be swamped with 使……應(yīng)接不暇；使……人滿為患

e.g. Headquarters was swamped by an avalancheof applications for battle assignments. 請戰(zhàn)書像雪片似地飛向指揮部。

cripple sth. 嚴重破壞，削弱……

cripple growth/ confidence

in hindsight/ with hindsight/ with the benefit of hindsight 事后看來

booms and busts 經(jīng)濟繁榮或蕭條

be accompanied by/ A and B accompany one another A與B如影隨形

so much so that… 以至于……

e.g. The twins look alike— so much so that even their parents sometimes confuse them.

= The twins are so identical that even their parents sometimes confuse them.

an expanding body of… 越來越多的……

eat away at 蠶食；使……逐漸喪失

be an invitation to… 招致某種后果

e.g. invite trouble 自找麻煩

Unlocked doors are an open invitation to burglars. 門不上鎖會引賊入室。

be ravaged by… 實到……摧殘

?e.g. the continued ravages of covid-19 新冠疫情的持續(xù)肆虐