bare-bones

(adj) the most important elements of something, which provide a structure to which more detail might be added later 極簡單的；基礎的

I don't need the long story, just give me your bare-bones account.

from scratch

(idiom) when you do something from the beginning 從頭做起；從頭開始

Irma didn't use a cake mix, she made the cake from scratch.

pragmatic

doing things in a practical and realistic way and not using only ideas 務實的；實用的

His pragmatic nature made him perfect for the management job since he liked to solve problems.

spearhead

(v) to lead an attack or series of actions 擔任先導；當先鋒；領導

Paul was asked to spearhead the greenhouse research project because agriculture was his college major.

precursor

(n) something which happens or exists before something else and influences its development

前導；先驅；前輩

A dramatic drop in sales was a precursor to the business closing.

lay down 制定、謀殺、哄睡、放下、放棄

lay down 

lay 這個動詞有放下的意思，搭配介係詞 down 則變成有相當多種不同意思的動詞片語。 

• 制定：接法規、條文、規則

Miss Donaldson lay down the new rules for the class.

• 謀殺：用被動式

Johnson was laid down by the robber. 

• 哄睡

I will lay down the baby.

• 放下

Just lay down the cups on the table.

• 放棄、妥協

A: I think you should ease yourself.
B: Are you saying that I should lay down and let them walk all over me? (你是說我應該放棄就讓他們這樣對待我嗎？)

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smell a rat 事有蹊蹺

smell a rat 事有蹊蹺

貓即使看不見老鼠，也可以聞出躲藏在暗處的老鼠。

沒有直接的證據或跡象，但憑直覺感到可疑。

Ex: I smelt a rat when Noah offered to sell me the car at a very low price, so I turned down his offer on the spot. Good thing that I'd made such a decision, as the car turned out to be stolen.

*  Good thing that I'd made such a decision 幸好我做了這決定
*  the car turned out to be stolen 原來是部贓車

fishy = suspicious
It seems fishy that all the services here are free of charge.
It is suspicious that he said he was at home at the time but actually he wasn't.

save for a rainy day 以備不時之需

save for a rainy day 以備不時之需

Ex: She has put a tidy sum of money aside for a rainy day.

*put aside = save

*tidy = quite


Ex;

Sunny: Sorry, I can't. I'm saving money these days, so I need to cut any unnecessary spending.
Amber: Come on, just a drink! Don't be so stingy.
Sunny: I have to. I am saving money for a rainy day. Since the unemployment rate is so high, I think everyone should do the same as I do in case one day they lost their jobs.
Amber: But I think otherwise. If all the people are cutting their spending as you do, all of us will lose our jobs eventually, since we neither buy things nor produce them. Just lend me the money then!

*otherwise = in a different way / or else / in other respects; apart from that

箴言/格言: dictum, maxim, proverbs, precept

箴言、格言、座右銘、智慧語、警語、戒律 ：dictum, maxim, proverbs, precept

= a terse, witty and instructive saying / statement of a principle


A good maxim is never out of season.
箴言傳千古

A brief statement of a principle.
箴言蘊含一原理的簡練語句

The storehouse of wisdom is stocked with proverbs.
箴言集成智慧

Precepts may lead, but examples draw.  導之以箴言，行之以榜樣
<=> Imitation is a globe of precepts.   群起效尤

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