Contents

目　录

Acknowledgements

鸣谢

The Most Useful Dictionary of American Idioms

最有用的美国习语词典

Introduction

What Is an Idiom?

How to Use This Dictionary

序言

一、什么是习语

二、如何使用这本词典

Preface to the Fourth Edition

第4版前言

A Dictionary of American Idioms

美国习语词典

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《英语惯用语大词典》

邢志远　主编

《西方文化百科大辞典》

汪义群等　主编

《现代英语惯用法词典》

黄勇民　编著

《新编汉英成语词典》

席士敏　主编

《英汉双解美国习语词典》（第4版）

〔美〕亚当·马凯　主编

翟象俊　主译

英汉双解

美国习语词典

（第4版）

主　编

〔美〕亚当·马凯

M·T·博特纳　J·E·盖茨

修订增补者

亚当·马凯

主　译

翟象俊

副主译

施　英　邢沛玲　戴晓东

译者

查　莉　赵燕君　金　喻

刘丽苑　魏婷玉

图书在版编目（CIP）数据

英汉双解美国习语词典：第4版／〔美〕马凯（Makkai, A.）主编；翟象俊主译．—上海：复旦大学出版社，2008.7

ISBN 978-7-309-06092-8

Ⅰ．英…　Ⅱ．①马…②翟…　Ⅲ．英语-社会习惯语-美国-双解词典　Ⅳ. H313. 3-61

中国版本图书馆CIP数据核字（2008）第086353号

A DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN IDIOMS (FOURTH EDITION) by ADAM MAKKAI

Copyright: © 2004 BY BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES, INC.

This edition arranged with BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES, INC. throught BIG APPLE TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, LABUAN, MALAYSIA.

Simplified Chinese edition copyright:

2008 FUDAN UNIVERSITY PRESS

All rights reserved.

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英汉双解美国习语词典（第4版）

〔美〕亚当·马凯　主编　翟象俊　主译

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版　　次　2008年7月第一版第一次印刷

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Acknowledgements

This dictionary is the result of the work of many hands. It was first published in 1966 in West Hartford, Connecticut, and later republished in 1969, copyrighted by the American School for the Deaf under the title A Dictionary of Idioms for the Deaf, edited by Maxine Tull Boatner, project director, aided by chief linguistic advisor, J. Edward Gates. The consulting committee consisted of Dr. Edmund E. Boatner, Dr. William J. McClure, Dr. Clarence D. O'Conor, Dr. George T. Pratt, Jack Brady, M. A., Richard K. Lane, and Professor H. A. Gleason, Jr., of the Hartford Seminary Foundation. Special editors for various subcategories, such as usage, sport terms, etc., were Elizabeth Meltzer, and E. Ward Gilman; Loy E. Golladay helped as language consultant with reviewing and editing. Definers were Edmund Casetti, Philip H. Cummings, Anne M. Driscoll, Harold J. Flavin, Dr. Frank Fletcher, E. Ward Gilman; Loy E. Golladay, Dr. Philip H. Goepp, Dr. Beatrice Hart, Dr. Benjamin Keen, Kendall Litchfield, Harold E. Niergarth, Ruth Gill Price, Thomas H. B. Robertson, Jess Smith, Rhea Talley Stewart, Harriet Smith, Elizabeth D. Spellman, John F. Spellman, and George M. Swanson, Barbara Ann Kipfer, and Justyn Moulds. The following have cooperated as simplifiers: Linda Braun, Dr. G. C. Farquhar. Carey S. Lane, Wesley Lauritsen, Nellie MacDonald, Ruth S. McQueen, and Donald Moores. In 1975 an edition was prepared for Barron's Educational Series, by the well-known expert on idioms Professor Adam Makkai of the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle.

For the second edition, Professor Makkai deleted obsolete material, updated old entries, and added hundreds of modem idiomatic phrases to the collection. Many of these new entries were of the slang character, originating within recent cultural movements; others reflect the popular usage of specialized areas of endeavor, including computer technology. Professor Robert A. Hall, Jr. of Cornell reviewed the manuscript of the revision and made invaluable suggestions.

In this new, thoroughly revised and updated fourth edition, Professor Makkai added more than 2,000 new entries, making it the largest dictionary of American idioms available on the market today.

The ever-increasing international demand for more and better dictionaries of American idioms necessitated the inclusion of nine foreign language prefaces explaining what idioms are and how this book works. We wish to acknowledge the help of the following individuals in preparing these foreign language prefaces:

Arabic:

Hussein, Quwaider, Ph. D.,

University of Bath.

Chinese:

Professor Guo Jianzhong,

Zhejiang University, P. R. C.

French:

Professor Jean-Luc Garneau,

Lake Forest College.

German:

Doris Jutta Glatzl, M. A.

(UIC), Department of German.

Hebrew

Aya Katz, Ph. D.,

Rice University, Houston, TX

Italian:

Professor Marcel Danesi,

University of Toronto.

Japanese:

Richard Goris, Shubun

International, Tokyo.

Russian:

Maya Aleksandrovna Glinberg, M. A., University of Moscow.

Spanish:

Verónica Cortés, M. A. (UIC), Department of Linguistics.

We also acknowledge with thanks the numerous inquiries and letters from readers of this dictionary. Their questions and suggestions have been a most welcome source of inspiration for further research. Once again we encourage all interested users of this book to jot down any queries, suggestions, and questions that occur. Please send all such correspondence to the Editor, c/o Barron's Educational Series, 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, USA.

鸣　　谢

这本词典是很多人的劳动成果，它最初于1966年在康涅狄格州西哈特福德出版，后来由美国聋人学校获得版权于1969年再次出版，书名为《聋人习语词典》，主编为项目主持人马克辛·塔尔·博特纳，副主编为语言学总顾问J. 爱德华·盖茨。顾问委员会由下列人士组成：埃德蒙·E·博特纳博士，威廉·J·麦克卢尔博士，克拉伦斯·D·奥康纳博士，乔治·T·普拉特博士，杰克·布雷迪硕士，理查德·K·莱恩和哈特福德神学院基金会的小H·A·格利森教授。担任惯用法、体育用语等子范畴的特约编辑有伊丽莎白·梅尔策和E·沃德·吉尔曼。洛伊·E·戈拉戴作为语言顾问参与了审读与编辑。释义撰写者有埃德蒙·卡塞蒂、菲利普·H·卡明斯、安妮·M·德里斯科尔、哈罗德·J·弗莱文、弗兰克·弗莱彻博士、E·沃德·吉尔曼、洛伊·E·戈拉戴、菲利普·H·戈普博士、比阿特丽斯·哈特博士、本杰明·基恩博士、肯德尔·利奇菲尔德、哈罗德·E·尼尔加思、鲁思·吉尔·普赖斯、托马斯·H·B·罗伯逊、杰斯·史密斯、雷亚·塔利·斯图尔特、哈里特·史密斯、伊丽莎白·D·斯佩尔曼、约翰·F·斯佩尔曼以及乔治·M·斯旺森、巴巴拉·安·基普弗和贾斯汀·莫尔兹。参与简化工作的有琳达·布朗、G·C·法夸尔博士、凯里·S·莱恩、韦斯利·劳里森、内利·麦克唐纳、鲁思·S·麦奎因和唐纳德·穆尔斯。1975年，由著名习语专家、伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的亚当·马凯教授为“巴伦教育丛书”编纂了一版。

为了第二版，马凯教授删除了一些过时的材料，对老的条目作了增补，并增加了数百条新的习语。这些新的条目中有许多具有俚语性质，产生于近期的文化运动；另外一些则反映了一些特殊领域，包括电脑技术在内的一些流行的用法。康奈尔大学的小罗伯特·A·霍尔教授审读了修订稿，提出了一些宝贵的建议。

为了这本新的、彻底修订和增补的第4版，马凯教授又增加了2000多新条目，使本词典成为今天市场上最大的一本美国习语词典。

国际上对更多更好的美国习语词典日益增长的需求使我们有必要将本书的序言译成9种外语①，解释什么是习语及如何使用这本词典。我们谨向下列人士表示感谢，感谢他们将本书的序言译成了外语：

阿拉伯语：巴斯大学库韦德·候赛因博士

汉语：浙江大学郭建中教授

法语：湖畔森林学院让—卢克·加诺教授

德语：伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校德语系多丽丝·尤塔·格拉茨尔（文科硕士）

希伯来语：得克萨斯州休斯敦赖斯大学阿亚·卡茨博士

意大利语：多伦多大学马塞尔·达奈西教授

日语：东京国际大学理查德·戈林斯·修文

俄语：莫斯科大学玛娅·亚历山大罗夫娜·格林伯格（文科硕士）

西班牙语：伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校语言学系维罗妮卡·科尔特斯（文科硕士）

我们还要感谢本词典读者的无数询问和来信。他们的问题和建议为进一步的研究提供了极受欢迎的灵感。我们愿再次鼓励本书所有有兴趣的使用者把遇到的问题及想到的建议以及疑问记下来，并寄给我们由我们转交给编者。信函可寄：

The Editor, c/o Barron's Educational Series, 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, USA.

注　释

①　本版本仅保留汉译序言。

The Most Useful Dictionary of American Idioms

As you compare this Dictionary of American Idioms with similar works, please be aware that you are holding the most comprehensive dictionary of its kind on the market:

●More than 8,000 entries taken from real life and based on actual observations of how Americans use them.

●A dictionary with an international scope that aims at anybody whose native language was not American English. Prefaces written in ten languages help explain what an idiom is, what kinds there are, and how they work.

●A totally revised and updated edition that capitalizes on its astounding past success and brings brand-new idioms from all areas of human endeavor.

●Logical ordering of information that includes the parts of the sentence, clear explanations, enlightening examples, and cross-references in alphabetical order on every pertinent page.

最有用的美国习语词典

（英文版说明）

在你将这本《美国习语词典》与同类著作进行比较时，请注意，你手中的这本词典是市场上同类词典中最全面的一本：

●收录8000多条目，均取自于现实生活并基于对美国人如何使用它们的实际观察。

●一本具有国际视野的词典，读者对象为母语不是美国英语的所有人。以十种语言撰写的前言解释了什么是习语、习语有哪些种类及如何使用它们。

●本版经过全面修订和增补，在这一过程中充分利用了以往惊人的成功经验，并从人类所有的活动领域中吸取了许多全新的习语。

●信息排列合乎逻辑，所提供的信息包括词性、清晰的释义、富有启发的例句及每一相关单页上按字母顺序排列的相互参照。

Introduction

WHAT IS AN IDIOM?

If you understand every word in a text and still fail to grasp what the text is all about, chances are you are having trouble with the idioms. For example, suppose you read (or hear) the following:

Sam is a real cool cat. He never blows his stack and hardly ever flies off the handle. What's more, he knows how to get away with things…Well, of course, he is getting on, too. His hair is pepper and salt, but he knows how to make up for lost time by taking it easy. He gets up early, works out, and turns in early. He takes care of the hot dog stand like a breeze until he gets time off. Sam's got it made; this is it for him.

Needless to say, this is not great literary style, but most Americans, especially when they converse among themselves, will use expressions of this sort. Now if you are a foreigner in this country and have learned the words cool 'not very warm,' cat 'the familiar domestic animal,' blow 'exhale air with force,' stack 'a pile of smothing, or material heaped up,' fly 'propel-oneself in the air by means of wings,' handle 'the part of an object designed to hold by hand'—and so forth you will still not understand the above sample of conversational American English, because this basic dictionary information alone will not give you the meaning of the forms involved. An idiom—as it follows from these observations—is the assigning of a new meaning to a group of words which already have their own meaning. Below you will find a 'translation' of this highly idiomatic, colloquial American English text, into a more formal, and relatively idiom free variety of English:

Sam is really a calm person. He never loses control of himself and hardly ever becomes too angry. Furthermore, he knows how to manage his business financially by using a few tricks… Needless to say, he too, is getting older. His hair is beginning to turn gray, but he knows how to compensate for wasted time by relaxing. He rises early, exercises, and goes to bed early. He manages his frankfurter stand without visible effort, until it is someone else's turn to work there. Sam is successful; he has reached his life's goal.

Now if you were to explain how the units are organized in this text, you would have to make a little idiom dictionary. It would look like this:

to be a (real) cool cat

to be a really calm person

to blow one's stack

to lose control over oneself, to become mad

to fly off the handle

to become excessively angry

what's more

furthermore, besides, additionally

to get away with something

to perpetrate an illegitimate or tricky act without repercussion or harm

of course

naturally

to be getting on

to age, to get older

pepper and salt

black or dark hair mixed with streaks of gray

to make up for something

to compensate for something

lost time

time wasted, time spent at fruitless labor

to take it easy

to relax, to rest, not to worry

to get up

to rise from bed in the morning or at other times

to work out

to exercise, to do gymnastics

to turn in

to go to bed at night

like a breeze

without effort, elegantly, easily

time off

period in one's job or place of employment during which one is not performing one's services

to have got it made

to be successful, to have arrived

this is it

to be in a position or in a place, or to have possession of an object, beyond which more of the same is unnecessary

Many of the idioms in this little sample list can be found in this dictionary itself. The interesting fact about most of these idioms is that they can easily be identified with the familiar parts of speech. Thus some idioms are clearly verbal in nature, such as get away with, get up, work out, and turn in. An equally large number are nominal in nature. Thus hot dog and cool cat are nouns. Many are adjectives, as in our example pepper and salt meaning 'black hair mixed with gray.' Many are adverbial, as the examples like the breeze 'easily, without effort,' hammer and tongs 'violently' (as in she ran after him hammer and tongs), and so forth. These idioms, which correlate with the familiar parts of speech, can be called lexemic idioms.

The other most important group of idioms are of larger size. Often they are an entire clause in length, as our examples to fly off the handle, 'lose control over oneself,' and to blow one's stack, 'to become very angry.' There are a great many of these in American English. Some of the most famous ones are: to kcik the bucket 'die,' to be up the creek 'to be in a predicament or a dangerous position,' to be caught between the devil and deep blue sea 'to have to choose between two equally unpleasant alternatives,' to seize the bull by the horns 'to face a problem and deal with it squarely,' and so on. Idioms of this sort have been called tournures (from the French), meaning 'turns of phrase,' or simply phraseological idioms. What they have in common is that they do not readily correlate with a given grammatical part of speech and require a paraphrase longer than a word.

Their form is set and only a limited number of them can be said or written in any other way without destroying the meaning of the idiom. Many of them are completely rigid and cannot show up in any other form whatever. Consider the idiom kick the bucket, for example. In the passive voice, you get an unacceptable form such as the bucket has been kicked by the cowboy, which no longer means that the 'cowboy died.' Rather it means that he struck a pail with his foot. Idioms of this type are regarded as completely frozen forms. Notice, however, that even this idiom can be inflected for tense, e. g., it is all right to say the cowboy kicked the bucket, the cowboy will kick the bucket, he has kicked the bucket, etc. Speakers disagree as much as do grammarians whether or not, for example, it is all right to use this idiom in the gerund form (a gerund being a noun derived from a verb by adding -ing to it, e. g., singing from sing, eating from eat, etc.) in His kicking the bucket surprised us all. It is best to avoid this form.

The next largest class of idioms is that of well established sayings and proverbs. These include the famous types of don't count your chickens before they're hatched (meaning 'do not celebrate the outcome of an undertaking prematurely because it is possible that you will fail in which case you will look ridiculous'); don't wash your dirty linen in public (meaning 'do not complain of your domestic affairs before strangers as it is none of their business'), and so forth. Many of these originate from some well known literary source or come to us from the earliest English speakers of the North American Continent.

Lack of predictability of meaning (or precise meaning) is not the only criterion of idiomaticity. Set phrases or phraseological units are also idiomatic, even though their meanings may be transparent. What is idiomatic (unpredicatable) about them is their construction. Example include How about a drink? What do you say, Joe? (as a greeting); as a matter of fact, just in case; just to be on the safe side, and many more.

Another important case of idiomaticity is the one-word idiom that occurs when a word is used in a surprisingly different meaning from the original one. Examples include lemon, said of bad watches, cars, or machines in general; and dog, said of a bad date or a bad exam. (My car is a lemon, my math exam was a dog.)

Why is English, and especially American English, so heavily idiomatic? The most probable reason is that as we develop new concepts, we need new expressions for them, but instead of creating a brand new word from the sounds of the language, we use some already existent words and put them together in a new sense. This, however, appears to be true of all known languages. There are, in fact, no known languages that do not have some idioms. Consider the Chinese expression for 'quickly,' for example. It is mǎ shāng, and translated literally it means 'horseback.' Why should the concept of 'quick' be associated with the back of a horse? The answer reveals itself upon a moment's speculation. In the old days, before the train, the automobile, and the airplane, the fastest way of getting from one place to the other was by riding a horse, i. e., on horseback. Thus Chinese mǎ shāng is as if we said in English Hurry up! We must go 'on horseback,' i. e., 'Hurry up! We must go quickly.' Such a form would not be unintelligible in English at all, though the speaker would have to realize that it is an idiom, and the foreigner would have to learn it. However, in learning idioms a person may make an incorrect guess. Consider the English idiom Oh well, the die is cast! What would you guess this means—in case you don't know it? Perhaps you may guess that the speaker you heard is acquiescing in something because of the Oh well part. The expression means 'I made an irreversible decision and must live with it.' You can now try to reconstruct how this idiom came into being: The image of the die that was cast in gambling cannot be thrown again; that would be illegal; whether you have a one, a three, or a six, you must face the consequences of your throw, that is, win or lose, as the case may be. (Some people may know that the phrase was used by Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon, an event that led to war.)

How, then, having just learned it, will you use this idiom correctly? First of all, wait until you hear it from a native speaker in a natural context; do not experiment yourself with using an idiom until you have mastered the basics of English grammar. Once you have heard the idiom being used more than once, and fully understand its meaning, you can try using it yourself. Imagine that you have two job offers, one sure, but lower paying, and one that pays more, but is only tentative. Because of nervousness and fear of having no job at all, you accept the lower paying job, at which moment the better offer comes through and naturally you feel frustrated. You can then say Oh well, the die is cast…If you try this on a native speaker and he looks at you with sympathy and does not ask 'what do you mean?'—you have achieved your first successful placement of a newly learned idiom in an appropriate context. This can be a rewarding experience. Americans usually react to foreigners more politely than do people of other nations, but they can definitely tell how fluent you are. If a person always uses a bookish, stilted expression and never uses an idiom in the right place, he might develop the reputation of being a dry, unimaginative speaker, or one who is trying to be too serious and too official. The use of idioms is, therefore, extremely important. It can strike a chord of solidarity with the listener. The more idioms you use in the right context, the more at ease Americans will feel with you and the more they will think to themselves 'this is a nice and friendly person—look at how well he expresses himself!'

We will now take a look at some practical considerations regarding the use of A Dictionary of American Idioms.

HOW TO USE THIS DICTIONARY

This dictionary can be used successfully by nonnative speakers of English, students, workers, immigrants—in short, anybody who wants to make his English more fluent, more idiomatic. It contains phrases of the types mentioned above, lexemic idioms, phrase idioms, and proverbial idioms, that have a special meaning. When a phrase has a special meaning that you cannot decode properly by looking up and understanding the individual words of which it is composed, then you know you are dealing with an idiom. You may already know some of these idioms or may be able to imagine what they mean. Look in the book for any of the following idioms that you may already know well; this will help you to understand how you should use this book: boyfriend, girlfriend, outer space, piggy bank, get even, give up, going to, keep on, keep your mouth shut, lead somebody by the nose, look after, show off, throw away, all over, in love, mixed-up, out of this world, I'll say, both X and Y.

A dictionary is like any other tool: You must familiarize yourself with it and learn how to use it before it begins to work well for you. Study the directions carefully several times, and practice looking up idioms. That way, searching for an idiom and finding it will become second nature to you. If you hear an idiomatic expression that is not in this book, after using it for a while, you will develop the ability to track down its meaning and write it down for yourself. Keep your own idiom list at home, right beside your regular dictionary. If you read a technical text, or a novel or a newspaper article and do not understand an experession, look it up in your regular school dictionary first; if you do not find it, try this one.

How do you find out if this dictionary can help you understand a hard sentence? Sometimes you can easily see what the phrase is, as with puppy love, fun house, dog-eat-dog, mixed-up. If not, pick out an important word from the most difficult part and look for that. If it is the first word in the idiom, you will find the whole phrase, followed by an explanation. Thus the expression bats in the belfry is listed in this dictionary under b, the word bats. If the word you picked is not the first word, you will find a list of idioms that contain that word. For example the word toe will be found in entries such as curl one's hair OR curl one's toes, on one's toes, step on the toes (of somebody). You may, of course, find that the reason why you do not understand a particular sentence is not because of any idioms in it; in that case your regular dictionary will be of help to you. Also, there are more idioms than listed in this book; only the most frequently occurring in American English are included. British English, for example, or the English spoken in Australia, certainly has many idiomatic expressions that are not a part of American English.

TYPES OF ENTRY

This dictionary contains three kinds of entry: main entries, run-on entries, and cross reference entries. A main entry includes a full explanation of the idiom. A run-on entry is a phrase which is derived from another idiom but would be separated from it if it entered at its own alphabetical place. These derived idioms have been run on at the end of the main entry (e. g., fence-sitter at sit on the fence) with an illustration and a paraphrase; an extra explanation has been added when understanding the derivative from the main explanation seemed difficult. When an idiom has come to be used as more than one part of speech, a separate entry has been made for each usage.

A cross-reference entry guides you to a definition in another place. Suppose you want to look up cast in one's lot with. You can look under cast; but the cross-reference entry will send you to throw in the phrase throw in one's lot with. The reason for this is that cast is a much rarer word nowadays and so the usual, more frequent form of this idiom starts with the verb throw.

PARTS OF SPEECH LABELS

Those idioms that correlate with a well-defined grammatical form class carry a part of speech label. Sometimes, as with many prepositional phrases, a double label had to be assigned because the given phrase has two grammatical uses, e. g., in commission can be either adverbial or adjectival. Many prepositional phrases are adverbial in their literal sense, but adjectival in their nonpredictable, idiomatic sense. v. stands for verb; it was assigned to phrases containing a verb and an adverb; verb and preposition; or verb, preposition, and adverb. v. phr. stands for 'verbal phrase'; these include verbs with an object, verbs with subject complement, and verbs with prepositional phrase.

RESTRICTIVE USAGE LABELS

You must pay particular attention to whether it is appropriate for you to use a certain idiom in a certain setting. The label slang shows that the idiom is used only among very close friends who are quite familiar with one another. Informal indicates that the form is used in conversation but should be avoided in formal composition. Formal indicates the opposite; this is a form that people usually do not say, but they will write it in an essay or will state it in a speech or a university lecture. Literary alerts you to the fact that people are usually aware that the form is a quotation; it would be inappropriate for you to use these too often. Vulgar indicates that you should altogether avoid the form; recognizing it may, of course, be important to you as you can judge a person by the language he uses. Substandard labels a form as chiefly used by less educated people; nonstandard means that a phrase is felt to be awkward. Archaic (rarely used in this book) means that the form is heavily restricted to Biblical or Shakespearean English. Dialect means that the form is restricted to its geographical source; e. g., chiefly British means that Americans seldom use it, Southern means that the form is of much higher currency in the South of the United States that in the North.

Adam Makkai, Ph. D.

Professor of Linguistics

University of ILlinois at Chicago

Executive Director and Director of

Publications, Emeritus, Linguistic

Association of Canada and the United States (LACUS), Inc.,

Executive Director, Atlantis-Centaur, Inc.

序　　言

一、什么是习语

在阅读英语时，如果你明白句子中每个词的意义，却仍不懂整个句子的意思，那很可能是遇到了习语问题。例如，你若读到或听到下面这段话，就会遇到这个问题。

Sam is a real cool cat. He never blows his stack and hardly ever flies off the handle. What's more, he knows how to get away with things… Well, of course, he is getting on, too. His hair is pepper and salt, but he knows how to make up for lost time by taking it easy. He gets up early, works out, and turns in early. He takes care of the hot dog stand like a breeze until he gets time off. Sam's got it made; this is it for him.

毋庸讳言，这段话并非了不起的书面体，但大多数美国人，尤其是他们自己互相交谈时，往往都会这么说的。如果你是在美国的外国人，当你听到这段话时，尽管懂得那些单词的意义，例如，cool的意思是“凉的”，cat的意思是“猫”，blow的意思是“吹”，stack的意思是“一堆东西”，fly的意思是“飞”，handle的意思是“把手”，等等，可是，你仍不明白这段口语体的美国英语到底说的是什么意思，因为，词典上所给予的这些单词的基本含义不能提供上述表达方式的意义。从以上例子的分析，我们就可以知道，所谓习语，是指赋予了新的意义的一个词组，尽管该词组中的每个单词各具其本身独立的意义。现在，我们把这一段充满习语而又非常口语化的美国英语“译”为习语相对较少而又比较正式的文体：

Sam is a really calm person. He never loses control of himself and hardly ever becomes too angry. Furthermore, he knows how to manage his business financially by using a few tricks…Needless to say, he, too, is getting older. His hair is beginning to turn grey, but he knows how to compensate for wasted time by relaxing. He rises early, exercises, and goes to bed early. He manages his frankfurter dispensary without visible effort until it is someone else's turn to work there. Sam is successful, he has reached his life's goal.

萨姆是个头脑冷静的人。他从不失去自控，也很少大发雷霆。而且，他也懂得怎样玩弄一些小诡计赚钱……当然，他人也渐渐老了，黑发中出现了白发。但他懂得如何把日子过得悠闲些，以赎回虚度的光阴。他早上起得很早，然后锻炼身体，晚上也很早上床睡觉。他管理自己的那个热狗摊，显得轻松自如，直到别人接他的班。萨姆很成功。他已经达到他人生的目标。

如果你想了解这些词组是怎样组成的，就得编一本小小的习语词典。该词典的样子大致如下：

to be a (real) cool cat

头脑冷静的人

to blow one's stack

失去自制，发疯

to fly off the handle

大发雷霆

what's more

而且

to get away with something

做成（某坏事或错事而未被发觉或受处分）

of course

当然

to be getting on

变老

pepper and salt

（头发）黑白参杂的

to make up for something

补偿，弥补

lost time

浪费的时间

to take it easy

休息，不忧虑

to get up

起床

to work out

锻炼身体

to turn in

上床睡觉

like a breeze

毫不费力地

time off

下班时间

to have got it made

成功，达到

this is it

达到了目标

上面列出的这些习语都能在本词典中查到。有趣的是，大多数习语都能与我们所熟悉的词类相对应。有些成语显然具有动词性质，如get away with, get up, work out, turn in等。不少习语具有名词性质，如hot dog和cool cat就是名词。还有很多习语相当于形容词，如pepper and salt，意为“黑白参杂的（头发）”；另一些习语又具有副词性质，如like a breeze，意为“轻松自如地”，hammer and tongs意为“拼命地，竭尽全力地”，（如She ran after him hammer and tongs．她拼命追求他。）如此等等，不一而足。这些与熟悉的词类相关的习语，可称之为词汇习语。

另一类重要的习语组成的单位较大，有时往往有一个子句那么长。例如我们上面例子中的to fly off the handle（大发雷霆）和to blow one's stack（失去自制，发疯），就属此类。在美国英语中，这类习语很多。下面几个就是大家都熟悉的习语：

to kick the bucket

死

to be up the creek

处于困境，一筹莫展

to be caught between the devil and deep blue sea

进退两难

to seize the bull by the horns

不畏艰险

这类习语一向被称为tournures（该词源自法语，意为“表述方式”），可简单地称作短语习语。这类习语的共同特点是，它们并不与语法里的某一词类相关联，并且需用不止一个词才能把意思解释清楚。

这类习语的形式是固定的，只有少数习语在使用时可以有变化而仍不损其原意。许多习语是完全固定不变的，无论如何不能以别的形式出现。试以习语kick the bucket为例。如果把这一习语用在被动语态中，As the bucket has been kicked by the cowboy，这种用法就不对了。因为句子的意思不再是“牛仔死了”，而是说“那牛仔用脚踢了那只桶”。这类习语可谓是“全冻式”，即其形式是完全固定不变的。然而，值得注意的是，即使是这类习语，也可以用在不同的时态中。例如，我们可以说：

The cowboy kicked the bucket.

The cowboy will kick the bucket.

He has kicked the bucket. 等等。

但这类习语是否可以以动名词形式出现，语法学家和普通大众都莫衷一是，意见不一。我们的建议是最好尽量避免使用动名词形式。所谓动名词，就是在动词后加上-ing变成名词（如sing加上-ing变成singing, eat加上-ing变成eating等）。例如，我们应避免使用下面的形式：

His kicking the bucket surprised us all.

另一大类习语是一些得到确认的格言和谚语。例如，大家熟悉的有：

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

蛋未孵化先别数小鸡。

这话的意思是“事情未成功以前，先别庆祝，因为还可能会失败；如果失败，那就被人笑话了。”意即“别指望得太早了。”

Don't wash your dirty linen in public.

别在大庭广众面前洗自己的脏被单。

这话的意思是“不要在陌生人面前抱怨家里的事情，因为这跟他们无关”，意即“家丑不可外扬。”许多这类习语出自文学名著或早期北美大陆的演说家。

我们无法从构成短语的单词来预测其意义（或其确切意义），这还不是判断英语习语的唯一标准。固定词组和短语，也是一种习语，尽管整个词组或短语的意义是可以从其组成的单词的意义作出判断的。其所以为习语（具有不可预测性），是取决于词组或短语的结构。这类习语包括：

How about a drink?

What do you say, Joe?（问候招呼语）

as a matter of fact

just in case

just to be on the safe side等等。

还有一类习语只有一个词，使用时其意义与原来的意义大相径庭。例如lemon，泛指“很差的表、汽车或机器”；dog指“倒霉的日子或很糟糕的考试”。例如：

My car is a lemon, my math exam was a dog.

为什么英语，尤其是美国英语，习语这么丰富呢？最可能的原因是，当新概念形成时，我们需要有新的表达方式。有时，我们不想创造全新的词，而是用原有的词，组合成新的意义。这种用已有的词组合成新的表达方式的做法，在世界各国语言中都是存在的。事实上，就我们所知，没有一种语言是没有习语的。例如，在汉语中表示“快”的意思用“马上”这一短语。如果直译成英语，即“（在）马背（上）”。那么，“快”的意思又怎么会跟“马背”联系在一起呢？只要稍微想一下就清楚了，原来在古代，在火车、汽车和飞机出现之前，从一个地方到另一个地方最快的方法就是骑马。所以汉语说“马上”，就好像我们用英语说Hurry up, we must go "on horseback". 也就是说：“赶快！我们得快走。”这种表达方式在英语里也不是不可理解的，只是说话的人必须知道，这是习语，外国人必须通过学习才能懂得。但在学习习语时，我们往往会猜错意思。试以英语习语Oh well, the die is cast! 为例，如果你不知道这一习语，你猜它会是什么意思呢？也许，因为这句中有Oh well这两个词，你会以为说话者是在默然同意某件事情。其实，这句话的意思是：“我已作了不可更改的决定，后果如何我也只能接受了。”意即“木已成舟”，事情已成定局，无法挽回了。现在，再试想一下这个习语是如何来的。想象一下，在赌博时，骰子一掷出就不能再掷了，再掷就算犯规。不管你掷出几点，是1是3是6，是输是赢，你都得接受。（可能有人知道，公元前49年恺撒越过鲁比孔河与罗马执政庞培决战时曾用过此语。）

那么，学了这个习语后，怎样才能正确使用呢？首先，你得听到以英语为母语的人在自然的场合下使用这个习语。在你没有掌握习语的基本语法之前，千万别急于使用。在你多次听到别人使用这一习语并彻底了解了它的意义之后，才可以自己试着使用。譬如，你可能会找到两份工作。一份肯定能得到，但薪水低；另一个薪水高，但没把握得到。由于忧虑和担心什么工作都找不到，你接受了那份低薪的工作。就在这时候，获得那份高薪工作的通知也到了。你自然会感到沮丧，这时，你就可以说：Oh well, the die is cast…如果这句话你是对以英语为母语的人说的，他听了会用同情的眼光注视着你，也没有问你“你是什么意思？”那就表明，你第一次在适当的场合正确地使用了这一习语。这于你可算是一次有益的经验。美国人对外国人要比其他国家的人对外国人有礼貌，但他们完全知道你的英语是否熟练。如果一个人老是用文绉绉的、夸张做作的词句，而从不在适当的场合使用习语，那别人就会认为他是一个死板的人，一个乏味的人，要不就认为他是太严肃了，太官气十足了。所以，使用习语是十分重要的，使用习语能使听话人与你产生共鸣。在适当的场合，你习语使用得越多，美国人跟你谈话就会越感到自在；他们在心里就越会这么想：“这人多好，多友善——看看他表达自己的意思表达得多好啊！”

下面我们谈谈这本《美国习语词典》的使用方法。

二、如何使用这本词典

这本词典是为非英语民族的学生、工人和移民编写的。总之，任何人若想学会说流利而地道的英语，都可使用本词典。词典中包括前面所谈到的三类习语，即词汇习语、短语习语和谚语习语。这些习语都有其特定的意义。当一个短语具有特定的意义，而光从短语中单词的意义无法解释整个短语的意思时，那你就是遇到了习语。你也许已经知道了一些习语，也能猜出这些习语的意义。现在，请你在本词典中查阅一下下列这些你可能已熟悉的习语的意义，这会帮助你了解怎样使用这本词典。这些成语是：

boyfriend, girlfriend, outer space, piggy bank, get even, give up, going to, keep on, keep your mouth shut, lead somebody by the nose, look after, show off, throw away, all over, in love, mixedup, out of this world, I'll say, both X and Y.

词典像其他工具一样，你必须先熟悉它并学会如何使用，它才能更好地为你服务。应该反复仔细地研读使用说明，并练习查习语。只有这样，你才能得心应手地查寻并找到它。以后，你如果听到一个习惯的表达方式，但在本词典中又查不到，在你使用本词典相当一段时间之后，你自己就会琢磨出它的意思，并自己把它记下来。把自己记下来的这些习语放在家中自己常用的词典旁边。在你阅读科技文章、小说或新闻时，若碰到你不懂的表达方式，先查一下你常用的词典；若查不到，则可试试查这本词典。

怎么知道这本词典可以帮助你理解难句呢？有时，你一眼就可以知道一些短语的意思，例如puppy love, fun house, dog-eat-dog, mixed-up等。如果不懂，就找出难住你的那个短语中最重要的词查一下。如果这个词是短语中的第一个词，你就会发现整个短语，短语后面就是解释。例如，短语bats in the belfry在本词典中就列在字母b下面的bats这一词下。如果你查阅的词不是短语中的第一个词，你就会发现包含这个词的好几个成语。例如，在toe这一词条下，列出了下列成语：

curl one's hair OR curl one's toe, on one's toes, step on the toes (of somebody)

当然，有时候你不懂整个句子的意思，并不是因为其中包含有习语的关系，那你就可以查一下普通词典。当然，也有许多习语没有列入本词典。这里，我们只收入了最常用的美国习语。例如，英国英语或澳大利亚英语中，也有许多习惯表达方式，但那些不属于美国英语，当然就不包括在本词典之内了。

三、词条类型

本词典的词条包括三种类型，即主词条、内词条和参照词条。主词条包括对成语完整的释义。内词条是指从另一个成语派生出来的短语，若以它本身的字母顺序排列，就会与这个习语分开，所以就把这些派生的习语附在主词条之后。例如，fence-sitter附在sit on the fence之后，并加以解释，配有例句；如果光看主词条的解释对理解派生的习语有困难，则另加说明。如果一个习语可以作不同的词类使用，则以不同的词类分别列入词条。

参照词条使你能在另一个地方找到释义。假如，你要查成语cast in one's lot with，你可以查lot词条但参照词条会把你引向throw词条，得到的是throw in one's lot with这一短语。其原因是，cast一词现在已很少用了，在这一习语中现在更常用的是throw一词。

四、词类标记

每条成语凡与语法中的词类相关联的，均标有词类标记。有的习语有两种词类标记，如介词短语，因为这类成语具有两种语法作用。例如，in commission这一短语，既可用作形容词，也可用作副词。许多介词短语其词面意义往往作副词用，其不可预测的习惯用法意义往往又用作形容词。V表示动词，这类短语包含一个动词和一个副词，或一个动词和一个介词，或一个动词、一个介词和一个副词。V. phr. 表示动词短语。这类短语包括动词及其宾语，动词及其主语补语，以及动词及其介词短语。

五、惯用法标记

使用习语，需特别注意场合是否合适。现把成语习惯用法的标记分别说明如下：

Slang：俚语，只用于十分熟悉的好朋友之间。

Informal：非正式用语，用于日常谈话中，但应避免使用在书面语中。

Formal：正式用语，与上述非正式用语相反，一般不用于日常谈话中，而用于文章中，正式演说中，或大学讲课中。

Literary：文学用语，一般都用在引语中，应避免经常使用这类习语。

Vulgar：粗俗语，应完全避免使用这类习语。当然，很重要的一点是，你经常可以从所使用的语言来判断一个人。

Substandard：不规范用语，主要用于教育水平不太高的人们之间。

Nonstandard：非标准用语，这类成语使人听了感到别扭。

Archaic：古体词，现已不通用，只限于《圣经》或莎士比亚作品中的英语。

Chiefly British：主要用于英国英语中，美国人很少用。

Southern：南方英语，指在美国南方用得多，北方很少用。

原序作者：亚当·马凯（哲学博士）

美国伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校语言学教授

加拿大与美国语言学联合会公司

常务董事、出版部主任（荣誉退休）

亚特兰蒂斯—马人公司常务董事

原序翻译：郭建中教授

中国浙江大学外国语学院

Preface to the Fourth Edition

The fourth edition of A Dictionary of American Idioms published by Barron's Educational Series in 2004 follows three previous, highly successful editions, the first of which appeared in 1975. Thus, we have 29 years of continuous experience with ongoing changes in the living vocabulary of American English, which gives this updated version of the English language such widespread appeal.

There can be little doubt that English has become the world language. In the nineteenth century, while Britain was the world's major colonial power, it was British English that held sway wherever English was taught. In the twentiteth century, after two World Wars, America emerged as the planet's leading industrial power. In the early '90s, the United States was left as the world's only superpower, for better or for worse. (Think of the space program and the computer industry in this regard, and you will readily agree that this is indeed the case.)

The United States has always been a country of immigrants. This trend continues unabated. Whatever anyone thinks of American politics at home or abroad at any given time, the fact remains that the number of American "escaping" abroad are infinitesimally small in comparision to the hundreds of thousands of people who come to America in search of a brighter future for themselves and for their children. It is for learners of American English, both the beginners and the advanced, that a book such as this can be particularly useful. Native speakers also will find it both intellectually challenging and entertaining to check their internalized vocabulary against what they find on these pages.

Idioms sometimes have more than one form. Take as an example: speak of the devil, versus talk of the devil. Both occur and, therefore, both are correct. We have in this updated fourth edition given many such variants. Each idiom is defined and a sample sentence in which it can be used is provided.

Some 1,600 entries have been added to the new edition, making this book one of the most comprehensive dictionaries of American idioms currently available.

Readers often wonder where and how an idiom originated. This is a dictionary less concerned with the history of a given idiom than with its current use. We have added "Biblical" and "Shakespearean" when it seemed warranted, but numerous idioms such as kick the bucket, for instance, have several competing explanations, so that we could write a separate study about the origin of idioms. The present editor has consistently tried to answer readers' questions in the hope that, in the future, and expanded version also will include historical narratives.

We hope that you will find the fourth revised and expanded edition to be both educationally useful and entertaining. We look forward to your comments and queries.

Adam Makkai, Ph. D.

Professor of English and Linguistics

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)

e-mail: admakkai@uic. edu

第4版前言

《美国习语词典》第四版由“巴伦教育丛书”出版社于2004年推出，以前的三版都非常成功，而第一版是在1975年面世的。因此，在追踪美国英语鲜活词汇的不断变化方面，我们已经有了连续29年的经验，从而使得这一增订版具有如此广泛的吸引力。

毫无疑问，英语现已成为国际语言。在19世纪，英国是世界上最主要的殖民主义国家，凡教英语的地方都是英国英语占据着统治地位。在20世纪，经历过两次世界大战之后，美国成了全球最重要的工业强国。1990年代初，美国成了世界上唯一的超级大国。这是好是坏还很难说，但想一想美国在太空计划和计算机产业上的领先地位，你就会承认，事实的确如此。

美国一直就是一个移民国家。这一趋势仍在继续，且势头有增无减。不管人们对美国任何时候的国内外政治有何看法，事实依旧是：与成千上万来到美国为自己和子女寻求更光明的前途的人相比，“逃往”国外的美国人却极少极少。对这些学习美国英语的人来说，不管是初学者还是学过中级水平的人，本词典这样的书可说是特别有用的。以美国英语为母语的人如果对照本词典的内容来检验一下他们已经掌握的词汇，也会发现这本词典既有知识的挑战性，也有无穷的乐趣。

习语有时具有一种以上的形式。例如，既可说speak of the devil，也可说talk of the devil。两种形式都存在，因此，两种形式都是正确的。在这本增订的第四版中，我们给出了很多这类的变体。每一习语都予以释义并提供一个使用该习语的例句。

新版中增加了约1600个新词目，从而使本词典成为现有美国习语词典中最全面的词典之一。

读者们经常对习语的起源感到好奇。但本词典更为关注的是习语现时的用法而不是其历史。在似乎可以断言时，我们加上了“圣经用语”和“莎士比亚用语”，但许多习语，如kick the bucket等都有几种相互匹敌的解释，完全可以使我们就很多习语的起源另写一部专著。本版编者一直在试图回答读者们的问题，希望将来能有一个增补版本把这些历史故事也包括进去。

我们希望，你会发现这一修订增补后的第四版不仅在教育方面有用，而且也能引起你的兴趣。我们期盼着你的批评和提问。

亚当·马凯哲学博士

伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校英语与语言学教授

e-mail: admakkai@uic.edu

A Dictionary of American Idioms

美国习语词典

◆A◆

a bad　penny always turns up (again) An unwanted or unsavory character is likely to show up when least expected. —A proverb.〖谚〗不受欢迎（或讨厌）的人总是一再出现。◆ "Who's coming?" Father asked. "It's Uncle Joe, the drunkard," I answered."Oh, that's the case of a bad penny always turning up again," Father said with a sigh.“谁要来呀？”父亲问。“是酒鬼乔叔，”我回答说。“唉，这真是不受欢迎的人偏要来纠缠，”父亲叹了一口气说。

abide by　v. To accept and obey; be willing to follow. 服从；遵守。◆ A basketball player may know he did not foul, but he must abide by the referee's decision. 一名篮球选手也许知道自己并未犯规，但他却必须服从裁判的判决。◆ The members agree to abide by the rules of the club. 俱乐部成员们同意遵守俱乐部的章程。

a bit　n., informal A small amount; some.〖非正式〗少许；一些，一点。◆ There's no sugar in the sugar bowl, but you may find a bit in the bag. 糖缸里没有糖，但你可以在袋子里找到一点。◆ If the ball had hit the window a bit harder, it would have broken it. 如果球击得再重一点，窗玻璃就会被打碎了。—Often used like an adverb. ——常用作副词。◆ This sweater scratches a bit. 这件运动衫穿在身上使人有点痒。—Also used like an adjective before less, more.在less, more前亦用作形容词。◆ Janet thought she could lose weight by eating a bit less. 珍妮特以为少吃点可以减肥。◆ "Have some more cake?" "Thanks. A bit more won't hurt me."“再吃点蛋糕？”“谢谢。多吃一点不会伤着我。”—Often used adverbially after verbs in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, sometimes in the form one bit. 在否定句、疑问句和条件句中常在动词后用作状语，有时用one bit的形式。◆ "Won't your father be angry?" "No, he won't care a bit." “你父亲不会生气吗？”“不会，他一点都不会在乎的。”

abound in　v. phr. To have plenty of something. 有很多；盛产，富于。◆ Our university abounds in talented undergraduates. 我们大学里有很多天才的本科生。

about-face　n. A sudden change of course or a decision opposite to what was decided earlier. 彻底改变。◆ Her decision to become an actress instead of a dentist was an about-face from her original plans. 她决定当演员而不是牙科医生，对她原来的计划来了个180度的大转弯。

about time　n. phr. Finally, but later than it should have been; at last. 总算；终于；该。◆ Mother said, "It's about time you got up, Mary." 母亲说：“该起床了，玛丽。”◆ The basketball team won last night. About time. 那支篮球队昨晚打赢了。他们也该赢一场了。

about to　1. Close to; ready to. — Used with an infinitive. 即将；就要。——与不定式连用。◆ We were about to leave when the snow began. 我们正准备离开就开始下雪了。◆ I haven't gone yet, but I'm about to. 我还没走，但就要走了。Compare比较GOING TO, ON THE POINT OF. 2. informal Having a wish or plan to. —Used with an infinitive in negative sentences.〖非正式〗有意，打算。——在否定句中与不定式连用。◆ "Will she come with us?" asked Bill. "She's not about to," answered Mary.“她会和我们一起来吗？”比尔问。“她没有这个意思，”玛丽回答说。

above all　adv. phr. Of first or highest importance; most especially. 最重要的是，首先；尤其是。◆ Children need many things, but above all they need love. 孩子们需要很多东西，但最重要的是他们需要爱。Syn. 同义短语FIRST AND LAST.

above suspicion　adj. phr. Too good to be suspected; not likely to do wrong. 无可怀疑的；不容置疑的。◆ The umpire in the game must be above suspicion of supporting one side over the other. 比赛中的裁判必须没有被人怀疑偏袒一方之处。

a breath of fresh air　n. phr. Something new, pleasant, or invigorating. 令人耳目一新的事，带来新鲜感的东西；新鲜的刺激。◆ Sue's arrival at our law firm was a breath of fresh air. 苏的到来给我们律师事务所带来一股新鲜空气。

abscond from　v. phr. To go away suddenly and furtively, usually having been part of some shady business. 从…潜逃。◆ Joe absconded from our shop when we discovered that the books had been tampered with. 当我们发现账目被人篡改后，乔便从我们店里潜逃了。

abscond with　v. phr. To steal or embezzle something. 偷盗（或侵吞）…后潜逃。◆ Al absconded with the uncounted extra cash after we closed for the evening. 在我们晚上打烊后，艾尔卷带着不计其数的现金潜逃了。

absence makes the heart grow fonder　When we don't see someone or something for a long while, we rejoice all the more when we meet again. —A proverb.〖谚〗眼不见，心更念；久别情更深；离别倍相思。◆ "How long will you be gone?" Sue asked, when her husband joined the marines. "Just six months," Joe answered. "It will be over soon; besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder!" 当她的丈夫参加海军陆战队时，苏问：“你要去多久啊？”乔回答说：“也就是6个月吧。这很快就会过去了；再说了，久别情更深嘛！”

absent-minded　adj. Lost in thought; forgetful; unable to concentrate on the task at hand. 陷入沉思的；健忘的；心不在焉的。◆ "What's the matter with Joe? Why is he so absent-minded?" Pete asked. "I think it's because he is about to get married," I answered, "and he's thinking about the wedding plans."“乔是怎么啦？为什么这么心不在焉呀？”皮特问。“我想这是因为他就要结婚了吧，”我回答说，“他一直在想结婚计划呢。”

absent without leave (AWOL)　adj. Absent without permission; used mostly in the military. 擅离职守的（主要用于军队中）。◆ Jack left Fort Sheridan without asking his commanding officer, and was punished for going AWOL. 杰克未请求指挥官批准就离开了谢里丹堡，结果因开小差而受到处罚。

absolve from　v. phr. To forgive; to allow not to repay a debt. 赦免；解除…的债务。◆ Joe is very religious; he goes to confession every Saturday. He hopes he will be absolved from his sins that way. 乔很虔诚，每个礼拜六都去忏悔。他希望这样做能赦免他的罪孽。◆ "How much do I owe you?" Pete asked. "Nothing," I replied, "you are absolved from your debt." “我欠你多少钱？”皮特问。“没几个钱，”我回答说。“你就不必还了。”

absorb in　v. phr. Pay total attention to something. 使全神贯注于，使专心于。◆ "Why isn't Sue coming to dinner?" mother asked. "She is completely absorbed in studying for her exam tomorrow," Joe explained.“苏为什么不来吃饭呀？”母亲问。“她正全神贯注地学习准备明天的考试呢，”乔解释说。

abstain from　v. phr. To not participate in the consumption of something; said of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, sex, and drugs. 戒绝（烟、酒、性和毒品等）；有意回避。◆ "Won't you have a glass of sherry and a cigar?" Joe asked the priest. "No thanks," he replied. "I abstain from those things."“你要不要喝杯雪利酒，抽支雪茄烟？”乔问牧师。“不，谢谢，”他回答说。“我是不碰这些东西的。”

abut against　v. phr. Reach up to; as far as; touch, said of streets, lots, buildings, and the like.（指街道、地块、建筑物等）邻接，毗连，紧靠。◆ Our old cornfield abuts against the Fox River. 我们的老玉米田紧靠着福克斯河。◆ Our campus abuts against the Eisenhower Expressway. 我们的校园紧靠着艾森豪威尔高速公路。

Acapulco gold　n., slang Marijuana of an exceptionally high quality. 〖俚〗阿卡普尔科金大麻（一种质量极高的大麻）。◆ Jack doesn't just smoke pot, he smokes Acapulco gold. 杰克不只是抽一般的大麻，他抽的是阿卡普尔科金大麻。

accede to　v. phr. To inherit the position of someone of importance. 接任，继承（王位等）。◆ When England's King George the Sixth died, his daughter, Elizabeth, acceded to the throne. 英国国王乔治六世去世后，他的女儿伊丽莎白继承了王位。

according to　prep. 1. So as to match or agree with; so as to be alike in. 根据；按照。◆ Many words are pronounced according to the spelling but some are not. 很多词按拼写发音，但有些词则不然。◆ The boys were placed in three groups according to height. 男孩子们按身高分为3组。2.On the word or authority of. 据…所说；按…所载。◆ According to the Bible, Adam was the first man. 据《圣经》所述，亚当是第一个男人。

according to one's own lights　adv. phr. In accordance with one's conscience or inclinations. 凭自己的良心；根据自己的意向。◆ Citizens should vote according to their own lights. 公民们应根据自己的意愿投票。

account for　v. phr. 1. To rationally or scientifically explain the reason for something. 解释；说明（原因等）。◆ The view that the earth revolves around its axis and circles the sun in a year accounts much better for the changing of the seasons than the old geocentric view. 对季节变化的解释，地球绕地轴自转并环绕太阳一年运行一圈的观点大大优于过去的地球中心说。2. To render accurate inventory of cash, personnel, objects, etc. 说明钱财的处置情况，报账；讲清；了解。◆ Joe was fired because he failed to account for the missing $50,000. 乔因无法说明缺失的5万美元是怎么回事而被解雇。◆ A good platoon commander accounts for every enlisted man under his command. 一名优秀的排长要非常了解他指挥的每一名士兵。

ace in the hole　n. phr. 1. An ace given to a player face down so that other players in a card game cannot see it.（纸牌戏中）正面朝下的一张A牌。◆ When the cowboy bet all his money in the poker game he did not know that the gambler had an ace in the hole and would win it from him. 当那个牛仔在扑克牌戏中把他所有的钱下作赌注时，他并不知道赌场老板有一张A牌会把他的钱赢走。2. informal Someone or something important that is kept as a surprise until the right time so as to bring victory or success.〖非正式〗出奇制胜的法宝；秘藏的王牌。◆ The lawyer's ace in the hole was a secret witness who saw the accident. 这位律师手中的王牌是一位目击该事故的秘密证人。Compare比较CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

ace up one's sleeve or have something up one's sleeve　n., or v. phr. To have a hidden asset or trick unknown by the opposition, like someone who cheats at cards and has winning cards hidden in his shirtsleeve. 藏在袖子里的王牌；手中握有王牌；胸中藏有妙计。◆ We all hope that the government has something up its sleeve in the war against terrorism. 我们都希望政府在反对恐怖主义的斗争中有制胜的妙计。

ache for or be itching to　v. phr. To long for something or someone powerfully. 渴望。◆ "I am aching for a piece of chocolate cake," the pregnant woman said.“我真想吃一块巧克力蛋糕，”那位怀孕的妇女说。

Achilles' heel　n. phr., literary A physical or psychological weakness named after the Greek hero Achilles who was invulnerable except for a spot on his heel.〖文〗阿喀琉斯的脚踵；致命弱点，唯一的弱点。◆ John's Achilles' heel is his lack of talent with numbers and math. 约翰的致命弱点是缺乏数学天才。

acid head　n., slang A regular user of LSD on whom the hallucinogenic drug has left a visible effect.〖俚〗嗜用迷幻药的人。◆ The reason John acts so funny is that he is a regular acid head. 约翰之所以举止如此乖张可笑，是因为他经常服用迷幻药。

acid rock　n. slang A characteristic kind of rock in which loudness and beat predominate over melody; especially such music as influenced by drug experiences.〖俚〗迷幻摇滚乐。◆ John is a regular acid rock freak. 约翰是个十足的迷幻摇滚乐迷。

acid test　n. phr. A powerful way of determining if something is genuine or false, going back to the days when gold was differentiated from brass by dipping an object into hydrochloric acid.（古时的）硝酸试金法；严峻的考验。◆ The acid test of a good marriage is fidelity and truthfulness. 对美满婚姻的严峻考验要看双方是否忠贞坦诚。

acoustic perfume　n., slang. Sound for covering up unwanted noise, such as music over loudspeakers in a noisy construction area.〖俚〗听觉香水（用以盖过某些噪音的声音，如嘈杂喧闹的建筑工地上盖没高音喇叭声音的音乐）。◆ Let's get out of here—this acoustic perfume is too much for my ears. 咱们快点离开这儿吧——这里的听觉香水真让我的耳朵吃不消。

acquaint with　v. phr. To make something or somebody known to someone; to introduce someone or something to another person. 使熟悉；把…介绍给。◆ "Let me acquaint you with who's who at work," John said to the new employee. 约翰对新来的雇员说：“让我把办公室里的同事一一介绍给你吧。”

acquire a taste for　v. phr. To become fond of something; get to like something. 喜欢上；养成对…的嗜好。◆ Jack acquired a taste for ripe cheeses when he went to France. 杰克去法国后喜欢上了熟奶酪。

across the board　adv. phr. 1. So that equal amounts of money are bet on the same horse to win a race, to place second, or third. 把赌注平均押在同一匹马获得前3名的3个机会上。◆ I bet $6 on the white horse across the board. 我以6美元赌这匹白马必获前3名，每一名次各2美元。—Often used with hyphens as an adjective. 常以连词符相连用作形容词。◆ I made an across-the-board bet on the white horse. 我以同样的赌注赌这匹白马稳获前3名。2. informal Including everyone or all, so that all are included.〖非正式〗包括一切地；全面地。◆ The President wanted taxes lowered across the board. 总统希望所有的人一律减税。—Often used with hyphens as an adjective. 常以连词符相连用作形容词。◆ The workers at the store got an across-the-board pay raise. 店里的工人全都加了工资。

across the tracks　See见THE TRACKS.

act as　v. phr. To function in the capacity of something to assure a desired result. 充当，起…的作用。◆ Did you know that if you have a bad sunburn and no lotion to relieve it, sour cream can act as a good replacement? 你知道吗？如果你的皮肤严重晒伤又没有防晒油缓解疼痛的话，酸奶油倒是一种不错的替代品。

actions speak louder than words　What you do shows your character better and is more important than what you say. —A proverb.〖谚〗行动比语言更响亮；事实胜于雄辩。◆ John promised to help me, but he didn't. Actions speak louder than words. 约翰曾答应帮我，但他却没帮。话说得再好听也没用。

act of faith　n. phr. An act or a deed that shows unquestioning belief in someone or something. 显示信念的行动。◆ It was a real act of faith on Mary's part to entrust her jewelry to her younger sister's care. 玛丽把自己的珠宝交给妹妹保管充分表明了对她的信任。

act of God　n. An occurrence (usually some sort of catastrophe) for which the people affected are not responsible; said of earthquakes, floods, etc. 不可抗力，天灾（指地震、水灾等）。◆ Hurricane Andrew destroyed many houses in Florida, but some types of insurance did not compensate the victims, claiming that the hurricane was an act of God. 安德鲁号飓风摧毁了佛罗里达州的许多房屋，但有些种类的保险没有赔偿受害者，声称飓风是天灾。

act one's age or be one's age　v. phr. To do the things that people expect someone of your age to do, not act as if you were much younger than you are. 举止和年龄相称；举止有大人气。◆ Mr. O'Brien was playing tag with the children at the party. Then Mrs. O'Brien said, "Henry! Act your age!" and he stopped. 奥布里安先生在晚会上与孩子们玩捉人游戏。奥布里安太太说：“亨利！放庄重点！”于是他便停了下来。

act out　v. 1. To show an idea, story, or happening by your looks, talk, and movement. 将（主意、故事等）表演出来。◆ He tried to act out a story that he had read. 他试图把读过的故事表演出来。2. To put into action. 将…付诸行动。◆ All his life he tried to act out his beliefs. 他毕生都在试图实践自己的信仰。

act up　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To behave badly; act rudely or impolitely. 举止不良；行为粗鲁或无礼。◆ The dog acted up as the postman came to the door. 邮递员来到门口时，狗狂吠不已。2. To work or run poorly (as a machine); skip; miss. （机器）运转不正常；熄火；发动不起来。◆ The car acted up because the spark plugs were dirty. 汽车运转不正常，因为火花塞太脏。

add fuel to the flame　v. phr. To make a bad matter worse by adding to its cause; spread trouble, increase anger or other strong feelings by talk or action. 火上加油。◆ Bob was angry with Ted and Ted added fuel to the flame by laughing at him. 鲍勃生泰德的气，而泰德还嘲笑他，使他气上加气。

addicted to　adj. phr. So used to something that doing without it becomes unbearably painful. 对…入了迷的；对…上了瘾的。◆ People addicted to smoking have a hard time giving up cigarettes. 吸烟上瘾的人戒烟要经历一段很苦的时间。

add in　v. phr. 1. To increase the contents of a mixture prepared as food. 加进去。◆ This soup tastes quite nice, but you had better add in some sour cream and some salt. 这汤的味道相当好，但你最好再加进去一些酸奶油和一些盐。2. To calculate a previously neglected sum as part of a previous calculation as in balancing one's checking account. 把…包括在内；把…计算在内。◆ I think we had better add in all the gas mileage and the motels on the way before turning in the bill to the boss for our field trip. 我认为我们把实地考察的开支清单交给老板前最好把全部汽油里程数和一路住汽车旅馆的费用也算进去。

add insult to injury　v. phr. 1. To hurt someone's feelings after doing him harm. 伤害之外又加侮辱。◆ He added insult to injury when he called the man a rat after he had already beaten him up. 他把那人狠揍了一顿又骂他是卑鄙小人，真可谓伤害之外又加侮辱。2. To make bad trouble worse. 雪上加霜；更糟的是。◆ We started on a picnic, and first it rained, then to add insult to injury, the car broke down. 我们出发去野餐，先是下起了雨，接着更糟的是车子抛锚了。

add up　v. 1. To come to the correct amount. 得出正确的总数。◆ The numbers wouldn't add up. 这些数字加起来与总数不符。◆ 2. informal To make sense; be understandable.〖非正式〗言之成理；可以理解。◆ His story didn't add up. 他的故事不合情理。

add up to　v. 1. To make a total of; amount to. 总计；总数达。◆ The bill added up to $12.95. 这份账单总计为12. 95美元。2. informal To mean; result in. 〖非正式〗意味着；结果是，导致。◆ The rain, the mosquitoes, and the heat added up to a spoiled vacation. 阴雨连绵、蚊虫肆虐再加上酷热难熬使度假变得兴味索然。

adhere to　v. phr. To stick to something; to observe the laws and regulations of an organization. 坚持，遵守。◆ Hitler demanded of his followers that they adhere to Nazi ideology strictly. 希特勒要求他的追随者必须严格遵守纳粹思想。

ad lib　v. phr. To improvise; interpolate during speech. 即兴表演；（讲话中）临时插入。◆ When the actress forgot her lines during the second act, she had to ad lib in order to keep the show going. 在第二幕中女演员忘记了台词，为使演出继续下去，她只得即兴发挥了一通。

advance on or upon　v. phr. To get nearer to; to gain in distance during pursuit of criminals or the army of the enemy. 朝…前进，向…推进。◆ The American troops were soon advancing on the Germans after they landed at the beaches of Normandy toward the end of World War Ⅱ. 将近第二次世界大战结束时，美军在诺曼底海滩登陆后即迅速向德军阵地进击。

a few　n. or adj. A small number (of people or things); some. 少数；几个，一些。◆ The dry weather killed most of Mother's flowers, but a few were left. 干燥的天气使母亲养的花大都枯死了，但还剩下一些活着。—A few is different in meaning from few, which emphasizes the negative; a few means 'some,' but few means 'not many.' a few在意义上与few不同，后者强调否定之意；a few意为“一些”，而few 则意为“不多，很少”。◆ We thought no one would come to lunch, but a few came. 我们以为没有人会来吃午饭的，但结果还是来了一些人。—Sometimes a few is used with only, and then it is negative. 有时a few与only连用，这时它就表示否定了。◆ We thought many people would come to lunch, but only a few came. 我们以为会有很多人来吃午饭的，但结果只来了几个人。—Sometimes used like an adverb. 有时用作副词。◆ Three students have no seats; we need a few more chairs. 3个学生没有座位；我们还需要几把椅子。

affix to　v. phr. To add in writing; glue to; stamp onto a piece of paper. 把…附加于；把…粘附于；在（纸上）盖（印章等）。◆ "Would you please affix your signature to the document?" the banker asked, as we were closing the car loan.“请你在这份文件上签上你的名字好吗？”在我们商定购车贷款时，那位银行职员问。

afoul of　prep. 1. In collision with 与…相撞。◆ The boat ran afoul of a buoy. 那条船撞上了一个航标。2. In or into trouble with. 撞上麻烦；招惹上麻烦。◆ The thief ran afoul of the night watchman. 小偷撞上了夜间警卫员。◆ Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes. 违章超速驾驶者总有触犯法律的一天。

afraid of one's shadow　adj. phr., informal Scared of small or imaginary things; very easily frightened; jumpy; nervous.〖非正式〗极其胆小的；极易受惊的；易受惊吓的；神经紧张的。◆ Mrs. Smith won't stay alone in her house at night; she is afraid of her own shadow. 史密斯太太晚上不肯一个待在家里；她连自己的影子都害怕。

a friend in need is a friend indeed　A genuine friend on whom one can always depend. —A proverb; often shortened to "a friend in need…"〖谚〗患难朋友才是真朋友。常缩略为"a friend in need…"◆ When John's house burned down, his neighbor Jim helped him and his family with shelter, food and clothing. John said, "Jim, a friend in need is a friend indeed—this describes you." 当约翰的房子烧毁后，他的邻居吉姆为他和他的家人提供了食宿和衣物。约翰说：“吉姆，患难之交是真交——这话说的就是你。”

after all　adv. phr. 1. As a change in plans; anyway. 尽管…还是；终究。—Used with emphasis on after. 重读after。◆ Bob thought he couldn't go to the party because he had too much homework, but he went after all. 鲍勃因作业太多以为自己不能去参加晚会，但他终究还是去了。2. For a good reason that you should remember. 毕竟。—Used with emphasis on all. 重读all。◆ Why shouldn't Betsy eat the cake? After all, she baked it. 为什么贝特西不该吃蛋糕？毕竟蛋糕是她烘的嘛。

after a while　informal〖非正式〗or in a while adv. phr. Later, at some time in the future; after a time that is not short and not long. 过一会儿；过一段时间。◆ "Dad, will you help me make this model plane?" "After a while, Jimmy, when I finish reading the newspaper."“爸爸，你帮我做一下这个飞机模型好吗？”“过一会儿，吉米，等我读完报纸就来。”

after hours　adv. or adj. phr. Not during the regular, correct, or usual time; going on or open after the usual hours. 办公（或营业、学习等）时间以后。◆ The store was cleaned and swept out after hours. 商店在打烊后进行了大扫除。

after sb's own heart　adj. phr. informal Well liked because of agreeing with your own feelings, interests, and ideas; to your liking—agreeable. —Used after man or some similar word.〖非正式〗合某人的心意，称某人的心，为某人所中意。——用在man或类似的词之后。◆ He likes baseball and good food; he is a man after my own heart. 他喜欢棒球和美食；这样的人正合我的心意。

after the dust clears/when the dust settles　adv. phr. When a troubling, confusing, or disastrous event is finally over. 在事态平息之后，待混乱结束之后。◆ John invited Tim for dinner, but since Tim's father had just died, he replied, "Thanks, I'd like to come after the dust settles."约翰邀请蒂姆赴宴，但因为蒂姆的父亲刚刚去世，所以他回答说：“谢谢。等丧期服满后我一定来。”

against all odds　adv. phr. In spite of chances to the contrary; in defiance of the chances of winning. 尽管有极大的困难；不顾一切困难。◆ The U. S. marines refused to surrender to the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge, against all odds. 在“坦克大决战”期间，美国海军陆战队的士兵们顶住了极大的困难，拒不向德国人投降。

against it　See见 UP AGAINST IT.

against the clock or against time　adv. phr. 1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. 测试速度或时间；为了打破速度纪录或时间限制。◆ John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against. 因为没有别的人与约翰比赛，他绕着跑道跑时以秒表测定自己的速度。2. As fast as possible; so as to do or finish something before a certain time. 尽快地；争分夺秒地。◆ It was a race against the clock whether the doctor would get to the accident soon enough to save the injured man. 医生能否及时赶到事故现场抢救那位受伤者，这真是分秒必争的事。3. So as to cause delay by using up time. 拖延时间。◆ The outlaw talked against time with the sheriff, hoping that his gang would come and rescue him. 那个歹徒尽量与警长讲话以拖延时间，希望他手下的那帮人能赶来救他。

against the grain　adv. phr. 1. Across rather than with the direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat). 逆着（木材或肉的）纹理。◆ He sand papered the wood against the grain. 他用砂纸逆着纹理打磨木料。2. So as to annoy or trouble, or to cause anger or dislike. —Usually follows go. 违反意愿；格格不入；令人气愤（或不快）。——通常与go连用。◆ His coarse and rude ways went against the grain with me. 他粗鲁无礼的作风使我很恼火。

Agent Orange　n. A herbicide used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War, considered by some to cause birth defects and cancer, hence, by extension, an instance of 'technological progress pollution.' 橙剂（越南战争期间用作脱叶剂的一种除草剂，有些人认为它引起先天缺损和癌症，因此又延伸为“技术进步污染”一实例）。◆ If things continue as they have, we'll all be eating some Agent Orange with our meals. 如果事态这样继续下去，我们吃饭时就都得吃进一些橙剂了。

agitate for or agitate against　v. phr. To animatedly and excitedly persuade others to act in a certain way. 鼓动。◆ The peace demonstrators were agitating for an immediate withdrawal of U. S. troops from Iraq. 和平示威者极力鼓动美军立即撤出伊拉克。

agree with　v. To have a good effect on, suit. 有益于；相宜；适合。◆ The meat loaf did not agree with him. 那种肉糕不对他的胃口。◆ The warm, sunny climate agreed with him, and he soon grew strong and healthy. 这种温暖、阳光充足的气候有益于他的身体，不久他就长得强壮健康了。

ahead of　prep. 1. In a position of advantage or power over. 领先于；对…占优势。◆ He studies all the time, because he wants to stay ahead of his classmates. 他全部时间都在学习，因为他要领先于班上的同学。2. In front of; before. 在…前面。◆ The troop leader walked a few feet ahead of the boys. 童子军中队长走在孩子们前面几英尺。3. Earlier than; previous to, before. 早于；先于。◆ Betty finished her test ahead of the others. 贝蒂比别人先考完。

ahead of the game　adv. or adj. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. In a position of advantage; winning (as in a game or contest); ahead (as by making money or profit); making it easier to win or succeed. 处于有利地位；（比赛中）获胜；领先；赚。◆ The time you spend studying when you are in school will put you ahead of the game in college. 你在学校里花在学习上的时间将使你在大学里处于领先地位。2. Early; too soon; beforehand. 太早；预先。◆ When Ralph came to school an hour early, the janitor said, "You're ahead of the game." 拉尔夫提早一小时到校时，门房对他说：“你来得太早了。”

ahead of time　adv. phr. Before the expected time; early. 提前。◆ The new building was finished ahead of time. 新建筑提前竣工了。Contrast对照BEHIND TIME.

a hell of a or one hell of a　adj., or adv. phr. informal Extraordinary; very.〖非正式〗异常的；极度的。◆ Max said seven months was a hell of a time to have to wait for a simple visa. 马克斯说等一份简单的签证要7个月，这时间也太长了。

aim high　v. phr. (given as advice) To set your goals high; to be ambitious. 确定高目标；胸怀大志。◆ If you want to achieve a comfortable position by the time you're fifty, you must aim high! 如果你想在50岁前获得一个舒适的职位，你就必须胸怀大志！

ain't that the limit?　v. phr. When someone does something disgusting, illegal, or outrageous, people often make the remark that worse behavior can hardly be expected. 是可忍，孰不可忍？◆ Not only did they rob the house, they smeared mud on the walls and poured the garbage on the floor. Ain't that the limit? 他们不仅把房子里的财物抢劫一空，还把烂泥抹在墙上，把垃圾倒在地板上。是可忍，孰不可忍？

airbus　n. A trade name, also used informally for a wide-bodied airplane used chiefly as a domestic passenger carrier. 空中客车（商标名，亦指一种大容量的短途客机）。◆ Airbuses don't fly overseas, but mainly from coast to coast. 空中客车不飞国外，主要在两个海岸之间飞行。

air one's dirty linen in public　or wash one's dirty linen in public　v. phr. To talk about your private quarrels or disgraces where others can hear; make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret. 公开吵架；外扬家丑。◆ No one knew that the boys' mother was a drug addict, because the family did not wash its dirty linen in public. 没有人知道那些男孩子们的母亲已吸毒成瘾，因为那家人没有外扬家丑。

airquake　n. An explosive noise of undetermined origin usually heard in coastal communities and appearing to come from some higher point in elevation. 气震（来源不明的一种爆炸声，通常在沿海地区听到，似乎是来自高处的某一点）。◆ "What was that awful noise just now?" "I guess it must have been an airquake."“刚才那个可怕的声音是什么？”“我猜想那一定是气震。”

air shuttle　n., informal Air service for regular commuters operating between major cities at not too far a distance, e. g., between Boston and New York City; such flights operate without reservation on a frequent schedule.〖非正式〗（在两城市间定期频繁来回飞行，通常不必预订机票的）穿梭航班。◆ My dad takes the air shuttle from Boston to New York once a week. 我爸爸每周乘一次从波士顿到纽约的穿梭航班。

airy nothings　n. phr. Trivial or superficial remarks; meaningless compliments. 无价值的空话；肤浅的空话；空泛的恭维话。◆ John's popularity is based on the fact that he is a master at whispering airy nothings. 约翰的人缘儿好基于这样一个事实：他是一个悄悄恭维人的大师。

a la　prep. In the same way as; like. 以与…同样的方式；像…一样。◆ Billy played ball like a champion today, a la the professional ball players. 比利今天打球像一个冠军，像职业球员一样。◆ Joe wanted to shoot an apple off my head a la William Tell. 乔想要像威廉·退尔那样把一只苹果从我头上射下来。［From French à la, in the manner of. 来自法语à la，按照…的方式。］

albatross around sb's neck　n. phr., literary Guilt, the haunting past, an unforgettable problem.〖文〗某人无法摆脱的苦恼。◆ Even though it was an accident, John's father's death has been an albatross around John's neck. 尽管那是一次意外，但约翰父亲之死却一直让约翰不能释怀。

a little　n. or adj. A small amount (of); some. —Usually a little is different in meaning from little, which emphasizes the negative; a little means 'some'; but little means 'not much.' 少量；一些；一点。——通常a little与little在意义上有所不同，后者强调否定之意；a little意为“一些”；而little则意为“不多”。We say ◆ "We thought that the paper was all gone, but a little was left." 我们说，“我们以为纸都用光了，结果还剩下一些。”But we say◆ "We thought we still had a bag of flour, but little was left." 但我们说，“我们以为还有一袋面粉，结果是所剩不多了。”Also, we say◆ "Bob was sick yesterday, but he is a little better today." 我们也说，“鲍勃昨天病了，但今天已经好了一点。” But we say◆ "Bob was sick yesterday, and he is little better today." 但我们说，“鲍勃昨天病了，而今天也没怎么见好。”Sometimes a little is used with only, and then it is negative. 有时a little与only连用，这时它表示否定。◆ We thought we had a whole bag of flour, but only a little was left. 我们以为我们有整整一袋面粉，但其实只剩下一点了。◆ We have used most of the sugar; but a little is left. 我们已用了大部分的糖，但还剩下一些。—Often used like an adverb. 常用作副词。◆ Usually the teacher just watched the dancing class, but sometimes she danced a little to show them how. 通常老师只是看着舞蹈班上的学生跳舞，但有时候她也跳一些为学生们示范。—Sometimes used with very for emphasis. 有时与very连用表示强调。◆ The sick girl could not eat anything, but she could drink a very little tea. 那个生病的女孩什么都不能吃，但她能喝很少的茶。

a little bird told me　To have learned something from a mysterious unknown, or secret source. 一位消息灵通人士告诉我；我听说；有人私下告诉我。◆ "Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?" Peter asked. "A little bird told me," Jim answered. “谁告诉你史密斯教务长要辞职了？”彼得问。“一位消息灵通人士告诉我的，”吉姆回答说。

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing　literary A person who knows a little about something may think he knows it all and make bad mistakes. —A proverb.〖文〗〖谚〗一知半解最危险。◆ John has read a book on driving a car and now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 约翰读了一本关于汽车驾驶的书，现在就以为自己会开车了。一知半解最危险。

alive and kicking　adj. phr. Very active; vigorous; full of energy. 活蹦乱跳的；精力充沛的。◆ Grandpa was taken to the hospital with pneumonia, but he was discharged yesterday and is alive and kicking. 爷爷因患肺炎被送进医院，但昨天已经出院。他现在精力挺充沛。

alive with　prep., informal Crowded with; filled with.〖非正式〗挤满；充满。◆ The lake was alive with fish. 湖里都是鱼。◆ The stores were alive with people the Saturday before Christmas. 圣诞节前的星期六，商店里都挤满了人。

all along　or (informal〖非正式〗)right along adv. phr. All the time; during the whole time. 始终；一直；一贯。◆ I knew all along that we would win. 我始终认为我们会赢。I knew right along that Jane would come. 我始终认为简会来的。

all at once　adv. phr. 1. At the same time; together. 同时；一起。◆ The teacher told the children to talk one at a time; if they all talked at one time, she could not understand them. 老师叫孩子们每次一个人讲；如果他们一起讲，她就听不懂他们的话了。◆ Bill can play the piano, sing, and lead his orchestra all at once. 比尔可以同时弹钢琴、唱歌并指挥他的管弦乐队。2. or或all of a sudden Without warning; abruptly; suddenly; unexpectedly. 突然，忽然。◆ All at once we heard a shot and the soldier fell to the ground. 突然我们听到一声枪响，接着那个士兵就倒在了地上。

all better　adj. phr. Fully recovered; all well again; no longer painful. —Usually used to or by children. 完全康复；完全好了；不再痛了。——通常用作儿语。◆ "All better now," he kept repeating to the little girl.“现在全好了，”他不停地对小女孩说。

all but　adv. phr. Very nearly; almost. 差不多；几乎。◆ Crows all but destroyed a farmer's field of corn. 乌鸦几乎把一位农夫田里的玉米全吃光了。

all chiefs and no Indians　n. phr. All bosses and no workers; a situation at work where everyone wants to give orders and no one wishes to work. —A proverb.〖谚〗都是老板没工人；人人都想发号施令，没有人肯干活。◆ The problem with this company is that it's all chiefs and no Indians. 这家公司的问题在于人人都想发号施令却没有人肯干活。

all ears　adj. phr., informal Very eager to hear; very attentive. —Used in the predicate.〖非正式〗洗耳恭听；全神贯注地听。——用在谓语中。◆ Go ahead with your story; we are all ears. 开始讲你的故事吧；我们洗耳恭听。

alley cat　n., slang〖俚〗1. A stray cat.（街上的）野猫。2. A person (usually a female) of rather easy-going, or actually loose sexual morals; a promiscuous person. 行为不检的人（尤指女子）；荡妇。◆ You'll have no problem dating her; she's a regular alley cat. 你跟她约会绝无问题；她是个不折不扣的荡妇。

all eyes　adj. phr., informal Wide-eyed with surprise or curiosity; watching very closely. —Used in the predicate.〖非正式〗目不转睛地看；全神贯注地看。——用在谓语中。◆ At the circus the children were all eyes. 看马戏表演时孩子们都瞪大了眼睛。

all fired up　adj. phr. A state of feeling upset; feeling rowdy. 心烦意乱的，极为沮丧的；被激怒的。◆ Mark got all fired up when Mary rejected his invitation. 当玛丽拒绝了他的邀请时，马克极为沮丧。

all gone　adj. phr. Used up; exhausted (said of supplies); done with; over with. 用光；（供应品等）耗尽；完毕；了结；结束。◆ We used to travel a lot, but, alas, those days are all gone. 我们过去经常旅行，但是，哎，那样的日子已一去不复返了。

all hours　n. phr., informal Late or irregular times.〖非正式〗很晚；随时。◆ The boy's mother said he must stop coming home for meals at all hours. 男孩的母亲说他绝不可以再不按时回家吃饭了。

all in　adj. phr., informal Very tired; exhausted. 〖非正式〗精疲力竭；疲惫不堪的。◆ The players were all in after their first afternoon of practice. 在第一天下午的训练之后，队员们都累坏了。

all in a day's work or all in the day's work　adj. phr. informal Unpleasant or bad but to be expected; not harder than usual; not unusual. 〖非正式〗习以为常的，不足为奇的。◆ When the car had a flat tire, Father said that it was all in a day's work. 汽车车轮爆胎时，父亲说这是常有的事。

all in all^1　n. phr., literary The person or thing that you love most.〖文〗最心爱的人（或物）。◆ She was all in all to him. 她是他最心爱的人。◆ Music was his all in all. 音乐是他一切的一切。

all in all^2 or in all　adv. phr. When everything is thought about; in summary; altogether. 总而言之，总之；概括地说；合计，总共。◆ All in all, it was a pleasant day's cruise. 总之，这一天的航游是愉快的。◆ All in all, the pilot of an airplane must have many abilities and years of experience before he can be appointed. 总而言之，飞机驾驶员必须具备多方面的能力和多年的经验方能得到任命。◆ Counting the balls on the green, we have six golf balls in all. 算上球穴区内的球，我们总共有6个高尔夫球。

all in good time　adv. phr. Some time soon, when the time is ripe for an event to take place. 快了，当时机成熟时。◆ "I want to get married, Dad," Mike said. "All in good time, Son," answered his father.“我想结婚，爸爸，”迈克说。“时机成熟了就结，儿子，”他的父亲回答说。

all in one piece　adv. phr. Safely; without damage or harm. 平安无恙地；完好地，未损坏地。◆ John's father was terribly concerned when his son was sent to war as a pilot, but he came home all in one piece. 当约翰作为飞行员被送往战场时，他父亲极为担心，但他却安然无恙地回家来了。

all kinds of　adj. phr. informal Plenty of.〖非正式〗很多的。◆ People say that Mr. Fox has all kinds of money. 人们说福克斯先生有很多钱。

all manner of　adj. phr., formal Many different kinds of; all sorts of. 〖正式〗形形色色的；各种各样的。◆ In a five-and-ten-cent store you can buy all manner of things. 在廉价商店里可以买到各种各样的东西。

all of a sudden　See见ALL AT ONCE 2.

all out　adv. phr., informal With all your strength, power, or determination; to the best of your ability; without holding back. —Usually used in the phrase go all out.〖非正式〗全力以赴；尽其所能；竭尽全力。——通常用于短语go all out。◆ We went all out to win the game. 我们竭尽全力去赢得这场比赛。

all-out effort　n. A great and thorough effort at solving a given problem. 竭尽全力，全力以赴。◆ The President is making an all-out effort to convince Congress to pass the pending bill on health care. 总统正全力以赴说服国会通过那项有关医疗保健的未决议案。

all-out war　n. Total war including civilian casualties as opposed to a war that is limited only to armies. 全面战争。◆ Hitler was waging an allout war when he invaded Poland. 希特勒在入侵波兰时发动了一场全面战争。

all over　adv. phr. 1. In every part; everywhere. 到处；各处。◆ He has a fever and aches all over. 他发烧，浑身酸痛。◆ I have looked all over for my glasses. 我已到处寻找过我的眼镜。2. informal In every way; completely.〖非正式〗处处；完全。◆ She is her mother all over. 她处处像她母亲。3. informal Coming into very close physical contact, as during a violent fight; wrestling.〖非正式〗（在扭打等时）纠缠着；摔跤。◆ Before I noticed what happened, he was all over me. 我还没注意到是怎么回事，他已经缠住了我。

allow for　v. To provide for; leave room for; give a chance to; permit. 供给；为…留有余地；给…机会；允许。◆ She cut the skirt four inches longer to allow for a wide hem. 她在裁剪裙子时多留了4英寸长，用来镶一个宽的花边。◆ Democracy allows for many differences of opinion. 民主政治允许发表各种不同意见。

all right^1　adv. phr. 1. Well enough. 令人满意地；还好。The new machine is running all right. 新机器运转得还顺利。2. informal I am willing; yes. 〖非正式〗好；行；可以。◆ "Shall we watch television?" "All right."“我们看电视好吗？”“好的。”3. informal Beyond question, certainly. —Used for emphasis and placed after the word it modifies.〖非正式〗无疑地，确实。——表示强调，置于所修饰的词之后。◆ It's time to leave, all right, but the bus hasn't come. 确实是该走了，但公共汽车还没来。

all right^2　adj. phr. 1. Good enough; correct; suitable. 令人满意的；不错的；适宜的。◆ His work is always all right. 他的工作一直不错。2. In good health or spirits; well. 健康的；精神好的；身体好的。◆ "How are you?" "I'm all right." “你好吗？”“我挺好。”3. slang Good.〖俚〗好的。◆ He's an all right guy. 他是个好人。

all right for you　interj. I'm finished with you! That ends it between you and me！—Used by children. 算了吧！——儿童用语。◆ All right for you! I'm not playing with you any more! 算了吧！我再也不和你一起玩了。

all roads lead to Rome　literary The same end or goal may be reached by many different ways. —A proverb. 〖文〗〖谚〗条条大路通罗马；殊途同归。◆ "I don't care how you get the answer," said the teacher, "All roads lead to Rome."“我不在乎你这答案是怎么得到的，”老师说，“条条大路通罗马嘛。”

all set　adj. phr. Ready to start. 作好准备的。◆ "Is the plane ready for take-off?" the bank president asked. "Yes, Sir," the pilot answered. "We're all set." 银行总裁问：“飞机作好起飞准备了吗？”飞行员回答：“是的，先生。我们一切准备就绪。”

all's for the best　A stoical statement indicating acceptance of the inevitable. —A proverb.〖谚〗一切都会好起来的。◆ "Everyone will have to die some day," Joe said as they were leaving the hospital. "All's for the best," his wife consoled him. "Poor mother is in her nineties." 在他们离开医院时，乔说：“每个人迟早都要死的。”他的妻子安慰他说：“一切都会好起来的，可怜的母亲已经90多岁了。”

all shook up also shook up　adj., slang In a state of great emotional upheaval; disturbed; agitated.〖俚〗心绪不宁的；烦躁不安的。◆ What are you so shook up about? 你为什么这么烦躁不安？

all smiles　adj. phr. Very happy; completely satisfied. 满面笑容的；喜气洋洋的。◆ Mary was all smiles when she gotword that she was selected for the Miss America contest. 当玛丽听说自己已被选中参加“美国小姐”选美比赛时，她满面笑容。◆ Why is Sam all smiles? Did he just receive a promotion？萨姆为什么那么喜气洋洋？是他刚刚得到提升了吗？

all systems go　Originally from space English, now general colloquial usage. Everything is complete and ready for action; it is now all right to proceed.（原为太空探险用语，现为一般的口语用语）一切就绪；一切正常。◆ After they wrote out the invitations, it was all systems go for the wedding. 他们写完请帖后，婚礼的准备便一切就绪了。

all that　adj. phr. Very good looking. 非常好看，很英俊。◆ Sarah thinks that Peter is all that. 萨拉觉得彼得很英俊。

all that glitters is not gold or not all that glitters is gold　Objects, people, or situations that appear attractive may turn out to be fake or downright harmful. —A proverb.〖谚〗闪闪发光物，未必尽黄金；中看的未必中用；金玉其外的往往败絮其中。◆ Joe's fancy new computer keeps quitting on him. He should have stuck with his old one. Goes to show that all that glitters is not gold. 乔那台高级新电脑动不动就死机。他真该坚持用他那台老电脑。这有助于说明“中看的未必中用”。

all the^1　adj. phr., dial. The only. 〖方〗唯一的。◆ A hut was all the home he ever had. 一间茅舍是他仅有的栖身之处。

all the^2　adv. phr. Than otherwise; even. —Used to emphasize comparative adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. 更；甚至。——用以强调比较级的形容词、副词和名词。◆ Opening the windows made it all the hotter. 打开窗子反而更热了。

all the better　See见ALL THE 2.

all there or all here　adj. phr., informal Understanding well; thinking clearly; not crazy. —Usually used in negative sentences.〖非正式〗头脑正常的；思维清晰的；神志正常的。——通常用于否定句。◆ Joe acted queerly and talked wildly, so we thought he was not all there. 乔举止怪异，言谈荒诞，所以我们认为他神志不正常。

all the same^1 or all one　n. phr. Something that makes no difference; a choice that you don't care about. 完全一样；毫无区别；无所谓。◆ If it's all the same to you, I would like to be waited on first. 如果对你都一样的话，我想先让店员接待我。◆ You can get there by car or by bus—it's all one. 你可以开车或乘公共汽车到那儿去——反正都一样。

all the same^2 or just the same　adv. phr., informal As if the opposite were so; nevertheless; anyway; anyhow; still.〖非正式〗仍然；依然；照样。◆ Everyone opposed it, but Sally and Bob got married all the same. 虽然人人反对，但萨莉和鲍勃还是结了婚。◆ Mary is deaf, but she takes tap dancing lessons just the same. 尽管玛丽耳聋，但她照样学跳踢跶舞。

all the thing or all the rage, the in thing　n. phr. The fashionable or popular thing to do, the fashionable or most popular artist or form of art at a given time. 风靡一时的事物，时尚；最走红的艺术家（或艺术）。◆ After "The Graduate" Dustin Hoffman was all the rage in the movies. 演过《毕业生》之后，达斯廷·霍夫曼在电影界非常走红。◆ It was all the thing in the late sixties to smoke pot and demonstrate against the war in Vietnam. 吸大麻烟和反越战示威是60年代末的时髦。

all the time　adv. phr. 1. or all the while During the whole period; through the whole time. 一直；始终。◆ Mary went to college in her home town and lived at home all the while. 玛丽在自己的家乡读大学，一直住在家里。◆ Most of us were surprised to hear that Mary and Tom had been engaged all year, but Sue said she knew it all the time. 听到玛丽和汤姆已订婚一年的消息，我们大部分人都很惊讶，但苏说她一直都知道这件事。2. Without stopping; continuously. 不停地；连续不断地。◆ Most traffic lights work all the time. 大部分红绿灯都日夜不停地在工作。3. Very often; many times. 经常；三番五次地。◆ Ruth talks about her trip to Europe all the time, and her friends are tired of it. 露丝老是谈她的欧洲之旅，她的朋友们都听腻了。

all the traffic will bear or that's all the traffic will bear　n. phr. The situation, whether financial, commercial, or other, precludes anything more. —A proverb.〖谚〗现有的情况所允许的；现有的情况只能允许这样。◆ "Should we increase our productitivity before year's end?" Ted asked the director. "I think we've got all the traffic will bear," the director replied. 泰德问主任：“我们在年前要不要提高一下生产能力？”主任回答说：“我看我们已经达到了现有情况所允许的水平，不能再提高了。”

all the way or the whole way　adv. phr. 1. From start to finish during the whole distance or time. 自始至终，一直。◆ Jack climbed all the way to the top of the tree. 杰克一直爬到了树顶。◆ Joe has played the whole way in the football game and it's almost over. 乔自始至终参加了这场足球比赛，现在比赛就要结束了。2. In complete agreement; with complete will ingness to satisfy. —Often used in the phrase go all the way with. 完全同意；心甘情愿地满足。——常用于短语go all the way with中。◆ I go all the way with what George says about Bill. 我完全同意乔治对比尔的看法。◆ Mary said she was willing to kiss Bill, but that did not mean she was willing to go all the way with him. 玛丽说她愿意吻比尔，但这并不意味着她愿意完全满足他的要求。

all the worse　See见ALL THE 2.

all things considered　adv. phr. Everything being taken into account; having weighed the pros and cons of an argument. 考虑到所有情况，通盘考虑起来；总的看来。◆ All things considered, the best defense against terror attacks is a good offense. 从各方面考虑起来，对付恐怖袭击的最好防御就是有效的进攻。

all things to all men　adv. phr. To make oneself indispensable to everyone. 能使人人满意；能满足所有人的需要。◆ I hope he won't wear himself out; my brother John is so eager to help others, he is in a real sense all things to all men. 我希望他不要把自己累坏了；我兄弟约翰非常热心于帮助别人，真可以说是谁的要求都能满足的人。

all thumbs　adj., informal Awkward, especially with your hands; clumsy. 〖非正式〗笨手笨脚的；笨拙的。◆ Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs. 哈里想修那把椅子，但他手脚太笨了。

all told　adv. phr., informal Counting or including everything.〖非正式〗总共；合计。◆ Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all told. 包括卖糖果的利润我们总共收到300美元。

all up　adj. phr., informal Near to certain death or defeat without any more chance or hope.〖非正式〗即将完蛋；无望。◆ With their ammunition gone the patrol knew that it was all up with them. 由于弹药已用光，巡逻队知道他们要完蛋了。

all very well　adj. All right; very good and correct; very true. —Usually followed by a but clause. 不错；很好。——通常后跟一个but从句。◆ It's all very well for you to complain but can you do any better? 你完全可以抱怨，但你能做得更好些吗？

all walks of life　n. phr. All socioeconomic groups; all professions and lines of work. 各界；各种职业，各行各业。◆ A good teacher has to be able to communicate with students from all walks of life. 一位好的老师必须能够跟各种出身的学生交流思想。◆ A clever politician doesn't alienate people from any walk of life. 一个聪明的政治家不会使任何行业的人持敌对态度。

all wet　adj., slang Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken.〖俚〗完全弄混的；完全错了的；错误的。◆ When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, people thought they were all wet. 当赖特兄弟说他们能制造一种飞行器时，人们都认为他们俩异想天开。

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy　Too much hard work without time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. —A proverb.〖谚〗只工作，不玩耍，聪明孩子也变傻。◆ Bill's mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 比尔的母亲叫他停止学习到外面去玩耍，因为只工作，不玩耍，聪明孩子也变傻。

all year round　adv. phr. Always; all the time; throughout all seasons of the year. 一年到头；终年。◆ In California the sun shines all year round. 在加利福尼亚，一年四季阳光灿烂。

almighty dollar　n. phr. The power of wealth. 万能的金钱。◆ Too many people have no place for art or meditation in their lives, since all they do is chase the almighty dollar. 在太多的人生活中既没有欣赏艺术也没有沉思默想的地位，因为他们唯一做的就是追逐万能的金钱。

along for the ride　adv. phr., informal Being in a group for the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. 〖非正式〗随大溜；在团体中只图虚名而不干工作。◆ He wants no members in his political party who are just along for the ride. 他希望他的政党内不要有只图虚名而不干工作的党员。

along in years or on in years　adj. phr. Elderly; growing old. 上了年纪的；变老的。◆ As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful. 祖父上了年纪后变得安静而爱沉思了。

alongside of　prep. 1. At or along the side of. 在…旁边；沿着…的边。◆ We walked alongside of the river. 我们沿着河边走。2. Together with. 和…一起。◆ I played alongside of Tom on the same team. 我和汤姆在同一个球队里打球。3. informal Compared with or to; measured next to. 〖非正式〗与…相比。◆ His money doesn't look like much alongside of a millionaire's. 同百万富翁的钱相比他的这点钱就不显得多了。

a lot　n., informal A large number or amount; very many or very much; lots. 〖非正式〗大量；许多。◆ I learn ed a lot in Mr. Smith's class. 我在史密斯先生的课上学到很多东西。◆ A lot of our friends are going to the beach this summer. 我们的很多朋友今年夏天要去海滨。—Often used like an adverb. 常用作副词。◆ Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot. 埃拉是个乐呵呵的姑娘；她经常笑。—Also used as an adjective with more, less, and fewer. 亦用作形容词与more, less 和 fewer连用。◆ There was a good crowd at the game today, but a lot more will come next week. 今天的比赛来了一大批观众，但下星期来的人会更多。—Often used with whole for emphasis. 常与whole 连用表示强调。◆ Jerry is a whole lot taller than he was a year ago. 杰里比一年前高多了。

a lot riding on or lot riding on or lots riding on　phrasal idiom A great deal depending on something. 在很大程度上取决于。◆ If you want to gain admission to graduate school, there's a lot riding on your Graduate Record Examination as well as on your undergraduate grades. 如果你想获准进入研究生院，那在很大程度上取决于你的GRE考试成绩和本科时的成绩。

alpha and omega　n. phr. The beginning and the end of something. 始与终；全部。◆ For investors, the alpha and omega of human society is the Stock Exchange; for a priest or minister, it is God and the church. 对投资者来说，人类社会的全部就是证券交易所；对一个牧师而言则是上帝和教会。

alpha wave　n. A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second, associated with a state of relaxation and meditation and, hence, free of anxieties. α波（一种脑波，每秒8-12周，与松弛和默想状态有关，因此是无忧无虑的）。◆ Try to produce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel a lot better. 想法产生点α波；你马上就会感觉好多了。

always look on the bright side　v. phr. Advice given to a pessimist indicating that everything "bad" may have something "good" in it as well. —A proverb. 〖谚〗永远要看光明的一面。◆ "OK, so you're in the hospital. But at least you don't have to drive 30 miles to work and back! Always look on the bright side!" Mary said to her husband. 玛丽对丈夫说：“是的，你是住进了医院。但至少你不必开车30英里上下班了！永远要看光明的一面嘛！”

a man is known by the company he keeps　An adage reminding people that they are often judged by the nature of their friends. —A proverb. 〖谚〗以其交友知其为人。◆ John's looks and health deteriorated when he joined up with a pot-smoking hippie band. It's true that a man is known by the company he keeps. 约翰跟一帮吸大麻烟的嬉皮士混在一起之后，容貌和健康都越来越差了。以其交友知其为人，这话一点不假。

ambulance chaser　n. An attorney who specializes in representing victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank or talent. 专为交通事故受害者起诉索赔的律师；低级律师。◆ Don't hire Jones; he's just another ambulance chaser. 别雇用琼斯；他只不过是另一个低级律师而已。

American plan　n. A system of hotel management in which meals are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not include meals. 美国式收费制（包括膳宿在内的旅馆收费制，别于不包括膳食在内的欧式收费制）。◆ American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals will be included, because they are used to the American plan. 在欧洲旅游的美国人有时候期望他们的三餐也包括在旅馆费中，因为他们已习惯美式收费制。

amount to　v. Signify; add up to. 意味着；合计，共计。◆ John's total income didn't amount to more than a few hundred dollars. 约翰的总收入只有几百美元。

a must　n. 1. An inevitability; a necessity. 不可避免的事物；必不可少的东西。◆ Visas in many foreign countries are a must. 在很多外国，签证是必不可少的东西。2. An extremely interesting or memorable event, such as a free concert given by an international celebrity. 极为有趣的事件；值得纪念的事件，难忘的事件。◆ Alfred Brendel's Beethoven master classes are open to the public and are not to be missed; they're a must. 阿尔弗雷德·布伦德尔的贝多芬高级音乐课向公众开放，不应错过；绝对该去听听它们。

an apple a day keeps the doctor away　A saying often heard emphasizing the virtues of simple living and a healthy diet. —A proverb.〖谚〗一天吃个苹果，医生不来找我。◆ So you have poor digestion? Take more fruit. Don't you remember the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away?" 你消化不良？那就多吃些水果吧。你难道不记得老话说的“一天吃个苹果，医生不来找我”？

and all　informal And whatever goes with it; and all that means. 〖非正式〗以及其他一切；等等。◆ We don't go out much nowadays, with the new baby and all. 我们现在不常外出，因为有了小宝宝和别的一切。◆ Jack's employer provided the tools and all. 杰克的雇主提供所需的工具等等。

and how!　interj. informal Yes, that is certainly right! —Used for emphatic agreement. 〖非正式〗当然啦！那还用说！可不是！——用以表示强调。◆ "Did you see the game?" "And how!"“你看了那场比赛？”“当然！”◆ "Isn't Mary pretty? ""And how she is!"“玛丽不漂亮吗？”“她当然漂亮！”

and so forth or and so on　And more of the same kind; and further amounts or things like the ones already mentioned. 等等。◆ The costumes were red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, and so forth. 那些戏装有红色的、粉红色的、蓝色的、紫色的、黄色的等等。Compare比较WHAT HAVE YOU.

and sundry　n. phr. All, both collectively and individually. 所有的人。◆ All and sundry showed up at the new governor's inaugural ball. 所有的人都出席了新州长的就职舞会。

and the like　n. phr. Things of a similar nature. 等等；以及诸如此类。◆ I like McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the like. 我喜欢麦当劳、温迪、肯德基炸鸡以及诸如此类的快餐店。◆ When I go out to the beach I take towels, a mat, suntan lotion, and the like. 我去海滨时总要带毛巾、席子、防晒油等等。

and then some　And a lot more; and more too. 而且还要多得多；而且还要多。◆ It would cost all the money he had and then some. 这要花掉他所有的钱，而且还不够。

and what not　See见WHAT NOT.

an elephant never forgets　Often heard as a remark about people with an exceptionally sharp, long-range memory. —A proverb.〖谚〗大象记性好，过目永不忘。◆ "How come you recognized me after twenty years ?" John asked his friend. "I am like an elephant, you know," came the answer, "and an elephant never forgets." 约翰问他的朋友：“相隔了20年你怎么会一下子就认出了我？”朋友回答说：“你知道，我就像一头大象，而大象记性好，过目永不忘。”

angel dust　n., slang Phencyclidine, an addictive hallucinatory narcotic drug extremely dangerous to the users' health, also called PCP.〖俚〗“天使粉”（苯环己哌啶，一种使人上瘾的麻醉药、致幻剂，对服用者的健康极具危害，亦称PCP）。◆ Mike has gone from grass to angel dust; he will end up in the morgue. 迈克已从吸大麻发展到吸“天使粉”；他总有一天要进停尸房。

another day, another dollar　Often said by people at the end of a day of hard work. They have not made a fortune, but are getting by on a daily basis. —A proverb.〖谚〗做一天，赚一天。◆ "Well, it's Friday again," said Joe. "Yeah, another day, another dollar," his tired partner replied.“啊，又是星期五了，”乔说。“是啊，咱们是做一天，赚一天啊，”疲惫不堪的伙伴回答说。

answer for　v. 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. 对…负责。◆ The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family. 特工处必须对总统及其家人的安全负责。2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee; sponsor. 保证；为…担保。◆ When people thought Ray had stolen the money, the principal said, "Ray is no thief. I'll answer for him." 当人们以为雷偷了那钱时，校长说：“雷决不是小偷。我可以为他担保。”3. Take the blame or punishment for. 因…而受指责；因…而受罚。◆ When Mother found out who ate the cake, Tom had to answer for his mischief. 当母亲查明是谁吃了蛋糕时，汤姆只得为自己的淘气而受罚了。

answer one's calling　v. phr. To fulfill one's destiny in terms of work or profession by doing what one has a talent for.（在工作或就职方面）满足自己的愿望；遂自己的心愿。◆ Don answered his calling when he became a chiropractor. 唐遂了自己的心愿成了一名按摩师。◆ Susy answered her calling when she became a violinist. 苏茜遂了自己的心愿成了一名小提琴手。

answer the call of nature or obey the call of nature　v. phr., slang To go to the bathroom to relieve oneself by urinating or defecating.〖俚〗上厕所；解手。◆ Ted was hiking in the mountains when suddenly he had to answer the call of nature but since there was no bathroom in the woods, he excused himself and disappeared behind the bushes. 泰德正在山里徒步旅行，突然感到要解手。但因为树林里没有厕所，他说了声“请原谅”便消失在灌木丛后面了。

answer to　v. To be named; go by a certain name or designation; be accountable. 名叫；对…负责的。◆ When you walk my dog, please remember that he answers to the name "Caesar." 你在遛我的狗时，请记住它的名字叫“恺撒”。◆ As head of the company she does not have to answer to anyone. 作为公司的首脑，她不需要对任何人负责。

ante up　v., informal To produce the required amount of money in order to close a transaction; to pay what one owes.〖非正式〗付钱；付清欠款。◆ "I guess I'd better ante up if I want to stay an active member of the Association," Max said.“如果我想继续成为协会的积极分子，我想我最好把欠款付清，”马克斯说。

ants in one's pants　n. phr., slang Nervous overactivity; restlessness. 〖俚〗（裤子里有蚂蚁似的）坐立不安；焦躁不安。◆ You have ants in your pants today. Is something wrong? 你今天一直坐立不安，有什么不对劲吗？

a number　n. A rather large number; numbers. —Used when there are more than several and fewer than many. 相当多；不少；若干。——用于“比几个多、比很多少”之时。◆ We knew the Smiths rather well; we had visited them a number of times. 我们和史密斯一家相当熟，我们已拜访他们好多次了。—Used like an adjective before less, more. 在less, more前用作形容词。◆ We have not set up enough folding chairs; we need a number more. 我们支起来的折叠椅还不够多；我们还需要再支起来一些。

any number　n. informal A large number; many.〖非正式〗好多；许多。◆ There are any number of reasons for eating good food. 要吃新鲜食品有很多理由。

any old how/any old way　adv. phr., informal Doing something in a casual, haphazard, or careless way. 〖非正式〗随便地；马马虎虎地；粗枝大叶地。◆ "John," the teacher said, "you can't just do your homework any old way; you must pay attention to my instructions!"“约翰，”老师说，“做作业绝不能马马虎虎；你必须注意我的指示！”

any port in a storm　Any help is welcome in an emergency. —A proverb.〖谚〗暴风雨中找到任何港口都是好的；避风不择港；危急时任何帮助都是好的。◆ The motel we stopped in was nothing to brag about, but we were so exhausted that it was a clear case of any port in a storm. 我们歇脚的那家汽车旅馆很糟糕，但我们实在太累，有个地方落脚就不错了，真可谓“避风不择港”。

anything but　adv. phr. Quite the opposite of; far from being. 根本不，绝不；远非。◆ I don't mean he's lazy —anything but! 我并不是说他懒惰——绝非如此！◆ The boys knew they had broken the rules, and they were anything but happy when they were called to the office. 男孩子们知道他们违反了规则，所以被叫到办公室去时他们都很难过。

anything goes!　You can do as you please; anything is permissible. —A proverb.〖谚〗干什么都行！◆ Wars may be planned, but how they play out is really unpredictable. In the heat of battle, anything goes! 战争也许可以计划，但战争如何演变却实难预言。在战斗的白热化阶段，什么事情都能发生。

anything like or anywhere near　adv. Nearly. —Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, often in the negative forms nothing like or nowhere near. 有点像。——用于否定、疑问、条件句，常用作否定式nothing like或 nowhere near。◆ It's not anything like as hot today as it was yesterday. 今天不像昨天那么热。◆ Do you think that gold ring is worth anywhere near a hundred dollars? 你认为那枚金戒指值100美元吗？◆ Today's game was nowhere near as exciting as yesterday's game. 今天的比赛远不及昨天的比赛精彩。◆ Studying that lesson should take nothing like two hours. 学习那课书根本用不到两小时。

anywhere near　See见ANYTHING LIKE or ANYWHERE NEAR.

any which way　See 见 EVERY WHICH WAY.

apart　See见JOKING ASIDE or JOKING APART, POLES APART, TELL APART.

apart from or aside from　prep. phr. Beside or besides; in addition to. 除…之外（还有）。◆ Aside from being fun and good exercise, swimming is a very useful skill. 除了有趣，除了是很好的运动外，游泳还是一种非常有用的技能。

appear on the scene　v. phr. To make an impact in a given circle of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. 到场；登场；到来；出现。◆ American film history changed for good when Meryl Streep and Al Pacino appeared on the scene. 在梅丽尔·斯特里普和艾尔·帕西诺登上银幕后，美国的电影史便永远地改变了。

apple of discord　n. phr. The reason for a prolonged quarrel (from the story of Venus and Paris in Homer's Iliad).（希腊神话中被竞美三女神所争夺而后导致特洛伊战争的）金苹果；不和的种子，争吵的根源。◆ The unfair distribution of wealth will always remain the apple of discord in society. 财富的分配不公将永远是社会不和的根源。

apple of one's eye　n. phr. Something or someone that is adored; a cherished person or object. 掌上明珠；宝贝，珍爱物。◆ Charles is the apple of his mother's eye. 查尔斯是他母亲的心肝宝贝。

apple-pie order　n. phr., informal Exact orderly arrangement, neatness; tidy arrangement.〖非正式〗井井有条；整整齐齐。◆ Like a good secretary, she kept the boss's desk in apple-pie order. 她像一个好的秘书那样，把老板的办公桌理得整整齐齐。

apply oneself to something　v. phr. To make oneself work hard at something; to undertake a task in earnest. 使自己致力于，使自己专心致志于。◆ If you want to get an A in English grammar, you must apply yourself to it. 如果你想英语语法得“优”，你就必须专心致志地学习它。

apron strings　n. phr. The nearly complete influence of another person. 围裙带；支配，控制。◆ Suzie is so immature, I am afraid she will never free herself from her mother's apron strings. 苏茜太不成熟了，恐怕她永远也摆脱不了她母亲的控制。

apropos of　prep., formal In connection with; on the subject of, about; concerning.〖正式〗关于；就…而言。◆ Apropos of higher tuition, Mr. Black told the boy about the educational loans that banks are offering. 关于学费较贵的问题，布莱克先生跟那个男孩谈了各家银行提供的教育贷款。◆ Mr. White went to see Mr. Richards apropos of buying a car. 怀特先生就买汽车一事去见了理查兹先生。

arch over　v. phr. To cover; to make a curved roof over a space. 覆盖；用拱覆盖。◆ The corridor between the gym and the assembly hall was arched over to keep the students out of the snow and rain. 体育馆和礼堂之间的走廊上面有拱形天棚为学生们遮挡雨雪。

are you kidding?　V. phr. Ironically derisive exclamation meaning "Surely you are not serious" or "What you say must be a joke." 你是在开玩笑吧？◆ You say you will move to Fiji to teach American football…Are you kidding? 你说你要去斐济教美式橄榄球……你是在开玩笑吧？

argue down　v. phr. To defeat an opponent in a debating contest. 驳倒；在辩论比赛中击败（对手）。◆ Central High's students were rather well prepared, but Jefferson High's debating team succeeded in arguing them down. 中心中学的学生作了相当充分的准备，但杰斐逊中学的辩论队还是成功地击败了他们。

Argus-eyed　adj. phr. Extraordinarily observant, watchful, sharp-sighted (from an ancient Greek legend about Argus, who had a hundred eyes)（像希腊传说中的百眼巨人阿耳戈斯那样）观察敏锐的；警觉的；目光锐利的。◆ The Argus-eyed chief of detectives solved the puzzling crime in two short days. 只用了短短两天，那位目光锐利的探长就把那个扑朔迷离的案子给破了。

arm and a leg　n., slang An exorbitantly high price that must be paid for something that isn't really worth it. 〖俚〗过高的价格；贵得出奇。◆ It's true that to get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg. 真的，如今想在纽约弄到一套像样的公寓房，你得付出极高的代价。

armed to the teeth　adj. phr. Having all needed weapons; fully armed. 武装到牙齿的；全副武装的。◆ The paratroopers were armed to the teeth. 伞兵们都武装到了牙齿。

arm in arm　adv. phr. With your arm under or around another person's arm, especially in close comradeship or friendship. 臂挽着臂；亲密地。◆ Sally and Joan were laughing and joking together as they walked arm in arm down the street. 萨莉和琼臂挽着臂谈笑风生地在街上走着。◆ When they arrived at the party, the partners walked arm in arm to meet the hosts. 到达舞场时，舞伴们都臂挽着臂走上去会见主人。Compare比较HAND IN HAND.

around Robin Hood's barn　adv. phr. In a roundabout, tricky, indirect sort of way. 迂回曲折地；转弯抹角地。◆ They weren't at all straight with me; they were leading me around Robin Hood's barn. 他们对我毫无坦诚可言，跟我讲话总是转弯抹角。

around the clock also the clock around　adv. phr. For 24 hours a day continuously all day and all night. 连续24小时；日夜不停地。◆ The factory operated around the clock until the order was filled. 这家工厂日夜不停地开工，直到交付定货。◆ He studied around the clock for his history exam. 为准备历史考试，他夜以继日地学习。—round-the-clock adj. 连续24小时的；日夜不停的。◆ That filling station has round-the-clock service. 那家加油站日夜24小时服务。

around the corner　adv. phr. Soon to come or happen; close by; near at hand. 即将来临（或发生）；在近处；近在咫尺。◆ The fortune teller told Jane that there was an adventure for her just around the corner. 算命的人告诉简，说她很快就会有一桩奇遇。

arrive at　v. phr. To reach a decision; to come to a conclusion. 作出（决定）；得出（结论）。◆ After a prolonged discussion the president's advisers arrived at the decision to bring the war to the terrorists. 经过长时间的讨论，总统的顾问们作出了主动出击恐怖分子的决定。

as a last resort　adv. phr In lieu of better things; lacking better solutions. 作为最后的一招。◆ "We'll sleep in our sleeping bags as a last resort," John said, "since all the motels are full."“既然所有的汽车旅馆都已客满，”约翰说，“作为最后的一招我们还可以睡在睡袋里。”

as a matter of fact　adv. phr. Actually; really; in addition to what has been said; in reference to what was said. —Often used as an interjection. 事实上；其实。——常用作插入语。◆ It's not true that I cannot swim; as a matter of fact, I used to work as a lifeguard in Hawaii. 说我不会游泳是不正确的；事实上，我过去在夏威夷做过救生员。

as a matter of form　adv. phr. Routinely; without extra importance; merely as a formality. 作为例行公事；作为一种礼节。◆ You are asked to put your signature here merely as a matter of form. 要求你在这儿签名只是一种形式上的手续。

as an aside　adv. phr. Said as a remark in a low tone of voice; used in theaters where the actor turns toward the audience as if to 'think out loud.' 小声地；轻声地。◆ During the concert Tim said to his wife as an aside, "The conductor has no idea how to conduct Beethoven." 在音乐会中间蒂姆轻声对他妻子说：“这位指挥不知道该怎么指挥贝多芬的作品。”

as a rule　adv. phr. Generally; customarily. 一般说来；通常。◆ As a rule, the boss arrives at the office about 10 A. M. 老板通常在上午10点左右到达办公室。

as best as one can　adv. phr. As well as you can; by whatever means are available; in the best way you can. 尽最大努力；用一切办法。◆ The car broke down in the middle of the night, and he had to get home as best as he could. 汽车半夜里抛锚了，他只得想尽办法回家。◆ George's foot hurt, but he played the game as best as he could. 乔治的脚痛了，但他仍竭尽全力进行比赛。

as far as or so far as　adv. phr. 1. To the degree or amount that; according to what, how much, or how far. 就…；尽…；至于。◆ John did a good job as far as he went, but he did not finish it. 就约翰所做的而言，他做得很好，但他并没有把它做完。◆ So far as the weather is concerned, I do not think it matters. 至于天气，我认为无关紧要。◆ As far as he was concerned, things were going well. 就他而言，事情进展得很顺利。2. To the extent that; within the limit that. 在…范围内。◆ He has no brothers so far as I know. 就我所知，他没有兄弟。

as far as that goes or as far as that is concerned or so far as that is concerned also so far as that goes　adv. phr. While we are talking about it; also; actually. 就那而言；也；实际上。◆ You don't have to worry about the girls. Mary can take care of herself, and as far as that goes, Susan is pretty independent, too. 你不必为姑娘们担心。玛丽可以照顾自己，而实际上，苏珊也相当有主见。◆ I didn't enjoy the movie, and so far as that is concerned, I never like horror movies. 我不喜欢这部电影，实际上我从来就不喜欢恐怖电影。

as follows　A list of things that come next; what is listed next. —Followed by a colon. 如下。——后接冒号。◆ My grocery list is as follows: bread, butter, meat, eggs, sugar. 我去食品杂货店要买的东西如下：面包、黄油、肉、蛋、糖。

as for　prep. 1. In regard to; speaking of; concerning. 至于；关于。◆ We have plenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough. 我们有足够的面包，至于黄油，我们更是绰绰有余。2. Speaking for. 说到。◆ Most people like the summer but as for me, I like winter much better. 大多数人喜欢夏天，而我则更喜欢冬天。

as good as　adv. phr. Nearly the same as; almost. 与…几乎一样；差不多。◆ She claimed that he as good as promised to marry her. 她声称他实际上已经答应要娶她了。◆ He as good as called me a liar. 他几乎等于说我是个撒谎的骗子。◆ We'll get to school on time, we're as good as there now. 我们将准时到校，我们现在就差不多到了。◆ The man who had been shot was as good as dead. 那个遭到枪击的人差不多已经死了。

as good as one gets　See见GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS.

as good as one's promise　See见AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.

as good as one's word or good as one's word　adj. phr. Trustworthy; sure to keep your promise. 可信赖的；守信的。◆ The coach said he would give the players a day off if they won, and he was as good as his word. 教练说如果球员们赢了球他就放他们一天假，而他真的说到做到了。◆ We knew she was always good as her word, so we trusted her. 我们知道她一向守信用，所以我们信任她。

as hard as nails　adj. phr Very unfeeling; cruel, and unsympathetic. 铁石心肠的；冷酷无情的。◆ Uncle Joe is as hard as nails; although he is a millionaire, he doesn't help his less fortunate relatives. 乔叔叔很冷酷无情；虽然他是个百分富翁，但他却不肯帮助那些不太幸运的亲戚。

aside from　See见APART FROM.

