T he word "abduct" is the same as "kidnap", which means to take a person away illegally using force. An abductor is a person who abducts or kidnaps someone. A kidnapper means the same thing. An heiress is a female who has the legal right to take over the property and money of a person following that person's death. A male who has the same rights is called an heir. It is pronounced in the same way as "air". Both words are mostly used for people from very rich families who will inherit a lot of money following the death of the head of the family. A ransom is the money paid to kidnappers.
A seller's market is when there are more buyers than sellers. There are more rich people who want to hire bodyguards than there are qualified bodyguards. That's why it's a seller's market. The expression "top dollar" means a very high price. I want to hire a bodyguard not because I am worried kidnappers will abduct me. I want a bodyguard so I won't have to fight with other passengers on the MTR. My bodyguard can push other passengers away to make it easy for me to board. He can also make sure I get a seat by rushing into the train first or pulling someone away from a seat so that I can sit. But I don't think I can afford top dollar for a bodyguard.
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自從Bossini女繼承人(heiress)羅君兒綁架(abduction,名詞)案發生後,香港的保鏢需求大增。在其家人向綁匪(abductors,名詞)交付二千八百萬贖金(ransom)後,這位二十九歲的女繼承人(heiress)便獲釋。保鏢這個市場現在供不應求(seller's market)。香港的有錢人個個耽驚受怕,唯恐家人也會被綁架(abducted)以換取贖金(ransoms)。他們現在願意重金(top dollar)禮聘保鏢,也因此這個行業變得供不應求(seller's market)。我不富有或出名,但我也在考慮請保鏢呢。當我告訴朋友時,他們都取笑我。他們說,沒有綁匪(abductor)會想綁架(abduct,動詞)我,因為他們都知道,新聞工作者賺錢少得可憐。
Abduct這個字跟kidnap一樣,都解作暴力地綁架某人。Abductor就是綁架(abducts或kidnaps)人的匪徒,跟kidnapper 同義。Heiress就是在某人死後可繼承其財產的合法女繼承人。男繼承者就是heir,這個字的發音跟"air"一樣。這兩個字通常是指富有家族的話事人死後,得以繼承大筆遺產的人。Ransom就是付給綁匪(kidnappers)的贖金。
Seller's market就是市場供不應求。想請保鏢的有錢人多於合資格的保鏢,那就是seller's market。習語top dollar是指高昂的價錢。我並不是因為擔心有綁匪(kidnappers)想綁架(abduct)我而請保鏢。我要一名保鏢,因為在港鐵裏我將不必跟其他乘客打架了。我的保鏢可以推開其他乘客,令我輕易上車。他也能第一時間衝入車廂,或從座位上拉開某人,確保我有座位可坐。不過,我想我還是付不起重金(top dollar)請保鏢的了。mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
Source: http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=329949§ion_name=wtt&kw=126