usurious

usurious  過高的

 usurious  interest

The IMF’s loans to Greece have not only bailed out banks which lent recklessly in the first place, they have actively taken even more money out of the country. This usurious interest adds to the unjust debt forced on the people of Greece.

李嘉誠新聞稿

李嘉誠新聞稿全文如下：
中文版
政制發展，是鞏固香港法治關鍵的一步，此時此刻，我們表述不同訴求、不同擔憂，也是文明社會正常的現象，即使普選方法，未必盡如各方理想，但爭取民主的努力，每一步，也不會是徒勞無功的任務；儘管我們一團矛盾，大家一定要往前走。我深信，在中華民族的民主進程中，必定有我們香港人智慧的風采。

英文版
The progress towards democracy is the foundation to fortify the rule of law in HK. A spirit of tolerance attuning our differences showcases the strength and capacity of our shared civil society. Should we fail to nail the perfect synthesis between ideals and practicalities, we must still move forward together as‘a bundle of antinomies’. Every effort for democracy will not be a vain struggle, as progress will arc towards broadening participation, and with each and every conscientious vote, Hong Kong Citizens will be participants in building it so.”


Fortify - to build towers, walls etc in order to defend it 鞏固 (振奮/加強)
Nail - to say clearly and publicly which you support 明確表態 
Antinomies - 【哲】二律相悖 (矛盾)
Vain - in vain -without success in spite of your efforts (徒勞)
Conscientious - showing a lot of care and attention 認真的; 細心負責的

pull a sickie

pull a sickie 詐病

e.g. He pulls a sickie.

真的病了，要請假:
Sorry, I can't make it into work today.

half-baked idea 考慮不周的主意

half-baked idea 考慮不周的主意

to take stock 盤點

to take stock 盤點

e.g. Every so often I take stock of my life, and see if I'm really content with what I'm doing, or not.

to go with the flow 隨波逐流 / 跟大隊

to go with the flow 隨波逐流 / 跟大隊

e.g. While I would have preferred to have our annual party at my favorite old restaurant, other people wanted a new place. I decided to go with the flow.

spine-tingling 令人激動的 / 令人又驚又喜的

spine-tingling 令人激動的 / 令人又驚又喜的

If you are in politics or public life, you probably had some moment of spine-tingling transcendence. Maybe you read the Declaration of Independence or watched the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s mountaintop sermon, or read Nelson Mandela’s 1964 speech from the dock. (如果你從事政治或公眾事業，你或許曾經歷過一些驚神泣鬼的超驗瞬間。也許你在讀《獨立宣言》或者看小馬丁路德金牧師的“頂峰”佈道，又或者讀納爾遜·曼德拉1964年站在被告席上的演講。)

transcendence 超越常態 / 卓絕 / 超然存在

e.g. The desire for peace transcend political difference.

e.g. The transcendent genius of Mozart …….

dock 被告席 / 船塢 / 碼頭 / 羊蹄