領導身邊的“魔術貼式官員”

領導出行，緊隨其后；領導拍照，盡量靠近，不錯過任何可以跟領導近距離接觸并被拍照的機會。這樣的人哪個國家都有，美國的媒體把這一類人稱為Velcroid。

Velcroid is a person who remains in close proximity to an important leader, particularly during photo sessions, to achieve increased media exposure. It's someone who tries to enhance his own status by attaching himself to someone more important.
Velcroid指隨時與重要領導保持近距離，拍照的時候尤其如此，這樣可以增加自己的媒體曝光度。這種人試圖通過緊跟重要人物來提升自己的地位。我們可以稱之為“魔術貼式官員”。

It is a term often used in political circles, referring to officials who form a Velcro-like attachment to leaders at events or on the road, sticking to the leaders everywhere they go in the hope of turning up next to them in newspapers or on television.
這個詞多用于政界，指在參加活動或者路途中像魔術貼一樣緊跟著領導，領導走到哪就跟到哪，希望能在報紙或電視的新聞報道中能夠出現在領導身邊。

For example:

A Velcroid will come up to Mr. Bush as he climbs into his limousine. He will begin telling the President something he needs to know about the scheduled event, hoping that Mr. Bush will invite him into the car to finish the conversation, since pictures taken with the President in his limousine are exceptionally prestigious trophies.
魔術貼式官員會在布什總統快上車時走到他跟前，跟總統報告接下來的行程安排，希望布什總統會邀請他上車接著匯報，因為被拍到跟總統同坐專車是一件格外有面子的事情。

—Maureen Dowd, “Saving Face Means Having It in the Picture,” The New York Times, June 16, 1991

小編注釋：

Velcroid一詞由Velcro和后綴-oid構成，Velcro其實就是我們平時衣服和鞋帽上常用的那個粘扣帶，而-oid多表示“像...一樣的（東西）”。這樣一說，這個詞的意思就好理解多了吧。

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）