BBC听力丨看国外新闻，学地道英语 Vol.376

A final effort or attempt to solve a problem or avoid failure or defeat, especially after a series of failures or setbacks

last-ditch attempt

The home team is mounting one last-ditch attempt in the final seconds of the game to try to force an overtime showdown.

To cause a noticeable change in something. The imagery refers to the pointer ("needle") on a measuring instrument, which moves to indicate the level that has been reached.

move the needle

It seems all my efforts to get in good with the CEO have done little to move the needle in my favor.

Is any other department working as hard as we are to move the needle on environmental conservation?

参议员

senator

众议院议长

House Speaker

sb express sth clearly=

sb need clarity on sth

so far=

Thus far,

国家安全顾问

national security adviser

国务卿

Secretary of State

国防部长

Secretary of Defense

intelligent and quick to notice and understand things敏锐的；有洞察力的

acute

He is pretty acute when it comes to American politics.

他是个敏锐的社会现状观察者。

He is an acute observer of the social scene.

她的判断敏锐。

Her judgement is acute.

~ sb/sth

to stop sb/sth that is going from one place to another from arriving拦截；拦阻；截住

intercept

Country's air defense has intercepted many of those missiles.

他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel.

信被截查了。

The letter was intercepted.

supply sb with sth