alec/aleck, shoulder all manner, meddlesome, "shoulder to shoulder"

The price of solar power is "shoulder to shoulder" with coal, gas and wind in sunny places

The developing world's solar power-frenzy

Solar is reshaping energy production in the developing world

ECON.ST

Those who argue that state-owned firms are modernising point to rising profits and a push to establish boards of directors with independent advisers. Official figures show that profits at the firms controlled by SASAC have increased, to $129 billion last year. But that does not mean that many of these firms are efficient or well-managed. A handful with privileged market access—in telecoms and natural resources—generate more than half of all profits. A 2009 study by the Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research found that if state-owned firms were to pay a market interest rate, their profits “would be entirely wiped out”.
One reason is that state firms must pursue the state’s aims, which include many things besides making profits. David Michael of BCG observes that the government forces state firms to shoulder all manner of extra costs. For example, when coal prices shot up recently, the country’s energy giants were not allowed to pass the hikes on to consumers. When the China Europe International Business School asked its senior alumni at state-owned firms about their biggest headaches, many grumbled about official meddling.

alec/aleck 笨蛋

The Bushes love doing things in secret and without a lot of meddling from know-nothings in Congress and smart alecks in the press. In peacetime, such macho behavior comes across as highhanded, but in wartime, it looks like strong leadership.

The tongue-in-cheek, occasionally tart and smart-alecky humor in JetBlue's campaigns ---- stood in stark contrast to the traditional style of airline advertising.

The Bushes love doing things in secret and without a lot of meddling from know-nothings in Congress and smart alecks in the press. In peacetime, such macho behavior comes across as highhanded, but in wartime, it looks like strong leadership. Critics of a warrior president risk seeming unpatriotic.

manner

(măn'ər)
n.

1. A way of doing something or the way in which a thing is done or happens. See synonyms at method.
2. A way of acting; bearing or behavior.
3. manners
   1. The socially correct way of acting; etiquette.
   2. The prevailing customs, social conduct, and norms of a specific society, period, or group, especially as the subject of a literary work.
4. Practice, style, execution, or method in the arts: This fresco is typical of the painter's early manner.
5. 1. Kind; sort: What manner of person is she?
   2. Kinds; sorts: saw all manner of people at the mall.

idioms:
in a manner of speaking

1. In a way; so to speak.

to the manner born

1. Accustomed to a position, custom, or lifestyle from or as if from birth.

[Middle English manere, from Old French maniere, from feminine of manier, handmade, skillful, from Vulgar La

meddle

(mĕd'l)
intr.v., -dled, -dling, -dles.

1. To intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere. See synonyms at interfere.
2. To handle something idly or ignorantly; tamper.

[Middle English medlen, from Anglo-Norman medler, variant of Old French mesler, from Vulgar Latin *misculāre, to mix thoroughly, from Latin miscēre, to mix.]

meddler med'dler (mĕd'lər, mĕd'l-ər) n.
 [動](自)

1 （他人の事などに）よけいな世話をやく, おせっかいをする, 干渉する((in, with ...))

You shouldn't meddle in other people's affairs.
他人のことにちょっかいを出すのはよせ.

2 …を（不注意に）いじくり回す, もてあそぶ((with ...)).

［中フランス語←後ラテン語misculāre （miscellusまぜられた＋-āre動詞語尾＝まぜる→干渉する）. △MISCELLANEOUS］

-dler

[名]おせっかいやき.

meddlesome[med・dle・some]

• 発音記号[médlsəm]

[形]よけいな世話をやく, おせっかいな, 干渉好きな, 小うるさい.

med・dle・some・ness

[名]

meddlesome	(adjective) Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner.
Synonyms:	busybodied, interfering, officious
Usage:	Though she means well, my meddlesome mother invariably drives away all of my boyfriends with her unwelcome intrusions.