新词新译：哑巴亏/穿帮/百搭/灰镜头/盘点/脚底摸油/铁头功/双规/高考状元

哑巴亏
take it on the chin
The Chinese term, “a dumb man’s loss,” refers to someone who suffers losses or grievances but is forced to keep it quiet, or stay “speechless,” because of existing circumstances.

穿帮
blow one’s cover
The colloquial expression refers to a trick involving two or more frauds that bombs when one of them takes a misstep. The Chinese term means literally that toes are exposed as soon as the upper of shoes is worn out.

百搭
all-matching, joker, Jack of all trades
If a piece of clothing or accessory goes easily with other clothing of any color or style or an electronics part or device is compatible with all other parts or devices needed for a complete set it is an all-matching case. The phrase also means “joker” in a card game that can be used to trump or substitute any other cards.

灰镜头
seamy picture
Hui means dirt or grey in Chinese, and jingtou means lens. Pictures taken when the lens is blurred with dirt are considered a disaster. People now use this expression to refer to anything that causes the majority of the public to frown.

盘点
elaboration, rundown
It originally means stock counting. But now the term is widely used in the media to mean to cover a certain topic in an exhaustive way or to summarize the overall developments.

脚底摸油
cut and run
The term literally means “to apply oil to the soles of one’s feet” so one can retreat expeditiously. It is commonly used to describe someone who leaves the scene suddenly to avoid difficulties or trouble.

铁头功
head butt
France captain Zinedine Zidane was redcarded in the 110th minute of the World Cup final for head butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. Zidane claimed that he was provoked because Materazzi insulted his mother and sister.

双规
double-designation
This term means a special investigation scheme of the Communist Party of China when a member or official of the Party is ordered to make explanation or confession about his/her alleged involvement in a discipline-violation or corruption case at a designated time and in a designated place.

高考状元
college entrance exam ace
This word means the top scorers in college entrance exams. Such cream of the crop is usually taken away by top universities in the country.

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