aside of　prep., dialect Beside; by the side of.〖方〗在…旁边。◆ Mary sits aside of her sister on the bus. 在公共汽车上玛丽坐在她姐姐旁边。

as if or as though　conj. 1. As (he, she, it) would if; in the same way one would if seeming to show. 好像，似乎，仿佛。◆ The baby laughed as if he understood what Mother said. 那婴儿笑了，好像他懂得母亲说的话。◆ The book looked as though it had been out in the rain. 这本书看上去像是淋过雨。2. That. 等于that。◆ It seems as if you are the first one here. 看上去你是第一个到这儿的。

as is　adv. Without changes or improvements; with no guarantee or promise of good condition. —Used after the word it modifies. 按现状；不加改进（或修缮）。——用于所修饰的词之后。◆ They agree to buy the house as is. 他们同意按现状买下这幢房子。◆ He bought an old car as is. 他买了一辆没修过的旧车。

as it were　adv. phr. As it might be said to be; as if it really were; seemingly. —Used with a statement that might seem silly or unreasonable, to show that it is just a way of saying it. 可以说；仿佛；似乎。——与似乎荒谬或不合理的陈述连用，表明这只是一种说法。◆ In many ways children live, as it were, in a different world from adults. 在很多方面，孩子们可以说是生活在一个跟成人不同的世界里。

ask for　v., informal To make (something bad) likely to happen to you; bring (something bad) upon yourself.〖非正式〗自找（麻烦）；自讨（苦吃）。◆ Charles drives fast on worn-out tires; he is asking for trouble. 轮胎磨损得很厉害了，查尔斯还要开快车，他简直是在自找麻烦。◆ The workman lost his job, but he asked for it by coming to work drunk several times. 那个工人失去了工作，但那是他自找的，因为他有好几次喝得醉醺醺的来上班。

ask for sb.'s hand　v. phr. To ask permission to marry someone. 向某人求婚。◆ "Sir," John said timidly to Mary's father, "I came to ask for your daughter's hand."“先生，”约翰胆怯地对玛丽的父亲说，“我是来向你女儿求婚的。”

ask for the moon or cry for the moon　v. phr. To want something that you cannot reach or have; try for the impossible. 要求得到得不到的东西；要求做做不到的事。◆ John asked his mother for a hundred dollars today. He's always asking for the moon. 约翰今天向他母亲要100美元。他总是异想天开。

ask out　v. phr. To invite someone on a date. 邀请（某人）外出约会。◆ "I met a terrific girl," Joe said. "Well, then, you must ask her out soon!" Peter replied. 乔说：“我遇到了一个非常好的女孩。”彼得回答说：“那好哇，你一定要尽快邀请她出来约会！”

ask yourself!　v. phr. Be sensible, be reasonable, and you'll find the right answer. 问问你自己吧！◆ "Should I marry someone thirty years older?" Joe asked Peter. "Come on, man, ask yourself!" Peter answered with a laugh. 乔问彼得：“我该娶一个比我大30岁的女人吗？”彼得笑着回答说：“得啦，老兄，还是问问你自己吧！”

asleep at the switch　adj. phr. 1. Asleep when it is one's duty to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. 在扳道口值班时睡着了；玩忽职守。◆ The new man was asleep at the switch and the two trains crashed. 新来的扳道工值班时睡着了，结果造成两列火车相撞。2. informal Failing to act promptly as expected; not alert to an opportunity.〖非正式〗漫不经心；坐失良机。◆ When the ducks flew over, the boy was asleep at the switch and missed his shot. 当野鸭子飞过时，那男孩漫不经心，错过了射击机会。

as likely as not　adv. phr. Probably. 很可能。◆ As likely as not, he will disappear forever. 他很可能会永远消失。

as long as or so long as　conj. 1. Since; because; considering that. 既然；因为；由于。◆ As long as you are going to town anyway, you can do something for me. 既然你要进城，不妨替我办点事。2. Provided that; if. 只要；如果。◆ You may use the room as you like, so long as you clean it up afterward. 这个房间你尽管用好了，只要事后把它打扫干净就行。

as luck would have it　adv. clause As it happened; by chance; luckily or unluckily. 碰巧；真幸运；碰得不巧；真倒霉。◆ As luck would have it, no one was in the building when the explosion occurred. 真幸运，发生爆炸时大楼里没有人。◆ As luck would have it, there was rain on the day of the picnic. 真不凑巧，野餐那天下雨了。

as much　n. The same; exactly that. 同样的事；这一点。◆ Don't thank me, I would do as much for anyone. 不要谢我，我对任何人都会这样做的。◆ Did you lose your way? I thought as much when you were late in coming. 你迷路了吧？当你姗姗来迟时我就想到这一点了。

as much as　adv. phr. 1. or much as　Even though; although. 即使；虽然。◆ As much as I hate to do it, I must stay home and study tonight. 虽然我不喜欢这样做，我今晚也必须待在家里学习。2. or so much as Just the same as; almost; practically; really. 等于；几乎是；实际上。◆ By running away he as much as admitted that he had taken the money. 他一逃跑就等于承认他拿了那笔钱。◆ You as much as promised you would help us. 你实际上已答应了要帮助我们。

as of　prep. At or until (a certain time). 在（某时）；直到（某时）。◆ I know that as of last week he was still unmarried. 我知道他直到上星期还没有结婚。◆ As of now we don't know much about Mars. 直到现在我们对火星仍知之不多。

as one man　adv. phr. Unanimously; together; involving all. 一致地；一起；全体。◆ The audience arose as one man to applaud the great pianist. 听众全体起立，向那位伟大的钢琴家鼓掌。

aspire to　v. phr. To want something, to aim to achieve a certain goal. 渴望；追求。◆ Many a U. S. senator aspires to the presidency, but very few ever make it. 很多美国参议员都渴望当总统，但成功者却很少。

as regards　prep. Regarding; concerning; about. 关于；至于。◆ You needn't worry as regards the cost of the operation. 关于手术费你不必担心。◆ He was always secretive as regards his family. 他对自己的家庭情况一直守口如瓶。

as soon as　conj. Just after; when; immediately after. 一…就…；当…之时；在…之后即刻。◆ As soon as the temperature falls to 70, the furnace is turned on. 气温一降至（华氏）70度，火炉就启用了。◆ As soon as you finish your job let me know. 你工作一干完就告诉我。◆ He will see you as soon as he can. 他一有空就会见你。

as the crow flies　adv. clause By the most direct way; along a straight line between two places. 沿直线；不绕道。◆ It is seven miles to the next town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain. 到下一个城镇，走直线是7英里，但沿着公路走，因为要绕山，就是10英里。

as the story goes　adv. phr. As the story is told; as one has heard through rumor. 据说；据传。◆ As the story goes, Jonathan disappeared when he heard the police were after him. 据说，乔纳森一听说警察在追捕他就消失不见了。

as though　See见AS IF.

a stitch in time saves nine　It is better to prepare something while it is still not entirely broken, since later it would take much more of an effort. —A proverb.〖谚〗及时一针省九针；小洞不补，大洞吃苦。◆ We had better fix the old car before we leave; you know how they say "a stitch in time saves nine." 出发前我们最好先把旧车修理一下；你知道人们是怎么说的：“小洞不补，大洞吃苦。”

as to　prep. 1. In connection with; about; regarding. 至于；关于。◆ There is no doubt as to his honesty. 关于他的诚实是毫无疑问的。◆ As to your final grade, that depends on your final examination. 至于你最后的分数，那取决于你的期终考试。Syn. 同义短语WITH RESPECT TO. 2. According to; following; going by. 根据；按照。◆ They sorted the eggs as to size and color. 他们按大小和颜色对蛋进行分类。

as usual　adv. phr. In the usual way; as you usually do or as it usually does. 像平常一样；照例。◆ As usual, Tommy forgot to make his bed before he went out to play. 像平常一样，汤米出去玩之前又忘记把床整理好了。◆ Only a week after the fire in the store, it was doing business as usual. 火灾过后只一个星期，那家商店又像平常一样做生意了。

as well　adv. phr. 1. In addition; also, too; besides. 也；又；还。◆ The book tells about Mark Twain's writings and about his life as well. 这本书谈到马克·吐温的作品，也谈到他的生平。◆ Tom is captain of the football team and is on the baseball team as well. 汤姆是橄榄球队的队长，同时又是棒球队的队员。2. Without loss and possibly with gain. 不妨；还不如。◆ After the dog ran away, Father thought he might as well sell the dog house. 狗跑掉后，父亲认为不妨把狗房也卖掉。◆ Since he can't win the race, he may as well quit. 他既然赢不了这场比赛，还不如退出为好。◆ It's just as well you didn't come yesterday, because we were away. 幸好你们昨天没来，因为我们不在。

as well as　conj. In addition to; and also; besides. 除…之外（也）；也；和。◆ Hiking is good exercise as well as fun. 徒步旅行除了有趣外，还是很好的运动。◆ He was my friend as well as my doctor. 他是我的医生，也是我的朋友。◆ The book tells about the author's life as well as about his writings. 这本书不但谈到这位作者的作品，也谈到他的生平。

as ye sow, so shall ye reap or as you make your bed, so you must lie in it　One's actions bear definite consequences and one has to face them. —A proverb.〖谚〗种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆；善有善报，恶有恶报；自己铺的床自己躺；自作自受；自食其果。◆ When the leader of a murderous gang was shot himself, the local minister said: "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." 当一个杀人团队的头子自己被杀后，当地的牧师说：“善有善报，恶有恶报。”

as yet　adv. phr. Up to the present time; so far; yet. 迄今为止；到目前为止。◆ We know little as yet about the moon's surface. 迄今为止我们对月球表面还知之甚少。◆ She has not come as yet. 她到现在还没来。

as you make your bed, so you must lie in it　See见AS YE SOW, SO SHALL YE REAP.

as you please　1. As you like, whatever you like or prefer; as you choose. 随你喜欢；随你高兴；随你的便。◆ You may do as you please. 你愿意怎么做就怎么做。2. informal Very. —Used after an adjective or adverb often preceded by as.〖非正式〗非常，极其。——用于形容词或副词之后，前面常有as。◆ She was dressed for the dance and she looked as pretty as you please. 她为参加舞会穿上了礼服，看上去非常漂亮。

at a blow or at a stroke or at one stroke　adv. phr. Immediately; suddenly; with one quick or forceful action. 一下子；突然；一击之下；一举。◆ The pirates captured the ship and captured a ton of gold at a blow. 海盗们夺得了那艘船并一举夺得了一吨黄金。◆ A thousand men lost their jobs at a stroke when the factory closed. 工厂一关门，一下子就有一千人失去了工作。

at all　adv. phr. At any time or place, for any reason, or in any degree or manner. —Used for emphasis with certain kinds of words or sentences. 在任何时候或地方；为了任何理由；在任何程度上；以任何方式。——与某些词或句子连用表示强调。1. Negative否定句◆ It's not at all likely he will come. 他根本不可能来。2. Limited限制句◆ I can hardly hear you at all. 我几乎听不到你的声音。3. Interrogative疑问句◆ Can it be done at all? 这事儿到底办得到吗？4. Conditional条件句◆ She will walk with a limp, if she walks at all. 她即使走路也是一瘸一拐的。

at all costs　adv. phr. At any expense of time, effort, or money. Regardless of the results. 不惜任何代价；无论如何。◆ Mr. Jackson intended to save his son's eyesight at all costs. 杰克逊先生打算不惜任何代价保住儿子的视力。

at all hours　adv. phr. Any time; all the time; at almost any time. 在任何时候；随时；始终不间断地。◆ The baby cried so much that we were up at all hours trying to calm her down. 那婴儿哭得很厉害，我们一直没睡觉，尽力让她平静下来。

at a loss　adj. phr. In a state of uncertainty; without any idea; puzzled. 不知如何是好；不知所措；困惑不解。◆ A good salesman is never at a loss for words. 一个好的推销员永远不会找不到话说的。◆ When Don missed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do. 当唐错过最后一班公共汽车后，他不知道该怎么办才好。

at anchor　adj. phr. Held by an anchor from floating away; anchored. 抛着锚；停泊着。◆ The ship rode at anchor in the harbor. 那艘船抛锚停泊在港口。

at any rate　adv. phr. In any case; anyhow. 在任何情况下；无论如何；至少。◆ It isn't much of a car, but at any rate it was not expensive. 那辆汽车很不怎么样，但至少它的价格还不贵。

at a premium　adv. phr. At a high price due to special circumstances. 以高价。◆ When his father died, Fred flew to Europe at a premium because he had no chance to buy a less expensive ticket. 父亲死的时候，弗雷德因不可能买到廉价机票而以高价飞回欧洲。

at a set time　prep. phr. At a particular, pre-specified time. 在规定的时间。◆ Do we have to eat in this hotel at a set time, or may we come down whenever we want? 在这家旅馆我们是必须在规定的时间用餐呢，还是随便什么时候下来都可以？

at a time　adv. phr. At once; at one time; in one group or unit; together. 一下子；每次；一次；同时。◆ He checked them off one at a time as they came in. 他们进来时，他一个一个地加以核对。◆ He ran up the steps two at a time. 他两步并一步地跑上了台阶。

at bay　adv. or adj. phr. In a place where you can no longer run away; unable to go back farther; forced to stand and fight, or face an enemy; cornered. 处于走投无路的境地；无法后退；背水一战；被围，受困。◆ The police chased the thief to a roof, where they held him at bay until more policemen came to help. 警察把小偷追至屋顶，把他困在那儿，直到更多的警察前来支援。

at best or at the best　adv. phr. 1. Under the best conditions; as the best possibility. 在最好的情况下；至多。◆ A coal miner's job is dirty and dangerous at best. 即使在最好的情况下，煤矿工的工作也是既脏又危险的。◆ We can't get to New York before ten o'clock at best. 我们最早也要到10点钟才能到达纽约。2. In the most favorable way of looking at something; even saying the best about the thing. 持最乐观的看法。◆ The treasurer had at best been careless with the club's money, but most people thought he had been dishonest. 即使为他开脱，会计对俱乐部的钱至少也是处理不慎，但大多数人却认为他不诚实。

at call　adj. or adv. phr. 1. Ready or nearby for use, help, or service; on request. 准备好的；随时可用的；随时提供帮助（或服务）的。◆ Auto insurance agents all over the country are at the insured person's call, wherever he may travel. 无论被保险人旅行到什么地方，全国各地的汽车保险经纪人都随时准备好为他提供服务。2. At the word of command; at an order or signal. 听到命令；接到信号。◆ The dog was trained to come at call. 这狗经过训练，一听到命令就来。

at close range　adv. phr. Close by; in proximity. 在近距离；接近地。◆ The police officer fired at the fleeing murder suspect at close range. 警官在近距离向逃跑的凶杀嫌犯开了火。

at cross purposes　adv. phr. With opposing meanings or aims; with opposing effect or result; with aims which hinder or get in each other's way. 以相反的意义（或目的）；以相反的效果（或结果）；相互矛盾；彼此冲突。◆ Tom's parents acted at cross purposes in advising him; his father wanted him to become a doctor; but his mother wanted him to become a minister. 汤姆的父母在给他出主意时彼此是冲突的；他父亲希望他做医生；而他母亲却希望他做牧师。

at daggers drawn　adv. phr. In a state ready to kill; in great anger; anticipating fighting and hostility. 剑拔弩张；怒火中烧；互怀敌意；势不两立。◆ When they were discussing divorce, Mike and Sue went at it all day at daggers drawn. 在讨论离婚的事情时，迈克和苏剑拔弩张地争吵了一整天。

at death's door　adj. or adv. phr. Very near death; dying. 生命垂危；奄奄一息。◆ He seemed to be at death's door from his illness. 他似乎已病入膏肓，奄奄一息。

at each other's throats　prep. phr. Always arguing and quarreling. 激烈争吵。◆ Joan and Harry have been at each other's throats so long that they have forgotten how much they used to love one another. 琼和哈里长期来一直在激烈争吵，他们已经忘记了他们过去曾经多么相爱。

at ease or at one's ease　adj. or adv. phr. 1. In comfort; without pain or bother. 舒服；没有痛苦；没有烦恼。◆ You can't feel at ease with a toothache. 牙痛的时候你不可能感到舒服。2. or at one's ease Comfortable in one's mind; relaxed, not troubled. —Often used in the phrase put at ease or put at one's ease. 安逸；放松；无忧无虑。——常用于短语put at ease或Put at one's ease.◆ We put Mary at her ease during the thunderstorm by reading her stories. 雷雨交加时，我们给玛丽读故事以使她情绪放松。3. Standing with your right foot in place and without talking in military ranks. 稍息。◆ The sergeant gave his men the command "At ease!" 中士向他的士兵发出口令：“稍息！”

at every turn　adv. phr. Every time; all the time; continually without exception. 每次；老是；不断地；毫无例外地。◆ Because of his drinking, the man was refused a job at every turn. 这人因为酗酒，所以每次找工作都遭到拒绝。

at face value　prep. phr. What one can actually hear, read, or see; literally. 按表面价值；按字面意义。◆ John is so honest that you can take his words at face value. 约翰非常诚实，他的话完全可以相信。◆ This store's advertisements are honest; take them at face value. 这家商店的广告很实在，完全可以相信。

at fault　adj. phr. Responsible for an error or failure; to blame. 对错误或失败负有责任；应受责备。◆ The driver who didn't stop at the red light was at fault in the accident. 那个闯红灯的司机应对事故负责。

at first　adv. phr. In the beginning; at the start. 开始时；最初。◆ The driver didn't see the danger at first. 司机最初没有看到危险。◆ At first the job looked good to Bob, but later it became tiresome. 起初这工作在鲍勃看来似乎不错，但后来就变得令人厌倦了。

at first blush　adv. phr. When first seen; without careful study. 乍一看；经初步考虑。◆ At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we found things we could not accept. 乍一看，这项建议似乎不错，但我们仔细一研究，就发现了一些我们无法接受的东西。

at first glance or at first sight　adv. or adj. phr. After a first quick look. 乍看上去；一见之下。◆ At first sight, his guess was that the whole trouble between the two men resulted from personalities that did not agree. 一见之下，他便猜想这两个男人难以相处是由于性格不合。◆ Tom met Mary at a party, and it was love at first sight. 汤姆在一次聚会上遇见了玛丽，两人一见钟情。

at great length　prep. phr. 1. In great detail. 详尽地。◆ Jim told us the story of his life at great length. 吉姆详尽地向我们谈了他的生平。2.For a long time. 长久地。◆ The boring speaker rambled on at great length. 那位令人厌烦的演讲者没完没了地讲个不停。

at half mast　prep. phr. Halfway up or down; referring primarily to flagposts, but may be used jokingly. 下半旗（志哀）。◆ When a president of the United States dies, all flags are flown at half mast. 当一位美国总统去世时，全国都下半旗志哀。

at hand also at close hand or near at hand　adv. phr. 1. Easy to reach; nearby. 近在手边；在附近。◆ When he writes,　he always keeps a dictionary at hand. 他在写作时总是放本词典在手边。2. formal Coming soon; almost here.〖正式〗即将到来；即将发生。◆ Examinations are past and Commencement Day is at hand. 考试已经结束，毕业典礼日即将到来。

at heart　adv. phr. 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; in reality. 内心里；本质上；实际上。◆ His manners are rough but he is a kind man at heart. 他的举止很粗鲁，但内心里却是个善良的人。2. As a serious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal. 很关心；很重视。◆ He has the welfare of the poor at heart. 他很关心穷人的福利。

at home　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In the place where you live or come from. 在家；在国内。◆ I went to his house, but he was not at home. 我去了他家，但他却不在家。2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. 精通；熟悉；像在家里一样舒适自在。◆ Charles and John enjoy working together because they feel at home with each other. 查尔斯和约翰喜欢在一起工作，因为他们彼此熟悉。

at issue　adj. phr. 1. In dispute; to be settled by debate, by vote, by battle, or by some other contest. 争论中的；通过辩论（或投票、战争、竞争等）加以解决的。◆ His good name was at issue in the trial. 他的好名声将取决于审讯结果。◆ The independence of the United States from England was at issue in the Revolutionary War. 美国能否脱离英国取得独立将在独立战争中得到解决。2. Not in agreement; in conflict; opposing. 不一致；冲突；对立。◆ His work as a doctor was at issue with other doctor's practice. 作为一名医生，他的工作与其他医生的做法大相径庭。

at it　adj. phr. Busily doing something; active. 忙着做某事；活跃。◆ His rule for success was to keep always at it. 他的成功之道就是一直忙个不停。◆ The couple who owned the little cleaning shop were at it early and late. 拥有这家小洗衣店的那对夫妻从早到晚一直忙个不停。

at large　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Not kept within walls, fences, or boundaries; free. 不受约束的；自由的。◆ The killer remained at large for weeks. 凶手逍遥法外已有几个星期了。Compare比较AT LIBERTY.◆ Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch. 牛羊在大牧场上自由自在地走动。2. In a broad, general way; at length; fully. 笼统地；详尽地；充分地。◆ The superintendent talked at large for an hour about his hopes for a new school building. 教育局长就建造新校舍的希望详细地谈了一个小时。3. As a group rather than as individuals; as a whole; taken together. 作为一个整体；整个地。◆ The junior class at large was not interested in a senior yearbook. 整个3年级班中没有人对4年级的毕业班年刊感兴趣。4. As a representative of a whole political unit or area rather than one or its parts; from a city rather than one of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts.（不是代表特定选区而是）代表全州（或全市）的；由全市（或全州）选举。◆ He was elected congressman at large. 他被选为代表全州的国会议员。

at last also at long last　adv. phr. After a long time; finally. 终于；最后。◆ The war had been long and hard, but now there was peace at last. 战争漫长而艰苦，但现在终于迎来了和平。◆ The boy saved his money until at last he had enough for a bicycle. 那男孩把钱攒起来，直到最后攒足了买一辆自行车的钱。

at least　adv. phr. 1. or at the least At the smallest guess; no fewer than; no less than. 起码；至少；最少。◆ You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. 你每天至少应该刷两次牙。◆ At least three students are failing in mathematics. 起码有3名学生数学不及格。2. Whatever else you may say; anyhow; anyway. 无论如何；不管怎样；反正。◆ She broke her arm, but at least it wasn't the arm she writes with. 她折断了手臂，幸好不是她写字用的那只手臂。◆ He's not coming—at least that's what he said. 他不来了——反正他是这么说的。

at leisure　adj. or adv. phr. 1. Not at work; not busy; with free time; at rest. 有空（的）；不忙（的）；有余暇（的）；在休息（的）。◆ Come and visit us some evening when you're at leisure. 你哪个晚上有空请到我们家来做客。2. or at one's leisure When and how you wish at your convenience; without hurry. 在方便时；从容地，不慌不忙地。◆ You may read the book at your leisure. 这本书你可以慢慢地看。

at length　adv. phr. 1. In detail; fully. 详尽地；充分地。◆ You must study the subject at length to understand it. 这个问题你必须充分研究才能理解。◆ The teacher explained the new lesson at length to the students. 老师向学生详细地解释了新课。2. In the end; at last; finally. 最后；终于。◆ The movie became more and more exciting, until at length people were sitting on the edge of their chairs. 电影越来越紧张，到了最后观众都坐到了椅子边缘上。

at liberty　adv. or adj. phr. Free to go somewhere or do something; not shut in or stopped. 行动自由的；不受监禁的。◆ The police promised to set the man at liberty if he told the names of the other robbers. 警方答应，如果那人说出其他抢劫犯的名字，他们就放了他。

at loggerheads　adj. or adv. phr. In a quarrel; in a fight; opposing each other. 争吵；吵架；不和。◆ The two senators had long been at loggerheads on foreign aid. 两位参议员在援外问题上很久以来一直意见不合。◆ Because of their barking dog, the Morrises lived at loggerheads with their neighbors. 因为莫里斯家那条汪汪叫的狗，他们与邻居经常发生争吵。

at long last　See见AT LAST.

at loose ends　adj. phr. Without a regular job or settled habits; uncertain what to do next; having nothing to do for a while; undecided; unsettied; restless. 没有固定工作的；对未来没有明确计划的；一时无事可做的；未定的；未解决的；不安的。◆ Feeling at loose ends, I went for a long walk. 因为感到无事可做，我便去散步走了很长一段路。◆ He had finished college but hadn't found a job yet, so he was at loose ends. 他已大学毕业但尚未找到工作，因此不知道下一步干些什么。

at most or at the most　adv. phr. By the largest or most generous guess; at the upper limit; by the maximum account; not more than; at best; at worst. 最多，至多；不超过；最好；最坏。◆ It was a minor offense at most. 这最多是件小小的过失。◆ He had been gone 15 minutes at the most. 他走了最多不过15分钟。

at odds　adj. phr. In conflict or disagreement; opposed. 冲突；意见不一致；反对。◆ The boy and girl were married a week after they met and soon found themselves at odds about religion. 那男孩和女孩相识一个星期后就结了婚，很快便发现他们在宗教问题上意见不一致。

at once　adv. phr. Without delay; right now or right then; immediately. 马上；立刻；立即。◆ Put a burning match next to a piece of paper and it will begin burning at once. 把一根点燃的火柴放在一张纸旁边，纸马上就会烧起来。

at one　adj. phr. 1. In union or harmony; in agreement or sympathy. —Not usually used informally. 团结；融洽；一致。——在非正式场合一般不用。◆ He felt at one with all the poets who have sung of love. 他觉得和所有歌颂爱情的诗人都能产生共鸣。2. Of the same opinion, in agreement. 意见相同，意见一致。◆ Husband and wife were at one on everything but money. 除了钱，夫妻在每件事上都意见一致。

at one's best　prep. phr. In best form; displaying one's best qualities. 处于最佳状态；处于全盛时期；显示出最佳品质。◆ Tim is at his best when he has had a long swim before a ball game. 蒂姆在球赛前如果来个长距离游泳就会表现出最佳水平。

at one's earliest convenience　adv. phr. At the first moment when one is able to do something; used as a term of politeness.（礼貌用语）在方便的时候立即；尽早，尽快。◆ Please answer at your earliest convenience. 请在您方便的时候尽快回复。

at one's elbow　adv. phr. Close beside you; nearby. 在手边；在近旁。◆ The President rode in an open car with his wife at his elbow. 总统乘着敞篷车，他的夫人就在他身边。

at one's fingertips　adv. phr. 1. Within easy reach; quickly touched; nearby. 近在手边；伸手可及；在附近。◆ Seated in the cockpit, the pilot of a plane has many controls at his fingertips. 飞机驾驶员坐在机舱里，手边有许多控制装置。2. Readily usable as knowledge or skill; familiar.（知识、技能等）随时可供应用；熟悉的。◆ He had several languages at his fingertips. 他精通好几种语言。

at one's heels　adv. phr. Close behind; as a constant follower or companion. 紧跟在后；追随；陪伴。◆ The boy got tired of having his little brother at his heels all day. 那男孩对小弟弟整天跟在他后面感到厌烦了。

at one's leisure　See见AT LEISURE 2.

at one's wit's end or at wit's end　adj. phr. Having no ideas as to how to meet a difficulty or solve a problem; feeling puzzled after having used up all of your ideas or resources; not knowing what to do; puzzled. 智穷才尽；束手无策；全然不知所措。◆ The designer was at his wit's end: he had tried out wings of many different kinds but none would fly. 设计师已智穷才尽：他已试过多种机翼，但无一能起飞。

at one time　adv. phr. 1. In the same moment; together. 同时；一起。◆ Let's start the dance again all at one time. 让我们大家一起重新开始跳舞吧。2. At a certain time in the past; years ago. 过去某个时期；曾经，一度。◆ At one time most school teachers were men, but today there are more women than men. 过去，学校教员大多是男的，但今天却是女的居多。

at pains　adj. phr. Making a special effort. 尽力；费尽苦心。◆ At pains to make a good impression, she was prompt for her appointment. 她尽力想留下一个好的印象，所以准时去赴了约。

at present　adv. phr. At this time; now. 目前；现在。◆ It took a long time to get started, but at present the road is half finished. 公路等了很久才开工，但目前已完成了一半。◆ At present the house is empty, but next week a family will move in. 眼下房子是空的，但下星期就有一家人要搬进来。

at random　adv. phr. With no order, plan, or purpose; in a mixed-up, or thoughtless way. 任意地；随便地；胡乱地。◆ His clothes were scattered about the room at random. 他的衣服满屋子乱丢。

at sb's beck and call or at the beck and call of　adj. phr. Ready and willing to do whatever someone asks; ready to serve at a moment's notice. 唯某人之命是从；听凭某人调遣。◆ A good parent isn't necessarily always at the child's beck and call. 一个好的家长未必一直要听孩子的指挥。

at sb's door or at sb's doorstep　adv. phr. Very close; very near where you live or work. 在某人近旁；在某人的住处（或工作场所）近旁。◆ Johnny is very lucky because there's a swimming pool right at his doorstep. 约翰尼很幸运，因为他家门口就有个游泳池。

at sb's feet　adv. phr. Under your influence or power. 在某人的影响下；在某人的支配下。◆ She had a dozen men at her feet. 有一打男士拜倒在她的脚下。◆ Her voice kept audiences at her feet for years. 她的歌声多年来一直令听众为之倾倒。

at sb's service　adv. phr. 1. Ready to serve or help you; prepared to obey your wish or command; subject to your orders. 听凭某人差遣；为某人效劳。◆ He placed himself completely at the President's service. 他完全听凭总统差遣。◆ "Now I am at your service," the dentist told the next patient. 牙科医生对下一位病人说：“现在我可以为你效劳了。”2.Available for your use; at your disposal. 任凭某人使用；供某人使用。◆ He put a car and chauffeur at the visitor's service. 他派了一辆配有司机的汽车供来客使用。

at sea^1　adv. or adj. phr. 1. On an ocean voyage; on a journey by ship. 在海上航行。◆ They had first met at sea. 他们是在海上航行时首次相遇的。2. Out on the ocean; away from land. 在海上。◆ By the second day the ship was well out at sea. 第二天，船已经远离大陆航行在海上了。◆ Charles had visited a ship in dock, but he had never been on a ship at sea. 查尔斯曾参观过停靠在码头上的一条船，但他从未乘船出过海。

at sea^2　adj. phr. Not knowing what to do; bewildered; confused; lost. 不知所措；困惑；茫然。◆ The job was new to him, and for a few days he was at sea. 这项工作对他来说是新的，所以有好几天他不知怎么干才好。

at sight or on sight　adv. phr. The first time the person or thing is seen; as soon as the person or thing is seen. 首次相见；一看到（就）。◆ First graders learn to read many words on sight. 很多词一年级小学生一看到就认识了。◆ Mary had seen many pictures of Grandfather, so she knew him on sight. 玛丽看过祖父的许多照片，所以一看到他就认出来了。

at—stage of the game　adv. phr. At (some) time during an activity; at (some) point. 在比赛的…阶段；在…时刻。◆ At that stage of the game, our team was doing so poorly that we were ready to give up. 在比赛的那个阶段，我们球队表现太差，我们甚至准备放弃了。◆ It's hard to know what will happen at this stage of the game. 此刻很难预料会发生什么事情。

at stake　adj. phr. Depending, like a bet, on the outcome of something uncertain; in a position to be lost or gained. 取决于某事的结果；在危险中。◆ The team played hard because the championship of the state was at stake. 那支球队打得非常卖力，因为能否赢得州冠军就在此一搏。

at swords' points　adj. phr. Ready to start fighting; very much opposed to each other; hostile; quarreling. 剑拔弩张；针锋相对；敌对；争吵。◆ The mayor and the reporter were always at swords' points. 市长与那位记者一直针锋相对。

at that　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. As it is; at that point; without more talk or waiting. 就这样；在那一刻；到此为止。◆ Ted was not quite satisfied with his haircut but let it go at that. 泰德对给他理的发不很满意，但也只好这样就算了。2. In addition; also. 此外；而且。◆ Bill's seat mate on the plane was a girl and a pretty one at that. 比尔在飞机上的邻座乘客是个女孩，而且是个漂亮的女孩。

at the drop of a hat　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Without waiting; immediately; promptly. 立即；马上。◆ If you need a babysitter quickly, call Mary, because she can come at the drop of a hat. 你如果急需临时照看小孩的人，可以打电话给玛丽，因为她能马上就来。2. Whenever you have a chance; with very little cause or urging. 一有机会（就）；动不动（就）。◆ He was quarrelsome and ready to fight at the drop of a hat. 他喜欢争吵，动不动就想打架。

at the eleventh hour　prep. phr. At the last possible time. 在最后一刻。◆ Aunt Mathilda got married at the eleventh hour; after all, she was already 49 years old. 玛蒂尔达姨妈在最后一刻结婚了；毕竟她已经49岁了。

at the end of one's rope　See见END OF ONE'S ROPE.

at the end of the day　adv. phr. After all previous arrangements have been completed; finally; at last.（工作等）完成之时；最后，最终。◆ At the end of the day, the hostile foreign government will have to realize that it is better to cooperate with the U. N. 最终，那个怀有敌意的外国政府将会认识到还是与联合国合作为好。

at the mercy of or at sb's mercy　adj. phr. In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. 任凭某人的摆布；完全受某人的支配。◆ The small grocer was at the mercy of people he owed money to. 这位小食品杂货商被他的债主们捏在手心里。

at the outset　adv. phr. At the start; at the beginning. 在开始时。◆ "You'll live in the cheaper barracks at the outset; later you can move into the better cabins," the camp director said to the new boys. 营地主任对新来的男孩子们说：“一开始你们住比较便宜的营房；以后你们就可以搬进好一些的房子里了。”

at the outside　adv. phr. Maximally; at the utmost. 最多；充其量。◆ This old house can cost no more than $40,000 at the outside. 这幢老房子最多可以值4万美元。

at the point of　prep. Very near to; almost at or in. 濒临；就要…之时。◆ When Mary broke her favorite bracelet, she was at the point of tears. 当玛丽打碎她最喜爱的手镯时，她差点哭了出来。◆ The boy hurt in the accident lay at the point of death for a week, then he got well. 在事故中受伤的男孩濒临死亡有一个星期，后来他就好了。

at the psychological moment　v. phr. At the critical moment; in the nick of time. 在关键时刻；在紧急关头。◆ The ping-pong game stood at 21∶21 when, at the psychological moment, the American team won with two slams, ending the game at 23∶21. 乒乓球比赛打到了21比21，在此关键时刻，美国队凭两记重扣获胜，以23比21结束了比赛。

at the ready　adj. phr. Ready for use. 为使用作好准备。◆ The sailor stood at the bow, harpoon at the ready, as the boat neared the whale. 当船驶近鲸鱼时，那名水手站在船头，举起渔叉准备叉鱼。

at the same time　adv. phr. 1. In the same moment; together. 同时；一起。◆ The two runners reached the finish line at the same time. 两位赛跑选手同时到达了终点线。2. In spite of the fact; even though; however; but; nevertheless. 尽管如此；然而；不过。◆ John did pass the test; at the same time, he didn't know the subject very well. 约翰考试是及格了，可是他对这门学科掌握得并不好。

at the seams　See见BURST AT THE SEAMS.

at the table or at table　adv. phr. At a meal; at the dinner table. 在吃饭；在进餐。◆ The telephone call came while they were all at table. 他们都在吃饭的时候电话来了。

at the tip of sb's tongue or on the tip of sb's tongue　adv. phr. informal 〖非正式〗1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. 差一点说出来；正准备说出来；就在嘴边。◆ It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang. 我正要告诉他时，突然电话铃响了。2. Almost remembered; at the point where one can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten. 差一点被想起；差一点就能想起。◆ I have his name on the tip of my tongue. 他的名字就在我嘴边。

at the top of one's voice or at the top of one's lungs　adv. phr. As loud as you can; with the greatest possible sound; very loudly. 用尽量大的声音；高声地。◆ He was singing at the top of his voice. 他在高声歌唱。◆ He shouted at the top of his lungs. 他放声大叫。

at this juncture　adv. phr. Now; at this critical point; at this conjuncture of affairs. 在此时；在这个关键时刻；在这个紧急关头。◆ At this juncture it is wiser to retire than to fight a bankrupt company. 在这个节骨眼上，退出比跟一家破产公司打官司更为明智。

at this rate or at that rate　adv. phr. At a speed like this or that; with progress like this or that. 照这样（或那样）的速度；按这种（或那种）进度。◆ "Three 100's in the last four tests! At this rate you'll soon be teaching the subject," Tom said to Mary. 汤姆对玛丽说：“最近4次考试得了3个100分！照这样下去，你很快就可以教这门课了。”

at times　adv. phr. Not often; not regularly; not every day; not every week; occasionally; sometimes. 不经常；不是每天；不是每星期；偶尔；有时。◆ At times Tom's mother lets him hold the baby. 有时汤姆的母亲让他抱抱孩子。◆ You can certainly be exasperating, at times! 有时候你也真够让人恼火的！◆ We have pie for dinner at times. 我们晚餐偶尔吃馅饼。

attribute to　v. phr. To believe something to have been said or written by someone. 认为…为…所说（或写）。◆ The saying "An Iron Curtain has descended across Europe" is attributed to Winston Churchill.“一道铁幕已将欧洲隔为两半”这句话被认为是温斯顿·丘吉尔说的。

at will　adv. phr. As you like; as you please or choose freely. 任意；随意。◆ With an air conditioner you can enjoy comfortable temperatures at will. 有一台空调你就可以随意享受舒适的温度了。

at wit's end　See见AT ONE'S WIT'S END.

at work　adj. phr. Busy at a job; doing work. 在工作；在干活。◆ The teacher was soon hard at work correcting that day's test. 那位老师很快便忙于批改那天的试卷了。◆ Jim is at work on his car. 吉姆正在修理他的汽车。

at worst or at the worst　adv. phr. 1. Under the worst conditions; as the worst possibility. 在最坏的情况下；充其量。◆ When Don was caught cheating in the examination he thought that at worst he would get a scolding. 在唐考试作弊被发现时，他想充其量不过是受一番训斥。2. In the least favorable view, to say the worst about a thing. 就最不利的一方面看。◆ The treasurer had certainly not stolen any of the club's money; at worst, he had forgotten to write down some of the things he had spent money for. 会计肯定没有偷俱乐部的任何钱；他最多是忘记把几笔开销入账了。

Aunt Tom　n., slang, originally from Black English A successful professional or business woman who, due to her success in a masculine profession, doesn't care about the women's liberation movement or the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. 〖俚〗（原为黑人英语）汤姆大婶（成功的职业妇女或女实业家，因其自身在男性世界的成功而不关心妇女解放运动或美国宪法平等权利修正案的通过）。◆ Hermione is a regular Aunt Tom, she'll never vote for the ERA. 赫米奥纳是一位十足的汤姆大婶，她决不会投票支持平等权利修正案。

average out　v. phr. To reach a certain average after proper calculation. 平均为。◆ "My monthly salary averages out to no more than $1,500," the young teaching assistant sadly remarked. 那位年轻的助教伤心地说：“我的月薪平均只有1500美元。”

avoid like the plague or shun as one would the plague　See见GIVE WIDE BERTH TO.

awake to　v. phr. To begin to understand something; become alert and watchful of something. 意识到，认识到；察觉到。◆ America had to awake to the dangers posed by domestic terrorism. 美国必须意识到国内恐怖主义带来的危险。

awkward age　n. Adolescence; awkwardness during adolescence. 青春期；青春期的尴尬。◆ Sue used to be an "ugly duckling" when she was at the awkward age, but today she is a glamorous fashion model. 苏在青春期时是个“丑小鸭”，而今天她却是一位美丽动人的时装模特。

AWOL　See见ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

ax to grind　n. phr. informal Something to gain for yourself: a selfish reason.〖非正式〗个人打算；自私企图。◆ In praising movies for classroom use he has an ax to grind; he sells motion picture equipment. 他赞扬教学影片是有个人企图的；他是卖电影设备的。

◆B◆

babe in the woods　n. phr. A person who is inexperienced or innocent in certain things. 无经验而易受骗之人；幼稚单纯的人。◆ He is a good driver, but as a mechanic he is just a babe in the woods. 他车开得很好，但说到修车他却一窍不通。

baby　See见WAR BABY.

baby boom　n. A sudden increase in the birth rate. 出生率激增；生育高峰。◆ The universities were filled to capacity due to the baby boom that followed World War Ⅱ. 由于第二次世界大战后的生育高峰，各大学都已人满为患。

baby grand　n. A small grand piano no longer than three feet, maximally four feet. 小型卧式钢琴。◆ This apartment can't take a regular grand piano, so we'll have to buy a baby grand. 这套公寓房间放不下一架平台式大钢琴，所以我们只好买一架小型卧式钢琴。

baby kisser　n. slang A person campaigning for votes in his quest for elected political office; such persons often kiss little children in public. 〖俚〗亲吻婴儿的人（指为竞选而到处笼络人心的政客）。◆ Nixon was a baby kisser when he ran for Vice President with Eisenhower. 尼克松作为艾森豪威尔的搭档竞选副总统时，常当众亲吻婴儿以争取选票。

back and forth　adv. Backwards and forwards. 来回地；反复地。◆ The tiger is pacing back and forth in his cage. 老虎在笼子里走来走去。Compare比较TO AND FRO.

back away　v. To act to avoid or lessen one's involvement in something; draw or turn back; retreat. 躲开；退缩；后退；折回；撤退。◆ The townspeople backed away from the building plan when they found out how much it would cost. 镇民们在发现建筑规划的费用后都退缩了。

back door　n. slang citizen's band radio jargon Rear of vehicle. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗车辆的尾部。◆ I am watching your back door. 我正在注视着你的车尾。

back down or back off　v. informal To give up a claim; not follow up a threat. 〖非正式〗放弃原来的要求；让步；退缩。◆ Bill said he could beat Ted, but when Ted put up his fists Bill backed down. 比尔说他可以击败泰德，但当泰德举起双拳时，比尔却退缩了。◆ Harry claimed Joe had taken his book, but backed down when the teacher talked with him. 哈里声称乔拿了他的书，但在老师与他谈话时，他又不坚持了。

backfire　v. To misfire; to have a reverse effect from what was intended. （内燃机等）发生逆火，发生回火；产生事与愿违的结果。◆ Mimi's gossip about the Head of the Department backfired when people began to mistrust her. 米米关于系主任的闲言碎语产生了适得其反的结果：人们开始不信任她了。

backhanded compliment　n. phr. A remark that sounds like a compliment but is said sarcastically. 隐含讥刺的假恭维。◆ "Not bad for a girl", the coach said, offering a backhanded compliment.“对个女孩子来说很不错啦，”教练话中带刺地恭维了一句。

back in circulation　adv. phr. 1. Socially active once again (said about people); back on the dating circuit after a divorce or a romantic breakup.（指人）重新参加社交活动；（离婚或恋情破裂后）又可约会异性朋友。◆ Now that Sally is divorced from Jim she is back in circulation．现在萨莉已与吉姆离婚，她又可以与别的男人约会了。2. Once again available to the public (said about types of paper money, rare coins, or other commercially available goods).（指某些纸币、稀有硬币等）重新流通。◆ In the USA the two-dollar bill was back in circulation for a short time only in the 1950s and 1960s. 在美国，两美元的纸币只在1950年代和1960年代重新流通了一小段时间。

back in the saddle　adv. phr. Back in the daily routine. 回到日常生活；恢复日常工作。◆ After his prolonged illness and stay in the hospital, Joe is back in the saddle. 久病住院后，乔又恢复了日常工作。

back number　n. Something out of fashion, or out of date．过时的东西。◆ Among today's young people a waltz like "The Blue Danube" is a back number. 对今天的大多数年轻人来说，像《蓝色的多瑙河》这样的圆舞曲已是过时的老古董。

back of or in back of　prep. 1. In or at the rear of; to the back of; behind．在…的后面。◆ The garage is back of the house. 车库在房子后面。◆ Our car was in back of theirs at the traffic light. 红灯亮时，我们的汽车在他们的车后面。2. informal Being a cause or reason for; causing. 〖非正式〗作为…背后的原因；引起。◆ Hard work was back of his success. 刻苦努力是他成功的原因。3. informal In support or encouragement of; helping.〖非正式〗支持；鼓励；帮助。◆ Get in back of your team by cheering them at the game．比赛时为你们的队欢呼加油，为他们鼓劲。

back out　v. phr. 1. To move backwards out of a place or enclosure. 退出。◆ Bob slowly backed his car out of the garage. 鲍勃慢慢地把车倒出车库。2. To withdraw from an activity one has promised to carry out. 食言；变卦。◆ Jim tried to back out of the engagement with Jane, but she insisted that they get married. 吉姆想解除与简的婚约，但简却坚持要结婚。

backseat driver　n., informal A bossy person in a car who always tells the driver what to do. 〖非坐在汽车后座对司机指手画脚的人。◆ The man who drove the car became angry with the backseat driver. 开车的司机对后座那位指手画脚的乘客发怒了。

back someone up on something　v. phr. To corroborate; to bear witness to the truth of what someone has said. 证实；就某事为某人作证。◆ "I was nowhere near the scene of the crime," Joe said. "You must back me upon that!"“我当时根本就不在犯罪现场，”乔说。“你必须就这一点为我作证！”

back street　n. A street not near the main streets or from which it is hard to get to a main street.（远离大街的）偏僻街道。◆ We got lost in the back streets going through the city and it took us a half hour to find our way again. 在穿越市区时我们在偏僻的街道上迷了路，花了半个小时才又找到路。

back talk　n. A sassy, impudent reply. 顶嘴；回嘴。◆ Such back talk will get you nowhere, young man! 你这样顶嘴是要碰壁的，年轻人！

back the wrong horse　v. phr. To support a loser．支持失败者。◆ In voting for George Bush, voters in 1992 were backing the wrong horse. 1992年投乔治·布什票的选民看错了人。

back-to-back　adv. 1. Immediately following.（一个接着一个）连续的。◆ The health clinic had back-to-back appointments for the new students during the first week of school. 开学第一周，校医室便一个接一个地预约了新同学来体检。2. Very close to, as if touching. 背靠背地；紧贴着地。◆ Sardines are always packed in the can back-to-back. 沙丁鱼装在罐头里总是排得紧紧的。

back to square one or back to the basics or back to the drawing

board　adv. phr. To start at the beginning again in an attempt to correct whatever mistakes were made initially. 回到起点；（失败后）重起炉灶，从头再来。◆ After the first American rockets misfired, NASA decided to go back to square one. 在最初几枚火箭发射失败后，美国国家航空和航天局决定从头再来。

back to the salt mines　informal Back to the job; back to work; back to work that is as hard or as unpleasant as working in a salt mine would be．—An overworked phrase, used humorously. 〖非正式〗重新工作；重新干活；又要辛苦了。◆ The lunch hours is over, boys. Back to the salt mines! 午饭时间已过，小伙子们。又该干活了！

back to the wall or back against the wall　adv. phr. In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble．落入陷阱；处于绝境；走投无路。◆ The soldiers had their backs to the wall. 士兵们陷入了绝境，只得背水一战了。◆ He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall. 他欠了债又得不到任何人帮助，真是走投无路啊。◆ The team had their backs to the wall in the second half. 该队在下半时陷入了困境。

back up　v. 1. To move backwards. 向后移动；后退；倒退。◆ The train was backing up. 火车正在向后移动。2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help; agree with and speak in support of．帮助；支持；证实。◆ Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and his father is backing him up. 吉姆参加了童子军，他的父亲很支持他。3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the ball if he misses it. 跑到（另一名外场手）背后策应。◆ The shortstop backed up the second baseman on the throw. 球掷出时，游击手跑到二垒手背后策应。

back-up　adj. Supplementary; auxiliary; kept in need for safety. 后援的；补充的；辅助的；后备的，备用的。◆ When at war, it is essential to keep the lines open for back-up troops and supplies. 战争期间，必须确保运输后援部队和军需品的线路畅通。◆ When the policeman saw what happened, he called in for back-up support. 那位警察看到现场发生的情况后立即打电话要求增援。

backward and forward or backwards and forwards　adv. phr. To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. 充分地；详尽地；彻底地；完全地。◆ He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards．他对汽车发动机了如指掌。

bad actor　n., informal A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. 〖非正式〗蛮横凶暴的家伙；爱打架（或吵架）的家伙；坏蛋；烈性子动物。◆ The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him. 那男孩是个爱打架的坏蛋，没有人喜欢他。

bad blood　n., informal Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. 〖非正式〗（相互之间的）仇恨，恶感。◆ There's a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they'll never talk to each other again. 马克斯和杰克之间积怨很深；我敢说他俩再也不会讲话了。Compare比较BAD SHIT.

bad egg　n., slang A ne'er-do-well; good for nothing; a habitual offender. 〖俚〗坏蛋；二流子；惯犯。◆ The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last. 法官终于把那个坏蛋送进了监狱。

bad mouth (someone)　v., slang To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another's reputation.〖俚〗说（某人）坏话；恶意攻击（某人）。◆ It's not nice to bad mouth people. 说别人的坏话是不好的。

bad news　n., slang An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise.〖俚〗讨厌的人（或事）；倒霉的事。◆ "What's the new professor like?" "He's all bad news to me."“新来的那位教授怎么样？”“我觉得他很讨厌。”

bad paper　n., slang〖俚〗1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank．空头支票2. Counterfeit paper money．伪币；假钞。◆ "Why are you so mad?" "I was paid with some bad paper."“你为什么这么生气？”“有人付给了我伪钞。”

bad seed　n. phr. A person who never does anything well; a person who veers from the straight and narrow and acts like a criminal. 坏种；恶棍。◆ Jim is a bad seed; he doesn't belong in our family. 吉姆是个坏种；他不配成为我们家族的一员。

bad shit　n., vulgar, avoidable An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. 〖粗〗〖忌〗令人作呕的事物；令人不快的局面。◆ There is so much bad shit between the two gangs that I bet there will be more killing this year. 这两伙歹徒之间积怨太深，我敢说今年会有更多的杀戮事件。

bad trip　n., slang, also used colloquially A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general.〖俚〗〖口〗（服用幻觉剂后产生的）抑郁幻觉；恐怖幻觉；不愉快的经历。◆ "Why's John's face so distorted?" "He had a bad trip."“约翰的面孔为什么扭曲得这么厉害？”“他产生了恐怖幻觉。”◆ "How was your math exam?" "Don't mention it; it was a bad trip."“你的数学考得怎么样？”“别提了，一塌糊涂。”

bag and baggage　adv., informal With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. 〖非正式〗连同全部财物；完全地。◆ If they don't pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage. 如果他们不付旅馆费，他们就会连人带物地被赶出去。

bail out^1　v. 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. 保释。◆ When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out. 大学生如与警方发生麻烦，校长总会把他们保释出来的。2. informal To free from trouble by giving or lending money.〖非正式〗（给钱或借钱以）帮助…摆脱困境。◆ He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times. 他开了一家小店，在他父亲几次帮他摆脱困境后小店的生意才兴旺起来。

bail out^2　v. To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute. 跳伞。◆ When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out. 当飞机的第二台发动机失灵时，驾驶员叫每个人跳伞。

bail out^3　v. To dip water from a fill ing or leaking boat; throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. 从（船）里往外舀水。◆ Both men were kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak. 划艇开始漏水后，两个人都忙着往外舀水。

baker's dozen　n., informal Thirteen.〖非正式〗十三。◆ "How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir?" the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker's dozen."“买多少果冻炸面圈，先生？”售货员问。“啊，就买13个吧。”

balance　See 见 HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.

balk at or baulk at or jib at　v. phr. To be unwilling to face or agree to something. 不愿面对；拒绝接受；不同意。◆ The Iraqis kept balking at every sensible proposal made to them by the U. N. 伊拉克人一直拒绝接受联合国向他们提出的每一项合理建议。

ball game　n., slang, also informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. 整个事情；全局；整个竞赛。◆ You said we can get a second mortgage for the house? Wow! That's a whole new ball game. 你说我们可以得到购房的第二笔抵押贷款？哇！这就使整个情况完全改变了。

ball of fire　n., informal A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. 〖非正式〗生龙活虎的人；能有作为的人。◆ He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire. 他在学校时成绩不好，但现在做推销员却是一把好手。◆ The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting. 这位新的游击手防守很好，但在击球方面却无所作为。

ball up　v., slang To make a mess of; confuse.〖俚〗把…搞乱；把…弄糟；把…搞糊涂。◆ Don't ball me up. 别把我弄糊涂了。◆ Hal balled up the business with his errors. 哈尔出了不少错，把事情弄得一团糟。—Often used in the passive. 常用于被动语态。◆ He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going. 他被弄得晕头转向，连前后也分不清了。

baloney　n., informal Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. 〖非正式〗胡扯，鬼话。◆ John brags that he's won the $10 million lottery, and I think it's just a lot of baloney. 约翰吹牛，说他赢得了1千万美元的彩票大奖，我看他这完全是胡扯。◆ "Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look.“你愿意嫁给乔吗？”母亲问。“胡扯，”苏茜带着一副厌恶的神色回答说。

banana oil　n., slang Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive.〖俚〗花言巧语。◆ Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere! 别再花言巧语了；阿谀奉承对你没好处！

band together　v. phr. To join a group to exert united force. 联合起来，团结起来。◆ The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks. 这个生态环境受到威胁的地区的居民们联合起来阻止这家公司建造新的大烟囱。

bandy around　v. phr. To talk disrespectfully about something or someone or without caring whether what is said is true or false; to chatter away about something in a facetious, nonserious manner. 不尊重（或轻率）地谈论；喋喋不休地胡说。◆ Several ridiculous ideas were bandied about on how to rescue the company, but the only ones that made sense came from the stockholders. 关于如何拯救公司，人们轻率地提出了一些荒谬的想法，而合情合理的几个想法却来自股东们。

bang up　adj., informal Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. 〖非正式〗极成功的；极好的；绝妙的。◆ The football coach has done a bang-up job this season. 橄榄球教练本赛季的工作极为出色。◆ John did a bang-up job painting the house. 约翰把房子漆得极漂亮。

bank on　v., informal To depend on; put one's trust in; rely on. 〖非正式〗依赖；信赖；指望。◆ He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work. 他知道，如果他能证实那桩欺诈行为，他就可以依赖公众的义愤改变局面。◆ The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game. 同学们指望球队在冠军赛中全力以赴。

baptism of fire　n. phr. The experience of the first real battle with live ammunition and a real chance to die. 战火的洗礼。◆ Many a nineteen-year-old had his baptism of fire during the Gulf War. 很多19岁的年轻人在海湾战争期间经历了战火的洗礼。

bargain for or bargain on　v. To be ready for; expect. 指望；预料。◆ When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for. 当约翰跟那个较小的男孩开始打架时，他没料到那男孩那么厉害。◆ The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on. 房子的最终造价大大超出了他们的预料。

bargain hunter　n. phr. A person who likes to shop in inexpensive stores, such as factory outlets and garage sales, and always looks for the lowest possible price. 四处觅购便宜货的人，专找便宜货买的人。◆ Having lived in the bargaining environment of the Far East, my wife and I have become regular bargain hunters. 我和妻子在远东那种讨价还价的环境里生活过，现在已成了经常四处觅购便宜货的人。

barge in　v. phr., informal To appear uninvited at someone's house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation.〖非正式〗闯入；插嘴。◆ I'm sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere. 我这样贸贸然闯进来实在对不起，先生，不过我的汽车熄火了，而周围又没有投币式公用电话。

bark up the wrong tree　v. phr., informal To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. 〖非正式〗找错了人；看错目标。◆ If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree. 要是他以为他能愚弄我，那他就认错人了。◆ He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck. 他把种种不幸归咎于运气不好是找错了目标。◆ The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat. 警方正在寻找一个又高又瘦的男子，其实他们弄错了目标；小偷是个矮胖子。

bark worse than one's bite　informal Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. 〖非正式〗说话严厉但并无恶意；有口无心。◆ The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite. 那只小狗叫得很凶，但并不怎么咬人。◆ The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite. 老板有时候对雇员很凶，但他们知道他是有口无心。◆ She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite. 她老是责骂她的孩子，但他们知道她是刀子嘴豆腐心。

barn burner　n. phr. (sports terminology) A very close game with an uncertain outcome to the end. 〖体育用语〗势均力敌的比赛。◆ The Bulls beat the Pistons 110 to 109 in a barn burner. 在一场势均力敌的比赛中，公牛队以110比109击败了活塞队。

base on balls　n. First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. 四坏球自由上垒（当投手连续四次投出坏球时，击球手可自由上到第一垒）。◆ He was a good judge of pitchers and of ten received bases on balls. 他很善于判断不同的投手，经常得到四坏球自由上垒的机会。

basket case　n., slang, also informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 失去四肢的人。2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. 不能照顾自己的人。◆ Stop drinking, or else you'll wind up a basket case! 别再喝酒了，否则你最终就会变成一个不能照顾自己的废物！

bat an eye or bat an eyelash　v. phr., informal To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. —Used in negative sentences.〖非正式〗眨一下眼睛（表示惊讶、恐惧或兴趣）；流露感情。——用于否定句。◆ Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true. 比尔讲述他的故事时没有表现出一点难为情的样子，虽然他的话没有一句是真的。Compare比较STRAIGHT FACE.

bat around　See 见 BANDY AROUND.

bats in one's belfry or bats in the belfry　n. phr., slang Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. 〖俚〗荒诞的想法；神经错乱；思想混乱。◆ When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry. 他在谈到要去月球时，人们都以为他是异想天开。

batting average　n. phr. Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). 平均成功率（原为棒球用语）◆ Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations. 格雷斯医生的心脏移植手术成功率很高。

battle of nerves　n. phr. A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. 意志力的较量；神经战。◆ It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university. 经历了一场意志力的十足较量才使这份新大纲在当地的州立大学被接受。

bawl out　v., informal To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. 〖非正式〗大声责骂；严厉申斥。◆ The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework. 老师因我们未交作业而把我们痛骂了一顿。

be about to or be just about to do something　v. phr. Be at the verge of starting a certain act of doing something. 刚要做某事；行将做某事。◆ Mr. Brown was about to play tennis when it started to rain. 布朗先生刚要去打网球就开始下雨了。

beach bunny　n., slang An attractive girl seen on beaches—mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn't get into the water and swim.（卖弄身段而不下水游泳的）海滨俏女郎。◆ What kind of a girl is Susie? —She's a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen's Surf on Waikiki but I've never seen her swim. 苏茜是个什么样的姑娘？——她是个海滨俏女郎；她一直来怀基基海滩的昆士冲浪处，但我从未见她游过泳。

be a drag　v. phr. Be boring; soporiphic, somniferous令人讨厌；令人昏昏欲睡；令人厌倦。◆ My math teacher is the biggest drag I've ever met. 我的数学老师是我遇到的最令人昏昏欲睡的老师。◆ People who overexplain obvious things can be a drag. 对显而易见的东西过多进行解释的人有可能让人讨厌。

be a fly on the wall　v. phr. To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. 偷听别人谈话。◆ How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance's parents are saying about me! 我真希望能偷听到未婚夫的父母在讲我些什么！See见EAVESDROP.

be after someone or something　v. phr. To hound or pursue someone or something; to chase or keep after a person or a goal. 追逐；追寻；追捕；追求；追赶。◆ John is after Mary in a real big way. 约翰正在大张旗鼓地追求玛丽。◆ Ted is after his boss' job. 泰德极想得到他老板的职位。

be a full house or have a full house　v. phr. To be so crowded that there is not enough space for anyone else. 客满；满座。◆ Because there was a full house there was only standing room left at the concert. 因为音乐会已经客满，所以只剩下站立的位置了。

be a good hand at　v. phr. To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. 做…的能手，行家。◆ Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building. 弗洛里安在园艺和建筑方面都是行家。

be all at sea　v. phr. To find oneself at a loss; to have lost one's way; to be unable to find where one has to go, or what the truth is in a given matter. 茫然；迷惑；不知所措。◆ When it comes to Chinese grammar, Steven is all at sea. 说到汉语语法，斯蒂文简直是一片茫然。

be all for someone or something or be for someone or something　v. phr. To support, to be in favor of. （完全）支持；（完全）赞成。◆ How can one be for that piece of legislation, when one knows that it will benefit only the privileged? 如果一个人明明知道那项立法只有利于享有特权者，他怎么能支持它呢？◆ The urban masses are all for the Reverend Jessie Jackson. 城市里的群众完全支持杰西·杰克逊牧师。

be an item　v. phr. To be a couple; belong to one another. 是一对；在恋爱。◆ No one is surprised to see them together anymore; it is generally recognized that they are an item. 现在再没有人看到他们在一起而感到惊奇了；大家普遍认为他们是一对。

be a poor hand at　v. phr. To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. 不善于做…；对…不熟练，不内行。◆ Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him. 阿切博尔德网球打得不好，所以没有人想和他打。Contrast对照BE A GOOD HAND AT.

bear a grudge　v. phr. To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or penod of hostility. 怀恨在心。◆ Come on, John, be a good sport and don't bear a grudge because I beat you at golf. 好啦，约翰，输了别生气，不要因为我打高尔夫赢了你就怀恨在心。Contrast对照BURY THE HATCHET.

bear a hand　See见LEND A HAND.

bear down　v. 1. To press or push harder; work hard at; give full strength and attention. 施加压力；严厉对待；全力以赴；加倍努力；聚精会神。◆ The sergeant bears down on lazy soldiers. 中士严厉处置偷懒的士兵。2. To move toward in an impressive or threatening way．—Often used with on. 向…进逼；（气势汹汹地）冲向。——常与on连用。◆ While he was crossing the street a big truck bore down on him. 在他过马路时，一辆大卡车向他冲了过来。◆ The little ship tried to escape when the big pirate ship bore down. 巨大的海盗船逼近时，小船拼命想逃掉。

bear down on or upon　v. phr. To draw constantly nearer with great speed and force. 向…快速逼近。◆ The police cars were bearing down on the bank robbers' get-away car. 几辆警车正快速向银行抢劫犯那辆逃逸的汽车逼近。

beard the lion in his den or beard somebody in his den　v. phr. Face the enemy in his own surroundings where he can be the most dangerous．入狮穴捋狮须；虎口拔牙；攻击某人于其巢穴。◆ When the marines entered Baghdad to topple the despot's government, they were bearding the lion in his den. 当海军陆战队员们进入巴格达推翻那个暴君的政府时，他们真可谓是入狮穴捋狮须呀。

bear fruit　v. phr. To yield results. 奏效；有成效。◆ We hope that the company's new investment policy will bear fruit. 我们希望公司的新投资策略能奏效。

bear in mind　See见IN MIND.

bear in the air or bear in the sky　n. phr., slang, citizen's band jargon A police helicopter flying overhead watching for speeders.〖俚〗〖民用波段〗（监视违章超速驾驶者的）警察的直升机。◆ Slow down, good buddy, there's a bear in the air. 开慢点，老兄，天上有巡警的直升机。

bear one's cross　See见CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

bear out　v. To show to be right; prove; support. 证实；证明；支持。◆ Modern findings do not bear out the old belief that the earth is flat. 现代研究成果并没有证明地球是平的这一古老的信念。◆ Seward's faith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out, even though it was once called "Seward's Folly." 苏厄德对其买下阿拉斯加的信念终于得到了证实，尽管过去有人称之为“苏厄德的蠢举”。

bear the brunt　v. phr. To shoulder or manage the hardest part of an undertaking, such as work, negotiations, or battle. 承担（工作、谈判、战斗等任务中）最困难的部分；首当其冲；承受…的主要压力。◆ The marines bore the brunt of many a battle during the Gulf War. 在海湾战争中海军陆战队在许多战役中首当其冲。

bear trap　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon A police radar unit designed to catch speeders.〖俚〗〖民用波段〗（隐蔽的）车速监视器。◆ Watch the bear trap at exit 101. 留心101出口处的超速监视器。

bear up　v. 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. 承受；支撑；支持；鼓励。◆ The old bridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more. 这座年代久远的桥梁已难以支撑自身的重量了。2. To keep up one's courage or strength; last. —Often used with under. 振作起来；鼓起勇气；坚持下去；挺得住。——常与under连用◆ This boat will bear up under hurricane winds. 这艘船经得住飓风。◆ She bore up well at the funeral. 她在葬礼上表现得很坚强。

bear watching　v. phr. 1. To be worth watching or paying attention to; have a promising future. 值得观察；值得注意；大有前途。◆ That young ball player will bear watching. 那位年轻的球员前途无量。2.To be dangerous or untrustworthy. 有危险；靠不住。◆ Those tires look badly worn; they will bear watching. 那些轮胎看上去磨损得厉害；它们恐怕不保险。

bear with　v., formal To have patience with; not get angry with. 〖正式〗对…有耐心；忍耐；容忍。◆ Your little sister is sick. Try to bear with her when she cries. 你的小妹妹病了。所以她哭的时候你要对她有耐心。◆ It is hard to bear with criticism. 耐心听取批评是困难的。

be a steal　v. phr. To cost very little; to be inexpensive. 极为便宜。◆ "You mean to say that you paid only $8,000 for that fantastic new sports car? That's a steal!" Joe cried with envy.“你是说你只花了8000美元就买下了那辆漂亮的新跑车？那真是太便宜了！”乔羡慕地大声说道。

beat about the bush or beat around the bush　v. phr., slang To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point.〖俚〗转弯抹角；旁敲侧击。◆ He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point. 他转弯抹角地谈了半个小时也没谈到正题上。

beat a retreat　v. phr. 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back.（尤指击鼓）发出退却信号。◆ The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat. 英国兵的军鼓正在敲击着撤退的信号。2. To run away. 拔脚溜掉。◆ The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming. 猫看到狗来时，就赶紧溜掉了。

beat around the bush　See见BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

beat down　v. 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over; conquer. 摧毁；打败；击败。◆ All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks. 他们所有的防御工事都被坦克摧毁了。2.informal〖非正式〗a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. 压低。◆ Can we beat down the price? 我们能把价格压低吗？b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a lower price or easier payments. 说服（或迫使）（某人）接受杀价。◆ He tried to beat us down, so we did not sell the house. 他拼命杀我们的价，所以我们没有卖房子。3. To shine brightly or hotly.（太阳等）强烈地照射下来。◆ At noon the sun beat down on our heads as we walked home. 我们中午回家时正是烈日当头。

beaten path or track　n. phr. The usual route or way of operating that has been conventionally established. 常规，惯例；老办法。◆ If we always follow the beaten path, we'll never have the courage to try something new. 如果我们一直按常规办事，我们便永远没有勇气尝试新的东西。

beat into sb.'s head　v. phr., informal To teach by telling again and again; repeat often; drill; also, to be cross and punish often. 〖非正式〗反复灌输；再三教导；经常重复；通过练习传授；时常惩罚。◆ Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten into his head. 汤姆既懒惰又固执，非得再三灌输才能学会功课。

beat it　v. phr., slang To go away in a hurry; get out quickly. 〖俚〗跑掉；溜走。◆ When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could. 他一听到撞击声，拔脚便跑。—Often used as a command. 常用作命令。◆ The big boy said, "Beat it, kid. We don't want you with us." 那大男孩说：“滚开，小鬼。我们不要你跟我们在一起。”

beat one's brains out or beat one's brains　v. phr., slang To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire yourself out by thinking. 〖俚〗苦苦动脑筋；绞尽脑汁。◆ It was too hard for him and he beat his brains out trying to get the answer. 这对他来说是太难了，他绞尽脑汁想找到答案。

beat one's gums　v. phr., slang To engage in idle talk, or meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. 〖俚〗东拉西扯；闲聊；讲废话。◆ "Stop beating your gums, Jack," Joe cried. "I am falling asleep." “别讲废话了，杰克，”乔喊道。“我要睡着了。”

beat one's head against a wall　v. phr. To struggle uselessly against something that can't be beaten or helped; not succeed after trying very hard. 以头碰壁；白费力气。◆ Trying to make him change his mind is just beating your head against a wall. 想让他改变主意简直就是白费力气。

be at pains　v. phr. To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. 渴望（做某事）；尽力设法（做某事）。◆ The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats. 船长尽力设法使每个人安全登上救生船。

beat someone to it　v. phr. To arrive or get ahead of another person. 比某人先到达；抢在某人前面。◆ I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it! Thanks for calling me. 我正要给你打电话呢，约翰，却叫你抢在了前面！谢谢你来电话。

beat the bushes also beat the brush　v. phr., informal To try very hard to find or get something. 〖非正式〗到处寻找。◆ The mayor was beating the bushes for funds to build the playground. 市长为了建造儿童游乐场正在到处寻找资金。

beat the drum　v. phr. To attract attention in order to advertise something or to promote someone, such as a political candidate. 大吹大擂；大做广告；竭力鼓吹。◆ Mrs. Smith has been beating the drum in her town in order to get her husband elected mayor. 为了使丈夫当选市长，史密斯夫人一直在她所在的市里为他大吹大擂。

beat the—out of or lick the—out of or whale the—out of　v. phr., in formal To beat hard; give a bad beating to．—Used with several words after the, as crap, daylights, living daylights, tar. 〖非正式〗把…狠揍一顿。——在the后与crap, daylights, living daylights, tar等词连用。◆ The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again. 那个大孩子对查理说如果他再闯入他家的院子，他非狠狠揍他一顿不可。

beat the pants off　v. phr. 1. To prevail over someone in a race or competition.（在比赛中）战胜（某人）。◆ Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming race. 吉姆在游泳比赛中战胜了乔治。2. To give someone a severe physical beating. 把（某人）打得屁滚尿流。◆ Jack beat the pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central Park. 两个年轻人在中央公园试图持枪拦劫杰克，结果被他狠狠地揍了一顿。

beat the rap　v. phr. To escape the legal penalty one ought to receive. 逃脱法律制裁。◆ In spite of the strong evidence against him, the prisoner beat the rap and went free. 尽管有不利于他的有力证据，那个刑事被告却逃脱了法律制裁，无罪获释。

beat the shit out of　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable〖粗〗〖忌〗See见KNOCK THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

beat time　v. phr. To follow the rhythm of a piece of music by moving one's fingers or feet. 打拍子。◆ Jack was beating time with his foot during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor. 杰克在音乐会上用脚打拍子，这使他的邻座感到很恼火。

beat to　v., informal To do something before someone else does it. 〖非正式〗捷足先登；抢在…前面。◆ We were planning to send a rocket into space but the Russians beat us to it. 我们正计划把一枚火箭发射到太空去，却被俄国人抢在了我们前面。

beat to the punch or beat to the draw　v. phr., slang To do something before another person has a chance to do it. 〖俚〗比（某人）先做某事；抢在（某人）前面做某事。◆ John was going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to the draw. 约翰正打算去申请那份工作，却被泰德抢先了一步。◆ Lois bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch. 洛伊丝捷足先登，赶在玛丽之前买下了那件套裙。

beat up　v., informal To give a hard beating to; hit hard and much; thrash; whip. 〖非正式〗痛打；狠揍；鞭打。◆ When the new boy first came, he had to beat up several neighborhood bullies before they would leave him alone. 那男孩初来时，把邻近地区的几个恶棍狠揍了一顿，他们才不再来惹他。—Also used with on亦与on 连用。◆ The tough boy said to Bill, "If you come around here again, I'll beat up on you." 那个蛮横霸道的小子对比尔说：“你如果再来这儿，我就狠狠地揍你一顿。”

beauty sleep　n. A nap or rest taken to improve the appearance. 美容小睡。◆ She took her beauty sleep before the party. 晚会前她先睡了一会儿以便容光焕发。◆ Many famous beauties take a beauty sleep every day. 许多著名的美人每天都小睡一会儿以求美容。

beaver　n., slang, vulgar, avoidable, citizen's band radio jargon A female, especially one driving along the highway and operating a CB radio. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗〖民用波段〗（尤指公路上开车的）女人。◆ I didn't know there was a beaver aboard that eighteen wheeler. 我当时并不知道在那辆18轮大卡车上还有个女的。

be blown away　v. phr. Be extremely pleased and enchanted by someone or something. 被（某人或某事）迷住；为…所倾倒；对…留下深刻印象。◆ "I was blown away with your presentation," a commentator said, when Jim finished his paper. 当吉姆宣读完论文后，一位评委说：“你的论述令我倾倒。”

be cast away　v. phr. To be shipwrecked. 遭遇海难；船只失事。◆ The Swiss Family Robinson were cast away just like Robinson Crusoe. 就像鲁滨孙·克鲁索一样，瑞士人鲁滨孙一家也遭遇了海难。

because of　prep. On account of; by reason of; as a result of. 因为；由于。◆ The train arrived late because of the snowstorm. 火车因为暴风雪而误点了。

become of　v. phr. To happen to; befall. 使遭遇。◆ What will become of the children, now that both parents are in jail? 现在父母双双入狱，孩子们将会怎么样呢？

bed down　v. phr. To prepare a temporary place to go to sleep. 临时搭个床睡觉；过夜。◆ The mountain climbers bedded down in a different hut each night during their excursion. 那些登山运动员在探险期间每晚都在不同的临时营房里搭个床过夜。

bed of nails　n. phr. A difficult or unhappy situation or set of circumstances. 困难的境况。◆ "There are days when my job is a regular bed of nails," Jim groaned.“有些日子我的工作真的很困难，”吉姆抱怨说。Contrast对照BED OF ROSES.

bed of roses or bowl of cherries　n. phr. A pleasant easy place, job, or position; an easy life. 称心如意的处境（或工作、职位）；舒适的生活。◆ A coal miner's job is not a bed of roses. 煤矿工人的工作可不是轻松愉快的活儿。◆ After nine months of school, summer camp seemed a bowl of cherries. 在学校学习了9个月以后，去夏令营度假就是一种舒适的享受。

bed of thorns　n. phr. A thoroughly unhappy time or difficult situation. 极为不快的时光；极为艰难的处境。◆ I'm sorry I changed jobs; my new one turned out to be a bed of thorns. 我真后悔换了工作；我的新工作很棘手，让我如坐针毡。

beef about　v. phr. To complain about something. 抱怨。◆ Stop beefing about your job, Jack. You could have done a lot worse! 别抱怨你的工作了，杰克。干别的工作你可能还要糟得多！

beef up　v., informal To make stronger by adding men or equipment; make more powerful; reinforce. 〖非正式〗充实；加强。◆ The general beefed up his army with more big guns and tanks. 将军以更多的大炮和坦克充实了他的军队。

bee in one's bonnet　n. phr., informal A fixed idea that seems fanciful, odd, or crazy. 〖非正式〗入迷的古怪想法；胡思乱想。◆ Grandmother has some bee in her bonnet about going to the dance. 祖母一心只想着去参加舞会。

be even-Steven　v. phr. To be in a position of owing no favors or debt to someone. 谁也不欠谁。◆ Yesterday you paid for my lunch, so today I paid for yours; now we're even-Steven. 昨天你为我的午餐付了钱，所以今天我为你付；现在我们谁也不欠谁了。

be far out　v. phr. To be so unusual as to defy credibility or likeability. 异乎寻常的；标新立异的；另类的。◆ My history teacher is so far out that I have difficulty understanding what she's saying. 我的历史老师非常另类，所以我很难听懂她在讲什么。

before long　adv. phr. In a short time; without much delay; in a little while, soon. 不久；不久以后；很快。◆ Class will be over before long. 快下课了。◆ We were tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long. 我们等得不耐烦了，希望公共汽车马上就来。

before one can say Jack Robinson　adv. cl., informal Very quickly; suddenly. —An overused phrase. 〖非正式〗说时迟那时快；一刹那；突然。——使用过多的短语。◆ Before I could say Jack Robinson, the boy was gone. 我还没来得及张口，那男孩已经走了。Compare比较IN A FLASH, RIGHT AWAY。

before you know it　adv. phr. Sooner than one would expect. 很快，转眼之间。◆ Don't despair; we'll be finished with this work before you know it! 不要绝望；我们很快就会完成这项工作！

be from　v. phr. To hail from a certain place; be the native of a certain country or locality. 来自；生于（某国或某地）◆ "Where are you from?" the teacher asked the new student. "I am from Shanghai, China," she answered. 老师问新来的学生：“你是什么地方来的？”她回答说：“我来自中国上海。”

be game　v. phr. To be cooperative, willing, sporting. 乐意合作的；心甘情愿的；敢作敢为的。◆ When I asked Charlie to climb Mount McKinley with us, he said he was game if we were. 我请查理与我们一起攀登麦金利山时，他说只要我们敢他也敢。

begin with　adv. phr. As a preliminary statement; in the first place. 首先◆ To begin with, you are far too young to get married. 首先，你还太年轻，不能结婚。

beg off　v. To ask to be excused. 请求原谅；请求免除某种义务等。◆ I accepted an invitation to a luncheon, but a headache made me beg off. 我接受了去吃午饭的邀请，但因头痛不能去而请求原谅。

be good!　v. phr. A frequent substitute for "Good-bye" or "au revoir." （告别时祝语）好好干！再见！◆ When John left Jim's house he said, "Be good!" while they were shaking hands. 约翰离开吉姆的家时，两人一边握手，约翰一边对吉姆说：“好好干！”

beg the question　v. phr., literary To accept as true something that is still being argued about, before it is proved true; avoid or not answer a question or problem. 〖文〗把未经证实的东西信以为真；武断；回避问题，避而不答。◆ Laura told Tom that he must believe her argument because she was right. Father laughed and told Laura she was begging the question. 劳拉对汤姆说他必须相信她的论点，因为她是对的。父亲笑着对劳拉说她这话太武断了。

be hard on　v. phr. To be strict or critical with another; be severe．对…要求过严；对…过分严厉。◆ "Don't be so hard on Jimmy," Tom said. "He is bound to rebel as he gets older."“对吉米不要这么严厉，”汤姆说。“他大起来肯定会反抗的。”

behind bars　adv. phr. In jail; in prison. 在牢笼里；在狱中。◆ He was a pickpocket and had spent many years behind bars. 他是个扒手，曾在狱中呆过多年。◆ That boy is always in trouble and will end up behind bars. 那个男孩总是招惹是非，总有一天要坐牢的。

behind sb.'s back　adv. phr. When one is absent; without one's knowledge or consent; in a dishonest way; secretly; sneakily. 背地里；背着某人；欺诈地；秘密地；偷偷摸摸地。◆ Say it to his face, not behind his back. 有话当着他的面说，不要在背后嘀咕。◆ It is not right to criticize a person behind his back. 背地里批评人是不对的。

behind the eight-ball　adj. phr., slang In a difficult position; in trouble. 〖俚〗处于不利地位；处于困境。◆ Bill can't dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight-ball with the girls. 比尔不会跳舞也没有汽车，所以跟女孩子交往吃不开。

behind the scenes　adv. phr. Out of sight; unknown to most people; privately. 在看不见的地方；为多数人所不知；秘密地，私下里。◆ Much of the banquet committee's work was done behind the scenes. 宴会委员会的工作多为外人所不知。◆ John was president of the club, but behind the scenes Lee told him what to do. 约翰是俱乐部的主席，但在幕后指挥他的是李。

behind the times　adj. phr. Using things not in style; still following old ways; old-fashioned. 落后于时代的；过时的，老式的。◆ The science books of 30 years ago are behind the times now. 30年前的科学书现在已经过时了。

behind time　adv. or adj. phr. la. Behind the correct time; slow. 慢了。◆ That clock is behind time. 那只钟慢了。1b. Behind schedule; late. 误点；晚了。◆ The train is running behind time today. 火车今天误点了。2. Not keeping up; not at the proper time; overdue. 在指定的时间之后；过期。◆ Your lessons are good, but why are you behind time? 你的功课很好，但为什么作业迟交？◆ We are behind time in paying the rent. 我们没有按时交付租金。

be iffy　v. phr. To be questionable, or uncertain as to the desired outcome. 可怀疑的，有问题的；未确定的。◆ It's iffy whether there will be any pay raises this year, because the state is deeply in the red. 今年会不会加薪还很难说，因为本州财政亏损严重。

be-in　n., slang, hippie culture A gathering or social occasion with or without a discernible purpose, often held in a public place like a park or under a large circus tent. 〖俚〗（嬉皮士文化）（常在公园等公共场所或马戏篷内举行的）自由活动集会。◆ The youngsters really enjoyed the great springtime jazz be-in at the park. 年轻人真的很喜欢在公园里举行的大型春季爵士乐集会。

be in a stew　v. phr. To be worried, harassed, upset. 担忧；苦恼；心烦。◆ Al has been in a stew ever since he got word that his sister was going to marry his worst enemy. 自从听说他妹妹打算嫁给他最凶恶的敌人以来，艾尔一直坐立不安。

be in bed with　v. phr. To be in alliance with an individual or a group of people; to work for the same cause. 与…结盟；与…狼狈为奸。◆ Allegedly Saddam Hussein was in bed with the Al Qaeda terrorists. 据说，萨达姆·侯赛因与基地组织恐怖分子勾结在一起。◆ In some cities the police are in bed with the gangs. 在有些城市，警察与黑帮们狼狈为奸。

be in good hands.　v. phr. To be well cared for; trustworthily treated, or guarded. 受到精心照料；在可靠的人手中。◆ "We are sure our daughter Suzanne is in good hands with the nuns in Lausanne, Switzerland," said the girl's father. 女孩的父亲说：“我们确信我们的女儿苏珊娜在瑞士洛桑会受到修女们的精心照料。”

be in labor　v. phr. To be in parturition; experience the contractions of child-birth. 在分娩；在分娩的阵痛中。◆ Jane had been in labor for eight hours before her twin daughters were finally born. 简分娩时阵痛了8小时，最后才生下了双胞胎女儿。

be in someone else's shoes　v. phr. To be in someone else's situation. 处于某人的地位。◆ Fred has had so much trouble recently that we ought to be grateful we're not in his shoes. 弗雷德近来麻烦很多，我们没有陷入他那种境地真该谢天谢地。

be into something　v. phr., informal To have taken something up partly as a hobby, partly as a serious interest of sorts (basically resulting from the new consciousness and self-realization movement that originated in the late Sixties). 〖非正式〗对某事很有兴趣（源于60年代后期的新意识和自我实现运动）。◆ Did you know that Syd is seriously into transcendental meditation? 悉德一本正经地迷上了超脱静坐，你知道吗？◆ Jack found out that his teenage son is into pot smoking and gave him a serious scolding.杰克发现他十几岁的儿子喜欢上吸大麻烟，于是便严肃地训斥了他一通。

be itching to　v. phr. To have a very strong desire to do something. 渴望。◆ Jack is itching to travel abroad. 杰克渴望去国外旅行。

be it so　See见SO BE IT.

belabor the point　v. phr. To overexplain something to the point of obviousness, resulting in ridicule. 对这一点作过多解释；对这一点唠唠叨叨。◆ "Lest I belabor the point," the teacher said, "I must repeat the importance of teaching good grammar in class."“免得我对这一点唠唠叨叨，”老师说，“我必须重复在课堂上教授文理通顺的重要性。”

believe it or not, or you may not believe it　Often heard when one announces that something unusual will be communicated. —A proverb. 〖谚〗信不信由你；你也许不相信。◆ Believe it or not, I have won the Lottery! 信不信由你，我买彩票中大奖了！◆ You may not believe it, but I got nominated for the Pulitzer Prize! 你也许不相信，但我确实获得了普利策奖的提名！

believe one's ears　v. phr. 1. To believe what one hears; trust one's hearing. —Used with a negative or limiter, or in an interrogative or conditional sentence. 相信自己的耳朵。——与否定词或限制词连用或用于疑问句或条件句中。◆ He thought he heard a horn blowing in the distance, but he could not believe his ears. 他以为自己听到了远处的号角声，但他不能相信自己的耳朵。2. To be made sure of (something). 确信某事。◆ Is he really coming? I can hardly believe my ears. 他真的要来吗？我简直不能相信自己的耳朵。

believe one's eyes　v. phr. 1. To believe what one sees; trust one's eyesight. —Used with a negative or limiter or in an interrogative or conditional sentence. 相信自己的眼睛。——与否定词或限制词连用或用于疑问句或条件句中。◆ Is that a plane? Can I believe my eyes? 那是一架飞机？我能相信自己的眼睛吗？2. To be made sure of seeing something. 确信看到某物。◆ She saw him there but she could hardly believe her eyes. 她看到他在那儿，但她简直不能相信自己的眼睛。

bellyache　v. To constantly complain. 抱怨，发牢骚。◆ Jim is always bellyaching about the amount of work he is required to do. 吉姆老是为了要求他完成的工作量发牢骚。

belly up　adj., informal Dead, bankrupt, or financially ruined. 〖非正式〗死了的；破了产的；经济上垮了的。◆ Tom and Dick struggled on for months with their tiny computer shop, but last year they went belly up. 汤姆和迪克为保住他们小小的电脑商店而苦苦挣扎了几个月，但去年他们还是破产了。

belly up　v., informal〖非正式〗To go bankrupt, become afunctional; to die. 破产；完蛋；死去。◆ Uncompetitive small businesses must eventually all belly up. 没有竞争力的小企业最终必定全部完蛋。

be looking up　v. phr. To be promising or improving. 有希望；有起色；在好转。◆ Now that I got the new job, my life is looking up again. 现在我得到了这份新的工作，我的生活又有希望了。

below par　adj. or adv. Below standard. 在正常标准以下。◆ Bob was fired because his work has been below par for several months now. 鲍勃被解雇了，因为他的工作连续几个月低于正常标准。Contrast对照UP TOPAR or UP TO SNUFF.

below the belt　adv. phr. 1. In the stomach; lower than is legal in boxing. 腰带以下；（拳击中违反规则击打）腰带以下部位。◆ He struck the other boy below the belt. 他违反规则击打了另一个男孩的腰带以下部位。2. informal In an unfair or cowardly way; against the rules of sportsmanship or justice; unsportingly; wrongly.〖非正式〗不公正地；卑怯地；违背体育规则；违反公正原则；违反运动道德；错误地。◆ Pete told the students to vote against Harry because Harry was in a wheelchair and couldn't be a good class president, but the students thought Pete was hitting below the belt. 皮特因为哈里坐在轮椅上做不好班主席而叫同学们不要选他，但同学们认为皮特有欠公允。

belt out　v., slang To sing with rough rhythm and strength; shout out. 〖俚〗扯开嗓门唱；大声地喊。◆ She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after another all evening. 她整个晚上都扯着嗓门一支接一支地唱民谣和乡村小调。◆ Young people enjoy belting out songs. 年轻人喜欢引吭高歌。

be my guest!　v. phr. Said to someone wishing to borrow something not too valuable or worth returning it; also said to someone who wants one to do him or her a small favor such as giving him or her a seat on a bus, etc. 请便！◆ "Can I borrow that red tie?" Joe asked his roommate Tim. "But of course! Be my guest!" Tim answered. 乔问他的室友蒂姆：“我可以借用一下那根红的领带吗？”蒂姆回答说：“当然可以！请便！”

bench warmer　See见WARM THE BENCH.

bend over backward or lean over backward　v. phr., informal To try so hard to avoid a mistake that you make the opposite mistake instead; do the opposite of something that you know you should not do; do too much to avoid doing the wrong thing; also, make a great effort; try very hard. 〖非正式〗为避免某一错误而走向另一极端；矫枉过正；竭尽全力。◆ Mary was afraid the girls at her new school would be stuck up, but they leaned over backward to make her feel at home. 玛丽担心新学校的女生会自高自大不理人，但她们却竭尽全力使她感到像在家中一样温暖。

bend sb.'s ear　v. phr. To talk for a long time without any pause or interruption. 对某人喋喋不休。◆ "Let's go home, it is getting late," Joe said, but his host kept bending his ear for two more painful hours.“天晚了，我们回家吧，”乔说，但主人又喋喋不休地跟他唠叨了两个小时，令他痛苦不堪。

beneath contempt　adj. phr. Something so bad or so reprehensible that it doesn't even seem worthy of one's looking down on it; usually said in exaggeration. 不值得一顾的；卑鄙到极点的；极为可鄙的。◆ Joe's conduct at the governor's inaugural ball was beneath contempt. 乔在州长就职舞会上的举止极其卑鄙下流。

beneath one　adj. phr. Below one's ideals or dignity. 有损自己的尊严；有失自己的身份。◆ Bob felt it would have been beneath him to work for such low wages. 鲍勃觉得为这样低的工资而工作有失他的身份。

benefit of the doubt　v. phr. If someone is accused of a crime or a misdemeanor but is not proven guilty, one is entitled to a presumption of innocence in a court of law. In private life when we are not sure whether to believe someone or not, we may wish to extend them the presumption of innocence, i. e., the "benefit of the doubt." 在罪证不足的情况下被假定为无罪的权利；在没有相反证据之前给予的肯定判断。◆ It's better to give people the benefit of the doubt than to go around accusing innocent friends. 在没有证据之前不要动不动就指责无辜的朋友，还是相信他们为好。

be news to　v. phr. To receive a surprising piece of unexpected or new information. 对（某人）来说是新闻；（某人）刚才知道。◆ It is news to me that my spinster sister Matilda eloped to Hawaii with Algernon Doolittle. 我刚刚才听说我那位老处女姐姐马蒂尔达与阿尔杰农·杜利特尔私奔到夏威夷去了。

bent on or bent upon　Very decided, determined, or set. 一心要，坚决要。◆ The sailors were bent on having a good time. 水手们一心要好好享受一番。◆ The policeman saw some boys near the school after dark and thought they were bent on mischief. 警察天黑后在学校附近看到一些男孩便认定他们一心要干坏事。◆ The bus was late, and the driver was bent upon reaching the school on time. 校车晚了，但司机决心要准时赶到学校。

bent out of shape　adj. phr. 1. To be distorted from one's or an object's original, proper form. 被压得变了形。◆ The plane was so full of luggage that my suitcase was bent all out of shape. 飞机上行李太多，我的小提箱竟被压得变了形。2. angry. 生气的。◆ My boss treated me so unfairly that after the meeting I was bent out of shape. 老板待我太不公平，会后我很生气。

be nuts about　v. phr. To be enthusiastic or very keen about someone or something; be greatly infatuated with someone. 热衷于；对…着迷；对…迷恋着，爱得发狂。◆ Hermione is nuts about modern music. 赫米奥娜对现代音乐非常着迷。◆ "I am nuts about you, Helen," Jim said. "Please let's get married!"“我爱你爱得发狂，海伦，”吉姆说。“让我们结婚吧！”

be off　v. phr. 1. v. To be in error; miscalculate. 出错；算错；估计错误◆ The estimator was off by at least 35％ on the value of the house. 估价员对房价至少低估了35％。2. v. To leave. 离开◆ Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying goodbye. 杰克匆匆吃过晚饭，没有告别就离开了。3. adj. Cancelled; terminated. 取消的；终止的。◆ The weather was so bad that we were told that the trip was off. 天气恶劣至极，我们被告知旅游已取消。4. adj. Crazy. 发疯的；不正常的。◆ I'm sure Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind would say such things. 玛蒂尔达姨妈肯定有点精神失常；精神正常的人是不会说这些事的。5. adj. Free from work; having vacation time. 不工作的；在休假的。◆ Although we were off for the rest of the day, we couldn't go to the beach because it started to rain. 虽然那天接下去我们不上班，我们也没法去海滩，因为开始下雨了。

be on　v. phr. 1. To be in operation; be in the process of being presented. 工作着；正在放映（或上演）◆ The news is on now on Channel 2; it will be off in five minutes. 2频道现在正在播新闻；再有5分钟就结束了。2.To be in the process of happening; to take place. 正在发生；进行，举行。◆ We cannot travel now to certain parts of Africa, as there is a civil war on there right now. 我们现在不能去非洲某些地区旅行，因为此刻那里正在打内战。3. To be on duty在值班，在上班。◆ "Is the night guard on Saturday and Sunday?" the new tenant asked the landlady. "No, he's off on weekends," she answered. 新来的房客问女房东：“夜间警卫星期六和星期天上班吗？”女房东回答说：“不，他周末不上班。”

be oneself　v. To act naturally; act normally without trying unduly to impress others. 举止自然；举止正常。◆ Just try being yourself; I promise people will like you more. 举止尽量自然些；我保证人们会更喜欢你。

be on sb.　v. phr. To be the task of a given member of a company to pick up the bill in a restaurant, etc. 由某人支付。◆ "By the way, this lunch was on me," said Uncle Joe to everyone's delight.“顺便说一下，这顿午餐我请客，”乔大叔说，这让大家都很高兴。

be on the outs with　v. phr. To not be on speaking terms with someone; be in disagreement with someone. 与…关系不好；与…意见不一致。◆ Jane and Tom have been on the outs with one another since Tom started to date another woman. 自汤姆开始与另一个女人约会以来，简和他已经闹翻了。

be on the verge of　v. phr. To be about to do something; be very close to. 濒于；接近于◆ We were on the verge of going bankrupt when, unexpectedly, my wife won the lottery and our business was saved. 就在我们濒于破产之时，我的妻子意外地买彩票赢得了大奖，挽救了我们的企业。

be on to　v. phr. To understand the motives of someone; not be deceived. 识透（某人）的意图；不受欺骗。◆ Jack keeps telling us how wealthy his family is, but we are on to him. 杰克不停地对我们说他家里多么富有，但我们都明白他的意图。

be onto a good thing　v. phr. To understand and avail oneself of a fortunate circumstance. 利用有利可图的机会。◆ Jim's secret as a writer is that he always knows when he is on to a good thing. 吉姆作为一个作家的秘诀在于他总是知道什么时候能利用有利可图的机会。

be out　v. phr. 1. To not be at home or at one's place of work. 不在家；不在办公室；不在工作单位。◆ I tried to call but they told me that Al was out. 我试着打电话，但他们告诉我艾尔不在办公室。2. To be unacceptable; not be considered; impossible. 不能接受；不值得考虑；不可能。◆ I suggested that we hire more salespeople but the boss replied that such a move was positively out. 我建议我们多雇些推销员，但老板回答说这种办法肯定不能接受。3. To be poorer by; suffer a loss of. 损失；亏蚀。◆ Unless more people came to the church picnic, we realized we would be out $500 at least. 我们意识到，除非有更多的人来参加教会的野餐，否则我们就会损失500美元。4. To be in circulation, in print, published. 发行；出版。◆ Jane said that her new novel won't be out for at least another month. 简说她的新小说至少还要等一个月才能出版。5. A baseball term indicating that a player has been declared either unfit to continue or punished by withdrawing him.（棒球、垒球中）出局。◆ The spectators thought that John was safe at third base, but the umpire said he was out. 观众以为约翰安全进入了第三垒，但裁判却判他出局。6. To be on duty in public, usually out of doors, e. g. policeman or mailman, etc.（警察、邮递员等）在外面值勤（或当班）。◆ Why are there so many police officers out today? 今天为什么有这么多警察在外面值勤？7. To be made known传出；泄露。◆ The government wanted to keep secret the story about the girlfriend of the president but it is out now. 政府想为总统女友的事保密，但此事现已传出去了。8.To be unconscious昏迷。◆ When Jim was hit by the car behind him, he was out for about two minutes. 吉姆被身后的汽车撞上时，昏迷了约两分钟。

be out of it　v. phr. 1. To not be aware of what is happening around one. 对周围发生的情况不清楚。◆ Joe has been studying so hard for his finals that he didn't get any sleep for several days; the poor guy is totally out of it. 乔一直在为期终考试刻苦地学习，已经好几天没睡觉了；这可怜的家伙对周围的一切已经完全糊涂了。2. To be thoroughly exhausted. 筋疲力尽；疲惫不堪。◆ Dad has been working so hard finishing the basement that he is out of it for the rest of the evening. 为了建成地下室爸爸一直在拼命干活，到了晚上已筋疲力尽了。

be out to　v. phr. To intend to do; to plan to commit. 打算（做某事）；企图（做某事）。◆ The police felt that the gang may be out to rob another store. 警方认为那伙歹徒很可能要去抢劫另一家商店。

be over　v. phr. To be ended; be finished. 结束；完成。◆ The show was over by 11 P. M. 演出在晚上11点结束了。◆ The war will soon be over. 战争将很快结束。

be peanuts　v. phr. To be of very little value due to the great abundance and commonality of the item in question. 没什么价值；很少的钱。◆ "How much did you pay for that used computer?" "Fifty bucks." "Hey, that's really peanuts."“你买那台二手电脑花了多少钱？”“50块钱。”“嘿，还真不贵。”

be seeing you!　v. phr. (short for nice to be seeing you, instead of good-bye) Farewell! 再见！◆ "Be seeing you," Joe said before he hung up the telephone.“再见，”乔说完就挂断了电话。

be set on or upon　v. phr. To be determined about something. 下定决心。◆ Tom is set upon leaving his Chicago job for Tokyo, Japan, although he speaks only English. 汤姆决心离开他在芝加哥的工作去日本东京，虽然他只会说英语。

beside oneself　adj. phr. Very much excited; somewhat crazy. 极度兴奋；神志失常。◆ She was beside herself with fear. 她吓得几乎发疯。◆ He was beside himself, he was so angry. 他气愤之极，简直无法控制自己的感情。◆ When his wife heard of his death, she was beside herself. 他妻子得知他的死讯时几乎发疯。

beside the point or beside the question　adj. or adv. phr. Off the subject; about something different. 离题；与讨论的问题无关。◆ What you meant to do is beside the point; the fact is you didn't do it. 你本来打算做什么已无关紧要；事实是你并没有做。

best man　n. The groom's aid (usually his best friend or a relative) at a wedding. （婚礼上的）男傧相。◆ When Agnes and I got married, my brother Gordon was my best man. 我和艾格尼斯结婚时，我的弟弟戈登做我的男傧相。

best-seller　n. An item (primarily said of books) that outsells other items of a similar sort. 畅销书；畅销商品。◆ Catherine Neville's novel The Eight has been a national best seller for months. 凯瑟琳·内维尔的小说《八个人》已连续数月在全国畅销。◆ Among imported European cars, the Volkswagen is a best-seller. 在进口的欧洲汽车中，大众汽车很畅销。

be that as it may　adv. phr. Nevertheless. 尽管如此；尽管是这样。◆ "Be that as it may," said Mr. Smith before concluding his speech, "I am still opposed to the idea of appeasing a tyrannical regime." 在结束他的发言前，史密斯先生说：“尽管如此，我仍反对姑息一个专制政权的想法。”

be the making of　v. phr. To account for the success of someone or something.（某人或某事）成功的因素。◆ The strict discipline that we had to undergo in graduate school was the making of many a successful professor. 我们在研究生院必须经受的严格训练是许多教授得以成功的保证。◆ The relatively low cost and high gas mileage are the making of Chevrolet's Geo Metro cars. 较低的价格和较高的汽油里程数是雪佛莱·谢奥汽车成功的原因。

bet one's boots or bet one's bottom dollar or bet one's shirt　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗 1. To bet all you have. 倾囊下注。◆ This horse will win. I would bet my bottom dollar on it. 这匹马会赢的。我愿把所有的钱压在它身上。◆ Jim said he would bet his boots that he would pass the examination. 吉姆说他愿以他的靴子打赌，他定会通过考试。2. or bet one's life. To feel very sure; have no doubt. 非常有把握；毫无疑问。◆ Was I scared when I saw the bull running at me? You bet your life I was! 我看到那头公牛向我冲过来时是否吓坏了？我当然吓坏了！

bet on it　v. phr. A guarantee given by someone during a conversation indicating that the listener feels certain about what was asserted. 就这事打赌；肯定。◆ "Will we see you at Nancy's wedding?" father asked. "You can bet on it," Nancy's brother replied. 父亲问：“南希的婚礼上我们会看到你吗？”南希的弟弟回答说：“你们肯定能看到我。”

bet on the wrong horse　v. phr. informal To base your plans on a wrong guess about the result of something; misread the future; misjudge a coming event. 〖非正式〗（赛马中）下错赌注，赌错了马；估计错误；判断失误。◆ To count on the small family farm as an important thing in the American future now looks like betting on the wrong horse. 指望小家庭农场成为美国未来一件重要的东西，现在看来好像是判断失误了。

better half　n., informal One's marriage partner (mostly said by men about their wives)〖非正式〗妻子；（偶尔指）丈夫。◆ "This is my better half, Mary," said Joe.“这是我妻子玛丽，”乔说。

better late than never　It is better to come or do something late than never. —A proverb.〖谚〗迟到总比不到好；迟做总比不做好。◆ The firemen didn't arrive at the house until it was half burned, but it was better late than never. 房子烧了一半消防队员才到，但迟到总比不到好。

better off　adj. phr. Richer, wealthier. 更有钱；更富有。◆ My neighbors the Smiths are a lot better off than we are. 我们的邻居史密斯家比我们富有得多。

better off without　adj. phr. In a more advantageous position in the absence of some desired possession. 没有…反而更好。◆ John is really better off without a car than with one. He is blind in one eye and kept getting into all sorts of traffic accidents. 约翰没车真的比有车更好。他一只眼睛失明，过去一直遇到各种交通事故。

better safe than sorry　Often heard when people are making seemingly unnecessary preparations, such as getting gas masks for a feared chemical attack by terrorists. —A proverb. 〖谚〗宁愿稳妥免致后悔；宁可小心求安全，不可冒险留遗憾。◆ "Better safe than sorry," Tim said, and kept on practicing putting on his gas mask. 蒂姆说：“宁可小心求安全，不可冒险留遗憾，”所以他一直要戴防毒面具。

better than　prep. phr. More than; greater than; at a greater rate than. 多于；大于；超过。◆ The car was doing better than eighty miles an hour. 汽车时速超过了80英里。◆ It is better than three miles to the station. 这儿离车站有3英里多的路程。

between a rock and a hard place　See见BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.

between life and death　adv. phr. In danger of dying or being killed; with life or death possible. 处于生死关头；生死未卜。◆ He held on to the mountainside between life and death while his friends went to get help. 他的朋友们去寻求救援时，他坚守在山腰上，生死未卜。

between the devil and the deep blue sea or literary〖文〗between two fires or between a rock and a hard place　adv. phr. Between two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do. 进退两难；遭两面夹攻；左右为难。◆ The pirates had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between the devil and the deep blue sea. 海盗们不是搏斗而战死就是投降而被绞死；他们真是进退两难。◆ The boy was between a rock and a hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night and be picked up by the police. 那男孩真是进退两难。他要回家就会遭鞭打，他要整夜呆在城里就会被警察抓去。◆ When the man's wife and her mother got together, he was between two fires. 当妻子和岳母聚在一起时，他便两面受敌了。

between two shakes of a lamb's tail　See见BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.

be up to no good　v. phr., informal To be plotting and conniving to commit some illegal act or crime. 〖非正式〗想搞鬼；密谋干坏事；密谋犯罪。◆ "Let's hurry!" Susan said to her husband. "It's dark here and those hoodlums obviously are up to no good."“咱们赶快走！”苏珊对丈夫说。“这里太暗了，那些恶棍显然不怀好意。”

be up to something　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To feel strong enough or knowledgeable enough to accomplish a certain task. 胜任某项任务。◆ Are you up to climbing all the way to the 37th floor? 你能一路爬上37层楼吗？◆ Are we up to meeting the delegation from Moscow and speaking Russian to them? 我们能去迎接莫斯科来的代表团，对他们讲俄语吗？2. Tendency to do something mischievous. 密谋捣蛋。◆ I'm afraid Jack is up to one of his old tricks again．恐怕杰克又要故伎重演了。

beware of Greeks bearing gifts　Often said about people who make one a gift with false pretenses. — A proverb. 〖谚〗提防带礼物来的希腊人；当心黄鼠狼给鸡拜年。◆ The new boss at the firm promised everyone a brand new set of office furniture, but we cannot trust the man. He will surely want us to work longer hours. Wee, beware of Greeks bearing gifts, as the saying goes. 公司新老板答应给每个人买一套崭新的办公设备，但我们不能信任这个人。他肯定会要我们工作更长的时间。俗话说得好，黄鼠狼给鸡拜年，没安好心。

be with Sb.　v. phr. To give attention to a person after a period of waiting. （稍等一下）我就来。◆ "I'll be with you in a moment, sir," the salesman at the store said, while answering the phone. 店里的售货员一边接电话一边说：“稍等一下，先生，我就来。”

be wound up　v. phr. To be tense, nervous. 紧张。◆ The young surgeon was all wound up before his first major operation. 在做第一次大手术前，那位年轻的外科医生非常紧张。

be wound up in　v. phr. To be heavily absorbed in some activity that demands full attention. 全神贯注于。◆ "Why is John so absent-minded these days?" Jerry asked. "He is all wound up in his research project," his wife replied. 杰里问：“为什么这几天约翰这么心不在焉？”他的妻子回答说：“因为他一直全神贯注于他的研究项目。”

beyond a shadow of a doubt　adv. phr., formal and legal Absolutely certain, totally convincing. 〖正式〗〖法律〗毫无疑问；确定无疑；绝对可靠。◆ Fred burglarized Mrs. Brown's apartment, beyond a shadow of a doubt. 弗雷德撬窃了布朗夫人的公寓，这是毫无疑问的。

beyond a shadow of doubt　adv. phr. Undoubtedly, certainly, for sure. 毫无疑问地；确实地。◆ A jury of twelve people must come to a conclusion beyond a shadow of doubt that the accused was guilty or innocent. 12人的陪审团必须对被告是否有罪毫无疑问地得出一个结论。

beyond belief　adj. phr. Incredible. 难以置信的。◆ It is almost beyond belief that suicide pilots were able to destroy the World Trade Center. 自杀飞机飞行员竟能摧毁世贸中心，这几乎令人难以置信。

beyond measure　adj. or adv. phr., formal So much that it can not be measured or figured without any limits. 〖正式〗无可估量，极度。◆ With her parents reunited and present at her graduation, she had happiness beyond measure. 父母破镜重圆又双双出席她的毕业典礼，她真是高兴极了。

beyond one's depth　adj. or adv. phr. 1. Over your head in water; in water too deep to touch bottom. 在没顶的水中；在深不及底的水中。◆ Jack wasn't a good swimmer and nearly drowned when he drifted out beyond his depth. 杰克不太会游泳，在他漂到没顶的深水处时差一点淹死。2. In or into something too difficult for you; beyond your understanding or ability. 非自己（或某人）所能理解；为自己（或某人）力所不及。◆ Bill decided that his big brother's geometry book was beyond his depth. 比尔认定自己看不懂他哥哥的几何书。◆ Sam's father started to explain the atom bomb to Sam but he soon got beyond his depth. 萨姆的父亲开始对他解释什么是原子弹，但很快就觉得解释不下去了。

beyond one's means　adj. phr. Too expensive, not affordable. 太昂贵；买不起。◆ Unfortunately, a new Mercedes Benz is beyond my means right now. 很遗憾，此刻我还买不起一辆新的梅赛德斯奔驰车。

beyond question^1　adj. phr. Not in doubt; certain; sure. — Used in the predicate. 毫无疑问的；确实无疑的。—用在谓语中。◆ People always believe anything that Mark says; his honesty is beyond question. 马克说的任何话人们都相信；他的诚实是无可置疑的。Contrast对照IN QUESTION.

beyond question^2 or without question　adv. phr. Without doubt or argument; surely; unquestionably. 毫无疑问；确定无疑。◆ Beyond question, it was the coldest day of the winter. 这无疑是冬季最冷的一天。◆ John's drawing is without question the best in the class. 约翰的绘画无疑是班上最好的。

beyond reasonable doubt　adv. phr. formal and legal Virtually certain; essentially convincing. 〖正式〗〖法律〗（证据）确凿无疑地◆ The judge instructed the jurors to come up with a verdict of guilty only if they were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Algernon was the perpetrator. 法官就法律适用要点向陪审团作最后说明：除非他们确凿无疑地相信阿尔杰农是犯罪者，否则便不能作出有罪的裁决。

beyond the pale　adv. or adj. phr. In disgrace; with no chance of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the members of a group. 越轨（的）；为社会所不容（的）；为集体成员所不齿（的）。◆ After the outlaw killed a man he was beyond the pale and not even his old friends would talk to him. 那个歹徒杀人后为社会所不容，连他的老朋友也不肯跟他讲话了。◆ Tom's swearing is beyond the pale; no one invites him to dinner anymore. 汤姆因骂人而为人所不齿；再也没有人请他吃饭了。

bide one's time　v. phr. To await an opportunity; wait patiently until your chance comes. 等待时机；耐心等待。◆ Refused work as an actor, Tom turned to other work and bided his time. 汤姆没有得到做演员的机会，于是便转向别的工作以待时机。

bid fair　v., literary To seem likely; promise. 〖文〗有…的可能；有…的希望。◆ He bid fair to be a popular author. 他有希望成为一名受人欢迎的作家。◆ The day bids fair to be warm. 天气有望转暖。

big as life or large as life　adj. phr. 1. or life-size The same size as the living person or thing. 与真人（或实物）一般大小。◆ The statue of Jefferson was big as life. 杰弗逊的塑像与真人一般大小。◆ The characters on the screen were life-size. 银幕上的人物与真人一样大小。2. or big as life and twice as natural informal In person; real and living. 〖非正式〗亲自；确确实实。◆ I had not seen him for years, but there he was, big as life and twice as natural. 我已多年没见他了，但他确实是在那儿，一点不假，正是他本人。

big cheese or big gun or big shot or big wheel or big wig　n., slang An important person; a leader; a high official; a person of high rank. 〖俚〗要人，大人物；头儿；大亨；显贵。◆ Bill had been a big shot in high school. 比尔在中学时当过头儿。◆ John wanted to be the big cheese in his club. 约翰想做俱乐部的大亨。

big daddy　n., slang, informal The most important largest thing, person or animal in a congregation of similar persons, animals, or objects. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗同类中最大、最重要者；老爷子；大亨。◆ The whale is the big daddy of everything that swims in the ocean. 鲸是最大的海洋生物。◆ The H-bomb is the big daddy of all modern weapons. 氢弹是一切现代武器中威力最强者。◆ Al Capone was the big daddy of organized crime in Chicago during Prohibition. 阿尔·卡彭是禁酒时期芝加哥流氓犯罪集团中的老大。

big deal　interj., slang. informal (loud stress on the word deal) (重读deal) Trifles; an unimportant, unimpressive thing or matter. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗没啥了不起；不过尔尔。◆ So you became college president — big deal! 这么说你当上大学校长了——没啥了不起！

big frog in a small pond　n. phr., informal An important person in a small place or position; someone who is respected and honored in a small company, school, or city; a leader in a small group. 〖非正式〗小地方的要人；小团体的头头。◆ As company president, he had been a big frog in a small pond, but he was not so important as a new congressman in Washington. 作为公司总裁，他是个小团体的大人物，但他还不及华盛顿新当选的国会议员重要。

big hand　n. Loud and enthusiastic applause. 热烈鼓掌。◆ When Pavarotti finished singing the aria from Rigoletto, he got a very big hand. 帕瓦洛蒂唱完《弄臣》中的咏叹调时，赢得了非常热烈的掌声。

big head　n., informal Too high an opinion of your own ability or importance; conceit. 〖非正式〗傲慢；自负。◆ When Jack was elected captain of the team, it gave him a big head. 杰克被选为队长后，变得自高自大了。

big house　n. A large jail or prison. 监狱。◆ The rapist will spend many years in the big house. 那名强奸犯将在狱中度过很多年。

big lie, the　n., informal A major, deliberate misrepresentation of some important issue made on the assumption that a bold, gross lie is psychologically more believable than a timid, minor one. 〖非正式〗（用作政治蛊惑手段的）大谎言。◆ We all heard the big lie during the Watergate months. 在水门事件那几个月中，我们都听到很多大谎言。◆ The pretense of democracy by a totalitarian regime is part of the big lie about its government. 极权主义的政权假装民主是有关其政府大谎言的一部分。

big mouth or big-mouthed　See见LOUD MOUTH, LOUD-MOUTHED.

