peered
「peer」是「梨」,文中是動詞,意思是(通常因難以看清)「窺視」,例如:
She watched the police officer peer into the driver’s window.(她看見警員透過駕駛座車窗,仔細地往車裡看。)
Through the heavy rain, she peers into my eyes.(滂沱大雨中,她凝視著我的眼睛。)
peer也是「同輩」,例如:
His charming personality made him popular with his peers.(他迷人的個性讓他深受同儕喜愛。)
commended
「commend」的意思是「嘉許、讚賞」,例如:
I commended her for that brave action.(我讚揚她的英勇行為。)
This article was widely commended for its candour.(這篇論文因直言不諱而廣受好評。)
His actions were commended by the News Papers.(他的所作所為受到各報的嘉許。)
Break a leg
「Break a leg」是劇場用語,意思是「Do a good show」(好好表演)或「good luck」(祝好運),為什麼不直接說好話,反而要說「摔斷腿」?據說追溯到莎士比亞劇場時期的"bend a leg or take a bow"(意為彎腿鞠躬),或是第一次世界大戰時,戰壕中的祝福語(指受傷就能回國,不必冒死衝鋒了)。也有人說,出紕漏的彩排是走好運,因為壞運已經用掉了。
「Break a leg」的用法四年前介紹過,英文版忠實讀者可以複習一下。