tread the boards

• Meaning: to act on stage (esp. professionally)
• In Chinese: very close to a Chinese expression of the same meaning: 踏台板

egress

• Meaning: coming / going out; exit
  
• In Chinese: 外出；出口
  
• Where we first met: email from the School Administrator of my school, concerning the construction work taking place in some heavy-traffic area near the school entrance - 'For the time being please take care when accessing and egressing through the quad.'

vilify, vilification

• Meaning: to make vicious and defamatory statements (about someone)
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 唱衰
  
• In decent Chinese: 詆毀，抹黑
  
• Where we first met: reader's comment in Scotsman.com - a certain writer was 'publicy vilified' for saying something against the expansion of British education in the 1960s.
  

imbecile [n], imbecillic [adj]

• Meaning: a stupid person; a person who is moderate to severe in mental retardation (offensive use)
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 懞仔，死蠢，低能，弱智
  
• In decent Chinese: 愚蠢，笨蛋； 智障 (人士)
  
• Where we first met: New York Times Book Review - 'If the best Lapham can do is to come up with 50 inventive new ways to call Bush an imbecillic oligarch, all he's doing is heckling.' (from review on Pretensions to Empire by Lewis H. Lapham)
  

august

• Meaning: inspiring awe or admiration; majestc; venerable
  
• In Chinese: 令人敬仰的
  
• Where we first met: economist.com - ' ... the New York Times Company, the most august journalistic institution of all ... '
  

congenital

• Meaning: (as if) inborn, (as if) by nature
  
• In Chinese: 與生俱來的，本性如此
  

progenitor

• Meaning: direct ancestor, originator, founder
  
• In decent Chinese: 祖宗，開山祖師，創始人
  
• Where we first met: opensourcetheology.net - 'The language of Abraham’s calling ... strongly suggests that he is conceived as the progenitor of a renewed creation ... '
  

dogsbody

• Meaning: [British slang] servant (esp. home servant)
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 賓妹，菲妹，阿菲，菲姐姐
• In older Hong Kong slang: 丫麻 (ahma -- which is probably a Chinese term 阿媽 translated into local Hong Kong style English and then retranslated into Cantonese)
  
• In contemporary decent Hong Kong Cantonese: 家務助理
  
• In decent Chinese: 　家傭，傭人
  

redoubtable

• Meaning: arousing fear; worthy of respect
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 係人都「舍」
  
• In decent Chinese: 可敬畏的
  

avuncular

• Meaning: of or pertaining to an uncle; regarded as characteristic of an uncle, especially in benevolence or tolerance
  
• In Chinese: actually cannot think of any direct parallel, but might be loosely translated as (有)長輩風範
  
• Where we first met: dictionary.com - word of the day (6 August 2006)
  

belligerent

• Meaning: [adj/n] inclined or eager to fight, hostile, aggressive; pertaining to warfare
• In Hong Kong slang: 興過辣雞，興到爆，想食人
  
• In decent Chinese: 好戰，好勇鬥狠
  
• Where we first met: The Economist: discussion on the ethics of war - 'once the bullets are flying and you are a belligerent, by what methods and weaponry is it legitimate to wage your war?'

posh

• Meaning: smart and fashionable
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 型，潮，yeah
  
• In decent Chinese: 入時，時尚
  
• Where we first met: The Scotsman - research finds that a famous Scottish comic character is turning posh in his language.
  

defang

• Meaning: to undermine the strength, to make ineffectual, to make it no longer threatening
• NB: fang = the sharp tooth of a snake, or canine tooth of a carnivore
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 廢佢武功，打殘佢， 剝大牙
  
• In decent Chinese: 除掉威脅，拔牙
  
• Where we first met: CNN - on Israeli's bombing of Lebanon - GW Bush says that Israel should be allowed the time to defang Hizbolla before any ceasefire.
  

throe

• Meaning: spasm of severe pain (as in childbirth); a condition of agonising struggle or trouble
  