big shot or big wig　n. An important or influential person. 要人；有权势的人。◆ Elmer is a big shot in the State Assembly. 埃尔默是州议会中的一名要员。

big stink　n., slang A major scandal; a big upheaval. 〖俚〗大丑闻；大吵大闹。◆ I'll raise a big stink if they fire me. 如果他们解雇我，我就要大闹一场。

big taste　n. phr. A yearning for a drug fix. 毒瘾。◆ I saw you taking a blast from dope yesterday. Your big taste is only going to get worse unless you seek treatment. 昨天我看到你在吸毒。如果你不去寻求治疗，你的毒瘾只会越来越厉害。

big time　n., informal〖非正式〗1. A very enjoyable time at a party or other pleasurable gathering. 快乐的时光。◆ I certainly had a big time at the club last night. 昨晚我在俱乐部里确实玩得很开心。2. The top group; the leading class; the best or most important company. 第一流的团体；领先的阶层；最好（或最重要）的一群人。◆ After his graduation from college, he soon made the big time in baseball. 大学毕业后，他很快就成了第一流的棒球手。◆ Many young actors go to Hollywood, but few of them reach the big time. 很多年轻演员到好莱坞去，但成为第一流明星的却为数甚少。

big-time　adj. Belonging to the top group; of the leading class; important. 第一流的；名列前茅的；重要的。◆ Jean won a talent contest in her home town, and only a year later she began dancing on big-time television.琼在家乡赢得了新秀演出的竞赛，只一年后便在第一流的电视节目中表演舞蹈了。—Often used in the phrase big-time operator. 常用于短语big-time operator中。◆ Just because Bill has a new football uniform he thinks he is a big-time operator. 比尔仅仅因为自己有了一套新的橄榄球服，就以为自己是个了不起的球员了。

big top　n. The main tent under which a circus gives its show; the circus and circus life. （马戏团的）主要帐篷；马戏团；马戏生涯。◆ The book tells of life with Barnum and Bailey under the big top. 这本书讲述的是在巴纳姆—贝利马戏团的马戏生涯。

big wheel　n., informal An influential or important person who has the power to do things and has connections in high places. 〖非正式〗要人；大亨。◆ Uncle Ferdinand is a big wheel in Washington; maybe he can help you with your problem. 费迪南德叔叔在华盛顿是个有权势的人物；也许他可以帮你解决你的问题。

big yawn　n. A very boring person, story or event. 乏味的人（或故事、事）。◆ I love my grandma very much, but the stories she tells sure are a big yawn. 我很爱我的奶奶，不过她讲的故事的确很乏味。

bird has flown　slang. The prisoner has escaped; the captive has got away. 〖俚〗囚犯已逃跑了；俘虏已逃掉了。◆ When the sheriff returned to the jail, he discovered that the bird had flown. 警长回到监狱时，发现囚犯已逃掉了。

bird in the hand is worth two in the bush(a)　Something we have, or can easily get, is more valuable than something we want that we may not be able to get; we shouldn't risk losing something sure by trying to get something that is not sure. — A proverb. 〖谚〗双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。◆ Johnny has a job as a paperboy, but he wants a job in a gas station. His father says that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 约翰尼是个报童，但他想在加油站有份工作。他父亲说，已有的工作总比没把握到手的工作要好。

bird of a different feather　n. phr. A person who is free thinking and independent. 思想自由、有独立见解的人；思想与众不同的人。◆ Syd won't go along with recent trends in grammar; he created his own. He is a bird of a different feather. 在语法上，悉德不肯遵循最近的时尚；他开创了自己的时尚。他是个思想与众不同的人。

bird of ill omen　n. phr. A person that augurs ill, always predicting the worst possibility. 报凶讯（或坏消息）的人；不吉利的人。◆ "Stop being such an old bird of ill omen! You always say that life will be ruined on Earth because of an asteroid impact. “别再整天预告坏消息了！你老是说小行星碰撞会毁灭地球上的生命。”

birds and the bees (the)　n. phr. informal The facts we should know about our birth. 〖非正式〗（可以对孩子讲的）两性关系的基本知识。◆ At various ages, in response to questions, a child can be told about the birds and the bees. 在孩子的不同年龄回答他们的问题时可以把有关性的知识告诉他们。

birds of a feather flock together　People who are alike often become friends or are together; if you are often with certain people, you may be their friends or like them. — A proverb. 〖谚〗物以类聚，人以群分。◆ Don't be friends with bad boys. People think that birds of a feather flock together. 不要跟坏男孩交朋友。人们会以为你跟他们是一丘之貉。

bird watcher　n. A person whose hobby is to study birds close-up in their outdoor home. 鸟类观察家。◆ A bird watcher looks for the first robin to appear in the spring. 鸟类观察家寻找春天出现的第一只知更鸟。

birthday suit　n. The skin with no clothes on; complete nakedness. 光着身子；赤身裸体。◆ The little boys were swimming in their birthday suits. 那些小男孩光着身子在游泳。

bite an elbow　v. phr. To miss or lose a chance. 错过机会；失去机会。◆ John really bit an elbow when he refused to take Sue to the prom. 约翰没带苏去参加班级舞会真是错过了一次机会。

bite off more than one can chew　v. phr., informal To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. 〖非正式〗承担力所不及的事；不自量力。◆ He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off more than he could chew. 他开始自己动手修车，但很快便意识到自己力不从心。

bite one's lips　v. phr. To force oneself to remain silent and not to reveal one's feelings. 咬住嘴唇（以保持沉默，不表露自己的感情）。◆ I had to bite my lips when I heard my boss give the wrong orders. 当我听到老板下错了命令时，我只得咬住嘴唇，一言不发。

bite sb.'s head off　v. phr. To answer someone in great anger; answer furiously. 怒气冲冲地回答某人；呵斥某人。◆ I'm sorry to tell you that I lost my job, but that's no reason to bite my head off! 我很遗憾地告诉你我失业了，但绝不该因此而呵斥我！

bite the dust　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To be killed in battle. 阵亡；战死。◆ Captain Jones discharged his gun and another guerrilla bit the dust. 琼斯上尉开了枪，又一名游击队员倒地而死。2. To fall in defeat; go down before enemies; be overthrown; lose. 一败涂地；被敌人击败；被推翻；失败；输掉。◆ Our team bit the dust today. 今天我们队一败涂地。

bite the hand that feeds one　v. phr. To turn against or hurt a helper or supporter; repay kindness with wrong. 恩将仇报；以怨报德。◆ He bit the hand that fed him when he complained against his employer. 他以怨报德，竟然对他的雇主提出了抗议。

bitter pill　n. Something hard to accept; disappointment. 难以接受的事物；失望。◆ Jack was not invited to the party and it was a bitter pill for him. 杰克没有被邀请去参加聚会，这对他来说是一种耻辱。

black and blue　adj. Badly bruised. （被打得）遍体鳞伤；青一块紫一块的。◆ Poor Jim was black and blue after he fell off the apple tree. 可怜的吉姆从苹果树上摔下来，摔得遍体鳞伤。

black and white　n. phr. 1. Print or writing; words on paper, not spoken; exact written or printed form. 白纸黑字；印刷；书写；书面。◆ He insisted on having the agreement down in black and white. 他坚持要把那项协议用白纸黑字写下来。2. The different shades of black and white of a simple picture, rather than other colors. 黑白画；黑白照片。◆ He showed us snapshots in black and white. 他把一些黑白照片拿给我们看。

black-and-white　adj. Divided into only two sides that are either right or wrong or good or bad, with nothing in between; thinking or judging everything as either good or bad. 黑白分明的；是非分明的；非善即恶的；绝对化的。◆ The old man's religion shows his black-and-white thinking; everything is either completely good or completely bad. 老人的宗教信仰显示出他绝对化的思维方式；每样事物不是绝对地好，就是绝对地坏。

black day　n. A day of great unhappiness; a disaster. 倒霉的日子；不吉利的日子；灾难。◆ It was a black day when our business venture collapsed. 那真是倒霉的一天：我们的商业企业突然失败了。

black eye　n. 1. A dark area around one's eye due to a hard blow during a fight, such as boxing. （被打得）发青的眼眶。◆ Mike Tyson sported a black eye after the big fight. 在那场拳击大赛后，迈克·泰森的眼眶被打得发青了。2. Discredit. 丢脸的事；耻辱；坏名声。◆ Bob's illegal actions will give a black eye to the popular movement he started. 鲍勃的非法行为将给他发动的民众运动带来耻辱。

blackout　n. 1. The darkening of a city during an air raid by pulling down all curtains and putting out all street lights. 灯火管制。◆ The city of London went through numerous blackouts during World War II. 第二次世界大战期间，伦敦市经历过多次灯火管制。2. A cessation of news by the mass media. 新闻封锁。◆ There was a total news blackout about the kidnapping of the prime minister. 对首相被绑架一事进行了完全的新闻封锁。

black out　v. 1. To darken by putting out or dimming lights. 熄灭（舞台）的灯光；对…实行灯火管制◆ In some plays the stage is blacked out for a short time and the actors speak in darkness. 在有些剧中，舞台灯光要熄灭一段时间，让演员们在黑暗中讲话。◆ In wartime, cities are blacked out to protect against bombing from planes. 在战时，城市都实行灯火管制以防御敌机轰炸。2. To prevent or silence information or communication; refuse to give out truthful news. 封锁（或查禁）新闻（或通讯）；拒绝发布（真实消息）。◆ In wartime, governments often black out all news or give out false news. 在战时，政府常常封锁一切新闻或发布假消息。◆ Dictators usually black out all criticism of the government. 独裁者通常查禁所有对政府的批评。3. informal To lose consciousness; faint. 〖非正式〗失去知觉；昏过去。◆ It had been a hard and tiring day, and she suddenly blacked out. 这是艰苦而累人的一天，她突然昏了过去。

black sheep　n. A person in a family or a community considered unsatisfactory or disgraceful. 败家子；集体中的败类；害群之马。◆ My brother Ted is a high school dropout who joined a circus; he is the black sheep in our family. 我兄弟泰德中学时退学，加入了马戏团；他是我们家的败类。

blank amazement　n. phr. Utterly prostrating amazement; total surprise. 极度惊讶；万分惊奇。◆ Everyone had a look of blank amazement, when in the middle of Mother's birthday party, the door opened and a cowboy on horseback rode into the dining room. 母亲的生日宴会进行到一半时，突然门开了，一名牛仔骑着马走进了餐厅。这时，每个人都露出了万分惊讶的目光。

blank check　n. 1. A bank check written to a person who can then write in how much money he wants. 空白支票；由受款人自行填写金额的签名支票。◆ John's father sent him a blank check to pay his school bills. 约翰的父亲寄给他一张签了名的空白支票，让他支付学校的各项费用。2. informal Permission to another person to do anything he decides to do. 〖非正式〗自由行动的权利◆ The teacher gave the pupils a blank check to plan the picnic. 教师给了学生们筹划野餐的全权。

blank despair　n. phr. Helpless despair. 茫然不知所措的绝望。◆ Poor Mary was in blank despair when John announced his decision to get a divorce. 当约翰宣布他要离婚的决定时，可怜的玛丽陷入了茫然不知所措的绝望。

blast off　v. 1. To begin a rocket flight. 乘火箭飞入太空。◆ The astronaut will blast off into orbit at six o'clock. 宇航员将于6时乘火箭升空进入轨道。2. Also亦作blast away informal To scold or protest violently. 〖非正式〗猛烈抨击；大声斥责；强烈抗议。◆ The coach blasted off at the team for poor playing. 教练大骂球队打得太差。

blaze a trail　v. phr. 1. To cut marks in trees in order to guide other people along a path or trail, especially through a wilderness. （尤指在穿越荒野时）在树上刻记号指路。◆ Daniel Boone blazed a trail for other hunters to follow in Kentucky. 丹尼尔·布恩在树上做记号，为其他来肯塔基的猎人指路。2. To lead the way; make a discovery; start something new. 开路；发现；开创。◆ Henry Ford blazed a trail in manufacturing automobiles. 亨利·福特在汽车制造方面开辟了一条新路。

bleeding-heart liberal　n. phr. A reasonably well-situated member of the bourgeoisie, who for sentimental reasons of left-leaning political views, always espouses the liberal cause, whether sensibly or not. 过于感情用事的自由主义者；软心肠的开明派人士。◆ Many bleeding-heart liberals, who once thought that marijuana should be legalized, change their minds when their own children become addicted to drugs. 许多软心肠的开明派人士曾一度认为大麻毒品应该合法化，但在他们自己的子女嗜毒成瘾后却改变了主意。

blessing in disguise　n. phr. Some unexpected good that came about as the result of something bad or undesirable. 貌似灾祸而实际使人得福之事。◆ "It was a blessing in disguise that I forgot my car keys and had to go back for them," Joe said. "If I hadn't, I would not have noticed that I left the burner on in the kitchen, and I could have had a fire."“我忘了带车钥匙只得再回去拿，结果却因祸得福，”乔说。“因为如果我不回去，我就不会注意到我没有把厨房里的煤气头关掉，很可能就会酿成火灾。”

bless sb.'s heart　v. phr. To thank someone; consider one the cause of something good that has happened. （表示感激等）哎呀；天哪。◆ Aunt Jane, bless her heart, left me half a million dollars! 天哪，简姨给我留下了50万美元！

blind alley　n. 1. A narrow street that has only one entrance and no exit. 死胡同。◆ The blind alley ended in a brick wall. 那条死胡同的尽头是一堵砖墙。2. A way of acting that leads to no good results. 绝路。◆ John did not take the job because it was a blind alley. 约翰没有接受那份工作，因为它没什么前途。

blind as a bat/beetle/mole/owl　adj. phr. Anyone who is blind or has difficulty in seeing; a person with very thick glasses. 什么也看不见的；瞎的；戴深度眼镜的。◆ Without my glasses I am blind as a bat. 我不戴眼镜什么也看不见。

blind date　n. An engagement or date arranged by friends for people who have not previously known one another. （由第三方为两个互不相识的人安排的）初次约会；盲目约会。◆ A blind date can be a huge success, or a big disappointment. 盲目约会有可能大获成功，也可能令人大失所望。

blind leading the blind　One or more people who do not know or understand something trying to explain it to others who do not know or understand. 盲人教瞎子；瞎子给瞎子领路；外行指导外行。◆ Jimmy is trying to show Bill how to skate. The blind are leading the blind. 吉米正试图教比尔滑冰。这真是瞎子给盲人领路。

blind spot　n. 1. A place on the road that a driver cannot see in the rearview mirror. 司机从后视镜中看不到的地方。◆ I couldn't see that truck behind me, Officer, because it was in my blind spot. 我看不到我后面的那辆卡车，警官，因为它在我后视镜中看不到的地方。2. A matter or topic a person refuses to discuss or accept. 某人拒绝讨论（或接受）的事物（或话题）。◆ My uncle Ted has a real blind spot about religion. 我的叔叔泰德对宗教还真的拒绝接受。

blip out or bleep out　v. phr., informal To delete electronically a word on television or on radio either because it mentions the name of an established firm in a commercial or because it is a censored word not allowed for television audiences, resulting in a sound resembling the word "bleep."〖非正式〗用哔哔声消除（电视或广播中的语句）。◆ "What was the old product they compared Spicn-Span to?" "I don't know; they've bleeped it out."“他们拿来与新产品进行对比的老产品是什么？”“我不知道；他们已经用哔哔声把它消掉了。”

blockhead　n., informal An unusually dense, or stupid person whose head is therefore exaggeratedly compared to a solid block of wood. 〖非正式〗傻瓜，笨蛋。◆ Joe is such a blockhead that he flunked every course as a freshman. 乔真是个大笨蛋，他大一的课竟然门门不及格。

blood and iron　n. phr. Military power as opposed to diplomacy. （有别于外交手段的）军事威力，武力。◆ There are situations when all diplomacy fails and one must reluctantly resort to blood and iron. 在有些情况下，当一切外交手段都失败时，人们必须不情愿地诉诸武力。

blood and thunder　n. phr. The violence and bloodshed of stories that present fast action rather than understanding of character. （故事中的）暴力与流血；耸人听闻的凶杀情节。◆ Crime movies and westerns usually have lots of blood and thunder. 描写犯罪的电影和西部片通常有许多暴力凶杀情节。— Often used like an adjective. 常用作形容词。◆ John likes to watch blood-and-thunder stories on television. 约翰喜欢看电视上的凶杀故事。

blood is thicker than water　Persons of the same family are closer to one another than to others; relatives are favored or chosen over outsiders. 血浓于水；亲人总比外人亲。◆ Mr. Jones hires his relatives to work in his store. Blood is thicker than water. 琼斯先生雇用自己的亲戚在店里干活。亲人总比外人亲嘛。

blood runs cold also blood freezes or blood turns to ice　You are chilled or shivering from great fright or horror; you are terrified or horrified. — Usually used with a possessive. 全身发冷；不寒而栗；极度惊慌。——通常与所有格连用。◆ The horror movie made the children's blood run cold. 那部恐怖片把孩子们吓得魂不附体。◆ Mary's blood froze when she had to walk through the cemetery at night. 玛丽必须在夜间走过公墓，这使她不寒而栗。◆ Oscar's blood turned to ice when he saw the shadow pass by outside the window. 奥斯卡看到窗外掠过的影子时，吓得心惊胆战。

blot on the landscape　n. phr. Something that spoils the scenery, disfigures the landscape. 破坏风景的东西。◆ All that uncollected garbage the city is unable to dispose of is quite a blot on the landscape. 所有那些该市无法处理而又没有收起来的垃圾真是大煞风景。

blot out　v. phr. 1. To obstruct; cover; obscure. 遮没，挡住；遮蔽。◆ The high-rise building in front of our apartment house blots out the view of the ocean. 我们公寓大楼前面的那幢高层建筑遮住了大海的景色。2. To wipe out of one's memory. 从记忆中抹掉。◆ Jane can't remember the details when she was attacked in the streets; she blotted it out of her memory. 简不记得在街上受到袭击时的细节了；她把此事从记忆中抹掉了。

blow a fuse or blow a gasket or blow one's top or blow one's stack　v. phr., slang To become extremely angry; express rage in hot words. 〖俚〗勃然大怒；大发雷霆。◆ When Mr. McCarthy's son got married against his wishes, he blew a fuse. 当麦卡锡先生的儿子违背他的意愿结婚时，他暴跳如雷。◆ When the umpire called Joe out at first, Joe blew his top and was sent to the showers. 裁判开始判乔出局时，乔竟恶言相加，结果被罚出场。

blow hot and cold　v. phr. To change your ways or likes often; be fickle or changeable. 忽冷忽热；反复无常；三心二意；出尔反尔。◆ Tom blows hot and cold about coming out for the baseball team; he cannot decide. 汤姆对是否参加棒球队出尔反尔，无法决定。◆ Mary blew hot and cold about going to college; every day she changed her mind. 玛丽对是否读大学忽冷忽热；天天改变主意。

blow in　v., slang To arrive unexpectedly or in a carefree way. 〖俚〗突然出现；突然来访；不期而至。◆ The house was already full of guests when Bill blew in. 当比尔不期而至时，屋子里已挤满了客人。

blow into　v., slang To arrive at (a place) unexpectedly or in a carefree way. 〖俚〗突然来到（某处）。◆ Bill blows into college at the last minute after every vacation. 每次假期结束，比尔都是到最后一分钟才返回学院。◆ Why Tom, when did you blow into town? 嗨，汤姆，你什么时候进城的？

blown to smithereens　adj. phr. Utterly shattered by an explosion; blown to tiny fragments. 被炸得粉碎，被炸成碎片。◆ During the Blitz in World War Ⅱ, Hitler's V2 rockets blew many buildings in London to smithereens. 在第二次世界大战纳粹德国对伦敦进行空袭期间，希特勒的V-2火箭把伦敦的许多建筑物炸成了碎片。

blow one's brains out　v. phr. 1. To shoot yourself in the head. 对着脑袋开枪自杀。◆ Mr. Jones lost all his wealth, so he blew his brains out. 琼斯先生输得倾家荡产，所以开枪自杀了。2. slang To work very hard; overwork yourself. 〖俚〗努力工作；工作过度。◆ The boys blew their brains out to get the stage ready for the play. 男孩子们努力工作，完成了舞台布置。◆ Mary is not one to blow her brains out. 玛丽不是那种拼命工作的人。

blow one's cool　v. phr., slang, informal To lose your composure or self-control. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗沉不住气；失去自制而激动起来。◆ Whatever you say to the judge in court, make sure that you don't blow your cool. 不管你在法庭上对法官说什么，务必不要失去自制。

blow one's lines or fluff one's lines　v. phr., informal To forget the words you are supposed to speak while acting in a play. 〖非正式〗忘记台词。◆ The noise backstage scared Mary and she blew her lines. 后台的嘈杂声吓得玛丽忘了台词。

blow one's/sb's mind　v. phr., slang, informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗; originally from the drug culture源自吸毒者。1. To become wildly enthusiastic over something as if understanding it for the first time in an entirely new light. 使自己（或某人）极度兴奋；使自己（或某人）开窍。◆ Read Lyall Watson's book Supernature, it will simply blow your mind! 读一读莱亚·沃森的《超自然》一书吧，它定会使你大为开窍！2. To lose one's ability to function, as if due to an overdose of drugs. （仿佛服药过量而）使自己（或某人）神志不清。◆ Joe is entirely incoherent — he seems to have blown his mind. 乔完全语无伦次了—他似乎是服药过量而神志不清了。

blow one's own horn or toot one's own horn　v. phr., slang To praise yourself; call attention to your own skill, intelligence, or successes; boast. 〖俚〗自吹自擂；自我炫耀；自我吹嘘。◆ A person who does things well does not have to toot his own horn; his abilities will be noticed by others. 一个人事情做得好并不需要自我吹嘘；他的能力会被别人注意到的。

blow one's top　v. phr. To become very excited, angry, hysterical, or furious. 变得非常激动（或气愤）；大发雷霆；变得歇斯底里，发疯。◆ "No need to blow your top, Al," his wife said, "just because you lost a few dollars."“仅仅因为丢了几块钱犯不着大发脾气，艾尔，”他的妻子说。

blow out　v. phr. 1. To cease to function; fail; explode (said of tires and fuses). （车胎）爆裂；（保险丝）烧断。◆ The accident occurred when Jim's tire blew out on the highway. 当吉姆的车胎在公路上爆裂时，事故便发生了。◆ The new dishwasher blew out the fuses in the whole house. 新的洗碟机把整幢房子里的保险丝烧断了。2. To extinguish. 吹灭。◆ Jane blew out her birthday cake candles before offering pieces to the guests. 简吹熄了生日蛋糕上的蜡烛，然后把蛋糕一块块地拿给客人。

blowout　n. 1. An explosion of a tire or a fuse. 车胎爆裂；保险丝烧断。◆ Jim's van veered sharply to the right after his car had a blowout. 车胎爆裂后，吉姆的面包车突然向右一个急转。2. A big party. 盛宴。◆ After graduation from college, my son and his friends staged a huge blowout. 大学毕业后，我儿子和他的朋友们举行了一次盛大的宴会。

blow over　v. To come to an end; pass away with little or no bad effects. 停止；平息。◆ The sky was black, as if a bad storm were coming, but it blew over and the sun came out. 天空一片漆黑，仿佛狂风暴雨即将来临，但风吹云散，太阳又出来了。◆ He was much criticized for the divorce, but it all blew over after a few years. 他曾因离婚而广受指责，但几年后事情就平息了。

blow taps　v. phr. To sound the final bugle call of the evening in a camp or military base. 吹熄灯号。◆ After taps is blown the boy scouts go to their bunks to sleep. 熄灯号吹过后，童子军们便上床睡觉了。

blow the gaff　v. phr. To open one's mouth to reveal a secret. 泄露秘密。◆ When Al cheated on his wife, his younger brother blew the gaff on him. 当艾尔对妻子不忠时，他的弟弟泄露了他的秘密。

blow the lid off　v. phr., informal Suddenly to reveal the truth about a matter that has been kept as a secret either by private persons or by some governmental agency. 〖非正式〗揭露…的真相。◆ The clever journalists blew the lid off the Watergate cover-up. 聪明的新闻记者揭露了水门事件被掩盖的真相。

blow the whistle on　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To inform against; betray. 告发；出卖。◆ The police caught one of the bank robbers, and he blew the whistle on two more. 警察捉住了一名银行抢劫犯，而他又告发了另位两名。2. To act against, stop, or tell people the secrets of (crime or lawlessness). 反对；中止，取缔；宣布…不合法。◆ The mayor blew the whistle on gambling. 市长下令取缔赌博。◆ The police blew the whistle on hot rodding. 警察严厉取缔鲁莽高速开车。

blow up　v. 1a. To break or destroy or to be destroyed by explosion. 爆炸；爆裂；（被）炸毁。◆ He blew up the plane by means of a concealed bomb. 他用一枚预先藏好的炸弹炸毁了飞机。1b. informal To explode with anger or strong feeling; lose control of yourself. 〖非正式〗大发脾气；大怒。◆ When Father bent the nail for the third time, he blew up. 当父亲第三次把钉子钉弯时，他大为光火。1c. To stop playing well in a game or contest, usually because you are in danger of losing or are tired; especially: To lose skill or control in pitching baseball. （在比赛中因面临失败或太疲倦而）表现失常；（尤指棒球投手）技术发挥失常。◆ The champion blew up and lost the tennis match. 那位网球冠军因发挥失常而输掉了比赛。2. informal To be ruined as if by explosion; be ended suddenly. 〖非正式〗告吹；泡汤。◆ The whole scheme for a big party suddenly blew up. 举行盛大聚会的整个计划突然泡汤了。3a. To pump full of air; inflate. 使充气；给（轮胎）打气。◆ He blew his tires up at a filling station. 他在一家加油站给轮胎充足了气。3b. To make (something) seem bigger or important. 夸大；对…言过其实。◆ It was a small thing to happen but the newspapers had blown it up until it seemed important. 这本是一件小事，但报纸夸大其词使它显得重要了。4. To bring on bad weather; also, to come on as bad weather. 使坏天气出现；（坏天气）出现。◆ The wind had blown up a storm. 风引发了暴雨。5. To copy in bigger form; enlarge. 放大（照片等）◆ He blew up the snapshot to a larger size. 他把照片放大了。

blow up in one's face　v. phr., informal To fail completely and with unexpected force. 〖非正式〗突然失败；出乎意料地失败。◆ The thief's plan to rob the bank blew up in his face when a policeman stopped him. 警察拦住了窃贼，一下子使他抢劫银行的计划落了空。

blue blood　n. phr. Aristocratic blood, hence aristocratic rank or condition. 贵族血统；贵族出身。◆ "Why is Algernon always so proud and self-assured?" Michael asked. "Because he was blue blood," Vanessa, Algernon's sister, replied. 迈克尔问：“为什么阿尔杰农总是那么傲慢，那么自信？”阿尔杰农的妹妹瓦尼萨回答说：“因为他有贵族血统。”

blue collar worker　n. phr. A manual laborer who is probably a labor union member. 蓝领工人；体力劳动者。◆ Because Jack's father is a blue collar worker, Jack was so anxious to become an intellectual. 因为父亲是一名蓝领工人，所以杰克非常渴望成为一名知识分子。

blue in the face　adj. phr., informal Very angry or upset; excited and very emotional. 〖非正式〗（因非常气愤或沮丧而）脸色发紫的；情绪激动的。◆ Tom argued with Bill until he was blue in the face. 汤姆与比尔争论得脸都发紫了。

blue Monday　n. A Monday when you have to work after a happy weekend. 烦闷的星期一；忧郁的星期一（愉快的周末后又要开始工作，意兴索然，故名）◆ It was blue Monday and John nodded sleepily over his books. 这是“令人沮丧的星期一”，约翰一边上课一边打瞌睡。

blue-pencil　v. To edit. （用蓝铅笔）删节；删改。◆ The editor bluepenciled John's manuscript. 编辑在删改约翰的手稿。

blurt out　v. phr. To suddenly say something even if one was not planning to do so, or if it was not expected of them. 脱口说出；冲口说出。◆ "My brother Bob is in jail," Tony blurted out, before anybody could stop him. 别人还没来得及阻止他，托尼便脱口而出：“我哥哥鲍勃在坐牢。”

body blow　n., informal A great disappointment; a bitter failure. 〖非正式〗严重的打击；巨大的挫折；痛苦的失败。◆ When he failed to get on the team it came as a body blow to him. 他未能入选球队，这对他是个严重的打击。

bog down　v. phr. To be immobilized in mud, snow, etc,; slow down. 使陷入泥沼（或积雪等）中；慢下来。◆ Our research got bogged down for a lack of appropriate funding. 我们的研究因缺少适当的资助而停顿不前。◆ Don't get bogged down in too much detail when you write an action story. 写情节曲折的故事时不要沉溺于过多的细节描写。

bog down, to get bogged down　v. phr., mostly intransitive or passive大多为不及物或被动式1. To stop progressing; to slow to a halt. 停止前进；停滞不前。◆ Work on the new building bogged down, because the contractor didn't deliver the needed concrete blocks. 因为承包商没有把所需的混凝土空心砖运来，新大楼的施工停了下来。2. To become entangled with a variety of obstacles making your efforts unproductive or unsatisfying. 陷入重重障碍（致使工作毫无进展或不能令人满意）。◆ The novelist wrote little last summer because she got bogged down in housework. 那位小说家去年夏天没写什么东西，因为她被家务拖住了。

boggle the mind　v. phr., informal To stop the rational thinking process by virtue of being too fantastic or incredible. 〖非正式〗令人难以置信；令人不可思议。◆ It boggles the mind that John should have been inside a flying saucer! 有关约翰曾进入飞碟的传闻真令人难以置信。

boil down　v. 1. To boil away some of the water from; make less by boiling. 从…中煮去一些水分；煮浓；熬稠。◆ She boiled down the maple sap to a thick syrup. 她把槭树汁熬成了浓的糖浆。2. To reduce the length of; cut down; shorten. 压缩；削减；减短。◆ The reporter boiled the story down to half the original length. 那位记者把报道压缩到原来的一半。3. To reduce itself to; come down to; be briefly or basically. 可归结为。◆ The whole discussion boils down to the question of whether the government should fix prices. 整个讨论可归结为政府是否应该确定物价的问题。

boiling point　n. 1. The temperature at which a liquid boils. 沸点。◆ The boiling point of water is 212° Fahrenheit. 水的沸点是华氏212度。2. The time when you become very angry. （激烈情绪的）爆发点。◆ He has a low boiling point. 他很容易发火。◆ After being teased for a long time, John reached the boiling point. 被戏弄了很久以后，约翰开始发火了。◆ When John made the same mistake for the fourth time, his teacher reached the boiling point. 当约翰第四次犯了同一错误时，老师开始发火了。

boil over　v. phr. 1. To rise due to boiling and overflow down the sides of a pan or a pot. 沸溢。◆ "Watch out!" Jane cried. "The milk is boiling over on the stove!"“当心！”简大声喊道。“牛奶要溢到炉子上了！”2. To become enraged to the point of being unable to contain oneself. 愤怒至极；情绪失去控制；爆发。◆ John took a lot of abuse from his boss, but after 25 minutes he suddenly boiled over and told him what he thought of him. 约翰被老板臭骂了一顿，但25分钟后，他突然爆发，把自己对他的想法告诉了他。

bolt from the blue　n. phr. Something sudden and unexpected; an event that you did not see coming; a great and usually unpleasant surprise; shock. 晴天霹雳；意外事件；飞来横祸。◆ His decision to resign was a bolt from the blue. 他的辞职决定十分出人意料。

bonehead　n., slang An unusually dense or stupid person. 〖俚〗笨蛋，傻瓜。◆ John is such a bonehead — small wonder he flunks all of his courses. 约翰真是个大笨蛋——他门门功课不及格不足为奇。

bone of contention　n. phr. Something to fight over; a reason for quarrels; the subject of a fight. 争端的起因；争吵的原因；争议点。◆ The use of the car was a bone of contention between Joe and his wife. 乔和妻子常为用车而争吵。

bone to pick or crow to pick　n. phr., informal A reason for dispute; something to complain of or argue about. — Often used jokingly. 〖非正式〗争执的原因；抱怨（或争论）的事情。——常用作戏谑语。◆ "I have a bone to pick with you," he said. “我对你有意见，”他说。◆ There was always a crow to pick about which one would shave first in the morning. 对于早晨谁先刮胡子总有一番争执。Compare比较BONE OF CONTENTION.

bone up　v., informal To fill with information; try to learn a lot about something in a short time; study quickly. 〖非正式〗死记硬背；突击学习；临时抱佛脚。◆ Carl was boning up for an examination. 卡尔正在死记硬背准备考试。◆ Jim had to make a class report the next day on juvenile delinquency, and he was in the library boning up on how the courts handle it. 吉姆第二天要就少年犯罪问题在班上做报告，此刻他正在图书馆里拼命收集法院处理这一问题的资料。

boob tube　n. phr. slang A television set. 〖俚〗电视机。◆ Why is Bobby getting so heavy? Because he's sitting all day in front of the boob tube. 为什么鲍比变得这么胖？因为他整天坐在电视机前看电视。

boot hill　n. A cemetery in the old Wild West where cowboys and cops and robbers used to be buried with their boots on. Hence, jokingly, any cemetery. 〖谑〗“靴丘”（美国开拓时期西部的墓地，当时牛仔、警察和强盗被埋葬时往往还穿着靴子。）；坟地。◆ Good old Joe, the cowboy, is resting comfortably in the nearby boot hill. 那个善良的牛仔老乔正安息在附近的“靴丘”里。

border on　v. phr. To be adjacent to; come close to; adjoin. 与…相邻；与…接壤；接近；近似；与…毗连。◆ Our village borders on the Mississippi River. 我们的村子靠近密西西比河。◆ John's actions border on irresponsibility. 约翰的行为近乎不负责任。

bore to death　See见TO DEATH.

bore to tears　v. phr. To fill with tired dislike; tire by dullness or the same old thing bore. 使（某人）厌烦得要哭出来；使（某人）非常厌烦。◆ The party was dull and Roger showed plainly that he was bored to tears. 聚会单调乏味，罗杰清楚地表明他非常厌烦。◆ Mary loved cooking, but sewing bores her to tears. 玛丽喜欢烹调，但缝纫却使她厌倦。

born out of wedlock　adj. phr. Born to parents who are not married to each other; without legal parents. 私生的；非婚生的；无法定父母的。◆ Sometimes when a married couple can't have children, they adopt a child who was born out of wedlock. 有时候已婚夫妇不能生育子女，他们便收养一个非婚生的孩子。◆ Today we no longer make fun of children born out of wedlock. 今天我们已经不再取笑私生子了。

born under a lucky star　adj. phr. Extraordinarily lucky and successful. 生来吉星高照的；生来有福的。◆ Joe Smith grew up in an orphanage and never knew his parents, yet at the age of twenty-six he was a self-made billionaire working in the insurance business. Surely, he must have been born under a lucky star. 乔·史密斯在一家孤儿院长大，从不知道自己的父母是谁，然而在保险业工作到26岁就靠自己奋斗成了亿万富翁。他肯定生下来的时候就是福星高照。

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth　adj. phr. Born to wealth and comfort; provided from birth with everything wanted; born rich. 生在富贵人家；生来富贵；生来即富。◆ The stranger's conduct was that of a man who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. 那个陌生人的举止完全是一副富家子弟的派头。

born with two left feet　n. phr. An extremely awkward or clumsy person. 极笨拙的人；手脚极不灵活的人。◆ Poor Jerry drops everything he touches; he must have been born with two left feet. 可怜的杰里不管碰到什么东西都会失手让它掉下去；他肯定是手脚极笨的人。

born yesterday　adj. phr. Inexperienced and easily fooled; not alert to trickery; easily deceived or cheated. 无经验的；易受愚弄的；不懂世故的；易受骗的。◆ I won't give you the money till I see the bicycle you want to sell me. Do you think I was born yesterday? 我要先看到你想卖给我的那辆自行车才会给你钱。你以为我就那么容易受骗？

borrowed plumes　n. phr. Borrowed fame or reputation; the state of glorying in the fame of another person. （源出乌鸦向孔雀借羽毛的寓言）借来的名声；不属于本人的荣耀；假门面。◆ Joe's brother won the Nobel Prize in medicine, so ever since then Joe has been parading around in borrowed plumes. 乔的哥哥获得了诺贝尔医学奖，于是从那以后乔便一直凭着借来的声望四处招摇。

borrow trouble　v. phr. To worry for nothing about trouble that may not come; make trouble for yourself needlessly. 庸人自扰；自寻烦恼；自找麻烦。◆ Don't borrow trouble by worrying about next year. It's too far away. 不要担心明年的事而自寻烦恼，那还远着呢。◆ You are borrowing trouble if you try to tell John what to do. 如果你想告诉约翰该怎么办，那你就是自我麻烦。

bosom friend　n. phr. A very close friend; an old buddy with whom one has a confidential relationship. 知心朋友；莫逆之交；心腹之交。◆ Sue and Jane have been bosom friends since their college days. 从大学起，苏和简就是知心朋友。

boss someone around　v. phr. To keep giving someone orders; to act overbearingly toward someone. 对某人发号施令；把某人差来遣去；盛气凌人地支使某人。◆ "If you keep bossing me around, darling," Tom said to Jane, "the days of our relationship are surely numbered."“如果你一直对我发号施令，亲爱的，”汤姆对简说，“那咱们的关系就肯定日子不长了。”

botch up　v. phr. To ruin, spoil, or mess something up. 搞坏，弄糟。◆ "I botched up my chemistry exam," Tim said, with a resigned sigh.“我的化学考试考得一塌糊涂，”蒂姆无可奈何地叹了一口气说。

bother the life out of someone or bother heck out of someone or bother the hell out of someone　v. phr. To irritate someone in a major way. 没完没了地纠缠某人；使某人烦恼得要死。◆ The new boss at work has been bothering hell out of everyone with his unreasonable demands. 工作单位的新老板提出了很多不合理的要求，使每个人都烦恼得要命。

bottle blond　n., slang A person who is obviously not a natural blond but whose hair is artificially colored. 〖俚〗头发染成金黄色的人。◆ I doubt that Leonora's hair color is natural; she strikes me as a bottle blond. 我怀疑莉奥诺拉的头发颜色是天然的；她给我的印象是把头发染成了金黄色。

bottleneck　n. A heavy traffic congestion. 瓶颈；严重交通阻塞。◆ In Chicago the worst bottleneck is found where the Kennedy and the Eden's expressways separate on the way to the airport. 在芝加哥，交通阻塞最厉害的瓶颈就是肯尼迪高速公路和艾登高速公路在通往机场的路上分开的地方。

bottle up　v. 1. To hide or hold back; control. 隐藏；抑制；控制。◆ There was no understanding person to talk to, so Fred bottled up his unhappy feeling. 因为没有善解人意的人可以交谈，弗雷德只得把不愉快的心情闷在心里。2. To hold in a place from which there is no escape; trap. 围困；封锁；使陷入困境。◆ our warships bottle up the enemy fleet in the harbor. 我们的军舰把敌人的舰队封锁在港口内。

bottom dollar　n., v. phr., informal One's last penny, one's last dollar. 〖非正式〗最后一块钱。◆ He was down to his bottom dollar when he suddenly got the job offer. 他身上只剩下最后一块钱的时候，意外地得到了那份工作。

bottom drop out or bottom fall out　v. phr. informal〖非正式〗1. To fall below an earlier lowest price. （价格）暴跌，跌到新的最低点。◆ The bottom dropped out of the price of peaches. 桃子的价格跌到了新的最低点。2. To lose all cheerful qualities; become very unhappy, cheerless, or unpleasant. 非常扫兴；极不开心。◆ The bottom dropped out of the day for John when he saw his report card. 约翰看到自己的成绩单时，情绪极为低落。

bottomless pit　n. phr. Someone who eats an unusually large amount of food. 饭量特大的人，“饭桶”。◆ My teenager son eats as though he has a bottomless pit. 我那个十几岁的儿子饭量特大，吃多少也填不饱他的肚子。

bottom line　n., informal〖非正式〗（stress on line）（重读line）1. The last word on a controversial issue; a final decision. （对有争议问题的）最后意见；最后决定；底线。◆ "Give me the bottom line on the proposed merger," said John. “有关拟议中的合并，请把底线告诉我”，约翰说。2. The naked truth without embellishments. 赤裸裸的事实。◆ Look, the bottom line is that poor Max is an alcoholic. 注意，事实是可怜的马克斯是个酒徒。3. The final dollar amount; for example, the lowest price two parties reach in bargaining about a sale. （讨价还价中交易双方达成的）最低价；底线。◆ "Five-hundred," said the used car dealer, "is the bottom line. Take it or leave it."“500美元，”二手汽车商说，“这是最低价。买或不买，悉听尊便。”

bottom line　v., informal（stress on bottom）（重读bottom）To finish; to bring to a conclusion. 〖非正式〗结束；终止。◆ Okay, you guys, let's bottom line this project and break for coffee. 好了，伙计们，让我们结束这项工程，休息一下喝咖啡吧。

bottom out　v. phr. To reach the lowest point (said chiefly of economic cycles). （主要指经济循环）达到最低点后开始回升。◆ According to the leading economic indicators the recession will bottom out within the next two months. 根据主要的经济指标看，经济衰退将在以后两个月内达到最低点后开始复苏。

bounce a check　v. phr. To write a check for something that is not covered by sufficient deposits in the bank. 开空头支票。◆ Better make sure there is enough money in the bank, otherwise you may bounce a check, for which the bank charges a penalty! 最好先查清楚银行里有足够的存款，不然你可能就会开出空头支票，让银行罚款！

bounce off the walls　v. phr. To be nervous enough to be comparable to a tennis ball that keeps bouncing off hard surfaces. （因紧张而）慌乱，焦虑不安。◆ A day before my final exams I was nervous enough to bounce off the walls. 期终考试的前一天，我紧张得心里直发慌。

bound for　adj. phr. On the way to; going to. 开往…的；驶往…的；正在到…去的。◆ I am bound for the country club. 我正要去乡村俱乐部。◆ The ship is bound for Liverpool. 这艘船是驶往利物浦的。

bound up with　v. phr. To be connected; be involved with. 与…密切相连，和…息息相关。◆ Tuition at our university is bound up with the state budget. 我们大学的学费与州预算密切相关。

bowl over　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To knock down as if with a bowled ball. 撞倒，击倒。◆ The taxi hit him a glancing blow and bowled him over. 出租汽车从斜里撞了他一下，把他撞倒了。2. To astonish with success or shock with misfortune; upset; stun. 使大吃一惊；使心烦意乱；使目瞪口呆。◆ He was bowled over by his wife's sudden death. 妻子的突然去世使他大为震惊。◆ The young actress bowled over everybody in her first movie. 那位年轻女演员在她的第一部电影中就使每个人大吃一惊。

bow out　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To give up taking part; excuse yourself from doing any more; quit. 退出◆ Mr. Black often quarreled with his partners, so finally he bowed out of the company. 布莱克先生经常与合伙人争吵，所以最后他退出了公司。◆ While the movie was being filmed, the star got sick and had to bow out. 电影正在拍摄时，那位明星突然生病，只得退出。2. To stop working after a long service; retire. 退休◆ He bowed out as train engineer after forty years of railroading. 他干了四十年的铁路后作为火车司机退休了。

box office　n., informal〖非正式〗1. The place at movies and theaters where tickets may be purchased just before the performance instead of having ordered them through the telephone or having bought them at a ticket agency. （电影院、戏院的）票房，售票处。◆ No need to reserve the seats; we can pick them up at the box office. 不必预订座位；我们可以在售票处买票。2. A best selling movie, musical, or drama (where the tickets are all always sold out and people line up in front of the box office). 叫座的电影（或音乐剧、戏剧等）。◆ Denzel Washington's last movie was a regular box office. 丹泽尔·华盛顿的上一部电影很叫座。

boyfriend　n., informal〖非正式〗1. A male friend or companion. 男性友人；男性伙伴。◆ "John and his boyfriends have gone to the ball game," said his mother. “约翰和他那帮男朋友去看球赛了，”他母亲说。2. A girl's steady date, a woman's favorite man friend; a male lover or sweetheart. （女人的）情人；男朋友。◆ Jane's new boyfriend is a senior in high school. 简新交的男朋友是个高中毕业班的学生。

boys will be boys　Boys are only children and must sometimes get into mischief or trouble or behave too roughly. 男孩子总归是男孩子，男孩子总是淘气的。◆ Boys will be boys and make a lot of noise, so John's mother told him and his friends to play in the park instead of the back yard. 男孩子总归是男孩子，总要吵吵闹闹，所以约翰的母亲叫他和他的朋友们到公园里去玩，不要在后院里玩。

brain bucket　n., slang A motorcycle helmet. 〖俚〗（摩托车手等戴的）头盔。◆ If you want to share a ride with me, you've got to wear a brain bucket. 如果你想搭乘我的摩托车，你就必须戴一顶头盔。

brain drain　n., informal〖非正式〗1. The loss of the leading intellectuals and researchers of a country due to excessive emigration to other countries where conditions are better. 人才外流，人才流失。◆ Britain suffered a considerable brain drain to the United States after World War Ⅱ. 第二次世界大战后，英国有相当多的人才外流到了美国。2. An activity requiring great mental concentration resulting in fatigue and exhaustion绞尽脑汁的活动。◆ That math exam I took was a regular brain drain. 我参加的那次数学考试真让人绞尽了脑汁。

brain-storm　v. To have a discussion among fellow researchers or co-workers on a project in order to find the best solution to a given problem. （为找到解决问题的最佳方案）进行集思广益的讨论；集体自由讨论。◆ Dr. Watson and his research assistants are brain-storming in the conference room. 沃森博士和他的科研助手们正在会议室里进行集思广益的讨论。

brainstorm　n. A sudden insight; a stroke of comprehension. 突然想到的妙计；突发的奇想。◆ Listen to me, I've just had a major brainstorm, and I think I found the solution to our problem. 听我说，我刚刚突然灵机一动想出了一大妙计，我想我找到了解决我们问题的办法。

brain trust　n. A group of specially trained, highly intelligent experts in a given field. 智囊团；专家顾问班子。◆ Albert Einstein gathered a brain trust around himself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies. 在普林斯顿高等研究院，阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦在其周围聚集了一个智囊团。

brainwash　v. phr. To change someone's way of thinking mostly about politics or religion, by constantly bombarding them with the desired information under duress, until the victim "believes" what he or she is being told. 对…实行洗脑；把思想强行灌输给。◆ The Nazis used to brainwash the population with their ideology. 过去纳粹分子常把他们的思想强行灌输给人们。

brainwashing　n. The act of submitting someone to unrelenting propaganda. 洗脑。◆ The Iraqi regime is guilty of brainwashing the population into a personality cult for Saddam Hussein. 伊拉克政权犯有对其人民洗脑形成萨达姆·侯赛因的个人崇拜罪。

branch off　v. To go from something big or important to something smaller or less important; turn aside. 分叉；岔开。◆ At the bridge a little road branches off from the highway and follows the river. 公路在桥边岔出一条小路沿河而去。◆ Martin was trying to study his lesson, but his mind kept branching off onto what girl he should ask to go with him to the dance. 马丁试图学习功课，但他的心思一直岔出去，想着该请哪个姑娘一起去跳舞。

branch out　v. To add new interests or activities; begin doing other things also. 扩充兴趣（或活动）；扩大活动范围。◆ First Jane collected stamps; then she branched out and collected coins, too. 简开始时集邮，后来她扩大了范围，也集硬币。◆ John started a television repair shop; when he did well, he branched out and began selling television sets too. 约翰开了一家电视机修理店；后来生意做得好，便扩大范围，也开始卖电视机了。

brand-new also bran-new　adj. As new or fresh as when just made and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. 全新的；崭新的。◆ He had taken a brand-new car from the dealer's floor and wrecked it. 他刚从汽车商的交易场上买到一辆崭新的汽车就把它撞坏了。

brass hat　n., slang〖俚〗1. A high officer in the army, navy, or air force. 高级军官；高级将领。◆ The brass hats in Washington often discuss important secrets. 华盛顿的高级将领经常讨论一些重要的机密。2. Any person who has a high position in business, politics, or other work. （商界、政界或其他领域的）要人。◆ Mr. Woods, the rich oil man, is a political brass hat. 石油富商伍兹先生是位政界要人。

brave it out　v. phr. To endure something difficult or dangerous through to the end; keep on through trouble or danger. 勇敢地挺过去；勇敢地坚持下去。◆ It was a dangerous ocean crossing in wartime, but captain and crew braved it out. 这是战时一次危险的越洋行动，但船长和船员们却勇敢地完成了。

brazen it out　v. phr. To pretend you did nothing wrong; be suspected, accused, or scolded without admitting you did wrong; act as if not guilty. 厚着脸皮硬挺过去；坚决不认错。◆ The teacher found a stolen pen that the girl had in her desk, but the girl brazened it out; she said someone else must have put it there. 老师在女孩的书桌里找到一支偷来的钢笔，但女孩坚决不认错；她说肯定是别的什么人把钢笔放在那儿的。

bread and butter　n. phr. The usual needs of life; food, shelter, and clothing. 涂黄油的面包；生活必需品；生计。◆ Ed earned his bread and butter as a bookkeeper, but added a little jam by working with a dance band on weekends. 埃德做簿记员以维持生计，周末则在伴舞乐队里演奏来赚点外快。

bread-and-butter letter　n. A written acknowledgment of hospitality recieved. 感谢款待的信。◆ Jane wrote the Browns a bread-and-butter letter when she returned home from her visit to them. 简拜访过布朗家回来后给他们写了一封对所受款待表示感谢的信。

breadbasket　n., slang The stomach. 〖俚〗胃，肚皮。◆ John is stuffing his breadbasket again. 约翰又在狼吞虎咽地吃东西了。

break a leg or fall through the trapdoor　v. phr. A wish or command. Good luck to you! Used mainly by actors and other performers, but also said to people setting out on a journey. （演员和其他艺人常用语，亦可用于对远行者的祝福）祝演出成功；祝一路顺风！◆ "Fall through the trapdoor, Romeo," the director said to the new actor. “祝你演出成功，罗密欧，”导演对那位新演员说。◆ "Break a leg, Johnny!" his sister Sue said to Johnny as he was leaving for Europe by plane. 苏对即将乘飞机去欧洲的弟弟说：“祝你一路顺风，约翰尼！”

break away or break loose　v. phr. To liberate oneself from someone or something. 挣脱。◆ Jane tried to break loose from her attacker, but he was too strong. 简极力想挣脱袭击她的那个人，但他太强壮了。

break camp　v. phr. To take down and pack tents and camping things; take your things from a camping place. 撤营；拔营。◆ The scouts broke camp at dawn. 童子军天刚亮就撤了营。

break down　v. (stress on down) (重读down) 1. To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force. 捣毁；拆除；打破。◆ The firemen broke down the door. 消防队员捣毁了门。2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. 削弱；减轻；战胜；克服。◆ By helpful kindness the teacher broke down the new boy's shyness. 教师通过亲切的帮助消除了新来男生的羞怯。3. To separate into elements or parts; decay. 分解；分为（若干部分）；瓦解；腐烂。◆ Water is readily broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. 水可以很容易分解为氢和氧。4. To become unusable because of breakage or other failure; lose power to work or go. 发生故障；出毛病；（身体）垮下来；失灵。◆ The car broke down after half an hour's driving. 汽车开了半小时就抛锚了。◆ His health broke down. 他的身体垮了。

break even　v. phr., informal (stress on even) (重读even) To end a series of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; have expenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. 〖非正式〗不盈不亏；得失相等；收支平衡。◆ If you gamble you are lucky when you break even. 如果你赌博能不输不赢那就算你幸运了。

break-even　n. The point of equilibrium in a business venture when one has made as much money as one had invested, but not more—that would be "profit."收支相抵点；盈亏平衡点。◆ "We've reached the break-even point at long last!" Max exclaimed with joy.“我们终于达到了收支相抵点！”马克斯高兴地喊道。

break ground　v. phr. To begin a construction project by digging for the foundation; especially, to turn the formal first spadeful of dirt. 破土，动工。◆ City officials and industrial leaders were there as the company broke ground for its new building. 当那家公司破土动工兴修新大楼时，许多市政官员和工业巨子都在现场。

break in　v. (stress on in) (重读in) 1a. To break from outside. 破门而入。◆ The firemen broke in the door of the burning house. 消防队员破门进入着火的房子。1b. To enter by force or unlawfully. 非法强行闯入。◆ Thieves broke in while the family was away. 这家人不在时，小偷曾闯入行窃。2. To enter suddenly or interrupt. 突然进入；打断；插嘴。◆ A stranger broke in on the meeting without knocking. 一个陌生人没有敲门便闯进了会议室。◆ The secretary broke in to say that a telegram had arrived. 秘书插嘴说有一封电报到了。3. To make a start in a line of work or with a company or association; begin a new job. （在公司或社团）开始工作；开始新的工作。◆ He broke in as a baseball player with a minor league. 他开始在职业棒球小联盟里打起了棒球。4. To teach the skills of a new job or activity to. 训练；培训。◆ An assistant foreman broke in the new man as a machine operator. 一位副工长训练新来的工人操作机器。5. To lessen the stiffness or newness of by use. 使（新物件）逐渐合用。◆ Breaking in a new car requires careful driving at moderate speeds. 试开新车需以中等速度谨慎驾驶。

break-in　n. (stress on break) (重读break) A robbery; a burglary. 盗窃；夜盗行为。◆ We lost our jewelry during a break-in. 一次夜盗使我们失去了所有的珠宝。

break into　v. 1. To force an entrance into; make a rough or unlawful entrance into. 强行进入；非法闯入。Thieves broke into the store at night. 窃贼在夜里闯入了那家商店。2. informal To succeed in beginning (a career, business, or a social life)〖非正式〗成功地开始（某种生涯、事业或社会生活）。◆ He broke into television as an actor. 他进入电视界做了演员。3. To interrupt. 打断。◆ He broke into the discussion with a shout of warning. 他大声警告打断了讨论。4. To begin suddenly. 突然开始。◆ He broke into a sweat. 他突然出了一身汗。◆ She broke into tears. 她突然哭了起来。

break it up!　v. phr. command Disperse; stop the gathering (or fight), and keep moving away from the scene. （命令）散开！停止打架！◆ "Come on you guys! Break it up!" the coach shouted, when the two basketball teams started a brawl in mid-court. 当两支篮球队的队员开始在中场斗殴时，教练大声喊道：“好了，你们这些家伙！快散开，别打了！”

break new ground　v. phr. 1. To start a new activity previously neglected by others; do pioneering work. 开辟新天地；开创新事业。◆ Albert Einstein broke new ground with his theory of relativity. 阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦以他的相对论开辟了新天地。2. To begin something never done before. 创新。◆ The school broke new ground with reading lessons that taught students to guess the meaning of new words. 该校创新开设了阅读课，教学生猜测生词的意思。

break off　v. 1. To stop suddenly. 突然停止。◆ The speaker was interrupted so often that he broke off and sat down. 演讲人经常被打断，于是他便突然住口坐了下来。◆ When Bob came in, Jean broke off her talk with Linda and talked to Bob. 鲍勃进来时，简突然中止了与琳达的谈话而对鲍勃谈了起来。2. informal To end a friendship or love. 〖非正式〗结束友谊（或爱情）；绝交；关系破裂。◆ I hear that Tom and Alice have broken off. 我听说汤姆和艾丽斯的关系已经破裂了。

break one's balls　v. phr., slang, vulgar, avoidable To do something with maximum effort; to do something very difficult or taxing〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗拼命干某事；干困难（或费劲）的事。◆ I've been breaking my balls to buy you this new color TV set and you aren't the least bit appreciative! 为了给你买这台新彩电我一直在拼老命，而你却一点也不感激！

break one's neck　v. phr., slang To do all you possibly can; try your hardest. — Usually used with a limiting adverb or negative. 〖俚〗竭力（做某事）；拼命。——通常与一限定副词或否定词连用。◆ John nearly broke his neck trying not to be late to school. 为了上学不迟到约翰几乎竭尽了全力。

break one's word　v. phr. To renege on a promise. 失信，食言；违背诺言。◆ When Jake broke his word that he would marry Sarah, she became very depressed. 杰克曾许诺娶萨拉为妻，当他违背诺言时，萨拉变得非常沮丧。

break out　v. 1. To begin showing a rash or other skin disorder. — Often used with with. 发皮疹。——常与with连用。◆ He broke out with scarlet fever. 他发了猩红热。2. To speak or act suddenly and violently. 突然有力地说；突然有力地行动。◆ He broke out laughing. 她突然大笑起来。◆ She broke out, "That is not so!"她突然喊道：“事情不是这样！”3. To begin and become noticeable. 爆发；突然发生。◆ Fire broke out after the earthquake. 地震之后发生了火灾。◆ War broke out in 1812. 战争于1812年爆发。4. informal To bring out; open and show. 〖非正式〗拿出来；打开展示。◆ When Mr. Carson's first son was born, he broke out the cigars he had been saving. 当卡森先生的第一个儿子出生时，他把存放了很久的雪茄取了出来。

break out in laughter　v. phr. To burst out in sudden uncontrollable laughter. 突然大笑起来。◆ Every time Joe tells a joke I break out in laughter. 每次乔讲笑话我都会哈哈大笑。

break out in tears or break out into tears　v. phr. To suddenly start crying without being able to stop. 突然哭起来。◆ When Sue heard that her husband was killed in action, she broke out in tears. 听到丈夫阵亡的消息，苏哇的一声哭了起来。

break sb.'s heart　v. phr. To discourage greatly; make very sad or hopeless. 使某人心碎；使某人很伤心。◆ His son's disgrace broke his heart. 他儿子干的丢脸事使他很伤心。◆ When Mr. White lost everything he had worked so hard for, it broke his heart. 当怀特先生失去了他曾为之努力工作的一切时，他的心碎了。

break the ice　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To conquer the first difficulties in starting a conversation, getting a party going, or making an acquaintance. 打破冷场；打破僵局；使（集会）气氛活跃。◆ To break the ice Ted spoke of his interest in mountain climbing, and they soon had a conversation going. 为了打破冷场，泰德谈起了他对登山运动的兴趣，于是他们很快便交谈起来。2. To be the first person or team to score in a game. （比赛中）首先得分。◆ The Wolves broke the ice with a touchdown. 狼队首先触地得分，打破了僵局。

break the news　v. phr. To reveal new information, sometimes in the midst of a regularly scheduled broadcast, or by personal visit or telephone call. 透露消息；（电台、电视台中断正常节目）宣布重大新闻；把（不幸的）消息（委婉地）告诉（某人）。◆ The army has the sad job of breaking the news to family members when one of theirs has been killed in action or is missing in action. 军队有一项令人伤心的职责：当一名战士在战斗中阵亡或失踪时把消息告诉其家人。

break the record　v. phr. To set or to establish a new mark or record. 打破纪录。◆ Algernon broke the record in both the pentathlon and the decathlon and took home two gold medals from the Olympics. 阿尔杰农在五项全能和十项全能中均打破了纪录并在奥运会上取得了两枚金牌。

break through　v. (stress on through) (重读through) To be successful after overcoming a difficulty or bar to success. 取得突破性成就；克服困难（或障碍）取得成功。◆ Dr. Salk failed many times but he finally broke through to find a successful polio vaccine. 索尔克医生失败了多次，但他最终取得突破，发现了一种成功预防脊髓灰质炎的疫苗。

breakthrough　n. (stress on break) (重读break) A point of sudden success after a long process of experimentation, trial and error. 突破性进展；突破点。◆ The U. S. Space Program experienced a major breakthrough when Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in June of 1969. 当阿姆斯特朗和奥尔德林在1969年月登上月球时，美国太空计划经历了一次重大突破。

break up　v. phr. (stress on up) (重读up) To end a romantic relationship, a marriage, or a business partnership. 结束恋爱关系（或婚姻、商业合股关系）。◆ Tom and Jane broke up because Tom played so much golf that he had no time for her. 汤姆和简离异了，因为汤姆经常打高尔夫球，根本没有时间陪伴她。

break up　v. (stress on up) (重读up) 1. To break into pieces. 粉碎；打碎；破裂。◆ The workmen broke up the pavement to dig up the pipes under it. 工人们敲开人行道，挖出了下面的管子。◆ River ice breaks up in the spring. 春天河里的冰开始碎裂。2. informal To lose or destroy spirit or self-control. — Usually used in the passive. 〖非正式〗使精神垮掉。——通常用于被动语态。◆ Mrs. Lawrence was all broken up after her daughter's death, and did not go out of the house for two months. 女儿死后，劳伦斯夫人的精神完全崩溃了，有两个月没有出家门。3. To come or to put to an end, especially by separation; separate. 结束；终止；分开。◆ Some men kept interrupting the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting. 有些男人不停地打断发言者，并最终使会议不欢而散。◆ The party broke up at midnight. 聚会在午夜结束。—Often used in the informal phrase break it up. 通常用于非正式短语break it up中。◆ The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break it up. 男孩子们在打架，一个路过的警察命令他们住手。4. informal To stop being friends. 〖非正式〗绝交。◆ Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then they had a quarrel and broke up. 玛丽和琼本来是好朋友，无论做什么事情都在一起，但后来两人吵了一架就绝交了。

break-up　n. (stress on break) (重读break) The end of a relationship, personal or commercial. 关系破裂。◆ The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided to sue each other for embezzlement. 当史密斯和布朗决定控告对方盗用公款时，两人的关系终于破裂了。

break with　v. To separate yourself from; end membership in; stop friendly association with脱离；与…绝交；与…决裂。◆ He broke with the Democratic party on the question of civil rights. 他因民权问题而脱离了民主党。

breathe down sb.'s neck　v. phr., informal To follow closely; threaten from behind; watch every action. 〖非正式〗紧跟在某人后面；从背后威胁某人；密切监视某人。◆ Too many creditors were breathing down his neck. 跟在他后面逼债的人太多了。◆ The carpenter didn't like to work for Mr. Jones, who was always breathing down his neck. 那位木匠不喜欢为琼斯先生干活，因为他老是紧紧地盯着他。

breathe easily or breathe freely　v. To have relief from difficulty or worry; relax; feel that trouble is gone; stop worrying. 如释重负；松一口气；不再担心。◆ Now that the big bills were paid, he breathed more easily. 既然几张大的账单已付，他现在可以松口气了。◆ His mother didn't breathe easily until he got home that night. 直到那天晚上他回到家，他母亲才安下心来。

breathe one's last　v. phr. To die. 断气；死。◆ The wounded soldier fell back on the ground and breathed his last. 那位受伤的士兵往后摔倒在地上，然后就死了。

breathing room　n. phr. Freedom from coercive, marital, or managerial control. （高压统治、婚姻约束或管理控制下的）自由。◆ "You've got to give me some breathing room!" Sue cried, "or I'll file for divorce right now!"“你必须给我一些自由，”苏大声喊道，“不然我马上就起诉要求离婚！”

breeze in　v. phr., slang, informal To walk into a place casually (like a soft blowing wind). 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（像一阵清风似的）飘然而入；信步走进。◆ Betsie breezed in and sat down at the bar. 贝齐飘然而入，在吧台边坐了下来。

bright and early　adj. phr. Prompt and alert; on time and ready; cheerful and on time or before time. 敏捷的；按时做好准备的；高兴而又按时（或提前）的。◆ He came down bright and early to breakfast. 他高高兴兴地按时下楼来吃早餐。◆ She arrived bright and early for the appointment. 她兴致勃勃地提前来赴约。

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed　adj. phr. Lively, eager, healthy, like a young puppy dog. （像小狗一样）活泼健康的；充满活力的；机警灵活的。◆ "Good morning Bobby," father said, "you sure look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this fine day! Any special plans?"“早上好，鲍比，”父亲说，“今天这么好的天，你看上去确实很精神！有什么特别的计划吗？”

bring about　v. To cause; produce; lead to. 引起；造成；导致。◆ The war had brought about great changes in living. 这场战争给人们的生活方式带来了巨大变化。◆ Drink brought about his downfall. 酗酒导致了他的堕落。

bring an end to　v. phr. To stop something. 结束，终止。◆ We must bring an end to the tribal warfare and the rule of the landlords in Afghanistan. 我们必须结束阿富汗的部落战争和地主的统治。

bring around or bring round　v. 1. informal To restore to health or consciousness; cure. 〖非正式〗使恢复健康；使恢复知觉；治愈。◆ He was quite ill, but good nursing brought him around. 他病得很厉害，但精心的护理使他恢复了健康。2. To cause a change in thinking; persuade; convince; make willing. 使改变想法；说服；使确信；使愿意。◆ After a good deal of discussion he brought her round to his way of thinking. 经过长时间的讨论，他终于说服她同意了他的想法。

bringdown　n., slang, informal（stress on bring）〖俚〗〖非正式〗（重读bring）1. （from bring down, past brought down）. （来自bring down，过去式brought down）. A critical or cutting remark said sarcastically in order to deflate a braggard's ego. 讽刺批评的话；尖刻挖苦的话。◆ John always utters the right bringdown when he encounters a braggard. 约翰每次碰到吹牛自夸者，总能说出适当的挖苦话挫其傲气。2. A person who depresses and saddens others by being a chronic complainer. 经常抱怨而令人扫兴的人。◆ John is a regular bringdown. 约翰是个经常抱怨而让人扫兴的家伙。

bring down　v. phr., slang, informal（stress on down）〖俚〗〖非正式〗（重读down）1. To deflate (someone's ego). 挫（某人的自尊）。◆ John brought Ted down very cleverly with his remarks. 约翰用几句话便非常巧妙地杀了泰德的威风。2. To depress (someone). 使沮丧。◆ The funeral brought me down completely. 葬礼使我非常压抑。

bring down the house　v. phr., informal To start an audience laughing or clapping enthusiastically. 〖非正式〗博得哄堂大笑；博得全场喝彩（或欢烈鼓掌）。◆ The president made a fine speech which brought down the house. 总统发表了精彩演说，博得全场热烈鼓掌。

bring grist to sb.'s mill or it is all grist to sb.'s (the) mill　v. To obtain profit-yielding work, work that brings in monetary reward. — A proverb. 〖谚〗给某人带来好处；使某人有利可图（或赚钱）。◆ "Every bump on a rear fender brings grist to my mill," said the manager of the body shop. 车身修理厂的经理说：“后挡泥板每撞一次都能让我赚钱。”

bring home　v. To show clearly; emphasize; make (someone) realize; demonstrate. 清楚地显示；强调；使（某人）认识到；证明。◆ The accident caused a death in his family, and it brought home to him the evil of drinking while driving. 这次车祸使他家中死亡一人，这使他清楚地认识到酒后开车的危害。

bring home the bacon　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To support your family; earn the family living. 挣钱养家；供养。◆ He was a steady fellow, who always brought home the bacon. 他是个稳重的人，一直供养他的家人。2. To win a game or prize. 赢得比赛；获奖。◆ The football team brought home the bacon. 橄榄球队赢得了比赛。

bring in　v. To tune one's radio so that a station can be heard. 调整收音机的频率收听（某电台）。◆ "Can you bring in the BBC on that portable machine of yours?"“你那台手提式收音机能收听到BBC电台吗？”

bring or wheel in or out or up the big guns　v. phr. To make use of a concealed plan in order to defeat an opponent in an argument or in a game, debate, or competition. （在比赛、辩论或竞争中）搬出重武器；打出王牌。◆ The new computer software company decided to bring out the big guns to get ahead of the competition. 那家新的电脑软件公司决定打出王牌以便在竞争中胜出。

bring into focus　v. phr. To make something clearly known, understood. 使人们清楚地知道（或理解）；使明确。◆ September 11, 2001 brought into focus the importance of preparedness against domestic terrorism. 2001年9月11日使人们清楚地认识到防备国内恐怖主义的重要性。

bring into line　v. phr. To make someone conform to the accepted standard. 使（某人）符合规范。◆ Sam had to be brought into line when he refused to take his muddy shoes off the cocktail table. 当萨姆拒绝把沾满烂泥的鞋从矮茶几边拿走时，那就必须给他做做规矩了。

bring into play　v. phr. To cause something to have an effect or influence or force. 使起作用；使产生影响；使发挥效力。◆ Who knows what details may be brought into play when the talks about a postwar Iraq begin. 关于战后伊拉克的会谈一开始，谁知道会出现一些什么细节问题。

bring into the open　v. phr. To cause something to be publicly known, no longer kept as a secret. 使众所周知；使公开。◆ The Iraqis must bring into the open their caches of weapons of mass destruction, if they are to be trusted by the United Nations. 如果要赢得联合国的信任，伊拉克人就必须公开他们的大规模杀伤性武器的贮藏处。

bring off　v. To do (something difficult); perform successfully (an act of skill); accomplish (something requiring unusual ability). 做（困难之事）；成功地做；完成（需要特殊技能的工作）。◆ He tried several times to break the high jump record, and finally he brought it off. 他几次试图打破跳高纪录，最后终获成功。

bring on　v. To result in; cause; produce. 导致；引起；产生。◆ The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 brought on the First World War. 1914年夏天弗朗茨·费迪南德大公的被谋杀导致了第一次世界大战。◆ Spinal meningitis brought on John's deafness when he was six years old. 约翰6岁时因患脊膜炎而变聋。◆ Reading in a poor light may bring on a headache. 在昏暗的灯光下阅读可能会引起头痛。

bring out　v. 1. To cause to appear; make clear. 显示出；使变得明显。◆ His report brought out the foolishness of the plan. 他的报告揭示出这项计划的愚蠢。◆ Brushing will bring out the beauty of your hair. 梳头会显示出你的头发之美。2. To help (an ability or skill) grow or develop. 促使（能力、技术）提高（或发展）。◆ The teacher's coaching brought out a wonderful singing voice of great power and warmth. 老师的指导培养出一副声音洪亮充满热情的美妙歌喉。3. To offer to the public by producing, publishing, or selling. 推出；出版；销售。◆ He brought out a new play. 他推出了一个新的剧本。◆ The company brought out a line of light personal airplanes. 这家公司生产出一种轻型的私人飞机。

bring someone down a peg or two　v. phr. To deflate an overinflated ego, to put someone in his or her place. 挫某人的傲气；杀某人的威风。◆ Stanley has too high an opinion of himself; clearly he has to be brought down a peg or two. 斯坦利也太自命不凡了，显然必须杀一杀他的傲气。

bring someone down to earth or bring someone down to earth with a bang or bring someone down to earth with a bump　v. phr. To make someone face the unpleasant truth and reality; to make someone give up living in the clouds. 使某人面对不愉快的现实；使某人不再幻想。◆ The cruel dictator believed that he and his cohorts were invincible, so the civilized world had to bring him down to earth with a bump. 那个残暴的独裁者认为他和他的追随者是不可战胜的，所以文明世界必须猛击一掌让他清醒过来。

bring someone in on the ground floor　v. phr. To offer someone employment at a low rank or at the beginning phases of a company in the hope that such an employee will keep growing with the institution. 雇用某人干最低级的工作；在企业开始阶段雇用某人。◆ When the University of Illinois at Chicago opened its gates in 1965, many a new assistant professor was hoping that being brought in on the ground floor would eventually put him or her in an advantageous position. 当伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校在1965年创办时，许多新来的助理教授希望办学之初进校将最终使他们处于有利地位。

bring someone into the world　v. phr. To give birth to a child. 生孩子◆ Many couples believe that it is a bad idea to bring someone into the world during wartime or uncertain economic conditions. 很多夫妻认为，在战争期间或在经济状况不稳定的时期生孩子是不明智的。

bring someone to his feet　v. phr. To be so effective as a performer or speechmaker that the audience rises to its feet and applauds enthusiastically. （因演出或演说成功而）使观众起立欢呼。◆ Luciano Pavarotti's performance in Il Trovatore, when he sang the high C note, brought the entire Lyric Opera to its feet. 卢西亚诺·帕瓦罗蒂在演出《吟游诗人》唱出高音C时，整个抒情诗歌剧院的观众都起立为他欢呼。

bring suit against　v. phr. To sue some-one in a court of law. 控告（某人）；起诉（某人）。◆ Fred brought suit against Tom for fraud and embezzlement. 弗雷德控告汤姆诈骗及挪用公款。

bring to　v. (stress on to) (重读to) 1. To restore to consciousness; wake from sleep, anesthesia, hypnosis, or fainting. 使恢复知觉；使苏醒。◆ Smelling salts will often bring a fainting person to. 嗅盐经常可使昏迷中的人苏醒过来。2. To bring a ship or boat to a stop. 使（船）停驶。◆ Reaching the pier, he brought the boat smartly to. 到达码头后，他很敏捷地把船停了下来。

bring to a close　v. phr. To terminate; cause to end. 使结束；使终止。◆ The meeting was brought to an abrupt close when the speaker collapsed with a heart attack. 演讲人因心脏病发作而倒下时，会议便突然结束了。

bring to a dead end　v. phr. To prevent the further advance of an object or a project. 使无法进行下去；使陷入僵局。◆ The investigation of the missing girl was suddenly brought to a dead end when the accused criminal committed suicide in jail before the trial. 当被指控的罪犯在审判前自杀于狱中时，对失踪女孩的调查突然陷入了僵局。

bring to a head　v. phr. To cause some activity to reach the point of culmination. 使（某一活动）达到顶点（或高潮）；使结束。◆ Time is running out, gentlemen, so let us bring this discussion to a head. 剩下的时间不多了，先生们，所以咱们就结束这次讨论吧。

bring to attention　v. phr. To cause soldiers to stand upright and stiffly. 命令（士兵们）立正。◆ The sergeant brought the company to attention when the lieutenant arrived. 中尉一到，中士便命令全连士兵立正。

bring to bay　v. phr. To chase or force into a place where escape is impossible without a fight; trap; corner. 迫使陷入走投无路的境地；使陷入困境；使走投无路。◆ The police brought the robber to bay on the roof and he gave up. 警察把强盗逼到了房顶上，他只得投降。◆ The fox was brought to bay in a hollow tree and the dogs stood around it barking. 狐狸被逼进一棵中空的树中，那些狗则围着树狂吠。

bring to light　v. phr. To discover (some-thing hidden); find out about; expose. 发现；发掘；揭露。◆ Many things left by the ancient Egyptians in tombs have been brought to light by scientists and explorers. 古埃及人的许多随葬品已被科学家和探险家发掘出来。

bring to mind　v. phr. To remember somebody or something. 想起，回忆起。◆ No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring to mind the year my father was born. 不管我多么努力，我都想不起父亲是哪一年出生的。

bring to one's knees　v. phr. To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. 迫使…屈服；使遭受挫折；严重削弱…的力量；严重损害…的功能。◆ The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees. 燃料短缺使汽车工业遭到重创。

bring to pass　v. phr., informal To make (something) happen; succeed in causing. 〖非正式〗使发生，使实现；促成。◆ The change in the law was slow in coming, and it took a disaster to bring it to pass. 法律的修改很缓慢，经历了一场灾难才得以实现。

bring to rest　v. phr. To cause something, such as an engine, to stop. 使（机器等）停止。◆ The farmer managed to bring his tractor to rest in the field after a brief struggle. 经过短时间的努力，农夫总算把拖拉机停在了田里。

bring to terms　v. phr., To make (someone) agree or do; make surrender. 使（某人）同意；使（某人）屈服。◆ The war won't end until we bring the enemy to terms. 除非我们打得敌人屈服，否则战争就不会结束。

bring to the (a) boil　v. phr. 1. To heat a liquid until it begins to boil. 使沸腾，煮沸，烧开。◆ Water is normally brought to the boil at 100℃ (212℉) but at higher altitudes water is brought to the boil at lower temperatures. 通常情况下，水在摄氏100度（华氏212度）烧开，但在海拔高的地方水在较低的温度就可烧开。2. To cause something such as a previously dormant problem to reach a state of crisis or urgency. 使处于危急关头；使达到紧急状态。◆ The attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center brought to a boil the constant danger of domestic terrorism. 对世贸中心“双厦”的袭击使国内恐怖主义这一不断发生的危险一下子变得紧迫起来。

bring up　v. 1. To take care of (a child); raise, train, educate. 养育；抚养；培养；教育。◆ He gave much attention and thought to bringing up his children. 他在养育孩子方面花了很多心思。◆ Joe was born in Texas but brought up in Oklahoma. 乔生在得克萨斯州，但在俄克拉何马州长大。2. informal To stop; halt. — Usually used with short. 〖非正式〗使突然停止。——通常与short连用。◆ He brought the car up short when the light changed to red. 信号灯转成红色时，他一下子便把车停了下来。◆ Bill started to complain, I brought him up short. 比尔开始抱怨时，我马上就叫他停了下来。3. To begin a discussion of; speak of; mention. 开始讨论；提出；谈起。◆ At the class meeting Bob brought up the idea of a picnic. 在班会上，鲍勃提出了举行野餐的想法。

bring up the rear　v. phr. 1. To come last in a march, parade, or procession; end a line. 殿后；断后；走在最后面。◆ The governor and his staff brought up the rear of the parade. 州长和他手下的工作人员走在游行队伍的最后面。2. informal To do least well; do the most poorly of a group; be last. 〖非正式〗做得最差；居末。◆ In the race, John brought up the rear. 在比赛中，约翰跑了最后一名。◆ In the basketball tournament, our team brought up the rear. 在篮球锦标赛中，我们队得了最后一名。

bring up to date　v. phr. To make something current, or to share contemporary information with someone. 使（某事物）切合目前情况；更新；修订；使（某人）了解最新情况。◆ This poor old provincial radio station has to be brought up to date with some new equipment. 这家破旧的老电台必须用一些新的设备加以更新了。◆ "Let me bring you up to date on the state of our college's ruinous finances," the Dean said to the new applicant. 院长对新来的求职者说：“让我把我们学院灾难性的财务状况的最新情况告诉你吧。”

bring up to standard　v. phr. To make an outmoded piece of equipment or the working conditions of employees conform with the current state of the art, considered the standard at the time. 使达到标准；使符合要求。◆ Chicago's antiquated subway system must soon be brought up to standard. 必须使芝加哥陈旧的地铁系统很快达到现代化的标准。

broken record　n. phr. Someone who keeps repeating the same stories over and over again, like an old-fashioned gramophone record that is stuck in a given groove. “破唱片”，翻来覆去讲述同一件事的人；翻来覆去纠缠不休的人。◆ Poor Grandpa is getting senile; he keeps repeating his wartime stories again and again and is beginning to sound like a broken record. 可怜的爷爷越老越糊涂了；他一遍一遍地不断重复他战时的故事，听上去就像一张破唱片。

broke to the wide, wide world　adj. phr. Penniless; having no money at all. 不名一文的；根本没有钱的。◆ "I couldn't get a penny out of John for his membership dues; the poor guy seems to be broke to the wide, wide world."“约翰应交的会员费我从他那里一分钱也拿不到；这个可怜的家伙似乎穷得一个子儿也没有了。”

Bronx cheer　n. phr., slang A loud sound made with tongue and lips to show opposition or scorn. 〖俚〗（表示反对或鄙视的）嘘声。◆ When he began to show anti-union feelings, he was greeted with Bronx cheers all around. 当他开始表示出反工会的情绪时，周围的人们都向他发出了嘘声。

browbeat into　v. phr. To coerce someone to do or say something by brute force or blackmail. 威逼（某人）做（某事）。◆ In the democratic West the police are not expected to browbeat the accused to admit to any wrongdoing. 在西方民主国家，警察不可以逼迫被告承认任何罪行。

brown-bagger　n., slang, informal A person who does not go to the cafeteria or to a restaurant for lunch at work, but who brings his homemade lunch to work in order to save money. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗自带午饭上班者。◆ John became a brown-bagger not because he can't afford the restaurant, but because he is too busy to go there. 约翰自带午饭去上班，并不是因为他吃不起餐馆，而是因为他太忙，没有时间去那儿。

brown-nose　v., slang, avoidable, though gaining in acceptance To curry favor in a subservient way, as by obviously exaggerated flattery. 〖俚〗〖忌〗拍…的马屁。◆ Max brown-noses his teachers, that's why he gets all A's in his courses. 马克斯拍老师们的马屁，所以他才门门功课都得优。

brown paper bag　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon An unmarked police car. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗没有标志的警车。◆ The beaver got a Christmas card because she didn't notice the brown paper bag at her back door. 那女人得到一张超速行驶的罚款单，因为她没有注意到车尾那辆没有标志的警车。

brush aside　v. phr. To ignore; give no reply. 不理，不顾；不回答。◆ Brushing aside the editor's comments, the young novelist proceeded with his story, which was subsequently rejected by the publisher. 年轻的小说家不理会编辑的意见，继续写他的故事，后来这故事被出版商所拒绝。

brush back　v. To throw a baseball pitch close to. 投一个靠近（击球手）使之难以击出好球的球。◆ The pitcher threw a high inside pitch to brush the batter back. 投手投出一个高内角球，使击球手难以击出好球。

brush off or give the brush off　v. phr. 1. To refuse to hear or believe, quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important. 拒绝听；拒绝相信；不重视；不看重。◆ John brushed off Bill's warning that he might fall from the tree. 比尔警告说约翰可能会从树上摔下来，但约翰却充耳不闻。2. informal To be unfriendly to; not talk or pay attention to (someone); get rid of. 〖非正式〗对…不友好；不理睬；把…打发掉；摆脱。◆ Mary brushed off Bill at the dance. 玛丽在舞会上不理睬比尔。

brush up or brush up on　v. To refresh one's memory of or skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. 重温；再练（技能）；提高；改进。◆ She spent the summer brushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall. 她整个夏天都在重温美国史，因为秋天她就要教这门课。◆ He brushed up his target shooting. 他练习了打靶。

bubble gum music　n., slang The kind of rock'n'roll that appeals to young teenagers. 〖俚〗（以爱嚼泡泡糖的青少年为主要听众的）“泡泡糖”摇滚乐。◆ When will you learn to appreciate Mozart instead of that bubble gum music? 你什么时候才能学会欣赏莫扎特而不是那种“泡泡糖”摇滚乐？

bubble over with　v. phr. To show extraordinary enthusiasm for somebody or something; considered a sign of naïvety. 对某人或某事表现出异乎寻常的热情；情感洋溢；极为兴奋。◆ Tim was bubbling over with joy when Sue accepted his invitation to the prom. 当苏接受了他的邀请去参加班级舞会时，蒂姆欣喜若狂。

bubble trouble　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Tire trouble, flat tire. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗瘪气的车胎。◆ The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to have bubble trouble. 我前面那辆挂拖车的卡车似乎车胎瘪了气。

bucket of bolts　n., slang A very old and shaky car that barely goes. 〖俚〗破旧的老爷车。◆ When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of bolts? 你打算什么时候处理掉那辆破旧的老爷车？

buckle down or knuckle down　v. To give complete attention (to an effort or job); attend. 全神贯注于；专心于；致力于。◆ They chatted idly for a few moments then each buckled down to work. 他们闲聊了一会，然后便各自专心工作了。◆ Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his father told him to buckle down. 吉姆不学习，整天瞎混；所以他父亲要他认真读书。

buckle under　v. phr. To admit one's defeat; to allow one's resistance to crumble; to yield. 承认失败；屈服；投降。◆ The cruel dictator's forces will inevitably buckle under the democratic coalition forces's assault. 面对民主国家联军的强攻，那个残暴独裁者的军队将不可避免地屈服投降。

buck passer, buck-passing　See见PASS THE BUCK.

buffeting of fate or the buffets of fate　n. phr. Those unforeseeable and incalculable forces of both nature and society that cause one to change one's life, such as get a divorce, emigrating, etc. 命运的打击。◆ The buffeting of fate made many early Americans go west. 命运的打击曾使很多早期的美国人去了西部。

bug-eyed　adj., slang Wide-eyed with surprise. 〖俚〗因惊讶而瞪大眼睛的。◆ He stood there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award. 得知自己获奖后，他站在那儿愣住了。

buggy-whip　n., slang An unusually long, thin radio antenna on a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. 〖俚〗（汽车上的）无线电天线。◆ He's very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip. 自从汽车上装上无线电天线以来他一直很得意。

bughouse^1　n., slang An insane asylum. 〖俚〗精神病院；疯人院。◆ They took Joe to the bughouse. 他们把乔送进了精神病院。

bughouse^2　adj., slang Crazy, insane. 〖俚〗疯狂的；有精神病的。◆ Joe's gone bughouse. 乔发疯了。

bug in sb.'s ear　n., phr., informal A hint; secret information given to someone to make him act; idea. 〖非正式〗（给某人的）暗示；私下叮咛。◆ I saw Mary at the jeweler's admiring the diamond pin; I'll put a bug in Henry's ear. 我看到玛丽在珠宝店里对那枚钻石别针赞不绝口；我要给亨利暗示一下，让他买了送她。

bug out　v. phr. To get out of a place in a great hurry; to escape. 仓促离去；逃跑。◆ "Come on! Let's bug out!" Sergeant O'Leary cried, when the enemy started to shoot at the foxhole where the marines hid. 当敌人开始向陆战队队员们藏身的散兵坑射击时，中士奥利里大声喊道：“快！咱们撤吧！”

build a fire under　v. phr., To urge or force (a slow or unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. 催促（或迫使）（某人）行动起来；唤起。◆ The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license. 卫生部门以吊销营业执照相威胁，迫使那家餐馆的老板搞好餐馆的卫生。

build castles in the air or build castles in Spain　v., phr. To make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that are unlikely. 建造空中楼阁；做白日梦；想入非非。◆ He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded in anything. 他喜欢想入非非，但却一事无成。◆ To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their wishes. 年轻人生性喜欢做不切实际的幻想，但如果他们刻苦努力也可能会实现部分愿望。

build on sand　v. phr. To lay a weak or insufficient foundation for a building, a business, or a relationship. 把…建筑在沙土上；使基础不稳固。◆ "I don't want to build my business on sand," John said, "so please, Dad, give me that loan I requested". “我不想把我的公司建筑在沙土上，”约翰说，“所以，爸爸，请把我要求的那笔贷款贷给我吧。”

build up　v. 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; construct from parts. 建成；建造。◆ Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow. 约翰尼用一些大雪球堆成了一座城堡。2. To cover over or fill up with buildings. 以建筑物覆盖；在…上造满房子。◆ A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up. 车开到房子密集的地区，司机应减速。3a. To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow. 缓慢增加；增长。◆ John built up a bank account by saving regularly. 约翰定期储蓄，银行存款慢慢增多。3b. To make stronger or better or more effective. 增强；改进；使更有效。◆ Fred exercised to build up his muscles. 弗雷德锻炼身体以增强肌肉。3c. informal To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. 〖非正式〗大肆宣传；吹捧。◆ The press agent built up the young actress. 新闻广告员大肆吹捧那位年轻的女演员。

build up to　v. phr. To be in the process of reaching a culmination point. 集结成；发展到。◆ The clouds were building up to a violent storm. 阴云在密集，很快就会有一场猛烈的暴风雨。◆ Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce. 他们之间激烈的气话将导致过早的离婚。

bulk up　v. phr. To get larger and firmer muscles by lifting weights. （通过举重）肌肉变得发达。◆ Peter bulked up considerably after having pumped some iron at Bally's health club for a year. 在巴利健身俱乐部练了一年的举重以后，彼得的肌肉发达了许多。

bullet lane　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon The passing lane. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗超车道。◆ Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler is moving too slow. 开进超车道去吧，这辆18轮大卡车开得太慢了。

bull in a china shop　n. phr. A rough or clumsy person who says or does some-thing to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. 闯进瓷器店的公牛；鲁莽闯祸的人。◆ We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk made the teacher say no. 我们当时正礼貌而谨慎地跟老师讨论班级聚会的事，但约翰突然莽撞地闯了进来，他粗鲁的言词使得老师一口拒绝。

bull session　n. slang A long informal talk about something by a group of persons. 〖俚〗（一群人的）闲聊；自由交谈。◆ After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bull session until the lights went out. 比赛之后男孩子们在宿舍里一直闲聊到熄灯为止。

bullshit　n., vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. 〖粗〗胡扯；吹牛；大话。◆ "Joe, this is a lot of bullshit!"“乔，这真是一派胡言！”

bullshit　v., vulgar to informal, gaining in social acceptance by some To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to make yourself seem impressive. 〖粗〗〖非正式〗（对…）胡说；（对…）吹牛。◆ "Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can't believe a word of what you're saying."“别对着我吹了，乔，你说的话我一句也不信。”

bullshit artist　n., slang, vulgar, but gaining in social acceptance A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely flattering speeches designed to impress others. 〖俚〗〖粗〗牛皮大王。◆ Joe is a regular bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps getting promoted ahead of everyone else. 乔是个十足的牛皮大王，怪不得他一直晋升，超过了每个人。

bully for you!　adj. phr. exclamation Good for you! Congratulations! You have done very well!〖感叹语〗好极了！祝贺你！干得好！◆ "Bully for you, Alvin!" the class cried out as one man, when we learned that Alvin had won the Illinois state lottery. 当我们得知阿尔文赢得伊利诺伊州的彩票大奖时，全班异口同声地喊道：“好极了，阿尔文！”

bum around　v. phr., slang To aimlessly wander in no definite direction, like a vagabond. 〖俚〗游荡；到处闲逛。◆ Jim had been bumming around in the desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he got there in the first place. 吉姆在沙漠里游荡了3天3夜后才记起来自己最初是怎么到了那里的。

bumper to bumper　adj. phr. Heavily congested with hardly any progress made or room to maneuver. （汽车）一辆接一辆的；紧挨着的。◆ The traffic on all major highways around Chicago was bumper to humper; naturally we were two hours late. 芝加哥周围所有的主要公路上汽车都是一辆接一辆；我们很自然地就迟到了两小时。

bump into　v., informal To meet without expecting to; happen to meet; come upon by accident. 〖非正式〗邂逅；不期而遇；偶然遇见◆ Ed was surprised to bump into John at the football game. 埃德在看橄榄球比赛时邂逅约翰，不胜惊喜。

bump off　v., slang To kill in a violent way; murder in gangster fashion. 〖俚〗残酷地杀死；谋杀。◆ Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with Tommy guns. 暴徒们乘着一辆疾驶而过的汽车用冲锋枪把他杀死了。

bump on a log　n. phr. A boring or uninteresting, dull person. 呆头呆脑的人；乏味的人。◆ Small wonder the girls don't like poor Joe; he is such a bump on a log. 难怪女孩子们不喜欢可怜的乔；他呆头呆脑的就像个木头人。

bum's rush　n. phr., slang〖俚〗1. Throwing or pushing someone out from where he is not wanted. 驱逐；赶走；撵走。◆ When John tried to go to the party where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum's rush. 当约翰未经邀请而试图前去参加聚会时，比尔和弗雷德把他赶了出来。2. Hurrying or rushing (someone). 催促。◆ The salesman tried to give me the bum's rush. 售货员试图催我快把货物买下。

bum steer　n. Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on purpose. 错误的指点；馊主意。◆ Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me to go north on the highway; you should have sent me south! 老兄，那次你让我在公路上朝北走真的是瞎指挥；你应该让我往南走才对！

bundle of laughs　n. phr. A very amusing person, thing, or event. 非常有趣的人（或事）。◆ Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that he is a bundle of laughs. 莱斯特叔叔能讲那么多笑话，真是一个非常有趣的人。

bundle of nerves　adj. phr. Extremely nervous, jumpy, fidgety, restless. 神经极度紧张不安的。◆ Is your son Bobby always such a bundle of nerves? You should have him seen by a doctor for hyperactivity. 你儿子鲍比一直这么紧张不安吗？你应该让医生看看他是否患有活动亢进症。

burden of proof　n. phr. The imperative necessity for the prosecution to convince the jury that the accused is indeed guilty. 举证责任。◆ In a court of law the burden of proof rests always with the prosecution. 在法庭上，举证责任总是落在原告一方。

burden of (the) years　n. phr. The physical debilities of old age; aches and pains, etc. 老年的衰弱；多种病痛。◆ Poor Grandpa is showing the burden of years; he is able to do less and less around the house. 可怜的爷爷已显得老迈体衰了；他在家中能做的事越来越少了。

burn a hole in sb.'s pocket　v. phr. To make you want to buy something; be likely to be quickly spent. （钱）在某人口袋里留不住。◆ Money burns a hole in Linda's pocket. 琳达的口袋里留不住钱。

burn down　v. phr. To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by fire. （使）烧成平地；烧毁；烧光。◆ The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could get to it. 消防队员还未赶到，那幢旧的木板房就已烧光了。

burning question　n. phr. A subject that is responsible for generating a lot of excitement and discussion by the public at large. 激烈争论的问题。◆ The burning question for the United States often is whether or not to follow what the U. N. wishes, or to go its own way. 对美国来说，激烈争论的问题经常是要遵循联合国的意愿呢，还是一意孤行。

burn one's bridges also burn one's boats　v. phr. To make a decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave yourself no way to escape a position. 破釜沉舟；背水一战；自断退路；义无反顾。◆ When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges behind her. 多萝西做了修女后，便断了自己的退路。

burn one's fingers　v. phr., informal To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. 〖非正式〗吃过苦头；通过不快的经历学会了谨慎。◆ Some people can't be told; they have to burn their fingers to learn. 有些人就是不听劝，非得吃了亏才学到乖。

burn out　v. phr. 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. 烧毁；烧光。◆ Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car. 琼斯先生烧坏了汽车上的离合器。2. To destroy someone's house or business by fire so that they have to move out. 烧掉（某人）的家（或店）而迫使离开。◆ Three racists burned out the black family's home. 3个种族主义分子烧掉了那家黑人的家。3a. To go out of order; cease to function because of long use or overheating. 烧坏；用久损坏；过热损坏。◆ The light bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one. 浴室里的灯泡烧坏了，父亲换上了一个新的。◆ The electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out a fuse. 电动机的功率太大，烧断了一根保险丝。3b. To break, tire, or wear out by using up all the power, energy, or strength of. 使精疲力竭；使耗尽。◆ Bill burned himself out in the first part of the race and could not finish. 比尔在比赛开始时跑得精疲力竭，结果没能跑完全程。◆ The farmer burned out his field by planting the same crop every year for many years. 多年以来，那个农夫每年都种同一种作物，从而耗尽了地力。

burn-out　n. (stress on burn) (重读burn) A point of physical or emotional exhaustion. 精疲力竭。◆ There are so many refugees all over the world that charitable organizations as well as individuals are suffering from donor burn-out. 全世界有那么多难民，致使慈善组织和个人都患上了捐赠精疲力竭症。

burn rubber　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To start up a car or a motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark on the road. 快速启动汽车（或摩托车）致使橡胶轮胎在路面上留下痕迹。◆ The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber — look at the marks on the road! 附近参加短程高速汽车赛的选手们快速启动留下了很多轮胎印——看看路面上的轮胎痕迹就知道了！2. To leave in a hurry. 迅速离开。◆ I guess I am going to have to burn rubber. 我想我得赶快走了。

burnt child dreads the fire or once bitten, twice shy　A person who has suffered from doing something has learned to avoid doing it again. — A proverb. 〖谚〗烧伤过的孩子见火怕；一朝被灼伤，三年怕火光；一朝被蛇咬，三年怕井绳；吃一次亏，学一次乖。◆ Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary stays close to her mother when they are downtown. 有一次玛丽的母亲带她去闹市区，她曾走失。但吃一次亏，学一次乖，所以现在她们再去闹市区，玛丽总是紧跟着母亲。

burn the candle at both ends　v. phr. To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired. 两头点蜡烛；过分消耗精力；劳累过度。◆ He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends. 他作为一名律师每天白天拼命工作，每天晚上还要去参加聚会和舞会；真是一根蜡烛两头烧。

burn the midnight oil　v. phr. To study late at night. 学习到深夜；开夜车。◆ Exam time was near, and more and more pupils were burning the midnight oil. 考试的时间快到了，越来越多的学生在开夜车。

burn to a crisp　v. phr. To burn black; burn past saving or using especially as food. 烧焦。◆ While getting breakfast, Mother was called to the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned to a crisp. 准备早餐时，母亲被叫去接电话，等她回来时，腊肉已被烧焦。

burn up　v. 1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by fire. 烧尽；烧光；烧毁；烧坏。◆ Mr. Scott was burning up old letters. 斯科特先生正在烧旧信。◆ The house burned up before the firemen got there. 消防队员到达之前，房子已经烧光。2. informal To irritate, anger, annoy. 〖非正式〗使生气；使恼火。◆ The boy's laziness and rudeness burned up his teacher. 那男孩的懒惰和无礼激怒了老师。

burn up the road　v. phr., informal To drive a car very fast. 〖非正式〗高速驾驶汽车。◆ Speed demons burning up the road often cause accidents. 爱开飞车的人常出事故。

burst at the seams　v. phr., informal To be too full or too crowded. 〖非正式〗饱得胀破肚皮；胀破裂缝；过满；过于拥挤。◆ John ate so much he was bursting at the seams. 约翰吃得太多，肚子都快胀破了。

burst into　v. phr. 1. To enter suddenly. 突然进入；闯入。◆ Stuart burst into the room, screaming angrily. 斯图尔特突然闯进了房间，一边怒气冲冲地尖叫着。2. To break out. 爆发出；突然…起来。◆ The crowd burst into cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue. 当宇航员们沿着第五大街列队行进时，群众突然欢呼起来。

burst into flames　v. phr. To begin to burn suddenly. 突然烧起来。◆ The children threw away some burning matches and the barn burst into flames. 孩子们扔掉几根燃烧的火柴，接着谷仓便突然烧了起来。

burst into tears　v. phr. To suddenly start crying. 突然哭起来。◆ Mary burst into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in a car accident. 玛丽一听说她的兄弟在车祸中丧生便哇的一声哭了起来。

burst out　v. phr. 1. To escape. 逃出。◆ Very few inmates ever managed to burst out from Alcatraz in the Bay of San Francisco. 没有几个犯人从旧金山湾阿尔卡特拉兹监狱里逃出来过。2. To speak suddenly. 脱口而出；突然说出。◆ You will make a lot of enemies if you always burst out so suddenly and don't think before opening your mouth. 如果你总是开口前不假思索地脱口而出，你就会树敌甚多。

burst sb.'s bubble　v. phr. To disappoint someone. 令某人失望。◆ I hate to burst your bubble, but you didn't get the job you applied for. 我真不想让你失望，但你的确没有得到你申请的那份工作。

burst with joy or pride　v. phr. To be so full of the feeling of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing one's exuberant feelings. 充满喜悦（或自豪）。◆ Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when they stepped out on the moon in July, 1969. 当阿姆斯特朗和奥尔德林在1969年7月走出飞船踏上月球时，他们心中充满了自豪。

bury the hatchet　v. phr., informal To settle a quarrel or end a war, make peace. 〖非正式〗言归于好，和解；休战；讲和。◆ The two men had been enemies a long time, but after the flood they buried the hatchet. 两人长期以来相互敌视，但洪水过后他们却言归于好了。

bust out　v. phr. To escape, as from jail. 逃出。◆ The prisoners made a careful plan how to bust out of the maximum security prison, but after only half a day at large they were recaptured by the police. 犯人们制定了详尽的计划，要逃出防备措施最严格的监狱，但他们只在外面逍遥了半天，就被警察重新抓获了。

bust up　v. phr., slang To terminate a partnership, a relationship, a friend-ship, or a marriage. 〖俚〗结束（关系、友谊、婚姻）；使（关系、友谊、婚姻）破裂。◆ If Jack keeps drinking the way he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue. 如果杰克继续这样喝酒，他跟苏的婚姻就会破裂。

busybody　n. phr. A person who often unnecessarily interferes with the business of others under the pretext of trying to offer his help; a nosey person. 受管闲事的人。◆ "Stop being such a busybody," Joe warned the new employee. "This is not the way to succeed at this kind of work."“别这么爱管闲事，”乔告诫新来的雇员说。“要想在这一行里取得成功，这个办法可不灵。”

busy work　n. Work that is done not to do or finish anything important, but just to keep busy. 使人不致空闲而布置的工作。◆ When the teacher finished all she had to say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she gave the class a test for busy work. 老师讲完所有要讲的内容后，离放学还有半个小时。因此，她便给全班来了个测验以使学生不致空闲。

but good　adv. phr., informal Very much so; thoroughly; completely; forcefully. — Used for emphasis. 〖非正式〗彻底地；完全地；狠狠地。——用以加强语气。◆ Tom fell and broke his leg. That taught him but good not to fool around in high trees. 汤姆摔断了腿。这对他是个很好的教训：万不可在高树上瞎胡闹。

butterfingers　n. phr. Someone who is clumsy and easily drops things. 笨手笨脚的人；常从手中掉落东西的人。◆ "You had better do some hand-muscle exercises," Joe's doctor said, "or you'll remain a butterfingers, which can be embarrassing."“你最好做一些锻炼手部肌肉的运动，”乔的医生说，“不然你就会一直拿不住东西，这有时候就太难堪了。”

butterflies in one's stomach　n. phr. A queer feeling in the stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or anxiety in the stomach. 因紧张、害怕或焦虑而引起的恶心感；紧张；担心。◆ When Bob walked into the factory office to ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach. 当鲍勃走进工厂办公室去求职时，他感到很紧张。

butter up　v., informal To try to get the favor or friendship of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. 〖非正式〗奉承；巴结；讨好。◆ He began to butter up the boss in hope of being given a better job. 他开始讨好老板，希望能得到一份更好的工作。

butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth　informal You act very polite and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to people but are not sincere. 〖非正式〗装出一副很客气的样子；表面上一副老实相。◆ The new secretary was rude to the other workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. 新秘书对别的工人很粗暴，但跟老板讲话时，她却装出一副很客气的样子。

butt in　v., slang To join in with what other people are doing without asking or being asked; interfere in other people's business; meddle. 〖俚〗介入；插嘴；插手；干涉；干预。◆ Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when Barbara butted in. 玛丽正向简解释如何织毛衣时，芭芭拉却插了进来。— Often used with on. 常与on连用。◆ John butted in on Bill and Tom's fight, and got hurt. 约翰介入了比尔与汤姆的斗殴，结果受了伤。

button down　v., slang. (stress on down) (重读down) To state precisely, to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. 〖俚〗确切说明；查明；弄清；确定。◆ First let's get the facts buttoned down, then we can plan ahead. 首先让我们把事实弄清楚，然后我们才能订计划。

button-down　attrib. adj., slang (stress on button) (重读button) Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. 〖俚〗穿着考究的；穿着保守的。◆ Joe is a regular button-down type. 乔是个穿着很考究的人。

buttonhole　v. To approach a person in order to speak with him or her in private. 硬拖住（某人）谈话；强留（某人）谈话。◆ After waiting for several hours, Sam managed to buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building. 萨姆等了好几个小时，终于在老板就要离开大楼时硬拖住她讲了一会儿话。

button one's lip also zip one's lip　v. phr., slang To stop talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be quiet. 〖俚〗住嘴；保守秘密；守口如瓶；不吭声。◆ The man was getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip. 那人嗓门越来越高，骂的话越来越难听，警察要他住嘴。◆ John wanted to talk, but Dan told him to keep his lip buttoned. 约翰想说话，但丹却要他不要吭声。

butt out　See见MIND ONE'S OWN BUSINESS.

buy for a song　v. phr. To buy something very cheaply. 非常便宜地买。◆ Since the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it for a song. 由于街角处那幢房子已经破旧且疏于照管，所以我得以很便宜地买了下来。

buy off　v. To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. 贿赂；收买。◆ When the police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them off. 当警察威胁说要关闭那家赌场时，赌场老板贿赂了他们。

buy out　v. 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase the stock of. 买下…的产权（或股份）；买…的股票。◆ He bought out several small stockholders. 他买下了几位小股东的股票。2. To buy all the goods of; purchase the merchandise of. 买下…所有的货物（或商品）。◆ Mr. Harper bought out a nearby hardware store. 哈珀先生买下了附近一家五金店的全部货物。

buy up　v. phr. To purchase the entire stock of something. 全部买下。◆ The company is trying to buy up all the available shares. 这家公司打算把所有可以买到的股份全部买下。

buzz off　v. phr. (given as a command). To disappear, to get lost. （用作命令）走开，马上离开。◆ "Buzz off, kid!" the class bully yelled, when Johnny tried to say something. 当约翰尼想要说什么话时，班上的小霸王大声喊道：“走开，小子！”

buzz on　v. phr. To complain about or chide someone for some minor mishap. 抱怨；责骂。◆ There was no reason for Mom to buzz on like that; all I did was spill some coffee on the table. 妈妈那样责骂毫无道理；我只是洒了一些咖啡在桌子上。

buzz word　n. A word that sounds big and important in a sentence but, on closer inspection, means little except the speaker's indication to belong to a certain group. （内容空洞、主要用以在外行面前显示自己高明的）玄妙的术语；时髦词语。◆ The politician's speech was nothing but a lot of misleading statements and phony promises hidden in a bunch of buzz words. 那位政客的演说除了许多骗人的说法和一堆时髦词语掩盖下的虚假承诺外什么实质性的东西都没有。

by all means also by all manner of means　adv. phr. Certainly, without fail. 一定；必定；务必。◆ He felt that he should by all means warn Jones. 他觉得他一定要警告琼斯。

by all odds　adv. phr. Without question; certainly. 无疑地；肯定地。◆ He was by all odds the strongest candidate. 他无疑是最强有力的候选人。

by a long shot　adv. phr. informal By a big difference; by far. — Used to add emphasis. 〖非正式〗在很大程度上；远远。——用以加强语气。◆ Bert was the best swimmer in the race, by a long shot. 伯特绝对是比赛中最好的游泳选手。◆ Our team didn't win — not by a long shot. 我们球队没赢——根本就赢不了。

by and by　adv. After a while; at some time in the future; later. 过一会儿；不久以后；后来。◆ Roger said he would do his homework by and by. 罗杰说他过一会儿就做作业。◆ The mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do a man's work. 母亲知道她的孩子很快就会长大成人，做一个男人的工作。

by and large　adv. phr. As it most often happens; more often than not; usually; mostly. 大体上；多半；通常；一般地。◆ There were bad days, but it was a pleasant summer, by and large. 虽然有一些令人不快的日子，但总的来说这还是一个愉快的夏天。◆ By and large, women can bear pain better than men. 一般说来，女人比男人更能忍受痛苦。

by chance　adv. phr. Without any cause or reason; by accident; accidentally. 碰巧；偶然地；意外地。◆ Tom met Bill by chance. 汤姆偶然遇到了比尔。◆ The apple fell by chance on Bobby's head. 苹果碰巧落在了鲍比的头上。

by choice　adv. phr. As a result of choosing; because of wanting to; freely. 出于自己的选择；因为想要；自由地。◆ John helped his father by choice. 约翰是自愿要帮助他父亲的。

by dint of　prep. By the exertion of; by the use of; through. 凭借；借…的力量；通过。◆ His success in college was largely by dint of hard study. 他在大学取得成功主要是靠刻苦学习。

by ear　adv. phr. 1. By sound, without ever reading the punted music of the piece being played. （不看乐谱）凭听觉（演奏或演唱）。◆ The church choir sang the hymns by ear. 教堂唱诗班凭听觉记忆演唱圣歌。2. Waiting to see what will happen. 见机行事；随机应变。◆ I don't want to plan now; let's just play it by ear. 我不想现在订计划；我们就看一步走一步吧。

by far　adv. phr. By a large difference; much. …得多；最…。◆ His work was better by far than that of any other printer in the city. 他的工作比市里其他印刷商的工作好得多。◆ The old road is prettier, but it is by far the longer way. 这条老路漂亮些，但它要远得多。

by fits and starts or jerks　adv. phr. With many stops and starts, a little now and a little more later; not all the time; irregularly. 时作时辍地；一阵一阵地；断断续续地；不规则地。◆ You will never get anywhere if you study just by fits and starts. 如果你一直学学停停，你是学不到什么东西的。

by heart　adv. phr. By exact memorizing; so well that you remember it; by memory. 靠记忆；熟记。◆ The pupils learned many poems by heart. 小学生们背熟了许多诗。

by hook or by crook　adv. phr. By honest or dishonest ways; in any way necessary. 不择手段地；千方百计地。◆ The wolf tried to get the little pigs by hook or by crook. 那条狼用尽种种办法想抓住那些小猪。

by inches　adv. phr. By small or slow degrees; little by little; gradually. 一点一点地；缓慢地；逐渐地。◆ The river was rising by inches. 河水在慢慢地上涨。◆ He was dying by inches. 他正慢慢地死去。

by leaps and bounds　adv. phr. With long steps; very rapidly. 大踏步地；非常迅速地。◆ The school enrollment was going up by leaps and bounds. 学校入学人数正在十分迅速地增加。

by means of　prep. By the use of; with the help of. 用；借助于。◆ By means of monthly payments, people can buy more than in the past. 用按月付款的方式，人们可以买到比过去更多的东西。

by mistake　adv. phr. As the result of a mistake; through error. 错误地。◆ He picked up the wrong hat by mistake. 他拿错了帽子。

by or in my book　adv. phr. In my opinion; as far as I am concerned; in my judgment. 按照我的意见；按照我的看法。◆ By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very good department head. 在我看来，穆加特罗伊德先生并不是一个很好的系主任。

by no means or not by any means also by no manner of means or not by any manner of means　adv. phr. Not even a little; certainly not. 一点也不；决不◆ He is by no means bright. 他一点儿也不聪明。◆ "May I stay home from school?" "By no means."“我可以待在家里不去上学吗？”“绝对不行。”◆ Dick worked on his project Saturday, but he is not finished yet, by any means. 狄克星期六在做他的课题，但到现在还远远没有完成。

B. Y. O　(Abbreviation) informal Bring Your Own. Said of a kind of party where the host or hostess does not provide the drinks or food but people bring their own. 〖非正式〗请自带饮料（或食物）。（指聚会时主人不提供饮料或食物而由参加者自己带来。）

B. Y. O. B.　(Abbreviation) informal Bring Your Own Bottle. Frequently written on invitations for the kind of party where people bring their own liquor. 〖非正式〗请自带酒来。（多写在请柬上，指聚会时自己带酒。）

by oneself　adv. phr. 1. Without any others around; separate from others; alone. 单独地；独自地。◆ The house stood by itself on a hill. 那幢房子孤零零地耸立在小山上。◆ Tom liked to go walking by himself. 汤姆喜欢独自一人去散步。2. Without the help of anyone else; by your own work only. 独自地；独力地；无他人帮助地。◆ John built a flying model airplane by himsellf. 约翰独自一人做成了一个航空模型。

by the book　adv. phr. Without taking any liberties with a stated procedure; following the rules and regulations to the letter. 按常规；一丝不苟地按规则。◆ A good police officer does it by the book when he arrests a suspected criminal. 一名好警官在逮捕嫌犯时都是严格照章办事。

by the dozen or by the hundred or by the thousand　adv. phr. Very many at one time; in great numbers. 成打地；成百地；成千地；大量地。◆ Tommy ate cookies by the dozen. 汤米吃了很多甜饼干。Often used in the plural, meaning even larger numbers. 常用复数，表示“很多很多”。◆ The ants arrived at the picnic by the hundreds. 大批大批的蚂蚁来到了野餐的地方。◆ The enemy attacked the fort by the thousands. 敌人以数以千计的兵力进攻那座城堡。

by the piece　adv. phr. Counted one piece at a time, separately for each single piece. 按件计算。◆ John bought boxes full of bags of potato chips and sold them by the piece. 约翰买了几箱袋装炸薯片，然后按袋出售。

by the same token　adv. phr. Apropos of which; this reminds me of another thing; actually this is similar to what was talked about before. 由于同样的原因；同样地；还有。◆ By the same token, let me mention that not only is the entire state budget shot, but the university won't be getting any money either. 由于同样的原因，我还要提一下，不仅整个州的预算已经耗尽，而且大学也将得不到任何钱了。

by the seat of one's pants　See见FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS.

by the skin of one's teeth　adv. phr. By a narrow margin; with no room to spare; barely. 刚好；勉强；好不容易才。◆ The drowning man struggled, and I got him to land by the skin of my teeth. 那溺水的男子拼命挣扎，我好不容易才把他救上岸来。◆ She passed English by the skin of her teeth. 她英语勉强考了及格。

by the sweat of one's brow　adv. phr. By hard work; by tiring effort; laboriously. 靠自己的辛勤劳动；靠自己的血汗。◆ Even with modern labor-saving machinery, the farmer makes his living by the sweat of his brow. 尽管有了节省劳力的现代化机械，农民们仍要依靠自己的辛勤劳动谋生。

by the way also by the bye　adv. phr. Just as some added fact or news; as something else that I think of. — Used to introduce something related to the general subject, or brought to mind by it. 顺便提一下；附带说说。——用以引出与话题有关或由话题联想到的事情。◆ We shall expect you; by the way, dinner will be at eight. 我们等你来；顺便说一句，晚饭8点开始。◆ I was reading when the earthquake occurred, and, by the way, it was The Last Days of Pompeii that I was reading. 地震发生时我正在读书，顺便提一下，我读的书是《庞贝城的末日》。

by turns　adv. phr. First one and then another in a regular way; one substituting for or following another according to a repeated plan. 轮流地；交替地。◆ On the drive to Chicago, the three men took the wheel by turns. 开车去芝加哥的路上，3个人轮流驾驶。

by virtue of also in virtue of　prep. On the strength of; because of; by reason of. 凭借…的力量；因为；由于。◆ By virtue of his high rank and position, the President takes social leadership over almost everyone else. 由于总统高高在上的级别和职位，他在社交场合的地位几乎高于所有的人。

by way of　prep. 1. For the sake or purpose of; as. 为了；意在；作为。◆ By way of example, he described his own experience. 作为例证，他描述了自己的经历。2. Through; by a route including; via. 经过；经由；途经。◆ He went from New York to San Francisco by way of Chicago. 他从纽约经芝加哥去了旧金山。

by word of mouth　adv. phr. From person to person by the spoken word; orally. 口头地。◆ The news got around by word of mouth. 这条新闻由人们传来传去传开了。◆ The message reached him quietly by word of mouth. 这消息是有人悄悄传给他的。

◆C◆

caged in or caged up　adj. phr. Caught, squeezed in; deprived of one's freedom of physical or intellectual motion. 被困住；行动受限制。◆ "Why is Jerry so restless?" Elvira asked. "I think he feels caged up by his new job."“为什么杰里这么焦躁不安？”埃尔韦拉问。“我想他是感到被他的新工作给套住了。”◆ Parents of young children often feel entirely caged in. 有小孩的父母经常感到完全失去了行动的自由。

cake walk　See 见 PIECE OF CAKE, IT'S A CINCH, WALK IN THE PARK.

calculated risk　n. An action that may fail but is judged more likely to succeed. 可能失败但值得一冒的风险；成败参半的风险。◆ The sending of troops to the rebellious island was a calculated risk. 派部队到那个叛乱的岛上去是一次值得的冒险。

call a halt　v. phr. To give a command to stop. 下令停止。◆ The scouts were tired during the hike, and the scoutmaster called a halt. 童子军们在徒步旅行中都感到累了，于是童子军团长便下令停下来休息。◆ When the children's play got too noisy, their mother called a halt. 当孩子们的玩耍变得太喧闹时，他们的母亲便下令让他们停了下来。

call a spade a spade　v. phr. To call a person or thing a name that is true but not polite; speak bluntly; use the plainest language. 是啥说啥；直言不讳；据实而言。◆ A boy took some money from Dick's desk and said he borrowed it, but I told him he stole it; I believe in calling a spade a spade. 一个男孩从迪克的书桌抽屉里拿了一些钱，说这钱是他借的，但我告诉他他是偷的；我赞成是啥就说啥。

call back　v. phr. To return a phone call. 回电话。◆ "I can't speak now, but can I call you back in an hour?"“我现在没法讲话，一小时后我再打给你好吗？”

call down also dress down　v., informal To scold. 〖非正式〗责骂；申斥。◆Jim was called down by his teacher for being late to class. 吉姆因上课迟到而受到老师的责骂。◆ Mother called Bob down for walking into the kitchen with muddy boots. 鲍勃因穿着沾满烂泥的靴子走进厨房而受到母亲的责骂。

call even a snowflake a spade　See 见POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK

call for　v. 1. To come or go to get (someone or something). 去（或来）接（某人）；去（或来）取（某物）。◆ John called for Mary to take her to the dance. 约翰去接玛丽，带她去参加舞会。2. To need; require. 需要；要求。◆ The cake recipe calls for two cups of flour. 根据蛋糕制作法，这种蛋糕需要两杯面粉。◆ Success in school calls for much hard study. 要在学校里取得好成绩就需要刻苦学习。

call girl　n.,slang A prostitute catering to wealthy clientele, especially one who is contacted by telephone for an appointment. 〖俚〗应召女郎；电话应召妓女。◆ Rush Street is full of call girls. 拉什街上有许多应召女郎。

calling down also dressing down　n. phr., informal A scolding; reprimand. 〖非正式〗责骂；申斥。◆ The judge gave the boy a calling down for speeding. 法官申斥男孩超速行驶。

call in question or call into question or call in doubt　v. phr. To say (something) may be a mistake; express doubt about; question. 对…提出疑问，对…表示怀疑；对…有异议。◆ Bill called in question Ed's remark that basketball is safer than football. 比尔对埃德所说的篮球比橄榄球安全的话表示怀疑。

call it a day　v. phr. To declare that a given day's work has been accomplished and go home; to quit for the day. 今天就到这里；收工；结束当天的工作（或活动）；下班；停止活动。◆ "Let's call it a day," the boss said, "and go out for a drink."“今天就做到这里，”老板说，“咱们到外面去喝一杯吧。”

call it a night　v. phr. To declare that an evening party or other activity conducted late in the day is finished. 今晚就到这里；收工。◆ I am so tired that I am going to call it a night and go to bed. 我太累了，我打算今晚就到这里结束，然后去睡觉。

call it quits　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To decide to stop what you are doing; quit. 停做某事；收工。◆ When Tom had painted half the garage, he called it quits. 汤姆把车库漆了一半便停了下来。2. To agree that each side in a fight is satisfied; stop fighting because a wrong has been paid back; say things are even. 同意结束争吵（或搏斗）；彼此两清。◆ Pete called Tom a bad name, and they fought till Tom gave Pete a bloody nose; then they called it quits. 彼得骂了汤姆，两人因此大打出手，直到汤姆把彼得打得鼻子出血双方才罢休。3. To cultivate a habit no longer. 戒除某习惯。◆ "Yes, I called it quits with cigarettes three years ago."“是的，我3年前就戒掉了香烟。”

call names　v. phr. To use ugly or unkind words when speaking to someone or when talking about someone. — Usually used by or to children. 辱骂（某人）；谩骂（某人）。——通常为儿童用语。◆ Bill got so mad he started calling Frank names. 比尔极为愤怒，破口大骂起弗兰克来。

call off　v. To stop (something planned); quit; cancel. 停止；取消。◆ The baseball game was called off because of rain. 棒球比赛因下雨而取消了。

call of the wild　n. phr. The appeal of nature in the raw; the city worker's desire to escape into nature. 蛮荒的魅力；大自然的召唤。◆ My neighbor has got the call of the wild; he packed up his tent and set out on a trip to discover Alaska. 我的邻居受到了大自然的召唤，他收拾好帐篷启程去发现阿拉斯加了。

call on or call upon　v. 1. To make a call upon; visit. 拜访；访问。◆ Mr. Brown called on an old friend while he was in the city. 布朗先生在市里时去拜访了一位老朋友。2. To ask for help. 要求帮助。◆ He called on a friend to give him money for the bus-fare to this home. 他要求一位朋友为他提供回家的长途汽车费。

call one's shot　v. phr. 1. To tell before firing where a bullet will hit. 开枪前说出子弹将击中何处。◆ An expert rifleman can call his shot regularly. 熟练的步枪手一般都能在开枪前说出自己将会击中何处。◆ The wind was strong and John couldn't call his shots. 风太大，约翰不能肯定他能射中何处。2. or call the turn To tell in advance the result of something before you do it. 预言事情的结果。◆ Mary won three games in a row, just as she said she would. She called her turns well. 玛丽说她将连胜3局，结果真就连胜了3局。她的预言很准。

call on the carpet　v. phr., informal To call (a person) before an authority (as a boss or teacher) for a scolding or reprimand. 〖非正式〗把（某人）叫至权威（如老板或教师）前去训斥。◆The worker was called on the carpet by the boss for sleeping on the job. 那位工人因上班时睡觉而被老板叫去训斥了一顿。

call out　v. phr. 1. To shout; speak loudly. 叫喊；大声说出。◆ My name was called out several times, but I was unable to hear it. 我的名字被喊了好几次，但我没办法听见。2. To summon someone. 召唤（某人）行动。◆ If the noting continues, the governor will have to call out the National Guard. 如果暴乱继续下去，州长将不得不出动国民警卫队。

call sb.'s bluff　v. phr., informal To ask someone to prove what he says he can or will do. (Originally from the card game of poker.)〖非正式〗要某人摊牌；要某人证实所吹嘘之事。（本习语原由扑克牌戏而来）。◆ Tom said he could jump twenty feet and so Dick called his bluff and said "Let's see you do it!" 汤姆说他能跳20英尺远，于是迪克便要他证明，说：“那咱们就看你跳吧！”

call the roll　v. phr. To read out the names on a certain list, usually in alphabetical order. 点名。◆ The sergeant called the roll of the newly enlisted volunteers in the army. 中士对军队里新征募来的志愿兵进行了点名。

call the shots　v. phr., informal To give orders; be in charge; direct; control. 〖非正式〗发号施令；主管；指挥；操纵。◆ Bob is a first-rate leader who knows how to call the shots. 鲍勃是个一流的领导人，他知道如何发号施令。

call the tune　v. phr., informal To be in control; give orders or directions; command. 〖非正式〗支配一切；发号施令；指挥。◆ Bill was president of the club but Jim was secretary and called the tune. 比尔是俱乐部主席，而吉姆虽是秘书，但却决定一切。

call to account　v. phr. 1. To ask (someone) to explain why he did something wrong (as breaking a rule). 要求（某人）解释。◆ The principal called Jim to account after Jim left school early without permission. 校长要求吉姆解释他为什么未经许可提前离校。2. To scold (as for wrong conduct); reprimand. 责问；斥责。◆ The father called his son to account for disobeying him. 父亲因儿子不听话而训斥他。

call to arms　v. phr. To summon into the army. 号召入伍；号召参军。◆ During World War II millions of Americans were called to arms to fight for their country. 第二次世界大战期间，几百万美国人应召入伍，为祖国而战。

call to mind　v. phr. To remember; cause to remember. 起得；使人回忆起。◆ Your story calls to mind a similar event that happened to us a few years back. 你的故事使我想起了几年前我们遇到的一件类似的事。

call to order　v. phr. 1. To open (a meeting) formally. 正式宣布开（会）。◆ The chairman called the committee to order. 主席宣布委员会开会。◆ The president pounded with his gavel to call the convention to order. 会议主席敲了敲小木槌宣布大会开始。2. To warn not to break the rules of a meeting. 要求保持安静；命令遵守秩序（或议事规程）。◆ The judge called the people in the court room to order when they talked too loud. 人们在法庭上讲话声音太响时，法官命令他们保持安静。

call up　v. (stress on up) (重读up) 1. To make someone think of; bring to mind; remind. 使人想起；使人回忆起。◆ The picture of the Capitol called up memories of our class trip. 这张国会大厦的照片使人回忆起我们班级的那次旅行。2. To tell to come (as before a court). 传讯。◆ The district attorney called up three witnesses. 地方检察官传讯了3位证人。3. To bring together for a purpose; bring into action. 召集；征召入伍。◆ Jim called up all his strength, pushed past the players blocking him, and ran for a touchdown. 吉姆集中全力，从对方阻挡他的几名球员身边挤过，奔至底线触地得分。◆ The army called up its reserves when war seemed near. 战争临近时，军队征召其后备军人伍。4. To call on the telephone. 打电话给。◆ She called up a friend just for a chat. 她打电话给一个朋友，只是为了聊天。

call-up　n. phr. (stress on call) (重读call) An occasional invitee from another or a junior group to play in another sports club. （从别的俱乐部）临时借来的球员。◆ "Who is that player?" "He's a call-up from the minor league."“那位球员是谁？”“他是从职业棒球小联合会临时借来的一名球员。”

call upon　(stress on call) (重读call) See见CALL ON.

