BBC news 2010-12-07 加文本

1.Legal authorities have stepped up the pressure on the founder of the website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, whose publication of secret diplomatic cables has angered Washington and other governments.

step up(使)增加, (使)加快速度

例句：The girl stepped up to school.
      女孩子加快步伐去上学。

      He has stepped up into the management of the firm.
      他已升入公司的管理部门。

2.But Mr Gbagbo refuses to step down, and his adviser has warned that the UN representative could be expelled.

step down退休, 辞职

例句：The manager had to step down on account of poor health.
      那位经理由于身体不好, 只能辞职不干。

3.The director of a high-security prison in Sierra Leone, Moses Showers, has been sacked after 26 inmates escaped in broad daylight.

in broad daylight在大白天,公开地

例句：The kidnapping occurred in broad daylight.
      在光天化日之下竟发生绑架事件。

4.A message was sprayed on the walls of the kindergarten, urging the owners to pay up.

pay up全部还清, 付清

例句：My goods were lost in the fire and the insurance company will have to pay up.
      我的货在大火中烧毁了, 保险公司将不得不赔偿。

      Every club member must pay up his membership money before the end of the season.
      每一位俱乐部成员必须在赛季结束以前缴清会费。