英语阅读：Sore spot
Reader question: What does "don't touch him on his sore spot" mean? What is"sore spot"?
My comments:
The sore spot on the body is a wound or injury. If you bumped into a lamp
post in the street – say you were really absent minded that time – and you had a
lump on the forehead to show for it, then that lump on the head would be a sore
spot. You wouldn't want anyone to touch it – let alone hit it hard – and bring
out an "ouch" from you.
That's physical pain. Metaphysically, I mean figuratively speaking, a sore
spot could be a mental problem as well. Childhood traumas, for instance, can
remain psychological sore spots for people in early adulthood or even throughout
their lives. In fact, understanding of the effect of traumatic childhood
experiences on people is what turned Sigmund Freud into such a big shot as a
psychologist. And Freud is the reason why modern-day psychiatry, psychoanalysis
and psychotherapy are so big in the West, and increasingly here as well.
Say you've just gone through an acrimonious (angry, painful and unpleasant)
divorce, say you wife took the kids along with the apartment, leaving you
nothing except a monthly paycheck to fill for child support. Then divorce as a
topic might be your sore sport. You wouldn't want anyone to talk in your face
about divorce, singlehood (at 40), second marriage or perhaps even relationships
in general, not initially at any rate.
Sorry for making you go through so much pain (^-^), but you get the
point.
Anyways, here are "sore spot" examples from the media:
1. CEO compensation long-time sore spot
The issue of executive compensation, and whether it is properly aligned
with performance, has been on the boil in Canada since long before the credit
crisis rolled out.
In September, the Canadian Securities Administrators, an umbrella
organization for the country's securities regulators, concluded a two-year
overhaul of the way companies disclose what, why and how executives are
paid.
The new requirements, such as spelling out how specific elements of
compensation encourage certain results, or how much money executives are
entitled to under various employment-termination scenarios, will go into effect
at the end of this year.
- October 4, 2008, Financial Post.
2. Street Skyrockets Despite Low Confidence
Dow Jones surged nearly 900 points heading into the close as investors went
on a shopping spree Tuesday in anticipation of a possible Fed Rate Cut
Wednesday. All three major U.S. indexes rose over 9%.
The Treasury Department's initial capital investments under its Troubled
Asset Relief Program are being rolled out this week, which may have given the
Street some renewed confidence.
Sore spots like a woeful consumer confidence report and job cuts at
Whirlpool did not dampen investor appetites.
- October 28, 2008, Forbes.com.
3. Mikey asks for bum inspection
Mikey asked the group to inspect his bottom after he tripped and fell this
morning.
Shortly after the blind contestant awoke this morning, he suffered a fall
and landed on his rear.
He complained: "My microphone went up my bum cheek, so my bum's all
bruised! I need someone to inspect my bum!"
Kat giggled at Mikey's poor luck, before suggesting that Mikey inform
Darnell of his sore spot.
"He can kiss it better!" she laughed.
- Big Brother 9, Day 87, August 30, 2008, DigitalSpy.co.uk.
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