• In Chinese: 絞痛
  
• Where we first met: wikipedia on the Scottish Enlightenment - ' ... the throes of the Enlightenment ... '
  

rife

• Meaning: in widespread existence or practice or use; increasingly prevalent; neumerous
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 好「行」(as in 流行)， 呢期興
  
• In decent Chinese: 方興未艾， 日趨普遍， 比比皆是
  
• Where we first met: Scotsman.com - a report revealed that anti-gay bullying 'was rife in classrooms across the country'.
  

pittance

• Meaning: a small amount of money, a meager wage
  
• origin: old French pitance = allowance for monks or poor people; related to 'pity'
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 雞碎咁多
  
• In decent Chinese: 微薄
• Where we first met: BBC online forum on university lecturers' salary despute with employers - a lecturer describes what they receive as a pittance.

spurn

• Meaning: reject disdainfully or contemptuously
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 睬都唔睬， 當無野
  
• In decent Chinese: 斷然拒絕
  
• Where we first met: BBC live text coverage of World Cup match 'S. Korea vs Tongo' - when given a free kick before the end of the match, South Korea 'spurned the chance for a third (goal) ... '
  

swathe / swath

• Meaning:
  
• [verb] to bind or wrap (with bandage); to enfold, limit, squeeze
  
• [noun] wrapping, binding
  
• In Hong Kong slang:
  
• [verb] 綑綁， 蹺埋， 鏈住
  
• [noun] 大咋， 成抽， 成pad
  
• In decent Chinese:
  
• [verb] 包紮， 限制
  
• [noun] 群組， 一堆， 組合
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - the plan of 'transforming a massive swathe of Edinburgh's historic Old Town ... '
  

phlegm [prounced as: flem], plegmatic [pronounced as flegmatic], phlegmatical

• Meaning: calmness, apathy, lack of emtion, composure
  
• NOTE: the noun originally means 痰 / 鼻涕
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 無眼睇， 話之佢， 無咁好氣
  
• In decent Chinese: 冷靜， 冷漠， 無動於衷， 處之泰然
  
• Where we first met: The Observer on England's poor victory over Paraguay in the World Cup - after the first half English people remembered 'with varying degrees of phlegmatic acceptance, three little words. Might. Not. Win.'
  

blight

• Meaning: [verb] to cause something to wither; to have harmful effects on something
• NOTE: original meaning as noun = disease / condition that makes a plant wither; an extremely adverse environmental condition; something that impairs growth / hope / progress / prosperity
• In Hong Kong slang: 玩謝， 打殘， 玩死
  
• In decent Chinese: 破壞淨盡， 消磨殆盡， 毀掉
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - ' ... gang warfare was blighting their estate ...'
  

heckle

• Meaning: to try to embarrass or annoy (someone performing or speaking in public) by questions or remarks
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 明串， 搞串party， gee-gud， 玩野
  
• In decent Chinese: 刁難， 挑剔， 針對
  
• Where we first met: BBC 'On This Day' (7 June 2000) - ' ... Women's Institute members ... heckled and slow hand-clapped a speech [Tony Blair] gave to their conference.'
  

supplant

• Meaning: to usurp the place of, to displace, to substitute
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 頂左、霸左 (個位), 整走、郁 (個人)
• In decent Chinese: 奪位, 鵲巢鳩佔； 取代
  
• Where we first met: New York Times Book Review on Mayflower (by Nathaniel Philbrick, Viking, 2006) - ' ... the civilization that supplanted the [native tribe] Wampanoag.'
  

sobriquet

• Meaning: affectionate or humourous nickname
  
• In Chinese: 花名，乳名，暱稱，小名
• Where we first met: New York Times Book Review on Mayflower (by Nathaniel Philbrick, Viking, 2006) - '... English men and women who became saddled with the sobriquet of America's founders ...'
  

flummox

• Meaning: (informal) to confuse, perplex
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 搞到一舊雲， 搞到抓晒頭
  
• In decent Chinese: 擾亂思想， 干擾視線， 令人混亂， 叫人困惑
  
• Where we first met: BBC film info on Insomnia (2002) - Al Pacino gets to 'the site of a murder that has the local authorities flummoxed.'
  

