Dear Annie: I am a 24-year-old female and have been friends with "Danielle" for 12 years. In fact, she is the only friend I have. Recently, I expressed some personal frustrations to her about my brother-in-law's lifestyle. Last weekend, he came to visit and was obviously angry with me, but refused to say why. My brother-in-law and Danielle converse often, and I am fairly certain she told him what I said. This isn't the first time Danielle has done spiteful things to me. I have even called some things to her attention, and she apologizes, but nothing changes. In the past, I have overlooked Danielle's underhanded behavior in order to save our friendship. I want to confront her about this latest incident, but don't know how to do it without hurting her emotionally. — Confidences Betrayed in N.C. Dear N.C.: If this latest incident turns out to be Danielle's fault and you confront her, at best she will follow custom and apologize but change nothing. This is a toxic friendship, where you think it's necessary to appease her every time she hurts you. Apologize to your brother-in-law for whatever you may have done that upset him, and be cordial—nothing more—to Danielle. You need to branch out and find more trustworthy friends.

Converse: 【书】交谈,谈话[(+with/on/about)]

We conversed for hours on the phone.

我们在电话里谈了几小时。

Spiteful: 怀恨的;恶意的

It was very spiteful of her to do that.

她做那种事太恶毒了。

Overlook

1. 眺望;俯瞰

The house on the hill overlooks the valley.

小山上的房子俯瞰着山谷。

2. 看漏;忽略[+v-ing]

My calculation was wrong because I overlooked one tiny point.

由于我忽略了一个细微之处,我的计算错了。

3. 宽恕,宽容

He has been kind enough to overlook my fault.

他很宽容,原谅了我的错。

4. 【罕】细看;检查

He overlooked the contract before he signed it.

他在签字之前仔细阅读了合同。

5. 照管;监督;监视

She did not know that she was being overlooked by the woman next door.

她不知道隔壁邻居的女人一直在监视她。

6. 高耸于...之上

The monument overlooks the square.

纪念碑高耸在广场之上。

Underhanded

1. 秘密的;可耻的;狡诈的

He played an underhanded trick on me.

他跟我耍了一个卑劣的花招。

2. 人手不足的

The store is underhanded in the Christmas season.

该商店在圣诞节期间缺少人手。

Confront

1. 迎面遇到;面临;遭遇

The soldiers were confronted by two terrorists as they left their camp.

士兵们离开营房时,迎面遇到两个恐怖分子。

2. 勇敢地面对;正视;对抗

confront danger

勇敢地面对危险

3. 使面对;使遭遇;使对质[(+with)]

confront a prisoner with a witness

使囚犯与证人对质

Appease

1. 平息;缓和;抚慰

Nothing could appease the crying child.

什么都无法使孩子不哭。

2. 绥靖,姑息;对...让步

It was a blunder for them to try to appease the aggressor.

他们想姑息侵略者,那是一个大错。

3. 满足

Can you appease the boy's curiosity?

你能满足这个男孩的好奇心吗?

Cordial: 热忱的,友好的;衷心的;真挚的

a cordial reception

热忱招待

a cordial welcome

热忱欢迎

The hostess gave us a cordial greeting.

女主人热忱地欢迎我们。