American History Series: At Bull Run, a Terrible Defeat for the North

1.smash v.打碎

例句:She smashed the hammer down onto the box.
       她用锤子猛击箱子。

      The vase crashed onto the floor and smashed to smithereens.
      花瓶落在地板上摔得粉碎。

2.major a.主要的,较多的,大部份的

例句:All the major dailies carried the story on the front page.
       几家主要的日报均在头版刊登了这一消息。

      It is one of the major government-protected cultural sites.
      它是政府重点保护文物之一。

3.fierce a.凶猛的,残忍的;狂热的,强烈的

例句:The competition for this job is fierce.
      这份工作的角逐很激烈。

      The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.
      那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

4.seize v.抓住,逮住;夺取,占领;没收,查封;理解,掌握

例句:I hear there is a big reward for the seizing of the thief.
      我听说为捉拿那小偷设立了重奖。

5.march v.进军,前进,交界

例句:We watch the soldier marching down the street .
      我们观看士兵在街上行进。

6.retreat n. 休息寓所,撤退,隐居,退避,避难所
vi. 撤退,隐退,放弃,向后倾

例句:The enemy retreated under our heavy artillery fire.
      敌人在我们的重炮轰击下撤退了。

      Suddenly they found their retreat cut off.
      他们突然发现退路已被切断。

1.General George McClellan moved the army up to the very gates of the city.

very在这里是形容词,表示正是那一个,刚好的意思。

2.The fighting died down at the end of the day, and Jackson's men moved back to their positions on higher ground.

die down变弱,逐渐停止,渐渐消失

例句:He thought that the criticism that had followed his announcement would die down.
      他以为他的声明招来的批评会慢慢地平息下来。

3.He said they were not in condition to fight, and he would not send them.

in condition健康状况好,身体条件适合,保存得好

例句:We are hoping against hope for a change in her condition.
      我们希望她的病情有一丝转机。

      Athletes train to be in condition.
      运动员训练以保持良好的竞技状态。

4.When the northern troops began to retreat, Lee and Jackson attacked with all their might.

with all their might竭尽全力

例句:They tried to control the flood with all their might.
      他们竭尽全力希望控制洪水。

5.The southern attack slowed down, then stopped.

slow down慢下来,减速,减慢…的速度

例句:The car negotiated the sharp curve by slowing down.
      该车减低了速度驶过急转弯。

      All this conversation slows down the action of the play.
      所有这些对话使得剧情节奏慢下来。