MTI备考必看 | 国际政治类文本常用短语（第3期）

字面意思：one separate part of a TV drama series

本义例句：She watched the final episode of the historical TV series last night. 她昨晚看完这部历史电视剧的最后一集。

引申含义：a distinct, self‑contained incident within a longer political or geopolitical story

外刊例句：This diplomatic row is just the latest episode in the long‑running bilateral rivalry. 这场外交争端只是长期双边对抗中最新的一段插曲。

常用搭配：another / the latest episode in …

适用场景：外交摩擦、危机事件、历史上阶段性冲突

字面意思：shake and clatter a sabre as a show of force

本义例句：The soldier performed sabre‑rattling during the military parade show. 这名士兵在阅兵表演中挥舞军刀，哐当作响。

引申含义：public threatening military gestures intended to intimidate other states

外刊例句：The government’s sabre‑rattling heightened fears of a regional armed clash. 该国政府的武力叫嚣加剧了各方对地区武装冲突的担忧。

常用搭配：military sabre‑rattling; engage in sabre‑rattling

适用场景：军事威慑、军演示威、战前舆论恫吓

字面意思：produce tiny hot particles of fire

本义例句：Dry leaves can spark a wildfire in hot summer weather. 盛夏时节，干树叶可以迸出火星引发野火。

引申含义：trigger conflicts, public outcry or major geopolitical developments

外刊例句：The controversial statement sparked fierce debates across multilateral forums. 这份争议性声明在多个多边论坛引发激烈辩论。

常用搭配：spark tensions / protests / a crisis / a row

适用场景：外交发言、突发事件，诱发矛盾、抗议、危机

字面意思：construct a solid floor as the base of a building

本义例句：Workers build a floor for the new cottage before putting up walls. 工人先为小屋搭建地板基底，再砌筑墙体。

引申含义：establish minimum baseline terms to prevent negotiations from total collapse

外刊例句：Diplomats tried to build a floor for talks amid deep mutual mistrust. 在双方高度互不信任的背景下，外交官努力为谈判设立底线。

常用搭配：build a floor for negotiations / dialogue

适用场景：僵局谈判、停战磋商，划定最低可接受条件

字面意思：traffic regulations for people driving on roads

本义例句：Every driver must obey the basic rules of the road. 每一位驾驶员都必须遵守基本道路通行规则。

引申含义：accepted norms and ground‑rules governing international political or economic interactions

外刊例句：Major powers should jointly negotiate new rules of the road for digital governance. 大国应当共同协商数字治理的全新国际行事准则。

常用搭配：establish / rewrite / follow the rules of the road

适用场景：全球治理、网络空间、贸易谈判，重塑国际规范

字面意思：feel strong physical need for food

本义例句：After long hiking, the children were hungry for hot meals. 长途徒步之后，孩子们迫切想吃热饭。

引申含义：politicians or nations eagerly seek support, influence or strategic resources

外刊例句：The incoming administration is hungry for international recognition and trade deals. 新一届政府迫切谋求国际认可与贸易协定。

常用搭配：be hungry for support / power / resources / recognition

适用场景：新政府上台、大选之后、小国寻求大国支持

字面意思：spin in circles and lose physical control

本义例句：The toy plane spiralled out of control and crashed into the grass. 玩具飞机螺旋盘旋失控，摔进草丛。

引申含义：tensions, conflicts or crises keep escalating and can no longer be contained

外刊例句：Local clashes risk spiralling out of control into a full‑scale regional war. 局部冲突存在不断恶化、演变为全面地区战争的风险。

常用搭配：tensions / violence spiral out of control

适用场景：边境摩擦、社会骚乱，冲突持续升级

字面意思：a painted or photographed visual image

本义例句：This picture captures the sunset over the coastal bay. 这张照片拍下了海湾日落的画面。

引申含义：the overall situation or comprehensive assessment of political reality

外刊例句：New economic data completes the picture of the country‘s diplomatic predicament. 新的经济数据拼凑出该国外交困境的完整事态全貌。

常用搭配：the bigger picture; paint a gloomy picture of …

适用场景：局势研判、报告分析，描述综合事态

字面意思：the act of lying flat down on the ground

本义例句：The tired dog took a lie‑down on the cool lawn. 疲惫的小狗在凉爽草坪上就地躺倒。

引申含义：a passive, do‑nothing response to political pressure or crisis

外刊例句：Critics accuse the cabinet of a lie‑down in face of foreign diplomatic pressure. 批评人士指责内阁面对外部外交压力采取躺平式消极应对。

常用搭配：take a lie‑down in face of pressure

适用场景：政府应对危机、议会妥协，消极回避挑战