column n. （报刊上的）专栏

funny adj. 可笑的
The story was very funny.
这个故事非常可笑。
有趣的
He closed his speech with a funny joke.
他用一则有趣的笑话结束了演讲。

shrink v. 收缩，退缩，萎缩
Will this woolen sweater shrink when washed?
这件羊毛衫洗后会缩水吗？
The company's profit margins shrank from 32.5% to 17%.
该公司的边际利润率从32.5%降到了17%。
We will never shrink from difficulties.
我们在困难面前决不退缩。
The economy is shrinking instead of growing.
经济正在萎缩而不是在增长中。

in store 必将到来, 快要发生, 贮藏着, 准备着
There are plenty of energy sources in store on earth.
地球上贮藏着很多能源。

deadline n. 最后期限，截止时间
I hope we can finish this before the deadline.
我希望我们能在最后期限之前完成这项工作。
We pulled out all the stops to meet the deadline.
我们竭尽全力在截止日期前完成了工作。

dart n. 飞镖

get a rise out of sb. 惹某人恼怒，激怒某人

contemplate v. 打算
We contemplate obtaining a technical license.
我们希望获得一项技术许可证。
He contemplates visiting Beijing.
他打算访问北京。

flatter v. 奉承，恭维，取悦
My boss likes it when we flatter him.
我的老板喜欢我们奉承他。
Friends who flatter you to your face are not true friends.
凡是当面奉承你的朋友不是真朋友。

diatribe n. 长篇抨击
He launched a diatribe against the younger generation.
他对年轻一代发起了长篇抨击。

brush-off n. 拒绝
I didn't expect her to brush us off like this.
我没有料到她会这样拒绝我们。
He has never been brushed off so rudely before.
他从来没有遭到过如此粗鲁的拒绝。

treacherous adj. 背信弃义的
You treacherous cur!
你这个背信弃义的家伙！

nefarious adj. 邪恶的
He guarded his nefarious doings from view.
他不让自己的罪恶行径给人看到。
He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.
因为他干了许多罪恶的勾当, 所以人人都惧怕他。

napkin n. 餐巾纸

superb adj. 极好的
The sports facilities are superb in this city.
这个城市的运动设施是一流的。
The goalkeeper brought off a superb save.
守门员漂亮地救出了险球。

dump v. 抛弃，甩掉

travesty n. 滑稽的事