at stake - 岌岌可危 这个短语指的是某个东西，在特定情况下处于风险中， 有失去的风险，或者受到不利影响的风险。 这个短语一般用来强调某个行动或者决策可能会带来的重大后果。 比方说在董宇辉小作文事件里，人们会说： Company's reputation is at stake as a result of the event. 由于这一事件，公司的声誉受到威胁。 如果一个国家正在选举，人们会说：There's a lot at stake in this election. 意思是选举的结果会给国家带来重大的影响。 这个短语通过指出可能存在的重大损失或重大收益，强调了当下情况的严重性和关键性。 重要项目： With this project, our team's reputation is at stake, so we need to ensure its success. 我们团队的声誉和这个项目系在一起，所以我们需要确保它的成功。 商业谈判： Millions of dollars are at stake in this negotiation, so we must be very careful with our strategy. 在这次谈判中，有数百万美元的资金风险，因此我们必须对我们的策略非常谨慎。 参考这个对话： Annie: "Connie, have you seen the latest client feedback? They're not happy with our last delivery." 安妮：“康妮，你看到最近客户的反馈了吗？他们对我们上次的交付不满意。” Connie: "Yes, I've seen it. I'm worried because our contract renewal is coming up. There's a lot at stake here." 康妮：“看到了。我很担心，因为我们合同续签即将到来，风险很大。” Annie: "Absolutely. If we lose this client, it will significantly impact our revenue. We need to act fast to address their concerns." 安妮：“没错。如果我们失去这个客户，将对我们的收入产生重大影响。我们需要迅速行动，解决他们的担忧。” Connie: "I agree. Let's arrange a meeting with the team to brainstorm solutions. We can't afford to take any risks with this client." 康妮：“我同意。让我安排一个团队会议来集思广益解决方案。我们不能冒险失去这个客户。” Annie: "Good idea. Ensuring client satisfaction is crucial right now. Our reputation and future business are at stake." 安妮：“好主意。现在确保客户满意至关重要。我们的声誉和未来业务悬在这个客户上。” So, what's at stake for you?

one exception to this rule：这条规则的一个例外 这个短语表达的意思是： 虽然这条规则通常在大多数情况下适用，但至少有一个例外，规则不成立。 语法规则: In English, verbs typically follow the subject, but there is one exception to this rule: questions are often structured with the verb before the subject, as in 'Are you coming?' 在英语中，动词通常跟随主语，但有一个例外：问题的结构是动词在主语之前的，例如 'Are you coming?'（你来吗？） 公司政策: The company has a strict policy of no personal calls at work, but there is one exception to this rule: employees can make emergency calls if necessary. 公司有严格的工作期间禁止私人电话的政策，但有一个例外：员工在必要时可以打紧急电话。 科学原理： Water usually expands when it freezes, but there is one exception to this rule: at very high pressures, water actually contracts upon freezing." 水通常在冻结成冰时会膨胀，但有一个例外：在非常高的压力下，水实际上在冻结成冰时会收缩。 着装规定: The school's dress code requires uniforms on all days, but there is one exception to this rule: on Fridays, students are allowed to wear casual clothes. 学校的着装规定要求所有日子穿校服，但有一个例外：在星期五，学生可以穿休闲服。 每一个规则都有例外。

wing it， 意思是随机应变 也就是说，没有准备，依靠聪明才智临场发挥。 wing it 为什么是随机应变的意思呢？wing不是翅膀的意思嘛？ 在19世纪的戏剧里，有一些没有充分准备但是需要替代上场的演员，会在舞台边，也就是 wings，观众看不到的地方，快速学习台词，进行一点点排练，就立刻上场了。 在演讲中： I forgot to bring my notes for the speech, so I just had to wing it. Surprisingly, it went well. 我忘记带演讲稿了，只好临时应变。出乎意料地，效果很好。 在工作面试时： They asked me a question I wasn't prepared for, so I had to wing it and came up with an answer on the spot. 他们问了我一个我没有准备好的问题，所以我只好临时应变，当场想出了一个答案。 在表演中： The actor forgot his lines in the middle of the play, but he managed to wing it until he remembered his part. 演员在剧中忘记了台词，但他临时应变，直到记起他的部分。 回答客户问题： When the client asked about a service I was unfamiliar with, I had to wing it and give a general response. 当客户询问我不熟悉的服务时，我只能随机应变，给出一个大致的回应。 临时会议： I was caught off guard by the sudden meeting request and had to wing it during the presentation. 我对突然的会议请求搞得措手不及，在演示过程中只能随机应变。 When was the last time, you had to wing it?

今日的地道表达：chip on the shoulder 直接翻译过来是：肩膀上的碎片/薯片 chip可以是木头块，木头碎片，也可以是薯片或者是薯条 这是什么意思？ 从历史上看，这个短语来源于一种做法，即把一块木头放在自己的肩膀上，然后让别人把它敲下来，以此来挑起一场战斗。 现在，这个短语表达一个人因为某件事生气了，或者耿耿于怀。 比如： He seems to have a chip on his shoulder all the time. 他似乎总是在发脾气。 还可以表示生气了因为被错误的理解了，或者受到了不公平的待遇。 比方说： Many fans out there have a chip on their shoulder because they think Yuhui Dong has been mistreated by his company. 很多粉丝都很生气，因为他们认为董宇辉受到了公司的不公平对待。 一个有“chip on their shoulder”的人可能对批评或被轻视过于敏感，即使没有冒犯的意思，也会做出防御或攻击性的反应。 比方说，书里的这段话是： CNN's Larry King said: "What an interviewer wants in a guest is passion, an ability to explain what they do very well, a sense of humor, and sometimes a little chip on the shoulder doesn't hurt." CNN的主持人拉里金，表示：“在主持节目的时候，他想要的嘉宾，是有热情的，可以清楚的表达他们的长处，有幽默感，有的时候有一点小脾气，也没关系。 这里"chip on the shoulder"就是嘉宾有点小脾气的意思。 这个漫画就非常搞笑了。 Shaun had a potato on his shoulder, a chip wasn't enough. 肖恩肩膀上有个土豆，一块薯片已经不够了。 哈哈哈哈哈，肖恩气坏了。 你学废了吗？