又中又英——On the cusp of a modest and small-scale insurgency

　　A risk assessment expert used an interesting quote to describe last week's arrest by national security police of nine people for allegedly planning terrorist attacks. Most of those arrested were teenagers. The expert, former police senior superintendent Steve Vickers, said on an English language radio station Hong Kong was "on the cusp of a modest and small-scale insurgency" involving small groups of locals. The word "cusp" used this way means the dividing line between two very different things. The expression "on the cusp of" means at the point when a situation changes into another, very different, situation. For example, you can say your friend, a not so famous actor, is on the cusp of becoming a movie star.
　　The noun "insurgency" is used to describe an occasion when a group of people use force to try to overthrow a government or take over a country. When Vickers said Hong Kong is "on the cusp of a modest and small-scale insurgency" he meant Hong Kong is now changing from a situation where there was no attempt to overthrow the government to a situation where there is now an attempt by small groups to overthrow the government using terrorist attacks. But he said last week's arrest showed the police were "on top of" the situation. The expression "on top of" can be used in different ways.
　　If you have studied hard for an exam and are confident you will pass, you can say you are on top of it. When Vickers used the expression he meant last week's arrest of nine people showed the police were in control of the situation. He said the arrest showed the police had nipped in the bud that particular group's alleged attempt at insurgency. The expression "nip in the bud" means to stop something at an early stage to stop it from becoming worse.
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　　一名风险评估专家引用了一句有趣的说话，去形容上星期警方国安处拘捕了九名涉嫌企图策动恐怖袭击的人，被捕人士之中大多为年轻人。该专家史提夫‧维克斯是前高级警司，他在英语电台上说，香港正「处于一个适度而小规模暴动（insurgency）的风口浪尖上（on the cusp of ）」，而当中牵涉一些本地人的小群组。Cusp在这里解作两样非常不同的事物之间的分界线；而习语 "on the cusp of" 则指由一个状况转变至另一个极不同状况的转捩点或关口。譬如你可以说，你一位本身不很有名的演员朋友，正处于蜕变成电影明星的转捩点（on the cusp of）。名词insurgency是用来形容暴动、叛乱，就是当一群人以武力尝试推翻政府或占领夺取一个国家的政权。当维克斯说，香港是 "on the cusp of a modest and small-scale insurgency"，他的意思是，香港正在由一个从无意图推翻政府的情况，转变成现时有一些小群组企图使用恐袭推翻政府。然而他说，上星期的拘捕行动，足证警方是 "on top of" 这个状况。习语 "on top of" 可以有很多用法。
　　若你为了考试用功读书，有信心自己会通过考试，你可以说you are on top of it，可谓胜券在握。当维克斯用这个习语时，他的意思是上星期拘捕九人，反映局势在警方的掌控之中。他说，这次拘捕行动显示警方是防患于未然（nipped in the bud），阻止特定组织涉嫌企图引发暴动（insurgency）。习语 "nip in the bud" 即在某事发展初期，已消灭于萌芽状态之中，防止其恶化下去。[email protected]
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