复数： bywords

It has become a byword for spiralling costs and delays .

它已因成本不断攀升、频频延迟而沦为笑柄。

Sadly , colombia 's capital now risks becoming a byword again , this time for municipal mismanagement .

可悲的是，哥伦比亚的首都有可能再次沦为笑柄，而这次的原因是市政府的管理不当。

At home and abroad china is a byword for fast-track development where yesterday 's paddy field is tomorrow 's factory highway or hotel .

昨天还是稻田，明天就变成工厂、高速公路或者酒店中国因为其采取这类所谓的高速发展模式而成为国内外的笑柄。

Sure , they are desperate for " change " : with the economy reeling , politics gridlocked , young people dying in iraq and the bush administration a global byword for callous incompetence , huge numbers of americans have long believed their country is on the wrong track .

诚然，他们对变革的渴望近乎绝望：经济衰退、政治僵局、伊战给年轻战士带来的死亡加上布什政府的僵硬无能成为全球的笑柄，为数众多的美国民众长久以来坚信他们的国家正处在一个错误的轨道上。