VOA常速英语:Gap-like Japanese Retailer Plans Hundreds of US Stores

短语讲解：

1. Instead of being deterred by the grim economic outlook, Uniqlo plans to open hundreds of stores in the United States.

instead of　 (用…)代替…, (是…)而不是…, (用…)而不用…
例句：He has been playing all afternoon instead of getting on with his work.
他整个下午一直在玩, 没有继续工作。

2. So the company is looking overseas for growth.

look for寻找; 期待，指望
例句：He began to look for a new job immediately after he was fired.
他被解雇后立即开始寻找一份新工作。

3. Most of its new stores are opening in Asia, but the United States plays a big role in its expansion strategy.

play a role in在...起作用
例句：The headmaster plays an important role in the good running of a school.
办好一所学校, 校长起重要作用。

4. Anxious to build on that success, the company just opened a third store on 34th Street, down the block from Macy's department store.

build on以…为基础
例句：My father built his business on years of hard work.
我父亲多年奋斗创立了自己的事业。

5. They're crowded with stacks of jeans at 80 percent off the usual price.

crowd with以…充〔挤〕满
例句：The bus was crowded with passengers.
公共汽车里挤满了乘客。

6. Just before opening day in late October, hundreds of employees scurried about the 34th Street store setting up displays while the checkout staff lined up behind their cash registers, practicing their friendliness and timeliness.

set up准备; 安排; 建立，建造, 创立, 竖立
例句：All the arrangements have been set up for the newspapermen to meet the Queen.
新闻记者谒见女王的所有安排已经就绪。

line up排队等候
例句：I hate lining up in the cold to go to the cinema.
我非常讨厌在大冷天里排队等着看电影。

7. "Owned it for years. Have to keep buying it because my sister or my family will steal it," says Chan, who likes the quality and value here compared to similar stores.

compare to与…相比
例句：The writer was compared to Shakespeare.
把这个作家与莎士比亚进行了比较。