a shell game, distracting voters from the real issues.

那位政治人物的承諾只不過是個欺騙手法，轉移選民對真正問題的注意力。

The promises of quick returns on investments in the startup turned out to be a shell game, leaving many investors disappointed.

對於投資這間新創公司能快速回本的承諾，結果證明只是騙局，讓許多投資人感到失望。

The company's financial reports felt like a shell game, masking their declining profits with creative accounting.

公司的財務報表像是在玩障眼法，用花招式的會計掩蓋其獲利下滑。

Mark felt frustrated, believing the politician’s agenda was a shell game meant to distract from real social issues.

Mark感到沮喪，他認為那位政治人物的議程只不過是騙局，意在轉移對真正社會議題的注意力。

Some synonyms and antonyms for the term "shell game":

Synonyms

Deception

Fraud 

Trickery 

Antonyms

Honesty

Transparency 

Truthfulness

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01. What does the term "shell game" refer to?

A) A straightforward and honest situation

B) A deceptive or misleading situation

C) A game involving physical shells

D) A fun activity with clear rules

02. What does "shell game" mean?

#English

A) A magic trick

B) A deception

C) A card game

D) A sports game

plump

 

plump

= to describe someone who is somewhat overweight, but it often carries a connotation of being pleasantly full or rounded rather than negative 

He has become rather plump, but he is full of energy and joy.

Though Mark is a bit plump, he still enjoys running marathons and approaches life with enthusiasm.

Mark has become rather plump lately, but his cheerful personality makes him extremely likable.

Susan has become a bit plump over the years, but her warm smile and positive attitude brighten everyone’s day.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "plump":

Synonyms

Chubby

Round 

Well-fed 

Antonyms

Slim

Thin

Lean

Skinny 

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//

Which option best describes "plump"?

#English

A) Thin and fragile

B) Round and full

C) Short and narrow

D) Fast and swift

Prize Presentation Ceremony and Reunion Dinner

多謝母校對跑步多年的支持... Thank you!

Thank you to my university for supporting running for many years.

#diary 

 

kneel

kneel 

(verb)

= to go down a position where one or both knees rest on the floor

Examples

He knelt down and prayed.

He knelt on the turf to get a closer look at the hamsters.

He knelt on one knee to propose to his girlfriend.

Reference

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneel

Here are a few more examples using "kneel":

She knelt beside the child to tie his shoelaces.

The soldiers were instructed to kneel during the ceremony.

They knelt together in prayer at the church.

After a long day, she knelt on the grass to rest her legs.

Some synonyms for "kneel":

Bow

Genuflect

Crouch

Bend

Squat

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What does "kneel" mean?

#English

A) Get down on knees

B) Stand up tall

C) Sit on a chair

D) Lie flat on back

 

lose your touch

 

lose your touch

= to lose the skill, ability, or finesse that one once had in a particular area

Mark used to be great at finding good deals in the stock market, but lately, he feels like he has lost his touch.

Mark 曾經擅長在股市找到好交易，但最近他覺得自己已經不如從前。

Having not played for a while, Susan fears she has lost her touch in tennis.

由於好一陣子沒有打球，Susan 擔心自己在網球上已經不如從前。

After years away from painting, she worries she has lost her touch.

經過多年未畫畫，她擔心自己已經不如從前。

The mechanic used to fix cars with ease, but now he thinks he has lost his touch.

那位汽車修理工曾經輕鬆修理車輛，但現在他認為自己已經不如從前。

Some synonyms and antonyms for "lose your touch":

Synonyms

Decline in skill 

Fade in proficiency  

Deteriorate in skill

Antonyms

Maintain your touch

Excel

Enhance skills

Improve 

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01. In the context of professional skills, which of the following best describes the meaning of "lose your touch"?

#English

A) To become more skilled

B) To forget how to do something you once did well

C) To learn something new

D) To help others improve

02. What does "lose your touch" mean?

#English

A) Gain new skills

B) Improve your abilities

C) Become less skilled

D) Maintain your talent

amateur hour

amateur hour

= a very poor performance or situation that lacks professionalism or skill

Trying to fix my smartphone without any tools was definitely amateur hour, so I ended up going to a repair shop.

試圖在沒有任何工具的情況下修理我的智能手機絕對是業餘水準的表現，所以我最終去了修理店。

His attempt at cooking the complex dish was a disaster; it was pure amateur hour.

他試著烹飪那道複雜的菜餚，但結果是一場災難；簡直是純粹鬧劇的表現。

The team's presentation was riddled with careless mistakes; it felt like amateur hour.

這個團隊的演示充滿了粗心大意的錯誤；感覺就像外行。

The manager's handling of the crisis was so unprofessional, it felt like amateur hour in the office.

經理處理危機的方式非常不專業，讓人感覺辦公室像是鬧劇。

Some synonyms and antonyms for "amateur hour":

Synonyms:

Unprofessionalism

Incompetence 

Rookie mistake

Novice error

Antonyms:

Expertise

Professionalism

Competence

Skillfulness 

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01. What does the term "amateur hour" most likely mean when used to describe a performance or situation?

#English

A) A professional-level performance

B) A poor or unskilled performance

C) An average performance

D) A performance that is well-

02. What does "amateur hour" mean?

#English

A) A professional event

B) A time for beginners

C) A casual gathering

D) A skilled performance