at an awkward age = at any difficult stage of life, usually adolescence or the menopause处于将近成年的时期,未成熟的青春期或更年期
He’s at that awkward age always hanging around on street corners.
他正处于将成年未成年的时期,老是在街头巷尾闲荡。
My mother has become very moody – but she’s at an awkward age.
我母亲变得喜怒无常-不过她正处于更年期。
come of age = reach the age of being legally responsible for one’s actions(eighteen years for most purposes in Britain)成年,到达法定年龄(在英国大多数为18岁)
She signed her own hire purchase agreement now that she’s come of age.
因为她已到法定年龄,她自己在分期付款购买契约上签了字。
aback
to be taken aback = surprised 吃惊
I was very taken aback that she passed exam.
她通过考试我非常吃惊。
abeyance
be in/fall into abeyance = be waiting or in suspense 搁置;未定
The plan was in abeyance because the engneer had important things.
这个计划被搁置了因为工程有要事。
agony
agony column = letters to a newspaper/magazine from readers with problems that are answered by the publication’s resident expert答读者问专栏
The agony column is my favorite part of the magazine.
这本杂志的答读者问专栏是我最喜爱的部分。
pile on the agony = deliberately make somebody’s pain, discomfort or disappointment seem worse 过分渲染悲痛
I told him I’d lost my job and he piled on the agony by saying that I’ll probably never get another one.
我告诉他我失去了工作,结果他大肆渲染了一番,说我将可能再也找不到工作了。
Our opponents scored the first goal and then piled on the agony by scoring five more.
我们的对手先踢进一球,而后又进5球,这使我们创痛巨深。