countertop
释义：这一名词是指厨房里橱柜的“台面”，一般在水槽的旁边，用来预备食材以及菜肴。
例句：
So, if you’re in my home, what’s on the kitchen countertop?
Cara took a bite of apple and sa[……]
分类： 咬文嚼字
brick and mortar
释义：这一习惯用语的本意是砌墙用的“砖块和灰浆”，引申用来形容事物的“基本构造单元”，或用来形容与互联网产业相对的“线下传统”产业。
例句：
What seems to really bother opponents of the program is the[……]
easier said than done
释义：“说来容易做来难”，这一习惯用语常常用于在留学文书中体现学生在实际操作中遇到的困难和障碍，以及它们的最终解决。
例句：
Several nurses have testified that this requirement is easier s[……]
long and winding
释义：“蜿蜒起伏的”，可以是实指，也可以在留学文书里用来形容学术道路的漫长艰辛。
例句：
I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he follow[……]
keep [sb.]/[sth.] in check
释义：“保持对……的约束”，一般在留学文书中形容克服某个自身缺点，或在项目中控制某项负面因素。
例句：
The news kept Wall Street in check, as traders considered their optio[……]
take the initiative
释义：“采取主动”，后接未经他人指示而自主进行的活动或承担的职责，常在留学文书中用来体现求知欲和领导力。
例句：
We both have a tendency to wait for the other person to take the initia[……]
the general populace
释义：“普罗大众”，指代不特定的大多数，常在留学文书里用以描写自己的远大职业目标所造福的对象。
例句：
It is definitely below the radar for the general populace.
We also want to[……]
make a name for oneself
释义：“让自己声名在外”，推荐信中委婉称赞被推荐人在社区中积极影响的一个短语。
例句：
Since taking over Hillary Clinton Senate’s seat, she had made a name for herself[……]
cram
释义：通常的意义是“将……塞满”，但在留学文书里常常用到的是一个引申义“考前突击”，即临时抱佛脚以期在短时间内记住大量信息。
例句：
In the small room, the bookshelves were crammed full with paperbacks by Anit[……]
a piece of cake
释义：“小菜一碟”。在留学文书里形容极容易完成的任务或项目，往往是为后续的转折作为铺垫和反衬。
例句：
Heidi made it seem as if losing the baby weight was a piece of cake.
Being a sen[……]