calm before the storm or lull before the storm　n. phr. The ominous quiet before an excess of noise or the tenuous peace before war. 暴风雨前的平静；战争前的脆弱和平。◆ "Why is everything so quiet?" Jenny asked. "We can't become too happy about it," her husband George answered. "It's only the calm before the storm."“为什么一切都这么平静？”珍妮问。“我们对此还不能太高兴，”她的丈夫乔治回答说。“这只是暴风雨前的平静。”

calm down　v. phr. To become quiet; relax. 平静下来；放松。◆ "Calm down, Mr. Smith," the doctor said with a reassuring smile. "You are going to live a long time."“平静下来，史密斯先生，”医生带着让人放心的微笑说。“你会长寿的。”

camp follower　n. 1. A man or woman who goes with an army, not to fight but to sell something. 随军商贩；随军妓女。◆ Nowadays camp followers are not allowed as they were long ago. 如今已不准商贩像很久以前那样随军而行了。2. A person who goes with a famous or powerful person or group in hope of profit. 依附于某名人（或某权贵、某集团）的人；追随者。◆ A man who runs for president has many camp followers. 竞选总统的人总有许多追随者。

camp out　v. To live, cook, and sleep out of doors (as in a tent). 露营；露宿。◆ We camped out near the river for a week. 我们在河边露营了一个星期。

cancel out　v. To destroy the effect of; balance or make useless. 抵消；相互抵消。◆ The boy got an "A" in history to cancel out the "C" he got in arithmetic. 那男孩历史考了个A，抵消了算术考的C。◆ Tom's hot temper cancels out his skill as a player. 汤姆的暴躁脾气抵消了他作为球员的技艺。

cancer stick　n., slang A cigarette. 〖俚〗癌棒；香烟。◆ Throw away that cancer stick! Smoking is bad for you! 把那根香烟扔掉吧！吸烟对你有害！

canned heat　n. Chemicals in a can which burn with a hot, smokeless flame. 罐装化学燃料。◆ Some people use canned heat to keep food warm. 有些人用罐装燃料使食物保暖。◆ The mountain climbers used canned heat for cooking. 那些登山者用罐装燃料煮东西。

canned laughter　n., informal The sounds of laughter heard on certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in front of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from a stereo track to underscore the funny points. 〖非正式〗（供电视节目等用的）预录笑声。◆ "How can there be an audience in this show when it is taking place in the jungle?" "Why it's canned laughter you're hearing."“这个节目是在丛林中拍的，怎么会有观众的笑声呢？”“嗨，你听到的笑声是预先录好的。”

canned music　n. Recorded music, as opposed to music played live. 唱片音乐。◆ "Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am tired of all this canned music we've been listening to."“咱们去听一次真正的音乐会吧，亲爱的，”迈克说。“我们一直在听的这种唱片音乐我都听腻了。”

can of worms　n., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A complex problem, or complicated situation. 复杂的问题（或处境）。◆ Let's not get into big city politics — that's a different can of worms. 咱们还是不要谈论大城市的政治事务吧——那是另一个复杂问题。2. A very restless, jittery person. 极为紧张不安的人。◆ Joe can't sit still for a minute — he is a can of worms. 乔一分钟也坐不住——他是个极为紧张不安的人。

can't have it both ways　See见HAVE ONE'S CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.

can't help but　(informal〖非正式〗) ALSO (formal〖正式〗) cannot but　v. phr. To be forced to; can only; must. 不得不；只能；必须。◆ When the streets are full of melting snow, you can't help but get your shoes wet. 当街上都是正在融化的雪时，你不可能不把鞋弄湿。

can't make an omelette without breaking (some) eggs　To achieve a certain goal one must sometimes incur damage, experience difficulties, or make sacrifices. — A proverb. 〖谚〗要煎蛋饼就得打破鸡蛋；欲达目的需花代价；有失才有得。◆When we drove across the country, we put a lot of mileage on our car and had a flat tire, but it was a pleasant trip. "Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs," my wife said with a smile. 当我们驱车穿越整个国家时，我们给我们的汽车增加了很多英里的行驶路程并爆了一只轮胎，但这是一次愉快的旅行。“是的，要煎蛋饼就得打破鸡蛋，”我的妻子微笑着说。

can't make bricks without straw　Often heard when one sees someone trying to produce something without the proper ingredients, no matter how insignificant they may seem. — A proverb. 〖谚〗缺了稻草做不成砖；难为无米之炊。◆ That fancy new printer of yours won't work without toner. Go and get some — you can't make bricks without straw, you know! 没有色粉你那台别致的新打印机就不能用。去买点吧——你要知道，巧妇也难为无米之炊呀！

can't see the wood for the trees or can't see the woods for the trees or can't see the forest for the trees　v. phr. To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future achievement. 见树不见林；以偏概全；因小失大。◆ Teachers sometimes notice language errors and do not see the good ideas in a composition; they cannot see the woods for the trees. 老师们有时候只注意到作文中的语言错误而看不到其好的思想；他们真是见树不见林。

can you beat it?　phrasal idiom Are you able to exceed what has been accomplished; can you do better than what you saw? 你能超过这一成就吗？你能做得更好吗？◆ Stanley was hired as college president in the South — can you beat it? 斯坦利受聘在南方担任了学院院长——你能超过他吗？

cap the climax　v. phr. To exceed what is already a high point of achievement. 超出限度；达到极点。◆ Sam's piano recital was great, but Bill's performance capped the climax. 萨姆的钢琴独奏会已经很好，而比尔的演奏更是妙绝。

cards stacked against one　See见STACK THE CARDS.

card up one's sleeve　n. phr., informal Another help, plan, or argument kept back and produced if needed; another way to do something. 〖非正式〗袖中王牌；锦囊妙计；秘而不宣的计划；另外的办法。◆ John knew his mother would lend him money if necessary, but he kept that card up his sleeve. 约翰知道他的母亲在必要时会借钱给他，但他却把这张王牌藏在袖子里，等到需要时再打出来。◆ Bill always has a card up his sleeve, so when his first plan failed he tried another. 比尔总是留有一手，所以第一个计划失败后，他就试用了另一个计划。Compare比较ACE IN THE HOLE 2.

care about　v. phr. 1. To be fond of; to like something. 喜欢；喜爱。◆ I care a great deal about my family. 我非常爱我的家人。2. To mind something; to be worried. 担心；忧虑。◆ Parents usually care about their children when they leave home for the first time. 孩子们第一次离家时，父母通常都为他们担心。3. To be interested in. 对…感兴趣。◆ John cares much about classical music. 约翰对古典音乐很感兴趣。

care for　v. phr. Have regard for someone or something. 关心；重视。◆ Albert is the kind of selfish person who cares only for himsellf. 阿尔伯特是那种很自私的人，他只关心他自己。

carp at　v. phr. To complain about in an unpleasant, irritating manner. 抱怨。◆ When will you stop carping about how bad things are at your job? 你什么时候能不再抱怨在你的工作中样样事情都那么不顺心？

car pool　n. A group of people who own cars and take turns driving each other to work or on some other regular trip. 轮流开车上班的一群人。◆ It was John's father's week to drive his own car in the car pool. 这一周轮到约翰的父亲开车送大家上班了。

car pool lane　n. phr. A special lane on busy four-lane highways reserved for cars that have at least two people riding in them. （四车道公路上的）合伴用车专用车道。◆ "You can go faster by getting over into the car pool lane," Jean said to her husband. "After all, we have the two children with us!"“超车进入合伙用车专用车道你就可以开得快一点了，”琼对丈夫说。“毕竟我们还有两个孩子跟我们在一起！”

carriage trade　n. literary Rich or upper class people. 〖文〗富人，有钱人；上层阶级。◆ The hotel is so expensive that only the carriage trade stays there. 那家旅馆很贵，只有有钱人才住在那儿。◆ The carriage trade buys its clothes at the best stores. 有钱人都在最好的商店里买衣服。

carrot and stick　n. phr. The promise of reward and threat of punishment, both at the same time. 胡萝卜加大棒；软硬两手。◆ John's father used the carrot and stick when he talked about his low grades. 约翰的父亲在谈到约翰的低分时，一会儿软，一会儿硬，真可谓恩威并用。

carry a torch or carry the torch　v. phr. 1. To show great and unchanging loyalty to a cause or a person. （对某人或某事业）忠心耿耿，始终不渝。◆ Although the others gave up fighting for their rights, John continued to carry the torch. 虽然其他人放弃了争取自身权利的斗争，但约翰却始终不渝。2. informal To be in love, usually without success or return. 〖非正式〗爱上；对…害单相思。◆ He is carrying a torch for Anna, even though she is in love with someone else. 他痴恋着安娜，尽管她爱着别人。

carry a tune　v. phr. To sing the right notes without catching any false ones. 音调唱得准。◆ Al is a wonderful fellow, but he sure can't carry a tune and his singing is a pain to listen to. 艾尔是个极好的人，但他确实连音也唱不准，听他唱歌简直是受罪。

carry away　v. To cause very strong feeling; excite or delight to the loss of cool judgment. 激起强烈感情；使激动（或高兴）得失去冷静判断。◆ The music carried her away. 音乐使她陶醉了。◆ He let his anger carry him away. 他怒不可遏。— Often used in the passive. 常用于被动语态。◆ She was carried away by the man's charm. 她被那男人的魅力迷住了。

carry coals to Newcastle　v. phr. To do something unnecessary; bring or furnish something of which there is plenty. 运煤至煤都，多此一举；徒劳无功；白费力气。◆ The man who waters his grass after a good rain is carrying coals to Newcastle. 大雨过后给草坪浇水的人真是多此一举。［Newcastle is an English city near many coal mines, and coal is sent out from there to other places. 纽卡斯尔是英国一城市，附近有许多煤矿，煤从这里运往其他地方。］

carrying charge　n. An extra cost added to the price of something bought on weekly or monthly payments. （分期付款购物的）附加费。◆ The price of the bicycle was $50. Jim bought it for $5. 00 a month for ten months plus a carrying charge of $1 a month. 那辆自行车的价格是50美元。吉姆分10期付款买下了它，除每月付5美元外，每月另付1美元的附加费。

carry off　v. 1. To cause death of; kill. 使…死亡；夺去…的生命。◆ Years ago smallpox carried off hundreds of Indians of the Sioux tribe. 很多年前，天花夺去了数百名苏族印第安人的生命。Compare比较WIPE OUT. 2. To succeed in winning. 赢得。◆ Jim carried off two gold medals in the track meet. 吉姆在田径运动会上赢得了两块金牌。3. To succeed somewhat unexpectedly in. 意外地成功。◆ The spy planned to deceive the enemy soldiers and carried it off very well. 那个间谍计划欺骗敌军士兵，结果竟大获成功。

carry off the palm or bear off the palm　v. phr., literary To gain the victory; win. 〖文〗获胜；赢得。◆ John carried off the palm in the tennis championship match. 约翰在网球锦标赛中获胜。◆ our army bore off the palm in the battle. 我军在战斗中获胜。［From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in a game as a sign of victory. 源于很久以前把棕榈叶作为胜利的标志奖给比赛的获胜者这一事实。］

carry on　v. 1. To work at; be busy with; manage. 从事；忙于；经营。◆ Bill and his father carried on a hardware business. 比尔和他父亲经营一家五金店。◆ Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith carried on a long correspondence with each other. 琼斯先生和史密斯先生彼此保持着长期的通信联系。2. To keep doing as before; continue. 继续进行下去；继续。◆ After his father died, Bill carried on with the business. 父亲死后，比尔继续营业。3a. informal To behave in a noisy, foolish, and troublesome manner. 〖非正式〗吵闹；胡闹；行为愚蠢；惹是生非。◆ The boys carried on in the swimming pool until the lifeguard ordered them out. 男孩子们在游泳池里瞎胡闹，直到救生员把他们赶出去。3b. informal To make too great a show of feeling, such as anger, grief, and pain. 〖非正式〗发怒；悲伤；大动感情。◆ John carried on for ten minutes after he hit his thumb with the hammer. 约翰用锤子击痛自己的大拇指后，大哭大闹了10分钟之久。4. informal To act in an immoral or scandalous way; act disgracefully. 〖非正式〗有暧昧关系；有不正当行为。◆ The neighbors said that he was carrying on with a underage girl. 邻居们说他与一个未成年的女孩有暧昧关系。

carry one's cross or (literary〖文〗) bear one's cross　v. phr. To live with pain or trouble; keep on even though you suffer or have trouble. 背负十字架，忍受苦难。◆ Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the other boys play basketball. 其他男孩在打篮球，而乔却要忍受脚踝扭伤之痛。

carry out　v. To put into action; follow; execute. 实施；执行；实行。◆ The generals were determined to carry out their plans to defeat the enemy. 将军们决心实施他们击败敌人的计划。

carry over　v. 1. To save for another time. 为以后保留下来。◆ What you learn in school should carry over into adult life. 你在学校里学的东西应好好记住，留待成年后应用。2. To transfer (as a figure) from one column, page, or book to another. 将（账目）转入次栏（或次页、另册）。◆ When he added up the figures, he carried over the total into the next year's account book. 他把那些数字加起来以后，便把总数转入到下一年的账簿上。3. To continue in another place. 在别处继续，转入；下接。◆ The story was carried over to the next page. 故事下接次页。

carry the ball　v. phr., informal To take the most important or difficult part in an action or business. 〖非正式〗承担主要任务；负起责任。◆ When the going is rough, Fred can always be depended on to carry the ball. 事情进展遇到困难时，总可以依赖雷德挑起重担。

carry the banner　v. phr. To support a cause or an ideal with obvious advocacy. 支持某一事业（或理想）。◆ Our college is carrying the banner for saving the humpback whale, which is on the list of endangered species. 我们学院支持拯救座头鲸的事业，这种鲸已被列入濒危物种的名单。

carry the day　v. phr., informal To win completely; to succeed in getting one's aim accomplished. 〖非正式〗获胜；实现目标。◆ The defense attorney's summary before the jury helped him carry the day. 辩护律师向陪审团所做的概述帮助他打赢了官司。

carry through　v. 1a. To put into action. 实行；实现。◆ Mr. Green was not able to carry through his plans for a hike because he broke his leg. 格林先生因摔断了腿而无法实现其徒步旅行的计划。1b. To do something you have planned; put a plan into action. 完成；实施计划。◆ Jean makes good plans but she cannot carry through with any of them. 琼能制订很好的计划，但却不能将任何一项计划付诸实施。2. To keep (someone) from failing or stopping; bring through; help. 使（某人）渡过难关，帮（某人）克服困难。◆ When the tire blew out, the rules Jim had learned in driving class carried him through safely. 车胎爆后，吉姆在驾驶班上学到的规则帮他安然渡过了难关。

carry weight　n. To be influential; have significance and/or clout; impress. 有影响；有重要性；有分量。◆ A letter of recommendation from a full professor carries more weight than a letter from an assistant professor. 正教授写的推荐信比助理教授写的推荐信更有分量。

cart before the horse (to put)　n. phr., informal Things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. — An overused expression. Usually used with put but sometimes with get or have. 〖非正式〗颠倒次序；本末倒置。——应用过多的短语。通常与put连用，但有时也与get或have连用。◆ To get married first and then get a job is getting the cart before the horse. 先结婚，然后再找工作，这是本末倒置。

carte blanche　n. phr. The freedom to act any way one wishes, or to spend as much as one wants to. 为所欲为的自由；自由处理权。◆ Jerry is such a spoiled brat because his parents gave him carte blanche even before he was out of high school. 杰里是个完全被宠坏的顽童，因为他中学还没毕业的时候，他的父母就给了他想干什么就干什么的自由。

cart off or cart away　v., informal To take away, often with force or with rough handling or behavior. 〖非正式〗以武力（或粗暴地）带走。◆ The police carted the rioters off to jail. 警察把聚众闹事者押送至监狱。

carved or chiseled or inscribed in granite / written in stone　adj. phr. Holy; unchangeable; noble and of ancient origin. 神圣的；不可改变的；高贵而古老的。◆ You should wear shoes when you come to class, although this is not carved in granite. 虽然这并不是不可改变的规定，但你来上课时还是应该穿鞋。◆ The Constitution of the United States is so hard to change that one thinks of it as written in stone. 美国的宪法极难改变，以至于有人以为它是写在石头上的。

carve up　v. phr. To divide according to military occupation zones, especially after a major war. （特指大的战争后按军事占领区）瓜分，分割。◆ The map of Europe was badly carved up both after World War Ⅰ and after World War Ⅱ. 第一次世界大战和第二次世界大战后，欧洲的版图都曾被严重地瓜分过。

case in point　n. phr. An example that proves something or helps to make something clearer. 适当的例子。◆ An American can rise from the humblest beginnings to become President. Abraham Lincoln is a case in point. 一个出身卑微的美国人也能成为总统。亚伯拉罕·林肯就是一个最好的例子。

case the joint　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To study the layout of a place one wishes to burglarize. （撬窃前）探路；侦察地形。◆ The hooded criminals carefully cased the joint before robbing the neighborhood bank. 那些戴兜帽的罪犯在抢劫附近地区的银行前曾仔细地侦察过地形。2. To familiarize oneself with a potential workplace or vacation spot as a matter of preliminary planning. （去未来的工作场所或度假地）熟悉情况，察看场所。◆ "Hello Fred," he said. "Are you working here now?" "No, not yet," Fred answered. "I am merely casing the joint."“喂，弗雷德，”他说。“你现在在这儿工作吗？”“不，还没有，”弗雷德回答说。“我只是来看看情况。”

cash-and-carry^1　adj. Selling things for cash money only and letting the customer carry them home, not having the store deliver them; also sold in this way. 付现自运的；按付现自运方式经营的。◆ This is a cash-and-carry store only. 这只是一家现金交易、不负责送货的商店。◆ You can save money at a　cash-and-carry sale. 你可以凭现金交易自己带走的购物方式省些钱。

cash-and-carry^2　adv. With no credit, no time payments, and no deliveries. 不赊账不送货。◆ Some stores sell cash-and-carry only. 有些商店只有现金交易，不赊账也不送货。◆ It is cheaper to buy cash-and-carry. 现金交易自己带走的购物方式比较便宜。

cash crop　n. A crop grown to be sold. 供出售的作物；经济作物。◆ Cotton is a cash crop in the South. 棉花是南方的一种经济作物。◆ They raise potatoes to eat, but tobacco is their cash crop. 他们种马铃薯是为了自己吃，而烟叶则是他们的经济作物。

cash in　v. 1. To exchange (as poker chips or bonds) for the value in money. 把（筹码或债券）兑为现金。◆ When the card game ended, the players cashed in their chips and went home. 牌戏结束时，牌友们把筹码兑成现金，然后回家。2. or cash in one's chips slang To die. 〖俚〗死去。◆ When the outlaw cashed in his chips, he was buried with his boots on. 那个歹徒死后，他还穿着靴子就被埋了。

cash in on　v., informal To see (a chance) and profit by it; take advantage of (an opportunity or happening). 〖非正式〗从（机会）中获利；利用（机会）。◆ Mr. Brown cashed in on people's great interest in camping and sold three hundred tents. 布朗先生利用人们对露营的浓厚兴趣，卖掉了300个帐篷。

cash on the barrelhead　n. phr., informal Money paid at once; money paid when something is bought. 〖非正式〗现金；现款。◆ Father paid cash on the barrelhead for a new car. 父亲付现金买了一辆新汽车。◆ Some lawyers want cash on the barrelhead. 有些律师要现金。

cast about also cast around　v., literary〖文〗1. To look everywhere; search. 到处搜寻；寻找。◆ The committee was casting about for an experienced teacher to take the retiring principal's place. 委员会正在物色一位有经验的教师，以取代即将退休的校长。2. To search your mind; try to remember something; try to think of something. 设法；思索；想。◆ The teacher cast around for an easy way to explain the lesson. 老师试图找到一个简单的方法来解释课文。

cast down　adj. Discouraged; sad; unhappy. — Used less often than the reverse form, downcast. 沮丧的；伤心的；垂头丧气的。——不及downcast常用。◆ Mary was cast down at the news of her uncle's death. 玛丽听到叔叔去世的消息很伤心。

cast in one's lot with　formal〖正式〗See见THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

cast or shed or throw light upon　v. phr. To explain; illuminate; clarify. 解释；说明；阐明；使清楚。◆ The letters that were found suddenly cast a new light on the circumstances of Tom's disappearance. 这些被发现的信件突然使人们了解了汤姆失踪的细节。◆ Einstein's General Theory of Relativity threw light upon the enigma of our universe. 爱因斯坦的广义相对论阐明了宇宙之谜。

cast off　v. 1a. or cast loose　To unfasten; untie; let loose (as a rope holding a boat). 解开；松开；解（船缆）。◆ The captain of the boat cast off the line and we were soon out in open water. 船长解开缆绳，我们很快便航行在开阔的海面上了。1b. To untie a rope holding a boat or something suggesting a boat. 解船缆，解缆出航。◆ We cast off and set sail at 6 A. M. 我们在上午6时解缆出航。2. To knit the last row of stitches. 编结最后一排；收针。◆ When she had knitted the twentieth row of stitches she cast off. 编结完第20排时，她收针了。3. To say that you do not know (someone) any more; not accept as a relative or friend. 抛弃；与…脱离关系，与…断绝关系。◆ Mr. Jones cast off his daughter when she married against his wishes. 当女儿违背他的意愿结婚时，琼斯先生与她断绝了关系。

cast oneself on someone's mercy　v. phr. To declare that someone, especially an accused person in a court of law, is dependent on someone else's pity, e. g., that of the judge and the jury. 指望某人的仁慈；希望得到某人的宽恕。◆ Having run out of all possible defense strategies, the accused decided to throw himself on the mercy of the court. 在用完所有可能的辩护策略后，被告决定指望得到法庭的宽恕。

cast out　v., formal To force (someone) to go out or away; banish; expel. 〖正式〗赶出；驱逐。◆ After the scandal, he was cast out of the best society. 出了那次丑闻以后，他已被上流社会所摈弃。

cast pearls before swine or cast one's pearls before swine　n. phr., literary To waste good acts or valuable things on someone who won't understand or be thankful for them, just as pigs won't appreciate pearls. — Often used in negative sentences. 〖文〗把珍珠丢在猪前；明珠暗投；对牛弹琴。——常用于否定句。◆ I won't waste good advice on John any more because he never listens to it. I won't cast pearls before swine. 我再也不会把一些好的建议浪费在约翰身上了，因为他从来就不听。我不会对牛弹琴的。

cast the first stone　v. phr., literary To be the first to blame someone, lead accusers against a wrongdoer. 〖文〗率先指责；带头谴责。◆ Jesus said that a person who was without sin could cast the first stone. 耶稣说，谁没有罪，谁就可以先拿石头打（她）。

catch-as-catch-can^1　adv. phr. In a free manner; in any way possible; in the best way you can. 随便地；用随便什么办法。◆ On moving day everything is packed and we eat meals catch-as-catch-can. 搬家的那天，所有的东西都打了包，我们吃饭只能找到什么吃什么了。

catch-as-catch-can^2　adj. phr. Using any means or method; unplanned; free. 用一切办法的；事先无计划的；随便的。◆ Politics is rather a catch-as-catch-can business. 政治是一种相当变幻莫测的东西。

catch at　v. 1. To try to catch suddenly; grab for. 试图抓住。◆ The boy on the merry-go-round caught at the brass ring, but did not get it. 骑在旋转木马上的男孩想抓住铜环，但没有抓住。2. To seize quickly; accept mentally or physically. 迅速抓住；接受。◆ The hungry man caught at the sandwich and began to eat. 那饿汉迅速接过三明治就开始吃了起来。

catch cold　v. phr. 1. or take cold To get a common cold-weather sickness that causes a running nose, sneezing, and sometimes sore throat and fever or other symptoms. 伤风；感冒；受凉。◆ Don't get your feet wet or you'll catch cold. 不要把你的脚弄湿，不然要感冒的。2. informal To catch unprepared or not ready for a question or unexpected happening. 〖非正式〗使措手不及；使出乎意外。◆ I had not studied my lesson carefully, and the teacher's question caught me cold. 我没有认真学习功课，所以老师的问题弄得我措手不及。

catch fire　v. phr. 1. To begin to bum. 着火；开始燃烧。◆ When he dropped a match in the leaves, they caught fire. 他把一根火柴丢在树叶里，树叶就开始烧了起来。2. To become excited. 激动。◆ The audience caught fire at the speaker's words and began to cheer. 听众听了演讲者的话激动得欢呼起来。

catch flak or take flak　v. phr. To draw fire from an air defense gun as it shoots at enemy bombers, hence to be in for criticism by others. （指轰炸机）受到高射炮的轰击；遭受批评。◆ The American B-52 bombers took a lot of flak over Germany during World War Ⅱ. 第二次世界大战期间，美国的B-52轰炸机在德国上空遭到高射炮的猛烈轰击。◆ Joe's father has just come home late and he's catching flak again from his disgruntled wife. 乔的父亲刚刚很晚才回家，正再次受到不满的妻子的严厉批评。

catch hold of　v. phr. To grasp a person or a thing. 抓住。◆ "I've been trying to catch hold of you all week," John said, "but you were out of town."“整个礼拜我一直想抓住你，”约翰说，“但你不在城里。”◆ The mountain climber successfully caught hold of his friend's hand and thereby saved his life. 那位登山者成功地抓住了朋友的手，从而救了自己的命。

catch it or get it　v. phr., informal To be scolded or punished. — Usually used of children. 〖非正式〗受责；受罚。——通常用于儿童。◆ John knew he would catch it when he came home late for supper. 约翰知道如果他回家吃晚饭晚了，他会挨骂的。◆ Wow, Johnny! When your mother sees those torn pants, you're going to get it. 哇，约翰尼！要是你母亲看到那条撕破的裤子，你就要挨骂了。

catch it in the neck or get it in the neck　v. phr., slang To be blamed or punished. 〖俚〗受到严厉谴责（或惩罚）。◆ Tom got it in the neck because he forgot to close the windows when it rained. 汤姆因下雨时忘了关窗而受到严厉申斥。◆ Students get it in the neck when they lose library books. 学生们丢了图书馆的书会受到严厉惩罚。

catch off balance　v. phr. To confront someone with physical force or with a statement or question he or she is not prepared to answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of another. 使失去平衡；趁…无准备；使无法应付；使不知所措。◆ Your question has caught me off balance; please give me some time to think about your problem. 你的问题我一下子答不上来；请给我一些时间让我考虑一下。

catch off guard　v. phr. To challenge or confront a person at a time of lack of preparedness or sufficient care. 趁（某人）不备；趁（某人）未加提防。◆ The suspect was caught off guard by the detective and confessed where he had hidden the stolen car. 那个嫌疑犯被警探弄了个措手不及，坦白交代了藏匿所盗汽车的地方。

catch on　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To understand; learn about. — Often used with to. 理解；明白；知道。——常与to连用。◆ You'll catch on to the job after you've been here awhile. 你在这儿待上一段时间后，就会知道如何做这个工作了。◆ Don't play any tricks on Joe. When he catches on, he will beat you. 不要对乔耍任何花招。他明白了以后会揍你的。2. To become popular; be done or used by many people. 流行起来；受欢迎。◆ The song caught on and was sung and played everywhere. 这首歌流行起来了，到处都在唱，都在演奏。3. To be hired; get a job. 受雇；得到工作。◆ The ball player caught on with a big league team last year. 这名球员去年受雇于棒球联合总会的一支强队。

catch one's breath　v. phr. 1. To breathe in suddenly with fear or surprise. （因恐惧或惊讶）屏息。◆ The beauty of the scene made him catch his breath. 景色之美使他愕然屏息。2a. To rest and get back your normal breathing, as after running. 歇口气；喘口气。◆ After running to the bus stop, we sat down to catch our breath. 奔到公共汽车站以后，我们坐下来歇口气。2b. To relax for a moment after any work. 放松一下。◆ After the day's work we sat down over coffee to catch our breath. 一天的工作之后我们坐下来喝杯咖啡，放松一下。

catch one's death of or take one's death of　v. phr., informal To become very ill with (a cold, pneumonia, flu). 〖非正式〗患致命的病（重感冒、肺炎、流感）。◆ Johnny fell in the icy water and almost took his death of cold. 约翰尼落入了冰水中，得了重感冒，差一点丧命。— Sometimes used in the short form "catch your death." 有时用简略式“catch your death”。◆ "Johnny! Come right in here and put your coat and hat on. You'll catch your death!"“约翰尼！马上进来穿上外衣戴上帽子。不然你会得重感冒的！”

catch red-handed　v. phr. To apprehend a person during the act of committing an illicit or criminal act. 当场捉住。◆ Al was caught red-handed at the local store when he was trying to walk out with a new camera he had not paid for. 艾尔正要拿着一架未付钱的新相机走出当地那家商店时，被当场捉住了。

catch sb.'s drift　v. phr. To understand what one's interlocutor is trying to imply, or is hinting at; to be able to figure out where a conversation is headed. 理解某人的暗示；理解某人话的含义。◆ "If I am catching your drift right," Mary said sadly, "you're not really interested in marriage."“如果我没理解错你的意思，”玛丽伤心地说，“你对结婚并非真的感兴趣。”

catch sb.'s eye　v. phr. To attract your attention. 引起某人的注意。◆ I caught his eye as he moved through the crowd, and waved at him to come over. 在他穿过人群时，我引起了他的注意，于是我便挥手叫他过来。◆ The dress in the window caught her eye when she passed the store. 她经过那家商店时，橱窗里的那件连衣裙引起了她的注意。

catch sight of　v. phr. To see suddenly or unexpectedly. 突然看到；意外地看到。◆ Allan caught sight of a kingbird in a maple tree. 阿伦突然看到枫树上有一只美洲食蜂鹟。

catch (someone) dead　v. phr., informal To see or hear (someone) in an embarrassing act or place at any time. — Used in the negative usually in the passive. 〖非正式〗看（某人）受窘。——常用于否定句和被动式。◆ John wouldn't be caught dead in the necktie he got for Christmas. 约翰不会再戴为圣诞节买的那条领带了，免得受窘。

catch some rays　v. phr., slang, informal To get tanned while sunbathing. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗晒晒太阳；行日光浴。◆ Tomorrow I'll go to the beach and try to catch some rays. 明天我要去海滩晒晒太阳。

catch some Z's　v. phr., slang, informal To take a nap, to go to sleep. (Because of the z sound resembling snoring.)〖俚〗〖非正式〗睡一会儿；打个盹。（因为z音像鼾声。）◆ I want to hit the sack and catch some Z's. 我想上床去睡一会儿。

catch the flu or catch a cold　v. phr. To contract influenza or some other communicable disease of short duration. 患流感；感冒。◆ "Why is Joe not at work again?" the office manager asked. "He's caught the flu again," Joe's brother Tom replied. “为什么乔又没来上班？”业务经理问。“他又得了流感，”乔的兄弟汤姆回答说。

catch-22　n., informal 1. From Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22, set in World War II. A regulation or situation that is self-contradictory or that conflicts with another regulation. In Heller's book it referred to the regulation that flight crews must report for duty unless excused for reasons of insanity, but that any one claiming such an excuse must, by definition, be sane. 〖非正式〗第22条军规；不可逾越的障碍。（源于美国作家约瑟夫·海勒以第二次世界大战为背景的小说《第22条军规》。在海勒的书中，第22条军规指的是这样一条规定：飞行员除非因精神错乱免除责任外必须执行飞行任务，而任何提出停飞要求的人又一定不会精神错乱。）◆ Government rules require workers to expose any wrongdoing in their office, but the Catch-22 prevents them from their doing so, because they are not allowed to disclose any information about their work. 政府的规则要求工作人员揭露他们办公室中的任何不法行为，但“第22条军规”又阻止他们这样做，因为不允许他们泄露任何有关他们工作的信息。2. A paradoxical situation. 无法摆脱的困境；自相矛盾的情况。◆ The Catch-22 of job-hunting was that the factory wanted to hire only workers who had experience making computers but the only way to get the experience was by working at the computer factory. 寻找工作中无法摆脱的困境是：工厂只想雇用有制造计算机经验的工人，而获取经验的唯一途径便是在计算机工厂里工作。

catch up　v. 1. To take or pick up suddenly; grab (something). 突然抓住；突然拿起。◆ She caught up the book from the table and ran out of the room. 她突然拿起桌子上的书跑出了房间。2. To capture or trap (someone) in a situation; concern or interest very much. — Usually used in the passive with in. 把…缠住；把…卷入；把…迷住。——通常用被动式并与in连用。◆ We were so caught up in the movie we forgot what time it was. 我们看电影看得入了迷，连时间都忘记了。3. To go fast enough or do enough so as not to be behind; overtake; come even. — Often used with to or with. 赶上；追上。——常与to或with连用。◆ Johnny ran hard and tried to catch up to his friends. 约翰尼拼命跑，想赶上他的朋友们。◆ Mary missed two weeks of school; she must work hard to catch up with her class. 玛丽缺了两周的课；她必须刻苦学习才能赶上班上的同学。Compare比较UP TO. 4. To find out about or get proof to punish or arrest. — Usually used with with. 发现；得到证据惩罚（或逮捕）。——通常与with连用。◆ A man told the police where the robbers were hiding, so the police finally caught up with them. 有人将盗贼藏身的地方告诉了警方，警方终于逮捕了他们。5. To result in something bad; bring punishment. — Usually used with with. 产生坏影响；带来不良后果（或惩罚）。——通常与with连用。◆ The boy's fighting caught up with him and he was expelled from school. 那男孩打架给他带来了不良后果，他被学校开除了。6. To finish; not lose or be behind. — Used with on and often in the phrase get caught up on. 赶完；弥补。——与on连用并常用于短语get caught up on。◆ Frank stayed up late to get caught up on his homework. 弗兰克熬夜把作业赶完。

catch up with　v. phr. To come level with someone　being pursued; to reach the same level of income, education, etc., as someone emulated. 追上；赶上。◆ John is afraid that he will never be able to catch up with his older brother, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in medicine. 约翰担心自己永远也赶不上哥哥，因为哥哥曾获得诺贝尔医学奖的提名。

catch with sb.'s pants down　v. phr., slang To surprise someone in an embarrassing position or guilty act. 〖理〗突然袭击某人；出其不意地使某人陷入窘境。◆ They thought they could succeed in the robbery, but they got caught with their pants down. 他们本以为可以抢劫成功，却出其不意地被逮个正着。

catch you later　Good-bye, see you around, etc. 以后再见。◆ "I must run now," Jerry said, "but I'll catch you later and we can talk some more."“我现在得赶快走了，”杰里说，“但我以后会再见到你，到时候再多谈一些吧。”

cater to　v. phr. To provide what is needed to fulfill a demand; e. g., food at a party, flattering words to a haughty superior, etc. 满足（需要），迎合（趣味）。◆ The television industry caters to all sorts of taste in home entertainment. 电视业在家庭娱乐方面很会迎合各种不同的趣味。◆ If you don't stop catering to the boss' vanity, everybody will start to hate you in the office. 如果你继续迎合老板的虚荣心，办公室里所有的人都会开始恨你。

cat got sb.'s tongue　You are not able or willing to talk because of shyness. Usually used about children or as a question to children. 因害羞而不能（或不愿）说话；羞于开口。——通常用于儿童或问儿童的问题。◆ The little girl had a poem to recite, but the cat got her tongue. 小女孩要朗诵一首诗，但突然因害羞而不敢开口。

cat has nine lives　A cat can move so fast and jump so well that he seems to escape being killed many times. 猫有九条命（指猫能跑善跳，可多次逃过厄运）。◆ We thought our cat would be killed when he fell from the roof of the house. He was not, but he used up one of his nine lives. 我们家的猫从屋顶上摔下，我们都以为它会摔死的。但它却安然无恙，只是九条命已用掉了一条。

cathouse　n., slang A house of ill repute, a house of prostitution. 〖俚〗妓院。◆ Massage parlors are frequently cathouses in disguise. 按摩院经常是伪装的妓院。

catnap　n. phr. A short period of rest during which one falls asleep, even if only lightly. 小睡；瞌睡。◆ I like to take a catnap in the afternoon. 我喜欢在下午打个盹。

cat's meow or cat's pajamas　n. slang Something very wonderful, special, or good. 〖俚〗绝妙的东西。◆ John's new bike is really the cat's meow. 约翰的新自行车真的很棒。◆ Mary's party is going to be the cat's pajamas. 玛丽的晚会一定会办得呱呱叫。

caught short　adj. phr., informal Not having enough of something when you need it. 〖非正式〗短缺的，不足的。◆ Mrs. Ford was caught short when the newspaper boy came for his money a day early. 报童提早一天来收报费时，福特太太手边正好没有足够的钱。◆ The man was caught short of clothes when he had to go on a trip. 那人要出差时，却发现没有足够的衣服。

cause a stir　v. phr. To cause a considerably greater reaction than was anticipated. 引起轰动。◆ The wellknown dramatic actress caused quite a stir when she accepted Playboy magazine's offer to pose in the nude as Playmate of the Month. 当那位著名的戏剧女演员接受《花花公子》杂志的提议作为月度玩伴拍摄裸体照时，她确实引起了很大的轰动。

cause eyebrows to raise　v. phr. To do something that causes consternation; to shock others. 令人瞠目；令人震惊。◆ When Algernon entered Orchestra Hall barefoot and wearing a woman's wig, he caused eyebrows to raise. 当阿尔杰农戴着女人的假发赤脚走进管弦乐厅时，在场的人无不瞠目结舌。

cavalry are coming or cavalry are here or marines have landed or send in the cavalry　Help is on its way; the rescuers are approaching. — A proverb. 〖谚〗援兵就要到了；救援者就要到了。◆ Jane was struggling with the new furniture when Jerry arrived from work. "The cavalry are coming!" Jane cried out with a laugh. 简正在吃力地搬动新家具时，杰里下班回来了。“救兵来了！”简笑着大声喊道。

cave in　v. 1. To fall or collapse inward. 坍塌，倒塌；内陷。◆ The mine caved in and crushed three miners. 矿井坍塌，压伤了三名矿工。◆ Don't climb on that old roof. It might cave in. 不要在那个旧屋顶上爬。它也许会塌下来的。2. informal To weaken and be forced to give up. 〖非正式〗屈服；让步；投降。◆ The children begged their father to take them to the circus until he caved in. 孩子们一直恳求父亲带他们去看马戏，直到他让步为止。◆ After the atomic bomb, Japan caved in and the war ceased. 原子弹投下后，日本被迫投降，战争遂告结束。

cease fire　v. To give a military command ordering soldiers to stop shooting. 停火。◆ "Cease fire!" the captain cried, and the shooting stopped. “停火！”上尉大声喊道，接着射击便停了下来。

cease-fire　n. A period of negotiated nonaggression, when the warring parties involved promise not to attack. 停火（期）。◆ Unfortunately, the cease-fire in Bosnia was broken many times by all parties concerned. 遗憾的是，波斯尼亚的停火被有关各方多次破坏。

century　See见TURN OF THE CENTURY.

C. E. O.　n. Abbreviation of "Chief Executive Officer." The head of a company, factory, firm, etc. ("Chief Executive Officer"的缩略)。首席执行官；总经理◆ We are very proud of the fact that our C. E. O. is a young woman. 我们的首席执行官是位年轻的女士，我们对此很自豪。

chained to the oars　adj. phr. The condition of being forced to do strenuous and unwelcome labor against one's wishes for an extended period of time. （像古代划船的奴隶）被迫长时间做苦工的。◆ Teachers in large public schools frequently complain that they feel as if they had been chained to the oars. 大的公立学校的老师们经常抱怨说，他们觉得就像古代划船的奴隶一样，长年累月地工作个没完。

chain gang　n. A group of convicts or slaves in the old South who were chained together. 被铁链拴在一起的囚犯队（或南北战争前美国南方的农奴）。◆ Chain gangs are no longer an acceptable way of punishment, according to modern criminologists. 现代犯罪学家们认为，用铁链把囚犯们拴在一起的作法已不再是一种可以接受的惩罚方式。

chain letter　n. A letter which each person receiving it is asked to copy and send to several others. （要求收信人阅后复写数份分寄他人的）连锁信。◆ Most chain letters die out quickly. 大多数连锁信很快就会逐渐消失。

chain-smoke　v. To smoke cigarettes or cigars one after another without stopping. 一支接一支地抽（烟或雪茄）。◆ Mr. Jones is very nervous. He chain-smokes cigars. 琼斯先生很紧张。他一支接一支地抽雪茄。chain-smoker n. 一支接一支抽烟的人；烟鬼。◆ Mr. Jones is a chain smoker. 琼斯先生是个烟不离口的人。chain smoking adj. or n. 一支接一支抽烟（的）。◆ Chain smoking is very dangerous to health. 一支接一支的抽烟对健康危害很大。

chain stores　n. A series of stores in different locations, joined together under one ownership and general management. 连锁商店。◆ The goods in chain stores tend to be more uniform than in independent ones. 连锁商店的商品往往比独立经营的商店的商品标准更统一。

chalk it up to experience　v. phr. To record in memory a failure so as to avoid repeating the same mistake in the future. 吸取经验教训（以免重犯同样的错误）。◆ When the Jones' new business venture selling computers from door to door had failed, Mr. Jones said "OK, let's chalk this one up to experience and start doing something else." 当琼斯父子挨家挨户推销电脑的新商业冒险遭到失败时，琼斯先生说，“没什么，让我们吸取这次教训，重新开始干点别的吧。”

chalk up　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To write down as part of a score; record. 记下（比赛分数等）；记录。◆ The scorekeeper chalked up one more point for the home team. 记分员为主队又记上一分。2. To make (a score or part of a score); score. 得（分）；赢得；取得。◆ The team chalked up another victory. 该队又取得了一场胜利。◆ Bob chalked up a home run and two base hits in the game. 鲍勃在这场比赛中打出了一个本垒打和两个安全打。◆ Mary chalked up good grades this term. 玛丽本学期取得了很好的成绩。

champ at the bit　v. phr. To be eager to begin; be tired of being held back; want to start. （马）使性子大咬嚼子；急于开始；急不可耐。◆ The horses were champing at the bit, anxious to start racing. 那些马都不耐烦地咬着嚼子，急于开始比赛。

chance it　v. phr. To be willing to risk an action whose outcome is uncertain. 冒险一试；碰碰运气。◆ "Should we take the boat out in such stormy weather?" Jim asked. "We can chance it." Tony replied. "We have enough experience."“这样的暴风雨天气，我们还要把船开出去吗？”吉姆问道。“我们可以碰碰运气，”托尼答道。“我们有足够的经验。”

chance of a snowball in hell or chance of a fart in a windstorm　slang; the second version is vulgar, hence avoidable To have practically no chance at all of accomplishing what one has set out to do. — A proverb. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗〖谚〗毫无希望；根本没有可能。◆ If we continue to move as slowly as we do, we'll have the chance of a snowball in hell to arrive at the Olympics in time. 如果我们继续这样慢腾腾地前进，我们就根本不可能及时赶去观看奥运会。

chance on also chance upon　v. To happen to find or meet; find or meet by accident. 偶然发现；偶然遇见。◆ On our vacation we chanced upon an interesting antique store. 我们在度假时偶然发现了一家有趣的古董店。◆ Mary dropped her ring in the yard, and Mother chanced on it as she was raking. 玛丽把戒指落在了院子里，母亲在用耙子清扫院子时偶然发现了它。

chances are　v. phr. To be likely; to be probable; to have a good chance that something is decidable as to its being true or false. 很可能。◆ Chances are it won't rain anymore today because the sky cleared up entirely. 今天很可能不会再下雨了，因为天已经完全放晴。

change color　v. phr. 1. To become pale. 变色；脸色变白。◆ The sight was so horrible that Mary changed color from fear. 那景象极为恐怖，玛丽吓得脸都白了。◆ Bill lost so much blood from the cut that he changed color. 比尔因刀伤失血过多，面色变得苍白。2. To become pink or red in the face; become flushed; blush. 脸色变红；脸红。◆ Mary changed color when the teacher praised her drawing. 老师称赞玛丽的图画时她脸红了。

change hands　v. phr. To change or transfer ownership. （财产等）换主人，易主；易手。◆ Ever since our apartment building changed hands, things are working a lot better. 自我们的公寓大楼换了主人以来，事情的运转大为改进。

change horses in the middle of a stream or change horses in midstream　v phr. To make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity. 在河中心换马；临阵换将；在紧要关头改变策略（或更换领导人）。◆ When a new President is to be elected during a war, the people may decide not to change horses in the middle of a stream. 在战争期间要选举新总统时，人民可能会决定不临阵易帅。

change off　v., informal To take turns doing something; alternate. 〖非正式〗轮流；交替。◆ John and Bill changed off at riding the bicycle. 约翰和比尔轮流骑这辆自行车。

change of heart　n. phr. A change in the way one feels or thinks about a given task, idea or problem to be solved. 变心；改变主意（或立场、态度等）。◆ Joan had a change of heart and suddenly broke off her engagement to Tim. 琼变了心，突然解除了同汤姆的婚约。

change of life　n. phr. The menopause (primarily in women). 绝经期；更年期。◆ Women usually undergo a change of life in their forties or fifties. 妇女们通常在40多岁或50多岁时经历更年期。

change of pace　n. phr. A quick change in what you are doing. （为解乏、解闷等而）改变所做之事；换换口味。◆ John studied for three hours and then read a comic book for a change of pace. 约翰学习了三个小时，为了调剂一下，便读了一本连环漫画书。

change one's mind　v. phr. To alter one's opinion or judgment on a given issue. 改变主意；改变看法。◆ I used to hate Chicago, but as the years passed I gradually changed my mind and now I actually love living here. 我过去不喜欢芝加哥，但随着一年年过去，我逐步改变了看法，现在我真的挺喜欢住在这儿。

change one's tune　v. phr., informal To make a change in your story, statement, or claim; change your way of acting. 〖非正式〗改变调子；改变行为方式。◆ The man said he was innocent, but when they found the stolen money in his pocket he changed his tune. 那人说自己是清白的，但当他们在他的口袋里发现了被偷的钱时，他的调子就变了。

chapter and verse　adv. phr. Entirely, authoritatively, and exhaustively. 全部地；精确地；详尽地。◆ When the police were interrogating Jeff about the serial murders in town, he gave them every last detail, chapter and verse. 当警方就城里的系列谋杀案审问杰夫时，他对他们详详细细讲述了每一个细节。

charge account　n. An agreement with a store through which you can buy things and pay for them later. 赊购（账）。◆ Mother bought a new dress on her charge account. 母亲赊购了一件新的连衣裙。

charge off　v. To consider or record as a loss, especially in an account book. 把…作为损耗在账上注销。◆ The store owner charged off all of the last season's stock of suits. 店主把上季度全部库存的服装作为损耗在账上注销了。

charge something to something　v. 1. To place the blame on; make responsible for. 把…归咎于；使…对…负责。◆ John failed to win a prize, but he charged it to his lack of experience. 约翰未能获奖，但他却把它归咎于缺少经验。2. To buy something on the credit of. 把…记在…的账上。◆ Mrs. Smith bought a new pocketbook and charged it to her husband. 史密斯夫人买了一个新的钱包，把它记在她丈夫的账上。

charge up　v. phr. 1. To submit to a flow of electricity in order to make functional. 为…充电。◆ I mustn't forget to charge up my razor before we go on our trip. 在我们去旅行之前，我必须记住为我的电动剃须刀充电。2. To use up all the available credit one has on one's credit card(s). 用完（信用卡上的）贷方余额。◆ "Let's charge dinner on the Master Card," Jane said. "Unfortunately I can't," Jim replied. "All of my credit cards are completely charged up."“咱们这顿饭用万事达信用卡支付吧，”简说。 “很遗憾，不行，”吉姆回答说。“我所有信用卡的余额已经全部用完了。”

charge with　v. phr. To accuse someone in a court of law. 指控；控告。◆ The criminal was charged with aggravated kidnapping across a state line. 该罪犯被指控犯有严重的跨国拐骗罪。

charmed life　n. A life often saved from danger; a life full of lucky escapes. 似有魔法保护的生命；总能逢凶化吉的生命。◆ He was in two airplane accidents, but he had a charmed life. 他曾两次遭遇空难，但每次都逢凶化吉，安然脱险。

chart out　v. phr. To set or establish a plan for some activity. 为（活动）制订明确的计划。◆ The mountain climbers charted out their activities for each day for their trip to Mount Everest. 登山者为他们一路攀登埃佛勒斯峰（即珠穆朗玛峰）每天的活动制订了明确的计划。

chase after　See见RUN AFTER.

chasing the rainbow　v. phr. To pursue unrealistic dreams and expectations. 追求不切实际的梦想；幻想；想入非非。◆ It would be better for my spinster aunt to marry the mailman and settle down than to be chasing the rainbow like some romantic schoolgirl. 对我那位大龄未婚的姑姑来说，与其像某个浪漫的女中学生那样想入非非，还不如就嫁给那个邮递员然后过安定的生活为好。

cheap shot　n. phr. An unbecomingly unfair and unsporting statement made against someone. 恶意侮辱人的话，恶意中伤。◆ The radio commentator said that the senator's portrayal of his opponent as a criminal was nothing but a cheap shot; in fact, his police record showed no more than one arrest when he protested against the war in Vietnam as a young student. 电台评论员说，参议员把其对手描绘成罪犯纯粹是一种恶意中伤；其实他的刑事档案材料中仅有一次被捕的记录，当时他是一名年轻的学生，因抗议在越南的战争才被捕的。

cheapskate　n., informal A selfish or stingy person; a person who will not spend much. — An insulting term. 〖非正式〗〖贬〗自私的人；吝啬鬼，守财奴。◆ None of the girls like to go out on a date with him because he is a cheapskate. 没有哪个女孩喜欢跟他出去约会，因为他是个吝啬鬼。

cheat on someone　or something　v. phr., 1. To be unfaithful to one's husband, wife, or "significant other." 不忠于（配偶或情人）。◆ "Do you think Albert cheats on Vanessa?" "Well, in fact, she cheats on him as well."“你是不是觉得阿尔伯特对瓦尼萨不忠？”“哎，其实，她对他也不忠。”2. To use crib notes during a final examination, a cause for dismissal from most colleges and universities. 考试作弊。◆ Oliver was thrown out of West Point Military Academy because he cheated on his final math exam. 奥利弗因数学期终考试作弊而被开除出西点军校。

check in　v. 1a. To sign your name (as at a hotel or convention). （在旅馆、会议等处）登记，报到。◆ The last guests to reach the hotel checked in at 12 o'clock. 最后到达旅馆的一批客人于12点办理了登记手续。1b. informal To arrive. 〖非正式〗到达。◆ The friends we had invited did not check in until Saturday. 我们邀请的朋友直到星期六才到。2. To receive (something) back and make a record of it. 收回并登记。◆ The coach checked in the football uniforms at the end of the school year. 教练在学年结束时收回了橄榄球队的队服。◆ The students put their books on the library desk, and the librarian checked them in. 学生们把书放在图书馆的桌子上，图书馆员把它们收回注销。

check into　v. phr. 1. To register in a hotel, motel, or hospital. 登记住进（旅馆、医院等）。◆ The doctor recommended that I should check into the nearest hospital. 医生建议我住进最近的医院。2. To investigate. 调查。◆ The FBI decided to check into the background of a number of suspicious characters in our neighborhood. 联邦调查局决定调查我们居住区内若干可疑人物的背景。

check off　v. To put a mark beside (the name of a person or thing on a list) to show that it has been counted. （经核对后）在…上打上“√”号。◆ The teacher checked off each pupil as he got on the bus. 每个学生上车时，老师都一一核对打钩。

check on someone/thing or check up on someone/thing　v. To try to find out the truth or rightness of; make sure of; examine; inspect; investigate. 查明；弄清楚；检查；察看；调查。◆ We checked on Dan's age by getting his birth record. 我们找到丹的出生记录，查明了他的年龄。

check out　v. 1a. To pay your hotel bill and leave. 结账离开（旅馆）。◆ The last guests checked out of their rooms in the morning. 最后一批客人已在早晨结账离开了房间。1b. informal To go away; leave. 〖非正式〗离开；走掉。◆ I hoped our guest would stay but he had to check out before Monday. 我希望我们的客人能住下来，但他星期一之前得走。2a. To make a list or record of. 把…记下；记载。◆ They checked out all the goods in the store. 他们登记了店里的全部货物。2b. To give or lend (something) and make a record of it. 登记后发出（或借出）。◆ The boss checked out the tools to the workmen as they came to work. 工人们来上班时，老板把工具登记后发给他们。2c. To get (something) after a record has been made of it. 登记后得到（或借到）。◆ I checked out a book from the library. 我从图书馆借出一本书。3. informal To test (something, like a part of a motor). 〖非正式〗检查。◆ The mechanic checked out the car battery. 机修工检查了汽车的电池。◆ "He checked out from the motel at nine," said the detective, "then he checked out the air in the car tires and his list of local clients."“他9点钟结账离开了汽车旅馆，”那位警探说，“然后他检查了汽车轮胎是否有气和他在本地的委托人名单。”4. slang To die. 〖俚〗死。◆ He seemed too young to check out. 他似乎死得太年轻了。

check up　v. (stress on up) (重读up) To find out or try to find out the truth or correctness of something; make sure of something; investigate. 查明；弄清楚；调查。◆ Mrs. Brown thought she had heard a burglar in the house, so Mr. Brown checked up, but found nobody. 布朗夫人好像听见屋里有贼，于是布朗先生便去查看，但没有发现什么人。◆ Bill thought he had a date with Janie, but phoned her to check up. 比尔以为他与珍妮有个约会，便给她打了个电话予以核实。

checkup　n. (stress on check) (重读check) A periodic examination by a physician or of some equipment by a mechanic. 体格检查；（对设备等的）定期检查。◆ I am overdue for my annual physical check-up. 我每年一次的体格检查早该做了。◆ I need to take my car in for a checkup. 我需要把车开去检查一下。

check with　v. phr. 1. To consult. 与…商量。◆ I want to check with my lawyer before I sign the papers. 在签署这些文件之前，我想与我的律师商量一下。2. To agree with. 与…相符；与…一致。◆ Does my reconciliation of our account check with the bank statement? 我对我们账户的调节与银行结单相符吗？

cheer on　v. phr. To vociferously encourage a person or a team during a sports event. 向…欢呼；为…鼓气。◆ The spectators at the stadium cheered on their home team. 体育场里的观众为主队欢呼加油。

cheer up　v. 1. To feel happy; stop being sad or discouraged; become hopeful, joyous, or glad. 高兴起来；振作起来。◆ Jones was sad at losing the business, but he cheered up at the sight of his daughter. 琼斯因生意失利而伤心难过，但一看到女儿就高兴起来了。◆ Cheer up! The worst is over. 振作起来！最糟的情况已经过去了。2. To make cheerful or happy. 使高兴；使愉快；使振奋。◆ The support of the students cheered up the losing team and they played harder and won. 学生们的支持使要输的球队振作了起来，他们拼得更厉害，并赢得了比赛。◆ We went to the hospital to cheer up a sick friend. 我们去医院慰问了一位生病的朋友。◆ Flowers cheer up a room. 花卉能使房间充满生气。

cheesebox　n., slang A small, suburban house built by a land developer available at low cost and resembling the other houses around it. 〖俚〗“干酪盒”廉价小房（房地产开发商在城市郊区建造的小房子，价格比较低廉，与周围房子造型一致）。◆ They moved to a suburb, but their house is just a cheesebox. 他们搬到了郊区，但住的只是“干酪盒”廉价小房。

cheesecake　n., slang, informal A showing of the legs of an attractive woman or a display of her breasts as in certain magazines known as cheesecake magazines. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗袒胸露腿；性感的半裸美人照。◆ Photographer to model: "Give us some cheesecake in that pose!" 摄影师对模特儿说：“摆那种姿势多露些腿！”

cherished belief or cherished beliefs　n. phr. A set of beliefs or opinions to which one is likely to cling stubbornly without giving revision a chance. 顽固坚持的信念；死抱着不放的看法。◆ It is a cherished belief among many racists that other races are inferior to their own. 许多种族主义者顽固地坚持认为，别的种族都比他们的种族低劣。

cherry farm　n., slang A correctional institution of minimal security where the inmates, mostly first offenders, work as farmhands. 〖俚〗（劳改者多为初犯的）劳改农场。◆ Joe got a light sentence and was sent to a cherry farm for six months. 乔被判了轻刑，被送往劳改农场劳改半年。

chew out　v., slang To scold roughly. 〖俚〗严厉责骂；痛骂；训斥。◆ The boy's father chewed him out for staying up late. 男孩的父亲因他睡得太晚把他训了一顿。◆ The coach chews out lazy players. 教练严厉责骂懒惰的队员。

chew the cud　v. phr. 1. Said of animals, such as cows, to ruminate. （指牛等）反刍。◆ After grazing for several hours the cow lies down and chews the cud. 牛吃了几小时的牧草以后就会躺下来反刍。2. Said of people, to mentally go over what was heard or read, as if ruminating. （指人）反复思考，沉思。◆ John was sitting in his rocking chair and chewing the cud over the lecture he heard earlier that day. 约翰坐在摇椅里，反复思考着那天早些时候听过的讲座。

chew the fat or chew the rag　v. phr., slang To talk together in an idle, friendly fashion; chat. 〖俚〗闲谈；聊天。◆ We used to meet after work, and chew the fat over coffee and doughnuts. 我们过去常在下班后见面，一边喝咖啡，吃炸面圈，一边聊天。◆ The old man would chew the rag for hours with anyone who would join him. 跟任何愿意同他聊天的人，那老人都会聊上几个小时。

chew the scenery　v. phr., slang To act overemotionally in a situation where it is inappropriate; to engage in histrionics. 〖俚〗演得过火；矫揉造作；装腔作势。◆ I don't know if Joe was sincere about our house, but he sure chewed up the scenery! 我不知道乔对我们的房子是否真有兴趣，但他确实够装模作样的！

chicken-brained　adj. Stupid; narrowminded; unimaginative. 愚蠢的；胸襟狭窄的；缺乏想象力的。◆ I can't understand how a bright woman like Helen can date such a chicken-brained guy as Oliver. 我真不明白像海伦这样聪明的女人怎么会同奥利弗这样愚蠢的家伙约会。

chicken feed　n., slang A very small sum of money. 〖俚〗极少的钱；微不足道的钱款。◆ John and Bill worked very hard, but they were only paid chicken feed. 约翰和比尔工作很努力，但得到的报酬却很微薄。◆ Mr. Jones is so rich he thinks a thousand dollars is chicken feed. 琼斯先生很有钱，1000美元在他看来微不足道。

chicken-hearted　adj. Cowardly; excessively timid. 胆小的；怯懦的。◆ "Come on, let's get on that roller coaster," she cried. "Don't be so chicken-hearted."“来吧，咱们一起上那个过山车，”她喊道。“不要这么胆小嘛！”

chicken-livered　adj., slang, colloquial Easily scared; cowardly. 〖俚〗〖口〗胆小的；怯懦的。◆ Joe sure is a chicken-livered guy. 乔真是个胆小鬼。

chicken out　v. phr., informal To stop doing something because of fear; to decide not to do something after all even though previously having decided to try it. 〖非正式〗因胆怯而放弃；畏缩不前；打退堂鼓。◆ I used to ride a motorcycle on the highway, but I've chickened out. 我过去一直在公路上骑摩托车，但现在已不敢骑了。

chickens come home to roost　informal Words or acts come back to cause trouble for a person; something bad you said or did receives punishment; you get the punishment that you deserve. 〖非正式〗报应；自作自受；恶有恶报；罪有应得。◆ Fred's chickens finally came home to roost today. He was late so often that the teacher made him go to the principal. 弗雷德今天终于得到了报应。因他经常迟到，所以老师叫他去见校长。—Often used in a short form. 常用于简略式。◆ Mary's selfishness will come home to roost some day. 玛丽的自私终有一天会得到报应。

chicken switch　n., slang, Space English〖俚〗〖航天〗1. The emergency eject button used by test pilots in fast and high flying aircraft by means of which they can parachute to safety if the engine fails; later adopted by astronauts in space capsules. （能把飞行员或宇航员从损坏的飞行器中弹射出来的）紧急弹射按钮。◆ Don't pull the chicken switch, unless absolutely necessary. 除非绝对必要，不要拉紧急弹射按钮。2. The panic button; a panicky reaction to an unforeseen situation, such as unreasonable or hysterical telephone calls to friends for help. 紧急按钮；对紧急情况的惊慌反应；呼救电话。◆ Joe pulled the chicken switch on his neighbor when the grease started burning in the kitchen. 当厨房里的油脂开始燃烧时，乔急忙打电话向邻居求救。

children and fools speak the truth　Children and fools say things without thinking; they say what they think or know when grown-ups might not think it was polite or wise to do so. — A proverb. 〖谚〗孩子和傻子说实话。◆ "Uncle Willie is too fat," said little Agnes. "Children and fools speak the truth," said her father. “威利叔叔太胖了，”小阿格尼丝说。“孩子和傻子说实话，”她父亲说。

children should be seen and not heard　A command issued by adults to children ordering them to be quiet and not to interrupt. — A proverb. 〖谚〗小孩可以在场但不可出声；大人在说话，小孩别打岔。◆ Your children should not argue so loudly. Haven't you taught them that children should be seen and not heard? 你的孩子们不该这么大声争吵。你难道没有教育他们，小孩子可以在场但不可出声吗？

child's play　adj. Easy; requiring no effort. 容易的；不需要花力气的。◆ Mary's work as a volunteer social worker is so agreeable to her that she thinks of it as child's play. 作为一名社会福利工作的志愿者，玛丽的工作对她本人来说非常愉快，她觉得一点都不费力。

chilled to the marrow or frozen to the marrow　adj. phr. Extremely cold; chilled both inside and outside. 寒冷彻骨；浑身冷透。◆ The mountain climbers were chilled to the marrow during their climb of Mount Everest. 在攀登埃佛勒斯峰（珠穆朗玛峰）的过程中，登山者们都浑身冷透了。

chill out　v. phr., slang To relax. 〖俚〗休息；放松。◆ After the boisterous party at her girlfriend's house, Kathy was just chilling out at home. 在女友家参加完尽情喧闹的聚会后，凯西此刻正在自己家里休息。

chime in　v. 1. informal To join in. 〖非正式〗参加；加入◆ The whole group chimed in on the chorus. 全组都参加了大合唱。◆ When the argument got hot, John chimed in. 当辩论变得激烈时，约翰也参加了进来。2. To agree; go well together. — Usually used with with. 同意；一致；协调。——通常与with连用。◆ Dick was happy, and the holiday music chimed in with his feelings. 迪克很高兴，而假日的音乐也与他的心情一致。

China syndrome　n., informal From the title of the movie with Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon. The possibility that an industrial nuclear reactor might explode, literally affecting the other side of the planet (as if by eating a hole through the earth all the way to China.)〖非正式〗（工业核反应堆熔化失控造成的）灾难性核事故（源于简·方达与杰克·莱蒙主演的一部电影片名）。◆ Antinuclear demonstrators are greatly worried about the China syndrome. 反对使用核能的示威者非常担心灾难性的核事故。

chip in or kick in　v., informal To give together with others, contribute. 〖非正式〗共同出钱；捐助；贡献。◆ The pupils chipped in a dime apiece for the teacher's Christmas present. 小学生们每人出一毛钱为老师买圣诞礼物。◆ All the neighbors kicked in to help after the fire. 火灾之后所有的邻居都出钱相助。

chip off the old block　n. phr. A person whose character traits closely resemble those of his parents. （性格特点）酷似父母的人。◆ I hear that Tom plays the violin in the orchestra his father conducts; he sure is a chip off the old block. 我听说汤姆在他父亲任指挥的管弦乐队里拉小提琴；真可谓有其父必有其子。

chip on one's shoulder　n. phr., informal A quarrelsome nature; readiness to be angered. 〖非正式〗寻衅好斗的天性；易被激怒的脾气。◆ He went through life with a chip on his shoulder. 他一辈子都喜欢寻衅吵架。◆ Jim often gets into fights because he goes around with a chip on his shoulder. 吉姆经常跟人吵架，因为他总是摆出一副挑衅的姿态。

chips are down　phrasal idiom Said when a situation has reached its most critical or worst point. 到关键时刻；到紧急关头。◆ When the enemy opened fire, the chips were really down. 敌人开火时，才真到了关键时刻。

chisel or muscle in on　v. phr. To illegitimately and forcefully intrude into someone's traditional sales or professional arena of operation. 非法强行侵入。◆ Tim has a good sales territory, but he is always afraid that someone might chisel in on it. 蒂姆有个很好的销售区，但他老是担心有人会强行侵入。◆ Las Vegas casino owners are concerned that the Mafia might muscle in on their territory. 拉斯韦加斯的赌场老板们担心黑手党会侵入他们的地盘。

choke off　v. To put a sudden end to; stop abruptly or forcefully. 中止；切断。◆ The war choked off diamond shipments from overseas. 战争中断了海外金刚石的运入。

choke up　v. 1a. To come near losing calmness or self-control from strong feeling; be upset by your feelings. （因激动而）说不出话来。◆ When one speaker after another praised John, he choked up and couldn't thank them. 当发言者一个接一个地赞扬约翰时，他激动得不知该如何感谢他们了。1b. informal To be unable to do well because of excitement or nervousness. 〖非正式〗（因激动或紧张而）做不好；表现失常。◆ Bill was a good batter, but in the championship game he choked up and did poorly. 比尔是名出色的击球手，但在冠军赛中却因过分紧张而表现得很差。2. To fill up; become clogged or blocked; become hard to pass through. 塞满；塞住；难以通过。◆ The channel had choked up with sand so that boats couldn't use it. 航道为泥沙所堵塞，船只无法通过。

chomp at the bit　See见CHAMP AT THE BIT.

choose up sides　v. phr. To form two teams with two captains taking turns choosing players. （由两名队长轮流挑选队员而）组成两队。◆ The boys chose up sides for a game of softball. 男孩子们分成两队比赛垒球。◆ Tom and Joe were the captains. They chose up sides. 汤姆和乔是队长。他们轮流挑选队员。

chosen people or the C. P.　n. phr. The Jewish people. 上帝的选民，犹太人。◆ In the days of the Old Testament the Jews were considered to be the Chosen People. 在《旧约》时代，犹太人被认为是上帝的特选子民。

chow line　n., slang A line of people waiting for food. 〖俚〗等候开饭的队伍。◆ The chow line was already long when John got to the dining hall. 当约翰到达餐厅时，等候开饭的队伍已经很长了。◆ The soldiers picked up trays and got into the chow line. 士兵们拿起盘子，排进了等候进餐的队伍。

Christmas card　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon A speeding ticket. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗违章超速行驶的罚款单。◆ Smokey just gave a Christmas card to the eighteen wheeler we passed. 沿公路巡逻的州警察二话没说就给我们超过的那辆18轮大卡车开了一张超速行驶的罚款单。

Christmas club　n. A plan for putting money in the bank to be saved for Christmas shopping. 圣诞节购物储蓄。◆ John deposits $10 each week in the Christmas club. 约翰为圣诞节购物储蓄每周存入10美元。

chuck out　v. phr. To discard; to throw something out that is of no more use. 丢弃；扔掉。◆ If you have too many used old clothes and not even the Salvation Army can take them, just chuck them out. 如果你有太多的旧衣服，甚至连救世军也拿不了，那就干脆把它们扔掉。

chum around with　v. phr. 1. To be close friends with someone. 与…结为密友。◆ They have been chumming around with one another for quite some time. 他们结为密友已有相当一段时间了。2. To travel around with someone. 与…四处旅行。◆ Jack is planning to chum around with Tim in Europe this summer. 杰克计划今年夏天与蒂姆在欧洲四处旅行。

circumstances alter cases　formal The way things are, or happen, may change the way you are expected to act. 〖正式〗环境改变，具体情况也改变；情随境迁；人的行为因情况改变而异。◆ John's father told him never to touch his gun, but one day when Father was away, John used it to shoot a poisonous snake that came into the yard. Circumstances alter cases. 约翰的父亲告诉他决不可碰他的枪，但有一天父亲不在时，约翰却用枪打死了一条爬进院子里的毒蛇。这就叫随机应变。

claim check　n. A ticket needed to get back something. 领取（寄存物的）凭证。◆ The man at the parking lot gave Mrs. Collins a claim check. 停车场的看守给了柯林斯太太一张取车凭证。

clamp down　v., informal To put on strict controls; enforce rules or laws. 〖非正式〗严格控制；进行取缔；实施规则或法律。◆ After the explosion, police clamped down and let no more visitors inside the monument. 爆炸发生之后，警方严加控制，禁止更多的参观者进入纪念馆。◆ The school clamped down on smoking. 学校严禁吸烟。

clam up　v., slang To refuse to say anything more; stop talking. 〖俚〗闭紧嘴；停止讲话。◆ The suspect clammed up, and the police could get no more information out of him. 嫌疑犯拒不开口，警察从他那儿就再也得不到更多的信息了。

class action suit　n. phr. A lawsuit brought by several individuals suffering from the same problem against an employer, an institution, or an industry, etc. 集体诉讼；共同起诉。◆ Numerous American victims of secondhand smoke joined in successful class action suits against some major cigarette manufacturing companies. 众多身受二手烟之害的美国人联合起来对几家生产香烟的大公司成功地进行了集体诉讼。

clay pigeon　n., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A popular target at practice shooting made of clay and roughly resembling a pigeon; an easy target that doesn't move. 泥鸽（练习射击用的泥制盘形飞靶）；易射中的非移动靶。◆ All he can shoot is a clay pigeon. 他只能射中非移动靶。2. A person who, like a clay pigeon in target practice, is immobilized or is in a sensitive position and is therefore easily criticized or otherwise victimized. 处于挨打地位的人；容易受攻击的人；容易受捉弄的人。◆ Poor Joe is a clay pigeon. 可怜的乔是个易受攻击的人。3. A task easily accomplished like shooting an immobile clay pigeon. 容易完成的任务。◆ The math exam was a clay pigeon. 那次数学考试很容易。

clean bill of health　n. phr. 1. A certificate that a person or animal has no infectious disease. （人或动物）无传染病证书；健康证书。◆ The government doctor gave Jones a clean bill of health when he entered the country. 琼斯进入那个国家时，政府委派的医生给他开了一张无传染病证书。2. informal A report that a person is free of guilt or fault. 〖非正式〗无罪证明。◆ The stranger was suspected in the bank robbery, but the police gave him a clean bill of health. 那位陌生人被怀疑参与了银行抢劫，但警方认为他与此案无关。

clean break　n. phr. A complete separation. 决裂。◆ Tom made a clean break with his former girlfriends before marrying Pamela. 在与帕梅拉结婚之前，汤姆与以前的女友们一一断绝了关系。

clean hands　n. phr., slang Freedom from guilt or dishonesty; innocence. 〖俚〗手脚干净；清白；无罪。◆ John grew up in a bad neighborhood, but he grew up with clean hands. 约翰在一个环境很恶劣的居住区长大，但他却手脚干净，没干过任何坏事。◆ There was much proof against Bill, but he swore he had clean hands. 有很多证据对比尔不利，但他发誓说自己是无罪的。

clean out　v. 1. slang To take everything from; empty; strip. 〖俚〗赢走…全部的钱；使…输光；使空；剥光。◆ George's friends cleaned him out when they were playing cards last night. 昨晚打牌，乔治的朋友们把他的钱全赢走了。◆ The sudden demand for paper plates soon cleaned out the stores. 对纸盘子的突然需求使所有商店的存货被抢购一空。2. informal To get rid of; remove; dismiss. 〖非正式〗把…清除掉；肃清；把…赶走。◆ The new mayor promised to clean the crooks out of the city government. 新市长答应把那些坏蛋从市政府中清除出去。

cleanse the Augean stables or clean the Augean stables　v. phr. from Greek mythology To get rid of corruption or immoral behavior. （源自希腊神话）清洗奥吉厄斯（国王30年未打扫）的牛圈；荡涤污秽；彻底清除腐败。◆ There was so much corruption in City Hall that the governor decided to cleanse the Augean stables. 市政官员们腐败成风，于是州长决定彻底清除一切污秽。

clean slate　n. phr. A record of nothing but good conduct, without any errors or bad deeds; past acts that are all good without any bad ones. 清白的历史；良好的记录。◆ Johnny was sent to the principal for whispering. He had a clean slate so the principal did not punish him. 约翰尼因上课交头接耳被送到了校长那儿。因为他没有不良记录，所以校长没有处分他。

clean sweep　n. phr. A complete victory. 彻底的胜利；全胜。◆ Our candidate for the United States Senate made a clean sweep over his opponent. 我们竞选美国参议员的候选人压倒对手取得了全胜。

clean up　v. phr. 1. To wash and make oneself presentable. 梳洗干净；梳洗整齐。◆ After quitting for the day in the garage, Tim decided to clean up and put on a clean shirt. 在汽车修理厂里干了一天的活之后，蒂姆决定好好洗个澡，穿上一件干净衬衫。2. To finish; terminate. 完成；结束。◆ The secretary promised her boss to clean up all the unfinished work before leaving on her Florida vacation. 秘书向老板保证，在她去佛罗里达度假之前一定把尚未完成的工作做完。3. informal To make a large profit. 〖非正式〗赚大钱；发大财。◆ The clever investors cleaned up on the stock market last week. 那些聪明的投资者上周在股票市场上赚了大钱。

clean-up　n. 1. An act of removing all the dirt from a given set of objects. 打扫。◆ What this filthy room needs is an honest clean-up. 这个极脏的房间需要好好的打扫一下。2. The elimination of pockets of resistance during warfare or a police raid. 扫荡；清除。◆ The FBI conducted a clean-up against the drug pushers in our district. 联邦调查局对我们地区的毒品贩子进行了一次扫荡。

clear and present danger　n. phr. A state of affairs that equals a major emergency, compelling the government and other agencies to take immediate action to avert the danger inherent in the situation. 现时明显可见的危险。◆ Domestic terrorism after 9/11/01 presents a case of clear and present danger. “9·11”之后，国内恐怖主义表现为现时明显可见的危险。

clear-cut　adj. Definite; well defined. 明确的；轮廓分明的；清楚的◆ The president's new policy of aggressive action is a clear-cut departure from his old methods of unilateral appeasement. 总统的新侵略政策清楚地背离了他单方面姑息的老办法。

clear-eyed　adj. Understanding problems or events clearly; being able to tell very well the results of a way of acting. 有眼光的；有洞察力的。◆ Tom is very clear-eyed. He knows he doesn't have much chance of winning the race, but he will try his best. 汤姆看得很清楚。他知道自己不太可能赢得这场比赛，但他仍将尽自己的最大努力。◆ He is a clear-eyed and independent commentator on the news. 他是一位有眼光有主见的新闻评论家。

clear off　v. phr. To clear the table of cutlery, plates, foods, etc. （饭后）收拾（餐桌）。◆ While the guests were chatting away, the hostess and her daughter cleared off the family dining table. 在客人们饭后聊天之时，女主人和她的女儿收拾好了餐桌。

clear one's name　v. phr. To prove someone is innocent of a crime or misdeed of which he has been accused. 洗刷自己的罪名（或污名）；证明自己无罪（或无过）。◆ The falsely accused rapist has been trying in vain to clear his name. 那个被误告为强奸犯的人一直在试图洗刷自己的罪名，但未获成功。

clear out　v. 1. To take everything out of; empty. 清除；出空。◆ When Bill was moved to another class he cleared out his desk. 比尔转到另一个班上时，他把自己课桌里的东西清理一空。2. informal To leave suddenly; go away; depart. 〖非正式〗突然离去；走开；离开。◆ The cop told the boys to clear out. 警察叫男孩子们统统离开。◆ Bob cleared out without paying his room rent. 鲍勃未付房租就溜掉了。◆ Clear out of here! You're bothering me. 滚出去！你打扰了我。Compare比较BEAT IT.

clear the air　v. phr. To remove angry feelings, misunderstanding, or confusion. 消除怒气；消除误会；澄清事实。◆ The president's statement that he would run for office again cleared the air of rumors and guessing. 总统要竞选连任的声明消除了一切谣传和猜测。◆ When Bill was angry at Bob, Bob made a joke, and it cleared the air between them. 比尔对鲍勃生气时，鲍勃开了个玩笑，从而消除了两人间的紧张气氛。

clear the decks　v. phr. To put everything in readiness for a major activity; to eliminate unessentials. 清除一切障碍准备行动；清除一切不必要的东西。◆ The governor urged the State Assembly to clear the decks of all but the most pressing issues to vote on. 州长敦促州议会作好一切准备就最紧迫的问题进行表决。

clear up　v. 1. To make plain or clear; explain; solve. 澄清；解释；解决。◆ The teacher cleared up the harder parts of the story. 教师解释了故事中比较难懂的部分。◆ Maybe we can clear up your problem. 也许我们可以解决你的问题。2. To become clear. （天气）变晴。◆ The weather cleared up after the storm. 暴风雨过后，天气转晴了。3. To cure. 医好。◆ The pills cleared up his stomach trouble. 这些药片治好了他的胃病。4. To put back into a normal, proper, or healthy state. 使恢复正常（或健康）的状态；清理。◆ The doctor can give you something to clear up your skin. 医生可以给你一些东西治好你的皮肤病。◆ Susan cleared up the room. 苏珊把房间清理了一番。5. To become cured. 被医好。◆This skin trouble will clear up in a day or two. 这种皮肤病一两天就会好的。

cliff dweller　n., slang, informal A city person who lives on a very high floor in an apartment building. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗住高层公寓的人；都市居民。◆ Joe and Nancy have become cliff dwellers — they moved up to the 30th floor. 乔和南希已成了住高层公寓的人——他们搬到了第30层楼。

cliff-hanger　n., informal A sports event or a movie in which the outcome is uncertain to the very end keeping the spectators in great suspense and excitement. 〖非正式〗扣人心弦的体育比赛；扣人心弦的电影。◆ Did you see The Fugitive? It's a regular cliff-hanger. 你看过《逃亡者》吗？那真是一部扣人心弦的电影。

climb the corporate ladder　See见CORPORATE LADDER

climb the wall　v. phr., slang. informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. To react to a challenging situation with too great an emotional response, frustration, tension, and anxiety. 因挫折、紧张、焦急等而激动（或发狂）。◆ By the time I got the letter that I was hired, I was ready to climb the wall. 在我收到我被录用的信时，我已急得要发狂了。2. To be so disinterested or bored as to be most anxious to get away at any cost. （因厌烦等而）想离开。◆ If the chairman doesn't stop talking, I'll climb the wall. 如果主席再不结束讲话，我就离开会场。

clinging vine　n. A very dependent woman; a woman who needs much love and encouragement from a man. 依赖性很强的女人；需要男人的爱和鼓励的女人。◆ Mary is a clinging vine; she cannot do anything without her husband. 玛丽是个依赖性很强的女人；她做什么事都离不开她丈夫。

clip joint　n. slang A low-class night club or other business where people are cheated. 〖俚〗专敲顾客竹杠的下流夜总会（或商店等）。◆ The man got drunk and lost all his money in a clip joint. 那人在一家下流的夜总会里喝醉了，钱全被骗光了。

clip sb.'s wings　v. phr. To limit or hold you back; bring you under control; prevent your success. 限制某人；阻碍某人；控制某人；使某人不能成功。◆ When the new president tried to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings. 当新总统想成为独裁者时，将军们很快便限制了他的权力。

cloak-and-dagger　adj. Of or about spies and secret agents. 间谍的；关于间谍活动的。◆ It was a cloak-and-dagger story about some spies who tried to steal atomic secrets. 这是一个有关几名间谍试图窃取原子弹秘密的间谍故事。

clock in or punch in　v. phr. To mechanically register the time at which one starts to work, e. g., by using a clock that stamps the time on one's attendance card. （将姓名卡片插入自动计时钟）记录上班时间；打卡上班。◆ What time should we clock in? Do I have to punch in every time I come to work? 我们什么时间打卡上班？我每次来上班都必须打卡记录时间吗？

clock out　v. phr. To register on a stamping machine united with a clock the time that one leaves work. （将姓名卡片插入自动计时钟）记录下班时间；打卡下班。◆ Yesterday I clocked out at 6 P. M. 我昨天下午6点钟打卡下班。

clock watcher　n. phr., informal A worker who always quits at once when it is time; a man who is in a hurry to leave his job. 〖非正式〗老是看钟等下班的人；急着下班的人。◆ When Ted got his first job, his father told him to work hard and not be a clock watcher. 泰德找到第一份工作时，他父亲告诉他要努力工作，不要老是看钟等着下班。

close at hand　adj. phr. Handy; close by; within one's range. 在手边；在附近。◆ I always keep my pencils and erasers close at hand when I work on a draft proposal. 我在制定建议草案时总是把铅笔和橡皮放在手边。

close call or shave　n. phr. A narrow escape. 侥幸的脱险；死里逃生。◆ That sure was a close call when that truck came near us from the right! 当那辆卡车从右边向我们开来时，那真是险得很！◆ When Tim fell off his bicycle in front of a bus, it was a very close shave. 当蒂姆在一辆公共汽车前摔下自行车时，那真是九死一生。

closed book　n. A secret; something not known or understood. 秘密；不为人知的事；不理解的东西。◆ The man's early life is a closed book. 那人早年的生活是个秘密。◆ For Mary, science is a closed book. 玛丽对科学一无所知。◆ The history of the town is a closed book. 这个城镇的历史没有人知道。

closed-door　adj. Away from the public; in private or in secret; limited to a few. 关着门的；秘密的，不公开的。◆ The officers of the club held a closed-door meeting. 俱乐部的干事们举行了一次秘密会议。◆ The committee decided on a closed-door rule for the investigation. 委员会决定调查要秘密进行。Compare比较IN PRIVATE.

close down or shut down　v. To stop all working, as in a factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in. （工厂等）关闭，（使）停工；（使）歇业。◆ The factory closed down for Christmas. 工厂在圣诞节期间停工。◆ The company shut down the condom plant for Easter. 那家公司在复活节停止了避孕套工厂的生产。

closed shop　n. phr. 1. A plant or factory that employs only union workers. 只雇用工会会员的工厂。◆ Our firm has been fighting the closed shop policy formny years now. 我们公司多年来一直反对只雇用工会会员的作法。2. A profession or line of work dominated by followers of a certain mode of thinking and behaving that does not tolerate differing views or ideas. （由信奉某种思维和行为方式而排斥不同观点者支配的）封闭式职业（或行业）。◆ Certain groups of psychologists, historians, and linguists often behave with a closed-shop mentality. 某些心理学家、历史学家和语言学家群体往往表现出一种排斥不同观点的封闭心态。

close finish　n. phr. An exciting race or contest during which it is difficult to tell who will be the winner. 势均力敌的比赛；难分胜负的比赛。◆ The presidential election of 2000 between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore was a very close finish. 2000年共和党人乔治·W·布什和民主党人艾尔·戈尔竞选总统，双方势均力敌，结果非常接近。

close in　v. To come in nearer from all sides. 迫近；包围；笼罩。◆ We wanted the boat to reach shore before the fog closed in. 我们希望此船能在大雾降临之前靠岸。— Often used with on. 常与on连用。◆ The troops were closing in on the enemy. 部队正在包围敌人。

close its doors　v. phr. 1. To keep someone or something from entering or joining; become closed. 关门；拒绝接纳。◆ The club has closed its doors to new members. 这家俱乐部已不再接受新会员。2. To fail as a business; go bankrupt. 倒闭；停业；破产。◆ The fire was so damaging that the store had to close its doors. 火灾造成的损失太严重，这家商店不得不关门停业。◆ Business was so poor that we had to close our doors after six months. 生意太轻淡，我们只得在6个月后关门停业。

close-knit　adj. Closely joined together by ties of love, friendship, or common interest; close. （由于爱、友谊或共同利益）紧密结合在一起的；亲近的。◆ The Joneses are a close-knit family. 琼斯一家是个十分融洽的家庭。◆ The three boys are always together. They form a very close-knit group. 这3个男孩一直在一起。他们组成了一个亲密无间的小组。

close one's eyes or shut one's eyes　v. phr. To refuse to see or think about. 闭眼不看；拒绝考虑。◆ The park is beautiful if you shut your eyes to the litter. 如果你不看那些丢在地上的废纸杂物，这家公园还是挺美的。◆ The ice was very thin, but the boys shut their eyes to the danger and went skating. 冰层很薄，但男孩子们不考虑危险，照样去滑冰。Compare比较OPEN ONE'S EYES.

close on the heels　adv. phr. Only a little way behind the leader in a chase or competition. 紧跟在后面。◆ The silver medal winner at the Olympics was close on the heels of the gold medalist, who won the race. 在奥运会上，那位银牌得主紧跟在赢得比赛的金牌得主之后。

close out　v. To sell the whole of; end (a business or a business operation) by selling all the goods; also, to sell your stock and stop doing business. 卖掉；清仓出售；歇业；关门。◆ The store closed out its stock of garden supplies. 那家商店清仓售出了全部园艺用品。◆ Mr. Jones closed out his grocery. 琼斯先生结束了他食品杂货店的生意。

close quarters　n. phr. Limited, cramped space. 狭窄拥挤的空间。◆ With seven boy scouts in a tent, they were living in very close quarters. 7名童子军住一个帐篷，真是拥挤不堪。

close ranks　v. phr. 1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting. 在队列中靠拢；使队形密集。◆ The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge. 士兵们列阵设防，不让敌人接近大桥。2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together. 停止争吵携手合作；紧密团结共同战斗。◆ The Democrats and Republicans closed ranks to win the war. 民主党人和共和党人捐弃前嫌，携手合作以赢得这场战争。◆ The leader asked the people to close ranks and plan a new school. 领导人要求人们停止争吵，同心协力筹建一所新学校。

close the books　v. phr. To stop taking orders; end a bookkeeping period. 停止接受预订；结账。◆ The tickets were all sold, so the manager said to close the books. 票已卖光，经理说不再接受订票了。◆ The department store closes its books on the 25th of each month. 这家百货公司每月25日结账。

close the door or bar the door or shut the door　v. phr. To prevent any more action or talk about a subject. 把…门堵死；拒…于门外；使没有可能。◆ The president's veto closed the door to any new attempt to pass the bill. 总统的否决使通过这项议案的任何新尝试无法获得成功。◆ Joan was much hurt by what Mary said, and she closed the door on Mary's attempt to apologize. 玛丽说的话使琼深受伤害，所以她拒绝玛丽的道歉。

close to home　adv. phr. Too near to someone's personal feelings, wishes, or interests. 触到某人痛处；说得太露骨。◆ When John made fun of Bob's way of walking, he struck close to home. 当约翰取笑鲍勃走路的样子时，他触到了他的痛处。

close-up　n. A photograph, motion picture, or video camera shot taken at very close range. （照相、电影、摄像等的）特写镜头。◆ Directors of movies frequently show close-ups of the main characters. 电影导演经常表现主角的特写镜头。

close up shop　v. phr. 1. To shut a store at the end of a day's business, also, to end a business. 关店；打烊；停业；歇业。◆ The grocer closes up shop at 5 o'clock. 那位食品杂货商5点钟打烊。◆ After 15 years in business at the same spot, the garage closed up shop. 在同一地点经营了15年以后，那家汽车修理厂关门歇业了。2. informal To stop some activity; finish what you are doing. 〖非正式〗停止活动；结束正在做的事。◆ After camping out for two weeks, the scouts took down their tents and closed up shop. 野外露营两周后，童子军们收起帐篷结束了活动。◆ The committee finished its business and closed up shop. 委员会完成任务后停止了活动。

cloud over　v. phr. To have a sad or depressed expression come over one's face. （脸色）阴沉下来；变得忧郁。◆ Jim's face clouded over when he heard the bad news about his dismissal from the firm. 一听到自己被公司解雇的坏消息，吉姆的脸色便阴沉了下来。

cloud up　v. phr. To become less transparent, i. e., more opaque. （使）变得模糊不清。◆ A light fog clouded up the yacht's windows. 轻雾使游艇的窗子变得模糊不清。

cloven hoof　n. phr. A manifestation of evil; the sign of the devil. 偶蹄，分趾蹄；邪恶的表现；魔鬼的标志（或象征）。◆ Sooner or later the devil reveals his presence by showing his cloven hoof. 那个恶魔迟早会露出马脚，现出原形。

cluck and grunt　n., slang, avoid it in restaurants The familiar restaurant dish of ham and eggs; since ham is made of pork (and pigs grunt) and eggs come from hens (which cluck.)〖俚〗火腿蛋（饭店里忌用）。◆ "I am sorry I can't fix you an elaborate meal, but I can give you a quick cluck and grunt."“对不起，没法给你准备一顿美餐，但我可以给你弄一份火腿蛋。”

clue in　v. phr. To give someone a tip, a hint, or the necessary information as to what is going on. 提示，暗示；为…提供情况。◆ Would you please clue me in on what the salaries will be like at the factory next year? 请把明年厂里的工资情况告诉我好吗？

clutch at a straw or clutch at straws　v. phr. To hang on even to the weakest or flimsiest of handles, physical or mental, in an attempt to salvage a hopeless situation. 捞救命稻草；（为求脱离危境等）作最后的绝望挣扎。◆ When the police made it quite clear that they knew about everything, the accused felon began to clutch at straws to save himself. 当警方非常清楚地表明他们已知道了所有的情况时，那个被控告的重罪犯便开始作最后的绝望挣扎以求自救。

coast along　v. phr. 1. Of cars, boats, and planes: To proceed without having to adjust the flow of fuel, as when one sets one's car at a certain speed by using the cruise control. （汽车、船等）滑行；（飞机等）靠惯性飞行。◆ We were comfortably coasting along at 60 m. p. h. 我们以每小时60英里的速度很舒服地驾车滑行。2. Of people: To advance without any special effort. （人）毫不费力地前进。◆ John is no longer trying to achieve anything new in life; he is just coasting along. 约翰已不想在生活中有什么新的作为；他只是在悠闲地过日子。3. Of businesses, establishments, etc.: To advance without effort. （生意、企业、机构等）毫不费力地进展。◆ Work at the shop is just coasting along these days. 这些日子店里的工作只是在磨磨蹭蹭地进行。

coast is clear　No enemy or danger is in sight; there is no one to see you. 没有敌人；没有危险；无人注视。◆ When the teacher had disappeared around the corner, John said, "Come on, the coast is clear." 老师走过墙角消失后，约翰说，“好了，没有危险了。”◆ The men knew when the night watchman would pass. When he had gone, and the coast was clear, they robbed the safe. 那些人知道守夜人何时来巡逻。在他走后危险已过，于是他们便盗窃了保险箱里的钱财。

cock-and-bull story　n. phr. An exaggerated or unbelievable story. 荒诞无稽的故事。◆ "Stop feeding me such cock-and-bull stories," the detective said to the suspect. “别再给我讲这类荒诞无稽的故事了，”警探对嫌疑犯说。

cockeyed　adj. Drunk; intoxicated. 喝醉的。◆ Frank has been drinking all day and, when we met, he was so cockeyed he forgot his own address. 弗兰克喝了一天酒，所以我们相遇时，他竟醉得连自己的地址都忘了。

cocksure　adj. Overconfident; very sure. 过于自信的；坚信不疑的。◆ Paul was cocksure that it wasn't going to snow, but it snowed so much that we had to dig our way out of the house. 保罗坚信不会下雪，但结果雪却下得很大，我们只得一路铲雪才出了门。

C. O. D　n. phr. Abbreviation of "cash on delivery." 货到付款，交货付款（cash on delivery的缩略）◆ If you want to receive a piece of merchandise by mail and pay when you receive it, you place a C. O. D. order. 如果你想邮购一件商品并在收到后再付款，那你可以用“货到付款”的方式订购。

coffee break　n. A short recess or time out from work in which to rest and drink coffee. （工作中）喝咖啡的休息时间。◆ The girls in the office take a coffee break in the middle of the morning and the afternoon. 办公室里的女职员上午和下午中间各有一次喝咖啡的休息时间。

coffee fix　n. phr. The view that coffee, since it contains caffeine, is a drug that is able to wake one up or sharpen one's attention. 喝杯咖啡刺激一下。◆ One afternoon, when it was time to sit down and take my final exam, I first decided to give myself a coffee fix. 一天下午，到了该坐下来参加期终考试时，我首先决定喝杯咖啡提提神。

coffin nail　n., slang A cigarette. 〖俚〗“棺材钉”；香烟。◆ "I stopped smoking," Algernon said. "In fact, I haven't had a coffin nail in well over a year."“我戒烟了，”阿尔杰农说。“实际上我已经有一年多没有抽烟了。”

coin money or mint money　v. phr., informal To make a lot of money quickly; profit heavily; gain big profit. 〖非正式〗迅速致富；赚大钱；获大利。◆ Fred coined money with many cigarette vending machines and juke boxes. 弗雷德经营多台投币式自动售烟机和自动唱机发了大财。

cold cash or hard cash　n. Money that is paid at the time of purchase; real money; silver and bills. 现款；现金。◆ Mr. Jones bought a new car and paid cold cash for it. 琼斯先生买了一辆新汽车，付的是现款。◆ Some stores sell things only for cold cash. 有些商店售货只收现金。

cold comfort　n. Something that makes a person in trouble feel very little better or even worse. 不起作用的安慰；于事无补的安慰；徒增烦恼的安慰。◆ Mary spent her vacation sick in bed and Jane's letter about her trip was cold comfort. 整个假期玛丽都卧病在床，而简来信大谈其旅行见闻非但没有使玛丽高兴起来，反而更增加了她的烦恼。

cold feet　n. phr., informal A loss of courage or nerve; a failure or loss of confidence in yourself. 〖非正式〗胆怯；害怕；失去信心。◆ Ralph was going to ask Mary to dance with him but he got cold feet and didn't. 拉尔夫本想请玛丽与他跳舞，但他胆怯了，没敢请。

cold fish　n., informal A queer person; a person who is unfriendly or does not mix with others. 〖非正式〗古怪的人；冷冰冰的家伙；不同别人交往的人。◆ No one knows the new doctor, he is a cold fish. 没有人了解那位新来的医生，他是个冷冰冰不同别人来往的人。◆ Nobody invites Eric to parties because he is a cold fish. 没有人邀请埃里克参加聚会，因为他很孤僻。

cold light of reason　n. phr. An issue or a matter viewed entirely soberly, and without emotion. 理性的冷静考虑。◆ By the cold light of reason, we must admit that our son John, no matter how much we love him, deserves to spend a year in jail for having sold drugs in the streets. 不管我们多么爱我们的儿子约翰，但凭着理性的冷静考虑，我们必须承认，他在街上出售毒品就应该在监狱里关上一年。

cold-shoulder　v., informal To act towards a person with dislike or scorn; be unfriendly to. 〖非正式〗对…冷淡；轻视；对…不友好。◆ It is impolite and unkind to cold-shoulder people. 对别人态度冷淡既不礼貌也不友好。

cold shoulder　n., informal Unfriendly treatment of a person, a showing of dislike for a person or of looking down on a person. — Used in the clichés give the cold shoulder or turn a cold shoulder to or get the cold shoulder. 〖非正式〗冷淡；轻视。——用于陈旧的套语give the cold shoulder, turn a cold shoulder to或get the cold shoulder中。◆ When Bob asked Mary for a date she gave him the cold shoulder. 当鲍勃要求与玛丽约会时，她理都没理他。

cold snap　n. A short time of quick change from warm weather to cold. 短时间的突然降温；寒潮。◆ The cold snap killed everything in the garden. 天气突然变冷，把花园里的东西全冻死了。

cold spell　n. phr. A period of extraordinarily cold weather. 寒冷期。◆ "You men had better dress warm in this cold spell!" the staff sergeant said to his enlisted men shivering inside the tent. 参谋军士对他征募入伍、在帐篷里冷得发抖的新兵说：“在这段寒冷的时期你们最好穿得暖和些。”

cold turkey　adv., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. Abruptly and without medical aid to withdraw from the use of an addictive drug or from a serious drinking problem. 不借助药物帮助突然地（戒毒或戒酒）。◆ Joe is a very brave guy; he kicked the habit cold turkey. 乔真是个勇敢的家伙；他未借助药物帮助就突然戒掉了吸毒的恶习。2. n. An instance of withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, or cigarette smoking. 突然戒毒（或戒酒、戒烟）。◆ Joe did a cold turkey. 乔断然戒掉了吸毒的嗜好。

cold war　n. A struggle that is carried on by other means and not by actual fighting; a war without shooting or bombing. 冷战。◆ After World War II, a cold war began between Russia and the United States. 第二次世界大战后，在俄国和美国之间开始了一场冷战。

collect dust　v. phr. To sit in storage and remain unused. 积灰尘。◆ "What happened to your twenty-speed racing bike?" John asked. "It's just sitting in our old garage, collecting dust."“你那辆20飞的赛车怎么样啦？”约翰问。“它只是放在我们的旧车库里在积灰尘。”

collector's item　n. Something rare or valuable enough to collect or save. 珍品；珍贵的收藏品；◆ Jimmy's mother found an old wooden doll in the attic that turned out to be a collector's item. 吉米的母亲在阁楼上发现了一只旧的木制玩具娃娃，原来它还是件珍贵的收藏品。

College Boards　n. A set of examinations given to test a student's readiness and ability for college. 大学入学考试。◆ College Boards test both what a student has learned and his ability to learn. 大学入学考试既测试学生已学过的东西，也测试他的学习能力。

color guard 　n. A military guard of honor for the flag of a country; also: a guard of honor to carry and protect a flag or banner (as of a club). 护旗队；（俱乐部等的）掌旗人。◆ There were four marines in the color guard in the parade. 在阅兵式中护旗的是4位海军陆战队士兵。

color scheme　n. A plan for colors used together as decoration. 色彩设计。◆ The color scheme for the dance was blue and silver. 舞会的色彩设计为蓝色和银白色。◆Mary decided on a pink and white color scheme for her room. 玛丽决定用粉红色和白色装饰她的房间。

come about　v. 1. To take place; happen; occur. 发生；出现。◆ Sometimes it is hard to tell how a quarrel comes about. 有时候很难说明争吵是怎么发生的。◆ When John woke up he was in the hospital, but he didn't know how that had come about. 约翰醒来时已在医院里，但他不知道这是怎么发生的。2. nautical use To change direction; to turn around. 〖航海〗转航向。◆ When you want to bring the sailing boat home, you first have to come about. 要想使帆船返航，你首先必须改变航向。

come a cropper　1. To fall off your horse. 从马上摔下。◆ John's horse stumbled, and John came a cropper. 约翰的马绊了一脚，把他摔了下来。2. To fail. 失败；栽跟斗。◆ Mr. Brown did not have enough money to put into his business and it soon came a cropper. 布朗先生没有足够的钱投入他的生意，所以它很快就失败了。

come across　v. 1. or run across To find or meet by chance. 偶然发现；偶然遇见◆ He came across a dollar bill in the suit he was sending to the cleaner. 他在送去干洗的衣服里无意中发现了一张一美元的钞票。◆ The other day I ran across a book that you might like. 前两天我偶然发现了一本你也许会喜欢的书。◆ I came across George at a party last week; it was the first time I had seen him in months. 上星期我在一次聚会上偶然遇见了乔治，这是我几个月来第一次见到他。2. To give or do what is asked. 照要求的给（或做）；照付；照办；交出。◆ The robber told the woman to come across with her purse. 强盗命令那女人交出钱包。◆ For hours the police questioned the man suspected of kidnapping the child, and finally he came across with the story. 警察审问了那个拐骗儿童的嫌犯几个小时，最后他才招认了。

come again　v., informal Please repeat; please say that again. — Usually used as a command. 〖非正式〗请再说一遍。——通常用作命令。◆ "Harry has just come into a fortune," my wife said. "Come again?" I asked her, not believing it. “哈里刚继承了一大笔财产，”我妻子说。“你说什么？”我问她，不相信真有此事。◆ "Come again," said the hard-of-hearing man. “请再说一遍，”那个耳朵有点聋的人说。

come alive or come to life　v. 1. informal To become alert or attentive; wake up and look alive; become active. 〖非正式〗警觉起来；振作起来；活跃起来。◆ When Mr. Simmons mentioned money, the boys came alive. 西蒙斯先生提到钱的时候，男孩子们都来了劲。◆ Bob pushed the starter button, and the engine came alive with a roar. 鲍勃揿了一下启动装置的按钮，发动机轰的一声便开动起来了。2. To look real; take on a bright, natural look. 看上去像真的；栩栩如生。◆ Under skillful lighting, the scene came alive. 在巧妙的灯光照耀下，舞台布景看上去就像真的一样。◆ The president came alive in the picture as the artist worked. 画家画着画着，画中的总统就活了起来。

come along　v. To make progress; improve; succeed. 进步；进展；改进；成功。◆ He was coming along well after the operation. 他手术后恢复得很好。◆ Rose is coming right along on the piano. 露丝在钢琴演奏上进步很快。

come a long way　v. phr. To show much improvement; make great progress. 有很大改进；取得很大进步。◆ The school has come a long way since its beginnings. 学校自开办以来已取得很大进步。◆ Little Jane has come a long way since she broke her leg. 小简自跌断腿以来已经好多了。

come and get it!　v. phr. informal, slang An invitation to come to the dinner table or to the kitchen counter and start eating. 〖非正式〗〖俚〗（饭已准备好了）来吃吧！◆ "Come and get it!" Mother shouted from the kitchen, and we all ran in to eat as if we had been starving for weeks. “饭烧好了，来吃吧！”母亲在厨房里喊道，于是我们一起冲了进去大吃起来，就像好几个星期没吃饭似的。

come apart at the seams　v. phr., slang, informal To become upset to the point where one loses self-control and composure as if having suffered a sudden nervous breakdown. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗失去自制和镇静；身心崩溃。◆ After his divorce Joe seemed to be coming apart at the seams. 乔离婚后似乎身心都崩溃了。

come around　See见COME ROUND.

come at　v. 1. To approach; come to or against; advance toward. 接近；袭击；冲向。◆ The young boxer came at the champion cautiously. 年轻的拳击手小心翼翼地向拳王靠近。2. To understand (a word or idea) or master (a skill); succeed with. 理解（词或思想）；掌握（技能）。◆ The sense of an unfamiliar word is hard to come at. 生词的词义很难理解。

come back　v., informal（stress on back）（重读back）〖非正式〗1. To reply; answer. 回答；答复。◆ The lawyer came back sharply in defense of his client. 律师以锋利的语言为其当事人进行了答辩。◆ No matter how the audience heckled him, the comedian always had an answer to come back with. 无论观众如何对他起哄，那位喜剧演员总有话回答。2. To get a former place or position back, reach again a place which you have lost. 恢复原来的地位；卷土重来。◆ After a year off to have her baby, the singer came back to even greater fame. 生孩子离开了一年后，女歌手卷土重来，赢得了更大的声誉。◆ It is hard for a retired prize fighter to come back and beat a younger man. 退休的职业拳手要卷土重来击败年轻人是很难的。

comeback　n., v. phr., slang, citizen's band radio jargon (stress on come) (重读come) A return call. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗 回答；回话。◆ Thanks for your comeback. 谢谢回话。

come back to earth or come down to earth　v. phr. To return to the real world; stop imagining or dreaming; think and behave as usual. （从幻想中）回到现实；停止胡思乱想；不再做白日梦；像往常一样思考行动。◆ Bill was sitting and daydreaming so his mother told him to come down to earth and to do his homework. 比尔坐在那儿做着白日梦，因此他的母亲叫他别再胡思乱想，赶快做他的作业。

come back to haunt　v. phr. Often heard when a problem returns from someone's past. （往事等）回来缠扰；回来令…担忧。◆ The condemned rapist's past came back to haunt him, when the police mistakenly arrested him because he resembled another wanted fugitive. 当警方因他长得像另一名被通缉的逃犯而误将他逮捕时，那个被判过刑的强奸犯又想起了往事而心惊胆战起来。

come between　v. To part; divide; separate. 使疏远；离间；分开。◆ John's mother-in-law came to live in his home, and as time passed she came between him and his wife. 约翰的岳母住到了他家里来，随着时间的过去就使他和妻子产生了隔阂。◆ Bill's hot rod came between him and his studies, and his grades went down. 比尔热衷于驾驶改装后的赛车从而疏远了学习，结果成绩也下降了。

come by　v. To get; obtain; acquire. 得到；获得。◆ A good job like that is hard to come by. 那样的一份好工作是很难得到的。◆ Money easily come by is often easily spent. 容易得到的钱也往往容易花光。◆ How did she come by that money? 她是怎么弄到那些钱的？

come clean　v. phr., slang To tell all; tell the whole story; confess. 〖俚〗全盘招供；和盘托出；坦白交代。◆ The boy suspected of stealing the watch came clean after long questioning. 经过长时间的审问，那个被怀疑偷了表的男孩全部招供了。

come close to　v. phr. To be on the verge of something happening. 接近；几乎◆ Your idea comes close to a perfect solution. 你的想法几乎就是一种完美的解决办法。◆ The acrobat came close to falling down from the parallel bars. 那名杂技演员差一点从双杠上摔下来。◆ Your qualifications come close to what we were looking for at our firm. 你的资历很接近我们公司寻求的标准。

comedown　n. (stress on come) (重读come) Disappointment; embarrassment; failure. 失望；难堪；失败。◆ It was quite a comedown for Al when the girl he took for granted refused his marriage proposal. 当艾尔自信属于自己的姑娘拒绝了他的求婚时，这使他深感失望。

come down　v. (stress on down) (重读down) 1. To reduce itself; amount to no more than. — Followed by to. 可归结为；只意味着。——后跟to。◆ The quarrel finally came down to a question of which boy would do the dishes. 争吵最后归结为该哪个男孩洗盘子的问题。2. To be handed down or passed along; descend from parent to child; pass from older generation to younger ones. 传下来；相传；流传下来。◆ Mary's necklace had come down to her from her grandmother. 玛丽的项链是祖母传给她的。

come down hard on　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To scold or punish strongly. 申斥；责骂；严厉惩罚。◆ The principal came down hard on the boys for breaking the window. 校长因男生们打碎了玻璃窗而严厉训斥了他们。2. To oppose strongly. 坚决反对。◆ The minister in his sermon came down hard on drinking. 牧师在讲道中坚决反对酗酒。

come down off one's high horse　v. phr. To become less arrogant; to assume a more modest disposition. 不再盛气凌人；放下架子。◆ The boastful candidate for Congress quickly came down off his high horse when he was soundly beaten by his opponent. 在被对手彻底击败后，那位喜欢自吹自擂的国会议员候选人很快便放下架子变得谦虚了。

come down on like a ton of bricks　v. phr., slang To direct one's full anger at somebody. 〖俚〗将全部怒气发到（某人身上）。◆ When the janitor was late for work, the manager came down on him like a ton of bricks. 当看门人上班迟到时，经理气势汹汹地训斥了他。

come down to earth　See见COME BACK TO EARTH.

come down with　v., informal To become sick with; catch. 〖非正式〗因…病倒；患（病）。◆ We all came down with the mumps. 我们都患了流行性腮腺炎。◆ After being out in the rain, George came down with a cold. 在外面淋雨后，乔治感冒了。

come forward　v. phr. To offer oneself, as to help站出来；自告奋勇。◆ The chairperson of the cultural festival asked people to come forward and volunteer their time and money. 文化节的主席要求人们站出来自愿贡献出自己的时间和金钱。

come from　v. phr. 1. To hail from a certain place; to be native of a certain country and locality. 来自（某地）；生于（某国或某地）。◆ Is it true that you come from Hawaii? 你真的是来自夏威夷吗？2. To inquire about or to state one's background, which is responsible for one's opinion and decision regarding a certain affair. 表明立场。◆ Let me tell you where I am coming from on the question of war. 让我告诉你我在战争问题上的立场吧。

come from far and wide　v. phr. To originate or hail from many different places. 来自许多不同的地方。◆ The students at this university come from far and wide and speak many languages. 这所大学的学生来自许多不同的地方，讲多种语言。

come full circle　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To become totally opposed to one's own earlier conviction on a given subject. 完全改变信念。◆ Today's conservative businessperson has come full circle from former radical student days. 今天保守的实业家已完全改变了原来学生时代的激进观点。2. To change and develop, only to end up where one started. 绕了一圈兜回原来的出发点。◆ From modern permissiveness, ideas about child raising have come full circle to the views of our grandparents. 抚养孩子的理念绕了一圈，从现代的宽容放任又回到了我们祖父辈的观点。

come hell or high water　adv. phr., informal No matter what happens; whatever may come. 〖非正式〗无论发生什么事；无论出现什么情况。◆ Grandfather said he would go to the fair, come hell or high water. 祖父说他无论如何也要去参观博览会。

come home to roost　See见CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST.

come in　v. 1. To finish in a sports contest or other competition. （比赛中）得第…。◆ He came in second in the hundred-yard dash. 他在100码短跑中得了第二名。2. To become the fashion; begin to be used. 开始流行；开始被采用。◆ Swimming trunks for men came in after World War I; before that men used full swim suits. 男子游泳裤是第一次世界大战以后流行起来的；在那以前男人都穿全身游泳衣。

come in for　v. 1. To receive. 受到；得到。◆ He came in for a small fortune when his uncle died. 他叔叔死后他得到了一小笔财产。◆ His conduct came in for much criticism. 他的举止遭到很多批评。2. To receive blame or praise. 受到指责（或赞扬）。◆ The mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, came in for a lot of praise in the wake of 9/11/01. “9·11”之后，纽约市市长鲁道夫·朱利亚尼受到人们的极力称赞。

come in handy　v. phr., informal To prove useful. 〖非正式〗证明有用；派得上用处。◆ The French he learned in high school came in handy when he was in the army in France. 他中学学的法语在他服役法国时派上了用场。

come into　v. To receive, especially after another's death; get possession of. 继承；获得；拥有。◆ He came into a lot of money when his father died. 他在父亲死后继承了很多钱。

come into a person's life　v. phr. To attain the status of "significant other" in a person's life. 进入某人的生活。◆ "Matilda came into my life as my nurse when I was almost dying in the hospital. Now we're married and have four children," John said gratefully. “当我在医院里差一点死掉时，马蒂尔达作为我的护士进入了我的生活。现在我们已经结婚而且有了4个孩子，”约翰满怀感激地说。

come into focus　v. phr. To become clearly understood in every detail. 清晰；明白易懂。◆ The role of our urban commuter campus is coming more and more into focus now that private universities charge such high tuition rates. 由于现在私立大学的学费如此高昂，我们市内走读大学的作用正变得越来越清楚。

come into force　v. phr. To attain enforceable legal status. （法律等）开始生效；开始实施。◆ The law passed by Congress won't come into force until the president signs the bill into law. 国会通过的法律要等总统签署后才开始生效。

come into one's own　v. phr. To receive the wealth or respect that you should have. 取得自己应得的财富（或尊重）。◆ John's grandfather died and left him a million dollars; when John is 21, he will come into his own. 约翰的祖父死了，给他留下了100万美元；等约翰21岁时他就可以得到这些钱了。

come into play　v. phr. To begin having a noticeable effect. 开始起作用；开始有影响。◆ It is difficult to predict what forces might come into play after the terrorists have been eliminated. 很难预言在恐怖分子被消灭后开始起作用的可能会是什么势力。

come of　v. 1. To result from. 是…的结果；起因于。◆ After all the energy we spent on that advertising campaign, absolutely nothing came of it. 尽管我们为那场广告战花费了大量精力，结果却毫无效果。2. To become of; happen to. 对…发生。◆ "Whatever came of your son, Peter?"“彼得，你儿子后来到底怎么样啦？”

come of age　See见OF AGE.

