Unit Seven At the Tailors
About the author
See “On Getting Off To Sleep”
About the text
chaos ---- a state of total confusion and lack of order
We had five children at the party and chaos reigned all afternoon.
Ever since our secretary walked out, the office had been in ( a state of )total chaos.
Regent Street; New Bond Street---- Both are busy streets in the fashionable West End of London.
bustle ---- hurried and busy activity
I sat in a cafe, watching the (hustle and) bustle of the street outside.
go off ---- extend in a different direction
severe ---- completely plain and without decoration
She wore a severe black dress, and plain black shoes.
I don?t like these severe modern buildings.
establishment ---- a business or other organization, or a place where an organization operates an educational/financial/religious establishment
We don?t permit smoking in this establishment
Students were sent to industrial and mining establishments for social practice.
The establishment is the important and powerful people who control a control or an organization, esp. those who support the existing system: Critics said judges were on the side of the establishment.
impassive ---- not expressing any emotion, as if a situation is not having any effect on the person experiencing it
A group of children were staring at the foreigner, their faces strangely impassive.
Her face remained impassive during the time I stayed there.
modest ---- not large in size or amount, or not expensive
They live in a fairly modest house, considering their wealth.
The party made modest gains in the elections, but nothing like the huge gains that were
predicted.
Sales ---- Bargain sales at which goods are sold at reduced prices. The word is often capitalized when used in this sense.
loiter ---- move slowly, stand or wait, esp. in a public place without an obvious reason We loitered on the shore, reluctant to leave.
It was a place where teenagers used to loiter about and cause trouble.
(disapproving)
catch sight of ---- see for a moment
I caught sight of my former teacher while I was shopping today, but she turned a corner and I
lost sight of ( could no longer see ) her.
sober ---- serious and calm
In fact the whole wedding was a sober affair – no dancing, just people standing around in groups chatting politely.
The fashionable colours this autumn are very sober (= not bright) – dull grays and greens and dark browns predominate.
Money, of course, is not mentioned …---- typical British way of saying/doing things transaction ---- doing and completing a business activity
Each transaction at the foreign exchange counter seems to take forever.
Savile Row, Conduit Street, Maddox Street ---- These streets are the region of the tailors who cater to the wealthy and fashionable people in London.
the tailors ---- In italics the is emphasized. It means … the very ? or … the best of their kind ?shrivel up ---- become dry and wrinkled ( usually because it loses moisture in the heat ) The seedlings had shriveled up a bit in the hot sun.
audacity ---- bravery
It took a lot of audacity to stand up and criticize the chairman.
He had the audacity (= rudeness ) to blame me fir his mistake.
strip ---- remove one?s clothing, or to remove all the clothing of ( someone else ) After he was interrogated, he was stripped naked and beaten with an electric cable.
I thought he was working hard in the garden, but I found him stripped to the waist
( = with no clothes on the top part of his body ), lying in the middle of the lawn.
apparel ---- ( fml or literary ) clothes esp. of a special type
spots/wedding apparel
(If something takes on the apparel of something else it becomes like it: The film has taken on the apparel of a musical. If you wrap something in the apparel of something else, you are trying to hide it: The have cleverly wrapped their power in the noble apparel of the law. )
engage in ---- ( cause to ) take part in or do ( something )
A group of dissidents have been demanding the right to engage in politics.
in his spare time, he engages in voluntary work.
( be in the ) quest ( for ) ---- ( make ) a long search for something that is difficult to find, or an attempt to achieve something difficulty
Nothing will stop them in their quest for truth.
trousers are beauty, beauty trousers…---- This is apparently a parody of two lines from Keats? poem Ode on a Grecian Urn:
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty”, -- that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
For them the smallest seam they sew …---- This is a parody of two lines from
Wordsworth?s Ode on Intimations of Immortality:
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.
labour ---- do something slowly with great physical or mental effort
He laboured up the hill, a child and two bags of shopping in his arms.
She has been labouring over the same composition for days, poor things.
lay figure ---- An artis t?s jointed wooden model of the human body, on which drapery is arranged to get the proper effect.
bother ---- effort ( painstakingly made )
Some people don?t have church weddings because they don?t want the bother (= they don?t want to make the effort that is necessary ).
He went to all the bother of making her a birthday cake (= he made a lot of effort ), but she felt too sick to eat any of it.
It hardly seems worth the bother to go all that way for a dinner party.
proof positive ---- positive proof; unquestionable proof
That he never made his appearance after that is proof positive of his complete failure. disinterested---- having no personal involvement or receiving no personal advantage, and therefore free to act fairly
compassionated and disinterested groups of people
apologetic ---- showing that one is sorry ( either because they have hurt someone or because they caused trouble for someone )
He was apologetic about his behaviour at the dinner party.
