Take the bull by the horns_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Take the bull by the horns

“This is a fascinating gambit, in an already fascinating election,” said Sidney Milkis, a University of Virginia political science professor. “One could say that McCain’s ‘putting country first’ would be more impressive if he were ahead, instead of behind, as many recent polls suggest.”

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McCain drew support from Republicans, with Senator Mel Martinez of Florida saying he “took the bull by the horns and exercised leadership” by calling for the campaign’s suspension. Lawmakers know “the financial crisis is huge, but can't come together,” to complete legislation, he said.

- McCain, Obama Spar Over Crisis as First Debate May Be Casualty, Bloomberg.com, September 25, 2008.

2. Picasso spent almost half his life in exile in France after the civil war, during which time the Republic made him director in absentia of the Prado museum. He refused to return to Spain while Franco was alive. And, because he was a member of the French Communist party, he was never allowed to visit America.

But despite Paris’s decline during the 1950s and New York’s ascendance as the centre of the art world, Picasso never much cared that he couldn’t go there. Along with many other French intellectuals and artists, Picasso joined the Communist party in 1944 and remained a member for life. He channelled money into the party and into communist newspapers. He gave a million francs to striking miners. He made works, especially drawings, for communist-inspired peace conferences and innumerable other causes. He was, surprisingly – especially for a Spaniard of his generation – an anti-racist.