come off　v. 1. To take place; happen. 发生；举行。◆ The picnic came off at last, after being twice postponed. 两次延期后，野餐终于举行了。2. informal To do well; succeed. 〖非正式〗奏效；成功。◆ The attempt to bring the quarreling couple together again came off, to people's astonishment. 使那对吵架的夫妻再次和好如初的努力居然成功了，令人们不胜诧异。

come off as　v. phr. To give the impression of possessing certain qualities. 给人的印象是；看上去似乎是。◆ Wilbur is often disliked because he has a tendency to come off as a vulgar person. 威尔伯常令人讨厌，因为他往往看上去很粗俗。

come off it also get off it　v. phr., slang Stop pretending, bragging, or kidding; stop being silly. — Used as a command. 〖俚〗别装蒜了；别吹牛了；别开玩笑了；别胡闹了。——用作命令。◆ "So I said to the duchess…" Jimmy began. "Oh, come off it," the other boys sneered. “于是我便对公爵夫人说……”吉米开始说道。“啊，别吹了，”其他男孩嗤笑着说。◆ Fritz said he had a car of his own. "Oh, come off it," said John. "You can't even drive." 弗里茨说他有辆自己的汽车。“啊，别吹了，”约翰说。“你连车也不会开。”

come off or through with flying colors　v. phr. To succeed; triumph. 大告成功；大获全胜。◆ John came off with flying colors in his final exams at college. 约翰在大学的期终考试中大获成功。

come on　v. 1. To begin; appear. 开始；出现。◆ Rain came on toward morning. 早晨以前雨就开始下了。◆ He felt a cold coming on. 他觉得自己感冒了。2. To grow or do well; thrive. 生长；进展；兴盛。◆ The wheat was coming on. 小麦长势良好。◆ His business came on splendidly. 他的生意很兴隆。3. or come upon. To meet accidentally; encounter; find. 偶遇；碰见；无意中发现。◆ He came on an old friend that day when he visited his club. 那天他去俱乐部碰见了一位老朋友。◆ He came upon an interesting idea in reading about the French Revolution. 他在读到法国大革命的内容时，无意中产生了一个有趣的想法。4. informal Let's get started; let's get going; don't delay; don't wait. — Used as a command. 〖非正式〗开始吧；来吧；快点；别拖了；别等了。——用作命令。◆ "Come on, or we'll be late," said Joe, but Lou still waited. “快点吧，不然我们就要晚了，”乔说道，但卢仍在等。5. informal Please do it! — Used in begging someone to do something. 〖非正式〗请；求求你。——用于求某人做某事。◆ Sing us just one song, Jane, come on! 就给我们唱一首歌吧，简，求你啦！

come-on　n., slang An attractive offer made to a naive person under false pretenses in order to gain monetary or other advantage. 〖俚〗引诱；诱饵；诱人上当的东西。◆ Joe uses a highly successful come-on when he sells vacant lots on Grand Bahama Island. 乔在销售大巴哈马岛上的空地时使用了非常成功的骗术。

come on strong　v. phr., slang To overwhelm a weaker person with excessively strong language, personality, or mannerisms; to insist extremely strongly and claim something with unusual vigor. 〖俚〗盛气凌人；态度强硬。◆ Joe came on very strong last night about the War in Indochina; most of us felt embarrassed. 乔昨晚谈到印度支那战争时言辞非常激烈；我们多数人都感到很尴尬。

come on the scene　v. phr. To make a major splash in society; to become noted. 在社会上引起轰动；惹人注目。◆ When Elvis Presley first came on the scene with his new style of singing, many older people were shocked and amazed. 当埃尔维斯·普雷斯利以其新的演唱风格在社会上引起轰动时，许多年纪稍大的人都大为惊讶。

come on to　v. phr. To make sexual advances. （对异性）献殷勤；挑逗，勾引（异性）。◆ "I think my boss is coming on to me; what should I do?" Mary complained to her husband. “我觉得我们的老板在对我献殷勤；我该怎么办呢？”玛丽对丈夫抱怨说。

come out　v. 1. Of a girl: To be formally introduced to polite society at about age eighteen, usually at a party; begin to go to big parties. （少女18岁时）初次进入社交界；正式开始社交。◆ In society, girls come out when they reach the age of about eighteen, and usually it is at a big party in their honor; after that they are looked on as adults. 在上流社会，少女们在18岁左右正式开始社交，通常是在为她们举办的一次盛大的聚会上；在那以后，她们就被看做是成人了。2. To be published. 出版。The book came out two weeks ago. 这本书是两个星期前出版的。3. To become publicly known. 公之于世；为公众周知。◆ The truth finally came out at his trial. 真相终于在审讯他时大白于天下。4. To end; result; finish. 结束；结果；结局。◆ How did the story come out? 故事的结局如何？◆ The game came out as we had hoped. 比赛的结果正像我们事先希望的那样。◆ The snapshots came out well. 照片拍得很好。5. To announce support or opposition; declare yourself (for or against a person or thing). 宣布（支持或反对）；声明（支持或反对）。◆ The party leaders came out for an acceptable candidate. 党的领袖们宣布支持一位令人满意的候选人。◆ Many Congressmen came out against the bill. 许多众议员声明反对这项法案。6. See 见 GO OUT FOR. — coming-out adj. Introducing a girl to polite society. 为初次进入社交界的少女所举行的。◆ Mary's parents gave her a coming-out party when she was 17. 玛丽17岁时，父母为她举行了一次初入社交界的舞会。

come out ahead　v. phr. To emerge as a winner either monetarily or otherwise. 赢利；获胜。◆ John decided to live dangerously and went to Las Vegas to gamble with only $100. He had $200 when he got home. His wife remarked, "You lucky dog; you always come out ahead, don't you?" 约翰决定冒一次险，只带着100美元就去拉斯韦加斯赌博了。回到家时口袋里却有了200美元。他的妻子说：“你真是个幸运的家伙；你总能赢钱，对不对？”

come out for　v. phr. To support; declare oneself in favor of another, especially during a political election. 支持；（尤指在政治选举期间）宣布支持（某人）。◆ Candidates for the presidency of the United States are anxious for the major newspapers to come out for them. 美国总统候选人都渴望那几家最重要的报纸宣布支持他们。

come out in the open　v. phr. 1. To reveal one's true identity or intentions. 暴露自己的真实身份（或意图）。◆ Fred finally came out in the open and admitted that he was gay. 弗雷德最后公开了自己的身份，承认自己是同性恋者。2. To declare one's position openly. 公开宣布自己的立场。◆ The conservative Democratic candidate came out in the open and declared that he would join the Republican party. 那位保守的民主党候选人公开表明了自己的立场，宣布他将加入共和党。

come out of the closet　v. phr. To expose something about oneself that was previously kept as a secret. Used mostly in connection with homesexuals. （主要指同性恋）由隐蔽状态转为公开。◆ I heard that Al is coming out of the closet, after living with Joe for more than twenty years! 我听说艾尔在与乔同居了20多年后已公开了搞同性恋的秘密。

come out with　v. phr. 1. To make a public announcement of; make known. 宣布；发表。◆ He came out with a clear declaration of his principies. 他明确宣布了自己的原则。2. To say. 说出。◆ He comes out with the funniest remarks you can imagine. 他说得出你能想像到的最有趣的话。

come over　v. 1. To take control of; cause sudden strong feeling in; happen to. 支配；使…突然感到；降临到。◆ A sudden fit of anger came over him. 他突然感到一阵愤怒。◆ A great tenderness came over her. 她突然生出一股强烈的柔情。◆ What has come over him? 他怎么啦？2. To visit someone. 来访。◆ Why don't you come over some time? We would love to have you pay us a visit. 为什么不哪天过来坐坐？我们真希望你们来我们这儿做客。

come round or come around　v. 1. To happen or appear again and again in regular order. 再度发生；再度来临。◆ And so Saturday night came around again. 星期六晚上又来了。◆ I will tell him when he comes round again. 他再来的时候我会告诉他的。2. informal To get back health or knowledge of things; get well from sickness or a faint. 〖非正式〗恢复健康；恢复知觉；复原；苏醒。◆ Jim has come around after having had stomach ulcers. 吉姆患过胃溃疡后已经康复了。3. To change direction. 改变方向。◆ The wind has come round to the south. 风向已转南了。4. informal To change your opinion or purpose to agree with another's. 〖非正式〗改变意见；接受别人的看法。◆ Tom came round when Dick told him the whole story. 狄克把整个情况告诉他以后，汤姆改变了看法。

come sb.'s way　v. phr. To be experienced by someone; happen to you. 为某人所经历；降临到某人头上；出现在某人面前。◆ Tom said that if the chance to become a sailor ever came his way, he would take it. 汤姆说如果他碰上当水手的机会，他一定抓住它。

comes to the same thing or comes to the same thing at the end　v. phr. To amount to the identical sum of money, situation, etc. 结果相同；结果都一样。◆ It comes to the same thing at the end whether I write out the check or my wife does; our assets are shared in any event. 不管是我开支票，还是我夫人开支票，结果都一样；我们的资产在任何情况下都是两人共有的。

come through　v., informal To be equal to a demand; meet trouble or a sudden need with success; satisfy a need. 〖非正式〗胜任要求；成功应对；满足需要。◆ John needed money for college and his father came through. 约翰需要钱进大学，他父亲满足了这一要求。

come through for　v. phr. To come to the aid of someone as promised or as expected. 帮助（某人）。◆ I knew my brother Jack would come through for me; he loaned me the money to survive when I lost my job. 我知道我哥哥杰克会帮助我；在我失去工作时，他借钱给我让我活了下来。

come to　v. (stress on to)(重读to) 1. To wake up after losing consciousness; get the use of your senses back again after fainting or being knocked out. 苏醒；恢复知觉。◆ The boxer who was knocked out did not come to for five minutes. 那个拳击手被击昏5分钟后还没有恢复知觉。◆ The doctor gave her a pill and after she took it she didn't come to for two days. 医生给了她一粒药片，她服用两天后没苏醒。2. (stress on come)(重读come) To get enough familiarity or understanding to; learn to; grow to. — Used with an infinitive. 终于；逐渐；开始。——与不定式连用。◆ John was selfish at first, but he came to realize that other people counted, too. 约翰最初很自私，但后来他逐渐认识到别的人也重要。3. To result in or change to; reach the point of; arrive at. 结果是；变成；达到。◆ Mr. Smith lived to see his invention come to success. 史密斯先生活着看到了他的发明获得成功。4. To have something to do with; be in the field of; be about. — Usually used in the phrase when it comes to. 与…有关；涉及；关于。——通常用于短语when it comes to. ◆ Joe is not good in sports, but when it comes to arithmetic he's the best in the class. 乔在体育上不行，但就算术而言却是班上最好的。

come to a dead end　v. phr. To reach a point from which one cannot proceed further, either because of a physical obstacle or because of some forbidding circumstance. 陷入僵局；走进死胡同。◆ The factory expansion project came to a dead end because of a lack of funds. 工厂的扩建计划因缺少资金而陷入僵局。

come to a head　v. phr. To reach a point where immediate and urgent decision is unavoidable. 达到决定性阶段；达到紧急关头。◆ Discussions have come to a head regarding the enlargement of the European Union. Seven new nations are now scheduled to join. 关于扩大欧盟的讨论已达到了决定性时刻。现在有7个新的国家计划加入。

come to blows　v. phr. To begin to fight. 开始打架；动手打起来。◆ The two countries came to blows because one wanted to be independent from the other. 因一个国家想摆脱另一个国家而独立，于是两个国家便打起仗来。

come together　See 见 FALL IN or INTO PLACE.

come to grief　v. phr. To have a bad accident or disappointment; meet trouble or ruin; end badly; wreck; fail. 遭遇不幸；遭到意外；受挫折；遇到麻烦；倒霉；遇难，失败。◆ Bill came to grief learning to drive a car. 比尔学开车时出了事故。

come to grips with　v. phr. 1. To get hold of (another wrestler) in close fighting. 与（另一摔跤手）扭打在一起；与…搏斗。◆ After circling around for a minute, the two wrestlers came to grips with each other. 两个摔跤手绕了一会儿圈后便相互扭打在一起。2. To struggle seriously with (an idea or problem). 认真对付；认真处理（问题等）。◆ Mr. Blake's teaching helps students come to grips with the important ideas in the history lesson. 布莱克先生的教学有助于学生认真思考历史课上的重要观念。◆ Harry cannot be a leader, because he never quite comes to grips with a problem. 哈里不能做领导人，因为他从来不能认真处理问题。

come to life　See见COME ALIVE.

come to light　v. phr. To be discovered; become known; appear. 被发现；暴露；出现。◆ New facts about ancient Egypt have recently come to light. 有关古埃及的一些新事实最近被发现了。

come to mind　v. phr. To occur to someone. 被想起。◆ A new idea for the advertising campaign came to mind as I was reading your book. 我在读您的书时，对广告宣传运动产生了一个新的想法。

come to nothing also formal〖正式〗come to naught　v. phr. To end in failure; fail; be in vain. 以失败告终；失败；徒劳。◆ The dog's attempts to climb the tree after the cat came to nothing. 狗想爬树追猫，结果以失败告终。

come to one's senses　v. phr. 1. Become conscious again; wake up. 恢复知觉；苏醒过来。◆ The boxer was knocked out and did not come to his senses for several minutes. 那位拳击手被打昏，好几分钟都没醒过来。2. To think clearly; behave as usual or as you should; act sensibly. 清醒地思考；恢复理性；醒悟过来；明智地行事。◆ Don't act so foolishly. Come to your senses! 别那么丢人现眼了。清醒清醒吧！

come to pass　v. phr., literary To happen; occur. 〖文〗发生；出现。◆ Strange things come to pass in troubled times. 乱世出怪事。

come to rest　v. phr. To stop. 停止。◆ The runaway truck finally came to rest in a muddy cornfield although all of its brakes were gone. 虽然所有的刹车都已失灵，失控的卡车最终还是在一片泥泞的玉米田里停了下来。

come to terms　v. phr. To reach an agreement. 达到协议。◆ Management and the labor union came to terms about a new arrangement and a strike was prevented. 资方与工会就一项新的安排达成了协议，从而防止了一场罢工。

come to the ears of someone　v. phr. To hear as gossip, story, or rumor. 传到某人耳里；被某人听到。◆ It came to my ears that poor Jack started drinking again. 我听说可怜的杰克重又开始酗酒了。

come to the point or get to the point　v. phr. To talk about the important thing; reach the important facts of the matter; reach the central question or fact. 说到要点；谈到问题的实质；讲到关键问题。◆ A good newspaper story must come right to the point and save the details for later. 一篇好的新闻报道必须开门见山，先说要点，然后再叙述细节。

come to think of it　v. phr., informal As I think again; indeed; really. 〖非正式〗想起来了；的确；真的。◆ Come to think of it, I should write my daughter today. 想起来了，我今天该给女儿写信了。

come to this　v. phr. To reach a certain condition, usually a negative or bad one. 到这种地步（通常指不好的情况）。◆ So it really came to this, that we are getting divorced after twenty years together? 在一起生活了20年后，我们就真的走到了要离婚的地步？

come true　v. To really happen; change from a dream or a plan into a fact. 实现；（梦想、计划等）变为事实。◆ It was a dream come true when he met the president. 他见到了总统，总算梦想成真了。

come unglued or come unstrung　v. phr. To lose one's composure; to become very upset. 失去镇静；心烦意乱。◆ I'm going to come unglued if you keep controlling my work all the time. 如果你继续全时控制我的工作，我会心绪不宁的。

come up　v. 1. To become a subject for discussion or decision to talk about or decide about. 被讨论；被考虑；被提到。◆ The question of wage increases came up at the board meeting. 董事会上讨论过增加工资的问题。◆ Mayor Jones comes up for reelection this fall. 琼斯市长决定今年秋天竞选连任。2. To be equal; match in value. — Used with to. 等于；比得上；达到。——与to连用。◆ The new model car comes up to last year's. 新型号的汽车与去年的一样好。3. To approach; come close. 接近；走近；走上前来。◆ We saw a big black bear coming up on us from the woods. 我们看到一头大黑熊从树林中向我们走来。◆ Christmas is coming up soon. 圣诞节快到了。4. To provide; supply; furnish. — Used with with. 提供；提出；供应。——与with连用。◆ The teacher asked a difficult question, but finally Ted came up with a good answer. 老师问了一个很难的问题，最后由泰德提供了一个很好的回答。

come up for air　v. phr. To stop doing what one is doing and take a break. 停下来休息一会儿。◆ "I've got to stop and come up for some air, you guys," Tim said. "This is hard work."“我得停下来歇一会儿了，伙计们，”蒂姆说。“这话够累的。”

come up in the world or rise in the world　v. phr. To gain success, wealth, or importance in life; rise to a position of greater wealth or importance. 发迹；飞黄腾达。◆ He had come up in the world since he peddied his wife's baked goods from a pushcart. 他早年推着手推车兜售妻子烘烤的食品，此时已经发迹了。

come up short　v. phr. To have less than the correct amount to be paid for something; to be found wanting in matters other than monetary. 比总数差；缺少；达不到标准。◆ I went to the grocery store where the bill came to $73, but I only had $40, so I came up short by $33. 我去食品杂货店买东西，账款为73美元，但我只有40美元，差了33美元。◆ Every time Tim wants to join the basketball team, he is rejected because he is so small; poor guy keeps coming up short. 每次蒂姆想参加篮球队都因身材矮小而遭到拒绝；可怜的家伙总是达不到要求。

come up smelling like a rose　v., phr. To escape from a difficult situation or misdeed unscathed or without punishment. 逃脱困境；逃脱惩罚。◆ It is predicted that Congressman Brown, in spite of the current investigation into his financial affairs, will come up smelling like a rose at the end. 尽管目前对众议员布朗的财务状况正在进行调查，但预计最终他将逃脱惩罚。

come up to　v. phr. To equal. 等于；比得上。◆ The meals cooked in most restaurants do not come up to those prepared at home. 大多数餐馆里烧的饭菜都比不上家里做的饭菜好吃。

come up with　v. phr. 1. To offer. 提出。◆ We can always depend on John Smith to come up with a good solution for any problem we might have. 我们总能指望约翰·史密斯对我们可能遇到的任何问题提出一个好的解决办法来。2. To produce on demand. 提供；根据要求拿出。◆ I won't be able to buy this car, because I cannot come up with the down payment you require. 我没法买这辆车，因为我拿不出你要求的首付款。3. To find. 找到；想出。◆ How on earth did you come up with such a brilliant idea? 你究竟是怎么想出这样一个绝妙的主意的？

come what may　adv. phr. Even if troubles come; no matter what happens; in spite of opposition or mischance. 即使出现麻烦；不管发生什么事；不顾反对（或厄运）。◆ Charles has decided to get a college education, come what may. 查尔斯决定不管怎样也要接受大学教育。

comfortable as an old shoe　adj. phr., informal Pleasant and relaxed; not stiff, strict or too polite; easy to talk and work with. 〖非正式〗令人轻松愉快的；随和的；容易与之交谈（或共事）的。◆ The stranger was as comfortable as an old shoe, and we soon were talking like old friends. 那位陌生人很随和，我们很快就像老朋友似的交谈起来。

coming out party　n. phr. A debutante party in which a young girl is formally introduced to society. 为首次进入社交界的少女举行的舞会。◆ Coming out parties used to be more popular in the early twentieth century than nowadays, primarily because they cost a lot of money. 为首次进入社交界的少女举行的舞会在20世纪初期比现在更流行，这主要是因为这种舞会要花费很多钱。

comings and goings　n. pl., informal〖非正式〗1. Times of arriving and going away; movements. 来来往往；进进出出。◆ I can't keep up with the children's comings and goings. 我跟不上孩子们的进进出出。2. Activities; doings; business. 各种活动；各种事情。◆ Mary knows all the comings and goings in the neighborhood. 玛丽对街区里发生的各种事情知道得一清二楚。

command module　n., Space English〖航天〗1. One of the three main sections of the basic Apollo spacecraft. It weighs six tons and is cone shaped. It contains crew compartments and from it the astronauts can operate the lunar module (LM), the docking systems, etc. （阿波罗宇宙飞船中的）指挥舱。2. Informal transferred sense. 〖非正式转义〗The cockpit, the chief place where a person does his most important work. 座舱；驾驶座；主要工作场所。◆ My desk is my command module. 我的办公桌就是我的主要工作场所。

common ground　n. Shared beliefs, interests, or ways of understanding; ways in which people are alike. 共同基础；一致之处。◆ Bob and Frank don't like each other because they have no common ground. 鲍勃和弗兰克都不喜欢对方，因为他们没有共同的基础。

common lot　n. phr. The inevitable circumstances of life. 共同的命运。◆ We're all born without teeth, hair, and illusions, and we shall all die without teeth, hair, and illusions. This is our common lot. 我们生下来的时候都没有牙齿、头发和幻想，而我们死的时候也会没有牙齿、头发和幻想。这就是我们的共同命运。

common touch　n. The ability to be a friend of the people; friendly manner with everyone. 与人们保持友好关系的能力；平易近人的态度。◆ Voters like a candidate who has the common touch. 选民喜欢平易近人的候选人。

company man　n., informal A worker who always agrees with management rather than labor. — Usually used to express dislike or disapproval. 〖非正式〗亲资方的工人；公司人。——通常用来表示厌恶或不满。◆ Joe was a company man and refused to take a part in the strike. 乔是个亲资方的工人，他拒不参加罢工。Compare比较YESMAN.

compare notes　v. phr., informal To exchange thoughts or ideas about something; discuss together. 〖非正式〗交换意见；一起讨论。◆ Mother and Mrs. Barker like to compare notes about cooking. 母亲和巴克太太喜欢在烹饪方面交换意见。

condemn to　v. phr. To force someone into an undesirable and unfortunate condition or position. 迫使（某人）处于（不幸的状况或地位）。◆ John's inability to hold down a job condemns his entire family to a life of poverty. 约翰不能保住一份工作，这使得他全家只能过贫困的生活。◆ Alan's polio condemned him to a life on crutches and later to a wheelchair. 艾伦患有小儿麻痹症，这使他不得不靠双柺支撑着过日子，后来又迫使他坐上了轮椅。

congregate housing　n., informal A form of housing for elderly persons in which dining facilities and services are shared in multiple dwelling units. 〖非正式〗（餐具、服务共享的）老年集体公寓。◆ Jerry put Grandma in a place where they have congregate housing. 杰里把奶奶送进了老年集体公寓。

conjure up　1. To bring to mind. 使想起；使呈现于脑际。◆ Your remark about sandy beaches conjures up memories of Hawaii and the Bahamas. 你讲到沙滩便使人想起夏威夷和巴哈马群岛。2. To cause to appear as if by magic. 如用魔法般地使出现；使神奇般地出现。◆ Peter's mother conjured up a fabulous meal, although everybody thought that her refrigerator was empty and it was after store-closing hours. 虽然每个人都以为她的冰箱是空的，而且商店都已打烊，但彼得的母亲却神奇般地做出了一顿丰盛的饭菜。

conk out　v. phr., slang, informal To fall asleep suddenly with great fatigue or after having drunk too much. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（因极度疲劳或饮酒过量而）一下子睡着。◆ We conked out right after the guests had left. 客人们一走我们就累得倒头睡去。

conspiracy of silence　n. phr. An organized way to treat someone as a nonperson; a concerted avoidance of mentioning someone or their work. 冷落某人的密约；对某人（或其工作）保持缄默的密约。◆ When Oscar Wilde got out of the Jail of Redding, London society greeted him with a conspiracy of silence. 当奥斯卡·王尔德获释走出里丁监狱时，伦敦社交界对他采取了集体冷落的态度。

consumer goods or consumer items　n. Food and manufactured things that people buy for their own use. 消费品；生活资料。◆ In time of war, the supply of consumer goods is greatly reduced. 战争时期，消费品的供应大为减少。

control room　n. A room containing the panels and switches used to control something (like a TV broadcast). （电视台等处的）控制室。◆ While a television program is on the air, engineers are at their places in the control room. 电视节目在播出时，技术人员都守在控制室内各自的岗位上。

control tower　n. A tower with large windows and a good view of an airport so that the traffic of airplanes can be seen and controlled, usually by radio. （机场）指挥塔台；指挥调度台。◆ We could see the lights at the control tower as our plane landed during the night. 我们的飞机在夜间降落时，我们可以看到指挥塔台的灯光。

convenience store　n. phr. A small store attached to a gas station or standing by itself, e. g., a 7-Eleven (meaning that it is open 11 hrs, 7 days a week) where soft drinks, cigarettes, and sandwich makings, along with candy, are available. 方便店。◆ "Is there a convenience store nearby?" the out-of-town driver asked. “附近有方便店吗？”那位外地的司机问。

conversation piece　n. Something that interests people and makes them talk about it; something that looks unusual, comical, or strange. 话题；新奇有趣可作话题的东西。◆ Uncle Fred has a glass monkey on top of his piano that he keeps for a conversation piece. 弗雷德叔叔在他的钢琴上摆着一只玻璃猴，专门作为客人们谈论的话题。

cook sb.'s goose　v. phr. slang To ruin someone hopelessly; destroy sb.'s future expectations or good name. 〖俚〗毁灭某人；破坏某人的计划；败坏某人的名誉。◆ The dishonest official knew his goose was cooked when the newspapers printed the story about him. 那个贪官看到报纸上登出了他的事情，知道自己一切都完了。

cook up　v., informal To plan and put together; make up; invent. 〖非正式〗谋划；捏造；编造。◆ The boys cooked up an excuse to explain their absence from school. 男孩子们编造了一个借口以解释他们没来上学的原因。

cook up a mess or cook up a fine mess　v. phr. To create chaos and disorder around oneself by socially unacceptable behavior. 引起混乱；把事情弄糟。◆ Joe sure cooked up a fine mess when he started to invite his female students to his home without telling his wife about it. 当乔未告诉妻子即开始邀请他的女学生到他家里来的时候，无疑就把事情弄糟了。

cool as a cucumber　adj. phr. informal Very calm and brave; not nervous, worried, or anxious; not excited; composed. 〖非正式〗镇静勇敢；冷静沉着；泰然自若。◆ Bill is a good football quarterback, always cool as a cucumber. 比尔是名优秀的橄榄球四分卫，他总是非常沉着冷静。

cool, calm, and collected　adj. phr. Describing a desired quality in people, especially ones in a leadership position, whereby the person is alert, yet not excited and ready to act. 沉着冷静的，镇定自如的。◆ Peter Murphy would make a fine commanding officer. I don't know anyone else quite so cool, calm, and collected as he is. 彼得·墨菲可以成为一名优秀的指挥官。我不知道还有别的什么人像他那样沉着冷静。

cool customer　n. Someone who is calm and in total control of himself; someone showing little emotion. 头脑冷静的人。◆ Jim never gets too excited about anything; he is a cool customer. 吉姆从来不会为任何事情过于激动；他是个头脑冷静的人。

cool down or cool off　v. To lose or cause to lose the heat of any deep feeling (as love, enthusiasm, or anger); make or become calm, cooled or indifferent; lose interest. （使）变得冷淡；（使）平静下来；（使）冷静下来；（使）冷却下来；失去兴趣。◆ A heated argument can be settled better if both sides cool down first. 如果双方首先冷静下来，激烈的争论就可以更好地解决。◆ The neighbor's complaint about the noise cooled the argument down. 邻居对吵声的抱怨使争论平静了下来。

cool it　v. phr. most often used as a command To calm down; simmer down; relax, take it easy!（常用作命令）冷静下来；息怒；放松；慢慢来！◆ When Mr. Smith got home he heard a lot of noise from his son's room where six high school students were rehearsing for a play. "Nice to have you all here," he said, "but please cool it, won't you? I have a headache." 史密斯先生回到家时，听到儿子房间里传来的喧闹声，原来是6个中学生在排练一出戏。“很高兴你们在这儿，”他说，“但请你们安静一点，好吗？我头痛。”

cool one's heels　v. phr. slang To be kept waiting by another's pride or rudeness; be forced to wait by someone in power or authonty; wait. 〖俚〗久等；空等；苦等。◆ I was left to cool my heels outside while the others went into the office. 当别人走进办公室时，我却被留在外面久等。

cool someone down　v. phr. To make someone become less excited or upset. 使某人平静（或冷静）下来。 ◆ "My sister has been shouting all day long, because she broke up with her boy friend. What can I do to cool her down?" Tom asked his mother. "Take her to see a good movie," the mother answered. "Maybe that will do the trick."“我妹妹一整天都在大喊大叫，因为她跟男朋友吹了。我怎么才能让她平静下来呢？”汤姆问母亲。“带她去看一场好电影，”母亲回答说：“这也许会有效。”

coop up　v. phr. To hedge in; confine; enclose in a small place. 围困；限制自由；将…禁锢在狭小空间。◆ How can poor Jane work in that small office, cooped up all day long? 可怜的简怎么能终日被禁锢在那个小小的办公室里工作呢？

cop a feel　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable To attempt to arouse sexually by manual contact, usually by surprise. 〖粗〗〖忌〗触摸他人的身体（尤指性器官）。◆ John talks big for a 16 year old, but all he's ever done is cop a feel in a dark movie theater. 16岁的约翰喜欢吹牛说大话，但他也只是在黑暗的电影院里摸过别人而已。

cop a plea　v. phr., slang, colloquial To plead guilty during a trial in the hope of getting a lighter sentence as a result. 〖俚〗〖口〗承认有罪以求轻判。◆ The murderer of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., copped a plea of guilty, and got away with a life sentence instead of the death penalty. 谋杀马丁·路德·金博士的凶手为求轻判而承认有罪，因而被从轻发落获判无期徒刑而不是死刑。

cop out　v. phr. slang, informal (stress on out)(重读out) To avoid committing oneself in a situation where doing so would result in difficulties. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗避免在某种场合表态以免陷入困境。◆ Nixon copped out on the American people with Watergate. 尼克松避免就“水门事件”向美国人民表态以免陷入困境。

cop-out　n. phr., slang, informal (stress on cop)(重读cop) An irresponsible excuse made to avoid something one has to do, a flimsy pretext. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（退出、逃避的）借口；站不住脚的借口。◆ Come on, Jim, that's a cheap cop-out, and I don't believe a word of it! 得了吧，吉姆，这是一个拙劣的借口，我才不信呢！

copy cat　n. Someone who copies another person's work or manner. — Usually used by children or when speaking to children. 模仿者；抄袭者。——通常为儿童用语。◆ He called me a copy cat just because my new shoes look like his. 只因为我的新鞋看上去和他的一个样，他就叫我跟屁虫。

corn ball　n., slang, informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A superficially sentimental movie or musical in which the word love is mentioned too often; a theatrical performance that is trivially sentimental. 肤浅伤感的影片；浅薄伤感的戏剧表演。◆ That movie last night was a corn ball. 昨晚的那部电影是部肤浅伤感的影片。2. A person who behaves in a superficially sentimental manner or likes performances portraying such behavior. 肤浅伤感的人；喜欢看肤浅伤感演出的人。◆ Suzie can't stand Joe; she thinks he's a corn ball. 苏茜不能容忍乔；她认为他是个肤浅伤感的人。

corn belt　n. The Midwest; the agricultural section of the United States where much corn is grown. （美国中西部盛产玉米的）玉米地带。◆ Kansas is one of the states that lies within the corn belt. 堪萨斯是玉米地带中的一个州。

corporate ladder　n. phr. The series of advancements in pay, promotions in rank, and other perks that one has to go through in order to arrive at the top in large business settings. 公司内晋升的阶梯。◆ Joe was made by Mother Nature to be a top executive; why, he climbs the corporate ladder like a pro. 乔天生就是要做总裁的；瞧，他攀登晋升的阶梯就像个专家。

cost a bomb or an arm and a leg　v. phr. To be extremely expensive. 花费一大笔钱；极为昂贵。◆ My new house has cost us an arm and a leg and we're almost broke. 买新房子花了我们一大笔钱，我们几乎一个子儿也没有了。

cotton　See见ON TOP OF THE WORLD also SITTING ON HIGH COTTON.

cotton picking, cotton-pickin'　adj., slang, colloquial Worthless, crude, common, messy. 〖俚〗〖口〗无价值的；粗糙的；平庸的；乱七八糟的。◆ Keep your cotton picking hands off my flowers! 不要用你的臭手碰我的花！◆ You've got to clean up your room, son, this is a cotton-pickin' mess! 你必须把你的房间打扫干净，孩子，房间里也太乱了！

couch case　n., slang, informal A person judged emotionally so disturbed that people think he ought to see a psychiatrist (who, habitually, make their patients lie down on a couch). 〖俚〗〖非正式〗精神病人。◆ Joe's divorce messed him up so badly that he became a couch case. 乔因离婚而在感情上深受刺激，成了一名精神病患者。

couch doctor　n., slang, colloquial A psychoanalyst who puts his patients on a couch following the practice established by Sigmund Freud. 〖俚〗〖口〗心理分析医生；精神病医生。◆ I didn't know your husband was a couch doctor, I thought he was a gynecologist! 我本来不知道你丈夫是位心理分析医生，我还以为他是妇科医生呢！

couch potato　n. A person who is addicted to watching television all day. 终日泡在电视机前的人。◆ Poor Ted has become such a couch potato that we can't persuade him to do anything. 可怜的泰德现在整天泡在电视机前，我们已无法说服他做任何事情了。

cough up　v., slang〖俚〗1. To give (money) unwillingly; pay with an effort. 不情愿地给（钱）；勉强支付。◆ Her husband coughed up the money for the party with a good deal of grumbling. 她的丈夫牢骚满腹地勉强支付了宴会的钱。2. To tell what was secret; make known. 吐露；供出。◆ He coughed up the whole story for the police. 他把整个事情的真相告诉了警察。

could do with　v. phr., informal To wish to have something. 〖非正式〗想要；希望有。◆ After a hot day's work out in the open, we could do with a nice hot shower and something cold to drink. 大热天在户外干了一天的活，我们真想舒舒服服地洗个热水淋浴再喝些冷饮。

could go for　See 见COULD DO WITH.

couldn't care less　v. phr., informal To be indifferent; not care at all. 〖非正式〗无动于衷；满不在乎。◆ The students couldn't care less about the band; they talk all through the concert. 学生们对乐队满不在乎；整个音乐会期间他们一直在讲话。——Also heard increasingly as could care less (nonstandard in this form.) 口语中越来越多地用could care less，但这种用法不规范。

countdown　n., Space English, informal〖航天〗〖非正式〗1. A step-by-step process which leads to the launching of a rocket. （发射火箭时的）倒读数；倒计时。◆ Countdown starts at 23:00 hours tomorrow night and continues for 24 hours. 发射火箭的倒计时将从明晚23点开始，并持续24小时。2. Process of counting inversely during the acts leading to a launch; liftoff occurs at zero. 倒计时阶段。3. The time immediately preceding an important undertaking, borrowed from Space English. 倒计时时间。◆ We're leaving for Hawaii tomorrow afternoon; this is countdown time for us. 我们将于明天下午动身去夏威夷；现在我们已进入倒计时时间。

count heads or count noses　v. phr. informal To count the number of people in a group. 〖非正式〗点人数。◆ On the class picnic, we counted heads before we left. 在我们班出发去野餐前我们清点了人数。◆ The usher was told to look out into the audience and count noses. 招待员被告知要注意清点观众的人数。

count in　v. phr. To consider someone or something as part of a group of people or a set of objects. 把…计算在内。◆ If you are buying tickets to the Lyric Opera for tomorrow evening's performance, please count us in. 如果你们要买明晚在抒情歌剧院演出的戏票，请把我们也计算在内。

count off　v. 1. To count aloud from one end of a line of men to the other, each man counting in turn. 大声报数。◆ The soldiers counted off from right to left. 士兵们从右向左大声报数。2. To place into a separate group or groups by counting. 点数把…分组；挑选出。◆ The coach counted off three boys to carry in the equipment. 教练选出3名男队员把器材搬进来。◆ Tom counted off enough newspapers for his route. 汤姆分出了他送报所需要的份数。

count on　v. To depend on; rely on; trust. 依靠；指望；依赖；信赖。◆ The team was counting on Joe to win the race. 全队都依赖乔来赢得比赛。◆ I'll do it; you know you can count on me. 这事我会做的；你知道你可以信赖我。

count one's chickens before they're hatched　v. phr., informal To depend on getting a profit or gain before you have it; make plans that suppose something will happen; be too sure that something will happen. — Usually used in negative sentences. 〖非正式〗蛋未孵化先数小鸡；指望得过早；过早乐观。——通常用于否定句。◆ Maybe some of your customers won't pay, and then where will you be? Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. 也许你的顾客中有些人不付款，那时候你怎么办？所以不要乐观得太早。

count one's lucky stars　See见LUCKY STAR.

count out　v. 1. To leave (someone) out of a plan; not expect (someone) to share in an activity; exclude. 不把…算入；排除。◆ "Will this party cost anything? If it does, count me out, because I'm broke."“参加这次聚会要花钱吗？如果要花钱我就不参加了，因为我一个子儿也没有了。”2. To count out loud to ten to show that (a boxer who has been knocked down in a fight) is beaten or knocked out if he does not get up before ten is counted.（拳击裁判）数到10后判（被击倒者）失败。◆ The champion was counted out in the third round. 拳击冠军在第三回合就因遭击倒地不起而被判失败。3a. To add up; count again to be sure of the amount. 把…加起来；重数以确定数目。◆ Mary counted out the number of pennies she had. 玛丽把她所有的1分硬币数了一下。3b. To count out loud, (especially the beats in a measure of music). 大声数；（尤指）数数打拍子。◆ The music teacher counted out the beats "one-two-three-four," so the class would sing in time. 音乐老师喊着“一、二、三、四”打拍子，以便全班同学合着拍子唱。

count to ten　v. phr., informal To count from one to ten so you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. 〖非正式〗（为使自己冷静下来而）从1数到10；（生气或激动时为避免做错事而）推迟行动。◆ Father always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got angry. 父亲总是告诉我们，生气的时候先数到10，冷静下来以后再做别的事。

county mounty　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Sheriff 's deputy. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗县治安官；县治安人员。◆ The county mounties are parked under the bridge. 县治安人员都集中在桥下。

cover a lot of ground　v. phr. To process a great deal of information and various facts. 涉及内容广泛；处理大量信息和各种事实。◆ Professor Brown's thorough lecture on asteroids covered a lot of ground today. 布朗教授关于小行星的讲座全面而详尽，涉及当今的大量信息。

covered-dish supper or potluck supper　A meal to which each guest brings a share of the food.（每位客人各带一味菜肴供大家共享的）百乐餐。◆ Dolly made a chicken casserole for the covered-dish supper. 多莉为百乐餐做了一客炖鸡砂锅。

cover for　v. phr. 1. To provide an excuse. 为…打掩护；为…找借口。◆ My cousin Ernie called in an excited voice, and told me to cover for him by saying that he spent the night at my place, if his wife inquires about his whereabouts. 我的表弟厄尼声音激动地打来电话，叫我为他打掩护，如果他妻子问起他的行踪，就说昨晚他在我这里过的夜。2. To substitute for someone at work. 代替。◆ When faculty have to take a trip abroad, colleagues often cover for one another. 当教师们需要去国外旅行时，同事之间经常相互代课。

cover girl　n. A pretty girl or woman whose picture is put on the cover of a magazine.（杂志的）封面女郎。◆ Ann is not a cover girl, but she is pretty enough to be. 安不是封面女郎，但她很漂亮，完全可以上杂志的封面。

cover ground or cover the ground　v. phr. 1. To go a distance; travel. 走完一段距离；旅行。◆ Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover ground so quickly. 罗杰斯先生喜欢乘飞机旅行，因为飞机飞得快。2. informal To move over an area at a speed that is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. 〖非正式〗行进自如；快速前进；飞驰。◆ Jack's new car really covers ground! 杰克的新车跑得真快！3. To give or receive the important facts and details about a subject. 充分论述一个题目；彻底讲清（或弄清）一个问题。◆ The class spent two days studying the Revolutionary War, because they couldn't cover that much ground in one day. 这个班级花了两天时间学习美国独立战争，因为一天时间他们学不了那么多内容。

cover one's tracks or cover up one's tracks　v. phr. 1. To hide and not leave anything, especially foot marks, to show where you have been, so that no one can follow you. 消灭痕迹；掩盖行踪。◆ The deer covered his tracks by running in a stream. 鹿在小溪中奔跑以掩盖行踪。2. informal To hide or not say where you have been or what you have done; not tell why you do something or what you plan to do. 〖非正式〗隐匿自己的活动（或计划）。◆ The boys covered their tracks when they went swimming by saying that they were going for a walk. 那些男孩子为了不让别人知道他们去游泳，便说他们要去散步。

cover the waterfront　v. phr. To talk or write all about something; talk about something all possible ways. 详述；细述。◆ The principal pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior. 校长非常详细地讲述了学生行为举止的方方面面。

cover up　v., informal (stress on up)(重读up)〖非正式〗1. To hide something wrong or bad from attention. 掩盖；掩饰。◆ The spy covered up his picture-taking by pretending to be just a tourist. 那个间谍假装成一名旅游者，以掩饰他的拍照。2. In boxing: To guard your head and body with your gloves, arms, and shoulders.（拳击赛中以手套、臂、肩）护住头部和身体。◆ Jimmy's father told him to cover up and protect his chin when he boxed. 吉米的父亲告诉他在拳击比赛中要护住下颚。3. To protect someone else from blame or punishment; protect someone with a lie or alibi. — Often used with for.（以谎言或不在犯罪现场的证据）包庇某人；掩护某人。——常与for连用。◆ The burglar's friend covered up for him by saying that he was at his home when the robbery occurred. 那名窃贼的朋友包庇他，说窃案发生时他正在他家里。

cover-up　n., (stress on cover)(重读cover) A plan or excuse to escape blame or punishment; lie, alibi. 掩盖方法；掩饰手段；伪装；借口；谎言；不在犯罪现场的证明。◆ When the men robbed the bank, their cover-up was to dress like policemen. 那些人抢劫银行时，他们的掩饰手段就是穿得像警察。

cowboy　n., slang, informal A person who drives his car carelessly and at too great a speed in order to show off his courage. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗飞仔；飙车狂（横冲直撞开快车的人）。◆ Joe's going to be arrested some day — he is a cowboy on the highway. 总有一天乔会被拘捕——他是公路上的飙车狂。

cow college　n. , slang〖俚〗1. An agricultural college; a school where farming is studied. 农学院；农业学校。◆ A new, bigger kind of apple is being grown at the cow college. 农学院正在培育一种新的、更大的苹果品种。2. A new or rural college not thought to be as good as older or city colleges. 新学院；农村学院。◆ John wanted to go to a big college in New York City, not to a cow college. 约翰想进纽约的大学院，不想去农村学院。

cow's tail　n., dialect A person who is behind others. 〖方〗“牛尾巴”，落在后面的人。◆ John was the cow's tail at the exam. 约翰考试时最后一个交卷。

cozy up　v., slang To try to be close or friendly; try to be liked. — Usually used with to. 〖俚〗拼命巴结；讨好；取悦。——通常与to连用。◆ John is cozying up to Henry so he can join the club. 约翰拼命讨好亨利，以便能参加俱乐部。

crack a book　v. phr., slang To open a book in order to study. — Usually used with a negative. 〖俚〗开卷读书；打开书本阅读。——通常与否定词连用。◆ Many students think they can pass without cracking a book. 很多学生认为他们不读书也能通过考试。

crack a bottle　v. phr. To open a new bottle of alcoholic beverage. 打开一瓶新酒；开瓶饮酒。◆ On birthdays it is customary to crack a bottle and offer one's best wishes. 过生日时，人们通常都是开瓶共饮，表示最良好的祝愿。

crack a joke　v. phr., informal To make a joke; tell a joke. 〖非正式〗开玩笑；说笑话。◆ The men sat around the stove, smoking and cracking jokes. 男人们围坐在火炉旁，一边抽烟一边说笑话。

crack a smile　v. phr., informal To let a smile show on one's face; permit a smile to appear. 〖非正式〗绽出笑容；露出微笑。◆ Bob told the whole silly story without even cracking a smile. 鲍勃在讲述那个无聊的故事时自始至终面无笑容。

crack down　v. phr., informal To enforce laws or rules strictly; require full obedience to a rule. 〖非正式〗严格执法；采取严厉措施；制裁；镇压。◆ After a speeding driver hit a child, the police cracked down. 在一名超速行驶的司机撞了一名儿童后，警察执法严格起来。— Often used with on. 常与on连用。◆ Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors. 警方突然严厉取缔卖酒给未成年人。

cracked up　adj. phr., informal Favorably described or presented; praised. — Usually used in the expression not what it's cracked up to be. 〖非正式〗被称赞的；受赞美的。——通常用于短语not what it's cracked up to be（不像人们所说的那么好）中。◆ The independent writer's life isn't always everything it's cracked up to be. 独立作家的生活并非样样都像人们所说的那么好。

crack of dawn　n. phr. The time in the morning when the sun's rays first appear. 黎明；破晓。◆ The rooster crows at the crack of dawn and wakes up everybody on the farm. 拂晓时雄鸡啼叫，唤醒了农场上所有的人。

crack open　v. phr. 1. To destroy someone's argument. 驳倒（某人的论点）。◆ A clever attorney usually succeeds in cracking open his client's case. 一个聪明的律师通常能就其委托人的案子将对方驳倒。2. To solve a mystery. 解（谜）。◆ The local police cracked open the case of several complex kidnappings. 当地警方侦破了那起涉及数件复杂绑架的案子。

crackpot　n., attrib. adj., informal 〖非正式〗1. n. An eccentric person with ideas that don't make sense to most other people. 怪人；疯子。◆ Don't believe what Uncle Noam tells you — he is a crackpot. 不要相信诺姆叔叔对你说的话。——他是个怪人。2. attrib. adj. 古怪的；疯狂的。◆ That's a crackpot idea. 那是个古怪的想法。

crack the whip　v. phr., informal To get obedience or cooperation by threats of punishment. 〖非正式〗（挥鞭威胁）迫使人服从（或合作）；采取严厉手段。◆ If the children won't behave when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip. 如果我跟孩子们讲道理他们还不听话，我就只好采取严厉手段了。

crack under the strain　v. phr. To suffer a nervous breakdown. 因过度紧张而神经崩溃。◆ Jane cracked under the strain of worrying about her son, who just joined the army when war started. 简因担心战争一开始即参军的儿子而紧张得神经崩溃了。

crack up　v. 1. To wreck or be wrecked; smash up. 撞毁；撞坏。◆ The airplane cracked up in landing. 飞机着陆时坠毁了。2. informal To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or worry. 〖非正式〗（身体）垮掉；（精神）崩溃。◆ It seemed to be family problems that made him crack up. 使他精神崩溃的似乎是一些家庭问题。3. burst into laughter or cause to burst into laughter.（使）捧腹大笑。◆ That comedian cracks me up. 那位滑稽演员使我笑得前仰后合。

cramp sb.'s style　v. phr., informal To limit your natural freedom; prevent your usual behavior; limit your actions or talk. 〖非正式〗限制某人的自由发挥；妨碍某人的正常行动；使某人的言谈举止受到约束。◆ It cramped his style a good deal when he lost his money. 他丢了钱后，活动自由受到了很大限制。◆ Army rules cramped George's style. 军队的规章条例使乔治的行动受到约束。

crank call　n. phr. An anonymous phone call made by the caller as a threat or as a tasteless joke. 匿名电话；神秘电话。◆ I won't pick up the receiver for the next couple of days, because I've been getting lots of crank calls, and I want to make the caller think that I have left town. 以后几天里我不会接电话，因为我一直接到很多匿名电话；我要让打电话的人以为我已离城外出。

crank out or whip out　v. phr. To manufacture things quickly in large numbers. 迅速大量地制造。◆ During World War Ⅱ, American industry cranked out boat after boat and plane after plane. 第二次世界大战期间，美国的工业迅速地生产出一批批的船只和飞机。

crash dive　n. A sudden dive made by a submarine to escape an enemy; a dive made to get deep under water as quickly as possible.（潜水艇的）紧急下潜；速潜。◆ The captain of the submarine told his crew to prepare for a crash dive when he saw the enemy battleship approaching. 潜艇艇长看到敌人的战列舰逐渐逼近时，下令船员准备好紧急下潜。

crash-dive　v. 1. To dive deep underwater in a submarine as quickly as possible.（潜水艇）紧急下潜。◆ We shall crash-dive if we see enemy planes coming. 如果看到敌机飞来，我们就迅速潜入水下。2. To dive into (something) in an airplane.（飞机）向…俯冲。◆ When the plane's motor was hit by the guns of the enemy battleship, the pilot aimed the plane at the ship and crash-dived into it. 当飞机的引擎被敌人战列舰的炮火击中时，飞行员将飞机对准敌舰向它俯冲下去。

crashing bore　n. phr., slang An extremely boring person. 〖俚〗讨厌透顶的人；极为令人厌倦的人。◆ our math teacher is the most crashing bore we have ever experienced; he puts us to sleep! 我们的数学老师是我们碰到过的最令人厌烦的人；他的课能让我们睡着！

crash the gate　v. phr., slang To enter without a ticket or without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. 〖俚〗无票人场；（未经邀请或允许）擅自入场。◆ Three boys tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in. 3个男孩想闯进我们的晚会，但我们没让他们进来。

crash with　v. phr. To sleep temporarily in the home of a close friend, usually without paying for it and with little if any comfort, such as on a couch, under the dining table, in a sleeping bag, etc. 在…家借宿；（免费）宿夜。◆ "We'd love to come to the convention, but we have no money, even for a cheap motel," John said. "No problem," Mike replied, "you can crash with us."“我们很愿意来参加大会，但我们没钱，连便宜的汽车旅馆也住不起，”约翰说。“没问题，”迈克回答说，“你们可以在我们家过夜。”

crawl out of the woodwork　v. phr. To suddenly appear as from nowhere; said of unsavory characters such as thieves, burglars, pimps, etc.（小偷、夜盗、恶棍等）突然从阴暗角落爬出；突然冒出来。◆ "When did you crawl out of the woodwork?" Sergeant O'Malley asked the petty criminal at the beginning of the interrogation. 讯问开始时，警察小队长奥马利问那个犯有轻罪的罪犯：“你是什么时候突然从阴暗角落里爬出来的？”

crazy or mad or nuts about　adj. phr., informal Excessively fond of; infatuated with. 〖非正式〗对…狂热喜爱的；对…着迷的。◆ Jack is totally nuts about Liz, but she is not too crazy about him. 杰克对莉兹爱得发狂，但她对他并不太喜欢。

cream of the crop　n. phr. The best of a group; the top choice. 最优秀者；精华。◆ The students had drawn many good pictures and the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up when the parents came to visit. 学生们画了很多幅好画，老师选出最好的在家长来参观时挂起来。

creature comforts of home　n. phr. The conveniences of modern life, such as running hot water, air conditioning, a built-in dishwasher, etc. （自来热水、空调、洗碟机等）家用便利设施；物质享受。◆ Helen gave up the dilapidated country cottage she inherited from her parents, and moved into a modern city condominium in order to enjoy all the creature comforts of modern living. 海伦放弃了从父母那里继承来的年久失修的乡村小屋，搬进了一套现代化的城市公寓以便享受现代生活种种舒适的便利设施。

creature of habit　n. phr. A person who does things out of habit rather than by thought. 习惯的奴隶。◆ Our boss is a creature of habit, so let us not confuse him with too many new ideas. 咱们的老板是个按老习惯办事的人，所以咱们就别用太多新的想法把他搞糊涂了。

credibility gap　n., hackneyed phrase, politics An apparent discrepancy between what the government says and what one can observe for oneself. （政治学上使用过于频繁的短语）信用差距（指官方言行之间明显的不一致）◆ There was a tremendous credibility gap in the USA during the Watergate years. 在“水门事件”发生后的几年中，美国出现了巨大的信用差距。

creep up on　v. 1. To crawl towards; move along near the ground; steal cautiously towards so as not to be seen or noticed. 爬向；匍匐前进；蹑手蹑脚地走近。◆ The mouse did not see the snake creeping up on it over the rocks. 老鼠没有看到那条蛇正越过岩石向它爬过来。2. or sneak up on To come little by little; arrive slowly and unnoticed. 一点点地来到；不知不觉地到来。◆ The woman's hair was turning gray as age crept up on her. 那妇人在不知不觉地老起来，而她的头发也在变白。

crew cut or crew haircut　n. A boy's or man's hair style, cut so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. 平头；板刷头。◆ Many boys like to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler. 许多男孩喜欢在夏天理平头以求凉快。

crocodile tears　n. Pretended grief; a show of sorrow that is not really felt. 鳄鱼的眼泪；假慈悲。◆ When his rich uncle died, leaving him his money, John shed crocodile tears. 当约翰那位富有的叔叔去世把钱都留给他时，他装出一副很伤心的样子。

crop up　v. To come without warning; appear or happen unexpectedly. 突然出现；突然发生。◆ Problems cropped up almost every day when Mr. Reed was building his TV station. 里德先生建造电视台期间，几乎每天都会出现一些问题。

cross a bridge before one comes to it　v. phr. To worry about future events or trouble before they happen — Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb. 未到桥边先过桥；事未临头先发愁——通常用于否定句，并常用作谚语。◆ "Can I be a soldier when I grow up, Mother?" asked Johnny. "Don't cross that bridge until you come to it," said his mother. “妈妈，我长大了能当兵吗？”约翰尼问。“这事等你长大了再考虑也不晚，现在不必着急，”母亲说。

cross-check^1　v. To test the truth of by examining in different ways or by seeing different reports about.（以不同方式或从多方面）反复核实，反复核对；从各方面查证。◆ If you see something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it in other books. 如果你在一本书中看到什么东西可能不对的话，一定要在别的一些书中加以查证。

cross-check^2　n. The testing of the truth of by checking one report against another or others. 复核；多方面的核实。◆ A cross-check with other books will show us if this story is true. 在别的一些书中复核一下就会告诉我们这种说法是否正确。

cross fire　n. 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more places at once so that the lines of fire cross. 交叉火力；交叉射击。◆ The soldiers on the bridge were caught in the cross fire coming from both sides of the bridge. 桥上的士兵遭到了来自桥两边交叉火力的夹击。2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more people; also, a dispute; a quarrel.（言词等的）激烈交锋；争论；争吵。◆ There was a cross fire of excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who had been lost in the woods. 孩子们在树林里迷了路，回家后跟父母进行了一番针锋相对的激烈问答。

cross one's fingers　v. phr. 1a. To cross two fingers of one hand for good luck.（把食指与中指交叉）祈求好运。◆ Mary crossed her fingers during the race so that Tom would win. 汤姆赛跑时，玛丽交叉两指，祝愿汤姆取胜。1b. or keep one's fingers crossed informal To wish for good luck. 〖非正式〗祈求好运。◆Keep your fingers crossed while I take the test. 在我考试的时候请你为我祝福。2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an untruth that you are telling.（把食指与中指交叉）试图减轻说谎的罪过。◆ Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother the lie. 约翰尼对母亲说谎时交叉两指以减轻罪过。

cross one's heart or cross one's heart and hope to die　v. phr., informal To say that what you have said is surely true; promise seriously that it is true. — Often used by children in the longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the heart as they say it, for emphasis.〖非正式〗在胸口画十字发誓（表示说的是真话等）（儿童用语）。◆ "Cross my heart, I didn't hide your bicycle," Harry told Tom.“我发誓，我没有把你的脚踏车藏起来，”哈里对汤姆说。◆ "I didn't tell the teacher what you said. Cross my heart and hope to die," Mary said to Lucy.“我没有把你说的话告诉老师。我发誓，否则不得好死，”玛丽对露西说。

cross sb.'s mind or pass through sb.'s mind　v. phr. To be a sudden or passing thought; be thought of by someone; come to your mind; occur to you. 掠过某人的脑际；被某人突然想到。◆ When Jane did not come home by midnight, many terrible fears passed through Mother's mind. 到了半夜简还没有回家时，母亲的脑海里闪过了许多可怕的想法。

cross sb.'s path　v. phr. To meet or encounter someone; to come upon someone more by accident than by plan.（偶然）遇见某人。◆ Surprisingly, I crossed John's path in Central Park one afternoon. 令人惊奇的是，某天下午我竟在中央公园碰上了约翰。

cross street　n. A street that crosses a main street and runs on both sides of it. 横马路；交叉路。◆ Elm Street is a cross street on Main Street and there is a traffic light there. 榆树街是一条与主街交叉的横马路，那里有一处红绿灯。

cross swords　v. phr., literary To have an argument with; fight. — Often used with with. 〖文〗争论；搏斗；较量。——常与with连用。◆ Don't argue with the teacher; you're not old enough to cross swords with her. 别跟老师争辩；跟她唇枪舌剑地较量你还太年轻。

cross the wire　v. phr. To finish a race. 越过终点线。◆ The Russian crossed the wire just behind the American. 俄罗斯选手紧跟在美国选手后面越过了终点线。

crow before one is out of the woods　v. phr. To be glad or brag before you are safe from danger or trouble. — Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb. "Don't crow before you are out of the woods." 未出险境先欢呼；未离困境先高兴。——通常用于否定句，并常用作谚语："Don't crow before you are out of the woods." ◆ John thought his team would win because the game was almost over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of the woods. 约翰觉得他的队会赢，因为比赛马上就要结束了，但他不想高兴得太早。

crowd in on or crowd in upon　v. phr. To fill the memory of someone by hearing something or looking at something.（回忆等）涌上（某人）心头。◆ Happy nostalgia for my days in Hawaii crowded in on me as I was rearranging my old photo album. 在我重新整理老相册时，对住在夏威夷时幸福生活的怀恋一起涌上我的心头。

crown jewels　n. pl. The crown, staff, and jewels used for the crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal power and authority.（代表王权的）王冠御宝。◆ The crown jewels are handed down from one king to the next when the new king is crowned. 新国王加冕时，王冠御宝便从一个国王传给另一个国王。

crumbs from the rich man's table　n. phr. the Gospel of Luke Insignificant, minor gifts received from a wealthy person. ［源出《圣经、路加福音》］（富人餐桌上的）残羹剩饭，从富人处得到的小礼物。◆ A week at the Smiths' seaside villa, after saving their daughter's life impressed John as crumbs from the rich man's table.在救了他们女儿的命之后，约翰在史密斯夫妇的海滨别墅住了一周，这留给他的印象就像吃了富人餐桌上的残羹剩饭。

crux of the matter　n. phr. The basic issue at hand; the core essence that one must face. 问题的关键；问题的症结。◆ The crux of the matter is that he is incompetent and we will have to fire him. 问题的关键是他不称职，我们不得不解雇他。

cry or scream bloody murder　v. phr. To bitterly and loudly complain against an indignity. 大声惨叫；大声惊呼；没命似的叫喊。◆ Pete cried bloody murder when he found out that he didn't get the promotion he was hoping for. 皮特发现自己没有得到企盼的提升，痛苦地大声喊叫起来。

cry buckets　v. phr. To shed an excessive amount of tears. 痛哭流涕；泪如雨下；哭得伤心。◆ Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat. 我们家的猫死了，奶奶为此哭得很伤心。

cry for or cry out for　v., informal To need badly; be lacking in. 〖非正式〗迫切需要；急需。◆ It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is crying for it. 已经两周没有下雨了，花园急需雨水。◆ The school is crying out for good teachers. 这所学校迫切需要优秀教师。

cry on sb.'s shoulder　v. phr. To find a willing listener to whom one can complain all one wants for psychological comfort. 向某人诉苦以寻求安慰。◆ "I am sorry to be crying on your shoulders, Dad," Tim said, "but I lost my job and my wife left me. I have no one else to talk to."“对不起，爸爸，我在向你诉苦了，”蒂姆说，“但我失去了工作，我的妻子又离开了我。我没有别的人可以倾诉啊。”

cry out　v. 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. 大声喊叫；大叫；尖叫。◆ The woman in the water cried out "Help!" 落水的妇女大叫“救命！”2. To complain loudly; protest strongly. — Used with against. 大声抱怨；强烈抗议。——与against连用。◆Many people are crying out against the new rule. 很多人强烈反对这项新规定。

cry over spilled milk or cry over spilt milk　v. phr., informal To cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. 〖非正式〗作无益的后悔；为无可挽回的事忧伤。◆ You have lost the game but don't cry over spilt milk. 这场比赛你们已经输了，那就不要再后悔不已了。

crystal ball　n. 1. A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass) that is used by fortune-tellers.（占卜者用的）水晶球。◆ The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year. 集市上的占卜师看着她的水晶球对我说，明年我将做一次长途旅行。2. Any means of predicting the future. 预言未来的方法。◆ My crystal ball tells me you'll be making the honor roll. 根据我的预测，你将登上优秀学生的光荣榜。

crystal gazing　n. The attempt to predict future events. 水晶球占卜；预测未来。◆ The magician's specialty was crystal gazing. 那位巫师的专长是水晶球占卜。

cry wolf　v. phr. To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there. 喊“狼来了”；发假警报。◆ The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country. 将军说，那位候选人所说军队太弱不能为国而战的话是危言耸听。

cub scout　n. A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age.（8—10岁的）幼年童子军。◆ Jimmie is only seven, too young to be a Cub Scout. 吉米才7岁，当幼年童子军还不到年龄。

cue in　v. phr., informal To add new information to that which is already known. 〖非正式〗告知新消息。◆Let's not forget to cue in Joe on what has been happening. 咱们别忘了把最近正在发生的事情告诉乔。

culture vulture　n., slang, informal A person who is an avid cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a town visited, and brags about it. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗热衷于文化观光的人；故作风雅的人。◆ My Aunt Mathilda is a regular culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European capital going to museums and operas. 我的姨妈玛蒂尔达是个十足的故作风雅者；她每年夏天都在一个不同的欧洲国家的首都度过，参观博物馆和去歌剧院看演出。

cup of tea also dish of tea　n. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Something you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation. Used with a possessive. 喜欢的东西；拿手的事情；特殊爱好；喜欢的工作。——与物主代词连用。◆ You could always get him to go for a walk: hiking was just his cup of tea. 你随时可以约他去散步：徒步旅行正是他所喜爱的。2. Something to think about; thing; matter. 要考虑的事；东西；事情。◆That's another cup of tea. 那就是另一回事了。

curb service　n. Waiting on customers while they sit in their cars. 路边服务（为停在路边坐在汽车内的顾客提供的服务）。◆ Families with small children often look for hamburger stands that offer curb service. 带小孩的家庭常寻找提供路边服务的汉堡包摊。

curdles one's milk or curdles one's blood　adj. phr. Horrible; unspeakable, repugnant. 使人感到恐怖；使人极度惊恐；使人感到厌恶。◆What the Taliban did to their women in Afghanistan curdles one's blood.塔里班在阿富汗对妇女的所作所为令人毛骨悚然。

curiosity killed the cat　informal〖非正式〗Getting too nosy may lead a person into trouble. — A proverb. 〖谚〗好奇惹祸；好奇招灾。◆ "Curiosity killed the cat," Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just before Christmas. 圣诞节即将到来之前，弗雷德的父亲发现弗雷德在壁橱里四处搜寻，于是便说：“好奇招灾。”

curl sb.'s hair　v. phr., slang To shock; frighten; horrify; amaze. 〖俚〗使某人毛骨悚然；使某人震惊；把某人吓坏。◆ Wait till you read what it says about you — this'll curl your hair. 等你读到有关你的议论时，你准会大吃一惊。

curl up　v. 1. To become curly or wavy. 卷起。◆ Bacon curls up when it is cooked. 腊肉一煮就会卷起来。2. To roll oneself into a ball. 把身子蜷作一团；蜷缩。◆ Tim curled up in bed and was asleep in five minutes. 蒂姆蜷缩在床上，5分钟后就睡着了。

curry favor　v. To flatter or serve someone to get his help or friendship. 奉承；讨好；巴结。◆ Jim tried to curry favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in the class. 吉姆竭力讨好新来的女生，对她说她是班上最漂亮的女孩。

Custer's last stand　n. phr., from American History A form of desperate resistence ending in one's extermination, as happened to the famous American officer named Custer while fighting the Indians.［源出美国史］卡斯特的最后一站（卡斯特为南北战争时战功卓著的联邦军骑兵军官，后在袭击印第安人营地时战败身亡）；以失败告终的拼死抵抗。◆ "We're all about to lose our jobs here," said Mr. Smith, the foreman; "but we figured we might as well stage a Custer's last stand before we go home."“我们都要失去这里的工作了，”工长史密斯先生说，“但我们认为在回家之前不妨再做一次拼死的抗争。”

cut a class　v. phr. To be truant; to deliberately miss a class and do something else instead. 逃学；旷一堂课。◆ "If you keep cutting classes the way you do, you will almost surely flunk this course," John's professor said to him. 教授对约翰说：“你如果继续这样旷课的话，几乎可以肯定你这门课不会及格。”

cut across　v. 1. To cross or go through instead of going around; go a short way. 抄近路穿过；对直穿过。◆ John didn't want to walk to the corner and turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street. 约翰不想走到街角再转回来，所以便抄近路穿过院子走到下一条街。2. To go beyond to include; stretch over to act on; affect. 超越；影响到。◆ The love for reading cuts across all classes of people, rich and poor. 爱好读书不分阶级贫富。

cut a deal or hammer out　v. phr. To reach an agreement after long and arduous negotiations.（经过长期艰苦的谈判）达成协议。◆ It took the airline employees four weeks to hammer out an agreement with the management. 航空公司的雇员们花了四周的时间才与资方达成了一项协议。◆ I know you're just as anxious to get down to business as I am, so let us cut a deal here and now. 我知道你和我一样急于开始办事，那就让我们此刻达到协议吧。

cut a figure　v. phr. To make a favorable impression; carry off an activity with dignity and grace. 留下好的印象；出风头。◆ With his handsome face and sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies. 凭着英俊的面孔和运动员的健美体型，哈里在所有的女士中间大出风头。

cut-and-dried　adj. phr. Decided or expected beforehand; following the same old line; doing the usual thing.事先决定的；预料中的；老一套的；常规的。◆ The decision of the judge was cut-and-dried. 法官的判决在人们的预料之中。

cut and run　v., informal To abandon an unfavorable situation. 〖非正式〗急忙离去；逃走。◆ When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to cut and run. 当咖啡的价格急剧下跌时，很多投资者都想临阵脱逃。

cut a swathe　v. phr. 1a. To mow a path through a field.（在田野）割草开路。◆ The farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his scythe. 农夫用长柄镰刀割去深草开出了一条路。1b. To cut down as if by mowing. 如割草般砍倒。◆ The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines of enemy soldiers. 那挺机枪把一排排的敌兵扫倒了。2. informal To attract notice; make an impression; seem important. 〖非正式〗惹人注目；出风头；装出了不起的样子。◆ John tries to show off and cut a big swathe with the girls. 约翰想在姑娘们面前炫耀一番出出风头。

cut back　v. 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full speed.全速前进时突然改变方向。◆ The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and ran for a touchdown. 前卫带着球先向左跑，突然又转向右边，然后跑至端线触地得分。2. To use fewer or use less. 削减，缩减。◆ The school employed forty teachers until a lower budget forced it to cut back. 该校原先聘用了40名教师，后来预算减少不得不裁员。

cut back　v. phr. (stress on back)（重读back）To diminish; lessen; decrease (said of budgets). 削减（预算）；缩减；减少。◆ The state had to cut back on the university budget. 州里不得不削减这所大学的预算。

cutback　n. (stress on cut)（重读cut）An act of decreasing monetary sources. 减少；削减。◆ The cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed. 军费开支的削减已使许多基地被关闭。

cut both ways or cut two ways　v. phr. To have two effects; cause injury to both sides. 有两种影响；对双方均造成伤害。◆ People who gossip find it cuts both ways. 散布流言飞语的人既损人又害己。

cut comers　v. phr. 1. To take a short way; not go to each corner.（不绕角走而）抄近路；走捷径。◆ He cut corners going home in a hurry.他匆匆忙忙地抄近路回家。2. To save cost or effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. 节省费用；省力；节俭；节约◆ John's father asked him to cut corners all he could in college. 约翰的父亲叫他在大学里尽量节约。3. To do less than a very good job; do only what you must do on a job. 偷工减料；只做分内事。◆He had cut corners in building his house, and it didn't stand up well.他盖房子时偷工减料，所以房子不稳固。

cut down　v. To lessen; reduce; limit. 削减；减少；限制。◆ Tom had to cut down expenses. 汤姆不得不减少开支。◆ The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking. 医生叫琼斯先生少抽烟。

cut down to size　v. phr., informal To prove that someone is not as good as he thinks. 〖非正式〗挫（某人）锐气；煞（某人）威风；使（某人）知分寸；使（某人）有自知之明。◆ The big boy told John he could beat him, but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size. 那个大男孩告诉约翰说他能打败他，但约翰是个拳击好手，很快就让他显了原形。

cut ice　v. phr., informal To make a difference; make an impression; be accepted as important. — Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. 〖非正式〗起作用；有影响；被重视。——通常用于否定句、疑问句或条件句中。◆ When Frank had found a movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with him.当弗兰克发现了一部他喜欢的电影时，别人说什么对他都毫无影响。

cut in　v. 1. To force your way into a place between others in a line of cars, people, etc.; push in. 超车抢挡；插队；挤进。◆ After passing several cars, Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident. 超了几辆车后，弗雷德很快地抢挡进来，差一点出车祸。— Often used with on. 常与on连用。◆ A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to brake quickly or she would have hit it. 一辆汽车超过琼，然后突然抢档紧插在她前面；她只得赶快刹车，否则就要撞上它了。2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. 打断；插嘴。◆ While we were watching the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who won the election. 我们在看夜间节目时，一位节目报告员插进来宣布谁赢得了竞选。3. informal To tap a dancer on the shoulder and claim the partner. 〖非正式〗轻拍跳舞者肩膀要求与其舞伴跳舞；截舞。◆ Mary was a good dancer and a boy could seldom finish a dance with her; someone always cut in. 玛丽跳舞跳得很好，一个男生很难与她跳完一曲，因为一直有人截舞。— Often used with on. ——常与on连用。◆ At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she wanted to dance with Sally's handsome date. 在闰年舞会上，简夺了萨莉的舞伴，因为她想同萨莉英俊的约会男友跳舞。4. To connect to an electrical circuit or to a machine. 接通电路（或机器）。◆Harry threw the switch and cut in the motor. 哈里扳动开关发动了马达。5. informal To take in; include. 〖非正式〗让…加入；把…包括在内。◆When John's friends got a big contract, they cut John in. 约翰的朋友们拿到一份大合同时，总让约翰一起分享。

cut into　v. 1. To make less; reduce. 减少；削减。◆ The union made the company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits. 工会要公司增加工资，这就减少了利润◆ At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in and cut into his lead. 最初史密斯在选票上领先，但更多的选票进来后削弱了他的领先地位。2. To get into by cutting in. 插嘴打断；插入。◆ While Bill was passing another car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and Bill cut back into line quickly. 当比尔要超越另一辆汽车时，一辆卡车从转弯处迎面朝他开过来，比尔又迅速插回到原来的行列中。

cut it out　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗 See见LET ALONE.

cut loose　v. 1. To free from ties or connections, cut the fastenings of.摆脱束缚（或联系）；割断；砍断。◆The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its anchor. 小偷匆忙砍断了船上的锚缆。2. informal To break away from control; get away and be free.〖非正式〗摆脱控制；获得自由。◆ The boy left home and cut loose from his parents' control. 那男孩离家出走，摆脱了父母的控制。3. informal To behave freely or wildly. 〖非正式〗自由行动；尽情作乐；举止放纵；胡闹。◆The men had come to the convention to have a good time, and they really cut loose. 那些人来开会就是为了好好玩一下，而他们也真的很放纵。

cut off　v. 1. To separate or block.使分离；切断；阻断。◆ The flood cut the townspeople off from the rest of the world. 洪水把城镇居民与外界隔绝了开来。◆ The woods cut off the view. 树林挡住了视线。2. To interrupt or stop. 打断；使停止。◆ The television show was cut off by a special news report. 电视节目被一特别的新闻报道所打断。◆ We were told to pay the bill or the water would be cut off. 我们被告知要付水费，否则就会断水。3. To end the life of; cause the death of. 结束…的生命；使死亡。◆ Disease cut Smith off in the best part of life. 史密斯在风华正茂时被疾病夺去了生命。4. To give nothing to at death; leave out of a will. 死时没给…遗产；未将…列入遗嘱。◆Jane married a man her father hated, and her father cut her off. 简嫁了一个她父亲不喜欢的男人，因此她父亲死时什么也没留给她。5. To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. 使停止运转；关上开关。◆ The ship cut off its engines as it neared the dock. 轮船靠近码头时关掉了它的引擎。

cut off one's nose to spite one's face　v. phr. To suffer from an action intended originally to harm another person. 害人反害己。◆ In walking out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him afterwards. 约翰突然离去使他的雇主陷入困境，他这样做其实是害人反害己，因为以后再也不没有什么企业想雇用他了。

cut-offs　n., colloquial (stress on cut)（重读cut）Pants cut to the length of shorts and usually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e. g., considered cool and elegant.〖口〗（在膝盖上方剪去裤管而成的）毛边短裤。◆ Jack always wears cutoffs during the summer. 整个夏天杰克总是穿着毛边短裤。

cut one's losses　v. phr. To stop spending time, money, or energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. 趁损失不大马上住手；采取措施减少损失。◆ "Just cut your losses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get on with the rest of your life."“趁损失不大马上住手吧，吉姆，”他的父亲建议说，“然后在你的余生再继续干。”

cut one's throat　v. phr. informal To spoil one's chances; ruin a person.〖非正式〗断送…的机会（或前程）；自己害自己；自取灭亡；毁了某人。◆ He cut his own throat by his carelessness. 他因粗心大意而断送了自己的前程。

Cut out^1　v., slang 〖俚〗1. To stop;quit. 停止；放弃；戒除。◆ All right, now — let's cut out the talking. 好吧——那咱们就不要再闲聊了吧。◆He was teasing the dog and Joe told him to cut it out. 他在逗弄那条狗，乔让他停下来。2. To displace in favor.取代；击败；胜过。◆ John cut out two or three other men in trying for a better job. 约翰击败了两三个人，争取到一个更好的工作。

cut out^2　adj. 1. Made ready; given for action; facing. 准备好的；计划好行动的；面对…的。◆ Mary agreed to stay with her teacher's children all day; she did not know what was cut out for her. 玛丽同意全天陪着老师的孩子；但她不知道该要做些什么。—Often used in the phrase have one's work cut out for one. 常用于短语have one's work cut out for one（面临艰巨的工作；有许多工作要做）中。◆If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he has his work cut out for him. 如果帕金斯先生想成为一名参议员，他面临的困难还多着呢。2. Suited to; fitted for. 生来适合于；生来与…相配◆ Warren seemed to be cut out for the law. 华伦似乎生来就适合当律师。

cut out the dead wood　v. phr. To remove useless parts, personnel, or methods. 删去无用的部分；裁减无用的人员；废弃无用的方法。◆ Our business will probably start to show a quarterly profit, if we can just get rid of some dead wood. 只要我们能裁掉一些无用的人员，我们的生意便有望实现季度利润。

cut rate^1　n. A lower price; a price less than usual. 削价；减价。◆ Toys are on sale at the store for cut rates.这家商店的玩具在削价销售。

cut-rate^2　adj. Sold for a price lower than usual; selling cheap things. 削价出售的；卖减价货的。◆ If you buy cut-rate things, be sure they are good quality first. 如果你买削价商品，首先要确定它们是优质货。

cut short　v. To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too soon. 突然中止；突然打断；突然结束；过早结束。◆ Rain cut short the ball game.下雨中止了球赛。◆ An auto accident cut short the man's life. 车祸突然结束了那个人的生命。

cut some slack　v. phr., from sportfishing Give someone more freedom or more room to maneuver.（源出垂钓）给（某人）更多的自由；给（某人）更多的活动空间。◆ "Cut me some slack, you guys!" John emphatically urged his colleagues. "I am suffocating under such close supervision."“多给我一点活动空间吧，伙计们，”约翰以强调的口吻恳求他的同事们。“在这样严密的监督下我快要闷死了。”

cut teeth　v. phr. To have teeth grow out through the gums. 出牙；长牙。◆ The baby was cross because he was cutting teeth. 那小孩子因出牙难受而脾气很坏。

cut the cord　v. phr., informal, with reference to the umbilical cord at birth To separate from a source of security. 〖非正式〗剪断脐带；离家独立。◆ "Well, Johnny finally did it. He left home and took an apartment in the city. He finally cut the cord."“好哇，约翰尼终于走出了这一步。他离开了家，在市里租了一套公寓房间。他终于独立生活了。”

cut the ground from under　v. phr. informal To make (someone) fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for (a person) in advance. 〖非正式〗使（某人）失败；挫败（某人）的计划；驳倒（某人）的论点。◆ Paul wanted to be captain but we cut the ground from under him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team. 保罗想当队长，但我们都说亨利是全队最优秀的队员，从而使他未能得逞。◆ Several workers applied for the retiring foreman's job, but the owner cut the ground from under them by hiring a foreman from another company. 好几名工人申请工头即将退休后留出的空缺，但厂主却从另一家公司雇佣了一名工头而使他们的希望落空。

cut the mustard　v. phr., slang To do well enough in what needs to be done; to succeed. 〖俚〗符合要求；作出成绩；获得成功。◆ His older brothers and sisters helped Max through high school, but he couldn't cut the mustard in college. 马克斯的哥哥们和姐姐们帮他读完了中学，但他在大学里却总是考不及格。

cut-throat　adj. Severe; intense; unrelenting. 严酷的；剧烈的；残酷无情的。◆ There is cut-throat competition among the various software companies today. 在今天，各种软件公司之间存在着激烈的竞争。

cut to pieces　v. phr. 1. To divide into small parts with something sharp; cut badly or completely. 切（或剪）成碎片；切（或剪、割）坏；切（或剪、割）断。◆ Baby has cut the newspaper to pieces with scissors. 小孩子用剪刀把报纸剪成了碎片。2. To destroy or defeat completely. 完全摧毁；彻底打败。◆ When Dick showed his book report to his big sister for correction, she cut it to pieces. 迪克把读书报告拿给姐姐修改，结果被她改得面目全非。

cut to the bone　v. phr. To make (something) the least or smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything extra or unnecessary from. 把…减到最低限度；大大减少；彻底取消。◆ Father cut Jane's allowance to the bone for disobeying him. 父亲因简不听他的话而大大减少了给她的零用钱。◆ When father lost his job, our living expenses had to be cut to the bone. 父亲失业后，我们的生活费只得降到最低限度。

cut to the quick　v. phr. To hurt someone's feelings deeply. 深深伤害（某人）的感情。◆ The children's teasing cut Mary to the quick. 孩子们的取笑深深刺伤了玛丽的心。

cut up　v. 1. informal To hurt the feelings of; wound. — Usually used in the passive. 〖非正式〗伤害（某人）的感情；使伤心；使痛苦。——通常用于被动语态。◆ John was badly cut up when Susie gave him back his ring. 苏茜把戒指还给约翰时，约翰的感情深受伤害。2. slang To act funny or rough; clown. 〖俚〗举止可笑；行为粗野；扮小丑；开玩笑。◆ Joe would always cut up if there were any girls watching. 只要有女孩子在旁观看，乔总会扮小丑。

cut your coat according to your cloth Often heard as advice given when one tries to live beyond one's means. To spend no more than what you can afford. — A proverb. 〖谚〗看布裁衣；量入为出。◆ When John came home for the fifth time the same semester asking for extra money, his father said, "You should really have enough. Cut your coat according to your cloth." 当约翰在同一个学期第5次回家来要钱时，他的父亲说：“你的钱应该足够了。你应量入为出才对。”

cybercrime　n. phr. A new kind of crime that came in with the general availability of the personal computer; such as breaking into a bank or stealing someone's identity together with their credit card numbers, etc. 虚拟犯罪。◆ "My brother Sam, whom I used to envy for his knowledge of computers, is doing fifteen years in jail for committing a major cybercrime."“我过去一直很羡慕我兄弟萨姆的电脑知识，但他现在却因一项严重的虚拟犯罪而坐牢15年。”

◆D◆

daily dozen　n., informal Gymnastic exercises; especially, several different exercises done daily. 〖非正式〗（每天做的）健身操。◆ The boys did their daily dozen early each morning. 男孩子们每天清晨都做健身操。

damned it one does, damned if one doesn't　adj. phr. No matter what one does, someone is likely to criticize one. 做了挨骂，不做也挨骂；不管做什么总有人骂。◆ No matter what decisions I make, there are always some people who will approve them and those who won't. It is a classical case of "damned if I do, damned if I don't." 不管我作什么决定，总有些人赞成，有些人不赞成。这是一个“做与不做都要挨骂”的典型例子。

damn with faint praise　v. phr. To express one's dislike or scorn for a piece of writing, music, scholarship, or art, by not saying anything directly against it, but praising it in such general terms that amount to condemnation. 对…冷漠地表示赞许，其实旨在贬低；明褒实贬。◆ When it comes to Milton scholarship, Stanley Fish is a master of damning the work of his colleagues with faint praise. 谈到弥尔顿学者们的学术成就，斯坦利·菲什堪称对其同行们的成果明褒实贬的大师。

dance around　v. phr. To avoid coming to grips with something. 避免认真处理；拖延。◆ The divorcing couple danced around the issue of child custody for several months before they were able to come to an amicable arrangement. 那对离婚的夫妻就孩子的监护问题拖了好几个月才达成了一项不伤和气的协议。

dance to another tune　v. phr. To talk or act differently, usually better because things have changed; be more polite or obedient because you are forced to do it.（由于情况变化而）改变论调；改变态度；改变行动；改弦易辙。◆ Johnny refused to do his homework but punishment made him dance to another tune. 约翰尼不肯做家庭作业，但处罚使他改变了态度。

dare say　v. phr. To think probable; suppose; believe. — Used in first person.（我想）可能；（我）以为；（我）相信——用于第一人称。◆ There is no more ice cream on the table, but I dare say we can find some in the kitchen. 桌子上已经没有冰淇淋了，但或许我们可以在厨房里找到一些。

dare someone to do something　v. phr. To challenge someone to do something. 挑战某人做某事；激某人做某事。◆ "I dare you to jump off that rock into the sea," Fred said to Jack.“我量你也不敢从那块岩石上跳入海中，”弗雷德对杰克说。

Dark Continent　n. phr., old-fashioned, avoidable The continent of Africa. 〖旧〗〖忌〗黑暗大陆（指早期大部尚未开发因而带有神秘性的非洲大陆）。◆ In the nineteenth century British and other European explorers used to refer to Africa as the "Dark Continent." 在19世纪英国和其他欧洲国家的探险者往往把非洲称作“黑暗大陆”。

dark horse　n., informal A political candidate little known to the general voting public; a candidate who was not expected to run. 〖非正式〗黑马（鲜为人知的候选人；出人意料被提名的候选人）。◆ Every once in a while a dark horse candidate gets elected president. 每隔一段时间便有一位黑马候选人当选为总统。

dark of the moon　n. phr., literary A time when the moon is not shining or cannot be seen. 〖文〗月黑之时；月黑夜。◆ It was the dark of the moon when the scouts reached camp and they had to use flashlights to find their tents. 童子军到达营地时正是月黑夜，他们只好打着手电筒找他们的帐篷。

dash light　n. A light on the front inside of a car or vehicle.（驾驶座前的）仪表板灯。◆ Henry stopped the car and turned on the dash lights to read the road map. 亨利停下车，打开座前的仪表板灯查看公路交通图。

dash off　v. To make, do, or finish quickly; especially, to draw, paint, or write hurriedly. 迅速完成；匆匆画出；匆匆写成。◆ John can dash off several letters while Mary writes only one. 玛丽写一封信的时间，约翰可以写好几封。◆ Charles had forgotten to write his English report and dashed it off just before class. 查尔斯忘记了写英文报告，上课前才匆匆赶出来。

date back　v. phr. To go back to a given period in the past. 追溯。◆ My ancestors date back to the sixteenth century. 我的祖先可追溯到16世纪。

dawdle away　v. phr. To waste time, etc. 浪费（时间等）。◆ Jane dawdled the whole day away trying to polish the tarnished old silverware she inherited from her grandmother. 简试图擦亮她从祖母那儿继承来的已失去光泽的旧银器，浪费了整整一天的时间。

dawn on　v. To become clear to. 被…理解；被…领悟。◆ It dawned on Fred that he would fail the course if he did not study harder. 弗雷德开始明白，如不更加刻苦地学习，他这门课就会不及格。

day and night or night and day　adv. 1. For days without stopping; continually. 日日夜夜；夜以继日。◆Some filling stations on great highways are open day and night 365 days a year. 主要公路上的一些加油站一年365天日夜营业。2. Every day and every evening. 每日每夜。◆The girl knitted day and night to finish the sweater before her mother's birthday. 女孩日夜编织，以便在母亲生日之前织完套衫。

day by day　adv. Gradually. 一天天地；逐日。◆ The patient got better day by day. 病人一天天地好起来了。

daydream　v. To spend time in reverie; be absentminded during the day. 做白日梦；幻想，空想。◆ John spends so much time daydreaming that he never gets anything done. 约翰花费那么多时间空想，所以从来没有做成过任何事。

day in and day out or day in, day out　adv. phr. Regularly; consistently; all the time; always. 日复一日；经常地；始终一贯地。◆ He plays good tennis day in and day out. 他的网球一直打得很好。— Also used with several other time words in place of day: week, month, year. 亦可用week, month, year等表示时间的词代替day. ◆ Every summer, year in, year out, the ice cream man comes back to the park. 年复一年，每到夏天，那个卖冰淇淋的人就回到公园里来。

day in court　n. phr. A chance to be heard; an impartial hearing; a chance to explain what one has done. 申诉的机会；公正的审讯；解释的机会。◆ The letters from the faculty members to the dean gave Professor Smith his day in court. 教员们写给系主任的信给了史密斯教授一个解释的机会。

daylight robbery　See见HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

daylight saving time also daylight saving or daylight time or fast time　n. A way of keeping time in summer that is one or two hours ahead of standard time. — Abbreviation DST. 日光节约时间；夏令时间（夏季将标准时间提早1—2小时的计时方法）。——缩写DST。◆ Father said that next week it will get dark later because we will change to daylight saving time. 父亲说下周天要黑得晚一些，因为我们要改夏时制了。◆ We go off daylight saving in the fall. 夏令时间于秋季停止使用。

day off　n. A day on which one doesn't have to work, not necessarily the weekend. 不上班的一天；不干活的一天；休假日。◆ Monday is his day off in the restaurant, because he prefers to work on Saturdays and Sundays. 星期一是他餐馆工作的休息日，因为他宁愿在星期六和星期天上班。

day of grace　n. phr. An extension period after the due date of some contract or bond.（合同、票据到期后的）宽限日，宽限期。◆ The premium is due on the first of each month, but they allow ten days of grace. 每月一号要付保险费，但他们允许有10天的宽限。

day of reckoning　n. phr. 1. A time when one will be made to account for misdeeds. 报应到来的日子。◆ When the criminal was caught and brought to trial his victims said, "finally, the day of reckoning has come." 当罪犯被捉并送法院审理时，他的受害者们说：“报应的日子终于来了。”2. A time when one's will and judgment are severely tested. 意志和判断力受考验的时刻。◆ "You always wanted to run the department," the dean said to Professor Smith. "Now here is your chance; this is your day of reckoning."“你一直想管理这个系，”院长对史密斯教授说。“现在你的机会来了，这是你经受考验的时刻。”

days are numbered　(Someone or some-thing) does not have long to live or stay.（人）死期不远，行将就木；（物）即将毁坏。◆ When a man becomes ninety years old, his days are numbered. 一个人活到90岁就来日无多了。

day-to-day　adj. Daily; common; everyday. 每天的；普通的；日常的。◆For best results, students' homework should be checked on a day-to-day basis. 为取得最佳效果，学生的家庭作业应每天进行检查。

dead ahead　adv., informal Exactly in front; before. 〖非正式〗正前方；在前面。◆ Jim was driving in a fog, and suddenly he saw another car dead ahead of him. 吉姆在雾中驾车，突然看到另一辆车就在他前面。

dead and buried　adj. phr. Gone forever. 早已不存在的；早已过时的。◆ Slavery is dead and buried in twentieth-century America. 奴隶制在20世纪的美国已不复存在。

dead and done with　adj. phr. Obsolete; irrelevant; no longer considered important. 废弃的；过时的；不相干的；不再重要的。◆ "What about the Smith family estate?" the new bank employee asked. "That's been dead and done with for quite some time," the vice president answered. 新来的银行职员问：“史密斯家的地产怎么样啦？”副总裁回答说：“那早已是过去的事了。”

dead and gone　adj. phr. Said of persons who have vanished without a trace. 早已死了，早已过世。◆ "What ever happened to the Millers?" the young journalist inquired. "I am trying to write about famous people in your town." "All dead and gone," the sheriff answered. "You're wasting your time."“米勒家的人怎么样啦？”年轻的记者问。“我想写一写你们镇上的名人。”“他们早都死光了，”镇治安官回答说。“你是在浪费时间。”

dead as a doornail　adj. phr. Completely dead without the slightest hope of resuscitation. 完全死了的；确实死了的。◆ This battery is dead as a doornail; no wonder your car won't start. 蓄电池一点电也没有了；难怪你的汽车发动不起来。

deadbeat　1. n., slang A person who never pays his debts and who has a way of getting things free that others have to pay for. 〖俚〗赖账不还的人，买东西不付钱的人。◆ You'll never collect from Joe — he's a deadbeat. 你休想从乔那儿收回借款——他是个赖账不还的人。2. dead beat adj. phr. Totally exhausted. 筋疲力尽的。◆ I feel dead beat all day after yawning through three boring meetings. 哈欠连连地开完3个令人厌倦的会议之后，我一整天都感到疲惫不堪。

dead but he won't lie down or dead man who won't lie down　n. phr. Someone whose prime time has been over for quite a while, but who nevertheless, ignorantly, keeps speaking up and making irrelevant remarks as a sign of his stupidity. 不认输的老顽固。◆ That old gentleman next door, who still believes that the sun is circling the earth, is a dead man who won't lie down. 隔壁那位老先生仍然相信是太阳绕着地球转，他真是个老顽固。

dead center　n. The exact middle. 正中间；正中央。◆ The treasure was buried in the dead center of the island. 宝藏埋在岛的正中央。Often used like an adverb. 常用作副词。◆The arrow hit the circle dead center. 箭正中靶心。

dead duck　n., slang A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. 〖俚〗注定要完蛋的人（或事物）；厄运临头之人。◆ When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck. 当那位女钢琴家折断手臂时，她便陷入了绝境。

dead end　n. phr. A hopeless situation, from which one is unable to advance. 绝境，僵局，死胡同。◆ That job in Podunk, Missouri, where he works as a short-order cook, is a dead end for my poor cousin Joe. 我可怜的表弟乔在密苏里州一个无名小镇做快餐厨师，这份工作对他来说是个没出路的死胡同。

dead-end　v. phr. To end in an obstacle, to be blocked off. 到达尽头，终止。◆ MacLaren Lane in Lake Bluff dead-ends in a meadow full of weeds. 布拉夫湖区的麦克拉伦小路的尽头是一片长满了野草的水草地。

dead-end　n. A street closed at one end; a situation that leads nowhere. 死胡同；绝境，僵局。◆ Jim drove into a dead-end street and had to back out. 吉姆开车进了一条死胡同，只得再倒回去。◆ Mary was in a dead-end job. 玛丽干着一份没有前途的工作。

dead-end　v. To not continue normally but end in a closure (said of streets).（街道）到达尽头；终止。◆Our street dead-ends on the lake. 我们这条街的尽头是湖。

deadhead　n., slang An excessively dull or boring person. 〖俚〗大笨蛋；令人厌倦的人。◆ You'll never get John to tell a joke — he's a deadhead. 你休想让约翰说个笑话——他是个大笨蛋。

dead letter　n. phr. An undeliverable letter that ends up in a special office holding such letters. 死信，无法投递的信。◆ There is a dead letter office in most major cities. 在大多数大城市里都有一个死信科。

deadline　n. A final date by which a project, such as a term paper, is due. 最后期限；截止日期。◆ The deadline for the papers on Shakespeare in November 10. 交莎士比亚论文的最后期限是11月10日。

dead loss　n. phr. A total waste; a complete loss. 纯损；净亏。◆ Our investment in Jack's company turned out to be a dead loss. 我们在杰克公司的投资结果是净亏。

dead on one's feet　adv. phr., informal Very tired but still standing or walking; too tired to do more; exhausted. 〖非正式〗累得做不动的；筋疲力尽的。◆ After the soldiers march all night, they are dead on their feet. 士兵们经过一整夜的行军都累得走不动了。

deadpan　adj., adv., slang With an expressionless or emotionless face; without betraying any hint of emotion. 〖俚〗面无表情的（地）；不带感情的（地）；不动声色的（地）。◆ She received the news of her husband's death deadpan. 她得到丈夫去世的消息时面部毫无表情。

dead pedal　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon A slow moving vehicle. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗移动缓慢的车辆。◆Better pass that eighteen wheeler, Jack; it's a dead pedal. 你最好超过那辆18轮大卡车，杰克，那是辆慢腾腾的死车。

dead ringer　n. phr. A person who strongly resembles someone else. 酷似某人的人。◆ Charlie is a dead ringer for his uncle. 查理跟他叔叔长得一模一样。

dead set against　adj. phr. Totally opposed to someone or something. 坚决反对…的。◆ Jack is dead set against the idea of marriage, which upsets Mary. 杰克坚决反对结婚的想法，这使玛丽很苦恼。

dead tired　adj. phr., informal Very tired; exhausted; worn out. 〖非正式〗累得要死的；疲惫不堪的；精疲力竭的。◆ She was dead tired at the end of the day's work. 一天的工作干下来她累得要死。

dead to the world　adj. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Fast asleep. 沉睡，酣睡。◆ Tim. went to bed very late and was still dead to the world at 10 o'clock this morning. 蒂姆很晚才睡觉，今天上午10点的时候还在呼呼大睡。2. As if dead; unconscious. 昏死；不省人事。◆ Tom was hit on the head by a baseball and was dead to the world for two hours. 汤姆的头部被棒球击中，昏迷了两个小时。

deal in　v. phr. To sell; do business in a certain commodity. 经营，做…买卖。◆ Herb's firm deals in sporting goods. 赫布的公司经营体育用品。

deal with　v. phr. 1. To conduct negotiations or business dealings with. 与…洽商；与…有生意来往。◆ John refuses to deal with　the firm of Brown and Miller. 约翰拒绝与布朗-米勒公司做生意。2. To handle a problem. 处理（问题）。◆ Ted is a very strong person and dealt with the fact that his wife had left him much better than anyone else I know. 泰德是个很坚强的人，对于妻子抛弃了他这一事实他处理得比我认识的任何人都好得多。

Dear John letter　n. phr. A note or a letter informing one that a romantic relationship or a marriage is over.（宣布结束恋爱或婚姻关系的）绝情信；绝交信。◆ Jane left a "Dear John letter" on the table and went home to live with her parents. 简在桌子上留下一封绝情信便回家与父母同住了。

dear me　interj. Used to show surprise, fear, or some other strong feeling.（用以表示惊讶、恐惧或其他强烈感情）哎呀；啊。◆ Dear me! My purse is lost, what shall I do now? 哎呀！我的钱包掉了，我现在该怎么办呀？

death knell　n. formal 〖正式〗1. The ringing of a bell at a death or funeral. 丧钟（声）。◆ The people mourned at the death knell of their friend. 人们听到朋友的丧钟时都很悲伤。2. literary Something which shows a future failure. 〖文〗预示未来失败的东西；丧钟；事物完结的信号。◆ His sudden deafness was the death knell of his hope to become president. 他的突然失聪使他想当总统的希望落了空。

decked out　adj. phr., informal Dressed in fancy clothes; specially decorated for some festive occasion. 〖非正式〗打扮得漂亮；装饰。◆ The school band was decked out in bright red uniforms with brass buttons. 学校乐队的成员都穿上了鲜艳的、配有黄铜纽扣的红制服。◆ Main Street was decked with flags for the Fourth of July. 大街上挂满了庆祝“七四”（美国国庆）的彩旗。

deep-six　v., slang To throw away; dispose of. 〖俚〗扔掉；处理。◆ As the police boat came near, the drug smugglers deep-sixed their cargo. 警船驶近时，毒品走私者扔掉了他们的货物。

deep water　n. Serious trouble or difficulty. 困境；困难。◆ When Dad tried to take Mom's place for a day, he found himself in deep water. 爸爸试着代替妈妈之职干了一天，发现自己深陷种种麻烦之中。

defer to　v. phr. Show respect toward someone, or to yield to someone else's wishes. 尊重；遵从，服从。◆On the question of war or appeasement, we had better defer to the president and his close associates. 在发动战争还是采取姑息政策的问题上，我们最好还是尊重总统及其亲密伙伴们的决策。

deliver the goods　v. phr. 1. To carry things and give them to the person who wants them. 送货。◆ Lee delivered the goods to the right house. 李把货物送到了购买人的家中。2. slang To succeed in doing well what is expected. 〖俚〗不负所望。◆ This personal computer surely delivers the goods. 这台个人电脑确实挺好用。

delta wave　n., informal, semi-tech-nical A brain wave 1-3 cycles per second, associated with very deep sleep. 〖非正式〗〖半科技〗（脑电图的）δ波（每秒1—3周的一种脑波，与最熟睡眠状态有关）。◆ Good night, honey, I'm off to produce some delta waves. 晚安，亲爱的，我要去好好睡一觉了。

Dennis the Menace　n. phr. After the notorious comic strip character of a young boy who always creates trouble for the grownups. Any hyperactive little boy who needs calming down. 讨厌鬼丹尼斯（原为电视剧中一男孩扮演的角色，调皮捣蛋，专给大人添乱。现喻指过分活跃的多动症男孩）。◆ "Your son, Joey, is becoming a regular 'Dennis the Menace'," Jane said to Elvira.“你的儿子乔伊正在变成一个不折不扣的讨厌鬼，”简对埃尔维拉说。

devil incarnate　n. phr. A person who is totally devoid of a human conscience, who can commit any heinous crime without the least regret. 魔鬼的化身。◆ Adolf Hitler was a perfect example of what one calls "the devil incarnate." 阿道夫·希特勒是所谓“魔鬼化身”的最好例子。

devil-may-care　adj. Not caring what happens; unworried. 不在意的；无忧无虑的。◆ Johnny has a devil-may-care feeling about his school work. 约翰尼对他的学业毫不在意。

devil-may-care attitude　n. phr. An attitude of no concern for financial or other loss. 不在乎的态度；漫不经心的态度。◆ "Easy come, easy go," John said in a devil-may-care attitude when he lost all of his money during a poker game. 约翰玩扑克牌输光了钱，他却以一种满不在乎的态度说：“钱这东西，来得容易去得快。”

devil of it or heck of it　n. phr. 1. The worst or most unlucky thing about a trouble or accident; the part that is most regrettable. 最糟糕的事；最不幸的事；最令人悔恨的部分。◆When I had a flat tire, the devil of it was that my spare tire was flat too. 我的一个车胎爆了，最糟糕的是我的备用车胎也爆了。2. Fun from doing mischief. — Used after for. 闹着玩。——用于for之后。◆ The boys carried away Miss White's front gate just for the devil of it. 男孩子们搬走了怀特小姐的前门纯粹是瞎胡闹。

devil to pay　n. phr. Great trouble. — Used after the. 大麻烦。——用于the之后。◆ There'll be the devil to pay when the teacher finds out who broke the window. 当老师查出是谁打破了玻璃时，麻烦就大了。

diamond cuts diamond　Just as the hardest stone, a diamond, can be cut only with another diamond, it takes an extraordinary person to have an effect on another of similar qualities. — A proverb. 〖谚〗旗鼓相当；势均力敌。◆ The physicist Niels Bohr alone was able to exert major influence on Albert Einstein's thinking, but that's understandable — diamond cuts diamond. 仅物理学家尼尔斯·玻尔一人能对阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦的思想产生重大影响，但这也是可以理解的——因为他们旗鼓相当，都是智慧超群之人。

diamond in the rough　n. phr. A very smart person without a formal education who may have untutored manners. 未经琢磨的钻石；外粗内秀的人。◆ Jack never went to school but he is extremely talented; he is a veritable diamond in the rough. 杰克从未进过学校但极富天才；他是一个名符其实的外粗内秀之人。

die away or die down　v. To come slowly to an end; grow slowly less or weaker. 慢慢停止；慢慢消失；慢慢变弱。◆ The wind died down. 风渐渐停息了。◆ His mother's anger died away. 他母亲的怒气慢慢平息下去了。

die for　v. phr. Almost irresistibly, very strongly to wish or yearn for something. 渴望，极想。◆ "I am dying for a glass of cold water," the man lost in the desert said.“我极想喝一杯冷水，”那个在沙漠里迷路的人说。

die hard　v. phr (stress on hard)（重读hard）To be slow to cease; slow to go out of fashion. 难改掉，难消灭；顽固得很。◆ Old beliefs and superstitions die hard. 旧的信仰和迷信很难改掉。◆ Racism and segregation in the South of the United States died hard. 美国南部的种族主义和种族隔离顽固得很。

diehard　adj. phr. (Stress on die)（重读die）1. (of objects, tools, instruments, etc. ) Possessing the ability to withstand extended use and depletion of energy.（物件、工具、器械等）经久耐用的；节能的。◆ If you want your flashlight to work for several weeks, you had better get some diehard batteries. 你如果想要手电筒能用上数周，最好买一些节能电池。2. (of people) A staunch adherer to a religion, a political view, or some set of values.（人）顽固的，死硬的。◆Nick is a diehard Roman Catholic and a registered Republican voter besides, but his younger brother Pete is a diehard agnostic and a libertarian. 尼克是一位顽固的天主教徒，而且是名已登记的共和党选民，而他的弟弟皮特却是一位顽固的不可知论者和自由论者。

die in harness　v. phr. To die while one is at work. 在工作时死去；在任职期间死去。◆ The 90-year-old novelist was sitting at his desk typing when he died of a sudden heart attack. He was a most dedicated worker, who died in harness. 那位90岁的小说家坐在书桌前打字时，突发心脏病而去世。他是一位很有献身精神的作家，在工作时死去。

die in one's boots or die with one's boots on　v. phr., informal To be killed or hanged rather than die in bed. 〖非正式〗死于非命；横死；被绞死。◆ The badmen of the Old West usually died in their boots. 老西部的亡命之徒通常都不得善终。

die in the last ditch　v. phr. To die while fighting to the very last minute as if defending a besieged castle or the like. 奋战至死；奋战到底。◆ The evil dictator was hoping that his special guard would die in the last ditch for him, but most of them defected. 那个邪恶的独裁者希望他的特别卫队能为了他而奋战至死，但他们大都逃跑了。

die is cast　v. phr., literary To make an irrevocable decision. 〖文〗木已成舟；事已定局，不容改变。◆ Everything was ready for the invasion of Europe, the die had been cast, and there was no turning back now. 为入侵欧洲已做好了一切准备，事已定局，不可能再改变了。

die off　v. To die one at a time. 相继死去。◆ The flowers are dying off because there has been no rain. 因久旱无雨，花儿正一朵朵地死去。

die on the vine or wither on the vine　v. phr. To fail or collapse in the planning stages. 中途夭折。◆ The program for rebuilding the city died on the vine. 重建该市的计划中途夭折了。

die out　v. To die or disappear slowly until all gone. 逐渐灭绝；逐渐消失。◆ This kind of bird is dying out. 这种鸟正濒临灭绝。

different strokes for different folks　Everyone has different interests and tastes and should therefore be treated accordingly. — A proverb. 〖谚〗萝卜青菜各有所爱；对不同的人要用不同的办法。◆ A crying baby needs to be changed and a pacifier put in his mouth, but a complaining teenager needs some intelligent advice. After all it is "different strokes for different folks." 哭的婴儿需要换尿布，并往他嘴里放个橡皮奶头，但抱怨的青少年却需要一些明智的忠告。毕竟“对不同的人要用不同的办法”。

dig down　v., slang To spend your own money. 〖俚〗自掏腰包。◆ "So you broke Mrs. Brown's window ?" Tom's father said. "You'll have to dig down and pay for it."“这么说是你打破了布朗太太的窗子？”汤姆的父亲说。“那你就自己掏腰包赔偿吧。”

dig in　v., informal 〖非正式〗1. To dig ditches for protection against an enemy attack. 挖掩体防守；掘壕固守。◆ The soldiers dug in and waited for the enemy to come. 士兵们挖好掩体，等待着敌人到来。2a. To go seriously to work; work hard. 认真努力地开始工作；努力工作。◆ John dug in and finished his homework very quickly. 约翰努力工作，很快就完成了作业。2b. To begin eating. 开始吃。◆Mother set the food on the table and told the children to dig in. 母亲把食物放上餐桌，叫孩子们开始吃。

dig one's heels in or dig one's toes in　v. phr. To offer strong resistance; to refuse changing one's mind under the influence of another. 顽强抵抗；坚持自己的立场。◆ The dean tried to persuade Professor Doolittle to retire, but he dug his heels in and refused to listen to reason. 院长极力劝说杜利特尔教授退休，但他固执己见，拒不听从劝告。

dig out　v. 1. To find by searching; bring out (something) that was put away. 找出；发现；查明。◆ The newspaper printed an old story dug out of their records. 这家报纸刊登了一篇从档案中找出来的老报道。2. informal To escape. — Usually used with of. Often used in the phrase dig oneself out of a hole. 〖非正式〗逃走。——通常与of连用。常用于短语dig oneself out of a hole中。◆ The pitcher dug himself out of a hole by striking the batter out. 投手使击球手三击不中出局从而使自己摆脱了困境。

dig up　v., informal To find or get (something) with some effort.〖非正式〗找出；发现。◆ Sue dug up some useful material for her English composition. 苏为她的英语作文找到了一些有用的材料。◆ Jim asked each boy to dig up twenty-five cents to pay for the hot dogs and soda. 吉姆叫每个男孩设法弄到25美分买热狗和汽水。

dime a dozen　adj. phr., informal Easy to get and so of little value; being an everyday thing because there are many of them; common. 〖非正式〗因太多而不值钱的；不稀罕的；普通的。◆ Mr. Jones gives A's to only one or two students, but in Mr. Smith's class, A's are a dime a dozen. 琼斯先生只给一两名学生打优，而在史密斯先生的班上优则多得很。

dim out　v. phr. To become gradually darker either by deliberately fading the lights or because of a partial power failure known as a "brownout." 变暗淡。◆ The lights dimmed out in the theater as the new act began. 新的一幕开始时，剧院里的灯光暗了下来。◆ All over Los Angeles the lights dimmed out for an hour during California's electric power shortage. 加州电力不足时，整个洛杉矶的灯光都暗淡了1小时。

dine out　v. phr. To not eat at home but to go to a restaurant. 外出吃饭。◆ "Let's dine out tonight, honey," she said to her husband. "I am tired of cooking dinner every night."“亲爱的，咱们今晚去餐馆吃饭吧，”她对丈夫说。“每天晚上烧饭我都厌烦了。”

dine out on　v. phr. To gain social advantage and success and often a free meal on account of some past accomplishment that is no longer followed by new deeds of merit. 靠（过去的成就）被人请吃饭。◆ The former revolutionary student leader, now fat and complacent, keeps dining out on stories of the revolution. 那位当年革命的学生领袖现已发胖，一副自鸣得意的样子，靠着从前那些革命故事仍在继续受人宴请。

dip into　v. phr. 1. To scan or sample lightly and briefly (said of printed materials). 浏览；随便翻阅。◆ I didn't get a chance to read all of War and Peace, but I dipped into it here and there. 我没有机会读完整部《战争与和平》，只随便翻阅了几处。2. To take money out of a savings account or a piggy bank. 提取（存款）；从（猪形储蓄罐）中取钱。◆ I am sorry to have to say that I had to dip into the piggy bank; I took out $6.75. 我很抱歉不得不说，我只得从猪形储蓄罐里取钱；我取出了6.75美元。

dirt cheap　adj. Extremely inexpensive. 极便宜的。◆ The apartment we are renting is dirt cheap compared to other apartments of similar size in this neighborhood. 与这一地区同样大小的公寓相比，我们现在租住的公寓非常便宜。

dirty look　n., informal A look that shows dislike. 〖非正式〗厌恶的表情。◆ Miss Parker sent Joe to the principal's office for giving her a dirty look. 帕克小姐因乔狠狠地瞪了她一眼而把他送到了校长办公室。

dirty old man　n. phr. An older man who shows an unhealthy interest in young girls. 老色鬼；老淫棍。◆"Stay away from Uncle Algernon, Sally," her mother warned. "He is a dirty old man."“离阿尔杰农大叔远一点，萨莉，”她的母亲警告说。“他是个老色鬼。”

dirty one's hands or soil one's hands　v. phr. To lower or hurt one's character or good name; do a bad or shameful thing. 弄脏自己的手；玷污自己的人格（或名誉）；做坏事；做不名誉的事。◆ The teacher warned the children not to dirty their hands by cheating in the examination. 老师警告孩子们不要在考试中作弊以免玷污自己的人格。◆ I would not soil my hands by going with bad people and doing bad things. 我不会跟着坏人做坏事以损害自己的名誉。

dirty story　n. phr. An improper or obscene story. 下流故事；黄色故事。◆ Uncle Bill is much too fond of telling dirty stories in order to embarrass his friends. 比尔叔叔太喜欢讲一些黄色故事让他的朋友们局促不安了。

dirty trick　n. phr. A treacherous action; an unfair act. 卑鄙手段；背信弃义的勾当。◆ That was a dirty trick John played on Mary when he ran away with her younger sister. 约翰与玛丽的妹妹私奔了，这是他对玛丽的背信弃义。

disappear or evaporate or vanish into thin air　v. phr. To disappear quickly, without leaving a trace. 消失得无影无踪；不知去向。◆ Money seems to disappear into thin air these days. 如今这钱似乎一下子就花光了。

discretion is the better part of valor　literary When you are in danger or trouble, good sense helps more than foolish risks; it is better to be careful than to be foolishly brave. — A proverb. 〖文〗〖谚〗慎重乃勇敢之本；谨慎即大勇。◆ When you are facing a man with a knife, discretion is the better part of valor. 当你面对一个持刀的歹徒时，不要作无谓的冒险。

dish out　v. 1. To serve (food) from a large bowl or plate. 上（菜）；把（食物）装盘端出；从大盘里分（菜）。◆ Ann's mother asked her to dish out the beans. 安的母亲叫她把豆荚从大盘里分给每个人。2. informal To give in large quantities. 〖非正式〗大量给。◆ That teacher dished out so much homework that her pupils complained to their parents. 那位教师布置的作业太多，她的学生都向家长诉苦。3. slang To scold; treat or criticize roughly. 〖俚〗责骂；辱骂；虐待。◆Jim likes to dish it out, but he hates to take it. 吉姆喜欢骂人，但却不喜欢被骂。

dish the dirt　v. phr., slang To gossip, to spread rumors about others. 〖俚〗说闲话；传播流言蜚语；散布谣言。◆ Stop dishing the dirt, Sally, it's really quite unbecoming! 别说别人的闲话了，萨莉，这真的有失体面！

disk jockey　n. An employee at a radio station or in a dance club who puts on the records that will be broadcast.（电台）播放唱片的主持人；（在夜总会）放唱片的人。◆ Jack is working as a disk jockey at the local FM station. 杰克现在在当地的调频电台担任音乐节目的主持人。

dispose of　v. 1. To throw away; give away, or sell; get rid of. 丢掉；送掉；卖掉；处理。◆ John's father wants to dispose of their old house and buy a new one. 约翰的父亲想卖掉旧房子买幢新房子。◆ The burglars had difficulty in disposing of the stolen jewelry. 那些窃贼在处理偷来的珠宝时遇到了困难。2. To finish with; settle; complete. 结束；解决；完成。◆The boys were hungry, and quickly disposed of their dinner. 男孩子们饿了，很快就吃完了晚饭。◆ The committee soon disposed of all its business. 委员会很快就把所有的事情都解决了。3. To destroy or defeat. 摧毁；毁灭；击败。◆ The champion disposed of the other fighter by knocking him out in the second round. 拳击冠军在第二回合就击倒对手，把他打败了。◆ Our planes disposed of two enemy planes. 我们的飞机击落了两架敌机。

dive into　v. phr. 1. To conduct a rapid search inside a container, such as a suitcase, etc. 把手伸入（小提箱等）。◆ Jane nervously dived into her suitcase in search of her lost wedding ring. 简紧张地把手伸进小提箱搜寻遗失的结婚戒指。◆ Joe dived his hands into both pockets trying to find his car keys. 乔把双手伸入口袋寻找车钥匙。2. To eagerly start eating. 开始吃，大吃。◆ Hardly had Mother put the food on the table, when I eagerly dived into it, just like a kid. 母亲刚把食物摆上餐桌，我就像个孩子一样急不可耐地大吃起来。3. To eagerly and keenly join some ongoing activity. 积极投入（某活动）。◆ Al dived into the political discussion without knowing much about the subject. 艾尔对题目还了解得不多就积极投入了政治讨论。4. To enter a place suddenly and often in secret. 突然进入；潜入。◆ The police were following the robber, when he suddenly dived into an abandoned railway car and disappeared from sight. 警察尾随着窃贼，只见他突然潜入一节被遗弃的火车车厢就消失不见了。

divvy up　v. phr., slang To share. 〖俚〗分，分享；分摊。◆ The four bank robbers decided to divvy up the two million dollars they stole in cash, so each one got $500,000. 4名银行抢劫犯决定瓜分他们偷来的200万美元现金，于是每个人得到了50万美元。

do a double take　v. phr., informal To look again in surprise; suddenly understand what is seen or said. 〖非正式〗因惊讶再看一眼；恍然大悟。◆John did a double take when he saw Bill in girls' clothes. 约翰看到比尔穿着女装，不由大吃一惊，又看了他一眼。

do a good turn to someone　v. phr. To render service or benefit to a person; to practice charity. 做一件对某人有利的事。◆ The new country doctor decided to treat poor people free, thereby doing them a good turn. 新来的乡村医生决定免费为穷人看病，从而为他们做了一件好事。

do a job on　v. phr., slang To damage badly; do harm to; make ugly or useless. 〖俚〗严重损害；伤害；使丑陋；使无用。◆ Jane cut her hair and really did a job on herself. 简剪了自己的头发，把自己弄得很难看。

do a stretch　v. phr. To spend time in jail serving one's sentence. 蹲监狱；服刑。◆ Jake has disappeared from view for a while; he is doing a stretch for dope smuggling. 杰克已有一段时间不见了；他正因走私毒品而坐大牢。

do away with　v. 1. To put an end to; stop. 废除；取消；结束。◆ The teachers want to do away with cheating in their school. 老师们希望结束学校里的作弊现象。◆ The city has decided to do away with overhead wires. 该市已决定取消高架电线。2. To kill; murder. 杀死；干掉。◆ The robbers did away with their victims. 强盗们杀死了受害人。

do business　v. phr. To be in a commercial relationship with an individual or a firm. 做生意。◆ "Always glad to do business with you, gentlemen," John said. "You are always punctual, precise, and honest."“我一向愿意跟你们做生意，先生们，”约翰说。“你们一向守时、精确而且诚实。”

do by someone or something　v. To deal with; treat. — Used with a qualifying adverb between do and by. 对待；待。——do与y之间常用一修饰性副词。◆ Andy's employer always does very well by him. 安迪的雇主一向待他很好。

do credit or do credit to　also (informal 〖非正式〗) do proud To add to or improve the reputation, good name, honor, or esteem of; show (you) deserve praise. 为（某人）增光；给（某人）带来荣誉；证明（某人）值得称赞。◆ Mary's painting would do credit to a real artist. 玛丽的画比起一位真正艺术家的作品来也毫不逊色。

doctor up　v. phr. To meddle with; adulterate. 乱动；瞎弄；在（食品）中搀料；搀假。◆ You don't have to doctor up this basic salad with a lot of extras as I am trying to lose weight. 你不必在这份清色拉中搀加许多额外的东西了，因为我正在减肥。

do duty for　v. phr. To substitute for; act in place of. 代替…之用；充当；代理。◆ The bench often does duty for a table. 这根长凳常作桌子用。

doesn't add up to a can of beans　v. phr. To be of little or no value. (Said of plans, ideas, etc.)（计划、想法等）毫无价值。◆ "That's a fairly interesting concept you got there, Mike, but the competition is bound to say that it doesn't add up to a can of beans."“你那个想法相当有趣，迈克，但对手肯定会说它毫无价值。”

doesn't grow on trees　Said of goods and services that are hard to obtain; chiefly about money. — A proverb. 〖谚〗（货物、服务、金钱等）来之不易；不是树上长出来的。◆ "You have to work hard in America, my friend," John said to the naïve immigrant. "After all, money doesn't grow on trees."“在美国你得努力工作才行，我的朋友，”约翰对那位天真的移民说。“毕竟，钱不是树上长出来的。”

do for　v., informal To cause the death or ruin of; cause to fail. — Used usually in the passive form done for. 〖非正式〗杀死；使毁灭；使失败。——通常用于被动语态done for。◆ The poor fellow is done for and will die before morning. 那可怜的家伙完了，不等天亮就要死了。◆ If Jim fails that test, he is done for. 如果吉姆那次考试不及格，他就完了。

do for a living　v. phr. Pursue as an occupation. 以做…为业；靠…谋生。◆ "What do you do for a living?" Mary asked John. "I am a dentist," John replied.“你靠什么谋生？”玛丽问约翰。“我是一名牙医，”约翰回答说。

dog days　n. phr. The hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (July and August).（北半球7、8月份的）酷热期，大热天，三伏天。◆ "The dog days are upon us," John said. "It's time to go swimming in the lake."“大热天来了，”约翰说。“该是去湖上游泳的时候了。”

dog-eared　adj. phr. Worn, used a lot; especially about pages in books that have been turned in to mark where the reader has stopped. 破旧的；（书页）折角的；（书）翻旧了的。◆ "Why is this old edition of Shakespeare all dog-eared?" the new English teacher asked. "Because the school has no money to buy a new one," the librarian answered. "All our books here are dog-eared."“这部老版的莎士比亚全集为什么这么破旧啊？”新来的英语教师问。“因为学校没钱买部新的，”图书馆管理员说。“我们这里所有的书都是破旧的。”

dog-eat-dog^1　n. A way of living in which every person tries to get what he wants for himself no matter how badly or cruelly he must treat others to get it; readiness to do anything to get what you want. 狗咬狗；互相残害；损人利己；无情竞争。◆ In some early frontier towns it was dog-eat-dog. 在一些早期的边陲小镇，人们残酷竞争，互相残杀。

dog-eat-dog^2　adj. Ready or willing to fight and hurt others to get what you want. 狗咬狗的；无情斗争的；互相残杀的。◆ During the California gold rush, men had a dog-eat-dog life. 在加州的淘金热时期，人们过着互相残杀的生活。

doggy bag　n. phr. A small styrofoam, plastic, or paper container in which food left on one's plate in a restaurant may be taken home instead of being thrown away. The food is mostly for oneself and not for a "dog."“狗食袋”（餐馆供顾客将吃剩食物打包带回家的泡沫塑料或纸容器。带回家的食物是自己吃而不是喂狗的）。◆ "Waiter, may I have a doggy bag, please?" "Butofcourse, Sir," the waiter replied. "Every restaurant has them these days."“服务员，请给我一个狗食袋好吗？”“好的，先生，”服务员说。“现在每家餐馆都有狗食袋。”

dog in the manger　n. phr. A person who is unwilling to let another use what he himself has no use for. 占马槽的狗，占着茅坑不拉屎的人，对自己无用的东西不让别人享用的人。◆ Although Valerie lives alone in that big house, she is like a dog in the manger when it comes to letting someone sharing it with her. 虽然瓦莱里一个人住在那幢大房子里，可说到让别人来与她同住时，她却像占着马槽的狗一样不肯让别人分享。

dog sb.'s steps　v. phr. To follow someone closely. 跟踪某人；尾随某人。◆ All the time he was there, the police were dogging his steps. 他在那里的整个期间，警察都在跟踪他。

dog's life　n. phr. A life of misery, poverty, and unhappiness. 悲惨的生活；困苦的生活。◆ Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, lived a dog's life inside an empty barrel. 古希腊哲学家第欧根尼栖身于一只空的木桶里，过着困苦的生活。

dog tag　n. phr. A small metal plate on a chain worn around the neck by those in the United States armed forces, giving the person's name, rank, and serial number.（美国士兵挂在颈部的）身份识别牌。◆ If our soldiers didn't have dog tags, it would be hard to identify them in case of a battle casualty. 如果我们的士兵没有身份识别牌，那万一遇到战斗伤亡就很难辨认他们了。

do in　v., slang 〖俚〗1. To ruin; destroy. 使毁灭；毁坏；破坏。◆ Mr. Smith's business was done in by a fire that burned down his store. 一场大火烧掉了史密斯先生的店铺，毁了他的生意。2a. To kill; murder. 杀死；谋杀。◆ The poor man was done in by two gangsters who ran away after the crime. 那可怜的人被作案后逃掉的两名歹徒杀死了。2b. To make tired; exhaust. 使疲乏；使精疲力竭。◆ The boys were done in after their long hike. 长途徒步旅行后，男孩子们都累垮了。3. To cheat; swindle. 欺骗；诈骗。◆ Mr. Jones was done in by two men who claimed to be collecting money for orphans and widows. 琼斯先生被两个声称为孤儿寡妇募集救济款的人给骗了。

do justice to　v. phr. 1. To do (something) as well as you should; do properly. 尽力做好；适当地处理。◆ The newspaper man did not do justice to the story. 那位新闻记者没有把报道写好。2. To eat or drink with enthusiasm or enjoyment. 尽情享用；开怀大吃。◆ The boy did justice to the meal. 男孩尽情地享用了那顿饭。

dole out　v. phr. To measure out sparingly. 少量发放；少量配给。◆Since the water ration was running low in the desert, the camp commandant doled out small cups of water to each soldier. 由于沙漠中水的配给量日益减少，军营指挥官只给每个士兵发放了几小杯水。

doll up　v., slang 〖俚〗1. To dress in fine or fancy clothes. 打扮得漂漂亮亮。◆ The girls dolled up for the big school dance of the year. 姑娘们打扮得漂漂亮亮去参加学校一年一度的盛大舞会。◆ The girls were all dolled up for the Christmas party. 姑娘们都穿上漂亮的衣服去参加圣诞聚会。2. To make more pretty or attractive. 把…装饰得更漂亮。◆ The classrooms were all dolled up with Christmas decorations. 所有教室都用圣诞饰物装点得漂漂亮亮的。

done deal　n. phr. A business or political deal or agreement, which was completed some time ago, without making officially public. 成交的买卖；已完成的交易；未正式宣布的协议。◆ "Who will be the next head of our department?" Professor Fisher asked. "Why, Patrick McInerney, of course, didn't you know?" "It was never announced." "You're right, it was not, but it is a done deal."“谁将是我们下一位系主任哪？”费希尔教授问。“当然是帕特里克·麦金纳尼了，你难道不知道？”“这事从未宣布过。”“你说得对，是没有宣布过，但这事已经定了。”

done for　adj. phr. Finished; dead. 完蛋；完了；死了。◆ When the police burst in on the crooks, they knew they were done for. 警察突然出现在他们面前时，那些骗子便知道自己完了。

done with　adj. phr. Finished; completed. 结束；完毕。◆ As soon as you're done with your work, give us a call. 你们一干完活就给我们打个电话。

don't get smart　v. phr. A phrase idiom issued as a warning, meaning that if the addressee answers back, he or she may get into trouble. 别顶嘴。◆ "Don't you get smart with me, Johnny! I know what's good for you," father thundered angrily. "Go and do your homework."“别跟我顶嘴，约翰尼！我知道什么对你有好处，”父亲气愤地大声说道。“去做你的家庭作业。”

don't give me that　See见ELL IT TO THE MARINES.