They felt most apologetic for arriving late.
the Lener Quartet ---- A well-known Hungarian string quartet, founded in 1920.
loose change ---- small money, esp. coins ( in the pocket carried about all the time ) My dad always used to carry a lot of loose/small change in his pocket.
to say nothing of ---- not to mention
In old China there was hardly any machine-building industry, to say nothing of an aviation industry.
contrive ---- arrange ( a situation, an event or for something to happen ), using clever planning, or to invent and/or make ( something such as a device ) cleverly and possibly in an unusual way Somehow she contrived to get ( = succeeded in getting ) tickets for the concert.
They contrive to live on a small income.
spruce ---- tidy and cleaning in appearance
He looked spruce and clean-shaven in a clean white shirt.
sag ---- hang down loosely and sinks downwards in the middle
The hem of her skirt is sagging on the left side.
His head would sag, and soon he would be fast asleep again.
They do not say anything, but there is mournful reproach in their eyes as they turn them upon their ruined sonnets and sonatas. ---- As their eyes are on the suits which they have made with much satisfaction and success, but which has not received due attention and is thus in a very bad state, you can strongly feel that you are being severely blamed –although they do not say anything.
lounge suit ---- man?s suit worn for work or on quite formal occasion during the day
enormity ---- very great size or importance
Nobody fully understands the enormity and complexity of the task of reviving the country?s economy.
I don?t think you realize the enormity of your mistake/error.
slouch ---- stand, sit or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored
A couple of boys were slouched over the table reading magazines.
A group of teenagers were slouching around outside the building.
wistful ---- sad and thinking about something that is impossible or past
She casts a wistful glance at her friend?s invitation and wished she had been invited to the party.
As his granddaughter talked about her life in the theatre, he began to grow wistful about his own days as an actor.
cubicle ---- a very small division of a large room, with three sides and often a door or a curtain, which is used for dressing without being seen or for sleeping
“Can I try this skirt on, please?” “Yes, there is a cubicle free at the end.”
shred ---- small, narrow strip/piece
My shirts were in shreds when I took them out from the washing machine.
The report has left the reputation of the governor in shreds (=badly damaged).
There?s no point trying to argue with him –he?ll tear you to shreds (=co mpletely defeat you). dummy ---- a stupid or silly person
Only a dummy would ignore the safety warnings.
Don?t touch it, you dummy.
These mirrors go glimmering away into infinity---- The images reflected in the mirrors (opposite each other on the walls of the cubicles) seem to be stretching in a never-ending line. sodden ---- 9 of something which can absorb water) extremely wet
Her thin coat quickly became sodden.
profile ---- a side view of a person?s face
Drawing profiles is somewhat easier than drawing the full face.
She has a good strong profile (=Her features look good and strong from the side).
The actor was photographed in profile (=from the side), smoking a cigarette.
carcase ---- the part left of a dead animal, or the frame of an object, such as a car or ship You can make soup by soiling chicken carcases.
Move your great carcase (=your body) out of the chair! (slang)
entertain ---- hold in one?s mind or to be willing to consider or accept
The General refused to entertain the possibility of defeat.
Would you entertain our proposal if we lowered the cost by $2000?
deft ---- effortlessly skillful, clever or quick
Her piano-playing is extremely deft.
He is very deft at handling awkward situations.
The w ay she answered the journalist?s questions showed that she has a deft touch. subservience ---- considering one?s wishes as less important than those of other people Independence came to the country after centuries of subservience to powerful neighbours.
idle ---- not useful or not base don fact
The government has denounced the rumours as …idle and pointless speculation?.
It is idle to expect a fair trial in this country (=You should not expect one because it would be very unlikely).
… that I am but a shadow of myself, a puppet in their hand ---- A parody (?) of Shakespeare?s
Life?s but a walking shadow; a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more …
(Macbeth)
the Spanish Inquisition ---- The tribunal by the Catholic Church in Spain in the 15th century for the discovery and suppression of heresy and the punishment of heretics. It was notorious for its cruel and extreme practices.
bustling---- If a person is bustling they seem always to be busy and they make lots of quicke movements
A bustling little man led them into the funeral parlour.
be given to ---- be in the habit of doing something
He?s given to (taking) long walks.
earthy ---- enjoying and being honest and clear about subjects that are usually avoided by many people, such as the body and emotions
an earthy sense of humour/film
hold one’s own ---- If you can do something well enough to hold your own, you do not appear foolish when you are compared with someone who is generally thought to be very good at it She was still able to hold her own with the new minister.
ride to hounds---- go fox-hunting, which is regarded as an exclusive hobby among the aristocratic class in Britain
He regards me with about the same amount of interest that I give to another man’s coat. ---- He is not interested in me, just as I?m not interested in another man?s coat – but the comparison here is obviously not all that honest and serious!
who is at a public school ---- A public school in Britain is in fact a very expensive private school for the children of wealthy families. The coat man whose son is at a public school regards himself as a member of the upper class and wants to be treated as such. That?s why …condescended? is used, as the word means …treat someone in a way which show that you consider yourself to be better and cleverer?: I know you’re a post-graduate now, but will you still condescend to join us for lunch? almost sharing the honours with my coat---- In the eyes of the coat man, I appear so insignificant when compared with my coat. But now I feel that we (my coat and I) are almost standing on the equal footing, how can I not feel flattered and honoured?
