Group 5
第五组
bete noire
n. 为人恐俱的事物或人
She enjoyed all her subjects except mathematics, her bete noire.
她喜欢所有的科目，数学除外，那是她最怕的一科。
carte blanche
n. 全权委托；自由行动权
The employer gave his secretary carte blanche in managing the routine affairs of the office.
雇主全权委托他的秘书处理办公室的例行事务。
cause celebre
n. 轰动一时的刑案
The trial of John Peter Zenger, a cause celebre in the eighteenth century, helped to establish freedom of the press in America.
约翰·彼德·山格的审判，一件在十八世纪轰动一时的刑案，有助于建立美国的新闻自由。
cul-de-sac
n. 死路；死巷
Painting proved to be a cul-de-sac for Philip Carey, as he had no real talent.
绘画对菲力蒲·卡瑞来说是死路一条，因为他没有真正的天份。
debacle
n. 崩溃；混乱
The debacle at Waterloo signaled the end of Napoleon's power.
滑铁卢的溃败暗示拿破仑政权的结束。
fait accompli
n. 既成事实
Since Mother couldn't decide whether or not to buy the dress for me, I planned to buy it myself and present her with a fait accompli.
母亲不能决定要不要买那件衣服给我，我打算自己买下来．把既成的事实摆在她面前。
faux pas
n. 失礼；失态；失言
However, it turned out to be a faux pas, as Mother made me return the dress.
然而，母亲要我把衣服退回，变成一件很失礼的事情。
impasse
n. 1. 僵局 2. 死路
The foreman reported that the jury could deliberate no further, as they had reached an impasse.
陪审团主席宣告陪审团已闹成僵局，无法作进一步的研讨。
liaison
n. 联络；接触
By joining the alumni association, graduates can maintain their liaison with the school.
毕业生可借着参加校友会，与学校保持联络。
melange
n. 混合；杂集
Our last amateur show was a melange of dramatic skits, acrobatics, ballet, popular tunes, and classical music.
上一次我们的业余表演是戏剧性幽默短剧、特技、芭蕾、流行歌曲及古典音乐的大杂烩。
mirage
n. 海市俊楼
The sheet of water we thought we saw on the road ahead turned out to be only a mirage.
我们看见路前的那一滩水只是海市蜃楼而已。