don't give up the ship　phrasal idiom Advice given to someone who is about to stop doing a difficult task, comparable to a sea captain trying to save a sinking boat. 不要放弃，别泄气。◆ "Your business is having some difficulties right now, John," his brother Mike said, "but I suggest that you don't give up the ship just yet. Better times lie ahead."“你的公司眼下有些困难，约翰，”他的哥哥迈克说，“但我建议你现在还不要放弃。好的时期很快会来的。”

don't I know it?　v. phr. This idiom expresses that the speaker knows something rather well; the question form enhances this fact ruefully or sarcastically. 我何尝不知道；我当然知道。◆ "So my wife is sleeping with another guy … Man, don't I know it?"“这么说我老婆正在跟别的家伙睡觉了……老弟，这我心里清楚。”

don't mind me　v. phr., informal, ironic Often heard as an excuse when someone bumps into someone else in a narrow comdor, in the library stacks, on a bus or a streetcar, etc. Excuse me. 〖非正式〗〖讽〗对不起。◆ "Don't mind me, Miss," the clumsy man said, while trampling on the librarian's foot. 那个笨手笨脚的男子踩了图书馆管理员的脚，忙说：“对不起，小姐。”

don't shoot the messenger　Said when one hears some bad news brought by some innocent person. One has a tendency to get angry or irritated at the message bearer who had nothing to do with the message's contents. — A proverb. 〖谚〗不要对带来坏消息的人生气。◆ "Sir, I just saw your wife walk into a motel room with your colleague, but please don't shoot the messenger."“先生，我刚才看到你的妻子跟你的同事走进了一家汽车旅馆，但请你不要对带来坏消息的人生气。”

don't shut the stable door after the horse has gone　proverbial idiom It is useless to take precautionary measures to prevent something unpleasant from happening after the event took place. — A proverb. 〖谚〗别等马跑了才关厩门；别等贼走了才关门。◆ "Why give our daughter, Jenny, birth control pills now that she's gotten pregnant by her boyfriend? No use shutting the stable door after the horse has gone."“为什么在我们的女儿詹妮让她的男朋友弄得怀孕后才给她避孕丸？马跑了才锁厩门，没用了。”

don't sweat it　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗See 见 TAKE IT EASY.

don't take any wooden nickels　v. phr. Protect yourself; take care of yourself; don't let anybody cheat you by giving you something worthless. — A proverb. 〖谚〗多加保重；多加小心；别上当受骗。◆ "The part of that country you're going to, John," Peter said, "is full of hoodlums and tricksters. Be careful, and don't take any wooden nickels."“约翰，你要去的那个国家的那个地区，”彼得说，“到处是无赖和骗子。你要当心，别上当受骗。”

don't tell me — let me guess　v. phr. A humorous, anticipatory saying used when one knows what's coming. 别告诉我——让我猜。◆"Don't tell me — let me guess — you got fired again," Mary said to her husband, when he came home sadly, carrying all of his papers.“不要告诉我——让我猜——你又被解雇了，”当玛丽的丈夫带着所有的文件伤心地回到家时，她对他说。

do one's best　v. phr. To perform at one's optimum capacity; spare no effort in fulfilling one's duties. 尽自己最大的努力。◆ "I've really done my best teaching you people," the tired professor said on the last day of classes. "I hope you got something out of this course."“我确实竭尽了全力教你们诸位，”疲惫不堪的教授在上课的最后一天说。“只希望各位从这门课中有所收获。”

do one's bit or part　v. phr. To shoulder one's share of responsibility in a communal undertaking; shirk not one's obligation. 尽自己的一份责任；尽本分。◆ "Let me go home and rest, fellows," John said. "I think I've done my bit for this project."“让我回家去休息吧，伙计们，”约翰说。 “我想我对这项工程已经尽到了我的责任。”

do one's thing or do one's own thing　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To do what one does well and actually enjoys doing. 做自己最拿手的事；做自己最爱做的事。◆ Two thousand fans paid $15 each to hear the rock group do their thing. 两千名歌迷每人付了15美元来听摇滚乐演唱组尽情演唱。2. To follow one's bent; for example, to be engaged in left-wing politics, some sort of meditation, or use of drugs (particularly in the sixties). 按自己的意愿（或兴趣）行事（尤指1960年代从事左翼政治活动、默想或吸毒等）。◆ The hippies were doing their own thing when the cops came and busted them. 警察来逮捕他们时，嬉皮士们正在吸毒。3. To be engaged in an unusual activity that strikes others as odd. 做别人以为的怪事。◆ Leave Jim alone, he's just doing his own thing when he's standing on his head. 别去打扰吉姆，他竖倒立只是自己喜欢。

do one's worst　v. phr. To do one's utmost by resorting to every foul means possible. 使出最恶劣的手段。◆ Hitler did his worst to drive out the Allied invasion from Europe, but he failed. 希特勒使出最恶劣的手段想把同盟国的入侵部队赶出欧洲，但他失败了。

do-or-die　adj. Strongly decided, very eager and determined. 决心极大的；拼死的；不成功毋宁死的；破釜沉舟的。◆ With a real do-or-die spirit the team scored two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game. 凭着一股真正的不成功毋宁死的精神，球队在比赛的最后5分钟两次触地得分。◆ The other army was larger but our men showed a do-or-die determination and won the battle. 敌军比我们强大，但我们的士兵显示出拼死一战的决心,赢得了这场战役。

do over　v. phr. 1. To renovate; redecorate. 修复；重新装饰。◆ The new owners are going to do over the entire building in the fall. 新房主打算在秋天把整幢大楼重新装修一番。2. To repeat. 重做；重复。◆ Please do that math problem over until you get it right. 请重做那道数学题，直到你把它做对为止。

dope out　v., slang To think of something that explains. 〖俚〗想出；解出；弄清楚。◆ The detectives tried to dope out why the man was murdered. 警探们试图搞清楚那人为什么被谋杀。

dope up　v. phr. 1. To feed drugs to a person or an animal. 给（人或动物）服兴奋剂。◆ The favorite race horse was disqualified, because they found out that it had been doped up. 那匹最有希望获胜的赛马被取消了比赛资格，因为他们发现有人给它服了兴奋剂。2. To take a lot of vitamins and some anticold medicine to get over a fever faster. 给（自己或别人）大量服药。◆ Agnes beat the cold by doping herself up with aspirin, vitamin C, and an antihistamine. 艾格尼丝服用了大量阿司匹林、维生素C和抗组胺药才治愈了感冒。

dose of one's own medicine or taste of one's own medicine　n. phr. Being treated in the same way you treat others; something bad done to you as you have done bad to other people. 报应；恶报。◆ Jim was always playing tricks on other boys. Finally they decided to give him a dose of his own medicine. 吉姆总是捉弄其他男孩。最后他们决定以吉姆之道还治吉姆之身。

do someone a good turn　v. phr. To perform an act of kindness, friendship, or help to another person, unselfishly, without expectation of reward. 做有利于某人的事；为某人做好事；为某人帮忙。◆ "I'll be happy to help you any time you need it," John said. "After all you have done me so many good turns."“你任何时候需要，我都愿意帮助你，”约翰说。“毕竟你曾多次帮过我。”

do someone dirt　v. phr. 1. To besmirch sb.'s reputation by spreading false gossip about the person. 恶意中伤某人；损害某人的名誉。◆ Poor Mr. Wong was done dirt by the other restaurant owners in the city who spread the false rumor that he was using dog meat in his dishes. 可怜的王先生遭到了城里其他餐馆主人的恶意中伤，他们散布谣言说他在菜肴里用了狗肉。2. To cheat someone in a seemingly honest business transaction. 欺骗某人◆ I am afraid to do business with those guys, because they may do me dirt. 我害怕跟那些家伙做生意，因为他们可能会骗我。

do someone good　v. phr. To benefit. 对某人有益；对某人有好处。◆ The fresh air will do you good after having been inside the house all day. 在房子里面呆了整整一天，外面的新鲜空气对你有好处。

do someone good or do sb.'s heart good　v. phr. To give satisfaction; please ; gratify. 使某人满意；使某人高兴。◆ It does my heart good to see those children play. 看到那些孩子们在玩我心里很高兴。

do someone out of something　v., informal To cause to lose by trickery or cheating. 〖非正式〗向某人骗取某物。◆ The clerk in the store did me out of $2.00 by overcharging me. 那家商店的店员多收我钱，骗走了我两美元。

do tell　interj., informal An inelegant expression used to show that you are a little surprised by what you hear. 〖非正式〗（对听到之事感到意外时的一种不雅的惊叹语）不见得吧！真的吗？真没想到！◆ "You say George is going to get married after all these years? Do tell!" said Mrs. Green.“你说乔治在这么多年之后终于要结婚了？真没想到！”格林太太说。

dote on or dote upon　v. phr. To entertain or to display too much affection for a child or a grown-up. 溺爱；过分喜爱。◆ The Browns dote on their grandchildren so much that we're afraid the kids will be spoiled. 布朗夫妇对他们的孙子、孙女太过溺爱，我们真担心这些孩子会被宠坏。

do the honors　v. phr. To act as host or hostess (as in introducing guests, carving, or paying other attentions to guests.) 尽主人之谊；招待客人；主持宴会。◆ The president of the club will do the honors at the banquet. 俱乐部主席将主持宴会。

do the trick　v. phr., informal To bring success in doing something; have a desired result. 〖非正式〗取得成功；取得预期效果。◆ Jim was not passing in English, but he studied harder and that did the trick. 吉姆英语一向不及格，但他学习上加了一把劲，结果就及格了。◆ The car wheels slipped on the ice, so Tom put sand under them, which did the trick. 汽车轮子在冰上打滑，于是汤姆便在轮子下面放了一些沙子，结果就不滑了。

do things by halves　v. phr. To do things in a careless and incomplete way. 做事马虎；做事半途而废。◆ When he reads a book he always does it by halves; he seldom finishes it. 他读书总是半途而废；他很少把一本书读完。

do to death　v. phr. To overdo; do something so often that it becomes extremely boring or tiresome. 把…做得过头；把…重复得令人厌烦。◆ The typical car chase scene in motion pictures has been done to death. 电影上典型的汽车追逐场面用得太多，已经让人厌烦了。

dot the i's and cross the t's　v. phr. To be careful, thorough, and pay close attention to detail. 一丝不苟；认真细致；重视细节。◆ "The best way to get an A on the final exam," the teacher said, "is for every one to dot the i's and cross the t's." 老师说：“期终考试得优的最好办法就是每个人都要认真仔细，一丝不苟。”

double back　v. 1. To turn back on one's way or course. 循原路折回。◆The escaped prisoner doubled back on his tracks. 逃犯又循着原路折了回来。2. To fold over; usually in the middle. 折叠；对折。◆ The teacher told Johnny to double back the sheet of paper and tear it in half. 老师叫约翰尼把那张纸对折起来，撕成两半。

double check　n. A careful second check to be sure that something is right; a careful look for errors. 仔细的复查；仔细的核对；仔细检查。◆The policeman made a double check on the doors in the shopping area. 警察仔细检查了商业区的门锁。

double-check　v. 1. To do a double check on; look at again very carefully. 复核；复查；仔细检查。◆ When the last typing of his book was finished, the author double-checked it. 书的最后一次打字完成后，作者对它仔细复查了一遍。2. To make a double check; look carefully at something. 进行复核（或复查）；仔细检查。◆ The proofreader double-checks against errors. 校对员仔细检查以消灭错误。

double-cross　v. To promise one thing and deliver another; to deceive. 欺骗。◆ The lawyer doublecrossed the inventor by manufacturing the gadget instead of fulfilling his promise to arrange a patent for his client. 律师欺骗了发明家：他没有履行诺言为他的委托人取得专利，而是自己生产了这一精巧的装置。

double date　n., informal A date on which two couples go together. 〖非正式〗两对男女一同参加的约会。◆ John and Nancy went with Mary and Bill on a double date. 约翰和南希同玛丽和比尔双双赴约。

double-date　v., informal To go on a double date; date with another couple.〖非正式〗参加两对男女的约会；与另一对男女一起约会。◆ John and Nancy and Mary and Bill doubledate. 约翰和南希同玛丽和比尔经常双双约会。

double duty　n. Two uses or jobs; two purposes or duties. 两种用途；两种工作；双重目的；双重责任。◆ Our new washer does double duty; it washes the clothes and also dries them. 我们的新洗衣机有双重功能；它既可洗衣服，又可将衣服烘干。

double for　v. phr. To act as a replacement for someone either out of friendship, or as a mutual arrangement. 代替，顶替。◆ Dr. Abrahamian often doubles for Dr. Frank in the operating room; conversely, Dr. Frank also doubles for Dr. Abrahamian. 在手术室里，亚伯拉罕米安大夫经常代替弗兰克大夫开刀；反过来，弗兰克大夫也经常代替亚伯拉罕米安大夫开刀。

double-header　n. Two games or contests played one right after the other, between the same two teams or two different pairs of teams.（相同的两支球队或不同的两组球队）连续进行的两场比赛。◆ The Yankees and the Dodgers played a double-header Sunday afternoon. 扬基队和道奇队在星期天下午连续比赛了两场。

double nickel　adv., slang, citizen's band radio jargon The nationally enforced speed limit on some highways — 55 MPH. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗双5；55（指美国某些公路上每小时55英里的车速限制）。◆ We'd better go double nickel on this stretch, partner; there's a bear in the air. 我们在这段路上最好还是开双5；天上有巡警的直升机。

double-park　v. To park a car beside another car which is at the curb. 双行停（车）（即将车停在另一停靠在人行道边上的车旁）。◆ If you double-park, you block other cars from passing. 你如果双行停车，就妨碍了别的车通过。

double-talk　n. 1. Something said that is worded, either on purpose or by accident, so that it may be understood in two or more different ways. 模棱两可的话；夸张而含糊的话。◆ The politician avoided the question with double-talk. 那位政客以模棱两可的欺人之谈回避了那个问题。2. Something said that does not make sense; mixed up talk or wnting; nonsense. 不知所云的空话；意义晦涩的空话。◆ The man's explanation of the new tax bill was just a lot of doubletalk. 此人对新税法的解释简直就是一堆莫名其妙的空话。

double up　v. 1. To bend far over forward. 弓起身子。◆ Jim was hit by the baseball and doubled up with pain. 吉姆被棒球击中，痛得弓起了身子。2. To share a room, bed, or home with another. 同宿一室；合睡一床。◆ When relatives came for a visit, Ann had to double up with her sister. 亲戚们来访时，安只得与妹妹同住一室。

do up　v. 1a. To clean and prepare for use or wear; launder. 洗烫（衣服）。◆ Ann asked her mother to do up her dress. 安请母亲把她的衣服洗好烫平。1b. To put in order; straighten up; clean. 整理；清理；打扫。◆ At camp the girls have to do up their own cabins. 野营时女孩子们必须整理自己的小屋。2. To tie up or wrap. 包扎；捆好。◆ Joan asked the clerk to do up her purchases. 琼请店员把她买的东西包扎起来。3a. To set and fasten (hair) in place. 把（头发）向上盘。◆ Grace helped her sister to do up her hair. 格雷斯帮妹妹把头发盘起来。3b. informal To dress or clothe. 〖非正式〗穿戴起来；打扮起来。◆ Suzie was done up in her fine new skirt and blouse. 苏茜穿着她漂亮的新裙子和衬衫。

do well by　v. phr. To benefit; help; treat exceptionally well. 有益于；帮助；对…很好。◆ In his will Grandpa did well by all of his grandchildren and left each of them one million dollars. 爷爷在遗嘱中对他所有的孙子孙女都很好，给他们每人留下了100万美元。

do what comes naturally　v. phr., informal To engage in an activity that doesn't have to be taught, since it is a universal instinct, such as sex. 〖非正式〗做不需要教而凭本能自然就会的事情（如性行为）。◆ "Did your daughter finish high school?" John asked. "I'm afraid she hasn't. She doesn't do much of anything, except what comes naturally."“你女儿高中毕业了吗？”约翰问。“恐怕还没有。她倒不做什么乱七八糟的事，除了那天生就会的事。”

do with　v. 1. To find enough for one's needs; manage. — Usually follows can. 有…就行了；将就用。——通常与can连用。◆ Some children can do with very little spending money. 有些孩子只需要很少的零用钱就够了。2. To make use of; find useful or helpful. — Follows can or could. 利用；发现有用。——与can或could连用。◆ After a hard day's work, a man can do with a good, hot meal. 劳累了一天之后很需要好好地吃上一顿热饭。

do without or go without　v. 1. To live or work without (something you want); manage without. 没有；没有…也行。◆ We had to go without hot food because the stove was broken. 我们吃不到热的饭菜了，因为炉子坏了。2. To live or work without something you want; manage. 设法对付过去；将就。◆ If George cannot earn money for a bicycle, he will have to do without. 如果乔治无法挣钱买辆自行车，他也只好将就了。

down and out　adj. phr. Without money; without a job or home; broke. 穷困潦倒的；一无所有的；失业的；无家可归的；不名一文的。◆ Poor Sam lost his job after his wife had left him; he is really down and out. 妻子离开他后，可怜的萨姆又失去了工作；他真的很潦倒。

down-and-outer　n. phr. A person who has lost everything and is penniless. 穷困潦倒的人；落魄者。◆ Joe goes from shelter to shelter asking for food and a place to sleep; he's become a regular down-and-outer. 乔从一个收容所走到另一个收容所讨吃的东西和睡觉的地方；他已经变成了一个十足的无业游民。

down in the dumps or down in the mouth　adj. phr., informal Sad or discouraged; gloomy; dejected. 〖非正式〗忧伤的；沮丧的；情绪低落的；垂头丧气的。◆ The boys were certainly down in the dumps when they heard that their team had lost. 男孩子们听到他们的球队输了球肯定都很沮丧。

download　v. phr. To get some program or information off the Internet and save it either on a floppy disk, the hard disk, or in temporary memory.（从互联网上）下载（程序、资料等）。◆ "Where did you get that fancy program? Did it cost a lot?" Mary asked. "No, not at all," Sam answered. "I downloaded it free."“你从哪儿买到那个高级程序的？价钱很贵吗？”玛丽问。“不，根本不是买来的，”萨姆回答说。“我是免费从网上下载的。”

down on　adj. phr., informal Having a grudge against; angry at. 〖非正式〗对…怨恨的；对…生气的。◆ John is down on his teacher because she gave him a low grade. 约翰因老师给他打了低分而怨恨她。

down on one's luck　adj., informal Having bad luck; having much trouble; not successful in life. 〖非正式〗倒霉的；运气不好的；不幸的。◆ Harry asked me to lend him ten dollars, because he was down on his luck. 哈里问我借10美元，因为他日子不好过。

down payment　n. A retainer paid to a prospective seller. 定金；首付款。◆ How much of a down payment do you require for this new car? 买这辆新车需要先付多少定金？

down sb.'s alley or up sb.'s alley　adj. phr., slang Suited to your tastes and abilities; what you like or like to do. 〖俚〗适合某人胃口和能力的；某人喜欢的。◆ Computers are right down Jim's alley. 电脑正好是吉姆的一技之长。

down the drain　adj. or adv. phr., informal Wasted; lost. 〖非正式〗被浪费掉；失去。◆ It is money down the drain if you spend it all on candy. 如果把钱都花在糖果上，那就浪费了。◆ Our plans to go swimming went down the drain when it rained. 我们去游泳的计划因下雨而泡汤了。

down the garden path or down the primrose path　adv. phr. In a misleading way.（引）入歧途。◆ Professor Bloch created a phony argument to see if anyone would catch on; he was leading the class down the primrose path. 布洛克教授提出了一个站不住脚的论点，想看一看是否有人会识破；他是故意在迷惑全班同学。

down the hatch!　v. phr., informal Let us drink! 〖非正式〗干杯！◆ When we celebrated Mom's birthday, we all raised our glasses and cried in unison, "Down the hatch!" 我们在庆祝妈妈的生日时，大家一起举杯齐声喊道：“干杯！”

down the line　adv. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Down the road or street; straight ahead. 沿路（或街）一直向前。◆ The church is down the line a few blocks. 往前一直走过几条街就是教堂。2. All the way; completely; thoroughly. 全部地；彻底地◆ Bob always follows the teacher's directions right down the line. 鲍勃一向不折不扣地听从老师的指导。

downtime　n. phr. Intermittent period during which a computer installation does not work, either because of power failure or some internal problem specific to the given system.（计算机的）停机时间；停止运行时间。◆ "We can't complete your transaction without our computers, Sir; we're having a downtime. Please come back in half an hour."“没有电脑我们无法完成您的这笔业务，先生，我们的电脑死机了。请半个小时以后再来吧。”

down-to-earth　adj. Showing good sense; practical. 务实的；实际的。◆ The committee's first plan for the party was too fancy, but the second was more down-to-earth. 委员会举办聚会的第一个计划太异想天开，但第二个计划比较实际。

down to the last detail　adv. phr. In complete detail from the beginning to the end, no matter how small. 非常详尽地，极为详细地。◆ The new employee recounted his past employment history down to the last detail. 新雇员极其详尽地讲述了他过去的工作履历。

down to the wire　adj., slang 〖俚〗1. Running out of time, nearing a deadline. 限期将到；接近最后期限。◆ Bob is down to the wire on his project. 鲍勃完成项目的限期快到了。2. Being financially almost broke, being very low on cash or other funds. 经济上濒于破产；现金枯竭；资金短缺。◆ We can't afford going to a restaurant tonight — we're really down to the wire! 我们今晚下不起餐馆了——我们真的所剩无几了。

down under　adv. phr. In the Southern Hemisphere, e. g., Australia, South America, New Zealand, or South Africa. 在南半球，如：在澳大利亚；在南美洲；在新西兰；在南非。◆ "Down under, where I come from, we're having summer when you have winter, and vice versa."“我来自南半球，在我们那儿，你们过冬天时我们在过夏天，你们过夏天时我们则在过冬天。”

down with a disease　adj. phr. Ill or sick. 病倒的；生了病的。◆ Aunt Liz is down with the flu this week; she has to stay in bed. 莉兹阿姨本周得流感病倒了；她必须卧床休息。

do you know where I'm coming from?　v. phr. Do you understand what I'm saying? 你懂我的话吗？◆ I think life is way too expensive in cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Do you know where I'm coming from? 我觉得在纽约、芝加哥和洛杉矶这样的大城市生活费用太昂贵了。你懂我的意思吗？

do you mind?　v. phr. Mind your own business! Stop bothering me! 少管闲事！别烦我！◆ "Do you mind?" Jennifer cried crossly, when Alfred rudely interrupted her narrative during dinner. 席间，当艾尔弗雷德粗鲁地打断了她的讲述时，詹妮弗怒吼道：“不要打断我！”

do yourself a favor　v. phr. Advice given to people, who apparently don't know how to take care of themselves or what would benefit them. （对不善照顾自己者的劝告）好好照顾自己。◆ "Do yourself a favor, Johnny," his big brother Tim said. "Start eating less and exercise more."“好好照顾自己，约翰尼，”他哥哥蒂姆说。“现在就开始少吃点，多锻炼锻炼。”

do you see what I see?　v. phr. Used to express astonishment at an unexpected sight.（表示惊讶）看到了吗？◆ "Do you see what I see?" Sue cried out in amazement, when three little gray men emerged from a flying saucer in their backyard.“看到了吗？”当3个个子矮小的灰衣人从他们后院的一个飞碟中走出来时，苏惊讶地大声喊道。

doze off　v. phr. To unintentionally fall asleep due to fatigue or boredom. 打瞌睡，打盹儿。◆ It is considered impolite to doze off during a university lecture. 在大学里听课时打瞌睡被认为是不礼貌的。

drag in　v. To insist on bringing (another subject) into a discussion; begin talking about (something different.) 硬把（另一题目）扯进讨论；开始谈论（别的东西）。◆ No matter what we talk about, Jim drags in politics. 无论我们谈论什么，吉姆总要扯到政治上去。

drag into the mire　v. phr. 1. To besmirch one. 把（某人）搞臭；玷污。◆ The unscrupulous competition tried to drag the honest Mr. Brown into the mire. 那些肆无忌惮的竞争对手拼命想把诚实的布朗先生搞臭。2. To drag someone down to one's own level. 把（某人）拖入泥坑；把（某人）拖下水。◆ "If you keep going out with that gang," his father warned Bob, "they will drag you into the mire, right where they are."“如果你继续跟那帮歹徒混在一起，”父亲警告鲍勃说，“他们就会把你拖入泥坑，像他们一样不能自拔。”

drag on or drag out　v. 1. To pass very slowly. 慢吞吞地过去。◆ The cold winter months dragged on until we thought spring would never come. 寒冬的几个月过得很慢，我们都以为春天不会来了。2. To prolong; make longer. 延长；拖长。◆ The meeting would have been over quickly if the members had not dragged out the argument about dues. 如果不是会员们就会费问题拖长了辩论时间，会议早就结束了。

drag oneself up by one's boot straps　See 见 PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOT STRAPS.

drag one's feet or drag one's heels　v. phr. To act slowly or reluctantly. 拖拖拉拉；行动迟缓；行动勉强。◆ The city employees said the mayor had promised to raise their pay, but was now dragging his feet. 市府雇员说市长已答应提高他们的工资，但现在却迟迟不付诸实施。

drag on the market　n. phr. An article for which the demand has fallen off, thus causing an oversupply. 市场上的滞销品。◆ Your type of word processor went out of style and is now a drag on the market. 你那种型号的文字处理机已经过时，现在已经成了市场上的滞销品。

drag out　See见DRAG ON.

drag race　n., slang An automobile race in which the drivers try to cover a certain distance (usually one quarter mile) in the shortest possible time. 〖俚〗短程（通常为1/4英里）高速汽车赛。◆ Drag races are often held on airport landing strips. 短程高速汽车赛经常在机场跑道上进行。

drag strip　n., slang A place where drag races are held. 〖俚〗短程高速汽车赛车道。◆ Before the race Paul loaded his racer onto the trailer to take it out of town to the drag strip for the race. 比赛前，保罗把赛车装上拖车拉到了城外的赛车道上。

draw a blank　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To obtain nothing in return for an effort made or to get a negative result. 白费力气；毫无结果；一无所获。◆ I looked up all the Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every time I asked for Archibald Jones. 我在电话簿上查了所有姓琼斯的人，但每一次都找不到阿奇博尔德·琼斯。2. To fail to remember something. 记不得，记不起来。◆ I am trying to think of the name but I keep drawing a blank. 我竭力想那个名字，但就是想不起来。3. To be consistently unsuccessful at doing something. 一直失败。◆ I keep trying to pass that math exam but each time I try it I draw a blank. 我一直试图通过那门数学考试，可每次尝试都是失败。

draw a conclusion　v. phr. To make an inference. 得出结论。◆ After he failed to keep an appointment with me for the third time, I drew the conclusion that he was an unreliable person. 在他第三次对我失约之后，我得出了结论：他这人不可靠。

draw a line or draw the line　v. phr. 1. To think of as different. 区别；认为…不同。◆ The law in this country draws a line between murder and manslaughter. 该国法律认为谋杀与过失杀人是不一样的。◆ Can you draw the line between a lie and a fib? 你能区分谎言与小谎吗？2. To set a limit to what will be done; say something cannot be done. 限制；禁止。◆We would like to invite everybody to our party, but we have to draw a line somewhere. 我们愿意邀请每个人来参加我们的聚会，但我们必须有所限制。— Often used with at. 常与at连用。◆ Mrs. Jones draws the line at permitting the children to play in their father's den. 琼斯太太不允许孩子们在他们父亲的书房里玩耍。◆ People fighting for their freedom often do not draw the line at murder. 为自由而斗争的人们往往不戒杀戮。

draw a long breath or take a long breath　v. phr. To breathe deeply when getting ready to speak or act. （谈话或行动前）深吸一口气。◆ Father asked who broke the window. Jim drew a long breath and admitted that he had done it. 父亲问是谁打破的窗子。吉姆深吸了一口气，承认是他打破的。

draw and quarter　v. phr. literary 〖文〗1. To execute someone in the barbaric medieval fashion of having him torn into four pieces by four horses tearing his body in four different directions.（中世纪刑罚）对（某人）四马分尸。◆ The captured foreign marauders were drawn and quartered by the angry citizens of ancient Frankfurt. 被俘的外国掠夺者被古法兰克福愤怒的百姓以四马分尸的方式处死。2. To punish someone very severely. 严厉处罚。◆ "If you miss another homework assignment, John," the teacher said, "I'll have you drawn and quartered."“约翰，如果你下次再不做作业，”老师说，“我就要对你严加处罚了。”

draw a parallel　v. phr. To make a comparison. 作比较；指出相同之处。◆ It is easy to draw a parallel between the characters of Saint Francis of Assisi and Great Saint Theresa of Aquila, but this doesn't mean that all saints are alike. 对阿西西的圣方济各和阿维拉的圣特雷萨的品德作一番比较指出他们的相同之处并不难，但这并不意味着所有的圣徒都是一样的。

draw back　v. To move back; back away; step backward; withdraw; move away from. 向后移动；后退，后缩；撤回。◆ When the man spotted the rattlesnake, he drew back and aimed his shotgun. 那人看到响尾蛇时，后退了几步，举起猎枪瞄准了它。◆ The children drew back from the dog when it barked at them. 当狗对着他们叫的时候，孩子们就向后退了。

drawback　n. Disadvantage; obstacle; hindrance. 不利条件；缺点；障碍。◆ The biggest drawback of Bill's plan is the cost involved. 比尔计划最大的不利之处是它涉及的费用太高。

draw blood　v. phr., informal To make someone feel hurt or angry. 〖非正式〗伤人感情；惹人生气。◆ If you want to draw blood, ask Jim about his last money-making scheme. 如果你要伤害吉姆的感情，问问他上次的赚钱计划就行了。◆ Her sarcastic comments drew blood. 她尖刻的评论很伤感情。

draw fire　v. phr. 1. To attract or provoke shooting; be a target. 吸引火力；成为目标。◆ The general's white horse drew the enemy's fire. 将军的白马成了敌人的射击目标。2. To bring criticism or argument; make people say bad things about you. 招致批评；激起争论；引起非议。◆ Having the newest car in your group is sure to draw fire. 拥有你们组里最新型的轿车定会引起非议。

drawing card　n. The most important figure in a multi-person event; the top entertainer during a show; the best professor or researcher at a university, etc. 多人事件中最重要的人物；最叫座的演员；（大学中）最好的教授（或研究人员）。◆ The biggest drawing card at many a university is the resident Nobel Laureate. 许多大学中最吸引学生的教授是在校任教的诺贝尔奖得主。

draw interest　v. phr. To earn interest on invested capital. 产生利息。◆ My savings account draws 4.5% interest. 我的储蓄账户产生4.5％的利息。

draw lots　v. phr. To select at random from a series in order to determine precedents or apportionment. 抽签。◆ The refugees to be evacuated drew lots on who would get a place on the first airplane out of the besieged city. 要撤离的难民抽签决定谁先乘上第一架飞机逃离这座被围困的城市。

draw near　v. phr. To approach; come near. 接近；靠近。◆ The time is drawing near when classes will end and vacation will begin. 上课将结束、假期将开始的时间正越来越近了。

draw off　v. phr. To drain away; deflect. 排出；放掉（水等）；转移，引开。◆ A light flanking attack was made in order to draw off the enemy's fire. 为了转移敌人的火力，以少量兵力发动了一次侧攻。

draw on　v. phr. 1. To arrive; approach. 到来；临近，接近。◆ As midnight drew on, the New Year's Eve party grew louder and louder. 随着午夜临近，除夕晚会的气氛越来越热烈了。2. To secure funds from a bank or person. 从（银行）提款；从（某人处）获得资金。◆ Jack kept drawing on his bank account so much that several of his checks bounced. 杰克不断地从他的银行账户上提款，结果有几张支票被拒付而退回。

draw out　v. phr. 1. To take out; remove. 取出；拔出。◆ The hunter drew out his gun and shot the snake. 猎人掏出枪来打死了蛇。2. To make (a person) talk or tell something. 引（人）讲话；使说出实情。◆ Jimmy was bashful but Mrs. Wilson drew him out by asking him about baseball. 吉米羞于言辞，但威尔逊太太却问了他一些棒球的问题引他开了口。3. To make come out; bring out. 使出来；引出。◆ The bell of the icecream truck drew the children out of the houses. 冰淇淋车的铃声把孩子们从屋子里引了出来。4. To make longer or too long; stretch. 延长；拉长。◆ The Smiths drew out their vacation at the beach an extra week. 史密斯一家把他们在海滨的度假延长了一周。

draw sb.'s attention to　v. phr. To make someone notice something. 把某人的注意力引向；使某人注意。◆ "Let me draw your attention to the motion picture versions of Tolstoy's War and Peace, and Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, if you don't have the time to read them in book form."“如果你们没有时间读托尔斯泰的《战争与和平》和海明威的《老人与海》，那就请你们注意一下根据这两部小说改编的电影吧。”

draw to a close　v. phr. To finish; terminate; come to an end. 结束；终止。◆ The meeting drew to a close around midnight. 会议在午夜前后结束。

draw up　v. 1. To write (something) in its correct form; put in writing. 以正确格式书写；写出。◆ The rich man had his lawyers draw up his will so that each of his children would receive part of his money when he died. 那个富人已请律师写好遗嘱，以便在他死后每个孩子都会得到他的一部分钱。2. To plan or prepare; begin to write out. 拟订；草拟。◆ The two countries drew up a peace treaty after the war ended. 战争结束后，两国拟订了一份和平条约。3. To hold yourself straight or stiffly, especially because you are proud or angry.（尤指骄傲或生气时）挺直身体。◆ When we said that Mary was getting fat, she drew herself up angrily and walked out of the room. 我们说玛丽发胖了，她便气冲冲地挺直身子，走出了房间。4. To stop or come to a stop. （使）停住；停止。◆ A big black car drew up in front of the house. 一辆黑色大轿车在房子前面停了下来。

dream of　v. To think about seriously; think about with the idea of really doing; consider seriously. — Usually used with a negative. 认真考虑；想到。——通常用于否定句。◆ I wouldn't dream of wearing shorts to church. 我决不会想到穿着短裤去做礼拜。

dream up　v. phr. To conduct, to invent something to fill a need. 凭空想出；虚构出。◆ "How are we going to explain to Mom and Dad where we spent last weekend?" Jenny asked her boyfriend excitedly. "Don't worry, honey," Jack answered, "I'm sure we can dream up some acceptable explanation."“我们怎么向爸爸妈妈解释我们上个周末是在哪里度过的呢？”詹妮情绪激动地问她的男朋友。“别担心，亲爱的，”杰克回答说，“我们肯定能想出某个令人满意的解释。”

drenched to the skin　adj. phr. Thoroughly soaked through in a heavy downpour of rain, through all of one's clothes.（被雨淋得）全身湿透的。◆ The farmhand came in from the field and asked for a dry towel, saying, "Sorry to bother you, ma'am, but I'm drenched to the skin." 农场工人从田里走进来要一块干毛巾，他说：“对不起，打扰您啦，夫人，我浑身都湿透了。”

dressing down　n., informal A scolding. 〖非正式〗责骂；训斥。◆ The sergeant gave the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined. 中士把那个士兵训了一顿，因为他没有擦亮皮鞋。

dress up　v. 1a. To put on best or special clothes. 穿上盛装。◆ Billy hated being dressed up and took off his best suit as soon as he got home from church. 比利不喜欢穿得一本正经，所以从教堂一回到家，便把他那套最好的衣服脱了下来。1b. To put on a costume for fun or clothes for a part in a play. 穿上戏装。◆ Mary was dressed up to play Cinderella in her school play. 玛丽穿上戏装在学校的演出中扮演灰姑娘。2. To make (something) look different; make (something) seem better or more important. 装饰；添枝加叶地讲述。◆ A fresh coat of paint will dress up the old bicycle very much. 旧自行车上涂一层新漆就会显得漂亮多了。

dribs and drabs　n. phr. Portions; small bits. 点点滴滴；少量；零零星星。◆ John paid Oliver back what he owed him in dribs and drabs. 约翰把欠奥利弗的钱零零星星地还给了他。

drift apart　v. phr. To gradually become estranged from one another; said of married couples or formerly close friends.（夫妻或好朋友）逐渐疏远。◆ "I don't understand what happened to Mary and John. They were as close as you can be." "Well, after she finished college and started to work as a nurse, they just drifted apart. She is now marred to a doctor."“我不懂玛丽和约翰之间发生了什么。他们本来是非常亲密的。”“唔，在她大学毕业开始做了护士之后，他们就逐渐疏远了。现在她嫁给了一位医生。”

drift off　v. phr. 1. To fall asleep. 睡着。◆ He kept nodding and drifting off to sleep while the lecturer was speaking. 演讲者演讲时，他一直在打瞌睡。2. To depart; leave gradually. 离开；逐渐离去。◆ One by one, the sailboats drifted off over the horizon. 一艘艘帆船依次离去，消失在地平线下。

drink down　v. phr. To drink in one gulp; swallow entirely. 一饮而尽；喝光。◆ Steve was so thirsty that he drank down six glasses of orange juice in rapid succession. 史蒂夫口渴得很，一口气连喝了6杯橘子汁。

drink in　v. phr. To absorb with great interest. 陶醉于；欣赏。◆ The tourists stood on the beach drinking in the wonderful Hawaiian sunset. 旅游者们站在海滩上，陶醉于夏威夷日落的美景。

drink like a fish　v. phr. To drink (alcoholic beverages) in great quantities; to be addicted to alcohol. 大量地喝酒；豪饮；酗酒。◆ John is a nice guy but, unfortunately, he drinks like a fish. 约翰是个好人，但遗憾的是，他喜欢酗酒。

drink up　v. phr. To finish drinking; empty one's glass. 喝完；喝光。◆ "Drink up that cough syrup," the nurse said, "and never mind the taste."“把那杯止咳糖浆喝完，”护士说，“不要管味道好不好。”

drive a bargain or drive a hard bargain　v. phr. 1. To buy or sell at a good price; succeed in a trade or deal. 以好价买卖；成功交易。◆ Jack drove a hard bargain with the real estate agent when we bought his new house. 我们买新房子时，杰克跟房地产经纪人拼命杀价最后以低价成交。2. To make an agreement that is better for you than for the other person; make an agreement to your advantage. 达成对己有利的协议；迫使对方接受苛刻的条件。◆ The French drove a hard bargain in demanding that Germany pay fully for World War I damages. 法国人坚持苛刻的条件，要求德国完全赔偿第一次世界大战的损失。

drive at　v. To try or want to say; mean. — Used in the present participle. 想谈；要谈；意指。——用于进行时。◆ Jack had been talking for half an hour before anyone realized what he was driving at. 杰克讲了半个小时，别人才明白了他的意思。

drive home　v. phr. To argue convincingly; make a strong point. 提出令人信服的理由；把…谈得透彻明白。◆ The doctor's convincing arguments and explanation of his X-ray pictures drove home the point to Max that he needed surgery. 医生令人信服的论证和对其X光片的说明使马克斯充分理解了他的观点：他需要做外科手术。

drive-in　adj. /n. A kind of movie theater, fast food restaurant, or church, where the customers, spectators, or worshippers do not leave their automobiles but are served the food inside their cars, can watch a motion picture from inside their cars, or can participate in a religious service in their cars.“免下车”影院；“免下车”餐馆；“免下车”教堂。◆ Let's not waste time on the road; let's just eat at the next drive-in restaurant. 咱们就不要在路上浪费时间了；咱们就在下一个“免下车”餐馆吃东西吧。◆ There is a drive-in theater not far from where we live. 离我们住的地方不远有一家“免下车”影院。

drive off　1. v. phr. To stave off an attacker. 击退。◆ The army drove off the attackers with much effort and many casualties. 军队付出巨大的努力和大量的伤亡才击退了敌人的进攻。2. To make go away; to get rid of something. 赶走；驱除。◆ These pills will help you to drive off your headaches. 这些药片有助于你祛除头痛。

drive someone ape, bananas, crazy, mad or nuts　v. phr., informal To irritate, frustrate, or tickle someone's fancy so badly that they think they are going insane. 〖非正式〗使某人生气；使某人恼火；逼得某人发疯；逼得某人受不了。◆ "Stop teasing me, Mary," John said. "You are driving me nuts."“不要再惹我了，玛丽，”约翰说。“你要逼得我发疯了。”◆ "You are driving me bananas with all your crazy riddles," Steve said.“你那些荒唐的谜语要把我逼疯了，”史蒂夫说。

drive someone bananas or drive someone nuts or drive someone ape　v. phr., slang, informal To excite someone to the point that he or she goes out of his or her mind; to drive someone crazy. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗逼得某人发疯。◆ You're driving me bananas/nuts with that kind of talk 你那种话真让我受不了。

drive someone up the wall　See见DRIVE someone APE, BANANAS, CRAZY, MAD, or NUTS.

drive to the wall　v. phr. To defeat someone completely; to ruin someone. 把…逼至绝境；使…走投无路。◆Poor Uncle Jack was driven to the wall by his angry creditors when his business failed. 可怜的杰克叔叔生意破产后，被那些气愤的债主逼得走投无路。

drool over　v. phr. To show too much love to the point of being disgusting. 对…过分表示喜爱；对…过分疼爱。◆ "Stop drooling over your puppy dog; you'll become the laughingstock of the whole neighborhood."“别再对你的小狗那么溺爱了；你要成为整个居民区的笑柄了。”

drop a bomb　See见DROP A BRICK, PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT, PUT ONE'S FOOT IN ONE'S MOUTH.

drop a bombshell　v. phr. To announce some sensationally good or shockingly bad news. 宣布爆炸性消息；宣布令人震惊（或轰动）的消息。◆ Freddy dropped a bombshell when he told his astonished parents that he had just married a widow with seven children. 弗雷迪告诉父母说他刚刚娶了一个带着7个孩子的寡妇，这简直就像爆炸了一颗炸弹，令他的父母大吃一惊。

drop a brick　See见PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT.

drop a line　v. phr. To write someone a short letter or note. 写封短信；写张便条。◆ Please drop me a line when you get to Paris; I'd like to know that you've arrived safely. 你到了巴黎，请给我寄封短信来；我想知道你已平安到达。

drop back　v. To move or step backwards; retreat. 后退；撤退。◆ The soldiers dropped back before the enemy's attack. 士兵们在敌人的进攻面前撤退了。◆ The quarterback dropped back to pass the football. 四分卫后退传球。

drop behind　v. phr. To fail to remain level on a par with an individual or a group of people. 落后于；落在…后面。◆ When Joe started to smoke pot, his schoolwork dropped behind that of his classmates. 在乔开始吸大麻烟之后，他的学业就落在了同学们的后面。

drop by or stop by　v. 1. or drop around To make a short or unplanned visit; go on a call or errand; stop at someone's home. 顺便拜访；顺便办事；来串门儿。◆ Drop by any time you're in town. 进城时请顺便来坐坐。◆ My sister dropped around last night. 昨晚我妹妹来了一会。◆ Don't forget to stop by at the gas station. 别忘了去一趟加油站。Syn. 同义短语DROP IN. 2. or drop into To stop (somewhere) for a short visitor a short time. 顺便进入；顺便访问。◆ We dropped by the club to see if Bill was there, but he wasn't. 我们顺便到俱乐部去了一下，看比尔是不是在那儿，结果他不在那儿。◆ I dropped into the drugstore for some toothpaste and a magazine. 我顺便去杂货店买了牙膏和一本杂志。

drop dead　v., slang To go away or be quiet; stop bothering someone. — Usually used as a command. 〖俚〗走开；别闹；别捣乱。——通常用作命令。◆ "Drop dead!" Bill told his little sister when she kept begging to help him build his model airplane. 比尔的小妹妹老要帮他做飞机模型，比尔就说：“走开！”

drop from the face of the earth　n. phr. To suddenly disappear without letting one's friends and relatives know where one has gone. 从地球表面上突然消失。◆ "Have you dropped from the face of the earth?" Joe asked his kid brother Jeff, when after not seeing him for a year they accidentally met in Hawaii. 当一年不见之后在夏威夷偶然遇到时，乔问他的小弟弟杰夫：“你是不是在地球上突然消失了？”

drop in　v. To make a short or unplanned visit; pay a call.—Often used with on.顺便访问；拜访。——常与on连用。◆ We were just sitting down to dinner when Uncle Willie dropped in on us. 我们刚要坐下来吃饭，威利叔叔就来了。

drop in the bucket　n. phr. A relatively small amount; a small part of the whole. 沧海一粟；九牛一毛；微量；一小部分。◆ Our university needs several million dollars for its building renovation project; $50,000 is a mere drop in the bucket. 我们大学的校舍整修计划需要数百万美元；5万美元只是沧海一粟。

drop names　v. phr. To impress people by mentioning famous names. 把名人的名字挂在嘴边以提高自己的身价。◆ He likes to pretend he's important by dropping a lot of names. 他喜欢把许多名人的名字挂在嘴边以装出一副了不起的样子。

drop off　v. 1. To take (someone or something) part of the way you are going. 途中顺便带（人或物）。◆ Joe asked Mrs. Jones to drop him off at the library on her way downtown. 乔请琼斯太太在开车进城时顺便带他去图书馆。2. To go to sleep. 睡着；入睡。◆ Jimmy was thinking of his birthday party as he dropped off to sleep. 吉米睡觉时还想着它的生日晚会。3. To die. 死亡。◆ The patient dropped off in his sleep. 病人在睡眠中死去。4. or fall off To become less. 减少；下降。◆ Business picked up in the stores during December, but dropped off again after Christmas. 12月份商店的生意有所起色，但圣诞节后又清淡了。

drop off to sleep　v. phr. To unexpectedly and suddenly fall asleep lightly and for a short time, as in a doctor's waiting room, during watching a boring motion picture, etc. （不知不觉地）睡着，入睡。◆ The old lady in Dr. Gordon's waiting room dropped off to sleep; Phyllis woke her up when it was time for her to go in to see him. 老太太在戈登医生的候诊室里不知不觉地就睡着了；该轮到她进去就诊时，菲利斯才把她叫醒。

dropout　n. (stress on drop)（重读drop）Someone who did not finish school, high school and college primarily. 退学生；辍学者。◆ Tim is having a hard time getting a better job as he was a high-school dropout. 蒂姆很难找到一份较好的工作，因为他中学没毕业就退学了。

drop out　v. (stress on out)（重读out）To stop attending; quit; stop; leave. 退出；停止；离开。◆ Teenagers who drop out of high school have trouble finding jobs. 中学辍学的青少年找工作很困难。

drop the ball　v. phr. To drop out of rhythm and make a mistake during the course of an activity; to falter; to miss an important opportunity. 犯错误；把事情搞砸；犹豫；错失良机。◆ I wish that Sam hadn't dropped the ball on his admission to college; now he'll have to remain only a high school graduate. 要是萨姆在进大学时没有犹豫就好了；现在他只能是一名高中毕业生了。

drown one's sorrows or drown one's troubles　v. phr., informal To drink liquor to try to forget something unhappy. 〖非正式〗借酒浇愁。◆ When his wife was killed in an auto accident, Mr. Green tried to drown his sorrows in whiskey. 格林先生在妻子遇车祸丧生后，以威士忌酒来浇愁。

drown out　v. To make so much noise that it is impossible to hear (some other sound).（声音）淹没（或盖过）（另一声音）。◆ The actor's words were drowned out by applause. 演员的台词被观众的掌声淹没了。

drum out of　v. phr. To make someone in the army, a club, a fraternity, etc. leave in shame as punishment for some offense. 开除（某人的）军籍；开除。◆ The young lieutenant, who tried to seduce the general's wife, got drummed out of the army. 那位年轻的中尉因试图诱奸将军的妻子而被开除了军籍。

drum up　v. 1. To get by trying or asking again and again; attract or encourage by continued effort. 竭力争取；招揽（生意）。◆ The car dealer tried to drum up business by adverrising low prices. 那个汽车商试图以价格低廉的广告招揽生意。2. To invent. 杜撰；编造。◆ I will drum up an excuse for coming to see you next week. 我会找个借口下周来看你的。

dry out　v. phr. To cure an alcoholic. 使戒酒。◆ A longtime alcoholic, Uncle Steve is now in the hospital getting dried out. 长期以来嗜酒如命的史蒂夫叔叔现在正在医院里戒酒。

dry up　v. 1. To become dry. 干涸；枯竭。◆ The reservoir dried up during the four-month drought. 水库在4个月的干旱期间干涸了。2. To disappear or vanish as if by evaporating. 消失；烟消云散。◆ The Senator's influence dried up when he was voted out of office. 那位参议员落选后其影响便烟消云散了。

duck out　v. phr. To avoid; escape from something by skillful maneuvering. 躲避；逃避；巧妙地避开。◆ Somehow or other Jack always manages to duck out of any hard work. 杰克总能以这样那样的办法避开艰苦的工作。

duck soup　n., slang 〖俚〗1. A task easily accomplished or one that does not require much effort. 轻而易举的事。◆ That history test was duck soup. 那次历史测验很容易。2. A person who offers no resistance; a pushover. 容易对付的人。◆ "How's the new history teacher?" "He's duck soup."“新来的历史老师怎么样？”“他是个好好先生。”

due east or due west or due north or due south　adv. phr. Directly east, west, north, or south to the degree and minute, without the slightest deviation. 正东；正西；正北；正南。◆ "How do we get to Cape Good Hope, captain?" the smaller boat telegraphed the ocean cruiser. "We lost our sea maps." "Sail due east for twenty miles and you'll run right into it," the captain answered via Morse code.“舰长，我们怎样才能抵达好望角？”小船发电报至巡洋舰询问。“往正东航行20英里即可到达，”舰长用莫尔斯电码复电答道。

due to　prep. Because of; owing to; by reason of. 由于；因为。◆ His injury was due to his careless use of the shotgun. 他的受伤是因为他使用猎枪不当心。

dullsville　n. phr., slang A boring, dull, or uninteresting event. 〖俚〗令人厌烦的东西；单调乏味的东西。◆ "Our grammar class is always a dullsville," the students complained. "Just rules after rules, never a living example."“我们的语法课一直很枯燥乏味，”学生们抱怨说。“都是些规则、规则，从来没有一句生动的例子。”

dumb as a box of rocks　adj. phr. Extremely stupid. 极为愚蠢的。◆ Oliver is handsome and strong enough to be Mr. Universe; unfortunately, however, he is also as dumb as a box of rocks. 奥利弗相貌英俊、体格健壮，足可以成为世界先生，然而遗憾的是，他却极为愚蠢。

dumb bunny　n., slang, informal Any person who is gullible and stupid. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗蠢货；笨蛋。◆ Jack is a regular dumb bunny. 杰克是个十足的笨蛋。

dumb down　v. phr. To leave out details; to put it in laymen's terms省略…的细节，摘要概述；用一般人能听懂的话表述。◆ "I was exploring the biological basis of metabolic respiration and found that lipids provide the most energy potential, followed by proteins and carbohydrates, especially polysaccharides." "Dumb it down for me; I'm not a biology major." "OK, I said that eating fats gives you the most energy after proteins, followed by. carbohydrates." “我在探索代谢呼吸的生物学基础，发现脂类提供最多的能量潜力，其次是蛋白质和糖类，尤其是多聚糖。”“请为我用一般人能听懂的话再说一遍吧；我可不是主修生物学的学生。”“好的，我刚才说的是，脂肪为你提供最多的能量，其次是蛋白质，再其次是糖类。”

dumbwaiter　n. A small elevator for carrying food, dishes, etc., from one floor to another in hotels, restaurants, or large homes.（旅馆、饭店内楼层间运送食品、菜肴等的）升降机。◆ The banquet was delayed because the dumbwaiter broke down and the food had to be carried upstairs by hand. 因为运送菜肴的升降机出了故障，食品只得用手端着送上楼，所以宴会推迟了。

dump on someone　v. phr. To take advantage of someone; to deceive. 利用某人；欺骗某人。◆ I have been dumped on so often that I no longer trust people. 我已多次受骗上当，所以再也不相信人了。

dump something on someone　v. phr. To make another do one's work in one's place, most often without any compensation and without asking the victim's consent. 把（自己的工作）硬推给某人做。◆ Stanley is a nasty and selfish boss; he dumps all the work on the unsuspecting, overworked, and reluctant employees in the office. 斯坦利是个卑鄙自私的老板；他把所有的工作都推给办公室里那些没有猜疑心、过分劳累而又不情愿的雇员去做。

dust off　v., informal 〖非正式〗1. To get ready to use again. 把（长期不用的东西）备好待用。◆ Four years after he graduated from school, Tom decided to dust off his algebra book. 从学校毕业4年之后，汤姆决定重温代数。2. To throw a baseball pitch close to.（投手）向（击球手）投近身球。◆ The pitcher dusted off the other team's best hitter. 投手向对方最好的击球手投出一个近身球，使他无法击球。

Dutch courage　n. phr. Courage artificially induced by strong drink. 酒后之勇。◆ Those guys over there look like a really tough bunch, but I bet you it's nothing but Dutch courage. I saw them come out of the bar a moment ago. 那边那些家伙看上去真像是伙暴徒，但我敢说那只是酒后之勇。我刚看到他们从酒吧里出来。

dutch treat　n., informal A meal in a restaurant or an outing at the movies, concert, or theater where each party pays his or her own way. 〖非正式〗各自付费的聚餐（或娱乐活动）。◆ "I am willing to accept your invitation," Mary said, "but it will have to be Dutch treat."“我愿意接受你的邀请，”玛丽说，“但我们必须各自付费。”

duty bound　adj. phr. Forced to act by what you believe is right. 责无旁贷的，义不容辞的；理应如此的。◆ John felt duty bound to report that he had broken the window. 约翰觉得理应去报告他打破了窗子一事。

duty calls　n. phr. One must attend to one's obligations. 责任在召唤；有义务要履行。◆ "I'd love to stay and play more poker," Henry said, "but duty calls and I must get back to the office."“我很愿意留下来多打会儿扑克，”亨利说，“但我还有工作要做，所以必须回办公室去。”

dwell on or dwell upon　v. To stay on a subject; not leave something or want to leave; not stop talking or writing about. 老是想着；停留在；凝视；详论。◆ Joe dwelt on his mistake long after the test was over. 考试过去很久了，乔还老是想着自己的错误。◆ Our eyes dwelled on the beautiful sunset. 我们凝视着夕阳西下的美景。◆ The principal dwelled on traffic safety in his talk. 校长在讲话中反复强调了交通安全。

dyed-in-the-wool　adj. phr. Thoroughly committed; inveterate; unchanging. 彻头彻尾的，十足的；根深蒂固的；顽固不化的。◆ Max is a dyedin-the-wool Conservative Republican. 马克斯是一个彻头彻尾的保守的共和党人。

dying to　adj. phr. Having a great desire to; being extremely eager to. 渴望的，极为热切的。◆ Seymour is dying to date Mathilda, but she keeps refusing him. 西摩极想与玛蒂尔达约会，但她一直拒绝他。

◆E◆

each and every　adj. phr. Every. —Used for emphasis. 每一个。——用以强调。◆ The captain wants each and every man　to be here at eight o'clock. 船长要每一个人都在8点钟到这儿来。

eager beaver　n. phr., slang A person who is always eager to work or do anything extra, perhaps to win the favor of his leader or boss. 〖俚〗（也许是为了讨好上司而）做事情特别卖力的人。◆ Jack likes his teacher and works hard for her, but his classmates call him an eager beaver. 杰克喜欢他的老师，为她做事非常卖力，但同学们却认为他只是要讨好老师而已。

eager for the fray or ready for the fray　adj. phr. Anxious to fight or struggle, or to participate in a competitive game. 渴望战斗；渴望比赛。◆ The college basketball team was eager for the fray. 那支大学篮球队渴望参加比赛。

eagle eye　n. Sharp vision like that of an eagle; the ability to notice even the tiniest details. 锐利的目光；观察的敏锐；密切注意。◆ The new boss keeps an eagle eye on all aspects of our operation. 新老板密切注视着我们工作的各个方面。

early bird　n. An early riser from bed. 早起者。◆ Jane and Tom are real early birds; they get up at 6 A. M. every morning. 简和汤姆起得真早；他们每天早晨6点钟就起床。

early bird catches the worm or early bird gets the worm　A person who gets up early in the morning has the best chance of succeeding; if you arrive early or are quicker, you get ahead of others. — A proverb. 〖谚〗早起的鸟儿有虫吃；捷足者先登。◆ When Billy's father woke him up for school he said, "The early bird catches the worm." 每当比利的父亲叫醒他去上学时总是说：“早起的鸟儿有虫吃。”

earn a living or make a living　v. phr. To earn enough money to cover all basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; to be gainfully employed. 谋生。◆ "There has to be an easier way to make a living than collecting garbage in Chicago," Joe said. "Go back to school, then," his father suggested, "then you can earn a living as a computer programmer, clerk, whatever you care to study!"“总该有一个比在芝加哥捡垃圾更容易一些的谋生之路吧，”乔说。“那就再回到学校去吧，”他的父亲建议说。“不管你愿意学什么都可以，你可以成为一名电脑程序编制员或一名职员借以谋生。”

earn one's keep　v. phr. To merit one's salary or keep by performing the labor or chores that are expected of one. 值得雇用。◆ John earned his keep at the music conservatory by cleaning all the musical instruments every day. 约翰在音乐学院每天都把所有的乐器擦干净，他值得雇用。

ears burn　informal To feel embarrassment or shame at hearing others talk about you. 〖非正式〗耳根发热；害羞。◆ Joan overheard the girls criticizing her and it made her ears burn. 琼无意中听到了女孩子们在批评她，这使她耳根发热。

ear to the ground　n. phr., informal Attention directed to the way things are going, or seem likely to go, or to the way people feel and think. 〖非正式〗对事态发展的关注；对舆论动向的注意。◆ Reporters keep an ear to the ground so as to know as soon as possible what will happen. 记者们一直注意社会上的动态，以便尽早知道会发生什么事情。

ease off or ease up　v. To make or become less nervous; relax; work easier.（使）放松；减轻。◆ When the boss realized that John had been overworking, he eased off his load. 当老板意识到约翰一直在超负荷工作时，便减轻了他的工作负担。

easier said than done　adj. phr. This idiom is often heard when one braggingly suggests that he or she can accomplish something difficult, meaning that talking is much less than acting. — A proverb. 〖谚〗说来容易做来难。◆ "I've decided to swim across Lake Michigan on Christmas day," Johnny said. "That's easier said than done, son," his father replied.“我已决定在圣诞节那天横游密歇根湖，”约翰尼说。“这说起来容易真要游起来就难了，儿子，”他的父亲说。

easy come, easy go　truncated sent. informal Something you get quickly and easily may be lost or spent just as easily. 〖非正式〗来得容易去得快。◆ Grandfather thought Billy should have to work for the money Father gave him, saying "Easy come, easy go." 祖父认为比利应该做工来换取父亲给他的钱，他说：“钱来得容易花得也快。”

easy does it　informal Let's do it carefully, without sudden movements and without forcing too hard or too fast; let's try just hard enough but not too hard. 〖非正式〗小心行事；悠着点；不要急。◆ "Easy does it," said the boss as they moved the piano through the narrow doorway. 他们搬动钢琴通过狭窄的门口时，老板说：“不要急，慢慢来。”

easygoing　adj. Amiable in manner; relaxed; not excited. 脾气随和的；不慌不忙的；从容的。◆ Because Al has an easygoing personality, everybody loves him. 因为艾尔生性随和，大家都喜欢他。

easy mark　n. A foolishly generous person; one from whom it is easy to get money. 容易上当的人；傻瓜。◆ Bill is known to all the neighborhood beggars as an easy mark. 邻近地区的乞丐都知道比尔是个容易上当的人。

easy money　n. informal Money gained without hard work; money that requires little or no effort. 〖非正式〗来得容易的钱；得来不费力的钱。◆ The movie rights to a successful play mean easy money to the writer of the play. 成功的剧本改编成电影的制片权对剧本作者来说是得来不费力的钱。

eat at　v. phr. To irritate; to bother; to gradually bring to ruin. 使烦躁；使恼怒；烦扰；使逐渐毁灭。◆ "What's eating at you anyway?" Joe asked his brother. "I guess I am upset because I had a fight with my boss at work."“到底是什么使你烦躁不安呢？”乔问他的弟弟。“我想我烦恼是因为我在工作时跟老板吵了一架。”

eat away　v. 1. To rot, rust, or destroy. 腐蚀；使生锈；毁坏。◆ Rust was eating away the pipe. 铁锈腐蚀着管子。◆ Cancer ate away the healthy flesh. 癌症逐渐侵蚀了健康的肌肉组织。2. To gradually consume. 逐渐消耗；侵蚀。◆ The ocean waves were gradually eating the volcanic rocks until they turned into black sand. 海浪逐渐侵蚀着火山岩，直到它们变为黑沙。

eat away at　v. phr. To psychologically gnaw at; to worry someone. 心理上折磨；烦扰。◆ Fear of the comprehensive examination was eating away at Sam. 对综合考试的恐惧使萨姆忧心忡忡。

eat crow　v. phr. To admit you are mistaken or defeated; take back a mistaken statement. 承认错误；认输；收回已说的话。◆ John had boasted that he would play on the first team; but when the coach did not choose him, he had to eat crow. 约翰曾吹嘘说他将作为一队的队员参加比赛，但教练却没有选他，他只得承认自己不行。

eat dirt　v. phr., informal To act humble; accept another's insult or bad treatment. 〖非正式〗低声下气；卑躬屈膝；含垢忍辱；忍气吞声。◆ Mr. Johnson was so afraid of losing his job that he would eat dirt whenever the boss got mean. 约翰逊先生唯恐失去工作，所以老板待他苛刻时，他总是忍气吞声。

eat (live) high on the hog or eat (live) high off the hog　v. phr. To eat or live well or elegantly. 吃得好；生活得好。◆ For the first few days after the check arrived, they ate high on the hog. 支票来后的最初几天，他们吃得很好。

eat humble pie　v. phr. To be humbled; to accept insult or shame; admit your error and apologize. 忍气吞声；忍辱含垢；认错道歉。◆ Tom told a lie about George, and when he was found out, he had to eat humble pie. 汤姆造乔治的谣言，被拆穿后，只得向乔治认错道歉。

eat in　v. phr. To eat at home instead of going to a restaurant. 在家里吃饭。◆ It would be nice not to have to cook a meal at home, but we are broke, so we'll just eat in. 不需要在家里做饭固然不错，但我们没钱，所以只好在家里吃饭。

eating someone　v. phr. To cause someone to be angry or ill-humored. 使某人生气；使某人烦恼。◆ We can't figure out what's eating Burt, but he hasn't spoken one pleasant word all day. 我们弄不懂伯特为什么烦恼，他整整一天没说过一句开心的话。

eat like a bird　v. phr. To eat very little; have little appetite. 吃得极少；胃口小。◆ Mrs. Benson is on a diet and she eats like a bird. 本森太太正在节食，她吃得极少。

eat like a horse　v. phr. To eat a lot; eat hungrily. 吃得很多；狼吞虎咽。◆ The harvesters worked into the evening, and then came in and ate like horses. 收割庄稼的人一直工作到晚上，回来后便狼吞虎咽地大吃一顿。

eat one's cake and have it too　v. phr. To use or spend something and still keep it; have both when you must choose one of two things. —Often used in negative sentences. 连吃带拿；两者兼得。——常用于否定句。◆ Mary wants to buy a beautiful dress she saw at the store, but she also wants to save her birthday money for camp. She wants to eat her cake and have it too. 玛丽想买她在商店里看到的一件漂亮衣服，但她又想省下她生日的钱去野营。她想两者兼得。

eat one's fill　v. phr. To eat as much as one's stomach can hold; until one is completely satisfied, feeling no more hunger. 尽量吃；吃个饱。◆ We were so poor in Eastern Europe during World War II that nobody ever had a chance to eat his fill. 第二次世界大战期间我们在东欧穷得很，从未有人有机会吃饱肚子。

eat one's heart out　v. phr. To grieve long and hopelessly; to become thin and weak from sorrow. 闷闷不乐；深感忧伤；因忧伤而变得憔悴。◆ For months after her husband's death, Joanne simply ate her heart out. 乔安妮在丈夫死后几个月里简直悲痛欲绝。

eat one's words also swallow one's words　v. phr. To take back something you have said; admit something is not true. 收回前言；承认错误。◆ John had called Harry a coward, but the boys made him eat his words after Harry bravely fought a big bully. 约翰说哈里是胆小鬼，但在哈里勇敢地与一个流氓搏斗过以后，男孩子们迫使他收回了前言。

eat out　v. 1. To eat in a restaurant; eat away from home. 在外边吃饭；下馆子。◆ Fred ate out often even when he wasn't out of town. 弗雷德即使不出远门，也经常在饭店里吃饭。2. To rust, rot, or be destroyed in time. 锈坏；侵蚀。◆ Rust had eaten out the gun barrel. 枪管已经锈坏了。

eat out of sb.'s hand　v. phr., informal To trust someone fully; believe or obey someone without question. 〖非正式〗完全听命于某人；完全相信（或顺从）某人。◆ Helen is so pretty and popular that all the boys eat out of her hand. 海伦既漂亮又讨人喜欢，所有的男孩都对她俯首听命。

eat someone out of house and home　v. phr. 1. To eat so much as to cause economic hardship. 把某人吃穷；吃光某人的家当。◆ Our teenaged sons are so hungry all the time that they may soon eat us out of house and home. 我们那几个十几岁的儿子整天肚子饿，也许他们很快就会把我们吃得倾家荡产。2. To overstay one's welcome. 因呆得太久而不再受某人欢迎。◆ We love Bob and Jane very much, but after two weeks we started to feel that they were eating us out of house and home. 我们很爱鲍勃和简，但两个星期后我们开始觉得他们在我们家呆得太久了，我们有点厌烦了。

eat up　v. 1. To eat all of. 吃完；吃光。◆ After hiking all afternoon, they quickly ate up all of the dinner. 徒步走了整整一个下午后，他们很快就把晚餐吃了个净光。2. To use all of. 用完；消耗。◆ Idle talk had eaten up the hour before they knew it. 闲聊很快就把他们的时间消耗掉了。3. slang To accept eagerly; welcome. 〖俚〗热切地接受；愉快地接受。◆ Jim told Martha that she was as smart as she was beautiful and Martha ate it up. 吉姆称赞玛莎既漂亮又聪明，玛莎听了心里乐滋滋的。

eavesdrop or be a fly on the wall　v. phr. To overhear surreptitiously and furtively what others are saying to each other in confidence. 偷听。◆ If you want to find out what those thieves are up to, you will have to eavesdrop on their conversations. 如果你想弄清楚那些小偷想干什么，你就必须偷听他们的谈话才行。◆ I'd love to be a fly on the wall when the Nobel Committee is deliberating on who to give next year's Peace Prize to. 在诺贝尔奖评选委员会讨论将明年的和平奖授予何人时，我真想在一旁偷听。

edge away　v. phr. To withdraw or retreat gradually. 逐步后退；悄悄离开。◆ Frightened by the growling tiger guarding its catch, the hunter carefully edged away. 守护着捕获物的老虎咆哮不已，猎人吓得小心翼翼地离开了。

edge in　v. To move slowly; get in quietly, especially with some difficulty, by force or without a big enough opening. 慢慢移动；悄悄挤入；费力地挤入。◆ People had crowded around the senator, but Don succeeded in edging in. 人们拥挤在参议员周围，但唐却成功地挤到了他身边。◆ Harry edged the book in on the shelf. 哈里把书插进书架。

edge in (on)　v. phr. 1. To gradually approach an individual or a group with the intent of taking over or wielding power. 慢慢接近（某人）意欲取而代之；设法进入（某组织）意欲掌权。◆ Jack was edging in on the firm of Smith and Brown and after half a year actually became its vice president. 杰克设法进了史密斯-布朗公司，半年后竟成了公司的副总裁。2. To approach for capture (said of a group).（一群人等）接近以捕获。◆ The hunters were edging in on the wounded leopard. 猎人们向受伤的豹一点点地逼近。

edge out　v. To defeat in competition or rivalry; take the place of; force out. 击败；替代；排挤掉。◆ Harry edged out Tom for a place in Mary's affections. 哈里击败汤姆而赢得了玛丽的爱。

egg on　v. To urge on; excite; lead to action. 怂恿；煽动；唆使。◆ Joe's wife egged him on to spend money to show off. 乔的妻子怂恿他花钱来炫耀自己。

egg on one's face　n. phr. Embarrassment; humiliation caused by a claim made, which subsequently turns out to be false. 难堪；羞辱；丢脸。◆ Tim announced with great relish that he got the directorship of the firm. He sure had a lot of egg on his face the next day, when it turned out that he was not even considered for the post. 蒂姆洋洋得意地声称自己已成为公司的经理。当第二天结果表明他甚至未被作为考虑的人选时，他当然极为难堪。

ego trip　n. phr. An action that gives the person involved a sensation of being far more important than he or she actually is; a "delusion of grandeur." 自吹自擂；夸大妄想。◆ With all that talk about how many women he had during his lifetime, Ted is on one hell of an ego trip. 在谈到他一生有过多少女人时，泰德绝对是在大吹大擂。

either a feast or a famine　See FEAST OR A FAMINE.

either hide or hair　See HIDE OR HAIR.

eke out　v. 1. To fill out or add a little to; increase a little. 弥补…的不足。◆ Mr. Jones eked out a country teacher's small salary by hunting and trapping in the winter. 琼斯先生靠冬天进行的捕猎来弥补乡村教员微薄薪金的不足。2. To get (little) by hard work; to earn with difficulty. 勉强维持（生计）。◆ Fred eked out a bare living by farming on a rocky hillside. 弗雷德在多岩石的山坡上辛勤耕作，勉强维持生活。

elbow grease　n. Exertion; effort; energy. 费劲；苦干；干劲。◆ "You'll have to use a little more elbow grease to get these windows clean," Mother said to Ed. 母亲对埃德说：“你只要稍微多费一点劲就可以把这些窗子擦干净了。”

elbow one's way into or out of　v. phr. To force entry into a place by using one's elbows.（用肘）挤进或挤出。◆ The bus was so crowded that, in order to get off in time, we had to elbow our way to the exit door. 公共汽车很拥挤，我们为了及时下车，只得用肘挤到车门口。

elbow room　n. Adequate space to move around or to work in. 自由伸展臂肘的空间；宽裕的空间；充足的活动余地。◆ He doesn't require a huge office, but we must at least give him elbow room. 他并不需要一个很大的办公室，但我们至少必须给他足够的活动空间。

eleventh hour　adj. phr. Pertaining to the last minutes; the last opportunity to accomplish a task. 最后时刻的。◆ The editors made several eleventh hour changes in the headlines of the morning paper. 编辑们对晨报的大标题做了好几处最后一刻的改动。

Emerald Isle　n. phr. The popular name of Ireland. 绿宝石岛（爱尔兰的别称）。◆ "Have you ever been to the Emerald Isle?" Kelly asked Patrick. "Unfortunately not," Patrick answered, "but my grandparents live in Dublin, so we're planning to visit them next summer and also to see some of Ireland."“你去过绿宝石岛吗？”凯利问帕特里克。“很遗憾，没去过，”帕特里克回答说，“不过我的祖父母住在都柏林，所以我们计划明年夏天去看他们，并游览爱尔兰的一些地方。”

Empire State　n. phr. The nickname of the state of New York. 帝国州（美国纽约州的别称）。◆ "How did you guess I was from New York? Is it my accent?" Ginny asked. "No," Peter answered, "I just took a peek at your Empire State license plate." “你是怎么猜出我是纽约州来的？是根据我的口音吗？”金尼问。“不，”彼得回答说，“我只是看了一眼你的帝国州汽车牌照。”

end in itself　n. phr. Something wanted for its own sake; a purpose, aim, or goal we want for itself alone and not as a way to something else. 目标本身。◆ The miser never spent his gold because for him it was an end in itself. 那个守财奴从来不花自己的金子，因为对他来说，储存金子就是他追求的目标本身。

end of one's rope or end of one's tether　n. phr., informal The end of your trying or imagining; the last of your ability, or ideas of how to do more. 〖非正式〗（努力、想象力的）极限，终极；（能力、办法的）最后部分。◆ Frank was out of work and broke, and he was at the end of his rope. 弗兰克失业后一文不名，已经到了山穷水尽的地步。◆ The doctor saw that Mother had reached the end of her tether, and told us to send her away for a holiday. 医生看到母亲身心疲惫之极，便告诉我们让她外出度假。

end of the world　n. phr. A tragic event. 世界末日。◆ "It's not the end of the world, John, that Suzie doesn't want to marry you right now. Ask her again in a few months."“苏茜现在不想嫁给你并不是世界的末日，约翰。过几个月再向她求婚嘛。”

end run　n. A football play in which a back tries to run around one end of the opponent's line.（美式橄榄球比赛中的）端线外侧迂回进攻。◆ Smith's end run scored the winning touchdown. 史密斯的端线外侧迂回进攻冲过了对方的底线而触地得分，为他的球队赢得了胜利。

ends of the earth　n. phr. 1. Some of the most distant locations on planet earth. 遥远的地方；天涯海角。◆ I have traveled for twenty years with the U. S. Navy; I have been literally to the ends of the earth. 我随美国海军游历了20年，可以毫不夸张地说曾到过天涯海角。2. Unlimited effort exerted to gain someone's love.（为赢得某人的爱所作的）无限努力。◆ "For you, my love, I'd go to the ends of the earth, if you will only have me."“为了你，我的爱，我愿上刀山下火海，只要你肯接受我。”

end up　v. 1. To come to an end; be ended or finished; stop. 结束；停止。◆ How does the story end up？这故事是怎么结束的？2. To finally reach or arrive; land. 最后到达；陷入。◆ I hope you don't end up in jail. 我希望你最后不要坐牢。3. informal To die, be killed. 〖非正式〗死亡；被杀。◆ The gangster ended up in the electric chair. 歹徒最终被送上电椅处死。4. or finish up. To put an end to; finish; stop. 使结束；完成；停止。◆ The politician finally ended up his speech. 那位政客终于结束了他的演说。

end zone　n. Either of the marked areas behind the goal line.（美式橄榄球球门线到底线的）球门区。◆ He caught a pass in the end zone for a touchdown. 他在球门区内接到一个传球而触地得分。

engage in small talk　v. phr. To converse with a stranger or casual acquaintance about matters of. no great importance in order to make the time go faster. 闲谈，聊天。◆ The patients in the doctor's waiting room engaged in small talk complaining about the hot weather. 候诊室里的病人们在聊天，抱怨天气太热。

English as (she) is spoken　n. phr. A humorous way to refer to the English language as it is spoken by foreigners or by illiterate natives. 外国人说的英语；不纯正的英语。◆ The familiar phrases "Long time no see" and "No can do" are examples of English as she is spoken.“Long time no see（好久没见了）”和“No can do （不行，不可以）”这类常见的说法就是典型的洋泾浜英语。

enlarge on or enlarge upon or expand on or expand upon　v. To talk or write more about; say or explain more completely or at greater length. 进一步详述；细说。◆ The teacher enlarged on the uses of atomic power. 老师更详细地讲述了原子能的用途。

en masse　adv. phr. As a group; in one big mass or group. —Used after the word it modifies. 成群；结队；一起。——用于所修饰的词之后。◆ The school turned out en masse to cheer the returning astronaut. 整个学校一起出动，向归来的宇航员欢呼致意。

enough is enough　That's enough, let's not have any more; that will do, let's cut it short; that's the limit, let's stop there. 够了；别再说了；适可而止。◆ "I don't mind good clean fun, but enough is enough," the principal said. 校长说：“我并不反对无伤大雅的玩笑，但要适可而止。”

enter into　v. phr. To begin something. 开始。◆ The parties entered into negotiations in earnest about the salary raises. 双方就加薪之事开始了认真的谈判。◆ John entered into chemotherapy against a milder form of cancer. 约翰开始了对一种轻微癌症的化疗。

entertain hopes or entertain high hopes　v. phr. To feel very optimistic that a planned activity will succeed as anticipated. 抱有希望；抱有很高的希望。◆ Joe entertained high hopes of being able to marry his boss' daughter, who was the heiress to a huge fortune. 乔抱有很高的希望能娶到老板的女儿，她是一笔巨大财富的继承人。

equal to　adj. phr. Able to meet, do, or control; able to do something about. 有…的能力；能胜任…的。◆ The situation took quick thinking, but John was equal to it. 这种局面需要敏捷的思维，但约翰足以胜任。◆ When a guest upset the coffee pot, Mrs. Smith's tact and quickness of mind were equal to the occasion. 当一位客人打翻了咖啡壶时，史密斯太太凭她的机敏和聪明应付得天衣无缝。

equal to the occasion　adj. phr. Capable of handling the situation. 能应付局面的；能应付自如的。◆ Although he had never before assisted in childbirth, the taxi driver proved equal to the occasion and helped deliver the baby in his cab. 虽然出租汽车司机从未做过助产工作，但他却应付自如，在出租车上帮助产妇产下了婴儿。

errand of mercy　n. phr. A trip taken with the intention of bringing good news to someone in need; to bring food or medicine, or the like, without expectation of payment or recompense. 仁慈之行，仁慈之举（给需要的人送去好消息、食物或药品等）。◆ Sister Prudence got on her bicycle to run a series of errands of mercy in her neighborhood, where many elderly handicapped people lived. 普鲁登斯修女骑上自行车，在她那个有许多年老的残疾人居住的地区里跑来跑去，做着一件件的善事。

escape unscathed　v. phr. To get away from a dangerous situation or captivity without any bodily harm to oneself. 未受伤害地逃出；安全逃出。◆ The captive American marines took a vote to try to leave the enemy prisoner of war camp, and managed to escape unscathed. 被俘的美国海军陆战队官兵投票决定逃离敌人的战俘营，最终竟毫发无损地逃了出来。

even a worm will turn　v. phr. When pushed into a corner, even a generally cautious or cowardly person will fight back. 蠕虫被踩也会翻腾；逼急了温顺者也会反抗；人急造反，狗急跳墙。◆ John may look like a weak push-over, but don't press him too hard, because even a worm will turn. 约翰也许看上去像个懦弱可欺之人，但不要逼他太甚，因为逼急了再温顺的人也会反抗。

even Homer sometimes nods　Even a great poet or novelist may produce boring or less successful passages. —A proverb. 〖谚〗荷马也有打盹时；智者千虑，必有一失。◆ I've been reading Tolstoy's War and Peace but I must confess that I sometimes felt like falling asleep. I guess it's because even Homer sometimes nods. 我最近在读托尔斯泰的《战争与和平》，但我必须承认，我有时候也会觉得好像要睡着一样。我想这是因为再伟大的作家有时也难免有败笔。

even so　adv. Although that is true; nevertheless; still. 虽然如此；即使是这样。◆ The fire was out, but even so, the smell of smoke was strong. 火已熄灭，但即使如此烟味仍很浓。

even Steven　adj. phr. Free of indebtedness toward one another. 互不欠债的；谁也不欠谁的。◆ "You have paid me back my $100," John said, "so now we're even Steven."“你已还了欠我的100美元，”约翰说，“现在我们谁也不欠谁了。”

ever and anon　adv. phr. Every now and then; intermittently. 时而，不时地；断断续续地。◆ "Do you still write poetry?" Tim asked. "Yeah, sort of ever and anon," the old poet answered.“你还在写诗吗？”蒂姆问。“是的，偶尔还写写，”老诗人回答说。

ever so much　adv. Very much; truly. 非常；万分。◆ I am ever so much in your debt for your kind assistance when I needed it most. 我非常感激你在我最需要的时候所给予我的友好帮助。

everybody and his dog　v. phr. Absolutely everyone; the whole community. 所有的人；整个社区。◆ "Don't shout so loud, for heaven's sake!" Valerie complained in a bitter voice. "Do you want everybody and his dog to hear that we're having a fight?"“看在上帝分上，别那么大声嚷嚷！”瓦莱里声音尖刻地抱怨说。“你想让所有的人都听到我们在吵架吗？”

every cloud has a silver lining　Every trouble bas something hopeful that you can see in it, like the bright edge around a dark cloud. —A proverb. 〖谚〗天无绝人之路；柳暗花明；每一朵黑云都有光明的边沿；黑暗中总有一线光明。◆ The doctor told Tommy to cheer up when he had measles. "Every cloud has a silver lining," he said. 汤米出麻疹时，医生让他振作起来。医生说：“黑暗中总有一线光明，你很快就会好的。”

every cock crows on his own dunghill People have a tendency to brag aloud about their bravery or their accomplishments on their own turf. — A proverb.〖谚〗公鸡只在自家粪堆上称雄；狗是百步王，只在门前狂。◆ "It's a bit disgusting how this dictator keeps saying how he is invincible and in the right ," Peter said. "Sure," Tim replied, "every cock crows on his own dunghill."“这个独裁者一直在说自己是何等的不可战胜、永远正确，真有点令人恶心，”彼得说。“确实如此，”蒂姆答道，“每只公鸡都只在自家粪堆上称雄。”

every dog has his day　Everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone is lucky or popular at some time. — A proverb.〖谚〗凡人皆有得意日；风水轮流转。◆ Jack will be able to go to boxing matches like his brother when he grows up. Every dog has his day. 杰克长大后，也能像哥哥一样去参加拳击比赛。人人都有出头之日。

every inch　adv. phr. To the last part, in every way; completely. 在各方面；十足地；完全地。◆ He was every inch a man. 他是个十足的男子汉。◆Henry looked every inch a soldier. 亨利看上去完全是一副军人的派头。

every Jack has his Jill　For every man there is a suitable woman partner somewhere in the world; one just has to keep looking for her. — A proverb. 〖谚〗人人皆有妻可娶；人各有偶。◆ "I'll never find a suitable woman to marry," Peter complained to his father. "Never fear, son," the father replied, "every Jack has his Jill somewhere."“我将永远也找不到一个合适的女人结婚，”彼得对他的父亲抱怨说。“别担心，儿子，”父亲回答说，“每个男人都可以在某个地方找到配偶的。”

every last man also every man jack　n. phr. Every single man; each man without exception. 人人；个个。◆ I want every last man to be here on time tomorrow morning. 我要每个人明天早上都准时到这儿。◆ Every man jack of you must do his duty. 每个人都必须各尽其职。

every man has his price　A set phrase stating that every human being can be bought if the price is high enough. — A proverb.〖谚〗人各有价；人都可以被收买。◆ "Although common wisdom has it that every man has his price, I for one will never betray my country," the young American soldier said proudly. "We'll see," Ivan Ivanovich Smerdy-akov, the ruthless Soviet agent replied. “虽然人们普遍认为人各有价，但拿我来说，我就永远不会背叛我的祖国。”年轻的美国士兵自豪地说。“咱们等着瞧，”冷酷无情的苏联特工伊凡·伊凡诺维奇·斯莫迪亚柯夫回答说。

every now and then or every now and again or every so often or every once in a while　adv. phr. At fairly regular intervals; fairly often; repeatedly. 不时；时常；重复地。◆ John comes to visit me every now and then. 约翰时常来看望我。◆ It was hot work, but every so often Susan would bring us something cold to drink. 那活儿干起来很热，但苏珊会时时为我们送些冷饮来。

every other　adj. phr. Every second; every alternate. 每隔。◆ The milkman comes every other day. 送牛奶的人每隔一天来一次。

every single or every last　adj. phr. Every. — Used for emphasis. 每一个。——用以加强语气。◆ When she got home she found every last tomato in the box was rotten. 她到了家里，发现箱子里的每一只番茄都烂了。

every so often　See见EVERY NOW AND THEN.

every time one turns around　adv. phr., informal Very often. 〖非正式〗经常。◆ Mr. Winston must be rich. He buys a new suit every time he turns around. 温斯顿先生一定很有钱。他经常添购新服装。

every Tom, Dick, and Harry　See见TOM, DICK, AND HARRY

every which way also any which way　In all directions. 四面八方；到处。◆ Bricks and boards were scattered in confusion on the ground every which way, just as they had fallen after the tornado. 砖头和木板七零八落地四处散堆在地上，就好像是被龙卷风吹落下来的一样。

except for or formal〖正式〗but for　prep. 1. With the exception of; if (a certain person or thing) were left out; omitting. 除了…外；除去，撇开。◆ Except for John, the whole class passed the test. 除了约翰以外，全班都通过了考试。2. Without. 如果没有；要不是由于。◆ I'd have been lost but for you. 要不是你，我早就迷路了。

exception proves the rule　Something unusual that does not follow a rule tests that rule to see if it is true; if there are too many exceptions, the rule is no good. — A proverb. 〖谚〗例外可以证明规律的普遍性；只因存在例外，才证明有普遍规律。◆ Frank is very short but is a good basketball player. He is the exception that proves the rule. 弗兰克很矮，却是名篮球好手。他正是说明有普遍规律存在的那个例外。

excuse oneself　v. phr. 1. To think of reasons for not being to blame; think yourself not at fault. 为自己辩解。◆ John excused himself for his low grades on the ground that the teacher didn't like him. 约翰为自己辩解，说他的成绩不好是因为老师不喜欢他。2. To ask to be excused after doing something impolite. 请求原谅。◆ John excused himself for his tardiness, saying his watch was wrong. 约翰因迟到而请求原谅，说是他的表慢了。3. To ask permission to leave a group or place. 请求准予离开。◆ The committee meeting lasted so long that Mr. Wilkins excused himself to keep an appointment. 委员会的会议持续了很久，威尔金斯先生为赴另一个约会，请求先行离去。

exert oneself　v. phr. To make an effort; try hard; work hard. 努力；尽力。◆ Susan exerted herself all year to earn good marks. 苏珊整年努力以期取得好分数。◆ Jerry exerted himself to please the new girl. 杰里尽力讨好他的新女友。

expand on or expand upon　See见ENLARGE ON or ENLARGE UPON.

explain away　v. To explain (something) so that it does not seem true or important. 把…解释过去；为…辩解。◆ John explained away his unfinished homework by showing the teacher his broken arm in a cast. 约翰把上了石膏的断臂给老师看，说明了他没有完成作业的原因。

explain oneself　v. phr. 1. To make your meaning plainer; make your first statement clear. 把自己的意思解释清楚。◆ When we didn't understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself. 当我们无法理解弗里茨的意思时，他接着又更清晰地解释了一番。2. To give a good reason for something you did or failed to do which seems wrong. 解释自己的行为。◆ When Jack brought Mary home at three o'clock in the morning, her father asked him to explain himself. 当杰克凌晨3点才把玛丽送回家时，玛丽的父亲要他说明原因。

explode a bombshell　v. phr., informal To say something startling; suggest or show something astonishing or shocking. 〖非正式〗说出惊人之事；作惊人之举。◆ The police exploded a bombshell when they arrested the kindly old banker for stealing money from the bank. 警察因为偷银行钱而逮捕了那位仁慈的银行老职员，这事简直就像爆炸了一颗炸弹那样令人大吃一惊。

express oneself　v. phr. To say what you think or feel; put your thoughts or feelings into words by speaking or writing. 表达自己的思想（或感情）。◆ The boy expressed himself well in debate. 那男孩在辩论中能很好地表达自己的思想。

extend one's sympathy to　v. phr. To offer one's condolences on the occasion of a death or similarly tragic event. 向…表示慰问。◆ All of Tom's colleagues extended their sympathy to him when his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. 汤姆的妻子和女儿遇车祸身亡后，他所有的同事都向他表示了慰问。

eye-catcher　n. Something that strongly attracts the eye. 引人注目的人（或物）。◆ That new girl in our class is a real eye-catcher. 我们班上新来的那个女生非常引人注目。

eye-filling　adj., literary Attractive to the eye; beautiful; especially grand; splendid; majestic. 〖文〗悦目的；美丽的；华丽的；壮丽的。◆ The mountains in the distance were an eye-filling sight. 远处的群山赏心悦目。

eye-opener　See见OPEN ONE'S EYES.

eye out　Careful watch or attention; guard.— Used after keep, have or with. 密切注意；留心；警觉。——通常用在keep, have或with之后。◆ Keep an eye out. We're close to Joe's house. 密切注意！我们已接近乔的房子。Usually used with for. 通常与for连用。◆ Mary has her eye out for bargains. 玛丽很注意特价商品。

eyes are bigger than one's stomach　informal You want more food than you can eat. 〖非正式〗眼大肚皮小；眼馋肚饱。◆ Annie took a second big helping of pudding, but her eyes were bigger than her stomach. 安妮又要了一大客布丁，但她眼大肚皮小，根本吃不下。

eye shadow　n. phr. A cream used to darken the eyelids in order to make the eyes more noticeable. 眼影。◆ Jane's mother told her that girls in the ninth grade shouldn't be using eye shadow. 简的母亲告诉她，9年级的女孩子不应该使用眼影。

eyes in the back of one's head　n. phr., informal Ability to know what happens when your back is turned. 〖非正式〗脑后长眼睛；神通广大；无所不知。◆ Mother must have eyes in the back of her head, because she always knows when I do something wrong. 母亲的脑袋后面肯定长着眼睛，因为我做坏事的时候她总能知道。

eyes open　1. Careful watch or attention; readiness to see — Usually used with for. 留心；密切注意。——通常与for连用。◆ Keep your eyes open for a boy in a red cap and sweater. 请注意一个戴着红帽子、穿着红套衫的男孩。2. Full knowledge; especially of consequences; understanding of what will or might result. — Used with have or with. 对（后果）的充分理解。——与have或with连用。◆ Automobile racing is dangerous. Bob went into it with his eyes open. 赛车很危险。鲍勃参与此项运动是充分了解这种危险的。

eyes pop out　informal (You) are very much surprised. — Used with a possessive noun or pronoun. 〖非正式〗眼睛突出来（表示吃惊、惊喜等）。——与所有格名词或代词连用。◆When Joan found a new computer under the Christmas tree, her eyes popped out. 当琼在圣诞树下发现了一台新电脑时，惊讶地瞪大了双眼。

eye to　1. Attention to. — Usually used with have or with. 注意；留神。——通常与have或with连用。◆ Have an eye to spelling in these test papers. 注意考试时不要拼错。2. Plan for, purpose of. — Usually used with have or with. 计划；打算。——通常与have或with连用。◆ Save your money now with an eye to the future. 现在存钱，以备未来。

◆F◆

face down　v. phr. To get the upper hand over someone by behaving forcefully; disconcert someone by the displaying of great self-assurance.（用目光、言语等）压倒，吓倒；使仓皇失措；使窘迫。◆ The night guard faced down the burglar by staring him squarely in the face. 夜班警卫直盯着夜盗的脸看，把他给镇住了。

faced with　adj. phr. Confronted with. 面对着，面临着。◆ We were all faced with the threat of losing our jobs. 我们当时都面临着失去工作的威胁。

face lift　n. phr. 1. A surgical procedure designed to make one's face look younger.（除去面部皱纹等的）整容术；整容。◆ Aunt Jane, who is in her seventies, had an expensive face lift and now she looks as if she were 40. 简大婶70多岁了，花大钱做了整容术，现在看上去好像只有40岁。2. A renovation, a refurbishing. 翻新，整修。◆ Our house needs a major face lift to make it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood. 为了与四邻的其他房子相称，我们的房子需要大大地翻新整修一下。

face the music　v. phr., informal To go through trouble or danger, especially because of something you did; accept your punishment. 〖非正式〗（尤指为自己的作为）承担后果，经历麻烦（或危险）；接受惩罚。◆ The official who had been taking bribes was exposed by a newspaper, and had to face the music. 那个受贿的官员被一家报纸揭露了，他必须承担受审入狱的后果。

face-to-face^1　adv. phr. 1. With your face looking toward the face of another person; each facing the other. 面对面地。◆ Turning a corner, he found himself face-to face with a policeman. 他拐过弯去，差一点跟一名警察碰个正着。2. In the presence of another or others. 面对，当面。◆ She was thrilled to meet the President face-to-face. 当面见到总统令她兴奋不已。3. To the point where you must do something. — Used with with. 面临着。——与with连用。◆ The solution of the first problem brought him face-to-face with a second problem. 第一个问题的解决使他又面临着第二个问题。

face-to-face^2　adj. Being in the presence of a person; being right with someone. 面对着（某人）；与（某人）在一起。◆ The British prime minister came to Washington for a face-to-face meeting with the president. 英国首相来到华盛顿与（美国）总统举行面对面的会晤。

face up to　v. phr. 1. To bravely confront a person or a challenge; admit. 勇敢面对；承认。◆ Jack doesn't want to face up to the fact that Helen doesn't love him anymore. 杰克不愿面对这一事实：海伦不再爱他了。2. To confess something to someone; confess to having done something. 坦白；承认。◆ Jim had to face up to having stolen a sweater from the department store. 吉姆只得承认曾在百货公司偷了一件羊毛衫。

face value　n. 1. The worth or price printed on a stamp, bond, note, piece of paper money, etc.（邮票、公债、票据、纸币等的）票面价值，面值。◆ The savings bond had a face value of $25. 储蓄公债的面值为25美元。2. The seeming worth or truth of something. 表面价值；表面真实。◆ She took his stories at face value and did not know he was joking. 她对他的故事信以为真，却不知道他是在开玩笑。

fact of the matter is　See见AS A MATTER OF FACT.

facts of life　n. phr. 1. The truth which we should know about sex, marriage, and births.（有关性、婚姻、生育等方面的）生活常识；性知识。◆ His father told him the facts of life when he was old enough. 在他够大的时候，父亲才把性知识告诉了他。2. The truths one learns about people and their good and bad habits of life, work or play. 严酷的生活现实；内情。◆ As a cub reporter he would learn the facts of life in the newspaper world. 作为一名初出茅庐的记者，他会了解到报界的一些内情。

fade away　v. phr. To gradually disappear with the passage of time. 逐渐消失。◆ Fred's parents died in a traffic accident and he suffered their loss terribly, but eventually the pain started to fade away. 弗雷德的父母死于一次交通事故，对他们的去世他极为伤心，但最终痛苦慢慢地消失了。

fail to do　v. phr. To neglect to do something that is expected of one. 忘记做（某事）；未能做（某事）。◆ Tom waited for Jane for nearly an hour, but she failed to show up. 汤姆等了简近一个小时，但她却没有露面。

fair and square　adv. phr., informal Without cheating; honestly. 〖非正式〗光明正大地；诚实地。◆ He won the game fair and square. 他正大光明地赢得了这场比赛。

fair enough　adj. phr. Plausible, acceptable. 说得对，有道理；可以接受的。◆ "How about our offer for your house?" the realtor asked. "That's fair enough," Mr. Brown replied. “我们对你房子的出价怎么样？”房地产经纪人问。“可以接受，”布朗先生回答说。

fair-haired boy　n., informal A person that gets special favors; favorite; pet.〖非正式〗得宠的人；宠儿。◆ If he wins the election by a large majority, he will become his party's fair-haired boy. 如果他以绝大多数票赢得选举，他就会成为党内的红人。

fair play　n. Equal and right action (to another person); justice. 公平的比赛；公平待遇；公道。◆ The visiting team did not get fair play in the game. 客队在比赛中没有得到公平的待遇。

fair sex　n., informal Women in general; the female sex.〖非正式〗妇女；女性。◆ "Better not use four-letter words in front of a member of the fair sex," Joe said.“当着女士的面最好不要用四字母的下流词，”乔说。

fair shake　n., informal Honest treatment. 〖非正式〗公平待遇；诚实的对待。◆ Joe has always given me a fair shake. 乔对我一向待之以诚。

fair-weather enemy　n. phr. A country that is another country's competitor, short of war. 敌对国。◆ The Soviet Union was America's fair-weather enemy during the Cold War. 冷战时期，苏联是美国的敌对国。

fair-weather friend　n. phr. A person who is a friend only while one is very successful. 只能同安乐不能共患难的朋友。◆ John didn't realize how many fair-weather friends he had until his firm had to declare bankruptcy and people turned their backs on him. 直到他的公司不得不宣布破产、人们都拒绝帮助他时，约翰才意识到自己有多少不能共患难的朋友。

fairy godmother　n. 1. A fairy believed to help and take care of a baby as it grows up. 充当孩童教母的仙女。2. A person who helps and does much for another.（危难时提供帮助的）女恩人；慷慨相助之人。◆ The rich man played fairy godmother to the boys and had a baseball field made for them. 那个富人慷慨解囊为男孩们建了一个棒球场。

fairy tale or story　n. An inaccurate, even false account of something; a result of wishful thinking. 童话；神话；谎言，不实之词。◆ Jeff said he was going to be promoted soon, but we all suspect that it is only one of his customary fairy tales. 杰夫说他很快就会晋升，但我们都怀疑这只是他惯常说的谎言而已。

fall all over　v. phr., informal To show too much love or thanks toward (someone). 〖非正式〗对（某人）殷勤备至；万分感谢。◆ She must love him. Every time you see them, she's falling all over him. 她一定很爱他。每次你看到他们，她总是对他恩爱有加。

fall apart　v. phr. To lose control over one's composure; to suffer a nervous breakdown. 失去自制；精神崩溃。◆ Suzie almost fell apart when her husband left her for a younger woman. 当丈夫为了一个更年轻的女人弃她而去时，苏茜的精神几乎要崩溃了。

fall asleep at the switch　v. phr. To fail to perform an expected task; be remiss in one's duty. 玩忽职守。◆ The dean promised our department $250,000 but the foundation never sent the money because someone in the dean's office fell asleep at the switch. 院长曾答应给我系25万美元，但因院长办公室有人玩忽职守，基金会一直没有把这笔钱寄过来。

fall away　v. phr. To decline; diminish. 衰退，衰弱；消瘦。◆ I was shocked to see how haggard Alan looked; he seems to be falling away to a shadow. 看到艾伦那副憔悴的样子我很震惊；他已瘦得不成样子了。

fall back　v. To move back; go back. — Usually used with a group as subject. 后退；退却。——主语通常为集合名词。◆ The army fell back before their stubborn enemies. 在顽强的敌人面前，部队退却了。◆ The crowd around the hurt boy fell back when someone shouted "Give him air!" 当有人喊道：“让他透透气！”于是，围在受伤男孩四周的人群便后退了。

fall back on or fall back upon　v. 1. To retreat to. 撤退到。◆ The enemy made a strong attack, and the soldiers fell back on the fort. 敌军发动了猛烈攻击，士兵们都撤退到堡垒中。2. To go for help to; turn to in time of need. 求助于；需要时转向；依靠。◆ When the big bills for Mother's hospital care came, Joe was glad he had money in the bank to fall back on. 当母亲住院治疗的巨额账单拿来时，乔庆幸自己还有银行存款以应急需。

fall behind　v. To go slower than others and be far behind them. 落后；落在（…的）后面。◆ Frank's lessons were too hard for him, and he soon fell behind the rest of the class. 弗兰克所学的功课对他来说太难了，很快他便落在了班上其他同学的后面。

fall between two stools　v. phr. To fail to achieve one's desired goal due to hesitation between two available alternatives. 两头落空。◆ You had better make up your mind which job to accept; if you hesitate too long you may find yourself fallen between two stools. 你最好快点决定接受哪份工作，如果你久久迟疑不决，很可能会两头落空。

fall by the wayside also drop by the wayside　v. phr. To give up or fail before the finish. 中途放弃；半途而废。◆ George, Harry, and John entered college to become teachers, but Harry and John fell by the wayside, and only George graduated. 乔治、哈里和约翰进了大学想当教师，但哈里和约翰都半途而废，只有乔治毕了业。

fall down on the job　v. phr., informal To fail to work well.〖非正式〗没有做好工作。◆ The boss was disappointed when his workers fell down on the job. 老板看到手下的工人都做不好工作感到很失望。

fall due or come or become due　v. phr. To reach the time when a bill or invoice is to be paid.（账单、票据等）到期。◆ Our car payment falls due on the first of every month. 我们的汽车每月1号付款。

fall flat　v., informal To be a failure; fail.〖非正式〗失败；告吹。◆ His joke fell flat because no one understood it. 他的笑话因无人听懂而没有赢得笑声。

fall for　v., slang 1. To begin to like very much. 〖俚〗喜欢上；迷上。◆ Dick fell for baseball when he was a little boy. 迪克小时候就迷上了棒球。2. To begin to love（a boy or a girl.）爱上。◆ Helen was a very pretty girl and people were not surprised that Bill fell for her. 海伦是个非常漂亮的女孩，所以比尔爱上她人们并不感到惊奇。3. To believe (something told to fool you.)对…信以为真；受…的骗。◆ Nell did not fall for Joe's story about being a jet pilot. 乔说自己是喷气式飞机驾驶员，但内尔不相信。

fall from grace　v. phr. To go back to a bad way of behaving; do something bad again. 犯老毛病；又干坏事。◆ The boy fell from grace when he lied. 那男孩老毛病复发，又说谎了。

fall guy　n. slang The "patsy" in an illegal transaction; a sucker; a dupe; the person who takes the punishment others deserve. 〖俚〗非法交易中的受骗者；容易上当受骗的人；易被愚弄的人；替罪羊。◆ When the Savings and Loan Bank failed, due to embezzlement, the vice president had to be the fall guy, saving the necks of the owners. 当储蓄贷款银行因有人盗用公款而破产时，银行副总裁只得充当替罪羊，以保住银行主的生命。

fall head over heals in love　See HEAD OVER HEALS.

fall in　v. 1. To go and stand properly in a row like soldiers. 站队，集合。◆ The captain told his men to fall in. 上尉命令士兵们集合。2. To collapse. 坍下，往里坍塌。◆ The explosion caused the walls of the house to fall in. 爆炸使房子的墙壁坍塌了。

fall in for　v. To receive; get. 收到；得到。◆ The team manager fell in for most of the blame when his team lost the playoffs. 球队在季后赛中失利后，球队经理受到的指责最多。

falling-out　n. Argument; disagreement; quarrel. 争论；不和；争吵。◆ The boys had a falling-out when each said that the other had broken the rules. 两个男孩因指责对方违犯规则而发生了争吵。

fall in line or fall into line　See见IN LINE, INTO LINE.

fall in love　See见IN LOVE.

fall in or into place or fall together　v. phr. 1. To suddenly make sense; find the natural or proper place for the missing pieces of a puzzle. 突然变得有头绪；变得清晰起来。◆ When the detectives realized that a second man was seen at the place of the murder, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. 当警探们意识到在谋杀现场有第二个人被看到时，令人困惑的难题便一下子变得清晰起来。2. To result in the best possible arrangement or situation. 安排停当；情况顺利。◆ Peter was glad that everything fell together at the job interview, just as he had expected. 彼得很高兴，因为求职面试时，正如他所预料的那样，一切都很顺利。◆ All the arrangements for our trip around the world have finally fallen into place, so we are finally able to leave. 为我们环球旅行所作的安排一切就绪，所以我们终于可以出发了。

fall into the clutches of　v. phr. To fall victim of someone. 成为（某人）的牺牲品；落入（某人）的掌握之中；陷入（某人）的魔掌。◆ If you keep cultivating such dangerous company, you may fall into the clutches of criminals. 如果你一直结交这类危险的朋友，很可能会落入罪犯的魔掌。

fall into the habit of　v. phr. To develop the custom of doing something. 养成…的习惯。◆ Jack has fallen into the bad habit of playing poker for large sums of money every night. 杰克养成了每晚打牌赌大钱的坏习惯。

fall in with　v., informal 1. To meet by accident. 〖非正式〗偶然遇到。◆ Mary fell in with some of her friends downtown. 玛丽在市中心偶然碰上了几个朋友。2. To agree to help with; support. 同意相助；支持。◆ I fell in with Jack's plan to play a trick on his father. 我支持杰克跟他父亲开个玩笑的计划。3. To become associated with a group detrimental to the newcomer. 与（坏人）为伍；与（某人）结交。◆ John fell in with a wild bunch; small wonder he flunked all of his courses. 约翰结交了一帮野小子；难怪他所有的功课都没及格。

fall off the wagon　v. phr., slang alcoholism and drug culture To return to the consumption of an addictive, such as alcohol or drugs, after a period of abstinence. 〖俚〗（酒或毒品）旧瘾复发。◆ Poor Joe has fallen off the wagon again — he is completely incoherent today. 可怜的乔又酒瘾复发了，他今天已醉得完全语无伦次了。

fall on or fall upon　v. 1. To go and fight with; attack. 攻击，袭击。◆ The robbers fell on him from behind trees. 强盗从树后袭击了他。2. formal To meet (troubles). 〖正式〗遭遇（困难等）。◆ The famous poet fell upon unhappy days. 那位著名诗人碰上了不开心的日子。

fall on deaf ears　See见TURN A DEAF EAR TO.

fall on stony ground　v. phr., Biblical To be placed in an inhospitable environment where the chances of survival are nil.（源出《圣经》）像种子落在石头地上一样；无效；没有结果。◆ All the good advice John's father gave his son fell on stony ground, as the boy never listened to reasonable advice and became a drug addict. 父亲给约翰的所有忠告都像种子落在石头地上一样，一点效果也没有，因为这孩子从来不听明智的劝告，最后变成了一个吸毒成瘾者。

fallout　n. 1. Result of nuclear explosion; harmful radioactive particles. （核爆炸后的）放射性坠尘。◆ Some experts consider fallout as dangerous as the bomb itself. 有些专家认为核爆炸后的放射性坠尘与核弹本身同样危险。2. Undesirable aftereffects in general. 附带结果；余波。◆ As a fallout of Watergate, many people lost their faith in the government. 作为水门事件的附带结果，许多人失去了对政府的信任。

fall out　v. 1. To happen. 发生；结果。◆ As it fell out, the Harpers were able to sell their old car. 结果，哈珀夫妇还是卖掉了他们那辆旧车。2. To quarrel; fight; fuss; disagree. 争吵；吵架；争辩；不和。◆ The thieves fell out over the division of the loot. 小偷们因分赃不均而争吵。3. To leave a military formation. 原地解散。◆ You men are dismissed. Fall out！你们可以走了。解散！4. To leave a building to go and line up. 离开建筑物去排队。◆ The soldiers fell out of the barracks for inspection. 士兵们涌出营房列队接受检阅。

fall over backwards or fall over oneself　v. phr. To do everything you can to please someone; try very hard to satisfy someone.（为取悦某人而）竭尽全力。◆ The hotel manager fell over backwards to give the movie star everything she wanted. 旅馆经理竭尽全力为那位电影明星提供她所要的一切。

fall short　v. To fail to reach (some aim); not succeed. 未达到（目标、目的）；辜负（期望等）。◆ His jump fell three inches short of the world record. 他那一跳距世界纪录差了3英寸。

fall through　v., informal To fail; be ruined; not happen or be done. 〖非正式〗失败；告吹；成为泡影。◆ Jim's plans to go to college fell through at the last moment. 吉姆上大学的计划在最后一刻成为泡影。

fall through the trap door　See见BREAK A LEG.

fall to　v. (stress on to)（重读to）1. To begin to work. 开始工作。◆ The boys fell to and quickly cut the grass. 男孩子们开始工作，很快就割完了草。2. To begin to fight. 开始打架。◆ They took out their swords and fell to. 他们拔出剑来开始决斗。3. To begin to eat. 开始吃。◆ The hungry boys fell to before everyone sat down. 大家还没有全坐下，饥饿的男孩子们就开始吃了起来。4. Begin; start. 开始。◆ The old friends met and fell to talking about their school days. 老朋友们一见面便开始谈起了学生时代的生活。

fall to pieces　v. phr. To disintegrate; collapse. 破裂，粉碎；倒坍；塌下；崩溃。◆ After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire started to fall to pieces. 在亚历山大大帝去世之后，他的帝国就开始崩溃了。

familiarity breeds contempt　When someone becomes accustomed to something or someone, one's earlier respect degenerates into disregard. — A proverb. 〖谚〗亲近生狎侮；亲不敬，熟生蔑。◆ Newly hired faculty from other universities always get higher salaries, while the faithful who do not move around get underpaid. This is because familiarity breeds contempt. 从别的大学新聘来的教师总会得到较高的薪金，而从不跳槽的兢兢业业者却薪酬过低。这是因为熟悉了就会觉得没什么了不起。

family tree　n. Ancestry. 家谱；家族；祖先。◆ My family tree can be traced back to the sixteenth century. 我的家族可以追溯到16世纪。

famous last words　n. phr. Issued as a warning after an optimistic statement indicating that the person with the optimistic outlook could easily be wrong. 没有人相信的漂亮话；不见得；那倒不一定。◆ "Such a terrible thing as the exploding of a skyscraper with a hijacked airplane could never happen in America!" Joe said. "Famous last words!" Peter answered.“用劫持来的飞机炸掉摩天大楼这样恐怖的事情永远不可能在美国发生！”乔说。“没有人相信这种乐观的说法！”彼得回答说。

fancy doing something　— An expression of surprise.（表示惊讶）真想不到… ◆ Fancy meeting you here in such an unexpected place！真想不到在这样一个意想不到的地方遇到你！

fancy pants　n., slang A man or boy who wears clothes that are too nice or acts like a woman or girl; sissy. 〖俚〗穿着华丽的男子；女子气的男子；娘娘腔的男人。◆ The first time they saw him in his new band uniform, they yelled “Hey, fancy pants, what are you doing in your sister's slacks ?”他们第一次看到他穿着新的乐队制服时便叫喊道：“嗨，女人气的男子，你干嘛穿你姐姐的裤子？”

fan out　v. phr. To spread in several directions. 成扇形展开。◆ The main road fans out at the edge of the forest in four different directions. 干道在森林边缘处成扇形向四面展开。

fan the breeze　v. phr. To swing and miss the ball in baseball.（棒球）未击中球。◆ The batter tried to hit a home run, but he fanned the breeze. 击球手想击出一个本垒打，但没有击中球。

fan the flames　See见ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME.