vitriolic

• Meaning: bitterly scathing / harsh / abusive (in criticism, in expression, in feeling)
  
• note: vitriol = sulfuric acid
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 狂插
  
• In decent Chinese: 尖酸， 刻薄
  
• Where we first met: BBC News on the salary dispute between university lecturers' union and their employers - ' ... often descends into vitriolic disagreement over what is, or is not, a "fact".'
  

windfall

• Meaning: unexpected good fortune (originally means ripened fruits that fall from the tree)
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 筍野， 無啦啦執到， 粗野(as in 撈粗野)， 淨袋
  
• In decent Chinese: 意外收穫， 意外之財
  
• Where we first met: The Scotsman.com - a lady who won a fortune in a lucky draw donates her windfall to charity.
  

derelict

• Meaning:
  
• [adj] deserted, abandoned (place)
• [n] a jobless / homeless person, a vagrant
  
• In Chinese: 荒廢, 棄置; 無業遊民, 流浪漢
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - the site in Cowgate, Edinburgh, which was torn down by fire in December 2002, has been derelict for the last three years.
  

Alsatian

• Meaning: [British use] German shephard (dog)
  
• In Chinese: 狼狗 (also called 德國牧羊狗)
  

charlatan

• Meaning: a 'charismatic' fraud, one who falsely claims knowledge or skill
  
• In Chinese: 神棍 (or other types of 棍)
  

splurge

• Meaning: to indulge in extravagant expense or luxury; to be showy or ostentatious
• In Hong Kong slang: 豪（as in 豪氣）； 晒（as in 晒命，晒野）
  
• In decent Chinese: [沉溺] 消費; 炫燿
• Where we first met: The Scotsman.com - a report found Edinburgh uninspiring for shoppers, so 'go to Glasgow if you urge for a splurge'.
  
  

asphxia, asphyxiation

• Meaning: suffocation
  
• In Chinese: 窒息， 缺氧， 透不過氣
  
• Where we first met: opensourcetheology.net - will post-evangelicalism remain 'a first-aid tent for the victims of intellectual asphyxiation?'

proclivity

• Meaning: a natural propensity or inclination, a predisposition
  
• In Chinese: 先天傾向， 本能
• Where we first met: opensourcetheology.net - 'If post-evangelicalism remains true to its post-modern proclivities, then the likelihood is that there will be no correct way to represent the truth about Jesus Christ in the world.'
  

staunch / stanch

• Meaning:
  
• [adj] firm, strong, substantial
  
• [v] stop (eg. the flow of something)
• In Hong Kong slang: 勁 (as in 勁撐)， 堅挺， 頂住
  
• In decent Chinese: 強而有力
• Where we first met: The Scotsman - the parents of the British soldier killed in Iraq issued a staunch defence of the army's role in that country.
  

sire - sires, siring, sired

• Meaning:
  
• [as noun] male ancestor, father (esp. of domesticated mammal); founder
  
• [as verb] beget
  
• In Chinese: (某樣東西，某套學說) 之父， 祖先， 誕生， 孕育
  
• Where we first met: New York Times Book Review - the 19th century French novelist Gustave Faubert is the sire of the modern narrative.
  

amok / amuck

• Meaning: wildly (as if demon possessed); murderous frenzy
• In Hong Kong slang: 發癲， 上身， 師父到
  
• In decent Chinese: 瘋了
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - why a maniac run amok?
  

spree

• Meaning: carefree outing
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 繞[音'yell']， 周圍繞[also音'yell']， 戲［音'heh'], 自由行
  
• In decent Chinese: 隨意遊蕩/溜達
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - a shizophrenic patient was let go on a spree for 2 days ...
  

clement (vs. inclement)

• Meaning:
• lenient, merciful (vs. unmerciful, harsh)
  
• [weather] mild, fine (vs. stormy, not good)
• In Cantonese:
  
• 好人，林，易話圍，好商與 (vs. 惡死，惡屎能登，悵雞)
• 好天氣 (vs. 天氣麻麻或惡劣)
• In decent Chinese:
  
• 善良，仁慈 (vs. 凶)
  
