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Childlike and childish 天真和幼稚
I had been to America for only a few years, as I did not understand the actual meanings of the two words "childlike" and "childish". A minor misunderstanding was the result, and I nearly offended my supervising professor.
One day I had a chat with some professors and postgraduates in the office. the subject came to the character of my supervisor. She was a senior professor who was always very cheerful and enthusiastic, interesting and full of childlike innocence. I said without thinking, "She is childish." Actually what I meant to say is, "She is childlike."
Not long after that, my professor was told that I had said she was childish. She was a little unhappy to hear that, and asked me, "Did you say that I am childish?" I felt at once that something bad would happen to me. I hurriedly explained what I meant, and she forgave my inappropriately using the word.
"Childlike" and "Childish" are different, in that the former is a commendatory （褒义的）term, which praises one who is innocent and has characteristics of a child, while the latter a derogatory (贬义的)term, which describes an adult behaving like a child.
Considerable and considerate 相当大的与考虑周到的
Once I went on an outing with one of my American friends together. On the way he looked after me very carefully. I was very grateful to him in my heart. Besides saying "thank you", I also added, "You're so considerable." In fact I meant to praise him for being thoughtful. However, as soon as I uttered that, my friend, previously wearing a bright facial expression, then quickly took on a ghastly (难看的，可怕的）look. I immediately perceived something wrong, but I did not know where my mistake laid and I felt very embarrassed.
Fortunately, my friend was really good at understanding others. He hesitated and said, "I think you wanted to say I'm considerate." I hastened to ask him about the differences between the two words.
It turns out that "considerable" means" rather large in size, etc. or of noticeable importance", （and my friend happened to be an extremely burly （大块头的）man, which he was sensitive to) while "considerate" was what I wanted to express.
It is really true that an error in the breadth of a single hair can lead you a thousand li astray（失之毫厘，差之千里）!
Dead end 死胡同
When I first caught sight of the sign "Dead End", I was really startled. Literally it means the road to death. I wondered whether it was " a dragon's pool and a tiger's den (龙潭虎穴)-- a danger spot", or mines or bombs were laid there and once you made your entrance to it you were sure to die. Therefore a shocking sign was set up, warning people against getting into the forbidden area without authorization. Later I got to know that the sign "Dead End" tells people that the road is closed at one end, and therefore does not lead anywhere.
"Black" Meat or dark meat "黑"肉还是鸡腿肉
This story happened when I just came to America. One day I went to the fried-chicken fast-food restaurant attached to the school for meal. A waiter asked me, "What kind of meat would you like?" At that time it occurred to me that I had learned in my college English class that "white meat" refers to chicken breast while "dark meat" means chicken leg. However, when I spoke, it went like, "Black meat, please." Suddenly I found the waiter looking angry (for he happened to be a black). Then I realized that I had said something wrong. After I explained time and again that I just came to America and knew very little about slang, he became happy again.
turn one's back on/upon...背弃...，抛弃...;对...不闻不问
We requested that he look into the matter, but he just seemed to turn his back on our request.
Did she really turn her back on his proposal?她真的拒绝了他的求婚？
Dialogue:
Nancy: You look upset these days. What's troubling you?
Selma: I've requested to take a leave from work so that I can spend our annual holiday in Spain with my family. But our boss turned it down by saying that the company is short of hands.
Nancy: Did you explain your situation and ask him again?
Selma: Yes, I did. But he just turned his back on my request.
Nancy: Maybe you can change your plan and put it off till later.
