Verb Master 動詞達人

【一天精通一單字】Avoid
八月十八日「大家說英語」單字只列出五個字：toothache, worse, appointment, avoid, checkup，其中的Avoid稍稍超過國中生的程度，做為今天的主題。  

封面主題：
Why people avoid me like the plague?
(為什麼大家迴避我像躲瘟神一樣？)
* plague(瘟疫)，[pleɡ]

Avoid，迴避，在語意上有兩種意思：

第一，避免或規避，相當於Prevent(避免)，如avoid trouble (躲麻煩)、avoid paying tickets (逃票)

第二種，比較特殊，跟人保持距離，相當於Stay away from someone

If you don’t love me, then hate me, but don’t avoid me. It hurts. It really hurts.
(如果你不愛我，你可以恨我，但是不要躲我，很難過，真的很難過)

【大家說英語 Aug 18th】

Toothache (牙痛)，['tuθek]
* 用法：have a toothache 或got a toothache
* 注意：have a toothache是美式英語，英式英語不加冠詞a

Worse (更糟糕)，[wɝs]
* worse是比較級，比bad更糟糕一點，比方Go from bad to worse(每況愈下)

Things go from bad to worse for HTC.
(宏達電每況愈下)

* 用法：get worse (變糟)，getting worse (越來越糟)，make it worse(弄糟)

Things are just getting worse.
(事情只會越來越糟糕)

Stop! You’ll only make matters worse.
(停住！你只會把事情弄得更糟糕)

Appointment (預約)，[ə'pɔɪntmənt]
* 男女之間的約會用date比較洽當，appointment太正式
* 用法：make an appointment (預約)、have an appointment (有約)、keep an appointment (準時赴約)、cancel an appointment (取消約會)

For the six times in a row, Fiona had failed to keep her appointment.
(已經連續六次了，Fiona沒有一次赴約)

* 事實上，appointment源自動詞appoint(指定、任命)，所以有「任命」和「職位」的意思：

The appointment of a new Prime Minister is influenced mostly by the President’s will.
(新任總理的任命主要取決於總統的意願)
Mao has taken up the appointment as the Chairman of Executive Yuan.
(毛治國接受行政院院長職務)

avoid (避免)，[ə'vɔɪd]
* 對事avoid，通常是避免麻煩、規避法規
* 對人avoid，通常是討厭某人，刻意保持距離

I narrowly avoided a car accident.
(我差一點點就發生車禍)
Fiona avoids me like the plague.
(Fiona躲我像躲瘟疫一樣)
There is no way to avoid the income taxes legally.
(沒有合法的途徑規避所得稅)

checkup (檢查)，['tʃekʌp]
* checkup是一般性的檢查，特別是身體健康檢查
* 產檢(prenatal checkup)、健檢(regular checkup)、全面檢查(overall checkup)