divergence, convergence, verge, starvation crisis, "Wolves? What wolves?"

Navalny Was Part of Discussions on a Prisoner Exchange

Allies of Aleksei Navalny said he was about to be freed in a swap. A Western official said discussions for his release and that of two Americans had been underway, but no deal was imminent.

Aleksei Navalny appeared via a video link from an Arctic penal colony on Jan. 11. Preliminary talks about his release are said to have also involved a swap for a Russian man convicted of killing a former Chechen fighter in Berlin.Credit...Yuri Kochetkov/EPA, via

The divergence in coronavirus-control strategies with Western countries could put China at a comparative disadvantage, both socially and economically.

Afghanistan’s starvation crisis,

BBC Radio 4

7月26日 22:52 · 

🐺 "Wolves? What wolves?"

Wolves

BBC.IN

wolf 

Pronunciation: /wʊlf/ 

NOUN (plural wolves /wʊlvz/)

1A wild carnivorous mammal which is the largest member of the dog family, living and hunting in packs. It is native to both Eurasia and North America, but is much persecuted and has been widely exterminated.

• Canis lupus, family Canidae; it is the chief ancestor of the domestic dog.

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1.1Used in names of mammals similar or related to the wolf, e.g. maned wolf,Tasmanian wolf.

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2Used figuratively to refer to a rapacious, ferocious, or voracious person or thing:he calls the media ravening wolves

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2.1informal A man who habitually seduces women:he’s the archetypal wolf in Armani threads

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2.2North American informal A homosexual who habitually seduces men or adopts an active role with a partner.

3A harsh or out-of-tune effect produced when playing particular notes or intervals on a musical instrument, caused either by the instrument’s construction or by divergence from equal temperament.

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VERB

[WITH OBJECT]

Devour (food) greedily:he wolfed down his breakfast

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Phrases

1

cry wolf

Call for help when it is not needed, with the effect that one is not believed when one really does need help:he accused her of crying wolf

With allusion to the fable of the shepherd boy who deluded people with false cries of ‘Wolf!’

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2

hold (or have) a wolf by the ears

Be in a precarious position:we may end up holding the wolf by the ears

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3

keep the wolf from the door

Have enough money to avert hunger or starvation (used hyperbolically):I work part-time to pay the mortgage and keep the wolf from the door

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4

throw someone to the wolves

Leave someone to be roughly treated or criticized without trying to help or defend them:power brokers are biding their time before throwing him to the wolves

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5

a wolf in sheep's clothing

A person or thing that appears friendly or harmless but is really hostile:the widespread belief that any British proposal was a wolf in sheep’s clothing

With biblical allusion to Matt. 7:15

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Derivatives

wolf-like

ADJECTIVE

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Origin

Old English wulf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wolf and German Wolf, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lupus and Greek lukos. The verb dates from the mid 19th century.

PRONOUN

1[INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN] Asking for information specifying something:what is your name?I’m not sure what you mean

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1.1Asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood:what? I can’t hear youyou did what?

2[RELATIVE PRONOUN] The thing or things that (used in specifying something):what we need is a commitment

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2.1(Referring to the whole of an amount) whatever:I want to do what I can to make a difference

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3(In exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable:what some people do for a crust!

DETERMINER

1[INTERROGATIVE DETERMINER] Asking for information specifying something:what time is it?do you know what excuse he gave?

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2[RELATIVE DETERMINER] (Referring to the whole of an amount) whatever:he had been robbed of what little money he had

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3(In exclamations) how great or remarkable:[AS DETERMINER]: what luck![AS PREDETERMINER]: what a fool she was

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INTERROGATIVE ADVERB

1To what extent?what does it matter?

2Used to indicate an estimate or approximation:see you, what, about four?

3informal, dated Used for emphasis or to invite agreement:pretty poor show, what?

Phrases

1

and (or or) what have you

informal And/or anything else similar:all these home-made sweets and cakes and what have you

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2

and what not

informal And other similar things.

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3

what about ——?

1Used when asking for information or an opinion on something:what about the practical angle?

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2Used to make a suggestion:what about a walk?

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4

what-d'you-call-it (or what's-its-name)

informal Used as a substitute for a name that one cannot recall.

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5

what for?

informal For what reason?

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6

what if ——?

1What would result if ——?what if nobody shows up?

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2What does it matter if ——?what if our house is a mess? I’m clean

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7

what is more

And as an additional point; moreover.

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8

what next

see next.

9

what of ——?

What is the news concerning ——?

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10

what of it?

Why should that be considered significant?

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11

what's-his (or -its) -name

informal Used as a substitute for a name that one cannot recall.

12

what say —— ?

Used to make a suggestion:what say we call a tea break?

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13

what's what

informal What is useful or important:I’ll teach her what’s what

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14

what with

Because of (used typically to introduce several causes of something):what with the drought and the neglect, the garden is in a sad condition

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15

what's with ——?

informal

1What is the reason for ——?what’s with all the Christmas decor being out before Halloween?

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2What is the matter or the problem with ——?what’s with Craig’s face this week?

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Origin

Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod.