sinuate insinuate sinuous 【根】sinu＝curve（弯曲）

sinuate['sinjueit]
To bend or curve; wind in and out
Having a wavy indented margin, as a leaf
adj. 波状的；弯弯曲曲的

insinuate [in'sinjueit]
to suggest indirectly that sth unpleasant is true
place sth/oneself smoothly and stealthily into sth
~ yourself into sth (formal, disapproving) to succeed in gaining sb's respect, affection, etc. so that you can use the situation to your own advantage:
To introduce or insert (oneself) by subtle and artful means
vt. 暗示；使迂回地潜入;使逐渐而巧妙地取得
vi. 暗讽；说含沙射影的话;旁敲侧击地说

例句
The cat insinuated herself into the kitchen.
那只猫悄悄地钻进厨房。
He tried to insinuate himself into the boss's favor.
他设法巧妙地渐渐取得老板的欢心。
She insinuated to us that her partner had embezzled funds.
她旁敲侧击地指出她的合伙人盗用了资金。

sinuous ['sinjuəs]
(literary) turning while moving, in a graceful way; having many curves
adj. 蜿蜒的；弯曲的；迂回的

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选
The great creator raised his sinuous, powerful, flexible arm, and we know where we stand.
伟大的造物主抬起了他弯曲的，有力的，灵活的手臂，我们知道了我们的立场。

tadpole toad+pole

toad [təud]
a small brownish green animal, similar to a frog, which has big eyes and long back legs for swimming and jumping:
an extremely unpleasant man, especially one who is physically very unattractive
n. 蟾蜍；癞蛤蟆；讨厌的家伙

短语:
1.(as) ugly as a toad (或 scarecrow) 像个丑八怪，很难看
2.a toad under a (或 the) hammer (或 harrow) 经常受压迫的人，受迫害的人
3.eat someone's toads 拍某人的马屁
4.the biggest toad in the puddle [俚语](在政治方面或其他集团中的)头号人物，众所公认的头子；要人

pole [pəul]
某种乌贼或动物的尾巴

tadpole ['tædpəul]
n. 蝌蚪

tad[tæd]
"young or small child," probably a shortened form of tadpole. The extended meaning "small amount" is first recorded 1915.
n.
[美国口语]
小孩子；小男孩
少量，小量，微量；些许