Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Expressions

1. Amos, who was usually tight with them, grabbed the backpack out of Julian's hands and returned it to Jack.

tight: a tight group of people, countries etc have a close relationship with each other

Together, the young film-makers formed a tight group.

the tight bonds that had grown between them

SYN tight-knit

a tight-knit island community

2. He sent me to a special ear doctor who took impressions of my ears.

impression:在这里的意思不是印象，而是构想的照片/图像 a picture or drawing of what sb or sth might look like, or what sth will look like in the future

an artist's impression of the new building

3. "I'm drawing a blank," said Mom.

draw a blank: informal, to be unsuccessful in finding information or the answer to a problem

All his investigations have drawn a blank so far.

go blank: 1. to stop showing any images, writing etc

Suddenly the screen went blank.

2. if your mind goes blank, or if you go blank, you are suddenly unable to remember sth

My heart began to race and my mind went blank.

4. "Nothing!" they both snapped at the same time.

snap: (v.) to say sth quickly in an angry way

"What do you want?" Mike snapped.

He snapped at Walter for no reason.

5. I'm not retarded! I know what's going on.

retarded: (a.) less mentally developed than other people of the same age, it's a kind of offensive word

retard: (v.) formal,  SYN slow down, to delay the development of sth, or to make sth happen more slowly than expected

Cold weather retards the growth of many plans.

6. She just started whimpering all of a sudden.

whimper: (v.) 呜咽；啜泣

He heard the dog whimper.

"It's not my fault," she whimpered.

7. I pulled the covers up to my ears and imagined Daisy snuggling with me.

snuggle: to settle into a warm comfortable position 舒适地蜷伏，依偎

snuggle up/ down/ against etc

She snuggled up in Lea's lap to listen to the story.

8. "Oh, my God!" said Mom, lurching forward in her seat.

lurch: to walk or move suddenly in an uncontrolled or unsteady way

Sam hit the gas and the car lurched forward.

your heart/ stomach lurches: used to say that your heart or stomach seems to move suddenly because you feel shocked, frightened etc

Virginia's heart lurched painfully in her chest.

lurch from one crisis to another/ lurch from crisis to crisis/ lurch from one extreme to another: to seem to have no plan and no control over what you are doing

The industry lurches from crisis to crisis.

9. When they appeared, the whole audience rose to their feet.

rise to one's feet: informal, to stand up, rise本身也有stand up的意思

Then she picked up her bag and rose to leave.

补充: rise to the occasion/ challenge: to deal successfully with a difficult situation or problem, especially by working harder or performing better than usual

a young athlete who can certainly rise to the occasion

The team rose to the challenge.

10. It's a standing ovation.

ovation (n.) 热烈的鼓掌

a standing ovation: 全体起立鼓掌

The Chancellor's entrance was greeted with a standing ovation.

Fans gave the rock group a thunderous ovation.