roadblock 路障
vicious cycle 恶性循环
airbrush 喷枪，粉饰
cure-all 万灵药
derogatory 不敬的
translationese （表达不流畅、不地道的）翻译文体，翻译腔
at one point 一度
undertaking 任务，事业，企业，工作，保证，许诺，殡仪业
malevolence 恶意
uphold 支持，维护
avail 有用
【例句：to avail oneself of the books in the library 利用图书馆的书/I gladly avail myself of your offer.我很乐意接受你的帮忙/My daughter did not avail herself of my advice. 我的女儿没有听从我的建议/I'm afraid my help didn't avail you much.恐怕我的帮助对你用处不大。】
draw a blank 未能得到回应或答复
【例句：The investigation is still open. So far, every lead has drawn a blank.调查仍在进行中。到目前为止，每条线索都扑空了。/I still haven't found my keys. I have looked everywhere but keep drawing a blank!我还是没有找到我的钥匙。我已经找遍了所有的地方，但仍一无所获！】
ambient 环境的
【例句：For example, peaceful music and ambient soundscapes can fill the silence without stealing your attention.例如，舒缓乐和环境声景可以在不分散你注意力的情况下填补寂静。】
shrug sb. off 故意不理某人，冷落
up to one's neck 指某个人要做的工作实在太多，简直无法应付了
【例句：I'm sorry but I won't be able to fix your TV for two weeks. I'm up to my neck in work right now. But I'll try to have it ready for you in time for the start of the football season.】
a binary decision 一个非黑即白的决定
possessive instinct 占有欲
【例句：He has a strong possessive instinct. 他有强烈的占有欲。】
go out on a limb （putting yourself in a risky or precarious situation in order to help someone; taking a wild guess or expressing an opinion that might not be shared by others）为了助人而将自己置于险地，大胆猜测并表达不受欢迎的观点