• 天朗氣清 (vs. 陰厘密佈, 風雨欲來)
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Easter Play website - when the Easter Play was premiered in March 2005, the weather was rather inclement.
  

lambaste

• Meaning: [informal] beat or scold sharply
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 斐低， 砌， 踏 (音'dub')
• In decent Chinese: 嚴厲批評， 狠批
  

acrimony

• Meaning: bitter and sharp animosity in speech or words
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 玩針對
  
• In decent Chinese: 惡意攻擊
  

shiftless

• Meaning: lacking purpose, ambition, or energy
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 戲 (音 'heh')
• In decent Chinese: 缺乏目標， 漫無目的
  

gusto

• Meaning: vigorous enjoyment, zest; individual taste
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 勁有癮
  
• In Chinese: 興致勃勃， 興高采烈
  
• Where we first met: BBC journalist commentary on the recent situation in France - 'French companies buy up foreign firms with gusto ... '
  

bestride, bestrode, bestridden

• Meaning:
  
1. to straddle, to sit or stand with legs astride
2. to dominate over
   
• In Hong Kong slang: 騎住， 食住， 殺晒
  
• In decent Chinese:
  
1. 騎
2. 傲視
• Where we first met: BBC journalist commentary on the recent situation in France - 'Once the French bestrode the planet like a Colossus, exporting everything from their language to their culture.'
  

phalanx [plural: phalanxes, phalanges]

• Meaning: an closely knit arrray of people
• In Chinese: 人牆
  
• Where we first met: BBC News - ' ... the bodyguards form a phalanx ... '
  

parky

• Meaning: [British] crispy cold and invigorating
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 醒神， 凍到跳舞
  
• In decent Chinese: 令人精神抖擻， 寒風刺骨
  
• Where we first met: film review from The Guardian on Basic Instinct 2: ... jacuzzi on a London rooftop is parky ...
  

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snub

• Meaning: [adj, noun, verb] dismiss, treat coldly, ignore, slight
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 唔蘇， 搞到佢無癮
  
• In decent Chinese: 忽視， 冷淡

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veer

• Meaning: [verb, noun] sharp turn in direction
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 轉呔 / 轉態
  
• In decent Chinese: 改變方向，轉變態度，轉向，轉鉈
  

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moon

• Meaning:
  
1. to wander around aimlessly, without specific things to do
2. [slang] to expose one's buttock -- as a gesture of disrespect
   
• In Hong Kong slang:
  
1. 戲（音 'heh'）
   
• In decent Chinese:
  
1. 遊手好閒， 無所是事
   
2. 露臀抗議
   
• Where we first met: film information on Straw Dog (1971) - Dustin Hoffman simply moons and does nothing.
  

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yokel

• Meaning: [derogatory] unintelligent and unsophisticated person from the rural area (usually male)
  
• Synynoms: rustic, bumpkin
  
• In Cantonese: 鄉下佬， 土佬
  
• Where we first met: film information on Straw Dogs (1971) - Dustin Hoffman was challenged by the yokels ...
  

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copious

• Meaning:
  
1. ample supply, abundant
   
2. abounding in thoughts or words

• In Hong Kong slang:
  
1. 大把，通街都係
2. 口水多過X
• In decent Chinese:
1. 充裕，大量供應
2. 口若懸河，滔滔不絕，思如泉湧

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heist

• Meaning: [slang] robbery, burglary
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 老笠， 老爆
  
• In decent Chinese: 打劫， 爆竊
  
• Where we first met: BBC News
  

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dummkopf [pronounced: doom-kof]

• Meaning: a stupid person
  
• Synynoms: dolt, dunce
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 懵丙， 茂利， 死蠢
  
• In decent Chinese: 笨蛋， 傻子， 愚人
  
• Origin: German: dumm = dumb; kopf = head
  
• Where we first met: BBC News - Sir Alan Sugar (host of TV show The Apprentice) was criticisesd for describing colleges as places 'where dummkopfs come to learn where to make mistakes'.