But then he became serious again and took out a pin somewhere and made another chalkmark. ---- Anyway, the message (that his son is in a public school) has been passed on. And, moreover, one cannot condescend to another for long, can they?
nine tailors make a man ---- This is an old expression of contempt at the expense of tailors. It implies that a tailor is so much more feeble than anyone else that it would take nine of them to make a man of average stature and strength.
humanity ---- understanding and kindness towards other people
If only he would show/display a little humanity for once.
wring that ---- squeeze (esp. the water) out of something by twisting it strongly
now that ---- as a result of the fact that
Now that I?ve heard the music I understa nd why you like it.
dandy ---- a man, esp. in the past, who dressed in expensive, fashionable clothes and was very interested in his own appearance
an upper-class dandy
tribute ---- something that you say, write or give which shows your respect and admiration for someone, esp. on a formal occasion
Tributes have been pouring in from all over the world for the famous actor who died yesterday.
The minister paid tribute to (=praised) the men who had fought the blaze, saying their bravery had saved countless lives.
Translation
From …Where I look I see a man whose appearance does not please me…? to …Incredible that a man can take such a face and carcass about with him, and yet entertain a tolerably good opinion of himself!?
四处张望，所看到的全是那张令我不悦的脸。这家伙看上去头大身小，腿则更细。在明亮得毫不留情的灯光下，他的脸显得肥胖臃肿，油光满面。整个人看上去莫名其妙地污秽。除了他正在试的那件衣服，他穿得绉绉巴巴，松松垮垮，窝窝囊囊。领口不正，皮靴满是灰尘，头发急需修剪，脸也尚待细刮，整个面目让人毫无信心。其侧影滑稽可笑，而背影则简直令人感到恐怖。就这样一个家伙，竟然还有一个女人和几个孩子指望着他！真不可思议，一个人居然带着这样一付面目和尸身四处活动，还自鸣得意。
Unit Seven At the Tailors
Key to Exercise II
1.opulent
2.gaudy
3.impressive
4.loitering
5.audacity
6.deposited
7.apparel
8.spruce
9.reproach 10.slouch 11.wistfully 12.merciless
13.entertain 14.deft 15.subservience 16.earthy
17.tribute 18.distaste 19.apologetic 20.bustle
21.chaos 22.hush
Key to Exercise V (for reference only)
1.I caught sight of him in the crowd for a moment, but then he was nowhere to be seen.
2.He replied in all sincerity that the training methods of the Chinese men?s volleyball team
were very dissatisfactory.
3.You may use the hall as you like so long as you clean it out afterwards.
4.This sentence is very awkward, to say nothing of its obscurity.
5.He won?t refuse to give you his help, such as it is.
6.He was a political genius, but there is no denying that his policies had caused great
damage to the national economy.
7.Experienced leaders will not be given to making hasty decisions like that.
8.The two felt at home with each other though they had not met before.
9.He can hold his own with the other boys at least in mathematics.
Key to Exercise III
1.fiction
2.covers
3.variety
4.work
5.author?s
6.or
7.attitude
8.customarily
9.extended 10.prose
11.with 12.his 13.hence 14.assume 15.principal
https://www.doczj.com/doc/e618675281.html,rmal 17.personal 18.formal 19.exposition 20.subjects
21.always 22.only 23.literary 24.emphasis 25.personality
26.observation 27.treatments 28.characterized 29.suggestive 30.analytical
31.structure 32.appears 33.striving 34.of 35.ruminations
36.presenting 37.minds 38.convey 39.argument 40.strain
41.may 42.exclusive 43.the 44.experience 45.conversational
46.patterns 47.familiar 48.skillful 49.what 50.a
51.giving 52.of 53.its 54.person 55.thus
56.and 57.type 58.a 59.piece 60.of
61.kinds 62.almost 63.subject 64.itself 65.essence
Key to Exercise IV
The next one thing is to devise a form for your essay. I studied it for the first time from an experienced newspaperman. When I was at a college, I earned extra pocket- and book money∧writing weekly columns in a newspaper. They were always topical, various and witty, and they never missed
a deadline. But once, when I brought∧the product,
a copy editor stopped me. He said, “Our readers apparently seem to like your stuff all right; but
your pieces are∧coherent; they are only sentences and epigrams been strung together; they look like
a heap of clothespins in a basket. Every article
ought∧have a shape. “Like this” (and he drew a big letter S on his pad) “or this” (he drew downward
a descending line which turned abruptly upward∧) “or this” (and he sketched∧central core with five
or six lines push outward from it) “or even this”(and he outlined two arrows coming to collision).
I never saw the man again,∧I have never ceased to be quite grateful to him for his wisdom. He was right.1.one
2.learned
3. a
4.by
5.for
6.varied
7.in
8.√
9.apparently
10.not
11.been
12.√
13.to
14.downward
15.again
16. a
17.pushing
18.into
19.but
20.quite