far afield　adj. phr. Remote; far from the original starting point. 远的；远离正题的。◆ When we started to discuss theology, Jack was obviously getting far afield from the subject at hand. 我们开始讨论神学时，杰克显然是远离正题了。

far and away　adv. phr. Very much. 大大地；最…；无疑地；显然。◆ The fish was far and away the biggest ever caught on the lake. 这条鱼无疑是在这个湖里捕到的最大的一条。

far and near　n. phr. Far places and near places; everywhere. 远近；到处；四面八方。◆ People came from far and near to hear him speak. 人们从四面八方前来听他演说。

far and wide　adv. phr. Everywhere, in all directions. 到处，各处；广泛地。◆ The wind blew the papers far and wide. 风把文件吹得四处乱飞。

far be it from me to　adv. phr. A sometimes falsely modest disclaimer stating that the person doesn't really mean what he or she is about to say, when in fact he or she actually means it. 我绝不会，我绝不想，我绝不敢。◆ "Far be it from me to criticize the government's decision to go to war, but wouldn't it have been better to wait for United Nations consensus in the matter?"“我绝不敢批评政府开战的决定，但在这种事上等联合国的一致意见不是更好吗？”

far cry　n. Something very different. 大相径庭的东西；大不相同的东西。◆ His last statement was a far cry from his first story. 他最后的陈述与他最初的说法大相径庭。◆ The first automobile could run, but it was a far cry from a modern car. 最早的汽车虽然也能行驶，但与现代的汽车却大不相同。

farfetched　adj. Exaggerated; fantastic. 牵强的；夸张的；荒诞的。◆ Sally told us some farfetched story about having been kidnapped by little green men in a flying saucer. 萨莉给我们讲了一个荒诞的故事，说她曾遭飞碟上的外星人绑架。

far from accurate　adj. phr. Quite inaccurate. 非常不精确。◆ I am afraid that your estimate concerning the purchase of the new equipment for our factory is far from accurate. 恐怕你对我们工厂购置新设备的估计值非常不精确。

far from it　adv. phr. Not even approximately; not really at all. 远非如此；决不是这样。◆ "Do you think she spent $100 on that dress?" Jane asked. "Far from it," Sue replied. "It must have cost at least $300."“你以为她买那件连衣裙花了100美元？”简问道。“差得远呢，”苏回答说。“至少也要300美元。”

far gone　adj. phr. In a critical or extreme state. 病重的；几乎要死的。◆ He was so far gone by the time the doctor arrived, that nothing could be done to save his life. 医生来到时他已奄奄一息，再没有什么办法可以挽救他的生命了。

farm out　v. 1. To have another person do (something) for you; send away to be done. 请人代做（某事）；把…包出去。◆ Our teacher had too many test papers to read, so she farmed out half of them to a friend. 我们老师要批改的试卷太多，所以她分出去一半请一位朋友代劳。2. To send away to be taken care of. 把…寄养出去；送请他人照顾。◆ While Mother was sick, the children were farmed out to relatives. 母亲生病期间，孩子们都托给亲戚们照料。3. To send a player to a league where the quality of play is lower. 把（球员）送至青年队。◆The player was farmed out to Rochester to gain experience. 那名球员被送至罗彻斯特去获取比赛经验。

far-out　adj. 1. Very far away; distant. 遥远的。◆ Scientists are planning rocket trips to the moon and farout planets. 科学家们正计划用火箭把人送往月球和其他遥远的行星上去。2. informal Very different from others; queer; odd, unusual. 〖非正式〗与众不同的；奇特的；古怪的；异乎寻常的。◆ He enjoyed being with beatniks and other far-out people. 他喜欢跟“垮掉的一代”和其他标新立异的人混在一起。◆ Susan did not like some of the paintings at the art show because they were too far-out for her. 苏珊不喜欢画展中的某些画，因为在她看来，这些画太标新立异了。

fast and furious　adj. or adv. phr. Very fast; with much speed and energy. 迅速的（地）；快速的（地）；全力的（地）。◆ When I last saw her she was driving fast and furious down the street. 我上次看到她时，她正驱车沿街疾驶。

fast buck or quick buck　slang Money earned quickly and easily, and sometimes dishonestly. 〖俚〗轻易到手的钱；不择手段赚来的钱。◆ You can make a fast buck at the golf course by fishing balls out of the water trap. 在高尔夫球场里很容易赚到钱——只要把球从水池中捞出来就行。◆ He isn't interested in a career; he's just looking for a quick buck. 他对职业生涯不感兴趣；他只想找个门路轻轻松松赚大钱。

fasten on 　v. phr. To attach; tie something to make it secure. 系牢；扎牢。◆ "Fasten on your life jackets when you get into the life boats," the captain said.“上了救生艇请系牢你们的救生衣，”船长说。

fast talker　n., slang, informal A con artist or a swindler, one who is particularly apt to get away with illegitimate transactions because of the clever way he talks. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗骗人的老手；（花言巧语的）骗子。◆ I wouldn't trust Uncle Joe if I were you，— he is a fast talker. 我要是你就不会相信乔大叔——他是个骗子。

fat chance　n. phr., slang Little or no possibility; almost no chance. 〖俚〗微小的机会；很小的可能。◆ Jane is pretty and popular; you will have a fat chance of getting a date with her. 简既漂亮又讨人喜欢；你想要跟她约会可能性不大。

fat city　n., slang A state of contentment due to wealth and position. 〖俚〗生活优裕；心满意足。◆ Bully for the Smiths; they have arrived in Fat City. 史密斯一家真是棒极了；他们已经过上了舒适的生活。

fate worse than death　n. phr. Extraordinarily severe punishment, inhumane treatment, unbearable ordeal. 比死还不济的遭遇；非常严厉的惩罚；不人道的待遇；难以忍受的磨难。◆ To be tortured by the terrorist dictator's thugs is a fate worse than death. 被那个恐怖独裁者手下的暴徒们拷打真是比死还难受的遭遇。

fat is in the fire　Something has happened that will cause trouble or make a bad situation worse. 事情搞糟了；闯祸了。◆ He found out you took it? Well, the fat's in the fire now. 他发现你把它拿走了？哎呀，这下子可糟了。

fat of the land　n. phr. The best and richest food, clothes, everything. 最上等的产物；山珍海味。◆ When I'm rich I'll retire and live off the fat of the land. 等我发了财我就退休，享受荣华富贵的生活。

faultfinding　n. Recrimination; nagging; criticism. 找岔子；挑剔；一味指责。◆ All of this constant faultfinding will only to lead to trouble between you and your wife. 经常这样一味指责只会在你和妻子之间引起麻烦。

favorite son　n. A man supported by his home state for president. 得到本州代表支持的总统候选人。◆ At a national convention, states often vote for their favorite sons first; then they change and vote for another man. 在全国代表大会上，各州往往首先投票支持本州的候选人，然后再投票支持别的人。

fear and trembling or fear and trepidation　n. phr. Great fear. 惶恐战栗，忐忑不安，提心吊胆。◆ He came in fear and trembling to tell his father he had a bad report card. 他提心吊胆地告诉父亲说他的成绩报告单很糟糕。

feast one's eyes on　v. phr. To look at and enjoy very much. 尽情地观赏；看着…以饱眼福◆ He feasted his eyes on the beautiful painting. 他尽情地欣赏那幅美丽的图画。

feast or a famine　n. phr. Plenty or very little; big success or bad failure. 极多或极少；巨大的成功或惨重的失败。◆ He is very careless with his money, it is always a feast or a famine with him. 他花钱很随便，总是有钱时大吃大喝，没钱时忍饥挨饿。

feather in one's cap　n. phr. Something to be proud of; an honor. 值得自豪的东西；荣誉。◆ It was a feather in his cap to win first prize. 赢得一等奖是他的荣誉。

feather one's nest　v. phr., informal 1. To use for yourself money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you are trusted to help other people. 〖非正式〗营私，自肥；中饱私囊。◆ The man feathered his nest in politics by getting money from contractors who built roads. 那 人从筑路的承包商那儿得到了大笔钱从而在政治上捞到了好处。2. To make your home pleasant and comfortable; furnish and decorate your house. 装饰自己的住宅；营造自己的安乐窝。◆ Furniture stores welcome young couples who want to feather their nests. 家具店欢迎想要装饰住房 的年轻夫妇。

fed up　(informal)〖非正式〗ALSO (slang)〖俚〗fed to the gills or fed to the teeth adj. phr. Having had too much of something; at the end of your patience; disgusted; bored; tired. 吃得过饱的；忍无可忍的；厌烦的；厌倦的。◆ People get fed up with anyone who brags all the time. 人们讨厌一直自吹自擂的人。◆ John quit football because he was fed to the gills with practice. 约翰放弃了橄榄球，因为他对练球厌倦了。

feed a cold and starve a fever　When one has a cold one ought to eat a great deal, but when one has a fever, as when one has the flu, one ought to eat as little as possible. — A proverb. 〖谚〗伤风时宜吃，发烧时宜饿。◆ "Why are you bringing me a six-course meal in bed, Grandma?" Jimmy asked all sniffling and coughing. "Well, you know what they say," Grandma answered. "Feed a cold and starve a fever!"“奶奶，为什么把6道菜的一顿饭给我送到病床上来呀？”吉米一边吸着鼻子咳嗽一边问道。“嗯，你知道人们说的话呀，”奶奶回答说。“伤风时宜吃，发烧时宜饿。”

feed someone a line　v. phr. To deceive one, to tell one a lie. 欺骗某人；对某人说谎。◆ Mr. Smith promised Sam a job but Sam soon discovered that he was being fed a line when Mr. Smith gave the job to someone else. 史密斯先生答应给萨姆一份工作，但萨姆很快就发现自己被骗了，因为史密斯先生把那份工作给了另外一个人。

feel a different person　v. phr. To feel recovered and well again after some illness or draining ordeal.（病后或经历过一番大伤元气的磨难后）感觉又恢复了元气；感觉像是换了一个人。◆ After she finally managed to get rid of her alcoholic husband, Irene felt like a different person. 在最终设法摆脱了嗜酒如命的丈夫后，艾琳觉得自己又恢复了元气，像是换了一个人。

feel a draft　v. phr., slang To have the sensation that one is not welcome in a place; that one has gotten a cold reception. 〖俚〗意识到自己不受欢迎；感到受冷落。◆ Let's go, Suzie, I feel a draft. 我们走吧，苏茜，我觉得我们不受欢迎。

feel at home　v. phr. To feel comfortable, relaxed, at ease. 感觉像在家里一样舒适自在，无拘束。◆ "When you're at our place for a weekend, " my sister-in-law said, "you must feel at home and tell me what you like to eat."“你在我们这里度周末时，”我的嫂嫂说，“你一定要像在自己家里一样无拘无束，并告诉我你喜欢吃什么。”

feel blue or have the blues　v. phr. To feel sad, lonely, or depressed due to lovesickness or some other unfortunate circumstance. 闷闷不乐；郁郁寡欢；情绪低落。◆ John's wife left town with another guy; that's why he is feeling so blue. 约翰的妻子跟另一个家伙一起离城而去，这就是他如此闷闷不乐的原因。◆ Mike has the blues because his mother just passed away. 迈克情绪很低落，因为他母亲刚刚去世。

feel down　v. phr. To feel tired, miserable, exhausted, sad, or depressed. 情绪低落；感到疲惫；伤心；沮丧。◆ John doesn't eat right; that's why he feels down so often. 约翰吃饭不正常，所以经常感到疲惫无力。◆ "You're feeling down just now, because Suzie left you," the psychologist said, "but you're young, and life is long. Pretty soon you will find someone else."“你现在情绪低落是因为苏茜离开了你，”心理学家说，“但你还年轻，来日方长。很快你就会找到另一个人的。”

feel for someone　v. phr., informal To be able to sympathize with someone's problems. 〖非正式〗同情某人。◆ I can really feel for you, John, for losing your job. 约翰，我真的很同情你失去了工作。

feel free to do　v. phr. To take the liberty to engage in an activity. 随意做（某事）。◆ Please feel free to take off your jackets; this is an informal party. 请随意脱去外衣；这是一次非正式聚会。

feel in one's bones or know in one's bones　v. phr. To have an idea or feeling but not know why. 预感到；凭直觉确信。◆ I feel in my bones that tomorrow will be a sunny day. 我预感到明天将是个阳光明媚的日子。◆ I know in my bones that God will protect us. 我确信上帝会保护我们的。

feel like　v., informal To want to do or have. 〖非正式〗想要。◆ I just don't feel like pancakes this morning. 今天早晨我就是不想吃烙饼。

feel like a million or feel like a million dollars　v. phr., informal To be in the best of health and spirits. 〖非正式〗感到精力十分充沛。◆ I feel like a million this morning. 我今天早晨感到精力十分充沛。◆ He had a headache yesterday but feels like a million dollars today. 他昨天头痛，但今天却精神很好。

feel like a new man　v. phr. To feel healthy, vigorous, and well again after a major physical illness or emotional upheaval. 感觉像是换了一个人；感觉恢复了健康（或元气）◆ Ted felt like a new man after his successful heart bypass operation. 成功做过心脏搭桥手术后，泰德感觉像是换了一个人。

feel low　v. phr. To be depressed; be in low spirits. 消沉，沮丧，情绪低落。◆ I don't know what's the matter with Mary, but she says she has been feeling very low all afternoon. 我不知道玛丽是怎么啦，但她说整个下午她一直情绪很低落。

feel one's age　v. phr. To be conscious of one's advancing years and to give signs of one's waning powers and energy. 感觉自己老了；感到精神不济。◆"I started to feel my age," Grandpa said. "I'm ninety, you know, and it's getting harder and harder to stay up all night dancing with the girls than when I was only eighty."“我开始感到自己老了，”爷爷说。“你知道，我已90岁了，比起我只有80岁的时候，现在通宵跟女孩子们跳舞变得越来越困难了。”

feel one's way　v. phr. To proceed cautiously by trial and error; probe. 谨慎行事；探索，摸索。◆ I won't ask her to marry me directly; I will feel my way first. 我不会直接要她嫁给我的，我会先探探她的口气。

feel out　v. To talk or act carefully with someone and find what he thinks or can do. 试探出…的想法（或意见等）；摸清楚。◆ John felt out his father about letting him have the car that evening. 约翰试探他父亲，看他是否同意那天晚上让他用车。◆ At first the boxers felt each other out. 开始时两位拳手互相试探对方的实力。

feel out of it　v. phr. To sense that one is not in one's normal condition; to feel strange. 感到不正常；感到神态不清；感觉不舒服；感觉不自在。◆ I don't know what's the matter with me today. I just feel completely out of it. Maybe it's because I didn't sleep at all last night. 我不知道我今天是怎么啦，总觉得不舒服。也许是因为我昨晚一夜未睡的缘故。

feel out of place　v. phr. To experience the sensation of not belonging in a certain place or company. 觉得自己不属于某个地方；感觉不自在（或拘束）。◆ Dave felt out of place among all those chess players as he knows nothing about chess. 戴夫在所有那些棋手中间感到局促不安，因为他对国际象棋一无所知。

feel or look small　v. phr. To have the impression that one is insignificant, foolish, or humiliated. 觉得／显得渺小，觉得／显得矮人一截。◆ "I feel small next to Hemingway," the young student of creative writing said.“与海明威相比我觉得很渺小，”那位学创作的年轻学生说。

feel ten feet tall　v. phr. To feel self confident, happy, optimistic, full of energy. 感到自信；感到愉快；感到乐观；充满精力。◆ Winning the Nobel Prize for medicine, made Dr. Mc-Dermott feel ten feet tall. 赢得诺贝尔医学奖使得麦克德莫特博士信心大增。

feel the pinch　v. phr. To be short of money; experience monetary difficulties. 感到手头拮据；感到经济困难。◆ If we are going to have a recession, everybody will feel the pinch. 如果我们碰上经济衰退，每个人都会感到手头拮据的。

feel up　v. phr., vulgar, avoid To arouse sexually by manual contact. 〖粗〗〖忌〗以手抚摸激起…的情欲。◆ You mean to tell me that you've been going out for six months and he hasn't ever tried to feel you up？你是不是想对我说，你们已相恋了6个月而他还从未抚摸过你？

feel up to something　v. phr., informal To feel adequately knowledgeable, strong, or equipped to handle a given task. 〖非正式〗觉得能够担当；觉得可以胜任。◆ Do you feel up to jogging a mile a day with me？每天和我慢跑1英里你觉得吃得消吗？

feet of clay　n. phr. A hidden fault or weakness in a person which is discovered or shown. 隐蔽而被发现的缺点（或弱点）。◆ The famous general showed he had feet of clay when he began to drink liquor. 那位著名的将军一开始喝酒就露出了他的致命弱点。

feet on the ground　n. phr. An understanding of what can be done; sensible ideas. Used with a possessive.（与物主代词连用）自知之明；讲究实际的想法；脚踏实地。◆ John has his feet on the ground; he knows he cannot learn everything at once. 约翰有自知之明；他知道自己不能同时学会所有的东西。

fellow traveler　n. A sympathizer with a political movement who does not officially belong to the political party in question.（政治上的）同路人，同情者。◆ Many Germans after World War II were innocently accused of being fellow travelers of Nazism. 第二次世界大战后，很多德国人被无辜地指控为纳粹主义的同情者。◆ During the McCarthy era, many Americans were accused of being Communist fellow travelers. 在麦卡锡时代，许多美国人被指控为共产党的同路人。

fence in or hedge in or hem in　v. To keep (someone) from doing what he or she would like to do. — Usually used in the passive. 限制，约束；包围。——通常用于被动语态。◆ Mary felt fenced in because her father would not let her drive a car or have dates with boys. 玛丽感觉受到约束，因为她父亲不让她开车，也不让她和男孩子约会。◆ John didn't like his job because he had to do the same kind of work all the time. He felt that he was hemmed in. 约翰不喜欢他的工作，因为他必须一直干同样的活。他感觉自己受到了束缚。

fence-sitter　n. A person unable to pick between two sides; a person who does not want to choose.（对争论双方无法或不愿做出选择的）骑墙派，保持中立的人。◆ Dad says he is a fence-sitter because he doesn't know which man he wants for president. 爸爸说他是个骑墙派，因为他不知道要选哪个人当总统。

fence-sitting　n. or adj. Choosing neither side.（采取）骑墙态度（的）；中立（的）。◆ You have been fence-sitting for too long. It is time you made up your mind. 你采取骑墙态度的时间太久了。该是你下定决心的时候了。

fence with or spar with　v. To talk with (someone) as if you were fighting like a swordsman or boxer; to give skillful answers or arguments against (someone). 回避；搪塞；敏答巧辩。◆ The governor was an expert at fencing with reporters at press conferences. 在记者招待会上，州长是位搪塞记者的高手。

fender bender　n. phr. A minor traffic accident during which the damaged vehicle remains drivable and no one is seriously injured.（不太严重的）汽车相撞事故，小车祸。◆ Three days ago a young man hit my car from behind, but nothing serious happened. It was just a fender bender and his insurance will take care of the damage. 3天前，一个年轻人开车撞到了我的汽车尾部，但情况并不严重，只是一次小事故，他买的汽车保险会为损害赔偿埋单。

ferret out literary〖文〗or smell Out or sniff out　v. To hunt or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find. 把（猎物等）逐出；凭嗅觉寻获（猎物）；搜出；查获。◆ John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library. 约翰在图书馆里查出了问题的答案。◆ Jane smelled out the boys'secret hiding place in the woods. 简发现了男孩子们在树林里的秘密藏身处。

few and far between　adj. phr. Not many; few and scattered; not often met or found; rare. — Used in the predicate. 不多的；稀疏的；偶尔遇到（或发现）的；稀少的。——用于谓语。◆ People who will work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between. 愿意像托马斯·A·爱迪生那样勤奋工作的人很少。

fiddle around　See见FOOL AROUND 3.

fiddle while Rome burns　v. phr. To amuse oneself with some trivial activities while a major crisis, disaster, or war is in progress. 罗马遭焚时，犹在拉提琴；大难临头依然寻欢作乐。◆ As Hitler's Third Reich fell apart toward the end of World War II, the Nazi German movie industry churned out one ridiculous and sentimental love story after another; they were obviously fiddling while Rome burned. 第二次世界大战临近结束，希特勒的第三帝国行将崩溃之际，纳粹德国的电影业却粗制滥造地生产出一部又一部荒诞不经、充满柔情的爱情故事片；他们显然是大难临头还在歌舞升平。

fiddle with　v. phr. To carelessly play with something. 胡乱摆弄。◆ If Jimmy continues to fiddle with our computer, he is liable to ruin it. 如果吉米继续瞎摆弄我们的电脑，他会把它弄坏的。

fifth column　n. phr. A group or organization within a country that works to bring about the country's downfall, usually through acts of espionage and sabotage. 第五纵队（战时在国内为敌人从事间谍或破坏工作的团体或组织）。◆ The Communist Party in the United States was considered by Senator McCarthy to be the Soviet Union's fifth column. 麦卡锡参议员认为美国共产党是苏联的第五纵队。

fifth wheel　n. phr. An unwanted, extra person, who feels awkward and uncomfortable in the company of those he or she is with.多余的人。◆ My spinster Aunt Helen often spent Christmas and New Year's Eve with us, but she frequently complained that she felt like a fifth wheel. 我的海 伦阿姨是个老处女，她常跟我们一起过圣诞和除夕，但她经常抱怨说觉得自己是个多余的人。

fifty-fifty^1　adv., informal Equally; evenly. 〖非正式〗各半，对半；相等地；平均地。◆ When Dick and Sam bought an old car, they divided the cost fifty-fifty. 迪克和萨姆合买了一辆旧车，两人各出了一半的费用。

fifty-fifty^2　adj., informal 1. Divided or shared equally. 〖非正式〗各半的；对半的；平分的。◆It will be a fifty-fifty arrangement; half the money for me and half for you. 咱们来个平均分配；一半钱归我，一半归你。2. Half for and half against; half good and half bad. 半数赞成半数反对的；利弊各半的。◆ There is only a fifty-fifty chance that we will win the game. 我们赢得这场比赛的可能性只有50％。

fight fire with fire　v. phr. slightly formal, of Biblical origin To fight back in the same way one was attacked; make a defense similar to the attack.（源于《圣经》，较正式）以火攻火；以其人之道，还治其人之身。◆ The candidate was determined to fight fire with fire in the debate. 那位候选人决心在辩论中以其人之道，还治其人之身。

fighting chance　n. phr. A chance that necessitates struggle and courage; a slim chance. 需经努力奋斗才能获得成功的机会；渺茫的机会。◆ The doctor told the family that Jack had a fighting chance to recover. 医生告诉家人，杰克康复的机会不大。

fight it out　See见SLUG IT OUT.

fight off　v. phr.　1. To struggle against someone so as to free oneself; push an attacker back. 击退。◆ Suzy fought off her two attackers in Central Park with a couple of karate chops. 苏茜在中央公园以空手道的几下手掌斜向猛劈击退了两个袭击者。2. To strive to overcome something negative. 竭力克服。◆ After twelve hours at the computer terminal, Jane had to fight off her overwhelming desire to go to sleep. 在电脑终端待了12小时之后，简必须竭力克服难以抗拒的睡意。

fight tooth and nail　See见TOOTH AND NAIL.

figure in　v. 1. informal To add to a total; remember to put down in figures. 〖非正式〗把…计算在内；把…加入总数。◆ We figured in the travel expenses but forgot the cost of meals. 我们把旅行开支加了进去，但却忘了计算吃饭的费用。2. To have a part in; be partly responsible for. 参与；起作用；对…负部分责任。◆ Mary's good grades figured in her choice as class president. 玛丽因成绩优秀而被选为班主席。

figure on　v. 1. To expect and think about while making plans. 期望；预料到；打算。◆ We did not figure on having so many people at the picnic. 我们没想到会有这么多人参加野餐。2. To depend on; be sure about. 依赖；确信。◆ You can figure on him to be on time. 你可以相信他会准时来的。

figure out　v. 1. To find an answer by thinking about (some problem or difficulty); solve. 想出；解决。◆ Tom couldn't figure out the last problem on the arithmetic test. 汤姆解不出算术考试中的最后一题。◆ Sam couldn't figure out how to print a program until the teacher showed him how. 萨姆不明白该怎样印节目单，直到老师告诉了他。2. To learn how to explain; understand. 理解。◆ Laurence is an odd boy; I can't figure him out. 劳伦斯是个古怪的孩子；我摸不透他。

figure up　v. phr. To calculate; add up. 计算；把…加起来，总计。◆ If you can figure up how many phone calls I've made from you home, I will pay you right away. 如果你能算出我在你家里打过多少次电话，我马上把钱付给你。

filled to capacity　adj. phr. Completely full. 客满；满座。◆ All hotels in town during the summer Olympic games were filled to capacity so many people decided to sleep out in the open. 夏季奥运会期间，城里的旅馆都已客满，所以很多人决定在露天过夜。

fill in　v. 1. To write words needed in blanks; put in; fill. 填写；填入。◆ You should fill in all the blanks on an application for a job. 求职登记表上的所有空格你都应该填写。2. informal To tell what you should know. 〖非正式〗向（某人）提供情况；告知情况。◆ The teacher filled in Mary about class work done while she was sick. 老师把玛丽因生病而缺的课讲给她听。3. To take another's place; substitute. 临时补缺；暂代。◆ The teacher was sick and Miss Jones filled in for her. 老师病了，琼斯小姐暂代她的工作。

fill (in) the gap　v. phr. To supply a missing piece of information; provide a clue during the course of solving a mystery. 提供所缺信息；提供解谜线索；填补空白。◆ Sherlock Holmes said, "These fingerprints are bound to fill the gap in our investigation." 歇洛克·福尔摩斯说：“这些指印一定会为我们的调查提供关键线索。”

fill one in (on)　v. phr. To inform; to bring up to date. 向某人提供（关于…）的最新情况。◆ The president depends on his advisors to fill him in on every new development both domestically and abroad. 总统依靠他的顾问们为他提供国内外各种情况的最新事态发展。

fill one's shoes　v. phr. To take the place of another and do as well; to substitute satisfactorily for. 接替某人的工作并做得同样好；令人满意地替代。◆ When Jack got hurt, the coach had nobody to fill his shoes. 杰克受伤后，教练没有适当的人选接替他。

fill out　v. 1. To put in what is missing; complete; finish; especially, to complete (a printed application blank or other form) by writing the missing facts in the blank spaces; to write down facts which are asked for in（a report or application.）填写；填满；填好。◆ After Tom passed his driving test he filled out an application for his driver's license. 汤姆通过驾驶测试后，填写了一份驾驶执照申请书。2. To become heavier and fatter; gain weight. 长胖；增加体重。◆The girl was pale and thin after her sickness, but in a few months she filled out. 那女孩病后面黄肌瘦，但经过几个月的休养她又变得丰满了。

fill the bill　v. phr., informal To be just what is needed; be good enough for something; be just right. 〖非正式〗符合要求；适合需要；正合适。◆ The boss was worried about hiring a deaf boy, but after he tried Tom out for a few weeks, he said that Tom filled the bill. 老板本来担心雇到一个不听话的男孩，但试用了汤姆几个星期后，他说汤姆很称职。

fill up or fill it up or fill her up　v. phr. To fill entirely. (Said by the driver of a car to a gas station attendant).（汽车司机对加油站服务员说的话）加满，装满。◆ When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in the tank, Andrew replied, "Fill her up." 服务员问安德鲁油箱里要加多少汽油，安德鲁回答说：“加满。”

filthy rich　adj. phr. Extremely rich but without cultural refinement; nouveau riche. 富得冒油的；极富而缺乏文化教养的；暴发的。◆ "The Murgatroyds are filthy rich," Ted complained. "They are rolling in money but they never learned how to behave properly at a dinner table."“穆加特罗德家富得冒油，”泰德抱怨说。“他们钱财滚滚，却从不知道如何在餐桌上举止得体。”

finders keepers or finders keepers, losers weepers　informal Those who find lost things can keep them. — Used usually by children to claim the right to keep something they have found. 〖非正式〗谁捡到归谁，谁丢了落泪。——通常在儿童捡到东西自己留下时所用。◆ I don't have to give it back; it's finders keepers. 我不必把它还回去；谁捡到归谁嘛。◆ Finders keepers, losers weepers! It's my knife now！捡到归己，丢了倒霉！这把小刀现在是我的了！

find fault　v. phr. To find something wrong; complain; criticize. 找岔子，挑毛病，吹毛求疵，抱怨；批评。◆ She tries to please him, but he always finds fault. 她竭力讨好他，但他却一直吹毛求疵。

find it in one's heart　v. phr. To be able or willing because of your nature. 忍心；甘心；愿意。◆ Can you find it in your heart to forgive me？你肯原谅我吗？

find or get one's bearings　v. phr. To know where one is or where one is headed. 弄清自己所处的位置；判明方位。◆ "Without a compass," the sergeant warned the enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert." “如果没有罗盘仪，”中士告诫应募入伍的士兵们说，“你们在沙漠里就休想弄清自己所处的位置。”

find oneself　v. phr. To find out what one is fitted for and succeed in that. 发现自己的特长并加以发挥；发现自己能胜任的工作。◆ Mary tried several lines of work, but at last found herself as a teacher. 玛丽尝试过好几种工作，但最后发现自己最适合当教师。◆ Sometimes young people move around a long time from job to job before they find themselves. 有时候年轻人要花费很多时间，换了一个又一个工作后，才找到适合自己的工作。

find out　v. 1. To learn or discover (something you did not know before.)得知；发现；弄清，查明。◆ I don't know how this car works, but I'll soon find out. 我不知道这辆汽车怎么开，但我很快就会弄清楚的。◆ He watched the birds to find out where they go. 他注视着那些鸟以便弄清楚它们飞往何处。2. To get facts; to get facts about. 了解；查询，打听。◆ He wrote to find out about a job in Alaska. 他写信去询问有关阿拉斯加一份工作的情况。3. To discover (someone) doing wrong; catch. 发现（某人）做坏事；查获；发觉。◆ The boy knew that if he cheated on the test the teacher would find him out. 那男孩知道，如果他考试作弊，老师会发现的。

find out the hard way　See见HARD WAY.

fine feathers do not make fine birds　literary A person who wears fine clothes may not be as good as he looks. — A proverb. 〖文〗〖谚〗马好不在鞍，人美不在衫。◆ Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she is very mean. Fine feathers do not make fine birds. 玛丽长得漂亮，穿着也漂亮，但为人却卑鄙。真所谓“马好不在鞍，人美不在衫”。

fine line　n. phr. A subtle distinction between two different things that resemble each other. 细微的差别；细微的分界线。◆ There is a fine line separating genius from insanity. 天才与精神错乱之间只有一条细微的分界线。

fine-tooth comb　n. phr. Great care; careful attention so as not to miss anything. 细齿梳子；特别仔细；特别注意。◆ The police searched the scene of the crime with a fine-tooth comb for clues. 警察在犯罪现场仔细搜查以寻找线索。

finger in the pie　n. phr., informal Something to do with what happens; part interest or responsibility. 〖非正式〗参与；有关；部分责任。◆ When the girls got up a Christmas party, I felt sure Alice had a finger in the pie. 女孩子们组织圣诞晚会时，我确信爱丽斯一定曾参与其事。◆ The Jones Company was chosen to build the new hospital and we knew Mr. Smith had a finger in the pie. 琼斯公司被选中承建新医院，我们知道史密斯先生在这中间是起了作用的。

finishing touch　n. phr. The last thing that needs to be added to make something complete. 最后的步骤；最后的润色；最后的一笔。◆ The finishing touch on John's education was his receiving the degree of Ph. D. with distinction. 约翰受教育的最后一步是以优异的成绩获得哲学博士学位。

fire away　v. phr. To keep asking whatever questions someone wants. 开始像连珠炮似地提问。◆ During his press interview the president, who was in an unusually good mood, kept encouraging the journalists to fire away. 在接受新闻界的采访时，心情特别好的总统不停地鼓励记者们多多提问。

firebug　n. An arsonist; one who willfully sets fire to property. 纵火者。◆ The police caught the firebug just as he was about to set another barn ablaze in the country. 纵火者刚要把乡下另一个粮仓放火烧着时，警察抓住了他。

fire's gone out　phrasal idiom Said when a relationship that was passionate at the beginning has cooled down and is held together by habit and inertia. 激情已过。◆ "Why are Jean and Tom behaving so formally and coldly toward one another?" Peter asked. "I guess the fire's gone out between them," Sue answered.“为什么琼和汤姆相互之间变得这样一本正经、关系冷淡了呢？”彼得问。“我想是因为他们之间的激情已经减弱了吧，”苏回答说。

fire up　v. phr. To make someone excited or eager to do something. 使充满激情；激发。◆ John is all fired up about going to China for a year; I'm afraid he may be cooled off by some of the living conditions over there. 约翰满怀激情想去中国待一年，但我担心那边的一些生活条件可能会使他冷静下来。

firing squad　n. A group of soldiers chosen to shoot a prisoner to death or to fire shots over a grave as a tribute. （对死囚执行枪决的）行刑队；（举行军人葬礼时的）鸣枪队。◆ A dictator often sends his enemies before a firing squad. 独裁者经常把自己的敌人送至行刑队枪决。

firm footing　n. phr. An established position or place on which one can stand during construction; a solid position in one's job. 牢固的立足处；稳固的基础。◆ "Give me a chair to stand on while I am putting up these heavy books," Joe said. "I need some firm footing."“给我一把椅子，我要站在上面把这些厚重的书放上去，”乔说。“我需要牢固的立足处。”◆ John's excellent education gave him a firm footing in the profession. 约翰受过极好的教育，这使他有了坚实的职业基础。

first and foremost　adv. phr. As the most important thing; first. 首要的 是，最重要的是；首先。◆ First and foremost they needed food. 他们首先需要的是食物。◆ First and foremost, we must keep America free. 最重要的是，我们必须使美国保持独立自主。

first class　n. 1. The first rank; the highest class; the best group. 第一流。◆ The pianist was quite good but he was not in the first class. 这位钢琴家相当好，但他还不是第一流的。2. The most expensive or comfortable class of travel; the best or one of the best groups in which to travel, especially by ship, train, or airplane. 头等（车、舱等）◆ Most people can't afford the first class when they take a long journey by ship. 大多数人乘船长途旅行时都坐不起头等舱。3. The way of sending all mail that includes letters and post cards, anything written by hand or typewriter, and anything sealed so that it cannot be inspected, and that is the most expensive class of mail but receives the best treatment. 第一类邮件（邮资最贵、不受检查的邮件）。◆ The usual way to send a letter is by first class. 通常寄信都是以第一类邮件投寄。

first-class^1　adj. 1. Of the highest class or best kind; excellent; first-rate. 一级的，甲等的；极好的；第一流的。◆ It was a first-class TV program. 那是一流的电视节目。2. Of the best or most expensive class of travelling.（车厢、舱位等）头等的。◆ Mr. Jones bought a first-class plane ticket to Chicago. 琼斯先生买了一张去芝加哥的头等舱机票。3. Belonging to the class of mail for sending letters, post cards, and handwritten or typewritten mail that is sealed.（邮件）第一类的。◆ It is expensive to send a heavy letter by first-class mail. 以第一类邮件寄一封很重的信是很贵的。

first-class^2　adv. With the best material; in the best or most expensive way. 用最好的原料；以最好的或最昂贵的方式。◆ When Mr. Van Smith goes anywhere he always travels first-class. 范·史密斯先生不管去什么地方旅行总是乘头等车或头等舱。◆ "How did you send the package?" "First-class."“那个包裹你是怎么寄的？”“作为第一类邮件寄的。”

first come, first served　truncated sent. informal If you arrive first, you will be served first; people will be waited on in the order they come; the person who comes first will have his turn first. 〖缩短句〗〖非正式〗先到先招待；先到先供应。◆ Get in line for your ice cream, boys. First come, first served. 孩子们，排好队来取冰淇淋。先来的先领。◆ The rule in the restaurant is first come, first served. 这家餐馆的规矩是先到先招待。◆ There are only a few seats left so it's first come, first served. 只剩下几个座位了，所以就谁先来谁坐。

first cousin　n. The child of your aunt or uncle. 嫡堂（表）兄弟（姐妹）。◆ Tom's only first cousin was Ralph, the son of his Uncle John. 汤姆唯一的堂弟是他叔叔约翰的儿子拉尔夫。

firsthand　adj. Fresh; genuine; from the original source. 第一手的；原始的；直接的。◆ John says he got the information firsthand from the president himself. 约翰说这信息是他直接从总统本人那儿得到的。

first of all　adv. phr. Chiefly; primarily; as the first thing. 首先；第一。◆ After we get to Chicago, we will, first of all, try to find a reliable used car. 我们到芝加哥后，首先要设法找一辆可靠的旧汽车。

first off　adv. phr., informal Before anything else; first. 〖非正式〗首先；第一。◆ First off, I want you to mow the lawn. 首先，我要你给草坪刈草。

first-rate　adj. phr. Excellent, outstanding, superior. 第一流的；极好的；优秀的；最高级的。◆ John received a first-rate education at Princeton University. 约翰在普林斯顿大学受过第一流的教育。

first-run　adj. phr. Shown for the first time; new.（影片）第一轮（或首轮）放映的。◆ The local theater showed only first-run movies. 本地的这家电影院只放映首轮影片。

first thing off the bat　adv. phr. Immediately; at once. 立即；马上。◆ He called home from Paris first thing off the bat as he stepped off the plane. 他在巴黎一下飞机马上就给家里打了一个电话。

first things first　Other things must wait until the most important and necessary things are done. 要紧的事情先做。◆ Study your lessons before you go out to play. First things first. 先把你的功课做好了再出去玩。重要的事要先做。

fish for　v., informal To try to get or to find out (something), by hinting or by a roundabout way to try to lead someone else to give or tell you what you want by hinting. 〖非正式〗设法得到；刺探；转弯抹角地引出。◆ Near examination time, some of the students fish for information. 临近考试的时候，总有些学生要探听消息。

fish for a compliment　v. phr. To try to make someone pay a compliment. 故意引别人说恭维话。◆ When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he was fishing for a compliment. 当吉姆把他的新车拿给我看时，我可以看出他想引我说恭维话。

fish in muddy or troubled waters　v. phr. To take advantage of a troubled or confusing situation; seek personal advantage. 浑水摸鱼；趁火打劫。◆ With the police disorganized after the collapse of communism in Europe, many criminals started to fish in troubled waters. 共产主义在欧洲解体后，由于警察部门的混乱无序，许多罪犯开始浑水摸鱼。

fish or cut bait　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Decide what you want to do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance or turn. 作出选择不再浪费时间；要么现在去做，要么就让别人做。◆ Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait. 杰克不能决定去读大学还是去工作，所以他父亲要他快作选择。2. either try hard and do your best, or quit. 要么全力以赴，要么索性放弃。◆ Frank missed football practice so often that the coach told him to fish or cut bait. 弗兰克经常不参加橄榄球训练，所以教练对他说要么好好练，要么干脆走人。

fish out of water　n. phr. A person who is out of his proper place in life; someone who does not fit in. 离水的鱼；不得其所的人；格格不入的人。◆ She was the only girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a fish out of water. 她是晚会上唯一没穿礼服的女孩，所以感到很尴尬。

fish story　n. phr. An unlikely or improbable tale. 夸张的叙述；吹牛。◆ Hunters and fishermen often exaggerate their successes by telling fish stories. 猎人和渔夫经常吹牛以夸大他们的成就。

fit as a fiddle　adj. phr. In very good health. 非常健康的。◆ The man was almost 90 years old but fit as a fiddle. 那人年近九旬，但身体仍很健康。

fit for　v. phr. To be suited for; be prepared for. 适合。◆ "What kind of job is Ted fit for?" the social worker asked.“泰德适合做什么样的工作？”那位社会福利工作者问道。

fit for a king　adj. phr. Very elegant, luxurious, beautiful, expensive. 非常典雅的；非常豪华的；非常漂亮的；非常昂贵的。◆ The new condominium Joe and Mary bought is fit for a king. 乔和玛丽买的新公寓非常漂亮。

fit in with　v. phr. To fall into agreement or accord with. 与…一致。◆ His plans to take a vacation in early July fit in perfectly with the university schedule. 他在7月初度假的计划与大学的课程安排十分吻合。

fit like a glove　v. phr. To fit perfectly. 完全相配，正合适。◆ Her new dress fits her like a glove. 她的新衣非常合身。

fit out or fit up　v. To give things needed; furnish. 供给…必要的东西；装备。◆ The soldiers were fitted out with guns and clothing. 给士兵们都发了枪和服装。◆ The government fitted out warships and got sailors for them. 政府为军舰配备了所需的各种设备并为它们准备好了水手。

fit to be tied^1　adj. phr., informal Very angry or upset. 〖非正式〗非常生气的；十分恼火的。◆ She was fit to be tied when she saw the broken glass. 她看到被打碎的玻璃杯非常生气。

fit to be tied^2　adv. phr., substandard Very hard. — Used for emphasis. 〖不规范〗极努力地；极猛烈地。——用以强调。◆ Uncle Willie was laughing fit to be tied at the surprised look on Mother's face. 看到母亲脸上露出的惊讶表情，威利叔叔哈哈大笑。

fit to hold a candle to　adj. phr., always in the negative Much inferior to; worth less; cannot be compared with someone or something.（用于否定句）（无法）与…媲美；（不能）与…相比。◆ "I am not fit to hold a candle to Professor Teller when it comes to nuclear physics," Joe said.“谈到核物理，我比泰勒教授差得太远了，”乔说。

five o'clock shadow　n. phr. A very short growth of beard on a man's face who did shave in the morning but whose beard is so strong that it is again visible in the afternoon.（早上刚刮过到傍晚又长出的）胡须。◆ "You have a five o'clock shadow, honey," Irene said, "and we're going to the opera. Why don't you shave again quickly?"“你又长出了短短的胡须，亲爱的，”艾琳说。“我们要去看歌剧演出。你就快点再刮刮脸吧。”

fix someone's wagon or fix someone's little red wagon　v. phr., informal 1. (Said to a child as a threat) to administer a spanking. 〖非正式〗（吓唬孩子的话）打某人的屁股。◆ Stop that right away or I'll fix your (little red) wagon！马上停下来，否则我就打你的屁股！2. (Said of an adult) to thwart or frustrate another, to engineer his failure.（指成人）挫败某人；使某人失败；策划某人的失败。◆ If he sues me for slander, I will counter-sue him for malicious prosecution. That will fix his wagon！如果他告我诽谤，我就反告他恶意起诉。这就会让他完蛋！

fix someone up with　v. phr., informal To help another get a date with a woman or man by arranging a meeting for the two. 〖非正式〗为某人安排与…约会。◆ Say Joe, can you possibly fix me up with someone this weekend? I am so terribly lonesome！乔，这个周末你能为我安排与某个人约会吗？我实在太寂寞了。

fix up　v. phr. 1. To repair. 修理；修补；修缮。◆ The school is having the old gym fixed up. 学校正找人在修缮体育馆。2. To arrange. 安排。◆ I think I can fix it up with the company so that John gets the transfer he desires. 我想我能与那家公司安排好让约翰如愿以偿调动工作。3. To arrange a date that might lead to a romance or even to marriage. 为…安排约会。◆ Mary is a great matchmaker; she fixed up Ron and Betty at her recent party. 玛丽是个了不起的媒人；她在最近举办的一次聚会上就安排罗恩和贝蒂见了面。

fizzle out　v., informal 1. To stop burning; die out. 〖非正式〗熄灭；逐渐消失。◆ The fuse fizzled out before exploding the firecracker. 引信还没引爆鞭炮就熄掉了。2. To fail after a good start; end in failure.（开始很好而）终于失败；终成泡影。◆ The party fizzled out when everyone went home early.大家都早早地回家了，聚会只得草草收场。

flag down　v., informal To stop by waving a signal flag or as if waving a signal flag. 〖非正式〗打信号（或挥手）使停下。◆ A policeman flagged down the car with his flashlight. 一位警察挥动手电筒让汽车停下。

flakeball or flake　n., slang, drug culture A disjointed, or "flaky" person, who is forgetful and incoherent, as if under the influence of narcotics. 〖俚〗怪人；疯疯癫癫的人；反复无常的人。◆ Hermione is a regular flakeball. 赫米奥娜是个十足的怪人。

flare up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To burn brightly for a short time especially after having died down. （尤指熄灭后又短暂地）旺烧起来。◆ The fire flared up again and then died. 火又旺烧了一会，接着就熄灭了。2. To become suddenly angry. 突然发怒。◆ The mayor flared up at the reporter's remark. 市长听到记者的话突然大发雷霆。3. To begin again suddenly, especially for a short time after a quiet time.（尤指短时间平静后）突然爆发；突然复发。◆ Mr. Gray's arthritis flared up sometimes. 格雷先生的关节炎不时发作。

flare-up　n. (stress on flare)（重读flare）The reoccurrence of an infection or an armed conflict.（传染病或武装冲突的）突然发作；重新发作。◆ He had a flare-up of his arthritis. 他的关节炎又发作了。◆ There was a bad flare-up of hostilities in some countries. 在有些国家突然爆发了残酷的战争。

flash card　n. A card with numbers or words on it that is used in teaching a class.（上有数字或单词用于教学的）抽认卡。◆ The teacher used flash cards to drill the class in addition. 教师利用抽认卡训练全班同学的加法。

flash in the pan　n. phr., slang A person or thing that starts out well but does not continue. 〖俚〗昙花一现的人（或事）。◆ The new opera star was a flash in the pan. 那位歌剧新星是个昙花一现的人物。

flash through sb. 's mind　v. phr. To suddenly occur to someone; to suddenly think of something or remember something. 突然闪过某人的脑际；某人突然想到。◆ I was already sitting in the bus several stops away from home, when it flashed through my mind that I probably hadn't turned off the stove in my kitchen. 我已离家在公共汽车上坐了好几站才突然想到，我可能没关掉厨房里的火炉。

flat as a pancake　adj. phr. Very level; very flat; having no mountains or hills. 非常平的；非常平坦的；没有山的。◆ A great part of the American Midwest is as flat as a pancake. 美国中西部的很大一部分地势极为平坦。

flatfoot　n., slang, derogatory A policeman. 〖俚〗〖贬〗警察。◆ "What does Joe do for a living?" "He's a flatfoot."“乔的谋生职业是什么？”“他是一名警察。”

flat-footed　adj., informal〖非正式〗1. Straightforward; forthright; direct; outright. 直截了当的；坦率的；直率的；无保留的。◆ The governor issued a flat-footed denial of the accusation. 州长直截了当地否认了这项指控。2. Not ready; not prepared — usually used with catch. 无准备的——通常与catch连用。◆ The teacher's question caught Tim flatfooted. 老师的问题令蒂姆狼狈不堪。

flat-out　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Without hiding anything; plainly; openly. 毫无隐瞒地；直截了当地；坦率地。◆ The student told his teacher flat-out that he was not listening to her. 那个学生坦率地告诉老师，他没有听她讲课。2. At top speed; as fast as possible. 全速地；尽快地。◆ He saw two men running flat-out from the wild rhinoceros. 他看到两个人在拼命奔跑以逃离野犀牛的追逐。

flea in sb. 's ear　n. phr., informal An idea or answer that is not welcome; an annoying or surprisingly sharp reply or hint. 〖非正式〗令人不快的意见（或回答）；刺耳的话；讥讽。◆ I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more. 如果他再来烦扰我，我就要刺他一顿了。

flea market　n. phr. A place where antiques, second-hand things, and cheap articles are sold, and especially one in the open air.（出售古董、旧货、廉价品的露天）跳蚤市场。◆ There are many outdoor flea markets in Europe. 欧洲有许多露天跳蚤市场。

flesh and blood　n. 1. A close relative (as a father, daughter, brother); close relatives. — Used in the phrase one's own flesh and blood. 亲骨肉（如父亲、女儿、兄弟）；亲人。——用于短语one's own flesh and blood。◆ Such an answer from her — and she's my own flesh and blood, too!她居然这样回答我——她还是我的亲骨肉呢！2. The appearance of being real or alive. 真实感；有血有肉。◆ The author doesn't give his characters any flesh and blood. 作者没有把他的人物写得有血有肉。3. The human body. 身体；肉体；血肉之躯。◆ Before child labor laws, small children often worked 50 or 60 hours a week in factories. It was more than flesh and blood could bear. 在童工法实施之前，小孩子每周在工厂里往往劳动50或60个小时。这真是血肉之躯所不能忍受的。

flesh out　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To add to; make fuller, bigger, or longer. 增加；充实；使更大或更长。◆ The author fleshed out his story by adding more about his war experiences. 作者在故事中加进了自己的战争经历，使之更加充实。2. also flesh up To become heavier, put on weight, or flesh. 发胖；长肉。◆ He lost weight after his illness but is beginning to flesh out again. 他病后瘦了，但现在又开始胖起来了。See见FILL OUT.

flight of fancy　n. phr. An imaginative excursion; a poetical or rhetorical extravaganza. 奇想，异想天开。◆ Many a piece of literature may start out first as a flight of fancy. 许多文学作品可能开始时只是一种异想天开的东西。

fling enough dirt and some will stick　If someone accuses a person often and repeatedly, people will believe the accusation or at least parts of it, whether it is true or false. — A proverb. 〖谚〗毁谤重复多次，就会有人相信。◆ It is an unfortunate habit of some politicians during campaigns to say bad things about their opponents, because some of it will be believed — fling enough dirt and some will stick. 某些政客有一种可悲的习惯，即在竞选期间说对手的坏话，因为总有一些坏话会被人信以为真——毁谤足够多，总有一些见效果。

flip-flop^1　v., informal To alternate the positions of; exchange the places of; switch. 〖非正式〗调换…的位置；改变。◆ The football coach had one play in which he flip-flopped his left halfback and fullback. 橄榄球教练在有一场比赛中调换了左前卫和进攻后卫的位置。

flip-flop^2　n., informal A complete change; a switch from one thing to an entirely different one. 〖非正式〗完全改变；突然倒转。◆ John wanted to be a carpenter like his father, but when he saw the print shop he did a flip-flop and now he's learning printing. 约翰本希望像他父亲那样成为一名木匠，但在他参观了一家印刷所后，他来了一个彻底的改变；现在他正在学习印刷术。

flip-flop^3　adj. phr., informal Involving or using a change from one of two places, positions, or alternatives to the other. 〖非正式〗突然改变的；调换位置的。◆ The machine was controlled by a flip-flop switch. 这部机器是由一个触发开关控制的。

flip off　v. phr. To make a vulgar gesture with one's hand. 做下流手势。◆ Ted has a terrible habit; each time he feels the least bit frustrated, he flips off. 泰德有个令人讨厌的习惯，每当他感到一点失望时就会做一个下流手势。

flip one's lid also flip one's wig　slang 〖俚〗 1. To lose one's temper. 发脾气。◆ When that pushy salesman came back Mom really flipped her lid. 当那个莽撞的推销员又折了回来时，妈妈真的发火了。2. To lose your mind; become insane. 失去理智；发疯。◆ When he offered me three times the pay I was getting, I thought he had flipped his lid. 当他提出要给我3倍于现在的工资时，我想他是疯了。3. To become unreasonably enthusiastic. 变得狂热；着迷。◆ She flipped her lid over a hat she saw in the store window. 她非常想买她在商店橱窗里看到的一顶帽子。

flip out　v. phr., slang, informal To go insane, to go out of one's mind. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗发疯，精神错乱。◆ It is impossible to talk to Joe today — he must have flipped out. 今天不可能跟乔谈了——他准是发疯了。

float or fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee　phrasal idiom Your appearance could look small but you are stronger than you look. 看上去瘦小，其实很健壮。◆ Mickey's appearance is rather deceptive — he floats like a butterfly, but stings like a bee. 米基的外表很容易使人上当——他看上去瘦小，但其实很结实。

floor someone　v. phr. To shock or surprise someone. 使某人震惊得不知所措。◆ When my daughter called from Reno, Nevada, and announced that she had gotten married an hour ago, I was completely floored. 当我女儿从内华达州的雷诺打来电话，宣布她已于一小时前结婚时，我震惊得完全不知所措了。

floorwalker　n. A section manager in a department store.（百货公司的）楼面主管。◆ To exchange this pair of shoes, you must first get the floorwalker's approval. 要换这双鞋，你必须首先得到楼面主管的同意。

floppy disk　n. phr. A 3.5-inch-wide diskette used to store information in connection with personal computers, whether IBM compatible, or McIntosh. 软（磁）盘。◆ The floppy disk is the twenty-first century's electronic paper. 软盘是21世纪的电子纸。

flotsam and jetsam　n. phr. 1. Ruinous remains floating in the sea after a shipwreck.（漂浮于水面的）船只残骸（或货物）。◆ The fishermen on shore saw a lot of flotsam and jetsam being moved by the waves. 岸上的渔民看到许多浮于水面的货物正被海浪冲向岸边。2. Human wreckage. 流离失所的人。◆ On the embankment we saw the flotsam and jetsam of exhausted immigrants standing in line for admission to America. 在堤岸上我们看到那些筋疲力尽、流离失所的移民正排队站在那儿申请进入美国。

flower child　n., slang, informal 1. A young person who believes in nonviolence and carries flowers around to symbolize his peace-loving nature.〖俚〗〖非正式〗（主张和平反对暴力的）佩花嬉皮士，“花孩儿”。◆ Flower children are supposed to be nonviolent, but they sure make a lot of noise when they demonstrate！佩花嬉皮士本该是反对暴力的，但他们在游行时却大叫大嚷，吵得厉害！2. Any person who cannot cope with reality. 不切实际的人。◆ "Face facts, Suzie, stop being such a flower child!"“面对事实吧，苏茜，不要这么不切实际了。”

flower power　n., slang The supposed power of love and nonviolence as intended to be used by members of the anti-culture to change American society. 〖俚〗爱与非暴力的权力（反文化派成员主张用爱与非暴力改变美国社会）。◆ The young people were marching for flower power. 年轻人游行支持以爱与非暴力实现社会改革。

flowers of speech　n. phr. Rhetorical devices of speech; figures of speech and other stylistic embellishments. 华丽的辞藻。◆ Mr. Chisolm would be a much more effective speaker if he didn't use so many tired, old, and trite flowers of speech. 如果奇索姆先生不用那么多陈腐的华丽辞藻，他会成为一名更能打动听众的演说家。

fluff stuff　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Snow. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗雪。◆ We can expect some fluff stuff this afternoon. 今天下午可能会下雪。

flunk out　v. phr. To have to withdraw from school or college because of too many failing grades.（因不及格而）退学。◆ Fred flunked out of college during his junior year. 弗雷德在大学三年级期间因不及格而退学。

flush it　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To fail (something). 失败；不及格。◆ I really flushed it in my math course. 我的数学真的没及格。2. interj., used imperatively Expression registering refusal to believe something considered stupid or false.（感叹词，用于祈使语气）见鬼去吧！胡说！◆ "You expect me to buy that story? Flush it!"“你以为我会相信那种说法？见鬼去吧！”

fly at sb.'s throat　v. phr. To attack you suddenly with great anger.猛地扑向某人。◆ When Tom called Dick a bad name, Dick flew at his throat.汤姆骂了迪克，迪克猛地向他扑了过去。

fly ball　n. A baseball hit high into the air.（棒球）腾空球，高飞球。◆ He hit an easy fly ball to center field. 他向中外场击出一个很容易被接住的高飞球。

fly blind　v. phr. 1. To fly an airplane by instruments alone. 仅靠仪表飞行。◆ In the heavy fog he had to fly blind. 在大雾中，他只得靠仪表飞行。2. informal To do something without understanding what you are doing. 〖非正式〗瞎做，盲目行事。◆ I'm glad the car runs now; I was flying blind when I fixed it. 车子现在可以开了，我很高兴。我修车时完全是瞎搞一气。

fly-by-night^1　adj. Set up to make a lot of money in a hurry, then disappear so people can't find you to complain about poor work, etc.; not trustworthy; not reliable. 赚了钱后就消失不见的；不值得信任的；不可靠的。◆ Mrs. Blank bought her vacuum cleaner from a new company; when she tried to have it fixed, she found it was a fly-by-night business. 布兰克夫人是在一家新公司买的吸尘器；当她想送吸尘器去修理时，却发现这家公司已人去楼空。

fly-by-night^2　n., informal 1. A company that sells many cheap things for a big profit and then disappears. 〖非正式〗不可靠的商行；无信誉的公司。◆ A dependable company honors its guarantees, but a fly-by-night only wants your money. 一家可靠的公司对其作出的保证是会兑现的，而一家无信誉的公司只想要你的钱。2. A person who does not pay his bills, but sneaks away（as at night.）夜间逃债者；夜间逃账者。◆ Hotels are bothered by fly-by-nights. 令旅馆烦恼的是那些不付账便溜掉的客人。

fly by the seat of one's pants　v. phr., slang To fly an airplane by feel and instinct rather than with the help of the instruments. 〖俚〗凭感觉飞行；凭直觉飞行。◆ Many pilots in World War I had to fly by the seat of their pants. 第一次世界大战期间，许多飞行员都是凭感觉飞行的。

flying high　adj., slang Very happy; joyful. 〖俚〗非常高兴的；兴高采烈的。◆ Jack was flying high after his team won the game. 杰克在自己的球队赢得比赛后兴高采烈。

flying tackle　n., informal A tackle made by jumping through the air at the person to be tackled. 〖非正式〗鱼跃摛抱；鱼跃扭抱摛获。◆ The policeman stopped the burglar with a flying tackle. 警察一个鱼跃腾空截住了窃贼。

flying visit　n. phr. A visit of very short duration. 短暂的访问；闪电式访问。◆ Tom came to New York for only a flying visit. 汤姆到纽约来只是作一次短暂的访问。

fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of　v. phr. To ignore; go against; show disrespect or disregard for. 悍然不顾；公然违抗；蔑视。◆ You can't fly in the face of good business rules and expect to be successful. 如果你悍然不顾良好的商业规则，你就不可能取得成功。

fly in the ointment　n. phr., informal An unpleasant part of a pleasant thing; something small that spoils your fun.〖非正式〗美中不足之处；使人扫兴的小事。◆ We had a lot of fun at the beach; the only fly in the ointment was George's cutting his foot on a piece of glass. 我们在海滨玩得很开心；唯一美中不足的是乔治被玻璃划破了脚。

fly into a rage or temper　v. phr. To become very angry. 勃然大怒。◆ Each time we mention the name of her ex-husband, Sue flies into a rage. 我们每次提到她前夫的名字，苏都会勃然大怒。

fly off on a tangent　v. phr. To suddenly stop doing what one was engaged in and to shift to something else. 突然停下做的事转做别的事；突然改变行动。◆ John will never amount to anything in his work; he constantly flies off on a tangent and so never completes anything. 约翰在工作中绝不会有什么出息，他经常见异思迁，所以从未完成过任何事。

fly off the handle　v. phr., informal To become very angry. 〖非正式〗勃然大怒，大发雷霆。◆ John flew off the handle whenever Mary made a mistake. 每次玛丽出错，约翰都会大发雷霆。◆ The children's noise made the man next door fly off the handle. 孩子们的吵闹声使隔壁的那个男人勃然大怒。

fly the coop　v. phr., slang To leave suddenly and secretly; run away. 〖俚〗突然离开；逃走。◆ The robbers flew the coop before the police arrived. 抢劫者在警察到来之前已逃之夭夭。

foam at the mouth　v. phr., slang To be very angry, like a mad dog. 〖俚〗口吐白沫；愤怒至极。◆ By the time Uncle Henry had the third flat tire he was really foaming at the mouth. 到亨利叔叔第三只轮胎漏气时，他真是气得口吐白沫了。

fob off　v., informal 1. To get something false accepted as good or real. 〖非正式〗用欺骗手段卖掉（次品、假货等）。◆ The peddler fobbed off pieces of glass as diamonds. 小贩以玻璃充当钻石骗了一些人。2. To put aside; not really answer but get rid of. 把…放在一边；搪塞。◆ Her little brother asked where she was going, but she fobbed him off with an excuse. 她小弟弟问她去哪儿，她用借口把他搪塞了过去。

foggy bottom　n., slang An area in downtown Washington, D. C. where many offices of the Department of State are located; hence figuratively, the U. S. Department of State. 〖俚〗雾谷（华盛顿特区一地区，美国国务院许多办公室的所在地，故喻指美国国务院）。◆ The press secretary gave us a lot of foggy bottom double-talk about the hostage crisis in the Near East. 新闻秘书就近东的人质危机给我们讲了许多意义晦涩的空话。

foil sb.'s plot　v. phr. To frustrate someone's plans; to uncover what the enemy is up to and to take effective counter measures. 挫败某人的阴谋。◆ The marines found out what the terrorists were up to through excellent intelligence, so they managed to foil their plot. 海军陆战队的官兵根据准确的情报发现了恐怖分子想要干什么，从而成功地挫败了他们的阴谋。

fold up　v., informal To collapse; fail. 〖非正式〗崩溃；失败。◆ The team folded up in the last part of the season. 球队在赛季的最后阶段连连失败。◆ The new restaurant folded up in less than a year. 那家新饭店不到一年就关门了。

follow in sb.'s footsteps also follow in sb.'s tracks　v. phr. To follow someone's example; follow someone exactly. 步某人的后尘；仿效某人。◆ He followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor. 他步其父亲的后尘，做了一名医生。

follow one's heart　v. phr. To do what one wishes to do rather than to follow the voice of reason. 做自己想做的事。◆ Instead of accepting a lucrative job in his father's business, Jim followed his heart and became a missionary in the jungle. 吉姆没有在父亲的企业里接受一份赚钱多的工作，而是根据自己的心愿到热带丛林里做了一名传教士。

follow one's nose　v. phr., informal 1. To go straight ahead; continue in the same direction. 〖非正式〗笔直往前；一直朝前走。◆ Just follow your nose and you'll get there. 一直往前走，你就可以到达那儿了。2. To go any way you happen to think of. 随便走走。◆ Oh, I don't know just where I want to go. I'll just follow my nose and see what happens. 唉，我不知道我到底要去什么地方，只是随便走走看看。

follow out　v. phr., informal 1. To do fully; finish (what you are told to do.)〖非正式〗贯彻；执行；完成。◆ The boy followed out the instructions and made a fine model plane. 那男孩完全按照操作指南去做，做成了一个漂亮的飞机模型。2. To keep working at (something) until it is finished; give (something) your attention until it comes to an end or conclusion. 对…探究到底；把…弄个水落石出。◆ The student followed out all the index references in the encyclopedia until he found what he wanted to know. 那个学生根据索引在百科全书中查阅了全部有关条目，终于找到了他想知道的内容。

follow suit　v. phr. 1. To play a card of the same color and kind that another player has put down. 跟着出同花色的牌。◆ When diamonds were led, I had to follow suit. 别人出方块时，我也得跟着出方块。2. To do as someone else has done; follow someone's example. 学样；跟着做。◆ When the others went swimming, I followed suit. 别人去游泳时，我也去游泳。

follow through　v. phr. To finish an action that you have started. 进行到底；坚持完成。◆ Bob drew plans for a table for his mother, but he did not follow through by making it. 鲍勃制订了计划要为母亲做张桌子，但他并没有坚持完成。

follow up　v. phr., informal 1. To chase or follow closely and without giving up. 〖非正式〗穷追；紧追不舍。◆ The hunters followed up the wounded buffalo until it fell dead. 猎人们对那头受伤的野牛紧追不舍，直到它倒地死去。2. Make (one action) more successful by doing something more. （用进一步的行动）加强，对…采取进一步行动。◆ After Mary sent a letter to apply for a job, she followed it up by going to talk to the personnel manager. 玛丽寄了一封信去申请工作，随后又去找人事部经理面谈。3a. To hunt for (more news about something that has already been in the newspapers, radio, or TV news); find more about. 对（已有的新闻报道）进一步了解。◆ The day after news of the fire at Brown's store, the newspaper sent a reporter to follow up Mr. Brown's future plans. 布朗商店失火的新闻报道后第二天，报社派了一名记者去进一步了解布朗先生的未来计划。3b. To print or broadcast (more news about some happening that has been in the news before). 对（某一新闻事件）进一步报道。◆ The fire story was printed Monday, and Tuesday's paper followed it up by saying that Mr. Brown planned to build a bigger and better store at the same place. 星期一登出了失火的报道，星期二的报纸又进一步报道说，布朗先生计划在原址建造一个更大更好的商店。

follow-up　n. Additional work or research by means of which an earlier undertaking's chances of success are increased. 后续工作；后续研究。◆ I hope you'll be willing to do a bit of follow-up. 我希望你愿意做一点后续工作。

fond of　Having a liking for; attracted to by strong liking. 喜欢；喜爱。◆ Alan is fond of candy. 艾伦喜欢吃糖。◆ Uncle Bill was the children's favorite, and he was fond of them too. 孩子们特别喜欢比尔叔叔，比尔叔叔也喜欢他们。

food for thought　n. phr. Something to think about or worth thinking about; something that makes you think. 值得深思的事；引人深思的事。◆ The teacher told John that she wanted to talk to his father, and that gave John food for thought. 老师告诉约翰她想找他父亲谈谈，这使得约翰忧心忡忡。◆ There is much food for thought in this book. 这本书里有很多令人深思的东西。

fool and his money are soon parted　A foolish person soon wastes his money. — A proverb.〖谚〗傻瓜有钱留不住。◆ Jimmy spends all his pennies for candy. A fool and his money are soon parted. 吉米把所有的钱都花在买糖上。真所谓傻瓜有钱留不住。

fool around or mess around or play around or monkey around　v., informal 1. To spend time playing, fooling, or joking instead of being serious or working; waste time. 〖非正式〗闲荡，鬼混；浪费时间。◆ If you go to college, you must work, not fool around. 如果你上大学，你就必须好好学习，不可鬼混。2. To treat or handle carelessly. 玩弄；随便对待（或处理）。◆ Bob cut himself by fooling around with a sharp knife. 鲍勃拿着一把很快的小刀玩弄，结果伤了自己。◆ Suzie says she wishes John would quit playing around with the girls and get married. 苏茜说她希望约翰不要再跟姑娘们鬼混，应该结婚才是。3. or fiddle around To work or do something in an irregular or unplanned way; tinker. 瞎摆弄；乱弄；笨手笨脚地做事。◆ Jimmy likes to monkey around with automobile engines. 吉米喜欢摆弄汽车发动机。

fool away or fritter away　v., informal To waste foolishly. 〖非正式〗浪费；虚度；虚掷。◆ Paul failed history because he fooled away his time instead of studying. 保罗历史考试不及格，因为他不好好学习而把时间白白浪费掉了。◆ The man won a lot of money, but he soon frittered it away and was poor again. 那人赢了很多钱，但他很快就把它挥霍一空，重新变穷了。

foolproof　adj. So constructed that not even a fool can spoil it; easy. 连傻子都搞不坏的；连傻子都懂（或会使用）的。◆ This entrance examination is so easy that it is actually foolproof. 这一入学考试很容易，傻子也考得出。

fools rush in where angels fear to tread　Often heard when unwise people rashly and thoughtlessly tackle situations when even the most circumspect take their time assessing the odds, and think twice about how to proceed. — A proverb.〖谚〗智者却步处，愚者独敢闯；天使不敢傻瓜敢，聪明人不干蠢人干；智者深思熟虑，愚者胆大妄为。◆ It's no good to choose war as one's first option; diplomacy should be tried first — only fools rush in where angels fear to tread. 以战争作为第一选择并非上策；应首先尝试运用外交手段——智者多深思熟虑，只有傻瓜才胆大妄为。

foot in the door　n. phr., informal The first step toward getting or doing something; a start toward success; opening. 〖非正式〗（得到某物、做某事的）第一步；成功的开始；正式的开始。◆ Don't let Jane get her foot in the door by joining the club or soon she'll want to be president. 不要让简得到机会参加俱乐部，否则她很快就想当主席了。

footloose and fancy-free　adj. phr. Free and free to do what one wants (said of unmarried men).（指未婚男子）自由自在的，无拘无束的。◆ Ron is a merry bachelor and seems to enjoy greatly being footloose and fancyfree. 罗恩是个快乐的单身汉，他自由自在似乎过得很开心。

foot the bill　v. phr. To cover the expenses of; pay for something. 负担费用；付账。◆ The bride's father footed two-thirds of the bill for his daughter's wedding. 新娘的父亲负担了女儿结婚三分之二的费用。Compare比较PICK UP THE TAB.

for all　1. In spite of; even with, despite. — Used for contrast. 虽然；尽管。——用以对照。◆ For all his city ways, he is a country boy at heart. 他虽然有不少城里人的作风，但本质上还是个乡下男孩。2. also for aught To the extent that. — Used like a negative with care and know. 到…程度。——与care和now连用，起否定作用。◆ For all I care, you can throw it away. 你可以把它扔掉，我才不管呢。◆ For all he knows, we might be in Boston. 他没想到我们会在波士顿。

for all I know　adv. phr. To the extent that I am familiar with the situation or the circumstances. 据我所知。◆ For all I know, Suzie may have left town. 据我所知，苏茜可能已经离开了城镇。

for all one is worth　With all of your strength; as hard as you can. 尽力；拼命。◆ Roger ran for all he was worth to catch the bus. 罗杰拼命跑去赶公共汽车。

for all someone cares　adv. phr. In the opinion of someone who is not involved or who does not care what happens. 与某人全然不相干，不关某人的事。◆ For all Jane cares, poor Tom might as well drop dead. 可怜的汤姆即使一头栽下去摔死，简也会不在乎。

for all someone knows　adv. phr. According to the information someone has; probably. 据某人所知。◆ For all we know, Ron and Beth might have eloped and been married in a French chateau. 据我们所知，罗恩和贝丝可能已经私奔并在一法国庄园结了婚。

for all that　adv. phr. In spite of what has been said, alleged, or rumored. 尽管如此，虽然如此。◆ Well, for all that, we think that she is still the most deserving candidate for Congress. 尽管如此，我们认为她仍是国会议员的最佳候选人。

for all the world　adv. phr. 1. Under no circumstances. 不管怎样，无论如何。◆ Betty said she wouldn't marry Jake for all the world. 贝蒂说她决不嫁给杰克。2. Precisely; exactly. 完全。◆ It began for all the world like a successful baseball season for the UIC Flames, when suddenly they lost to the Blue Demons. 对伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的“火焰”队来说，开始时完全像是一个成功的棒球赛季，但他们突然却败给了“蓝魔”队。

for as much as　conj., formal Because; since. 〖正式〗因为；由于；既然。◆ For as much as the senator is eighty years old, we feel he should not run for reelection. 既然那位参议员已80岁，我们认为他就不应该再参加连任竞选了。

for a song　adv. phr., informal At a low price; for a bargain price; cheaply. 〖非正式〗非常便宜地；廉价地。◆ They bought the house for a song and sold it a few years later at a good profit. 他们低价买进了那幢房子，几年后卖出赚了不少钱。

for a while　adv. phr. For a short period of time. 一会儿；一段时间。◆ For a while I used to think that I'd become a musician, but soon enough I changed my mind and went into medicine. 有一段时间，我曾想成为音乐家，但很快我就改变了主意，从事了医务工作。

for better or worse or for better or for worse　adv. phr. 1. With good or bad effect, depending on how one looks at the matter. 不论好坏。◆ The historian did justice, for better or worse, to the careers of several famous men. 那位历史学家对几位名人的生平，不论好坏，均作出了公正的评价。2. Under any eventuality; forever; always. 不管结果怎样；永远。◆ Alex and Masha decided to leave Moscow and come to Chicago, for better or for worse. 不管结果如何，亚历克斯和玛莎决定离开莫斯科到芝加哥来。3. (Marriage vows) Forever, for as long as one may live.（结婚誓言）永远；不论是福是祸。◆ With this ring I thee wed, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part. 我以这枚戒指娶你为妻，今后无论是富是穷，无论是生病还是健康，无论是福是祸，都永远相爱，直到死亡把我们分开。

forbidden fruit　n. phr. 1. Something stolen.偷来的东西。◆ "What's all that fancy stuff you're carrying in your pockets?" Jim asked. "We knocked off a small jeweler yesterday evening and this is my forbidden fruit," Fred answered.“你口袋里装的那些别致的东西是什么？”吉姆问。“昨晚我们偷了一个小珠宝商，这些就是我偷来的东西，”弗雷德回答说。2. Illicit pleasure. 非法的享乐。◆ Sleeping with another man's wife is forbidden fruit. 跟别人的老婆睡觉是不正当的享乐。

force sb.'s hand　v. phr. To make you do something or tell what you will do sooner than planned. 迫使某人做某事（或表态）。◆ Ben did not want to tell where he was going, but his friend forced his hand. 本不想说出他要去哪里，但他的朋友强迫他说了出来。

force to be reckoned with　n. phr. A formidable organization, power, or individual person. 可怕的力量；不容忽视的力量；需要认真对付的力量。◆ The new boss' wife doesn't say very much, but she sure is a force to be reckoned with. 新老板的夫人说话不多，但她显然是个不容忽视的人物。

for crying out loud　informal Used as an exclamation to show that you feel surprised or cross. 〖非正式〗（表示惊奇、愤怒）哎呀，我的天啊；岂有此理。◆ For crying out loud, look who's here！哎呀，瞧瞧是谁来了！

for days on end　adv. phr. For a long time; for many days.一连好几天。◆ The American tourists tried to get used to Scottish pronunciation for days on end, but still couldn't understand what the Scots were saying. 那些美国旅游者一连好几天都在努力适应苏格兰人的发音，但仍然听不懂苏格兰人在说什么。

for dear life　adv. phr. As though afraid of losing your life. 逃命似的；拼命地。◆ When the horse began to run, she held on for dear life. 当马开始奔跑时，她拼命抓住缰绳。

foregone conclusion　n. phr. A conclusion or result taken for granted. 理所当然的结论；预料之中的必然结局。◆ When Doolittle assumed the deanship of our college, it was a foregone conclusion that all new department heads would be his old friends. 当杜利特尔担任我们学院院长时，所有系的新主任都将是他的老朋友，这是预料之中的必然结局。

forever and a day　adv. phr., informal For a seemingly endless time; forever; always. Used for emphasis. 〖非正式〗（用以加强语气）很久很久；永远。◆ We waited forever and a day to find out who won the contest. 我们等了很久很久才得知是谁赢了这场比赛。

for example or for instance　adv. phr. As an example; as proof; to give an example or illustration. 例如；比如。◆ Not only rich men become president. For example, Lincoln was born poor. 不只是富人可以做总统。例如林肯就出身贫寒。◆ There are jobs more dangerous than truck driving; for instance, training lions. 有许多工作比驾驶卡车还危险，例如驯狮。

for fear　Because of fear. 生怕；以免。◆ He left an hour early for fear of missing his train. 他提早一小时离开以免误了火车。

for fear of　adv. phr. Because of being afraid of something; on account of being scared. 生怕；唯恐；以免。◆ Dave refuses to go to Europe for fear of an airplane crash and for fear of a shipwreck. 戴夫拒绝去欧洲，生怕飞机坠毁、轮船失事。

for free　adj. phr. substandard Without having to pay; free. 〖不规范〗免费的。◆ Hey you guys, look at this balloon! They're for free down at the new store. 嗨，伙计们，瞧这只气球！那家新店里免费供应。

for fun　prep. phr. As amusement, not seriously, as a joke. 为了好玩；闹着玩。◆ Let's try to play Beethoven's Emperor Concerto together, you on one piano, and I on another one. 你弹一架钢琴，我弹一架钢琴，咱们一起来演奏贝多芬的《皇帝》协奏曲玩吧。

forget it　See见NO WAY.

forget oneself　v. phr. To do something one should have remembered not to do; do something below one's usual conduct although one knows better; let one's self-control slip. 行为不得体；忘乎所以；失去自制。◆ He forgot himself only once at dinner — when he belched. 他在吃饭时只有一次失态——他打了嗝。

forgive and forget　v. To have no bad feelings about what happened in the past. 不念旧恶，不记仇。◆ After the argument the boys decided to forgive and forget. 争论之后，男孩子们决定互不记仇。

forgive and forget　v. phr. To finally decide to no longer think of one's past mistake or offense and to bear no grudge against the person. 不念旧恶，不记仇；尽释前嫌。◆ Jack and Helen have been divorced for ten years, so they decided to forgive and forget all past grievances for their children's sake. 杰克和海伦离婚已有10年，于是他们决定为了子女而尽释前嫌。

for good also for good and all　Permanently, forever, for always. 永久地，一劳永逸地。◆ He hoped that the repairs would stop the leak for good. 他希望修补之后能一劳永逸不再漏水。◆ When John graduated from school, he decided that he was done with study for good and all. 约翰从学校毕业后，决定永远不再念书了。

for good measure　adv. phr. As something more added to what is expected or needed; as an extra. 作为外加的东西；另外。◆ He sold me the car at a cheap price and included the radio for good measure. 他把汽车廉价卖给我，还奉送了收音机。

for Heaven's sake!　adv. phr. Please.看在上帝分上。◆"Help me, for Heaven's sake!" the injured man cried.“看在上帝分上，帮帮我吧！”那个受伤的人喊道。

for hours on end　adv. phr. For many hours; for a very long time. 连续几小时。◆ We have been trying to get this computer going for hours on end, but we need serious professional help. 我们已连续干了几小时还是无法使这台电脑开始工作，我们需要真正的专业人员的帮助。

for instance　See见FOR EXAMPLE.

for keeps　adv. phr. 1. For the winner to keep. 归赢者所有。◆ They played marbles for keeps. 他们为了输赢玩弹子游戏。2. informal For always; forever.〖非正式〗永远。◆ He left town for keeps. 他永远地离开了城市。3. Seriously, not just for fun. 严肃地，认真地。◆ This is not a joke, it's for keeps. 这不是开玩笑，这是当真的。

fork over or fork out also fork up　v. To pay; pay out. 付；付出。◆ He had to fork over fifty dollars to have the car repaired. 他得付50美元修理汽车。Compare比较HAND OVER.

fork over a lot of money　v. phr. To pay an excessive amount of money often unwillingly.（不情愿地）付很多钱。◆ "According to my divorce decree," Alan complained, "I have to fork over a lot of money to my exwife every month."“根据我的离婚判决，”艾伦抱怨说，“我每个月都得付给我的前妻很多钱。”

for laughs　adv. phr. For pleasure; for fun; as a joke. 为了取乐；借以开心；开个玩笑。◆ The college boys climbed up into the girls' dorms and stole some of their dresses just for laughs, but they were punished all the same. 那些男大学生爬进了女生宿舍，只是为了开心而偷了她们的几件裙子，但他们还是受到了处罚。

forlorn hope　n. phr. 1. Something done in utter desperation. 渺茫的希望。◆ John phoned Mary the day before she was to marry Ted in the forlorn hope that she would change her mind and marry him instead. 在玛丽就要与泰德结婚之前，约翰怀着渺茫的希望打电话给她，想让她改变主意嫁给自己。2. An undertaking that is extremely unlikely to succeed. 几乎无成功希望的任务。◆ Trying to dig for gold in Illinois is a forlorn hope. 想在伊利诺伊州采掘黄金几乎没有成功的希望。

for love or money　adv. phr. For anything; for any price. — Used in negative sentences. 无论如何；无论出什么代价。——用于否定句。◆ I wouldn't give him my dog for love or money. 我无论如何也不会把我的狗给他。

for nothing　adv. phr. In vain. 白白地，徒劳地。◆ The job they advertised in Leeds, England, was canceled before my plane arrived, so both the trip and the perfunctory interview were for nothing. 他们登广告说在英格兰的利兹有份工作，但在我乘飞机到达之前，这份工作已被取消，所以这次的行程和敷衍了事的面试全都白费了。

for old times' sake　adv. phr. In memory of bygone times; for friendship's sake. 为了怀念过去；念及旧日情份。◆ When the divorced couple got old, they had dinner together every once in a while, for old times' sake. 那对离婚的夫妻到了老年，不时会为了怀念过去而在一起吃顿饭。

for one　As the first of several possible examples; as one example. 作为几个例子中的第一个；举个例说。◆ Many people do not like certain foods. I for one do not like cabbage. 很多人不喜欢某些食物。比如说，我就不喜欢卷心菜。— Also used with similar words instead of one. one也可换作类似的词。◆ Several materials can be used to make the box: plywood, for one; masonite, for another; sheet metal, for a third. 有几种材料可以用来做这种盒子：一种是胶合板，另一种是梅森奈特纤维板，第三种是金属薄板。

for one's part also on one's part　adv. phr. As far as you are concerned; the way you feel or think. 就本人来说；至于本人。◆ I don't know about you, but for my part I don't want to go to that place. 我不知道你怎么样，但就我而言，我是不愿意去那个地方的。

for one's sake　adv. phr., informal Used with different possessive nouns to show surprise, crossness, or impatience. 〖非正式〗（与不同的所有格名词连用表示惊奇、生气或不耐烦）看在上帝的分上，做做好事吧，帮帮忙吧；天哪，哎呀。◆ For heaven's sake, where did you come from？天哪，你从哪儿来的？◆ For Pete's sake, look who's here！天哪，瞧谁来了！◆ Well, for pity's sake, I wish you'd told me sooner. 啊，我的天哪，你该早点告诉我的呀。◆ Oh, for gosh sake, let me do it. 啊，看在老天爷面上，这事让我做吧。

for one thing　adv. phr. As one thing of several; as one in a list of things. 一则；首先。◆ The teacher said, “You get a low mark, for one thing, because you did not do your homework.”老师说：“你的分数很低，首先是因为你没做作业。”

for openers or for starters　adv. phr. To begin with; first of all. 作为 开始；首先。◆ "Why aren't we hiring new people? I'll tell you why. For openers, we have no money." "You can skip the rest," the applicant said.“我们为什么不雇用新人？我来告诉你为什么。首先，我们没有钱。”“别的原因就可以不必说了，”求职者说。◆ "Why does everyone flatter Dr. Doolittler constantly?" the new assistant professor asked. "For starters he is the new dean," a seasoned older colleague answered. "You want to hear more?"“为什么人人都经常讨好杜利特尔博士呢？”新来的助理教授问。“首先，他是新上任的院长，”一位年长老练的同事回答说。“还想听更多的原因吗？”

for real^1　adj. phr., informal Not practice or play; earnest, real, serious. 〖非正式〗真的；确实的；真正的；认真的。◆ The war games were over now. This battle was for real. 军事演习现已结束。这一仗可是真的了。

for real^2　adv. phr., substandard Not for practice; really; seriously. 〖不规范〗真正地；确实地；认真地。◆ Let's do our work for real. 让我们认真工作吧。

for short　adv. phr. So as to make shorter; as an abbreviation or nickname. 作为简称；作为缩写。◆ The National Broadcasting Company is called NBC for short. 全国广播公司简称NBC。

for sure or for certain　adv. phr. 1. Without doubt; certainly; surely. 毫无疑问；肯定地；确实地。◆ He couldn't tell for sure from a distance whether it was George or Tom. 他离得太远，不能确定那是乔治还是汤姆。◆ He didn't know for certain which bus to take. 他不能确定该乘哪路公共汽车。◆ I know for certain that he has a car. 我确实知道他有一辆汽车。2. slang Certain. 〖俚〗肯定的。◆ "That car is smashed so badly it's no good any more." "That's for sure!"“那辆汽车撞得很厉害，已经不能再开了。”“这是肯定的！”

for that matter　adv. phr. With regard to that; about that. 关于那件事；就此而言。◆ I don't know, and for that matter, I don't care. 我不知道，所以我也不在乎。 ◆ Alice didn't come, and for that matter, she didn't even telephone. 艾丽斯没有来，甚至没有打个电话来说一声。

for the asking　adv. phr. By asking; by asking for it; on request. 只需询问（或要求）一下便可。◆ John said I could borrow his bike any time. It was mine for the asking. 约翰说我可以随时借用他的自行车。只要我开口就行。

for the best　adj. or adv. phr. good or best; not bad as thought; lucky; well, happily. 好的；最好的；不错的；幸运的；快乐地。◆ Maybe it's for the best that your team lost; now you know how the other boys felt. 你们队输了也许是件好事；现在你们知道别人失败后的感受了。

for the better　adj. or adv. phr. With a better result; for something that is better. 有较好的结果；更好。◆ The doctor felt that moving Father to a dry climate would be for the better. 医生认为将父亲转移到一个气候干燥的地方去会好一些。

for the birds　adj. phr., slang Not interesting; dull; silly; foolish; stupid. 〖俚〗没有趣味的；乏味的；愚蠢的。◆ I think history is for the birds. 我觉得历史课很乏味。◆ I saw that movie. It's for the birds. 我看过那部电影，很无聊。

for the devil or heck or the hell of it　adv. phr. For no specific reason; just for sport and fun. 只是为了好玩；仅仅为了取乐。◆ We poured salt into Uncle Tom's coffee, just for the heck of it. 我们把盐倒入汤姆叔叔的咖啡，只是为了好玩而已。

for the life of one　adv., informal No matter how hard you try. — Used for emphasis with negative statements. 〖非正式〗无论如何努力。——用于否定句以加强语气。◆ I can't for the life of me remember his name. 我怎么也想不起他的名字来了。

for the most part　adv. phr. In general; mostly; most of the time; commonly; generally. 一般地；多半；通常；大体上。◆ European countries are, for the most part, tired of war. 大多数欧洲国家都厌恶战争。

for the sake of or for one's sake　adv. phr. On behalf of; for the benefit of. 为了；为了…的利益。◆ For the sake of truth and freedom, Dr. Sakharov, the Soviet dissident, was willing to be banished from Moscow. 为了真理和自由，苏联持不同政见者萨哈罗夫博士甘愿被逐出莫斯科。

for the time being also literary for the nonce　adv. phr. For now; for a while; temporarily. 眼下；目前；暂时。◆ Sue hasn't found an apartment yet; she's staying with her aunt for the time being. 苏还没有找到公寓；她暂时住在姨妈家。

for the worse　adj. phr. or adv. phr. For something that is worse or not as good, with a worse result. 更坏，更不好；有更糟的结果。◆ He bought a new car but it truned out to be for the worse. 他买了一辆新汽车，但结果还不如原来的好。◆ The sick man's condition changed for the worse. 病人的情况恶化了。

for to　prep. phr., dialect So that you can; to.〖方〗以便；为了。◆ Simple Simon went fishing for to catch a whale. 傻子西蒙去钓鱼，一心想捕条大鲸鱼。

forty winks　n. phr., informal A short period of sleep; a nap. 〖非正式〗打盹儿；小睡。◆ When the truck driver felt sleepy, he stopped by the side of the road to catch forty winks. 卡车司机感到困倦时，便在路边停下来小睡了一会。

for what it is worth　adv. phr. Often said when one wants to sound modest or start a statement with the disclaimer that they aren't entirely sure about the value of what they are about to communicate. Also said ironically. 不论其价值如何；不论其真伪。◆ In my humble opinion, for what it's worth, you ought to close the factory, since we're losing incredible sums of money. 不管我这话正确与否，依鄙人之见，你应该把工厂关掉，因为我们正在大大地赔钱。

foul one's own nest　v. phr. To denigrate one's own country or family. 诋毁自己的国家；说自己家里人的坏话。◆ Peter sure fouled his own nest when in a drunken stupor he blurted out that the family fortune started during Prohibition when his grandfather used to work for Al Capone. 在酩酊大醉中，彼得脱口而出，说他家的财富是禁酒时期他爷爷在艾尔·卡彭手下干活时开始积聚起来的。他这真可谓家丑外扬。

foul play　n. Treachery; a criminal act (such as murder). 奸诈行径；犯罪行为（如谋杀）。◆ After they discovered the dead body, the police suspected foul play. 警察发现了尸体后怀疑是谋杀。◆ "She must have met with foul play," the chief inspector said when they couldn't find the 12-year-old girl who had disappeared. 他们一直找不到那个失踪的12岁女孩，巡长说：“她肯定是被人杀害了。”

foul up　v., informal (stress on up)（重读up）〖非正式〗1. To make dirty. 弄脏。◆ The birds fouled up his newly washed car. 鸟把他新洗过的汽车弄脏了。2. To tangle up. 使…缠结。◆ He tried to throw a lasso but he got the rope all fouled up. 他想甩一个套索，却把绳子缠在了一起。3. To ruin or spoil by stupid mistakes; botch. 把…搞乱（或搞糟）；笨手笨脚地弄坏。◆ He fouled the whole play up by forgetting his part. 他忘了台词，把整出戏给搞砸了。4. To make a mistake; to blunder. 搞错；犯大错误。◆ Blue suit and brown socks! He had fouled up again. 蓝色套装配棕色袜！他又搞错了。5. To go wrong. 走错路，入歧途。◆ Why do some people foul up and become criminals？为什么有些人会误入歧途成为罪犯呢？

foul-up　n. (stress on foul)（重读foul）1. informal A confused situation; confusion; mistake. 〖非正式〗混乱；一团糟；错误。◆ The luncheon was handled with only one or two foul-ups. 午餐会组织得井井有条，只有一两处差错。2. informal A breakdown. 〖非正式〗故障。◆ There was a foul-up in his car's steering mechanism. 他的汽车的转向装置出了毛病。3. slang A person who fouls up or mixes things. 〖俚〗经常把事弄糟的人；成事不足败事有余的人。◆ He had gotten a reputation as a foul-up. 他是个有名的成事不足败事有余的家伙。

foundation garment　n. A close-fitting garment designed for women to wear underneath their clothes to make them look slim; a piece of woman's underwear.（妇女）紧身衣；女式内衣。◆ Jane wears a foundation garment under her evening dress. 简在晚礼服里面穿了一件紧身衣。

four corners　n. All parts of a place. 各地，各处。◆ People came from the four corners of the world to see him. 人们从世界各地来看他。◆ He has been to the four corners of the country. 他到过这个国家的每个地方。

four-eyes　n., slang A person who wears glasses. — A rude expression. 〖俚〗〖粗〗戴眼镜的人；“四只眼”。◆ Hey, four-eyes, come over here. 嘿，四只眼，到这儿来。

four-leaf clover　n. A small green plant with four leaves which many people think means good luck because clover plants usually have three leaves. 四叶红花草，幸运草（红花草通常只有三片叶子，许多人以为四叶红花草意味着好运）。◆ John has a fourleaf clover in his pocket. He thinks he will have good luck now. 约翰的口袋里有一棵四叶红花草。他认为自己现在要交好运了。

four-letter words　n. phr. Crude or crass language, pertaining to sex or excretion, which happens to consist of four letters; swearing. 四字母粗俗下流词。◆ It is bad manners to use four-letter words in front of ladies. 在女士们面前用一些粗俗下流的词语是不礼貌的。◆ Not all words that have four letters in them are "four-letter-words"; e. g. love and nice, which are l, o, v, e and n, i, c, e. 并非所有四个字母的词都是粗俗下流的词，如love（爱）和nice（好的）。

fourth world　n., informal The poor nations of the world, as distinguished from the oil-rich nations of the third world. 〖非正式〗第四世界，最贫国集团（别于第三世界中的产油国）。◆ Sri Lanka will never join OPEC, since it is a fourth world nation. 斯里兰卡永远不会加入欧佩克，因为它是一个不产石油的第四世界国家。

fraidy-cat or fraid-cat or scaredy-cat or scared cat　n., informal A shy-person; someone who is easily frightened. — Usually used by or to children. 〖非正式〗害羞的人；胆小鬼。——通常为儿语。◆ Tom was a fraidy-cat and wouldn't go in the water. 汤姆是个胆小鬼，不敢下水。

frame of mind　n. phr. One's mental outlook; the state of one's psychological condition. 心情；心境。◆ There is no use trying to talk to him while he is in such a negative frame of mind. 他现在心情很不好，这时找他谈根本没有用。

fraught with danger or fraught with peril　adj. phr. Attended with much risk or danger; likely to produce peril and harm. 充满危险的。◆ All wars, no matter how just, are always fraught with danger. 所有的战争，不管多么正义，都随时充满了危险。◆ High-mountain climbing is always fraught with peril. 攀登高山随时都有危险。

freak　n., slang〖俚〗1. A good, or well-liked person, the opposite of a square, someone with long hair and who is likely (or known) to be a marijuana smoker or a drug user. Also said of homosexuals. 好人，受人喜爱的人；背离社会习俗的人；嬉皮士；吸毒者；男同性恋者。◆ "Is Joe a square, establishment type?" "Oh no, he's a regular freak."“乔是个古板守旧、拥护现存体制的人吗？”“不，他是个十足的嬉皮士。” 2. -freak An enthusiast, a person who does or cultivates something in excess. …的狂热爱好者。◆ Ellen is a film freak. 埃伦是个电影迷。

freak-out^1　n., slang An act of losing control; a situation that is bizarre or unusual. 〖俚〗失去控制；怪异或异常的情况。◆ The party last night was a regular freak-out. 昨晚的聚会是一场地地道道的瞎胡闹。

freak out^2　v. phr., slang To lose control over one's conscious self due to the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. 〖俚〗（因迷幻药物的影响而）失去自我控制；吸毒后产生幻觉。◆ Joe freaked out last night. 乔昨晚吸毒后极度兴奋。

free agent　n. A professional player who does not have a contract with a team.（没有与任何球队签约的）自由职业运动员。◆ The Giants signed two free agents who had been released by the Cardinals. 巨人队跟两名已与红衣主教队解约的自由球员签了约。

free and easy　adj. Not strict; relaxed or careless. 不严格的；随和的；随便的。◆ They were free and easy with their money and it was soon gone. 他们用钱很随便，很快就把钱花光了。

free ball　n. A ball in football that is in play, that is not in the possession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown forward pass, and that belongs to the first team which can grab it.（橄榄球中的）自由球。◆ A Notre Dame player fell on a free ball and recovered it for his team. 圣母大学队的一名队员扑向一自由球，为他的队得到了它。

free enterprise　n. phr. A system in which private business is controlled by as few government rules as possible. 自由企业制（一种政府尽量少干预私营企业的制度）。◆ The United States is proud of its free enterprise. 美国为它的自由企业制感到自豪。

free-for-all　n. 1. Unlimited, free access to something everybody wants. 人人都可自由参加的活动。◆ The Smith's party was a lavish free-for-all; everybody could eat and drink as much as they wanted. 史密斯家的聚会非常丰盛而且人人可以参加；每个人都可以在这儿尽情地吃喝。2. A barroom, tavern, or street fight in which everybody participates. 酒吧间；小酒馆；人人参加的街头斗殴混战。◆ The celebration after the soccer game victory turned into an uncontrollable free-for-all. 足球比赛胜利后的庆祝活动变成了一场无法控制的街头混战。

free hand　n. Great freedom. 极大的自由。◆ The teacher had a free hand in her classroom. 那位女教师在课堂里能自由地进行教学。

freeload　v. To have oneself supported in terms of food and housing at someone else's expense. 吃白食；依赖他人生活。◆ When are you guys going to stop freeloading and do some work？你们诸位准备什么时候不再吃白食而自己干点活呢？

free rein　n. Freedom to do what you want.为所欲为的自由。◆ Father is strict with the children, but Mother gives them free rein. 父亲对孩子们很严格，但母亲却让他们为所欲为。

free throw　n. A shot at the basket in basketball without interference from opponents.（篮球的）罚球。◆ Mike scored the winning point on a free throw. 迈克依靠罚球取得了获胜的一分。

freeze out　v., informal To force out or keep from a share or part in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. 〖非正式〗（用不友好或欺骗性的手段）逼走；逐出。◆ The other boys froze John out of the club. 其他男孩把约翰逼出了俱乐部。

freeze over　v. To become covered with ice. 被冰覆盖。◆ The children wanted the lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate. 孩子们希望湖面结冰，可以让他们在上面滑冰。

french fried potato or french fry　n. A narrow strip of potato fried in deep fat. — Usually used in the plural. 油炸薯条。——通常用复数。◆ Sue ordered a hamburger and french fries. 苏叫了一客汉堡包和炸薯条。

French leave　n. The act of slipping away from a place secretly and without saying good-bye to anyone. 不告而别。◆ "It's getting late," Rob whispered to Janet. "Let's take French leave and get out of here." “时间很晚了，”罗布悄声对珍妮特说。“咱们就不辞而别离开这儿吧。”

fresh from　adj. Recently returned from; experienced in. 刚从…回来；在…方面有经验的。◆ Tom was fresh from two years in Paris and was very condescending in matters pertaining to cuisine and wines. 汤姆在巴黎住了两年刚回来，在烹饪和葡萄酒等方面很有优越感。

fret and fume　v. phr. To worry with the connotation of anger; vexing oneself with made-up accusations regarding the causes of one's troubles. 又焦急又生气；恼火。◆ Poor John frets and fumes all the time about his unhappy fate, although nobody really tries to hurt him. 可怜的约翰一直在为自己不幸的命运烦躁不安、愤愤不平，其实并没有什么人真想伤害他。

friction tape　n. Black cloth tape with one sticky side used around electric wires. 绝缘胶布。◆ The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat with some friction tape. 那个男孩用一些绝缘胶布把他开裂的棒球棒粘了起来。

friend in need　n. phr. A dependable friend, who is likely to come to one's aid even if one is unable to offer anything in return. （患难时给予帮助的）真朋友，可靠的朋友；患难之交。◆ As the old saying says, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." 正像老话说的：“患难朋友才是真朋友。”

friendly fire　n. phr., military An accident during a battle when one is shot not by the enemy but by one's own comrades in arms in error due to faulty reconnaissance. 〖军〗（战斗中由己方或友军炮火造成的）误杀，误伤。◆ Both during the first and the second Gulf Wars, several American and British soldiers were killed by friendly fire. 第一次和第二次海湾战争期间，均有几名美、英士兵被己方炮火误杀。

frightened to death　See见TO DEATH.

from A to Z or from alpha to omega　adv. phr. From beginning to end, taken from the Latin and the Greek alphabet's first and last letters, respectively. 从头至尾；完全地；彻底地。◆ Arabic students in certain schools memorize the entire Koran from A to Z. 某些学校的阿拉伯学生能从头至尾背诵整部《古兰经》。◆ Some Christian theologians know the entire New Testament from alpha to omega. 一些基督教神学家能从头至尾背诵整本《新约全书》。

from hand to hand　adv. phr. From one person to another and another. 从一人之手传到另一人之手。◆ The box of candy was passed from hand to hand. 那盒糖被一个接一个地传了下去。

from head to heels or from top to toe　adv. phr. In one's entirety, without skipping any detail; wholly; entirely. 从头到脚；全身；完完全全。◆ The movie director looked at all the girls who wanted a part in the new film from head to heels. 电影导演从头到脚仔细地打量着所有想在新片中扮演一个角色的姑娘们。◆ The tired athlete was aching from top to toe. 那位疲惫不堪的运动员浑身疼痛。

from Missouri　adj. phr., slang Doubtful; suspicious. 〖俚〗怀疑的；猜疑的。◆ Don't try to fool me. I'm from Missouri. 别想愚弄我。我是不轻信的。

from pillar to post　adv. phr. From one place to another many times. 四处奔波。◆ Sarah's father changed jobs several times a year, and the family was moved from pillar to post. 萨拉的父亲一年换了好几次工作，一家人也跟着搬来搬去。

from rags to riches　adv. phr. Suddenly making a fortune; becoming rich overnight. 从赤贫到巨富；一夜之间暴发致富。◆ The Smiths went from rags to riches when they unexpectedly won the lottery. 史密斯夫妇意外地中了彩，一下子从赤贫成了巨富。

from scratch　adv. phr., informal With no help from anything done before; from the beginning; from nothing. 〖非正式〗白手起家；从头做起；从起点开始；从零开始。◆ Dick built a radio from scratch. 迪克自己装了一台收音机。

from the bottom of one's heart or with all one's heart　adv. phr. With great feeling; sincerely. 打心眼里；衷心地；真诚地。◆ The people welcomed the returning soldiers from the bottom of their hearts. 人民衷心欢迎归来的战士。

from the cradle to the grave　adv. phr. During all one's life, from birth to death. 从生到死，一生。◆ John was a thoroughly decent human being from the cradle to the grave. 约翰一辈子都是个极为正派的人。

from the ground up　adv. phr. From the beginning; entirely; completely. 从头开始；完全地；彻底地。◆ After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the ground up. 火灾之后，他们必须重新建造他们的小木屋。

from the heart　adv. Sincerely; honestly. 真诚地；诚实地。◆ John always speaks from the heart. 约翰说话一向很诚恳。

from the sublime to the ridiculous　adv. phr. Covering an entire range of things or ideas from the extremely lofty and elevated to the negligible and trivial. 从崇高到荒谬；从一个极端到另一个极端。◆ The couple's prenuptial negotiations covered absolutely every detail of their future life together from the sublime to the ridiculous. 那对夫妻婚前的谈判涉及将来一起生活的每一个细节，从一些严肃重要的大事到一些荒谬可笑的小事，无所不包。

from the word "go"　adv. phr. From start to finish; completely. 自始至终；完全地。◆ He may look French but he is a New Yorker from the word "go." 他也许看上去像法国人，但却是个地地道道的纽约人。

from time immemorial or time out of mind　adv. phr. Starting in very remote, ancient prehistorical times. 自远古以来。◆ The island of Crete in the Mediterranean was probably inhabited from time immemorial, although historians are not sure by what people. 位于地中海的克里特岛可能自远古以来就有人居住，只是历史学家们不能肯定那是些什么人。◆ Some Greek myths have started in prehistorical ages, time out of mind. 一些希腊神话在史前时期的远古时代就已经开始有了。

from time to time　adv. phr. Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally; at one time and then again at another time. 时时；间或；有时；偶尔。◆ Even though the Smiths have moved, we still see them from time to time. 尽管史密斯一家已经搬走，我们仍不时见到他们。◆ Mother tries new recipes from time to time, but the children never like them. 母亲不时尝试一些新的烹调法，但孩子们总是不喜欢吃。

from way back　adv. phr. From a previous time; from a long time ago. 由来已久；从很久以前。◆ They have known one another from way back when they went to the same elementary school. 他们在很久以前上同一所小学时就认识了。

front and center　adv., slang Used as a command to a person to go to someone who wants him. 〖俚〗（用作命令）快去。◆ Front and center, Smith. The boss wants to see you. 快去，史密斯。老板要见你。

front court　n. The half of a basketball court that is a basketball team's offensive zone. （篮球场的）前场。◆ The guard brought the ball up to the front court. 后卫把球带到前场。

front office　n., informal The group of persons who manage a business; the officers. 〖非正式〗（公司等的）管理部门；官员。◆ The front office decides how much the workers are paid. 管理部门决定付给工人多少工资。

frown upon　v. phr. To look with disfavor upon somebody or something. 对…皱眉；不赞成。◆ Everybody in her family frowns upon her attachment to him. 她家里的每个人都不赞成她爱他。

frozen to the marrow　See见CHILLED TO THE MARROW.

fuck around　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable〖粗〗〖忌〗1. To be promiscuous. 乱搞男女关系。◆ John fucks around with the secretaries. 约翰跟秘书们乱搞男女关系。2. To play at something without purpose, to mess around. 闲混；闲荡。◆ He doesn't accomplish anything, because he fucks around so much. 他没有任何建树，因为他瞎混的时间太多了。

fuck off　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable〖粗〗〖忌〗1. Go away！走开！滚开！◆ Can't you see you're bothering me? Fuck off！你难道看不出你在打扰我吗？滚开！2. To be lazy. 闲荡。◆ John said, "I don't feel like working, so I'll fuck off today." 约翰说：“我不想干活，所以今天就闲荡一番。”

fuck up　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable To make a mess of something or one-self. 〖粗〗〖忌〗把…弄糟；把…搞得乱七八糟。◆ Because he was totally unprepared, he fucked up his exam. 他因为毫无准备而把考试考砸了。◆ He is so fucked up he doesn't know whether he is coming or going. 他脑子里乱糟糟的，根本不知道他是来还是去。

fuck-up　n. vulgar, avoidable A mess; a badly botched situation. 〖粗〗〖忌〗一团糟。◆ What a fuck-up the dissolution of the USSR created！苏联的解体造成了怎样的混乱呀！

fuddy-duddy　n. A person whose ideas and habits are old-fashioned. 古板守旧的人。◆ His students think Professor Jones is an old fuddy-duddy. 琼斯教授的学生们都认为他是一个思想保守的老人。

full blast　adv. At full capacity. 全速地；全力地。◆ With all the research money at their disposal, the new computer firm was going ahead full blast. 由于所有的研究经费都由他们支配，那家新电脑公司正在全速向前发展。

full-bodied　adj. Mature; of maximum quality.成熟的；质地优良的。◆ The wines from that region in California have a rich, full-bodied flavor. 加州那个地区产的葡萄酒有一种馥郁浓烈的味道。

full-fledged　adj. Having everything that is needed to be something; complete. 羽毛丰满的；合格的；完备的。◆ A girl needs three years of training to be a full-fledged nurse. 一个女孩需要3年的训练才能成为一名合格的护士。

full of oneself　adj. phr., informal Interested only in yourself.〖非正式〗只顾自己的。◆ Joe would be a nice boy if he would stop being so full of himself. 乔如果不再只顾自己，就会成为一个好孩子。

full of the moon　n. phr., literary The moon when it is seen as a full circle; the time of a full moon. 〖文〗满月；满月之时。◆ The robbers waited for a dark night when the full of the moon was past. 强盗们等待着满月过去之后在一个漆黑的夜晚行动。

full tilt　adv. At full speed; at high speed. 全速地；高速地。◆ He ran full tilt into the door and broke his arm. 他全速撞在门上，折断了手臂。

fun and games　n., slang, informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A party or other entertaining event. 宴会；欢闹的聚会。2. Something trivially easy. 轻而易举的小事。3. Petting, or sexual intercourse. 爱抚；性交。4. (Ironically) An extraordinary difficult task.（反语）特别困难的工作。◆ "How was your math exam? (With a dismayed expression)" "Yeah, it was all fun and games, man."“你们的数学考试怎么样？（神情沮丧地）”“唉，老兄，难得要命啊。”

fun house　n. A place where people see many funny things and have tricks played on them to make them laugh or have a good time.（人们能看到许多有趣的东西，并配有跟他们开玩笑逗乐设备的）游乐宫。◆ The boys and girls had a good time looking at themselves in mirrors in the fun house. 孩子们在游乐宫里照哈哈镜，玩得很开心。

funny bone　n. 1. The place at the back of the elbow that hurts like electricity when accidentally hit.（尺骨肘部的）鹰嘴突，尺骨端（偶然触击会有触电感）。◆ He hit his funny bone on the arm of the chair. 他的尺骨端碰到了椅子扶手。2. or informal〖非正式〗crary bone Sense of humor; understanding jokes. 幽默感。◆ Her way of telling the story tickled his funny bone. 她讲述这个故事的方式逗得他发笑。

fuss and feathers　n., informal Unnecessary bother and excitement. 〖非正式〗不必要的忧虑和激动。◆ She is full of fuss and feathers this morning. 她今天上午忧心忡忡，烦躁不安。

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gain ground　v. phr. 1. To go forward; move ahead. 前进；向前推进。◆ The soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground. 士兵们奋力作战，开始向前推进了。2. To become stronger; make progress; improve. 壮大；取得进步；改善；好转。◆ Uruder Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground. 在林肯领导下，共和党日见壮大。

gain steam　v. phr. To increase in momentum. 增加势头。◆ People's interest in protecting the environment has gained steam in recent years. 人们对保护环境的兴趣近年来越来越高涨。

gallows' humor　n. phr. Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very serious matter, e. g. death, imprisonment, etc. 面临大难时的幽默。◆ When the criminal was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said,“Nice way to start the week, eh?”当星期一上午犯人被带去电椅处死时，他说：“一周这样开始倒也不错，是不是？”

gamble on that or may gamble on that　v. phr. Said about something that is very certain as assurance.（可以）为此而打赌（表示对某事非常有把握）。◆ "Is the sun going to shine in Hawaii?" John, who has never been there, asked Leilani. "You may gamble on that," she answered with a smile.“近期夏威夷会阳光明媚吗？”从未去过那儿的约翰问利兰妮。“绝对没有问题，咱们可以打赌，”她微笑着回答说。

game at which two can play　n. phr. A plan, trick, or way of acting that both sides may use. 双方都可运用的计划、花招或行为方式。◆ Rough football is a game two can play. 打粗野的橄榄球，你会我也会。◆ Politics is a game at which two can play. 政治花招，人人会耍。

game is up or slang〖俚〗jig is up　The secret or plan won't work; we are caught or discovered. 秘密泄露了；计划完蛋了；我们被发现了。◆ The jig's up; the principal knows the boys have been smoking in the basement. 这下完了，校长已知道那些男孩一直在地下室里抽烟。

gang up on or gang up against　v. phr., informal To jointly attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in a group against an individual. 〖非正式〗联合起来攻击；结伙对付。◆ The class bully was stronger than all the other boys, so they had to gang up on him to put him in his place. 班上那个小霸王比其他男生都强壮，所以他们只得联合起来对付他，让他不敢放肆。

garage sale or yard sale　n. phr. A sale organized in order to get rid of unwanted, older things. 宅前旧物销售，庭院旧物销售。◆ Our neighbors are having a garage sale and put up posters all over the neighborhood on trees and lampposts. 我们的邻居将要举行一次宅前旧物销售，于是便在整个街区的树上和路灯柱上贴满了海报。

garbage down　v. phr., slang To eat eagerly and at great speed without much regard for manners or social convention. 〖俚〗狼吞虎咽地吃。◆ The children garbaged down their food. 孩子们狼吞虎咽地吃下了他们的食物。

garbage in — garbage out　n. phr. A computer doesn't put out anything that was not programmed into it by a human being, whether meaningful or meaningless material. 无用输入—无用输出。◆ "I don't trust the data coming out of my personal computer," Uncle Norman said. "Not to worry," his wife Christine answered, "it's garbage in — garbage out. We'll make sure that what goes in is accurate to begin with."“我不相信我的个人电脑中出来的资料，”诺曼大叔说。“不必担心，”他的妻子克丽斯廷回答说，“这是无用输入—无用输出。我们首先要确保进入电脑的资料是准确的。”

garden apartment　n. An apartment with a garden near it. 带花园的公寓。◆ The couple live in a garden apartment. 那对夫妻住在一套带花园的公寓里。

garden state　n. phr. The nickname of the state of New Jersey. 花园州（美国新泽西州的别称）。◆ I can tell that the car ahead of us is from New Jersey; it says "Garden State" on the license plate. 我认得出我们前面那辆汽车是来自新泽西的，它的牌照上写着“花园州”。

gas guzzler　n. phr. A larger automobile, such as an SUV, or one of older vintage that consumes much more gasoline than a smaller, newer model. 耗油量大的汽车，“油老虎”。◆ John spends a lot of money on gasoline, because he drives a gas guzzler. 约翰在汽油上花钱很多，因为他开的是辆耗油量大的汽车。

gas up　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To fill the gasoline tank. 给…加汽油。◆ The mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip. 技师们给飞机加满油以备它们长途飞行。2. To fill the tank with gasoline. 加汽油。◆ The big truck stopped at the filling station and gassed up. 大卡车停在加油站加油。

gather in　v. informal To catch.〖非正式〗接住。◆ The end gathered in the pass and went over for a touchdown. 边锋接住传球，跑过底线触地得分。

gee whiz　interj., informal Used as an exclamation to show surprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English.〖非正式〗哎呀，天哪！（表示惊讶或其他强烈感情的感叹词。书面英语中不多见）。◆ Gee whiz! I am late again. 哎呀！我又迟到了。

generation gap　n., informal, hackneyed phrase The difference in social values, philosophies, and manners between children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack of understanding between them and frequently leads to violent confrontations. 〖非正式〗〖陈词滥调〗代沟。◆ My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but we have no generation gap in our family. 我女儿20岁，我40岁，但我们家里没有代沟。

generous to a fault　adj. phr. Excessively generous. 过于慷慨大方的。◆ Generous to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her old college. 我的姑妈伊丽莎白过于大方，她把她所有的珍本书都送给了她的母校。

germane to the matter or germane to the subject　adj. phr. Pertinent or relevant to a given subject. 与问题密切相关。◆ What you say sounds interesting, but it isn't strictly germane to the subject. 你的话听上去很有趣，但与我们讨论的问题没有什么关系。

get a black eye　v. phr. 1. To receive a dark ring around the eye after being hit by someone's fist or an object. 被打（或撞）得眼眶发青。◆ In the fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete. 在拳斗中汤姆被皮特打得鼻青眼肿。◆ Sue got a black eye when she ran into a tree. 苏撞在树上，撞得鼻青眼肿。2. To have one's character denigrated. 名声受损。◆ Our firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints that were lodged against our product. 由于消费者纷纷投诉我们的产品，我们公司的名声受到了损害。

get a break　v. phr. To receive a stroke of luck. 交好运。◆ Bill got a break when he won the lottery. 比尔交好运，买彩票中了奖。

get accustomed to or grow accustomed to　v. phr. To become thoroughly familiar with something to the point of missing it when it goes away. 习惯于；适应于。◆ Immigrants to the United States sooner or later all get accustomed to talking about dimes, nickels, and pennies, as they also get accustomed to inches, miles, pounds, and measuring temperature in Fahrenheit. 美国的外来移民迟早都会习惯说“10美分”、“5美分”和“1美分”，正像他们也会适应“英寸”、“英里”、“磅”和用华氏温度计测量温度一样。

get a checkup　v. phr. Undergo a medical examination. 作体格检查。◆ It is a good idea to get a periodic checkup, especially after one has been in the hospital. 定期进行体检是个好主意，尤其是在住过院之后。

get across　v. 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to make clear the meaning of. 把…解释清楚；把…讲清楚；讲清楚…的意思。◆Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can get across the plays. 布朗先生是个好教练，因为他能把比赛的打法讲清楚。2. To become clear. 被理解。◆ The teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get across to the class. 老师试图解释这个问题，但他的解释没有被班上的学生所理解。

get a feel for or get the hang of　v. phr. To gain an understanding of how something works, to become more skilled at handling something. 熟悉…的原理；掌握…的窍门。◆ I was trying to learn how to play chess, but I can't seem to get a feel for it. 我一直在努力学下国际象棋，但似乎还没能掌握其窍门。◆ John practiced surfing long enough, until he got the hang of it. 约翰练习了很久冲浪运动，最后才掌握了其窍门。

get a fix or give a fix　v. phr., slang, drug culture To provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. 〖俚〗〖瘾君子用语〗为（某人）注射毒品。◆ The neighborhood pusher gave Joe a fix. 附近地区的毒品贩子给乔注射了一针毒品。Contrast对照GET A FIX ON.

get a fix on　v. phr., informal Receive a reading of a distant object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar.〖非正式〗用电子仪器（如雷达或声纳）测出远处物体的方位。◆ Can you get a fix on the submarine？你能用电子仪器给这艘潜水艇定位吗？Contrast对照GET A FIX.

get after　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To try or try again to make someone do what he is supposed to do. 一再催促。◆ Ann's mother gets after her to hang up her clothes. 安的母亲一再催促她把自己的衣服挂起来。2. To scold or make an attack on. 责骂；攻击。◆ The police are getting after the crooks in the city. 察正在市里追捕那些坏蛋。

get a grip on　v. phr. To take firm control of something. 牢牢控制。◆ If Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a grip on himself and start working harder. 如果蒂姆想保住他的工作，他最好管住自己，开始更卖力地干活。Contrast对照LOSE ONE'S GRIP.

get ahead　v. 1. informal To become successful.〖非正式〗获得成功。◆ The person with a good education finds it easier to get ahead. 受过良好教育的人比较容易获得成功。2. To be able to save money; get out of debt.能存钱；不负债。◆ After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get a little money ahead and buy a car. 等父亲付清医药费后，也许我们能存点钱买辆车。

get a head start on　v. phr. To receive preliminary help or instruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in a favorable position compared to his or her peers. 比别人先开始学（某一学科或技能）从而取得优势。◆ At our school, children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special program. 在我们学校里，因为有一门特殊的课程，孩子们在阅读能力上领先于其他学校的孩子。

get (a) hold of oneself　v. phr. To gain composure over oneself, to stop being upset or excited. 控制住自己的情绪。◆ "Get hold of yourself, son!" John's father told him. "Stop yelling at your little sister, just because she put on your jacket."“控制住自己的情绪，儿子！”约翰的父亲对他说。“别仅仅因为你妹妹穿了你的夹克衫就对她大声吼叫。”

get a kick out of　v. phr. To be greatly thrilled; derive pleasure from. 从…得到极大的刺激；从…得到极大的乐趣。◆ Tom and Marty get a kick out of playing four hands on the piano. 汤姆和马蒂从四手联弹钢琴中得到极大的乐趣。

get a leg up on someone　v. phr. To gain an advantage over someone else.胜过；比某人具有优势。◆ I practiced my Ping-Pong game for several weeks until at last I got a leg up on my best friend Jim, who is actually a champion. 我练了几个星期乒乓，终于超过了我的好朋友吉姆，而他居然还是位冠军。

get a life　v. phr., slang To decide to look out for oneself, to come out from one's shell, to stop being under the thumb of another. 〖俚〗决定为自己筹措一切；不再羞怯；不再受他人控制。◆ "All my life I was doing things for my husband, who treated me very shabbily. Too bad that he is dead, but at long last I'll try to get a life," the recently widowed Mrs. Goodman said.“我一辈子都在为我丈夫做事，而他待我却很吝啬。可惜他现在死了，但我终于可以开始自己的生活了，”新寡的古德曼夫人说。

get a line on　v. phr. To receive special, sometimes even confidential information about something. 得到有关…的消息；了解…的情况。◆ Before Bill accepted his new position, he got a line on how the business was being run. 比尔在接受新职位之前，对公司的经营状况作了一番了解。

get (all) the breaks　v. phr. To be fortunate; have luck. 走运；交好运。◆ That fellow gets all the breaks! He's been working here only six months, and he's already been promoted to vice president！那家伙真走运！他在这儿才干了6个月就已经晋升为副总裁了！

get a load of　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To take a good look at; see (something unusual or interesting.) — Often used to show surprise or admiration. 仔细看（不寻常或有趣的东西）。——常用来表示惊奇或赞赏。◆ Get a load of Dick's new car！你看看迪克的新车多漂亮！2. To listen to carefully or with interest, especially exciting news. — Often used as a command：仔细听；津津有味地听。——常用作命令。Get a load of this: Alice got married yesterday！听好：艾丽斯昨天结婚了！

get along also get on　v. 1. To go or move away; move on. 走开；离去。◆ The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along. 警察叫站在街角的男孩们走开。2. To go forward; make progress; advance. 前进；进步；进展。◆ John is getting along well in school. He is learning more every day. 约翰在学校里学习得很好。他每天都学到更多的东西。3. To advance; become old or late. （人）上年纪；变老；（时间）渐晚。◆ It is getting along towards sundown. 快到太阳下山的时候了。◆ Grandmother is 68 and getting along. 祖母68岁，已日见衰老了。4. To get or make what you need; manage. 过活；度日；对付过去。◆ It isn't easy to get along in the jungle. 在丛林里过活不容易。◆ We can get along on $100 a week. 我们能靠每周100美元过活。5. To live or work together in a friendly way; agree, cooperate; not fight or argue. 和睦相处；和谐；合作。◆ We don't get along with the Jones family. 我们与琼斯一家合不来。◆ Jim and Jane get along fine together. 吉姆和简相处得很好。◆ Don't be hard to get along with. 不要让人与你难以相处。

get along or on in years　v. phr. To age; grow old. 变老；上年纪。◆ My father is getting along in years; he will be ninety on his next birthday. 我父亲上了年纪。他下一次过生日就要90岁了。

get a move on　informal or slang〖非正式〗或〖俚〗get a wiggle on　v. phr. To hurry up; get going. — Often used as a command. 快点；赶快。——常用作命令。◆ Get a move on, or you will be late. 快点，不然你就要迟到了。

get an earful　v. phr., informal To hear more (of usually unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. 〖非正式〗听到一大堆话；听到一通啰唆。◆ I asked how Tim and his wife were getting along, and I certainly got an earful. 我问蒂姆和他妻子近况如何，结果听到一通啰唆。

get an eyeful or take an eyeful　v. phr. To have a long, careful look at something. 好好看一下，好好地欣赏一下。◆ "Sergeant, come and take an eyeful of this terrible sight here," the policeman said, pointing at the dead body of the murder victim.“队长，来看看这里这一可怕的景象吧，”警察指着被害者的尸体说。◆ "Take an eyeful of these wonderful paintings!" the museum director said to the special guests before opening the show. 博物馆馆长宣布画展开幕前对特邀嘉宾们说：“请好好欣赏一下这些精彩的绘画作品吧！”

get a raise　v. phr. To receive an increment in salary.加到工资；得到加薪。◆ Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1. 因为工作出色，泰德在5月1日后加到一次工资。

get a rise out of　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To have some fun with (a person) by making (him) angry; tease. 惹（某人）发火；戏弄。◆ The boys get a rise out of Joe by teasing him about his girl friend. 那些男孩拿乔的女友跟他开玩笑，惹他发火。2. vulgar, avoid To be sexually aroused (said of males)〖粗〗〖忌〗（男子）因…而勃起。◆ Jim always gets a rise out of watching adult movies. 吉姆看成人电影总会勃起。

get around　v. 1a. To go to different places; move about. 到不同的地方；各处走动。◆ Mary's father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington; Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York. 玛丽的父亲真的是到处跑；星期一他在华盛顿；星期三在芝加哥；而今天已在纽约。1b. or get about To become widely known especially by being talked about.（消息等）传播。◆ Bad news gets around quickly. 坏消息传得快。2a. informal To get by a trick or flattery what you want from (someone). 〖非正式〗哄得（某人）听话。◆ Mary knows how to get around her father. 玛丽知道怎样哄得她父亲对她百依百顺。2b. informal To find a way of not obeying or doing; escape from.〖非正式〗规避；逃避。◆ Some people try to get around the tax laws. 有些人设法逃税。

get around to　v. To do (something) after putting it off; find time for.（拖延之后）做（某事）；找时间做。◆ Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next Saturday. 李先生希望下周六找个时间洗车。

get at　v. 1. To reach an understanding of; find out the meaning. 理解；弄明白。◆ This book is very hard to get at. 这本书很难懂。2. To do harm to. 伤害。◆ The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary. 猫在椅子上想扑过去吃掉那只金丝雀。3. To have a chance to do; attend to. 着手做；处理。◆ I hope I have time to get at my homework tonight. 我希望今天晚上有时间做作业。4. To mean; aim at; hint at. 意指；旨在；暗示。◆ What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it is important to speak correctly. 老师在这一课上所要讲的是：正确讲话很重要。

get away　v. 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. 挣脱；摆脱；离开；逃跑。◆ As Jim was trying the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom. 吉姆在试球棒时，球棒从他手中飞出，击中了汤姆。◆ The bank robbers used a stolen car to get away. 银行抢劫犯利用一辆 偷来的汽车逃走了。2. To begin; start. 开始；出发。◆ We got away early in the morning on the first day of our vacation. 假期的第一天，我们一大早就出发了。

getaway car　n. phr. A vehicle parked near the scene of a crime in which the criminals escape.（犯罪分子停在犯罪现场附近供他们）逃逸用的汽车。◆ The police intercepted the getaway car at a major crossroads. 警察在一个主要的十字路口拦截了那辆犯罪分子逃跑用的汽车。

get away with　v., informal To do (something bad or wrong) without being caught or punished. 〖非正式〗做了（坏事或错事）而未被发现（或未受惩罚）。◆ Some students get away without doing their homework. 有些学生没做作业却未受处分。

get away with murder　v. phr., informal To do something very bad without being caught or punished. 〖非正式〗做了坏事而未被发现（或未受惩罚）；为所欲为；逍遥法外。◆ John is scolded if he is late with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder. 约翰晚交作业就会受责骂，而罗伯特即使不做作业也不要紧。

get a word in or get a word in edgewise also get a word in edgeways　v. phr. To find a chance to say something when others are talking. （在别人谈话时）找机会插嘴。◆ Mary talked so much that Jack couldn't get a word in edgewise. 玛丽说起话来滔滔不绝，杰克连一句话也插不进去。

get back at　v., informal To do something bad to (someone who has done something bad to you); hurt in return.〖非正式〗对…进行报复。◆ The elephant waited many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper. 那头象等了很多年才报复了那个喂它红辣椒的人。

get back on one's feet　v. phr. To once again become financially solvent; regain one's former status and income, or health. 经济上重新自立；恢复原来的地位和收入；恢复健康。◆ Max got back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. 马克斯在做完心脏直视手术后不久就恢复了健康。◆ Tom's business was ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again. 汤姆的公司因通货膨胀而破产，但他已东山再起。

get back together　v. phr. To reconcile, to become friendly again after a disagreement, separation, or divorce. 和解；（分居或离婚后）和好如初。◆ John and Mary got back together again after six years of being divorced. 离婚6年后，约翰和玛丽又和好了。

get back to someone　v. phr. To recontact someone, especially by phone. 再与某人联系；再打电话给某人。◆ "I'm sorry, I must hang up now, but I'll get back to you in an hour or so." John said to Fred on his cell phone. “对不起，我现在必须挂了，但过一个小时左右我会再打电话给你的，”约翰在手机上对弗雷德说。

get behind　v. 1. To go too slowly; be late; do something too slowly. 落后；做事太慢。◆ The post office got behind in delivering Christmas mail. 邮局在投递圣诞节期间的邮件方面落后了。2. informal To support; help. 〖非正式〗支持；帮助。◆ A club is much better if members get behind their leaders. 如果俱乐部成员都支持他们的领导人，俱乐部就会好得多。◆ We got behind Mary to be class president. 我们支持玛丽做班长。3. informal To explain; find out the reason for. 〖非正式〗解释；找出…的原因。◆ The police are questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery. 警方正在讯问很多人，试图查明这起银行抢劫案的真相。

get busy　v. phr. To accelerate the pace in one's activities. 干起来；迅速开始工作；加快速度。◆ We've got to get busy if we want to make the deadline. 我们要赶在最后期限之前做完就必须加快速度。

get by　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To be able to go past; pass. 能开过去；通过。◆ The cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get by. 汽车都开到了人行道路缘上，以便让消防车能开过去。2. To satisfy the need or demand. 满足需要（或要求）。◆ Mary can get by with her old coat this winter. 今年冬天玛丽可以靠她那件旧外衣对付过去。3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. 逃脱；未受责骂（或惩罚）而通过。◆ The boy got by without answering the teacher's question because a visitor came in. 那个男孩没有回答出老师的问题，但因为有人来访，所以没有受到责备。

get cracking　v. phr., slang, informal To hurry up, to start moving fast. — Used mostly as an imperative). 〖俚〗〖非正式〗快点；开始快速移动。——多用作命令。◆ Come on, you guys, let's get cracking! (Let's hurry up!)来吧，伙计们，咱们快一点！

get credit for　v. phr. To be given points of merit, recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. 因（劳动或智力贡献）而获得荣誉（或受到赞扬）。◆ Our firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle. 我们公司因研制航天飞机的部件而获得了很多荣誉。

get down　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To make (someone) unhappy; cause low spirits; cause discouragement. 使（某人）不开心；使（某人）沮丧；使（某人）灰心。◆ Low grades are getting Helen down. 低分使海伦很不开心。2. To swallow; digest. 吞下；咽下；消化。◆ The medicine was so bitter I couldn't get it down. 这药太苦，我吞不下去。3. To depress a person's spirit. 使（某人）情绪低落。◆ Working at such an awful job got Mike down. 干这么糟糕的一份工作使迈克情绪低落。

get down cold　v. phr. To memorize perfectly. 背得滚瓜烂熟。◆ Terry got the text of his speech down cold. 泰里把他的演说稿背得滚瓜烂熟。

get down off your high horse　See见OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.

