Shilin Official Residence Rose Garden in Full Bloom
The rose garden at the Shilin Official Residence in Taipei city is in full bloom. The Parks Office says they have installed a new drainage system in the park and replanted 1,600 roses, including 24 species of very large tea roses and 23 species of shrub roses. There are plum trees as well with plum...Continue reading
English in the News—Flip the bird
Flip the bird—比中指 (to give someone the finger) To make a very impolite sign by raising your middle finger towards someone in order to show that you are very angry with them Example: If he had shouted at me like that I would have flipped him the bird. 要是他對我那樣叫囂，我會對他比中指的。 Another way of saying it is...Continue reading
English in the News–Get a leg up 獲得一臂(腿)之力
Get a leg up–獲得一臂(腿)之力 To receive a physical boost or lift upward 獲得助力，獲得別人推升 I think I can reach the roof if I can get a leg up from someone. To receive support, encouragement, or an added advantage 得到幫助或好處 Our after-school program is aimed to help students get a leg up in any subject they’re having difficult with. I wouldn’t have been able to afford college if I hadn’t gotten a leg up from my parents. (Seattle Times, April 9, 2016) Drone photography gives real-estate...Continue reading
English in the News–Mother lode 主礦脈
mother lode 主礦脈，資源的源頭，大量而重要的部分 the place where the largest amount of gold, silver, etc., in a particular area can be found; a major or profitable source or supply Examples: 1) Cairn Energy recently struck the mother lode of oil fields in India. 2) New York City is a mother lode of actors. (BBC, 2016/11/01) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he...Continue reading
English in the News–Mansplaining 男性解釋
mansplain—it’s a combination of two words “man” and “explain.” 男性解釋 Cambridge Dictionary’s definition: this word means to explain something to someone in a way that suggests that they are stupid; used especially when a man explains something to a woman that she already understands. Example: I’ve just had a guy mansplain my own job to me. (Rex Huppke,...Continue reading
English in the News–to get under someone’s skin 惹毛,惹火
Get under someone’s skin惹毛或惹惱–to annoy or irritate someone Example—A: His bad temper really bothers me! B: I know, but don’t let him get under your skin. (New York Times, August 29th, 2016) In compiling research to help Mrs. Clinton prepare (for the presidential debate), her advisers have cast a wide net. They contacted Tony Schwartz,...Continue reading
English in the News–Rant and Rave 叫囂,大聲抱怨
rant and rave (為了某人或某事)叫囂,激昂地講話 : to talk or complain loudly or angrily about someone or something Examples: 1) Why don’t you stop ranting and raving for one minute and listen to me? 2) Kelly rants and raves when her children don’t obey her. Used in the news...Continue reading
English in the News–Cherry-picking 精挑細選
cherry pick—摘櫻桃,仔細挑選 to select the best or most desirable from (a group) Examples: Isn’t there a danger that the state universities might start cherry-picking the pupils with the best exam results? 這難道不會有[州立大學可能率先挑選考試成績最優學生]這樣的危險? (BBC, 6/29/2016) In a speech to the German parliament before leaving for Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU was strong enough...Continue reading
Channels Showing the Rio Olympics
With the Rio Olympics around the corner, Chunghwa Telecom is ready to offer live broadcast services of the Games on Movies-on-Demand, or MOD, and Chunghwa Video. Chunghwa Telecom says starting from the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which is scheduled in the early morning of August 6th Taipei time, Elta TV on MOD will...Continue reading
Bargains at the 2016 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition
With the number of Chinese visitors plummeting, many hotels and restaurants are offering big discounts at the 2016 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition, which runs from August 5th to 8th in Taipei. Organizers say while the trade show aims to display the art of Chinese cuisine, they are hoping to generate business opportunities for hoteliers as well....Continue reading
Sodagreen Announces Three-year Break
Right after receiving 5 awards at Saturday’s Golden Melody Awards ceremony, Sodagreen announced that they are going to take a three-year break to review their past and contemplate their future path. Sodagreen, with its album “Winter Endless”, was the biggest winner at the ceremony in the categories of best Mandarin album, best band, best lyricist,...Continue reading
Terracotta: the Rise and Legacy of Qin Culture
The National Palace Museum, in Taipei city, is hosting a grand exhibition that features terracotta warriors from the mausoleum of Qin Shi-huang. Qin Shi-huang is the first emperor in China’s history and the founder of the Qin Dynasty that dated 2-thousand 200 years ago. Titled “Terracotta: the Rise and Legacy of Qin Culture”, the exhibition features...Continue reading
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