讲解：
stop / halt sb in their tracks | stop / halt / freeze in your tracks
(使由于恐惧或吃惊)突然止步；(使)怔住:
The question stopped Alice in her tracks.
这个问题问得艾丽斯张口结舌无以答对。

blackmail sb (into doing sth)
勒索；敲诈；要挟；胁迫:
She blackmailed him for years by threatening to tell the newspapers about their affair.
她以公开他们的恋情要挟了他很多年。

be licensed to do
批准；许可:
The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US.
这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。

a crushing blow
(强调糟糕或严重的程度)惨重的,毁坏性的:
The shipyard has been dealt another crushing blow with the failure to win this contract.
由于未能赢得这份合同,造船厂又遭到了一次惨重的打击。

determined (to do sth)
决心；决定；决意:
I'm determined to succeed.
我决心要获得成功。

a budding artist / writer
一位艺术界/文坛新秀
our budding romance
我们刚刚发展起来的恋爱关系

be rejected
拒绝接受；不予考虑:
The prime minister rejected any idea of reforming the system.
首相对任何改革体制的想法都不予考虑。