burst at the seams= be filled to or beyond normal capacity.太满；binder= a cover for holding loose sheets of paper, magazines, etc. together.活页夹，可数
Joe stands outside the window, holding a plastic bag bursting at the seams with a pile of binders.
Post-it note=sticky note,便利贴，可数
Joe stuck a post-it note to the new phone he bought his grandma with her name on it.
注意counsel 和 counsellor 作名词的区别，前者是“律师”，单复同形，后者是“咨询师”，可数
Joe is a counsel turned counselor.
aggrandize= increase the power, status, wealth, or reputation of…提高…的地位或声望
One of the main purposes of the government’s news agency is to disseminate propaganda to aggrandize the ruling party.
scapegoat还可以作vt表示“使…成为替罪羊”
Joe used to be a timid yet disobedient student, which resulted in teachers scapegoating him a lot.
antiquity= the ancient past, especially the period before the Middle Ages,古代，不可数
Wedding ceremony, as well as dowry and bride price, has become a social norm in China since antiquity.
Pit A against B= cause A to fight or compete against B.使A和B抗衡
Some supposed feminist articles prevalent online are just intent on pitting women against men.
tempting= appealing to or attracting someone, even if wrong or unwise.诱人的（贬义）
It’s tempting to drink very cold beverages in a hot summer.
cut through=to get quickly and directly through or past sth that blocks one or slows one down.快速解决掉…；red tape= excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, especially in public business.繁文缛节，不可数
Let’s cut through the red tape and get our business done.
morass= a complicated or confused situation，复杂、混乱状况，可数
Joe is bogged down in（be bogged down in，陷于…）a morass of romances and can’t focus on his career.
vile= morally bad，邪恶的，相当于evil、wicked
I can’t imagine how an innocent young lady can get such vile comments online.
slink off=come or go unobtrusively（不招摇地）or furtively，pv，vi，偷偷摸摸地走
After stealing a wallet in the crowded square, Mike slinked off to his car parked nearby.
Some people are making choices that are as bad for their health as Joe made were good.（相对立事件的相等程度的比较）
Sideline= place…in a less influential position，使…边缘化，vt
Joe was sidelined immediately after he helped his party win the election.
teeter= move or balance unsteadily，踉跄，vi
Some people believe Western democracy is teetering on the edge of falling apart.
tip the balance=to change a situation so that one person, group, etc., is more able or likely to succeed.创造优势
Both Joe and Mike qualify for the job, but Joe’s experience as an English teacher tips the balance in his favor.
Follow suit= conform to another’s actions，效仿
It’s a norm that people of higher status set the model and those of lower status follow suit.
crucible=a severe trial，严峻考验，可数
Any major advances in our lives are always preceded by a crucible of crises.
