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You can't win
You can't win

Chapter X

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Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.
It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.
It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.
He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.
He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

You can't win

Chapter X

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.
Line 2
It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.
Line 3
It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.
Line 4
He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.
Line 5
He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.”

Cell noun US /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading “He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.”

Directly noun US /ˈdirectly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.”

All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

actually

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

any

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

awful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

bargain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

beating

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

cases

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

cellnounUS /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

city

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

county

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

days

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

dirty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

entering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

foul-smelling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

get

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

happy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

humiliate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

humiliated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

isn't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

jail

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

lousy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

nine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

penitentiary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

perhaps

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

picked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

prison

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

removed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

rid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

say

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

shock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

shocked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

sometimes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

street

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

stun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

stunned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

taken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

ten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

thrown

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

true

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would not be true in nine cases out of any ten.

truth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

vermin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.

wash

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It would be true if a man were picked up on the street and taken directly to a penitentiary, but that isn’t done.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He is actually happy to get removed to a county jail where he can perhaps get rid of the vermin and wash his body.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

world

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is first thrown into a dirty, lousy, foul-smelling cell in some city prison, sometimes with an awful beating in the bargain, and after two or three days of that nothing in the world can shock, stun, or humiliate him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading To say I was shocked, stunned, or humiliated on entering the penitentiary would not be the truth.