We Should NOT Cap Oxbridge Private Schoo

1.

self-professed

ADJ avowed or acknowledged by oneself 自己公开的 e.g. As a self-professed communist, my little Marxist heart was completely broken when I was told I had to be on opposition. 2.

filthy

/ˈfɪlθɪ/ ADJ If you describe something as filthy, you mean that you think it is morally very unpleasant and disgusting. 污秽的，卑鄙的 e.g. I'm afraid I must also start with a very filthy confession. 3.

hone in on

逐渐靠近，锁定目标 The meaning of hone in on is to move toward or focus attention on an objective. e.g. It is something that we've all touched on and it's something I want to hone in on in particular in my speech. 4.

sorely

/ˈsɔːlɪ/ Sorely is used to emphasize that a feeling such as disappointment or need is very strong. 非常，表强调 e.g. I'm going to focus on three main points. Firstly, I want to recharacterize the background and context of this debate which I think has been sorely missed. 5.

austerity

/ɒˈstɛrɪtɪ/ Austerity is a situation in which people's living standards are reduced because of economic difficulties. 经济紧缩 e.g. And as the former principal of my college Hartford College Will Hutton pointed out we have not even recovered from the austerity measures that David Cameron put in in 2010. 6.

obscenely

/əbˈsiːn/ extremely large in size or amount in а waythat most people find unacceptable and offensive(数量等)大得惊人的，骇人听闻的 e.g. Schools have been left of obscenely high teacher to student ratios. 7.

tatter

/ˈtætə/ V to make or become ragged or worn to shreds 撕碎 n. torn or ragged pieces, esp of material 碎片 e.g. After a decade of Tory rule, we can see that the state education system is in tatters. 8.

minuscule

/ˈmɪnəˌskjuːl/ ADJ If you describe something as minuscule, you mean that it is very small. 极小的 e.g. But I've been told by the president, who is a PPEist himself, that this is in fact a minuscule difference. 9.

bonkers

/ˈbɒŋkəz/ ADJ mad; crazy 疯狂的 e.g. But also I think what we have here is private schools that are investing in less bonkers ideas as well. 10.

charisma

/kəˈrɪzmə/ N-UNCOUNT You say that someone has charisma when they can attract, influence, and inspire people by their personal qualities. 魅力; 感召力

work a room

To “work the room” is to move through a crowd, greeting people and engaging them in conversation. 在社交场合熟练交际。 e.g. Think about how you learn to work a room and the charm and charisma that is brought with that. 11.

primed and prepped

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress. 完全准备好 e.g. Now what you have then is all these people from private educated backgrounds coming to this university. This is a university that is primed and prepped in a uniquely private school manner. 12.

posh

adj. /pɒʃ/ If you describe a person as posh, you mean that they belong to or behave as if they belong to the upper classes. 上流社会的; 看似上流社会的 e.g. We have fallen in love with the charming posh politician. 13.

mannerism

/ˈmænəˌrɪzəm/ Someone's mannerisms are the gestures or ways of speaking that are very characteristic of them, and which they often use. (说话或动作特有的)习性 e.g. But think about the people who don't demonstrate the kind of private school mannerisms，which I may be demonstrating right now. 14.

attribute

N-COUNT An attribute is a quality or feature that someone or something has. 特性 e.g. We have a faculty, we have universities that value those kind of attributes in a person. 15.

rash

/ræʃ/ adj. If someone is rash or does rash things, they act without thinking carefully first, and therefore make mistakes or behave foolishly. 轻率的 e.g. When we see inequality, we are always keen to jump in and take rash action. 16.

obstinate

/ˈɒbstɪnɪt/ If you describe someone as obstinate, you are being critical of them because they are very determined to do what they want, and refuse to change their mind or be persuaded to do something else. 固执的

elitism

/ɪˈliːtɪzəm, eɪ-/ N Elitism is the quality or practice of being elitist. 精英主义 17.

eerie

/ˈɪərɪ/ If you describe something as eerie, you mean that it seems strange and frightening, and makes you feel nervous. 怪异的; 可怕的

reminiscent

/ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsənt/ ADJ If you say that one thing is reminiscent of another, you mean that it reminds you of it. 令人想起的 e.g. In short, this motion is eerily reminiscent of recent rules changes that have been brought to standing committee, sound in principle, good in heart but impractical and harmful at best.