【视频讲解】

But peers also made clear that they will eventually back down and let an unamended bill become law in the first half of March.
但是贵族们也明白他们最后得做出让步，并且在3月上旬通过未经修改的法案。
back down
1. 让步
We could see that he would back down if we stood firmly.
可以看出，如果我们坚定不移，他就会让步
2. (因他人反对而) 放弃 = abandon
It's too late to back down now.
现在打退堂鼓为时已晚。
Back out 食言，背信，失诺：
You promised to help ——you mustn't back out now!
你答应了帮助——现在不可食言!
back up 支持；援助；为…撑腰：
John is expecting us to back him up at the next meeting.
约翰期待我们在下次会上支持他

And that will allow Mrs May to invoke Article 50 in good time to avoid overtly spoiling the EU's 60th birthday bash in Rome on March 25th, a party she has already said she will not attend.
这样梅夫人就可以提前援引《里斯本条约》第五十条，从而避免扰乱3月25日欧盟在罗马举行的60周年庆典，因为她已经表示不会出席这个庆典。
Spoil
1. 破坏
We all know that fats spoil by becoming rancid.
我们都知道油脂发臭就变坏了。
2. 娇惯
Grandparents are often tempted to spoil their grandchildren whenever they come to visit.
每次祖父母来访，常常禁不住要娇惯孙辈。
3，犒劳; 优待
Spoil yourself with a new perfume this summer.
今年夏天买瓶新香水犒劳一下自己吧。
Bash 盛会；庆典
He threw one of the biggest showbiz bashes of the year as a 40th birthday party for Jerry Hall.
他为杰里•霍耳的40岁生日举行了该年度娱乐界最盛大的名流派对。

The real problem with the debate was its focus on procedure, not substance. Peers are doubtless right to call for closer parliamentary involvement.
辩论的实质问题在于程序上而非内容上。毫无疑问，他们有权利议会更多地参与到进程之中。
call down 挑剔：找麻烦；斥责：
The teacher called me down for disobedience.
因我不听话，老师训斥了我
call forth 唤起；振奋：
a love song that calls forth sad memories.
一首引起我悲伤回忆的爱情歌曲
call a spade a spade 直话直说
Why don't you call a spade a spade? He's a rude, uncaring, selfish man!
你何不有话直说呢？他是粗鲁、不懂得别人，而且自私的人！
call bluff 揭露某人虚张声势（俚语）
You're a damned blackmailer . I've a good mind to call your bluff.
你这该死的讹诈者，我倒很想请你把底牌亮出来看看呢。

They are also right to object to Mrs May's plan to present Parliament after her Brexit negotiations with what Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, a former diplomat often credited with writing Article 50, called Hobson's choice: a bad Brexit deal or, in his view worse, no deal at all.
他们同样有权利反对梅夫人递交给国会的计划，这是她与前外交官来自Kinlochard的科尔勋爵（人们把他称为里斯本第50条法令的起草者）商讨后得出的所谓霍布森的选择（又称为别无选择的做法）：糟糕的脱欧计划，或者对他来说，根本就算不上计划。
Deal 协议
Japan will have to do a deal with the U.S. on rice imports.
日本将不得不就水稻进口问题和美国达成协议。
credit with
归功于[亦作credit to]:
She credited herself with the discovery.
她把那项发现归功于她自己

In effect, Mrs May has now set the terms of Brexit as either hard or chaotic. Yet once Article 50 is invoked, the argument over Brexit will instantly become substantive.
事实上，梅夫人现在设立的关于脱欧具体条款是难以实现和无比混乱的。第五十条一旦通过，脱欧将会马上变成实质性的问题。
In effect 事实
That deal would create, in effect, the world's biggest airline.
事实上，这一协议将促成世界最大航空公司的成立。
Substantive 实质性的
They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.
他们计划很快在罗马再次会面以开始实质性的谈判。

Trading arrangements, a new migration regime, the future of regulation, security and defence co-operation, money and much else will be on the table.
那么贸易协定、新的移民机制、未来的监管、安全防务合作、货币还有其他问题都亟待解决。
on the table
讨论
And I think that there are some excellent ideas that are already on the table.
我认为，还有很多优秀的点子需要讨论。

And as Lord Hill, a former European commissioner, noted in the debate, what will matter then is not what the British government wants but what the other 27 countries are prepared to offer, as the bargaining power is mainly on their side.
前欧盟专员希尔在辩论中注意到，重要的不是英国政府的需求，而是其他的27个国家能提供给英国什么，因为谈判主导权掌握在其他的27各国家手中。
Debate 讨论，辩论(持续时间比较长)
the gun-control debate in the US
美国有关控制枪支的争论
Dissent 持有异议
Just one of the 10 members dissented.
10个成员中只有1个人持有异议。
Contention 争论
His case has become a source of contention between the liberalism supporters and the government.
他的案子已变成了公民自由主义支持者和政府之间的争论缘由。
Dispute 反驳
He disputed the allegations.
他驳斥了这些无根据的指控。
Controversy 论战 （带着愤怒）
The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy.
削减的提议引起了巨大的争议。
Conflict 争执; 分歧 => 冲突
Try to keep any conflict between you and your ex-partner to a minimum.
尽量把你和前合伙人之间的争执控制到最少。

The big risk is that the eventual result will be good neither for Britain nor for the EU. In a new paper for the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, Charles Grant notes that this is because “both the UK and the 27 are placing politics and principles ahead of economically optimal outcomes.”
英国脱欧后的一大风险就是，最终的所有结果都不利于英国和欧盟的发展。查尔斯-格兰特提到了欧洲改革中心（智囊团）的一篇新文章，这是因为“英国和其他27个国家都注重政治和原则而不是经济最优结果”。
Sadly, it was ever thus.
悲哀的是，这已经是普遍的想法了。
Sad 悲伤
一些和忧伤相关单词： Melancholy / dejection / desolation / miserableness / gloom / doldrums / dolefulness
Melancholy 忧伤
agreeable melancholy 令人愉悦的忧伤
Dejection 沮丧
There was a slight air of dejection about her.
有一种低落的情绪缠绕着她。
Desolation 凄凉
a sense of utter desolation following the death of his parents.
父母死亡后某种极度孤独的感觉
Miserable 悲惨地
Some manage it. Some fail miserably.
有人成功了。有些人败得很惨。
Doldrums 无生气的
The economy is in the doldrums.
经济毫无生气。
Doleful 悲痛地
He gave me a long, doleful look.
他眼神悲痛地久久望着我。