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peter, peter out

• Meaning:
  
• to diminish slowly, to dwindle -- 'peter out': to become exhausted
  
• [obscene slang] penis
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 謝， 陰乾
• In decent Chinese: 退卻， 減退， 褪色
• Where we first met: Spike.com -- public interest in the alleged plagiarism of Da Vinci Code will peter out very soon.
  

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jeremiad

• Meaning: a literary work of lament or righteous prophecy of doom
  
• Origin: Hebrew Bible: the prophet Jeremiah
  
• In Chinese: cannot think of any parallel; anyone?
  
• Where we first met: New York Times book review - a reviewer describes the USA as being 'in an era of best selling jeremiads on both sides of the political divide'.
  
  

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philistinism

• Meaning: a desire for wealth & material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters, an attitude of smug (自大) ignorance & conventionalisms, esp toward artistic & cultural values
  
• Origin: Hebrew Bible: Philistines (非利士人)
  
• In Chinese: (similar & comparable, but not exactly parallel) 暴發戶心態 - a combination of being 財大氣粗 + 俗不可耐 + 錢大晒 + 唔用腦 + 無品味 + 串
  
• Where we first met: Times Higher Education Supplement: an Oxford scholar criticises Sussex University's decision to close its famous Chemistry Department as 'a shameful act of philistinism'.
  

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rue

• Meaning: [noun / verb] regret, feel sorrow
  
• In Hong Kong / Cantonese slang: 砍頭埋牆， DUM心， 頂住頂住
  
• In decent Chinese: 後悔， 遺憾
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News: ' ... make sure the city does not live to rue missed opportunities.'
  

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pilfer

• Meaning: to steal (a small amount or item)
  
• Synynoms: filch, snitch
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 撻
  
• In older Cantonese: 納， 鼠
  
• In decent Chinese: 偷竊， 盜取， 高買， 不問自取
  
• Where we first met: information on French film director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who made La Cite des Enfants Perdus (The City of Lost Children, 1995) - 'the story of an evil scientist's plan to pilfer children's dreams'.
  

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brunt

• Meaning: major impact or force (in an attack), main burden
  
• Usage: bear the brunt
  
• Example: Villagers in New Territories North bear the brunt of the government's ban on private poutry.
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 食到應， 食曬野， 食硬
  
• In decent Chinese: 首當其衝
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - certain areas are expected to bear the brunt of the city's new restrictions on renewing liquor licences to shops.
  

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ire

• Meaning: anger, esp when intensely and openly displayed
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 罊， 罄到爆
• Where we first met: somewhere in BBC news online
  

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boon

• Meaning:
  
• n: a timely benefit (esp. bestowed upon request or prayer), something to be thankful for 【from Latin: bonus】
  
• adj: joyful, convivial 【from French: bon (good)】
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 筍野, 執到
• In decent Chinese: 久旱甘霖, 及時雨
  
• In Chinese church jargon: 值得感恩
  

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haughty

• Meaning: condescendingly proud
• In Hong Kong slang: o懶醒， 招績， 串， o懶有野
• Where we first met: Bible: 1 Timothy 6:17 (New Revised Standard Version):
  
• 'As for those who are rich in this age, command them not to be haughty ... ' (NRSV, 1989, 1995)
• other translations:
  
• RSV (1952): 'As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty ... '
  
• NIV (1973-1984): 'Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant ... '
  
• KJV (1611): 'Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded ... '
  
• NKJV (1994): 'Command those who are in this present age not to be haughty ... '
  
• The Message (1993-2002): 'Tell those rich in this world's weath to quit being so full of themselves ... '
  
• 中文和合本 (1919)： 『你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高 ... 』
  
• 飲者臨時譯本： 『你叫個班而家有銀o既，唔好咁串 ... 』
  

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wee -- weer, weest

• Meaning:
  
• adj: tiny (in size)
  
• adj: very early (in time)
  
• n: brief period of time (Scottish usage)
  
• v: urinate
  
• Example:
• Dor Dor is a wee dog.
  
• At the wee hour of the morning ...
  
• Where we first met: film review on Greyfriars Bobby (a British film about a famous Edinburgh Dog)
  

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