Unassailable means that something cannot be attacked successfully — nobody can knock it down, weaken it, or take it away. The picture underneath is a castle wall that no army can break, and English keeps that picture in three everyday uses.

Unassailable這個字 means指的是 that something某樣東西 cannot be attacked successfully無法被成功攻破 — nobody沒有人 can knock it down能把它打垮, weaken it削弱它, or take it away或奪走它. The picture underneath背後的畫面 is is a castle wall that no army can break一座沒有軍隊攻得下來的城牆, and而 English英文 keeps that picture在三種日常用法裡 in three everyday uses都保留著這個畫面.

First, arguments and evidence: an unassailable case is one with no weak point for an opponent to hit. Second, reputations and positions: an unassailable reputation is one that gossip cannot damage; an unassailable leader cannot be pushed out. Third — and this is where Taiwanese students meet it most — sport and competition: "an unassailable lead" is a lead so large that the other team can no longer catch up, no matter what happens in the time left. Sports commentators use this constantly, and it is the most concrete way to feel the word.

First第一, arguments and evidence論證和證據方面: an unassailable case一個unassailable的論點 is is one with no weak point for an opponent to hit指沒有弱點可以被對手攻擊的論點. Second第二, reputations and positions名聲和地位方面: an unassailable reputation不可動搖的名聲 is is one that gossip cannot damage指八卦流言無法損害的名聲; an unassailable leader地位穩固的領導者 cannot be pushed out無法被拉下台. Third第三 — and而 this這 is is where Taiwanese students meet it most台灣學生最常遇到這個字的地方 — sport and competition運動比賽裡: "an unassailable lead"「an unassailable lead」 is is a lead so large指領先幅度大到 that the other team can no longer catch up對手再也追不回來, no matter what happens in the time left不管剩下的時間發生什麼事都一樣.

It is formal and a bit grand; you would not use it about small things.

Sports commentators運動球評 use this constantly經常這樣用, and而且 it它 is is the most concrete way to feel the word是感受這個字最具體的方式. It它 is is formal正式, and而且 a bit grand帶點莊重感; you你 would not use it about small things不會拿它來講小事.

Note the honest hedge in it: unassailable is a judgement about the present, and history is full of unassailable leaders who fell the next year. Good writers know this, which is why the word sometimes appears with a hint of irony.

Note要注意 the honest hedge in it這個字裡藏著的一個誠實的但書: unassailable這個字 is is a judgement about the present對「現在」的判斷, and而 history歷史上 is full of unassailable leaders who fell the next year充滿了隔年就垮台的unassailable領導者. Good writers優秀的作家 know this知道這一點, which這也是 is why為什麼 the word這個字 sometimes有時 appears出現時 with a hint of irony會帶點反諷的意味.