get down to　v., informal To get started on, being on.〖非正式〗开始做；着手做。◆ Let's get down to work. 让我们开始工作吧。

get down to brass tacks also get down to cases　v. phr., informal To begin the most important work or business; get started on the most important things to talk about or know. 〖非正式〗开始做最重要的工作；开始讨论最重要的问题。◆ A busy doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks. 忙碌的医生希望病人“单刀直入”把病情讲清楚。

get down to business or work　v. phr. To start being serious; begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished. 开始认真办事（或工作）；开始干正事。◆ Gentlemen, I'm afraid the party is over and we must get down to business. 先生们，聚会已经结束，我们必须开始认真工作了。

get down to the nitty gritty　See见GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

get dressed　v. phr. To put on all of one's usual clothing. 穿戴整齐。◆ One has to get dressed before leaving home for work. 离家去上班前必须穿戴整齐。

get even　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To owe nothing. 还清欠款。◆ Mr. Johnson has a lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even. 约翰逊先生负债累累，但几年后他就会还清的。2. To do something bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. 报复。◆ Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook. 杰克在等着报复比尔，因为比尔撕破了他的笔记本。

get going　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To excite; stir up and make angry. 刺激；激怒。◆ Talking about her freckles gets Mary going. 议论玛丽脸上的雀斑使她非常生气。2. or chiefly British〖主英〗get cracking To begin to move; get started. 开始行动；开始。◆ The teacher told Walter to get going on his history lesson. 老师告诉沃尔特开始上历史课了。◆ The foreman told the workmen to get cracking. 工头告诉工人们开始工作。

get gray hair or get gray　v. phr., informal To become old or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. — Often used with over. 〖非正式〗因忧愁而变老；因忧愁而头发变白；变得非常焦急（或忧愁）。——常与over连用。◆ "If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray hair over it," the coach said. 教练说：“如果约翰不参加我们队，我也不会急得头发变白。”

get his or hers　v. phr. To receive one's proper reward or punishment. 得到应有的报酬（或惩罚）。◆ Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he's been seeing other women. 当蒂姆的妻子发现他一直在跟别的女人约会时，他准会受到惩罚。

get hitched　v. phr. To get married. 结婚。◆ After a long period of dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched. 约会了很长一段时间后，弗雷德和玛丽终于结婚了。

get hold of　v. 1. To get possession of. 抓住，握住。◆ Little children sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves. 小孩子有时候会抓住锋利的小刀割破自己。2. To find a person so you can speak with him. 找到…与之交谈。◆ Mr. Thompson spent several hours trying to get hold of his lawyer. 汤普森先生花了好几个小时想找到他的律师。

get in　v. phr. 1. To be admitted. 被录取。◆ Andy wants to go to medical school but his grades aren't good enough for him to get in. 安迪想进医学院，但他的分数不够好，不可能被录取。2. To arrive. 到达。◆ What time does the plane from New York get in？从纽约开来的飞机什么时候到达？3. To enter. 进入。◆ "Get in the car, and let's go," Tom said in a hurry. “上车，咱们走，”汤姆急匆匆地说。4. To put in stock; receive. 进货；收到。◆ The store just got in a new shipment of shoes from China. 这家商店刚刚收到了从中国新运来的一批鞋。

get in on　v. phr. To be permitted to participate; become privy to; be included. 被允许参加；秘密参与；被包括在内。◆ This is your chance to get in on a wonderful deal with the new company if you're willing to make an investment. 如果你愿意投资，这是你参与跟这家新公司做一笔好生意的机会。

get in one's hair　See见IN ONE'S HAIR.

get in one's way　See见IN ONE'S WAY.

get in on the or sb.'s act　v. phr. To do something because others are engaged in the same act; join others. 插一手；参与；加入。◆ John's business is succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to get in on the act. 约翰的生意非常成功，所以他的两个兄弟也想参与进来。

get in on the ground floor　v. phr. To be one of the first members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm, educational institution, etc. 在公司（或教育机构等）的开始阶段即参加。◆ Mr. Smith who joined the new college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as its president after twenty years. 史密斯先生当年进这所新学院时是名讲师，因为他是第一批进校的人之一，20年后成了学院的院长。

get in the way　v. phr. To block the progress of someone or something, either physically or otherwise, e. g., socially, emotionally, etc. 挡住去路；妨碍。◆ The huge truck got in the way of John's car, so he had to sit and wait until it moved away. 那辆大卡车挡在了约翰的汽车前面，所以他只好坐在那里一直等到卡车开走。◆ My poor health got in the way of my work. 我身体不好，这妨碍了我的工作。

get into　See见BE INTO SOMETHING.

get in (to)　v. phr. To enter. 进入。◆ I can't get into my apartment, as I lost my keys. 我丢了钥匙，进不了我的公寓套房。

get into line　v. phr. To cooperate; conform. 合作；配合；一致；符合。◆ The maverick members of the party were advised to get into line unless they wanted to be expelled. 党内持不同意见的党员受到警告，如果他们不想被开除就要保持一致。

get into the spirit　v. phr. To become greatly interested or enthusiastic about something. 进入…的精神境界。◆ The religious holidays are times of the year when people usually get into the spirit of charity and family togetherness. 每个宗教节日通常都是一年中人们最富慈善精神、最想家人团聚在一起的时候。

get in with　v. phr. To join up with; begin to associate with; be accepted by. 与…拉上关系；与…结交；被…所接受。◆ He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound up in jail. 他结交了一帮坏男孩，结果进了监狱。◆ She got in with her father's firm and made a successful career of it. 她进入了父亲的公司，在事业上取得了成功。

get in wrong　v. phr. To incur the anger or dislike of someone; come into disfavor. 惹人生气（或不喜欢）；惹人讨厌。◆ Although he means well, Fred is always getting in wrong with someone at the office. 虽然弗雷德是一番好意，但他总是在办公室里惹人讨厌。

get it　v. phr. To understand. 懂，理解。◆ The professor certainly knows a great deal, but he talks so fast that half of the class just doesn't get what he's talking about. 那位教授无疑知道得很多，但他讲得太快了，班上有一半同学根本就不懂他在讲什么。◆ "Did you get what I said?" "Yes I got it; message received loud and clear."“我的话你听明白了吗？”“明白了，完全明白了。”

get it all together　v. phr. 1. To be in full possession and control of one's mental faculties; have a clear purpose well pursued. 沉着冷静；有明确的追求目标。◆ You've sure got it all together, haven't you？你肯定是头脑很冷静的，是不是？2. Retaining one's self-composure under pressure. 在压力下保持镇静。◆ A few minutes after the burglars left he got it all together and called the police. 窃贼离开几分钟后，他镇静下来并报了警。3. To be well built, stacked (said of girls and women.)（女子）身材优美；体态丰满匀称。◆ Sue's sure got it all together, hasn't she？苏的身材确实很美，是不是？

get it backwards　v. phr. To misunderstand, to arrive at the wrong interpretation of something. 误解；对某事得出错误的解释。◆ "No you silly, Joan didn't leave her husband, Peter left her. You got it backwards."“不对，你个笨蛋，不是琼遗弃了她的丈夫，而是彼得遗弃了她。你把这事弄反了。”

get (it or something) in or into one's head　v. phr. To become possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. 一心一意想；念念不忘。◆ Jack got it into his head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change his mind. 杰克一心想当一名海军陆战队士兵，我们无论说什么都无法使他改变主意。

get lost　v. phr., slang Go away! — Used as a command.〖俚〗走开！——用作命令。◆ Get lost! I want to study. 走开！我要学习了。◆ John told Bert to get lost. 约翰叫伯特走开。

get mixed up　See见MIXED UP.

get more than one bargained for　phrasal idiom To get more in a pejorative sense than what one expected to get. 所得超过期望。◆ After the childless couple used fertility pills to have a child, they had quadruplets, which was a lot more than they bargained for. 那对没有子女的夫妻服用了生育药之后，一胎生了4个孩子，大大超过了他们的期望。

get off　v. 1. To come down from or out of. 从…下来；下车。◆ The ladder fell, and Tom couldn't get off the roof. 梯子倒了，汤姆在屋顶上下不来了。◆ The bus stopped, the door opened, and Father got off. 公共汽车停了下来，门开了，父亲下了车。2. To take off. 脱下。◆ Joe's mother told him to get his wet clothes off. 乔的母亲叫他把湿衣服脱下来。3. To get away; leave. 走开；离开。◆ Mr. Johnson goes fishing whenever he can get off from work. 只要能离开工作，约翰逊先生就去钓鱼。◆ William got off early in the morning. 威廉一早就走了。4. To go free.获释。◆ Mr. Andrews got off with a $5 fine when he was caught passing a stop sign. 安德鲁斯闯红灯被捉，交了5美元罚金后获释。5. To make (something) go. 传出；送出；寄出。◆ John got a letter off to his grandmother. 约翰给祖母寄出一封信。6. To tell. 说（笑话等）。◆ The governor got off several jokes at the beginning of his speech. 州长在演说开始时先讲了几个笑话。7. To write a quick letter or note to someone. 匆匆写（信等）。◆ I got off a Christmas card just in time to my relatives. 我匆匆写好一张圣诞贺卡及时寄给了我的亲戚。8. sexual taboo, avoidable To ejaculate.〖忌〗（使）达到情欲高潮；（使）感到兴奋；射精。◆ If you think administrative work makes me get off, you are sadly mistaken. 如果你以为行政工作能使我飘飘然，那你就大错特错了。

get off cheap　v. phr. 1. To receive a lesser punishment than one deserves. 被从轻发落；逃过严厉的惩罚。◆ Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five years. 泰德本来可能会被判15年徒刑；他被从轻发落只被判了5年。2. To pay less than the normal price. 以廉价付款。◆ If you had your car repaired for only $75, you got off cheap. 如果你修车只花了75美元，那真是便宜了你。

get off easy　v. phr., informal To have only a little trouble; escape something worse.〖非正式〗只有一点麻烦；逃过了较重的处罚。◆ John got off easy because it was the first time he had taken his father's car without permission. 约翰没有受太重的处罚，因为这是他第一次未经许可擅用父亲的汽车。

get off on a tangent　See 见 FLY OFF ON A TANGENT.

get off one's tail　v. phr., slang To get busy, to start working. 〖俚〗干起来；开始工作。◆ OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking！好啦伙计们！动手干起来吧！

get off on the wrong foot　v. phr. To make a bad start; begin with a mistake. 一开始就不顺利；出师不利。◆ Peggy got off on the wrong foot with her new teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn't like it. 佩吉一开始就给新老师留下了不好的印象；她在课堂上嚼口香糖，惹得老师不高兴。

get off sb.'s back　v. phr., slang, colloquial To stop criticizing or nagging someone. 〖俚〗〖口〗不再批评某人；不再缠磨某人。◆ "Get off my back! Can't you see how busy I am?"“别烦我！没看见我有多忙吗？”

get off sb.'s case or back or tail　v. phr. To stop bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one. 不再烦扰某人。◆ "Get off my case!" he cried angrily. "You're worse than the cops."“少管我的闲事！”他气冲冲地喊道。“你比警察还坏。”

get off the ground　v. phr., informal To make a successful beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. 〖非正式〗成功地开始；取得进展。◆ Our plans for a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come. 我们开晚会的计划一开始就不妙，因为没有人能参加。

get off to a flying or running start　v. phr. To have a promising or successful beginning. 一开始就很顺利；取得良好的开端。◆ Ron got off to a flying start in business school when he got nothing but A's. 罗恩在商学院一开始就很顺利，考试全部得优。

get on or get onto　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To speak to (someone) roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. 责骂；斥责。◆ Mrs. Thompson got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean. 汤普森太太指责姑娘们没有保持房间的清洁。◆ The fans got on the new shortstop after he made several errors. 新游击手几次失误之后，球迷们便对他喝起倒彩来了。2. To grow older. 上年纪，变老。◆ Work seems harder these days; I'm getting on, you know. 近来工作似乎更难了；你知道，我上年纪了。

get one's act together　v. phr. To control one's performance at work or in one's personal affairs more efficiently than before. 更有效地控制自己的工作（或私人事务）；组织起来；劲往一处使。◆ Democracy would prevail much more easily in many parts of the world if the intelligentsia in the countries concerned could only get their act together. 只要有关国家的知识分子能组织起来，那么在世界上许多地方，民主将更轻而易举地获胜。

get one's back up　v. phr., informal To become or make angry or stubborn.〖非正式〗（使）生气；（使）变得倔强。◆ Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong. 我说弗雷德错了时，他竟生气了。

get one's brains fried　v. phr., slang also used colloquially〖俚〗〖口〗1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive length of time. 中暑。◆ Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in the sun too long — they'll get their brains fried. 应提醒新到夏威夷的人不要在日光下坐得太久，否则会中暑的。2. To get high on drugs. 吸毒过量。◆ He can't make a coherent sentence anymore — he's got his brains fried. 他再也说不出一句连贯的句子了——他吸毒过量了。

get one's dander up or get one's Irish up　v. phr. To become or make angry. （使）发怒，（使）生气。◆ The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go to the store. 那男孩因不能去商店而生气了。◆ The children get the teacher's dander up when they make a lot of noise. 孩子们大声吵闹，惹得老师发火了。

get one's ducks in a row　v. phr., informal To get everything ready. 〖非正式〗把事情安排就绪；把一切准备好。◆ The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row before they went to camp. 童子军团长告诉男孩子们把一切准备就绪后再去露营。

get one's feet on the ground　See见FEET ON THE GROUND.

get one's feet wet　v. phr., informal To begin; do something for the first time. 〖非正式〗开始；初试。◆ The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be afraid to get your feet wet,"said Bill. 舞会在比尔家举行。当我和鲁丝赶到那儿时，舞会已开始。比尔说：“马上开始跳吧。”◆ "It's not hard to dance once you get your feet wet," said the teacher. 老师说：“跳舞不难，一跳就会。”

get one's foot in the door　See见FOOT IN THE DOOR.

get one's gears turning　v. phr. To start thinking in a novel and creative way in order to achieve a certain goal, such as solving a knotty problem. 开动脑筋、别出心裁。◆ You need to get your gears turning if you want to win the competition on building the new metropolitan airport. 如果你想在建造这一大城市新机场的竞争中取胜，你就需要开动脑筋，别出心裁才行。

get one's hands on　See见LAY ONE'S HANDS ON.

get one's rear in gear　v. phr., slang To hurry up, to get going. 〖俚〗赶快；开始动身。◆ I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear. 我得赶紧动身了。

get or have one's say　See见DAY IN COURT.

get one's second wind　See见SECOND WIND.

get one's signals crossed or get one's wires crossed　v. phr. To communicate with someone so as to result in misunderstanding, either because of the language used, or bad telephone connection, etc.（因措词不当或电话串线等而）造成误会；发生误解；弄错。◆ I thought we were going to meet for lunch on Wednesday, but when my friend didn't show up I called him, and he swore he thought it was going to be on Thursday. Apparently we got our signals crossed.我以为我们是星期三一起吃午饭，但我的朋友却一直未露面，于是我打电话给他，他却发誓说吃饭是星期四。显然，我们当初联系时发生了误会。

get one's teeth into or sink one's teeth into　v. phr., informal To have something real or solid to think about; go to work on seriously; struggle with. 〖非正式〗全神贯注于；认真处理；苦苦思索。◆ Frank chose a subject for his report that he could sink his teeth into. 弗兰克选了一个需要认真对待的报告题目。

get one's way　v. phr. To see to it that matters turn out according to one's own wishes. 随心所欲；自行其是；想怎样就怎样。◆ It is a bad sign in a marriage if one party always gets his or her way. 如果婚姻的一方一直随心所欲、想怎样就怎样，那可是一个坏征兆。◆ In a group of people it is usually the most strong-willed person who gets his or her way. 在一群人中，随心所欲、为所欲为的通常都是那个最刚愎自用的人。

get one's wires crossed　See见GET ONE'S SIGNALS CROSSED.

get on sb.'s case　v. phr. To keep checking up on someone; to put pressure on someone; to keep bothering someone. 不停地对某人进行核查；对某人施加压力；不停地烦扰某人。◆ Peter's parents are always getting on his case to find a nice girl to marry and start a family of his own. 彼得的父母总是不停地对他唠叨，让他找个好姑娘结婚，生儿育女。

get on sb.'s good side　v. phr. To gain the favor of someone; flatter or please another. 得到某人的好感，赢得某人的欢心；奉承某人；使某人高兴。◆ A clever lobbyist knows how to get on the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. 一个聪明的院外游说者知道怎样既讨好众议院又讨好参议院。

get on sb.'s nerves　v. phr. To make you nervous. 使某人紧张不安；惹某人心烦。◆ John's noisy eating habits get on your nerves. 约翰吃东西声音很响的习惯让人心烦。◆ Children get on their parents' nerves by asking so many questions. 孩子们问那么多问题，让他们的父母心烦。

get on the stick　v. phr., slang, informal To get moving; to stop being idle and to start working vigorously.〖俚〗〖非正式〗行动起来；开始干起来。◆ All right, man, let's get on the stick！好啦，老兄，咱们干起来吧！Compare比较ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE'S TAIL.

get on to someone　v. phr. To figure someone out; understand what someone else is up to. 理解；认清（某人）；查明（某人的不法行为等）。◆ The FBI is on to Jim's secret trading with the enemy. 联邦调查局查明了吉姆跟敌人的秘密交易。

get out　v. phr. 1. leave or depart. 出去；离开。◆ "Get out of here!" the teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving student. “滚出去！”教师对那个捣蛋的学生怒声喊道。◆ "Driver, I want to get out by the opera."“司机，我想在歌剧院下车。”2. To publish; produce. 出版；生产。◆ Our press is getting out two new books on ecology. 我们出版社将出版两本有关生态学的新书。3. To escape; leak out. 逃出；漏出；泄露。◆ We must not let the news about this secret invention get out. 我们决不能让有关这一秘密发明的消息泄露出去。

get out and around　v. phr. To leave home to participate in some social activity. 外出参加社交活动。◆ John gets out and around so much that he is in danger of becoming a social butterfly. 约翰经常外出参加社交活动，大有变为花花公子的危险。

get out of　v. phr. 1. To be excused from; avoid. 从…免除；摆脱；避免。◆ He got out of jury duty because of his illness. 他因为生病而被免除了参加陪审团的职责。2. To gain from; extract from. 从…得到；从…取出；从…拔出。◆ Tom complained that he didn't get anything out of the course on grammar. 汤姆抱怨说他从语法课上没学到什么东西。

get out of hand　See见OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL.

get out of the way　See见OUT OF THE WAY.

get over　v. 1. To finish. 完成。◆ Tom worked fast to get his lesson over. 汤姆很快就把功课做完了。2. To pass over. 通过；越过。◆ It was hard to get over the muddy road. 通过这条泥泞的马路很困难。3. To get well from; recover from. 恢复过来；康复。◆ The man returned to work after he got over his illness. 那人病愈后又回来上班了。4. To accept or forget（a sorrow or surprise.）接受；忘掉（伤心事或意想不到的事）。◆ It is hard to get over the death of a member of your family. 家人死亡之痛令人难以忘怀。

get popped　v. phr. slang To get shot. 〖俚〗遭枪击；被枪杀。◆ If you walk around in this particular neighborhood at night, you might get popped. 如果你夜里在这一街区闲逛，你可能会遭到枪击。

get rattled　v. phr. To become confused, overexcited, or nervous. 窘迫不安；过于激动；紧张起来。◆ The thief got so rattled when he saw the police following him that he drove his car into a ditch. 小偷一看见警察在追赶自己就紧张起来，结果把汽车开进了沟里。

get real　v. phr., informal To come to grips with reality; to face facts as they really are. 〖非正式〗面对现实；实际点。◆ "Stop daydreaming, my dear," Mike said to his sister. "You'll never win the lottery and your husband isn't coming back. Get real — you need a job!"“别做白日梦了，亲爱的，”迈克对他的妹妹说。“你绝对不会中彩赢大奖，你的丈夫也不会回来了。面对现实吧——你需要一份工作！”

get rid of　See见RID OF.

get sb.'s goat　v. phr., informal To make a person disgusted or angry.〖非正式〗使某人厌恶；使某人生气。◆ The boy's laziness all summer got his father's goat. 那男孩整个夏天都懒洋洋的，惹得他父亲很恼火。◆ The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat. 咖啡馆慢吞吞的服务激怒了罗宾逊先生。

get sb.'s number or have sb.'s number　v. phr., informal To find out or know what kind of person somebody is. 〖非正式〗对某人心中有数；了解某人是怎样的人。◆ The girls got their new roommate's number the first week of school. 女生们第一周就了解了新室友的为人。

get set　v. phr. To get ready to start.准备开始。◆ The runners got set. 赛跑的运动员们准备起跑。◆ The seniors are getting set for the commencement. 四年级大学生正在准备参加毕业典礼。

get smart with someone　v. phr. To start sassing someone; to answer back impudently; to act like a knowit-all.　对某人出言不逊；跟某人顶嘴；自以为无所不知。◆ When Johnny started to argue with his father about absolutely everything as if he knew more than his dad, Mr. Smith admonished his son: "Don't you get smart with me young man, or I'll cut your weekly allowance."当约翰尼开始样样事情都跟父亲争论，仿佛他比他爸爸知道得还要多时，史密斯先生警告儿子说：“不要在我面前太放肆，年轻人，不然我就停掉每周给你的零用钱。”

get someone going　v. phr. To have someone believe a story that isn't true; to tease someone. 使某人信以为真；戏弄某人。◆ You really got me going there for a while when you said that you won some money on the lottery and that you'll take me to Paris. 当你说你买彩票赢了一些钱要带我去巴黎时，你还真的让我相信了一段时间呢。

get someone or something off one's mind　v. phr. To make a deliberate effort to forget some strange or unhappy event or person in one's life; an effort not to dwell on some past misery. 努力忘掉某人（或某事）；把某人（或某事）抛诸脑后。◆ Many sensitive viewers have a hard time getting the image of wounded children off their minds. 很多敏感的观众难以忘记那些受伤孩子的惨相。◆ John was trying very hard to get his former girlfriend, Mary, off his mind.约翰一直在极力想忘掉他的前女友玛丽。

get someone wrong　v. phr. To misinterpret; misunderstand another.曲解某人；误解（某人）。◆ Don't get me wrong; I didn't mean to criticize you. 不要误解我；我并不是要批评你。

get something out of one's system　v. phr. 1. To eliminate some food item, or drug from one's body. 把（食物或药物）排出体外。◆ John will feel much better once he gets the addictive sleeping pills out of his system. 一旦约翰不再服用令人上瘾的安眠药，他就会感觉好得多。2. To free oneself of yearning for something in order to liberate oneself from an unwanted preoccupation. 不再渴望某物；不再迷恋某物。◆ Ted bought a new cabin cruiser that he'd been wanting for a long time, and he says he is glad that he's finally got it out of his system. 泰德买了一艘向往已久的新游艇，他说他很高兴自己终于了结了此事。

get something over with　See见OVER WITH 1.

get something straight　v. phr. To clearly comprehend an issue. 把某事了解清楚。◆ "Let me get this straight," Burt said. "You want $85,000 for this miserable shack?"“让我把这点搞清楚，”伯特说。“这座破房子你要价85000美元？”

get stoned　v. phr., slang To become very drunk or high on some drug.〖俚〗喝醉；（服用毒品后）神志恍惚。◆ Poor Fred was so stoned that Tom had to carry him up the stairs. 可怜的弗雷德喝得烂醉，汤姆只得把他背上楼去。

get stuck　v. phr. 1. To be victimized; be cheated. 受骗；上当。◆ The Smiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it broke down just two days after they got it.史密斯一家买了那辆二手车肯定是上当了。他们刚买回来两天车就抛锚了。2. To become entrapped or embroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to be unable to free oneself. 陷入；被困住；无法摆脱。◆ Tom and Jane are stuck in a bad marriage. 汤姆和简深陷在不幸的婚姻之中。

get the ax　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To be fired from a job. 被解雇。◆ Poor Joe got the ax at the office yesterday. 可怜的乔昨天被革职了。2. To be dismissed from school for improper conduct, such as cheating. 被开除。◆ Joe got caught cheating on his final exam and he got the ax. 乔期末考试作弊被捉后就被开除了。3. To have a quarrel with one's sweetheart or steady ending in a termination of the relationship. 被恋人（或情人）抛弃。◆ Joe got the ax from Betsie — they won't see each other again. 乔被贝茜抛弃了——他们彼此不再相见。

get the ball rolling or set the ball rolling or start the ball rolling　informal To start an activity or action; make a beginning; begin.〖非正式〗开始某一活动；开始。◆ George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a new joke. 乔治在晚会一开始就讲了一个新笑话。

get the better of or get the best of　v. phr. 1. To win over, beat; defeat. 战胜，打败；击败。◆ Our team got the best of the visitors in the last quarter. 我队在最后一节战胜了客队。◆ George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers. 乔治在跳棋比赛中赢了罗伯特。2. or have the best of or have the better of To win or be ahead in (something); gain most from（something.）在（某事）中获胜，占上风；在（某事）中得到便宜。Bill traded an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal. 比尔用自行车的旧轮胎换了一个喇叭；他在那笔交易中占了便宜。

get the bounce or get the gate　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. or get the air To lose one's sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover. 失去恋人；被（朋友或爱人）抛弃。◆ Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl. 乔很伤心，因为他刚刚失去了女朋友。◆ Shirley was afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went out with other boys while he was away. 雪莉担心，如果她在男友不在时与别的男孩子约会，她会被他抛弃。2. or get the sack also get the hook To be fired; lose a job. 被解雇；失去工作。◆ Uncle Willie can't keep a job; he got the sack today for sleeping on the job. 威利叔叔经常失业；他今天上班时睡觉又被解雇了。◆ You're likely to get the bounce if you are absent from work too much. 如果你经常不上班，你会被开除的。

get the brush-off　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To be paid no attention; not be listened to or thought important.不受注意；被当作耳边风；不受重视。◆ My idea for a party got the brush-off from the other students. 我要举行一次聚会的想法未被其他学生采纳。2. To be treated in an unkind or unfriendly way; be ignored. 受到冷落；未被理睬。◆ Frank and Jane had an argument, so the next time he telephoned her, he got the brush-off. 弗兰克和简发生了争执，所以随后他打电话给她时，她没有理睬他。

get the drift or get my drift or get someone's drift　v. phr. To begin to understand what someone else means without being completely specific. 理解我（或某人）的含意。◆ "I think I am beginning to get the drift." John said, when his boss explained the ruinous state of the economy. "No raises next year, right?" "I'm afraid so," his boss answered.“我想我开始明白你的意思了，”在老板说明了糟糕的经济状况后，约翰说。“明年没有加薪了，对吗？”“恐怕是这样，”老板回答说。

get the eye　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To be looked at, especially with interest and liking. 受注目；被人以爱慕的眼光注视。◆ The pretty girl got the eye as she walked past the boys on the street corner. 那个漂亮的女孩从街角处男孩们身边走过时，他们都用爱慕的眼光看着她。2. To be looked at or stared at, especially in a cold, unfriendly way. 被人冷冷地注视（或瞪一眼）；遭白眼。◆ When Mary asked if she could take home the fur coat and pay later, she got the eye from the clerk. 当玛丽询问她是否可以先把那件皮大衣拿回家以后再付款时，那店员冷冷地瞪了她一眼。

get the feel of　v. phr. To become used to or learn about, especially by feeling or handling; get used to the experience or feeling of; get skill in.习惯于；熟悉；体验；掌握。◆ You'll get the feel of the job after you've been there a few weeks. 你到那儿几个星期后就会熟悉这项工作的。

get the go-ahead or the green light　v. phr. To receive the permission or signal to start or to proceed. 获准开始；获准前进。◆ We had to wait until we got the go-ahead on our research project. 我们要等获准后才可以开始我们的研究项目。

get the goods on or have the goods on　v. phr. slang To find out true and, often, bad information about; discover what is wrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. 〖俚〗发现…的真实情况；发现…的罪证；掌握…的确凿罪证。◆ The police had the goods on the burglar before he came to trial. 在那个窃贼受审之前，警方已掌握了他的罪证。

get the hang of　See见GET A FEEL FOR.

get the jitters　v. phr. To become very nervous or excited. 神经紧张；非常激动。◆ I always get the jitters when I sit in an airplane that's about to take off. 当我坐在一架即将起飞的飞机上时，我总是非常紧张。

get the jump on or have the jump on　v. phr., slang To get ahead of; start before (others); have an advantage over. 〖俚〗抢在…之前；比…占先；胜过，优于。◆ Our team got the jump on their rivals in the first minutes of play, and held the lead to win. 我们队在比赛的最初几分钟就领先于对手，并一路领先到最后取胜。

get the lead out of one's pants　v. phr., slang To get busy; work faster.〖俚〗干起来；加紧工作。◆ The coach told the players to get the lead out of their pants. 教练要运动员们加油。

get the lowdown on　v. phr. To receive the full inside information on a person or thing. 得知…的内幕；得知…的真相。◆ We need to get the lowdown on Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him. 我们需要了解彼得的底细，然后才能决定是否雇用他。

get the message or get the word　v. phr., slang To understand clearly what is meant. 〖俚〗懂得暗示的意思；领会，明白。◆ The principal talked to the students about being on time, and most of them got the message. 校长对学生们讲到要准时，大多数学生都明白他的意思。

get the sack　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To be fired or dismissed from work.被解雇；被辞退。◆ John got the sack at the factory last week. 约翰上周被工厂辞退了。2. To be told by one's lover that the relationship is over. 被恋人抛弃。◆ Joanna gave Sam the sack. 乔安娜与萨姆分手了。

get the show on the road　v. phr., informal To start a program; get work started.〖非正式〗实施计划；开始干起来。◆ It was several years before the rocket scientists got the show on the road. 几年之后，火箭科学家们才开始实施火箭计划。

get the worst of also have the worst of　v. phr. To lose; be defeated or beaten in; suffer most. 遭到失败；在…中被击败；吃大苦头。◆ Joe got the worst of the argument with Molly. 乔在与莫莉的辩论中被击败了。Often used in the phrase the worst of it.常用于短语the worst of it中。◆ If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it. 你要是和吉姆动手打架，你可能会大大吃亏。◆ The driver of the car got the worst of it in the accident. 汽车司机在这次事故中受伤最重。

get through　v. phr. 1. To finish. 完成。◆ Barry got through his homework by late evening. 巴里到深夜时才做完作业。2. To pass a course or an examination. 通过课程；通过考试。◆ I got through every one of my courses except mathematics. 我通过了除数学外的每一门课程。

get through one's head　v. phr. 1. To understand or believe. 理解；明白；相信。◆ Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let him go to camp if his grades didn't improve. 杰克无法相信，如果他的成绩不进步，他父亲就不会让他去野营。2. To make someone understand or believe. 使某人理解，使某人明白；使某人相信。◆ I'll get it through his head if it takes all night. 即使花费整夜的时间，我也要让他明白这一点。

get through to　v. To be understood by; make (someone) understand.被…理解；使（某人）理解。◆ When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work and support himself. 当那个有钱男孩的父亲赔光了钱时，那男孩经过了很长时间才明白，他必须工作才能养活自己。

get to　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To begin by chance; begin to. — Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. 偶然开始；开始。——与动名词或不定式连用。◆ I got to know Mary at the party. 我是在那个晚会上开始认识玛丽的。◆ I was just getting to know John when he moved away. 我刚认识约翰，他就搬走了。2. To have a chance to; be able to. 有机会；得以；能够。◆ The Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they didn't get to. 泰勒一家本想周六去海滨，但因下雨而未能成行。◆ Did you get to see the king？你见到国王了吗？

get to first base or reach first base　v. phr. To make a good start; really begin; succeed. 取得良好开端；真正开始；成功。◆ Joe had a long paper to write for history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn't got to first base yet. 乔要为历史课写一篇长论文，但当老师要收论文时，乔还没有开始写呢。◆ Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even get to first base with her？假定萨姆爱上了贝蒂，她会给他机会吗？◆ If you don't dress neatly, you won't get to first base when you look for a job.你如果衣着不整，找工作就不会成功。

get together　v. To come to an agreement; agree. 达成协议；取得一致意见。◆ Mother says I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the lawn. Why don't you two get together？母亲说我应该把算术做完，父亲说我应该给草坪刈草。为什么你们俩意见不一致呢？

get-together　n. A party; a gathering. 聚会；联欢会。◆ I hate to break up this nice get-together but we must leave. 我真不愿终止这次令人愉快的聚会，但我们必须走了。

get to the bottom of　v. phr. To find out the real cause of. 弄清…的真正原因，查明…的真相。◆ The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom of the man's headaches. 医生做了好几次检查，以弄清那个人头痛的原因。

get to the heart of　v. phr. To find the most important facts about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing about. 抓住…的核心（或要害、中心意思）；理解…的实质。◆ You can often get to the heart of people's unhappiness by letting them talk. 让人开口说话，常常能发现他们不快乐的症结所在。

get to the point　See见COME TO THE POINT.

get under sb.'s skin　v. phr. To bother; upset. 烦扰某人；使某人恼火；使某人心烦意乱。◆ Children who talk too much in class get under the teacher's skin. 课堂上讲话太多的孩子令老师恼火。

get underway　v. phr. To set out on a journey; start going. 启程；开始进行。◆ We are delighted that our new Ph. D. program finally got underway. 我们很高兴，因为我们新的哲学博士课程终于开始了。

get up　v. 1. To get out of bed. 起床。◆ John's mother told him that it was time to get up. 约翰的母亲告诉他该起床了。2. To stand up; get to your feet. 站起来；起立。◆ A man should get up when a woman comes into the room. 女士进入房间时，男士应该站起来。3. To prepare; get ready. 准备。◆ Mary got up a picnic for her visitor. 玛丽为来访的客人准备了一顿野餐。◆ The students got up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school's 50th birthday. 学生们为庆祝学校建校50周年出版了一期特刊。4. To dress up. 打扮，装饰。One of the girls got herself up as a witch for the Halloween party. 万圣节晚会上，一名女生装扮成女巫。5. To go ahead. 往前走，快走。◆ The wagon driver shouted, "Get up!" to his horses. 马车夫对马喊道：“快走！”

get up or rise with the chickens　v. phr. To rise very early in the morning. 黎明即起；起得很早。◆ All the farmers in this village get up with the chickens. 这个村里的农民都起得很早。

get-up　n. (stress on get)（重读get）Fancy dress or costume. 化装服；戏装。◆ Some get-up you're wearing! 你穿的衣服真花哨！

get-up-and-go　also get-up-and-get n. phr., informal Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. 〖非正式〗进取心；劲头；干劲；毅力。◆ Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through school. 乔很有进取心，正在聚精会神地完成他的学业。

get up on the wrong side of the bed　v. phr., informal To awake with a bad temper. 〖非正式〗醒来时心绪不好。◆ Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed and wouldn't eat breakfast. 亨利醒来时情绪不好，不肯吃早饭。

get up the nerve　v. phr. To build up your courage until you are brave enough; become brave enough. 鼓起勇气；放大胆子。◆ Jack got up the nerve to ask Ruth to dance with him. 杰克鼓足勇气邀请鲁丝和他跳舞。

get what's coming to one or slang get one's　v. phr. To receive the good or bad that you deserve; get what is due to you; get your share. 得到应得的善报（或恶报）；得到应得的东西。◆ At the end of the movie the villain got what was coming to him and was put in jail. 影片结束时，那个坏蛋恶有恶报，被关进了监狱。

get wind of　v. phr. To get news of; hear rumors about; find out about. 听到…的风声；风闻；获悉。◆ The police got wind of the plans to rob the bank. 警察风闻了有关抢劫银行的计划。

get wise　v. phr., slang To learn about something kept secret from you; become alert. 〖俚〗识破；察觉；了解，知道；警觉。◆ One girl pretended to be sick on gym days when she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her go anyway. 一个女生一有体育课的日子就假装生病，后来老师察觉了，还是叫她去上课。

get with it　v. phr., slang To pay attention; be alive or alert; get busy.〖俚〗注意；留神；警觉；开始忙碌。◆ The students get with it just before examinations. 到了考试之前学生们才开始忙起来。◆ The coach told the team to get with it. 教练叫队员们注意。

get wrong　v. phr. To misunderstand something. 误解（某事）；曲解（某事）。◆ "You got it all wrong!" the boss said to Mr. Brown. "We aren't closing down the plant; we are just downsizing it a bit."“你完全误会了！”老板对布朗先生说。“我们并没有打算关闭工厂，我们只是稍微精减一下人员。”

ghost of a　Least trace of; slightest resemblance to; smallest bit even of; a very little. — Usually used with chance or idea in negative sentences, or with smile. 一丝；一点点；少许。——通常在否定句中与chance或idea连用，或与smile连用。◆ There wasn't a ghost of a chance that Jack would win. 杰克一点儿获胜的机会也 没有。◆ We didn't have the ghost of an idea where to look for John. 我们一点儿也不知道到哪里去找约翰。

ghost-writer　n. A writer whose identity remains a secret and who writes for another who receives all the credit. 代人写作的人，捉刀人。◆ It is rumored that John Smith's best-selling novel was written by a ghostwriter. 据谣传，约翰·史密斯的畅销小说是由一位捉刀人代写的。

G. I. or "government issue"　n. An American soldier. 美国兵。◆ After the war many GI's were able to get a free education. 战后，许多美国士兵得以受到免费教育。

gift of gab or gift of the gab　n. phr., informal Skill in talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe you. 〖非正式〗口才，辩才。◆ Many men get elected because of their gift of gab. 很多人当选是因为他们有口才。

gild the lily also paint the lily　v. phr. To add unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. 给百合花上色；（对本已很美或很好的东西）作多余的修饰；画蛇添足。◆ To talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily. 谈论日落之美是多此一举。

gild the pill or sugarcoat the pill　v. phr. To make something more acceptable; to soften something harsh; to tone down something unpleasant. 把苦药包上糖衣；使不愉快的事变得较易接受。◆ When the boss had to dismiss two hundred workers from his small factory, he decided to sugarcoat the pill by giving them six months of extra severance pay. 当那位老板不得不从他那家小厂解雇200名工人时，他决定多给他们6个月的解雇金，以使这件不愉快的事情易于被接受。

gilt-edged　adj. Of the highest quality. 优质的；一流的；极佳的。◆ Government saving bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment. 政府发行的储蓄公债被许多人认为是一种极好的投资。

gin mill　n., slang A bar where liquor is sold. 〖俚〗酒吧，酒馆。◆ Rush Street in Chicago is full of gin mills. 芝加哥的拉什街上到处是酒馆。

gird one's loins　v. phr., literary To prepare for action; get ready for a struggle or hard work. 〖文〗准备行动；准备战斗；准备苦干。◆ David girded up his loins and went out to meet the giant Goliath. 大卫准备妥当，然后出去迎战巨人歌利亚。◆ Seniors must gird their loins for the battles of life. 毕业班的学生必须为人生的战斗做好准备。

girlfriend　n., informal 〖非正式〗1. A female friend or companion. 女友；女伴。◆ Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend's house. 简在她女友家过夜。2. A boy's steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl; sweetheart. （男青年的）女朋友；情人；恋人。◆ John is taking his girlfriend to the dance. 约翰打算带他的女朋友去参加舞会。

give a bad mark　v. phr. To think less of a person; to condemn one for something the person had done. 对（某人）评价不高；给（某人）打低分；谴责（某人）。◆ You didn't show up for dinner last night; we had been waiting for you for three hours. I am going to give you a bad mark for that! Please phone next time if you can't make it. 昨晚吃饭你没来，让我们等了3个小时。为此我要批评你！下次来不了请打个电话。

give a dog a bad name　v. phr. Ruining a person's reputation by spreading false rumors about him. 给某人强加恶名；诽谤某人使之声名狼藉。◆ The main business of some tabloids is to give a dog a bad name. 某些通俗小报的所作所为主要就是散布流言飞语，破坏一些名人的声誉。

give a dog a bad name and hang him　v. phr. Ruining a person's reputation and then condemning him, making the false accusation irreversible. 给人强加恶名将毁人一生；恶名难洗，谗言可畏。◆ Once enough bad rumors were circulated about the actor, nobody wanted to employ him. It was a case of giving a dog a bad name and hanging him, too. 关于那位演员一度曾流传着很多恶毒的谣言，结果没有人愿意雇用他。真可谓恶名难洗，谗言可畏。

give a hand　See见LEND A HAND.

give a hard time　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To give trouble by what you do or say; complain. 给…添麻烦；抱怨。◆ Jane gave her mother a hard time on the bus by fighting with her sister and screaming. 简在公共汽车上跟妹妹打架并高声尖叫，给母亲惹了不少麻烦。2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid. 戏弄；玩弄；开玩笑。◆ Don't give me a hard time, boys. I'm trying to study. 别跟我逗了，哥儿们。我要学习了。

give a lift or give a ride　v. phr. To invite someone into one's car and take them where they want to go. 让（某人）搭自己的车去某处。◆ Can I give you a lift to the train station? 你愿搭我的车去火车站吗？◆ While my car was being repaired, my neighbor gave me a ride to work. 在我的汽车修理期间，我的邻居让我搭他的车去上班。

give-and-take　n. phr. 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of part of what each one wants so that they can agree. 分享；互惠；互谅互让。◆ There has to be give-and-take between two countries before they can be friends. 两个国家必须互谅互让才能成为朋友。2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing remarks. 交谈；交换意见；互相嘲弄。◆ After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about plans for the dance. 会后，人们就举行舞会的计划交换了许多意见。

give an ear to or lend an ear to　v. phr., literary To listen to. 〖文〗倾听。◆ The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people. 国王倾听人民的怨诉。

give a pain　v. phr., slang To make (you) disgusted; annoy. 〖俚〗使（人）生厌；惹（人）生气。◆ John's bad manners give his teacher a pain. 约翰的无礼使他的老师不快。

give as good as one gets　v. phr. To be able to give back blow for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. 毫不示弱地反击（或反驳）；防卫得法。◆ The Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English. 美国人在战争中毫不示弱地回击了英国人。

give away　v. 1. To give as a present. 赠送。◆ Mrs. Jones has several kittens to give away. 琼斯夫人有好几只小猫可以送人。2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the wedding. 在婚礼上将（新娘）交给新郎。◆ Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter. 杰克逊先生在婚礼上把女儿交给新郎。3. To let (a secret) become known; tell the secret of. 泄露（秘密）；暴露。◆ The little boy gave away his hiding place when he coughed. 那小男孩一咳嗽便暴露了他的藏身之处。

giveaway or dead giveaway　n. (stress on give)（重读give）1. An open secret. 公开的秘密。◆ By midafternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss would be. 到了下午3点，谁将是新老板已是公开的秘密。2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for much less than their market value. 近于赠送的廉价出售。◆ The Simpson's garage sale was actually a big giveaway. 辛普森家的宅前出售实际上是一次近于大赠送的廉价出售。3. A gift; something one doesn't have to pay for. 赠予物；无偿让予物。◆ The tickets to the concert were a giveaway. 音乐会的入场券是赠券。

give a wide berth　v. phr. To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. 避开；对…敬而远之。◆ Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth. 玛丽远远避开那条吠叫着的狗。◆ Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires. 杰克避开了那根落下来的电线。

give birth to　v. phr. 1. To bear live offspring. 生（孩子）；产（仔）。◆ The mother gave birth to twin baby girls. 母亲生了一对双胞胎女婴。2. To bring about; create; occasion. 使产生；创造；引起。◆ Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony. 贝多芬创造了一种新的交响乐。

give chase　v. phr. To chase or run after someone or something. 追赶；追击；追踪。◆ The policeman gave chase to the man who robbed the bank. 警察在追捕那个抢劫银行的人。

give color to or lend color to　v. phr. To make (something) seem true or likely. 使（某事）显得真实（或可能）。◆ The way the man ate lent color to his story of near starvation. 那人的吃相使人相信他说的差点饿死的话似乎是真的。

give credence to　v. phr. To be willing to believe that something is true. 相信。◆ Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used to be a convict. 拉里听信了弗雷德过去曾是一名囚犯的谣言。

give fits　v. phr. informal To upset; bother very much. 〖非正式〗使心烦意乱；使大为恼怒。◆ Paul's higher grades give John fits. 保罗成绩更好令约翰深为不安。

give forth　v. phr. To emit; produce. 发出；放出。◆ When the gong was struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound. 锣一敲就会发出一种深沉洪亮的声音。

give free rein to　See见GIVE REIN TO.

give gray hair　v. phr., informal To make (someone) anxious, confused, or worried. 〖非正式〗使（某人）焦虑，使（某人）慌乱（或担忧）。◆ The traffic problem is enough to give a policeman gray hairs. 交通问题就足以让警察伤透脑筋了。

give ground　v. phr. To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. 退却；后退；撤退。◆ After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground. 战斗了一阵之后，部队慢慢开始后退了。

give in　v. To stop fighting or arguing and do as the other person wants; give someone his own way; stop opposing someone. 屈服；让步；投降；同意。◆ After Billy proved that he could ride a bicycle safely, his father gave in to him and bought him one. 在比利证明他能安全地骑车后，他父亲让步了，给他买了一辆自行车。

give it a rest　v. phr. To stop trying to achieve something that is doomed to failure. （因某事注定失败而）停止尝试吧，停下来吧。◆ "Look, John, you'll never be a concert pianist. You're making noise, that's all. Sober up and give it a rest!"“听我说，约翰，你永远也不会成为一名能在音乐会上演奏的钢琴家。你弹奏出来的都是噪音，就是这样。清醒起来，不要弹了吧！”

give it one's all　v. phr. To exert maximum effort in order to achieve a certain goal. 为实现某一目标而献出自己的一切；为实现某一目标而竭尽全力。◆ It's too bad John didn't succeed in business; he certainly tried to give it his all. 约翰经商没有成功，真太遗憾了。他无疑为此竭尽了全力。

give it one's best shot　See见GIVE IT ONE'S ALL.

give it some thought　v. phr. To wait and see; consider something after some time has elapsed. 想一想；考虑一下。◆ "Will you buy my car?"Fred asked. "Let me give it some thought," Jim answered. “你要买我的车吗？”弗雷德问。“让我考虑一下，”吉姆回答说。

give it to　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To give punishment to; beat. 处罚；殴打。◆ The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent. 人群嚷嚷着叫摔跤手狠揍他的对手。2. To scold. 责骂。◆ Jerry's mother gave it to him for coming home late. 杰里的母亲责骂他回家晚了。

give it to someone straight　v. phr. To be direct; be frank. 对某人直说；对某人坦言。◆ I asked the doctor to give it to me straight how long I have to live. 我请求医生据实告诉我我还有多少时间好活。

give me a break! or come off it! or come on! or spare me! or don't give me that!　v. phr., exclamation. I don't believe what you said. 别指望我会相信你的话。◆ "Give me a break! That's absurd!"“别瞎说八道了！这太荒唐可笑了！”◆ "Come off it, man, you're saying crazy things!"“别胡扯了，老兄，你这些话也太不着边了！”◆ "You can't remember where you spent the night? Spare me, please! That's total nonsense!"“你不记得在哪儿过夜了，别骗我了！你这完全是胡说八道！”◆ "You're going to run for president? Don't give me that! You'll never get to first base!"“你打算竞选总统？别指望我会相信你的话！你永远也跨不出第一步！”

give me some skin or slip me five　v. phr., slang To shake hands; to strike one's palm in friendship and agreement. 〖俚〗与我握手；与我击掌相庆。◆ "Give me some skin, brother!" the gang leader said to the new member. "I'll give you five anytime, man," the new boy answered with a broad grin.“跟我握握手吧，老弟！”黑帮头子对那位新成员说。“我随时愿意与你击掌相庆，头儿，”新来的男孩咧着大嘴笑着说。

give no quarter　v. phr. To be ruthless and show no mercy. 毫不宽容；残酷无情。◆ The enemy soldiers gave no quarter and shot all the prisoners. 敌军士兵残酷无情，杀死了全部战俘。

give notice　v. phr. To inform an employer, an employee, a landlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement of service or tenancy. 事先提出（解雇、离职、退租、停租等）通知。◆ Max gave notice at the bank where he was working. 马克斯向他供职的那家银行提出了离职通知。

given to　adj. phr. Having a tendency to; addicted to. 有…倾向的；有…癖好的。◆ Phil is given to telling fantastic tales about his chateau in France. 菲尔总爱讲些有关他法国城堡的奇异故事。

give off　v. To send out; let out; put forth. 发出；放出。◆ Rotten eggs give off a bad smell. 腐烂的蛋发出一股臭味。

give oneself airs　v. phr. To act proud; act vain. 盛气凌人；摆架子；自以为了不起。◆ John gave himself airs when he won first prize. 约翰得了一等奖便自以为了不起了。

give oneself away　v. phr. To show guilt; show you have done wrong. 露马脚，现原形；露出破绽。◆ The thief gave himself away by spending so much money. 那个小偷大肆挥霍，从而露出了马脚。

give oneself up　v. To stop hiding or running away; surrender. 自首；投降。◆ The thief gave himself up to the police. 小偷向警方自首了。

give oneself up to　v. phr. Not to hold yourself back from; let yourself enjoy. 沉溺于；尽情享受。◆ Uncle Willie gave himself up to a life of wandering. 威利叔叔一生热衷于四处漫游。

give one's right arm for　v. phr. To give something of great value; sacrifice. 为…不惜任何代价；为…作出重大牺牲。◆ During our long hike in the desert, I would have given my right arm for an ice cold drink. 我们在沙漠中作漫长的徒步旅行时，我恨不得付出任何代价，喝一杯冰冷的饮料。

give one's word　v. phr. To seriously promise. 许诺；保证。◆ "You gave me your word you would marry me," Mary bitterly complained, "but you broke your word."“你曾许诺要和我结婚，”玛丽抱怨说，“但你却说话不算数。”

give or take　v. phr. To add or subtract. Used with a round number or date to show how approximate it is. 相差不到…；出入至多…（与一个约整数或日期连用表示约莫是多少）。◆ The house was built in 1900, give or take five years. 这座房子建于1900年，前后相差至多5年。

give out　v. 1. To make known; let it be known; publish. 公布；宣布；发表。◆ Mary gave out that she and Bob were going to be married. 玛丽宣布她和鲍勃将要结婚。2. To let escape; give. 发出。◆ The cowboy gave out a yell. 那牛仔大喊了一声。3. to give to people; distribute. 分发。◆ The barber gives out free lollipops to all the children. 理发师给所有的孩子免费分发棒棒搪。4. To fail; collapse. 失去作用；倒下；垮掉。◆ Tom's legs gave out and he couldn't run any farther. 汤姆两腿发软，再也跑不动了。◆ The chair gave out under the fat man. 那个胖子把椅子坐垮了。5. To be finished or gone. 用完；耗尽。◆ When the food at the party gave out, they bought more. 晚会上的食物吃完后，他们又去买了一些来。◆ The teacher's patience gave out. 老师忍无可忍了。

give pause　v. phr. To cause you to stop and think; make you doubt or worry. 使（某人）停下来思考；使（某人）怀疑（或担忧）。◆ The bad weather gave John pause about driving to New York City. 恶劣的天气使约翰对是否开车去纽约犹豫起来。

give rein to or give free rein to　v. phr. To remove all restrictions or limitations from someone or something. 不加约束；放纵；放任。◆ When she wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her imagination. 在写她的第一部疑案小说时，那位天才的女小说家充分发挥了自己的想象力。

give rise to　v. phr. To be the reason for; cause. 是…的原因；引起；导致。◆ A branch floating in the water gave rise to Columbus' hopes that land was near. 漂浮在水面上的一根树枝使哥伦布产生了陆地已近的希望。

give someone a break　v. phr. Give someone a chance to do something, or to forgive someone for having made a mistake. 给某人一个机会；给某人一个改正错误的机会。◆ Although Sam did poorly on his entrance exam, the school gave him a break and admitted him anyway. 虽然萨姆的入学考试成绩欠佳，学校还是给了他一个机会而录取了他。◆ "I am sorry, boss!" John said. "It will never happen again. Please give me a break and don't fire me!"“对不起，老板，”约翰说。“这错误再也不会重犯了。请给我一个改过的机会，不要解雇我！”

give someone a call　See见GIVE SOMEONE A RING.

give someone a (good) going-over　See见GO OVER 1.

give someone a lift　v. phr. 1. To give someone a ride. 让某人搭便车。◆ Jack gave me a lift in his new car. 杰克让我搭乘他的新车。2. To comfort someone. 安慰某人；使某人感到愉快；使某人受到鼓舞。◆ Talking to my doctor yesterday gave me a lift. 昨天跟医生进行交谈，使我精神为之一振。

give someone an inch, and he will take a mile　If you give some people a little or yield anything, they will want more and more; some people are never satisfied. 某人得寸进尺。◆ If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile. 他这人得寸进尺。

give someone a piece of one's mind　v. phr., informal To scold angrily; say what you really think to (someone). 〖非正式〗斥责某人；坦率地批评某人。◆ The sergeant gave the soldier a piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots. 那士兵没有擦靴子，被中士骂了一通。

give someone a ring also informal〖非正式〗give a buzz　To call on the telephone. 打电话给某人。◆ Alice will give her friend a buzz tonight. 艾丽斯今晚会打电话给她的朋友。

give someone enough rope and he will hang himself　informal Give a bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. — A proverb. 〖非正式〗〖谚〗任由某人（坏人）为所欲为而自作自受。◆ Johnny is always stealing and hasn't been caught. But give him enough rope and he'll hang himself. 约翰尼老是偷东西而没有被抓。但任由他偷下去，总有一天会被抓住的。

give someone his due　v. phr. To be fair to (a person), give credit that (a person) deserves. 公平对待某人；给某人应有的评价。◆ We should give a good worker his due. 我们对优秀工人应予以奖励。

give someone his rights or read someone his rights　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. The act of advising arrested criminals that they have the right to remain silent and that everything they say can be held against them in a court of law; that they have the right to the presence of an attorney during questioning and that if they can't afford one and request it, an attorney will be appointed for them by the state. 向被捕的罪犯宣读其依法享有的权利（有权保持沉默，有权在接受审问时有律师在场等）。◆ The cops gave Smith his rights immediately after the arrest. 警察在逮捕史密斯后立即向他宣读了他依法享有的权利。2. To sever a relationship by telling someone that he or she can go and see a divorce lawyer or the like. 断绝关系时叫对方去找律师。◆ Sue gave Mike his rights before she slammed the door in his face. 苏叫迈克去找离婚律师，然后便砰的一声把他关在了门外。

give someone pause　v. phr. To astonish someone; cause someone to stop and think. 使某人惊讶；使某人停下来思考；使某人踌躇。◆ "Your remark gives me pause," Tom said, when Jane called him an incurable gambler. 当简把汤姆称作不可救药的赌徒时，汤姆说：“你的话把我吓住了。”

give someone some of his or her own medicine　v. phr. To treat someone the way he or she treats others (used in the negative). 以某人治人之道还治某人之身（用于否定句）。◆ The gangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, a policeman gave him a little of his own medicine. 那歹徒殴打了一位无辜的老人，所以当他拒捕时，一位警察以其人之道，还治其人之身，把他也狠狠揍了一顿。

give someone the crazies　v. phr., slang To produce an unwarrantedly extreme reaction to someone. 〖俚〗对某人作出不必要的极端反应。◆ As soon as I call my boyfriend, my mom starts to give me the crazies. 我一给我的男朋友打电话，我妈妈就开始发疯似的数落我。

give someone the eye　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To look at, especially with interest and liking. 用爱慕的目光看某人；对某人抛媚眼；向某人送秋波。◆ A pretty girl went by and all the boys gave her the eye. 一个漂亮女孩走过，所有的男孩都用爱慕的眼光看着她。2. To look or stare at, especially in a cold or unfriendly way. 冷冷地看某人；冷冷地瞪某人一眼。◆ Mrs. Jones didn't like Mary and didn't speak. She just gave her the eye when they met on the street. 琼斯太太不喜欢玛丽，也不跟她讲话。她们在街上相遇时，她只是冷冷地瞪她一眼。

give someone the runaround　v. phr. To give someone numerous excuses and delays instead of attending to the matter at hand; to give someone meaningless busywork. 借故拖延某人；使某人白白地跑路；使某人瞎忙活。◆ The bureaucracy at that firm is so bad that one cannot accomplish anything; they're constantly giving me the runaround. 那家公司的官僚作风很严重，人们什么事情也做不成；他们就经常借故搪塞我。

give (someone) up for　v. phr. To abandon hope for someone or something. 认为（某人）已（死）而放弃希望。◆ After Larry had not returned to base camp for three nights, his fellow mountain climbers gave him up for dead. 在拉里连续3夜没有回大本营之后，和他一起来的登山者都认为他已经死了。

give the ax　v. phr., colloquial 〖口〗1. Abruptly to finish a relationship. 突然与…断绝关系；和…一刀两断。◆ She gave me the ax last night. 她昨晚突然和我断绝了关系。2. To fire an employee in a curt manner. 解雇；炒…的鱿鱼。◆ His boss gave John the ax last Friday. 约翰的老板上周五炒了他的鱿鱼。

give the benefit of the doubt　v. phr. To believe (a person) is innocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. 在罪证不足的情况下假定（某人）无罪。◆ George's grade was higher than usual and he might have cheated, but his teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt. 乔治的分数比平时高，很可能在考试时作了弊，但老师因没有证据还是承认了他的分数。

give the bounce or give the gate　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. or give the air To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from. 与（某人）断交；与（某人）分手。◆ Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl. 玛丽看见约翰与另一个女孩约会，就与他断绝了关系。◆ Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate. 比尔和简发生了争吵，比尔准备与她分手。2. or give the sack also give the hook To fire from a job; dismiss. 解雇；开除。◆ The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice. 球队开除了乔，因为他从不来练球。

give the creeps　See见THE CREEPS.

give the devil his due　v. phr. To be fair, even to someone who is bad; tell the truth about a person even though you don't like him. 平心而论；说句公道话。◆ I don't like Mr. Jones, but to give the devil his due, I must admit that he is a good teacher. 我不喜欢琼斯先生，但平心而论，我必须承认他是一名好老师。

give the finger　v. phr. To make a vulgar gesture with the hand. 向（某人）伸出中指；向（某人）做下流手势。◆ Jim never learned how to behave in good company; when he dislikes someone or something he still just gives the finger, as he did when he was a teenager. 吉姆从未学会如何在正当的交际场合举止得体，当他不喜欢某人或某事时，他仍会像他十几岁时那样伸出中指。

give the glad eye　v. phr., slang To give (someone) a welcoming look as if saying "come over here, I want to talk to you." 〖俚〗以眼神对（某人）表示欢迎。◆ I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye. 乔对我笑脸相迎，使我感到意外。

give the go-ahead or give the green light　v. phr. To give one's consent to proceed with a certain activity; to issue the command to go forward. 准许（某人）做某事；发布前进的命令；给（某人）开绿灯。◆ When John at age sixteen successfully got his first driver's license, his father gave him the green light to drive the family car. 当约翰在16岁时成功地拿到他的第一张驾照时，他父亲就同意他开家里的汽车了。◆ The platoon commander gave the troops the long awaited go-ahead. 排长下达了部队期待已久的前进命令。

give the go-by　v. phr. To pay no attention to a person; avoid. 不注意；不理睬；避开。◆ John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by. 约翰爱上了玛丽，但她却躲着他。

give the hook　See见GIVE THE BOUNCE 2.

give the pink slip　See见LAY OFF 2.

give the sack　See见GIVE THE BOUNCE 2.

give the shirt off one's back　v. phr., informal To give away something or everything that you own. 〖非正式〗送掉自己所有的一切。◆ He'd give you the shirt off his back. 他会把他所有的东西都送给你的。

give the show away　v. phr. To reveal a plan or information that is supposed to be secret. 泄露秘密计划；泄露内幕。◆ You have read further in the book than I have, but please don't tell me where the treasure was buried; otherwise you'd be giving the show away. 这本书你比我读得多了，但请不要告诉我财宝埋藏在什么地方；否则你就泄露秘密了。

give the slip　v. To escape from (someone); run away from unexpectedly; sneak away from. 避开（某人）；突然甩掉（某人）；从（某人）处溜走。◆ Some boys were waiting outside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip. 几个男孩等在学校外面要揍杰克，但他避开他们溜走了。

give the willies　v. phr. To cause someone to be uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous. 使（某人）不舒服；使（某人）心惊肉跳；使（某人）紧张不安。◆ Sue hates to camp out in a tent; the buzzing of the mosquitoes gives her the willies. 苏不喜欢野营睡帐篷；蚊子的嗡嗡声使她不舒服。

give thought to　v. phr. To consider; think about. 考虑；想。◆ Have you given any thought to the question of how to sell Grandpa's old house? 你考虑过如何把爷爷的老房子卖掉的问题吗？

give to understand　v. phr. To make a person understand by telling him very plainly or boldly. 使（某人）理解；告知（某人）。◆ Frank was given to understand in a short note from the boss that he was fired. 弗兰克的老板在一封短信中明确地告诉他他被解雇了。

give up　v. 1. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. 放弃；投降；屈服。◆ The dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up. 狗把球叼在嘴里不肯放弃。2. To stop doing or having; abandon; quit. 戒除；抛弃；停止。◆ The doctor told Mr. Harris to give up smoking. 医生叫哈里斯先生戒烟。◆ Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved away. 简搬走时不想放弃她的朋友们。3. To stop hoping for, waiting for, or trying to do. 放弃对…的希望；不再等待；不再尝试做（某事）。◆ Johnny was given up by the doctors after the accident, but he lived just the same. 车祸后，医生们都认为约翰尼已经没救了，但他仍然活着。4. To stop trying; quit; surrender. 不再尝试；放弃；投降。◆ The war will be over when one of the countries gives up. 当其中的一个国家投降时，战争就会结束。

give up the ghost　v. phr. To die; stop going. 死；停止运转。◆ After a long illness, the old woman gave up the ghost. 久病之后，老太太去世了。

give up the ship　v. phr. To stop fighting and surrender; stop trying or hoping to do something. 停止作战并投降；不再尝试（或希望）做某事。◆ "Don't give up the ship, John," said his father when John failed a test. 约翰有一次考试不及格，他父亲说：“别泄气，约翰。”

give voice　v. phr., formal To tell what you feel or think; especially when you are angry or want to object. — Used with to. 〖正式〗吐露；表达（自己的感受或想法，尤指生气或想反对时）。——与to连用。◆ Willie gave voice to his pain when the dog bit him by crying loudly. 被狗咬后威利大哭以表示他疼。

give way　v. 1. To go back; retreat. 后退；撤退。◆ The enemy army is giving way before the cannon fire. 敌军在炮火面前后退了。2. To make room, get out of the way. 让路。◆ The children gave way and let their mother through the door. 孩子们让开路，让母亲进门。3. To lose control of yourself; lose your courage or hope; yield. 控制不住自己；失去勇气（或希望）；屈服。◆ Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the flood, but she was very frightened. 发大水时，琼斯夫人虽然非常害怕，但没有失去自制。4. To collapse; fail. 坍陷；崩溃；衰退。◆ The river was so high that the dam gave way. 河水太高，堤坝溃决了。◆ Mary's legs gave way and she fainted. 玛丽双腿一软，晕了过去。5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission. 听从劝阻；准许。◆ Billy kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally gave way. 比利一再问母亲他能不能去看电影，最后母亲同意了。

give way to　v. phr. 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass; yield to. 为…让路；让…走（或通过）；屈服于。◆ John gave way to the old lady and let her pass. 约翰给老太太让路，让她走过去。1b. To allow to decide. 让…决定。◆ Mrs. Rogers gave way to her husband in buying the car. 购车时，罗杰斯夫人让丈夫做决定。1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back. 控制不住（感情）；自由表露。◆ Timmy gave way to his feelings when his dog died. 蒂米的狗死时，他失声痛哭。2. or give place to. To be replaced by. 为…所代替。◆ When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way to laughter. 看到那些小丑时，小女孩破涕为笑了。

give wide berth to　v. phr. To avoid coming into contact with a physical object, a place, or certain people and certain kinds of activity. 远远避开；对…敬而远之。◆ After the newspapers published an article about numerous attacks in Hyde Park, people started to give wide berth to the place. 在报纸刊登了海德公园发生过多起袭击事件的报道后，人们便开始远远地避开那个地方了。

glad hand　n., informal A friendly handshake; a warm greeting. 〖非正式〗热情友好的握手；热烈的欢迎。◆ The politician went down the street on election day giving everyone the glad hand. 在举行选举的那天，那位政客走上街头，与每个人热情握手。

glad rags　n., slang Clothes worn to parties or on special occasions; best clothes. 〖俚〗晚礼服；最考究的衣服。◆ Mrs. Owens put on her glad rags for the party. 欧文夫人穿上她最好的衣服去参加晚会。

glance off　v. phr. To ricochet. 擦过，掠过；跳飞；弹回。◆ The bullet glanced off the wall and wounded an innocent bystander. 子弹从墙壁上弹回，打伤了一名无辜的旁观者。

glass ceiling　n. phr. A level of maximum success in corporations or large businesses, beyond which certain groups of people, such as women or minorities, can rise only seldom and with great difficulty. 玻璃天花板；晋升的极限（大公司、大企业中妇女或少数民族成员等人群职业升迁上的无形障碍）。◆ "They're pretending to be nice to me," Mary complained, "but they'll never make me CEO of the company. It's impossible to break the glass ceiling in this industry."“他们装出对我很好的样子，”玛丽抱怨说，“但他们绝不会让我担任公司的首席执行官。在这个行业中要打破晋升的极限是不可能的。”

globe-trotter　n. One who has traveled far and wide. 环球旅行者，周游世界者。◆ Tim and Nancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven't been to. 蒂姆和南希是不折不扣的环球旅行家；没有几个国家他们没去过。

gloss over　v. To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. 粉饰；掩饰；伪装；掩盖。◆ John glossed over his mistake by saying that everybody did the same thing. 约翰掩饰他的错误，说每个人都是这样做的。

glutton for punishment　n. phr. A greedy person; someone who wants too much of something, such as food or drink, which will make him sick. 贪婪的人；贪吃的人。◆ Fred eats so much red meat that he is a regular glutton for punishment. 弗雷德吃很多红肉，真是个十足的饕餮之徒。

gnaw at someone　See见EAT AWAY AT.

go about　v. 1. To be busy with; keep busy at or working on; start working on; do. 忙于；从事；着手干；做。◆ Just go about your business and don't keep looking out of the window. 忙你自己的事吧，不要一直往窗子外面看。2. To move from one place or person to another. 四处走动。◆ Some people go about telling untrue stories. 有些人到处讲一些不真实的传闻。

go about one's business　v. phr. To mind one's own affairs. 注意自己的事；干自己的事；别管闲事。◆ Fred kept bothering me with his questions all day, so I finally told him to go about his business and leave me alone. 弗雷德整天拿他的问题来烦我，所以我最后让他去干自己的事，不要来打扰我。

go after　v. To try to get. 追求，追逐。◆ "First find out what job you want and then go after it," said Jim's father. 吉姆的父亲说：“首先弄清楚你想干什么工作，然后就去想法得到它。”

go against the grain　See见AGAINST THE GRAIN 2.

go ahead　v. To begin to do something; not wait. 开始做某事；不等。◆ "May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead."“我可以问你一个问题吗？”“请问。”

goal line　n. A line that marks the goal in a game (as football.)（橄榄球等运动的）球门线。◆ The fullback went over the goal line from five yards out. 进攻后卫从5码外冲过球门线触地得分。

go all out　See见GIVE IT ONE'S ALL.

go along　v. 1. To move along; continue. 进行；继续。◆ Uncle Bill made up the story as he went along. 比尔叔叔一边在讲故事一边在往下编。2. To go together or as company; go for fun. — Often used with with. 同行，一起走；寻乐。——常与with连用。◆ Mary went along with us to Jane's house. 玛丽和我们一起去了简的家。3. To agree; cooperate. — Often used with with. 赞同；合作。——常与with连用。◆ "Jane is a nice girl." "I'll go along with that," said Bill.“简是个好姑娘。”“我同意这种说法，”比尔说。◆ Just because the other boys do something bad, you don't have to go along with it. 不要因为别的男孩干坏事你就非得跟着干不可。

go ape　v. phr., slang To become highly excited or behave in a crazy way. 〖俚〗如痴如狂；发狂。◆ Amy went ape over the hotel and beautiful beaches. 艾米对那家旅馆和漂亮的海滨喜欢得着了迷。

go around　v. 1a. To go from one place or person to another. 四处走动；传播；流传；（疾病）流行。◆ Mr. Smith is going around looking for work. 史密斯先生在到处寻找工作。◆ Don't go around telling lies like that. 不要到处散布这种谎言。◆ Chicken pox is going around the neighborhood. 水痘正在邻近地区流行。◆ A rumor is going around school that we will get the afternoon off. 学校里有谣言流传说下午要放假. 1b. To go together; keep company. — Usually used with with. 同行，一起走；作伴，交往。——通常与with连用。◆ Bill goes around with boys older than he is because he is big for his age. 比尔爱跟比他大的男孩在一起，因为他比同龄的孩子长得高大。2. To be enough to give to everyone; be enough for all. 足够分配；足够供应。◆ There are not enough desks to go around in the classroom. 教室里的课桌不够用。

go around in circles　See见IN A CIRCLE.

go astray　v. phr. To become lost. 迷路；迷失。◆ The letter has obviously gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago. 那封信显然已经寄丢了；不然早就该寄到了。

go at　v. 1. To start to fight with; attack. 开始打；攻击。◆ The dog and the cat are going at each other again. 狗和猫又开始打架了。2. To make a beginning on; approach; tackle. 着手干；着手处理；对付。◆ How are you going to go at the job of fixing the roof? 修理屋顶的工作你打算怎么着手进行？

go at it hammer and tongs　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To attack or fight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. 猛烈攻击；激烈争斗；激烈争辩；大吵大闹。◆ Bill slapped George's face and now they're going at it hammer and tongs in back of the house. 比尔打了乔治一个耳光，现在他们正在房子后面大打出手。2. To start or do something with much strength, energy, or enthusiasm. 劲头十足地开始做某事；大刀阔斧地做某事。◆ The farmer had to chop down a tree and he went at it hammer and tongs. 那位农夫得砍一棵树，于是便大刀阔斧地干了起来。

go away　v. phr. 1. To leave home for a weekend; to take a vacation; to travel. 外出度周末；外出度假；外出旅游。◆ "What you need," Dr. Gordon said, "is to go away for a couple of weeks and have a rest."“你所需要的，”戈登医生说，“就是外出度假几个星期，好好休息一下。”2. Stop bothering someone. 走开；不再烦扰某人。◆ How many times did I tell you to go away and leave me alone? 我已经对你说过多少次请让你走开，不要打扰我？3. To cease; to stop.（疼痛等）消失。◆ My headache finally went away after I took two migraine pills. 我服过两片偏头痛药片后，头痛终于消失了。

go-back　n. phr. (stress on go)（重读go）Merchandise left at the checkout counter in a supermarket because the customer didn't have enough money to pay for it.（因顾客钱不够而留在付款台上的）返回商品。◆ "This is a go-back!" the cashier cried. "Take it back to the shelf!"“这是一件返回商品！”收银员喊道。“把它拿回到货架上去！”

go back on one's word　v. phr. To renege; break a promise. 违背诺言；食言；失信。◆ Patrick went back on his word when he refused to marry Karen in spite of his earlier promise. 帕特里克不顾自己早先许下的诺言，竟食言而拒绝与卡伦结婚。

go bail for　v. phr. To advance the necessary money as security in order to release an accused person until trial. 做…的保释人；为…提供保释金。◆ The arrested driver had no trouble finding someone to go bail for him. 被捕的司机很容易便找到一个人做他的保释人。

gobble up　v. phr. 1. To completely devour. 吞食光；狼吞虎咽地吃光。◆ The boys were famished after the steep mountain climb, and gobbled up all the leftovers in the refrigerator. 爬完陡峭的高山回来，男孩子们都饿坏了，他们把冰箱中的全部残羹剩饭一口气都吃光了。2. To uncritically accept. 毫无批判地接受。◆ The naïve villagers gobbled up all the false news the tyrannical state-run television fed them. 天真的村民们毫无批判地接受了那家专制的国家电视台为他们提供的所有虚假新闻。

go-between　n. An intermediary. 中间人。◆ They expect Mr. Smith to act as a go-between in the dispute between management and labor. 他们期望史密斯先生在劳资争端中充当中间人。

go broke　v. phr., slang To lose all one's money; especially by taking a chance; owe more than you can pay.〖俚〗破产。◆ The inventor went broke because nobody would buy his machine. 因为没人买他的机器，那位发明家破产了。

go bust　v. phr., slang To become bankrupt. 〖俚〗破产。◆ Our company lost a lot of money and went bust. 我们公司亏损了很多钱，破产了。

go by　v. 1. To go or move past; pass. 走过；经过。◆ Bob had to go by the post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter. 鲍勃去学校的路上得经过邮局，所以便把那封信寄走了。2. To follow; copy; obey. 遵循；遵守；依照。◆ Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a dress. 母亲总是按照纸样缝制连衣裙。◆ If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the rules of the road. 你骑自行车必须遵守交通规则。3. To be known by; be called. 称作；被叫做。◆ Many actors do not go by their real names. 很多演员不用他们的真名。4. To pass; be over; end. 过去，逝去；结束。◆ Time goes by quickly on vacation. 假期里时间过得很快。5. To stop for a short visit; go to someone's house for a short while. 顺便走访。◆ "Have you seen Bill lately?" "Yes, I went by his house last week."“最近见过比尔吗？”“见过，我上星期就去过他家。”

go by the board also pass by the board　v. phr. To go away or disappear forever; be forgotten or not used. 永远离去；永远消失；被遗忘；不被使用。◆ Tom had several chances to go to college, but he let them go by the board. 汤姆有好几次上大学的机会，但他都让它们溜走了。

go by the name of　v. phr. To be called. 被叫做。◆ Adolf Schicklegruber went by the name of Adolf Hitler. 阿道夫·施克尔格鲁勃被叫做阿道夫·希特勒。

God forbid　interj. May God prevent (something from happening); I hope that will not happen or is not true. 但愿上帝阻止这样的事情；但愿不要发生这样的事情；但愿这不是真的。◆ Someone told the worried mother that her son might have drowned. She said,“God forbid!”有人告诉那位焦急万分的母亲说，她的儿子可能淹死了。她说：“但愿这不是真的！”

God knows or goodness knows or heaven knows　informal 〖非正式〗1. Maybe God knows but I don't know and no one else knows. — Often used with only. 天晓得。——常与only连用。◆ Do you know where Susan is? God only knows！你知道苏珊在哪里吗？天晓得！2. Surely; certainly. 确实；无疑地；肯定地。◆ Goodness knows, the poor man needs the money. 那个穷人确实需要那笔钱。◆ Heaven only knows, I have tried hard enough. 我真的已经尽了最大的努力。

go down　v. phr. 1. To deteriorate in quality. 质量下降。◆ This hotel, which used to be one of the best, has gone down during the past few years. 这家旅馆曾是最好的旅馆之一，但在过去几年中已声望下降。2. To become lower in price. 价格下降。◆ It is said that the price of milk is expected to go down soon. 据说牛奶的价格有望很快下降。3. To sink. 下沉。◆ The Titanic went down with a lot of people aboard.“泰坦尼克”号沉没时，船上有很多人。

go down in history or go down in the records　v. phr. To be remembered or recorded for always. 载入史册；永被记忆（或记载）。◆ The lives of great men go down in history. 伟人的生平将载入史册。◆ The boy's straight A's for four years of college went down in the records. 这名男生大学4年的全优成绩已经记入档案。◆ The president said that the day the war ended would go down in history. 总统说，战争结束的那天将永载史册。

go down into the clinker　v. phr. To go to ruin; to perish. 毁灭；被摧毁；消亡。◆ "The war isn't over yet," the general warned. "If the troops don't act with utmost caution, they may go down into the clinker."“战争还没有结束，”将军警告说。“部队如果不极其谨慎地行动，很可能会被消灭。”

go down the drain　v. phr. To be lost or wasted forever. 消失，化为乌有；被浪费掉。◆ If he doesn't pass the bar examination tomorrow, his best efforts to become a lawyer will go down the drain. 如果他明天不能通过律师资格考试，那他为成为律师所作的极大努力就将化为乌有。

go Dutch　v. phr., informal To go out for fun together but have each person pay for himself. 〖非正式〗各付各的账。◆ Sometimes boys and girls go Dutch on dates. 男孩女孩约会时，有时候各付各的账。◆ The girl knew her boyfriend had little money, so she offered to go Dutch. 女孩知道她的男朋友没什么钱，所以便主动提出各付各的账。

go fly a kite　v. phr., slang To go away; leave. — Usually used as a command, to show that you do not accept someone's ideas. 〖俚〗滚开，走开。——通常用作命令，表示不接受某人的想法。◆ Harry was tired of John's advice and told him to go fly a kite. 哈里听腻了约翰的劝告，叫他走开。

go for　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To try to get; aim for; try for. 试图得到；争取。◆ Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight. 我们队今晚打算夺取比赛的冠军。2. To favor; support; like. 赞成；支持；喜欢。Susie really goes for ice cream. 苏茜非常喜欢冰淇淋。◆ Bob goes for Jane in a big way. 鲍勃非常喜欢简。3. To attack; begin to fight or argue with. 袭击，攻击；开始与…争斗（或争论）。◆ The mugger jumped out of the bush and went for Jack. 那名行凶抢劫犯从灌木丛中跳出来向杰克扑了过去。

go for a ride or go for a spin　v. phr. To drive a car for pleasure usually for a short time. 开车兜风；开车兜一圈。◆ "Would you like to take the new Buick out for a spin before you make a decision?" the salesman asked the customer. "OK," the customer agreed, "let's go for a ride."“在你做出决定前，你愿意开着这辆新别克车出去兜一圈吗？”汽车销售员对顾客说。“好的，”顾客同意了，“那我们就开车兜一圈吧。”

go for broke　v. phr., slang To risk everything on one big effort; use all your energy and skill; try as hard as possible. 〖俚〗孤注一掷；竭尽全力；全力以赴。◆ The racing car driver decided to go for broke in the biggest race of the year. 那位赛车手决定在年度规模最大的比赛中孤注一掷。

go from bad to worse　adv. phr. To change from a bad position or condition to a worse one; become worse. 越来越坏；每况愈下。◆ Jack's conduct in school has gone from bad to worse. 杰克在学校的品行越来越坏了。

go from strength to strength　v. phr. To move forward, increasing one's fame, power, or fortune in a series of successful achievements. 不断壮大；越来越强大。◆ Our basketball team has gone from strength to strength. 我们的篮球队越来越强大了。

go-getter　n. A person who works hard to become successful; an active, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. 干劲十足的人；积极进取的人；志在必得的人。◆ The governor of the state has always been a go-getter. 该州州长一向是个志在必得的人。

go-go　adj., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. vigorous, youthful, unusually active. 有活力的；朝气蓬勃的；活跃的。◆ Joe is a go-go kind of guy. 乔是个精力充沛的家伙。2. Of a discotheque or the music or dances performed there. 歌歌舞的；歌歌舞音乐的。3a. unrestrained无节制的。3b. very up-to-date, hip. 最新式的；时髦的。◆ Mary wore handsome go-go boots to the discotheque last night. 玛丽昨晚去迪斯科舞厅穿了一双漂亮时髦的皮靴。

go halfway or go halfway to meet one or meet one halfway　v. phr. To give up part of what you want or to do your share in reaching an agreement with someone. 迎合某人；迁就某人；对某人作出让步。◆ Our neighbors are willing to go halfway to meet us and pay their share for a fence between our houses. 我们的邻居愿意和我们妥协，分担筑两家之间篱笆的费用。

go halves　v. phr., informal To share half or equally; become partners. 〖非正式〗平分；均摊；合伙。◆ The girl bought a box of candy and went halves with her roommate. 那女孩买了一盒糖，分了一半给她的室友。

go haywire　v. phr., informal Mixedup, out of order, not in regular working condition. 〖非正式〗变得乱糟糟；发生故障；出毛病。◆ My computer has gone all haywire; I have to call the repair man. 我的电脑坏了，必须找人来修理。

go hog wild　v. phr., slang To become extremely agitated and go out of control. 〖俚〗极度疯狂；如痴如狂。◆ After the soccer game was won, the fans went hog wild. 足球比赛获胜后，球迷们如痴如狂。

go in a circle or go in circles　See见IN A CIRCLE.

go in for　v. phr., informal To try to do; take part in; take pleasure in.〖非正式〗试图做；参加；以…为乐。◆ Most girls do not go in for rough games. 大多数女孩不喜欢粗野的运动。◆ Mrs. Henry goes in for simple meals. 亨利夫人喜欢做简单的饭菜。

going for someone　adj. phr. Working to help; in sb.'s favor. 对某人有利。◆ The young woman surely will get the job; she has everything going for her. 那位年轻的女士肯定会得到这份工作；她有各种有利条件。

going on　adv. phr. Almost; nearly. 接近；几乎；差不多。◆ Joe is going on six years old. 乔就要6岁了。◆ It is going on six o'clock. 快6点了。

going through changes　v. phr., slang, informal To be in trouble, to have difficulties, to be trapped in unfavorable circumstances. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗陷入困境；有困难；陷入不利境况。◆ "What's the matter with Joe?" "He's going through changes."“乔怎么了？”“他陷入了困境。”

going to　Can be expected to; planning to. — Used after is (or was, etc.), with an infinitive, in the same way will is used, to show future. 预计会；打算，计划。——用在is（或was等）之后，与不定式连用，表示将来。◆ Some day that big tree is going to rot and fall. 总有一天那棵大树会腐烂倒掉的。Sometimes used without the infinitive. 有时不用不定式。◆ That worn rope hasn't broken yet, but it's going to. 那根破绳子还没断，但就要断了。◆ "Put some more wood on the fire." "I'm going to."“在火上再加点柴。”“我这就加。”

go in one ear and out the other　v. phr., informal To be not really listened to or understood; be paid no attention. 〖非正式〗一个耳朵进一个耳朵出；被当作耳边风。◆ The teacher's directions to the boy went in one ear and out the other. 那个男孩对老师给他的指示只当作耳边风。

go into　v. 1a. To go or fit inside of; able to be put in. 进入；放进。◆ The table is too big to go into the closet. 这张桌子太大，放不进小房间。1b. To be able to be divided into; be divisible into. 可分成；（小数）除（大数）。◆ Two goes into four two times. 以2除4得2。2. To enter a state or condition of; pass into. 进入…状态。John went into a fit of temper when he didn't get his own way. 当约翰不能为所欲为时，他便大发脾气。3. To be busy in or take part in; enter as a job or profession. 从事；参与；进入。◆ The mayor went into politics as a very young man. 市长很年轻时即投身政界。4. To start to talk about; bring up the subject of; examine. 开始谈论；讨论；审查。◆ We'll talk about the dead mouse after dinner, Billy. Let's not go into it now. 比利，咱们饭后再谈那只死老鼠的事，现在不谈。

go into a nose dive　See见GO INTO A TAILSPIN.

go into a tailspin or go into a nose dive　v. phr., 1. informal To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. 〖非正式〗大降；崩溃；放弃努力。◆ The team went into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly beaten. 队长受伤后，球队就垮了，结果输得很惨。2. informal To become very anxious, confused, or mentally sick; give up hope. 〖非正式〗忧心忡忡；慌乱；精神错乱；放弃希望。◆ The man went into a tailspin after his wife died and he never got over it. 那人在妻子死后精神就崩溃了，一直没有复原。

go into orbit　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To become very happy or successful. 很快乐；很成功。◆ Our team has gone into orbit. 我们队已进入良好状态。2. To lose one's temper or control completely; become very angry. 勃然大怒；暴跳如雷。◆ John was afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about the car accident. 约翰怕他父亲发现车祸的事后会暴跳如雷。

go it　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To go fast; run hard; not to spare yourself. — Often used as command. 加油；快跑；别松劲。——常用作命令。◆ The coach yelled to the runner to go it. 教练大声吆喝着让赛跑运动员加油。◆ At the party the girls cheered for their partners to go it. 在晚会上女孩子们欢呼着为伙伴们加油。◆ The boys called, "Go it!" to the dog chasing the cat. 男孩们对着追猫的狗喊：“快跑！”2. To live; continue to do or work. 生活；继续干；继续工作。◆ John wants to leave home and go it alone. 约翰想离开家独自过活。

go jump in the lake　v. phr., informal To go away and quit being a bother. 〖非正式〗走开，滚开；别招人嫌。◆ George was tired of Tom's advice and told him to go jump in the lake. 乔治听腻了汤姆的劝告，所以叫他走开不要烦人。

golden mean or golden medium or happy medium　n. phr. The happy middle ground between two equally bad extremes. 中庸之道；折中办法；通融方案。◆ One ought not to overeat or to starve oneself to death; the smart way to take care of one's health is to choose a golden mean diet and eat a little of everything with moderation. 一个人既不应吃得过饱，也不应把自己饿死，照料自己健康的聪明办法是选择一种折中食谱，样样东西都有节制地吃一点。

goldfish bowl　n., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A situation in which it is not possible to keep things secret for any length of time. 不可能保密的地方。◆ Washington Society is a goldfish bowl. 华盛顿协会是个不可能保守秘密的地方。2. An apartment or place that provides no privacy for its occupant, e. g., an office that has too many windows. 无法躲人耳目的地方（如有太多窗户的办公室）。◆ Joe's office is a goldfish bowl, that's why I didn't let him kiss me there. 乔的办公室像个金鱼缸一样一目了然，这也就是我不让他在那里吻我的原因。

go legit　v. phr. To start practicing a legitimate business after having been operating outside of the law.（在非法经营之后）开始合法的经营活动；开始守法。◆ "The old days are over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of right now."“过去的日子已经过去了，”犯罪团伙的头子对他的朋友们说。“我们从现在开始要奉公守法了。”

golf widow　n., informal A woman whose husband is often away from home playing golf. 〖非正式〗高尔夫活寡妇（因丈夫迷恋高尔夫球而常独自在家的妇女）。◆ Mrs. Thompson didn't like being a golf widow. 汤普森太太不喜欢做高尔夫活寡妇。

go like clockwork or go off like clockwork　v. phr., informal To run smoothly and regularly like the workings of a clock; go smoothly and without difficulty; go on time or as planned. 〖非正式〗进展顺利；运转正常。◆ The car's motor went like clockwork after Bob fixed it. 汽车的发动机经鲍勃修理后运转得很正常。

go native　v. phr. To behave like a native (said of European Americans in tropical countries).（欧美人在热带国家）采取当地人的生活方式；土著化。◆ Mainlanders often go native in Hawaii. 美国本土各州的人常去夏威夷过过当地土著人的生活。

gone with the wind　adj. phr. Gone forever; past; vanished. 随风飘逝；永远离去；消失。◆ All the deer that used to live here are gone with the wind. 原来生活在这里的鹿全都消失不见了。◆ Joe knew that his chance to get an "A" was gone with the wind when he saw how hard the test was. 乔一看到试卷很难，就知道得“优”的机会没有了。

good and　—— adv., informal Very; completely. 〖非正式〗非常；完全。◆ John's father was good and mad when John came home late. 约翰回家晚的时候，父亲非常生气。◆ Susan wouldn't come out till she was good and ready. 苏珊在完全准备好之前是不会出来的。

good buddy　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗（拥有民用波段收音机的卡车司机和汽车司机用的招呼语）老兄，老弟。◆ What's the Smokey situation, good buddy？有警察在公路上巡逻吗，老弟？

good cheer　n. phr. Happiness; optimistic disposition. 愉快的心情；乐观的心情。◆ Everyone likes John because he is a person of good cheer. 人人都喜欢约翰，因为他是一个心情愉快的人。

good clean fun　n. phr. Harmless amusement; recreational activity not involving alcohol, drugs, etc. 有益无害的娱乐。◆ The boys had some good, clean fun climbing the Sierra Nevada. 那些男孩爬内华达山，既玩得开心，又有益于身心健康。

good deal or great deal　n., informal A large amount; much. — Used with a. 〖非正式〗大量；许多。——与a连用。◆ Mrs. Walker's long illness cost her a good deal. 沃克太太长期生病，花了很多钱。◆ George spends a great deal of his time watching television. 乔治花很多时间看电视。◆ George is a good deal like his father; they both love to eat. 乔治很像他父亲，他们俩都喜欢吃。

good egg　slang or informal good scout n. phr. A friendly, kind or good-natured person, a nice fellow. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗好人。◆ Tommy is such a good egg that everybody wants to be his friend. 汤米是个好人，大家都想做他的朋友。

good faith　n. 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. 信任；信赖。◆ Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good faith. 迪克叔叔把他糖果店的钥匙交给我，表示他对我很信任。— Often used in the phrase in good faith. 常用于短语in good faith中。◆ The teacher accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith. 老师因信任鲍勃而接受了他迟到的理由。2. Honesty of purpose; trustworthiness. 诚意；真诚。◆ John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20, and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith. 约翰同意以20美元买泰德的自行车，并当场付给他5美元以表示诚意。

good for or hurrah for　adj. phr. Used with a name or pronoun to praise someone. （与人名或代词连用以称赞某人）真棒！真了不起！◆ Good for George! He won the 100-yard dash. 乔治真棒！他赢了100码短跑。◆ You got 100 on the test? Hurrah for you. 你考试得了100分？真了不起！

good-for-nothing　adj. phr. Worthless. 无价值的，没用处的。◆ While Janice works hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars. 贾尼斯每天都在拼命干活，而她那个二流子丈夫却在酒吧里鬼混。

good grief!　interj., informal Wow! Indication of surprise, good or bad. 〖非正式〗（用于表示惊讶等的感叹语）天哪！哎呀！◆ "Good grief," Joe cried out loud.“Is this all you will pay me for my hard work?”乔大声喊道：“天哪，我辛辛苦苦干了这么多，你就付我这么一点吗？”◆ What a figure Melanie has, good grief! I wonder if she would be willing to go out with me. 哇，梅兰妮的身材多美呀！不知道她是否愿意跟我出去约会。

good head on one's shoulders　n. phr. Good sense; good judgment. 见识；好的判断力。◆ Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast. 杰克很有头脑；他从不开快车。

good many or great many　n. or adj. A large number (of); very many. — Used with a. 很多；非常多。——与a连用。◆ We found some fall flowers, but the frost had already killed a good many. 我们发现了一些秋天的花，但霜已使它们冻死了许多。◆ A great many of the houses were knocked down by the earthquake. 很多房子在地震中被震倒了。

goodness gracious　interj., slightly archaic Exclamation of surprise and a certain degree of disapproval. （表示惊讶和一定程度的不赞成）天哪！啊呀！◆ "Can my boyfriend stay overnight, Dad?" Melanie asked. "Goodness gracious, most certainly not!" her father replied. "What would the neighbors think?" 梅兰妮问：“爸，我男朋友能在这儿过夜吗？”“天哪，绝对不行！”她父亲回答说。“邻居们会怎么想？”

good question　n. phr. A question difficult to answer because of a lack of information or because the answer is classified. 不易回答的问题。◆ "How much longer will this war last?" the journalist asked the general. "That's a good question," the general replied. "We just don't know."“这场战争还会持续多久呢？”记者问将军。“这是一个不易回答的问题，”将军回答说。“我们也不知道。”

good riddance　n. A loss that you are glad about. — Often used as an exclamation, and in the sentence good riddance to bad rubbish. To show that you are glad that something or somebody has been taken or sent away. 可庆幸的摆脱。——常用作感叹语，并用在句子good riddance to bad rubbish中。表示摆脱某物或某人后有如释重负之感。◆ The boys thought it was good riddance when the troublemaker was sent home. 那个捣蛋的家伙被送回家后，男生们都觉得很高兴摆脱了他。◆ "I'm going and won't come back," said John. "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" said Mary. 约翰说：“我要走了，再也不回来了。”玛丽说：“这可真要谢天谢地了！”

Good Samaritan　n. phr., Biblical A person who helps another in distress unselfishly, even if they are not friends or related in any way. 〖《圣经》〗行善的人；无私助人者。◆ "Be a Good Samaritan and help me out!" John asked his boss. "All right, but just this once," the boss answered. “行行好，帮我一把吧！”约翰求他的老板说。“好吧，但就这一次，”老板回答说。

good show!　adj. phr. Excellent; terrific; wonderful. 好极啦！真棒！干得漂亮！◆ "Good show, boys!" the coach cried, when our team won the game. 我们队打赢比赛后，教练喊道：“小伙子们，干得漂亮！”

go off　v. 1. To leave; to depart. 离开；出发。◆ Helen's mother told her not to go off without telling her. 海伦的母亲叫她不要不辞而别。2a. To be fired; explode. 被发射；爆炸。◆ The firecracker went off and scared Jack's dog. 爆竹一响，把杰克的狗吓了一跳。2b. To begin to ring or buzz. （闹钟等）开始响。◆ The alarm clock went off at six o'clock and woke Father. 闹钟6点钟时闹响，吵醒了父亲。3. To happen. 发生。◆ The party went off without any trouble. 聚会进行得很顺利，没有什么麻烦。◆ The parade went off without rain. 游行顺利进行，没有下雨。

go off half-cocked also go off at half cock　v. phr., informal To act or speak before getting ready; to do something too soon. 〖非正式〗没准备好就做（或说）；操之过急。◆ Bill often goes off half cocked. 比尔经常没准备好就仓促行事。◆ Mr. Jones was thinking about quitting his job, but his wife told him not to go off at half cock. 琼斯先生在考虑辞职，但他妻子告诉他不要仓促行事。

go off in a huff　v. phr. To depart in anger. 气冲冲地离开，拂袖而去。◆ Marian went off in a huff just because Jeff failed to open the door for her. 仅仅因为杰夫没有为她开门，玛丽安便气冲冲地走了。

go off like clockwork　See见GO LIKE CLOCKWORK.

go off on a tangent　See见FLY OFF ON A TANGENT.

go off the deep end or go overboard　v. phr., informal To act excitedly and without careful thinking. 〖非正式〗贸然行事；感情用事。◆ John has gone off the deep end about owning a motorcycle. 约翰一时心血来潮想买一辆摩托车。◆ Some girls go overboard for handsome movie and television actors. 有些女孩对英俊的电影和电视演员狂热得不得了。

goof off　v., slang To loaf or be lazy; not want to work or be serious; fool around. 〖俚〗闲荡；偷懒；混日子；吊儿郎当。◆ Tom didn't get promoted because he goofed off all the time and never did his homework. 汤姆没有升级，因为他终日游手好闲，从来不做作业。

goof up　See见GOOF OFF.

go on　v. 1a. To continue; not stop. 继续；不停。◆ After he was hit by the ball, Billy quit pitching and went home, but the game went on. 比利被球击中后便不再做投手而回家去了，但比赛仍在继续。1b. To continue after a pause; begin with the next thing. 继续下去；说下去；接着又。◆ "Go on! I'm listening," said Mother.“说下去！我听着呢，”母亲说。◆ The teacher pointed to the map, and went on, "But the land that Columbus came to was not India." 老师指着地图继续说道：“但哥伦布所来到的这个陆地并不是印度。”1c. To pass.（时间）过去。◆ The years went on, and Betty's classmates became gray-haired men and women. 一年一年过去了，贝蒂的同班同学都变成了头发灰白的老人。2. To happen. 发生。◆ Mr. Scott heard the noise and went to see what was going on in the hall. 斯科特先生听到了声音便去看走廊里发生了什么事。3. To talk for too long, aften angrily. 没完没了地讲；唠叨；抱怨。◆ We thought Jane would never finish going on about the amount of homework she had. 我们认为简会一直抱怨作业太多。4. To fit on; be able to be worn. （鞋、帽等）穿得上，戴得上。◆ My little brother's coat wouldn't go on me. It was too small. 我小弟弟的上衣我穿不上，太小了。5. Stop trying to fool me; I don't believe you. — Used as a command, sometimes with with. 行了；得了；别骗我了；我不相信你。——用作命令，有时与with连用。◆ When Father told Mother she was the prettiest girl in the world, Mother just said, "Oh, go on, Charles." 当父亲对母亲说她是世界上最漂亮的姑娘时，母亲只是说：“哦，得了，查尔斯。”

go on a diet　v. phr. To start eating food containing fewer calories and less cholesterol in order to lose weight and control one's blood pressure, etc. 节食。◆ Doctor Gordon recommended that I should go on a diet and exercise more. 戈登医生建议我节食并多做些运动。

go one's way　v. phr. 1. To start again or continue to where you are going. 重新上路；继续前进。◆ The milkman left the milk and went his way. 送牛奶的人留下牛奶后又上路了 。2. To go or act the way you want to or usually do. 自行其是；随心所欲。◆ Joe just wants to go his way and mind his own business. 乔只想自行其事，别人的事一概不管。

go on record　v. phr. To make an official statement as opposed to an informal one; say something officially that may be quoted with the person's name added for reference. 公开声明；被记录在案以备日后查阅。◆ I want to go on record that I oppose the merger with the firm of Catwallender and Swartvik. 我要公开声明我反对与卡特沃伦德—斯沃特维克公司合并。

go on strike　v. phr. To start a demonstration usually organized by one's labor union in order to exact higher wages or better treatment from one's employers. 罢工。◆ The flight attendants' union went on general strike, so the country's second biggest airline was out of commission for two weeks. 乘务员工会举行了总罢工，所以该国的第二大航空公司有两个星期没有出航。

goose bumps or goose pimples　n. plural, informal Small bumps that come on a person's skin when he gets cold or afraid. 〖非正式〗（寒冷或恐惧引起的）鸡皮疙瘩。◆ Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees a snake. 南希一看到蛇就会起鸡皮疙瘩。◆ Ann, put on your sweater; you're so cold you have goose pimples on your arms. 安，把你的羊毛套衫穿上；看你冷得手臂上都起鸡皮疙瘩了。

go out　v. phr. 1. To pass out of date or style. 过时；不再流行。◆ Short skirts are gradually going out. 短裙正逐渐过时。2. To stop giving off light or burning. （灯、火等）熄灭。◆ Put more wood on the fire or it will go out. 给火加点柴，不然它就熄了。3. To leave. 出去；离开。◆ When I called Sue, her mother said that she had just gone out. 当我打电话给苏时，她母亲说她刚刚出去。

go out of business　v. phr. To cease functioning as a commercial enterprise. 停业；歇业。◆ The windows of the store are all boarded up because they went out of business. 这家商店的窗户都用木板封起来了，因为它已停业。

go out of one's way　v. phr. To make an extra effort; do more than usual. 格外努力；特地；越出常规。◆ Jane went out of her way to be nice to the new girl. 简特意对新来的女孩表示友好。

go out the window　v. phr., informal To go out of effect; be abandoned. 〖非正式〗失效；被放弃。◆ During the war, the school dress code went out the window. 战争期间，穿校服的规范作废了。

go out with someone　v. phr. To date someone. 与某人约会；与某人谈恋爱。◆ "May I ask your daughter for a date, sir?" Fred asked politely. "She is too young to go out with anyone," the father replied. "Why don't you come back next year?"“我可以请您的女儿外出约会吗，先生？”弗雷德很有礼貌地问。“她年纪太轻，还不能与人外出约会，”父亲回答说。“你为什么不等到明年再来呢？”

go over　v. 1. To examine; think about or look at carefully. 检查；仔细考虑；仔细查看。◆ The teacher went over the list and picked John's name. 老师仔细查看名单，选出了约翰的名字。◆ The police went over the gun for fingerprints. 警察仔细检查枪上的指纹。2. To repeat; do again. 重复；重做。◆ Don't make me go all over it again. 不要让我再把这话重复一遍了。◆ We painted the house once, then we went over it again. 我们把房子油漆了一遍，然后又漆了一遍。3. To read again; study. 再读；复习；温习。◆ After you finish the test, go over it again to look for mistakes. 做完考卷要再看一遍有没有错误。◆ They went over their lessons together at night. 他们晚上一起复习功课。4. To cross; go to stop or visit; travel. 穿过；走过去；走访；旅行。◆ We went over to the other side of the street. 我们穿过马路到了街的对面。◆ I'm going over to Mary's house. 我要去玛丽家。◆ We went over to the next town to the game. 我们去了紧邻的城镇看比赛。5. To change what you believe. 改变信仰。◆ Joe is a Democrat, but he says that he is going over to the Republicans in the next election. 乔是个民主党人，但他说下次选举时他要倒向共和党人一边。◆ Many of the natives on the island went over to Christianity after the missionaries came. 传教士来后，岛上的许多土著居民皈依了基督教。6. To be liked; succeed. — Often used in the informal phrase go over big. 受欢迎；成功。——常用于非正式短语go over big中。◆ Bill's joke went over big with the other boys and girls. 比尔的笑话大受孩子们的欢迎。◆ Your idea went over well with the boss. 你的主意受到了老板的好评。

go over like a lead balloon　v. phr., informal To fail to generate a positive response or enthusiasm; to meet with boredom or disapproval. 〖非正式〗毫无效果；没有产生积极反应；激发不起热情；遭到反对。◆ The president's suggested budget cuts went over like a lead balloon. 总统建议的预算削减没有取得预期的效果。

go over sb.'s head　v. phr. 1. To be too difficult to understand. 超过某人的理解力。◆ Penny complains that what her math teacher says simply goes over her head. 彭尼抱怨说，她们数学老师讲的内容她根本就听不懂。2. To do something without the permission of one's superior. 做某事未经上级许可。◆ Fred went over his boss's head when he signed the contract on his own. 弗雷德未经老板许可便自作主张签了那份合同。

go over with a fine-tooth comb　See见FINE-TOOTH COMB.

go postal　v. phr. To lose control over oneself and become angry enough to start shooting at innocent bystanders (as was done by a disgruntled employee in a post office in Chicago). （像芝加哥一名不满的邮局雇员曾做过的那样）忍不住大怒而开始向无辜的旁观者开枪射击；急得发疯。◆ "Oh, I'm so glad I found you, Professor. Here is my term paper. I was stuck in traffic and I thought I was gonna go postal," Ms. Murphy said, handing in her paper at the very last possible moment.“啊，我真高兴，总算找到你了，教授。这是我的学期论文。我来的路上堵车，我急得都要发疯了，”墨菲女士一边说，一边在最后一刻交上了论文。

Gordian knot　n. phr. Greek antiquity, from Alexander the Great. A very tough and apparently insolvable problem, which, given the right decisive action, can nevertheless be solved. （希腊神话中弗利基亚国王）戈尔迪打的难解的结；难题，棘手的问题。◆ "I am not going to try to figure out who embezzled the money at this firm," the director said. "I will solve the Gordian knot by firing everybody in one fell swoop and hiring a whole new office staff."“我不准备花力气去查明是谁盗用了公司的钱，”经理说。“我准备这样解决这一难题：同时解雇所有的人，重新雇用一批新的职员。”

go somebody one better　v. phr., informal To do something better than (someone else); do more or better than; beat. 〖非正式〗胜过某人一筹；超过某人；击败某人。◆ John made a good dive into the water, but Bob went him one better by diving in backwards. 约翰以一个漂亮的跳水动作跃入水中，但鲍勃来了一个向后翻腾，比约翰更胜一筹。

go stag　v. phr. 1. To go to a dance or party without a companion of the opposite sex. 不带异性同伴去（参加舞会或社交聚会）。◆ When Sally turned him down, Tom decided to go stag to the college prom. 在萨莉拒绝了他的邀请后，汤姆决定独自去参加学院的班级舞会。2. To participate in a party for men only. 参加男士聚会。◆ Mrs. Smith's husband frequently goes stag, leaving her at home. 史密斯太太的丈夫经常一个人去参加男士聚会，而把她留在家里。

go steady　v. phr. To go on dates with the same person all the time; date just one person. 仅与同一异性约会；成为关系确定的情侣。◆ Jean went steady with Bob for a year; then they had a quarrel and stopped dating each other. 琼与鲍勃谈了一年朋友，后来吵了一架就不再约会了。

go straight　v. phr., slang To become an honest person; lead an honest life. 〖俚〗改过自新；老老实实做人。◆ After the man got out of prison, he went straight. 那人出狱后便改邪归正了。

got a thing going　v. phr., slang, informal To be engaged in a pleasurable or profitable activity with someone else as a partner either in romance or in mutually profitable business. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗共同从事愉快的浪漫（或赢利）活动。◆ "You two seem to have got a thing going, haven't you?"“你们俩好像在谈恋爱，对不对？”◆ "You've got a good thing going with your travel bureau, why quit now?"“你跟你们旅游局关系很不错呀，为什么现在要分手呢？”

go the whole hog or go whole hog　v. phr., informal To do something completely or thoroughly; to give all your strength or attention to something. 〖非正式〗彻底地干，干到底；全力以赴，尽力而为。◆ The family went whole hog at the fair, and spent a lot of money. 一家人在商品展览会上看了个够，而且花了很多钱。

go through　v. 1. To examine or think about carefully; search. 仔细检查；仔细考虑；搜查。◆ I went through the papers looking for Jane's letter. 我仔细检查文件，寻找简的来信。◆ Mother went through the drawer looking for the sweater. 母亲在抽屉里仔细检查，找那件套衫。2. To experience; suffer; live through. 经历；遭受；经受。◆ Frank went through many dangers during the war. 弗兰克在战争期间经历了许多危险。3. To do what you are supposed to do; do what you promised. 做该做的事；履行诺言。◆ I went through my part of the bargain, but you didn't go through your part. 我履行了我那一方的协议条件，但你却没有履行你那一方的。4. To go or continue to the end of; do or use all of. 完成；做完；用尽。◆ Jack went through the magazine quickly. 杰克迅速看完了那本杂志。◆ We went through all our money at the circus. 我们在马戏场把钱都花光了。5. To be allowed; pass; be agreed on. 被批准；被通过；谈妥。◆ I hope the new law we want goes through Congress. 我希望我们需要的新法律能在国会获得通过。

go through fire and water　v. phr. To undergo great dangers and risk. 赴汤蹈火；经历种种危险。◆ Our troops had gone through fire and water to liberate Europe during World War II. 为了解放欧洲，我们的部队在第二次世界大战期间经历了种种危险。

go through hell and high water　v. phr., informal To go through danger, or trouble. 〖非正式〗经历种种危险；经受重重困难。◆ John is ready to go through hell and high water to help his friends. 为了帮助自己的朋友，约翰甘愿赴汤蹈火。

go through (something) with a finetooth comb　v. phr. To examine something in great detail and minutely. 仔细检查（某物）；彻底搜查（某物）。◆ I went through my study with a finetooth comb, yet I was unable to find the lost files. 我仔细检查了我的书房，但仍没能找到丢失的卷宗。◆ The firm's accountant went through all the books with a fine-tooth comb and in the end found the missing amount of money. 公司的会计仔细检查了所有的账本，最后才找到了那笔下落不明的款项。

go through the motions　v. phr. To pretend to do something by moving or acting as if you were really doing it; do something without really trying hard or caring. 装装样子；敷衍了事。◆ The team was so far behind in the game that they just went through the motions of playing at the end. 那支球队在比赛中落后很多，所以在比赛快要结束时他们只是做做样子走过场。

go through with　v. phr. To finish; do as planned or agreed; not stop or fail to do. 完成；实行；把…进行到底。◆ The boys don't think Bob will go through with his plans to spend the summer at a camp. 那些男孩认为，鲍勃不会实行他在夏令营度过暑假的计划。

go to　v. To be ready to do; start doing something. 准备做；开始做。◆ When Jack went to write down the telephone number, he had forgotten it. 当杰克准备把电话号码写下来时，他已经把它忘了。

go to any length　v. phr. To do everything you can. 竭尽全力；不遗余力。◆ Bill will go to any length to keep Dick from getting a date with Mary. 比尔将竭尽全力阻止迪克与玛丽约会。

go to bat for　v. phr., informal To help out in trouble or need; give aid to. 〖非正式〗为…辩护；为…出力；支持；帮助。◆ Mary went to bat for the new club program. 玛丽积极支持俱乐部的新计划。

go to bed with someone　v. phr. To have sexual relations with someone. 与某人上床；与某人发生性关系。◆ "John is very nice, I agree. Have you gone to bed with him yet?"Sue's sister asked. “约翰的确很讨人喜欢，这我承认。你跟他上过床了吗？”苏的姐姐问。

go to bed with the chickens　v. phr., informal To go to bed early at night. 〖非正式〗晚上早睡觉。◆ On the farm John worked hard and went to bed with the chickens. 约翰在农场工作很辛苦，晚上很早就睡觉了。◆ Mr. Barnes goes to bed with the chickens because he has to get up at 5 A. M. 巴恩斯先生晚上睡得很早，因为他早上5点钟就得起床。

go together　v. 1. To go with the same boy or girl all the time; date just one person. 交朋友；谈恋爱。◆ Herbert and Thelma go together. 赫伯特和西尔玛在谈恋爱。2. To be suitable or agreeable with each other; match. 相配；相称。◆ Roast turkey and cranberries go together. 烤火鸡和越橘可以配在一起吃。◆ Ice cream and cake go together. 冰淇淋和蛋糕可以一起吃。

go to great lengths　See见GO TO ANY LENGTH.

go to hell　See见GO TO THE DEVIL.

go to it!　v. phr. An expression of encouragement meaning go ahead; proceed. 干起来吧！加油干！◆ "Go to it!" my father cried enthusiastically, when I told him I had decided to become a doctor. 当我告诉父亲我已决定以后做医生时，他满腔热情地大声说：“加油干吧！”

go to one's account　v. phr. To die. 死。◆ The terrorists will go to their account sooner or later. 那些恐怖分子迟早会命归黄泉。

go to pieces　v. phr. To become very nervous or sick from nervousness; become wild. 极度紧张；发狂。◆ The man went to pieces when the judge said he would have to go to prison for life. 当法官判决那人终身监禁时，他几乎发狂了。

go to pot　v. phr., informal To be ruined; become bad; be destroyed. 〖非正式〗毁灭；变坏；毁坏。◆ The motel business went to pot when the new highway was built. 新的公路建成后，汽车旅馆的生意就衰败了。

go to sb.'s head　v. phr. 1. To make one dizzy. （酒）上某人头，使某人晕眩。◆ Beer and wine go to a person's head. 啤酒和葡萄酒令人头昏。2. To make someone too proud; make a person think he is too important. 使某人骄傲自满；冲昏某人的头脑。◆ The girl's fame as a movie actress went to her head. 电影明星的名声使那个女孩头脑发热，自以为很了不起。

go to seed or run to seed　v. phr. 1. To grow seeds. 结籽。◆ Onions go to seed in hot weather. 洋葱在热天结籽。2. To lose skill or strength; stop being good or useful. 丧失技艺；失去活力；衰老；走下坡路。◆ Mr. Allen was a good carpenter until he became rich and went to seed. 艾伦先生本是一位好木匠，但后来发了财手艺就荒疏了。

go to show or go to prove　v. phr., informal To seem to prove; act or serve to show (a fact); demonstrate. — Often used after it. 〖非正式〗似乎证明；足以表明（事实）；显示。——常用于it之后。◆ The hard winter at Valley Forge goes to show that our soldiers suffered a great deal to win the Revolution. 福吉谷的严冬表明，我们的士兵为了赢得独立战争的胜利吃了很多苦。

go to the chair　v. phr. To be executed in the electric chair. 被处死刑，上电椅。◆ After many stays of execution, the criminal finally had to go to the chair. 在多次死刑缓期执行后，那名罪犯终于不得不上了电椅。

go to the devil　v. phr., informal To go away, mind your own business. — Used as a command; considered rude. 〖非正式〗滚开；见鬼去；去你的；少管闲事。——用作命令。◆ George told Bob to go to the devil. 乔治叫鲍勃滚开。◆ "Go to the devil!" said Jack, when his sister tried to tell him what to do. 当杰克的妹妹打算告诉他该怎么做时，杰克说：“去你的吧！”

go to the dogs　v. phr., informal To go to ruin; to be ruined or destroyed. 〖非正式〗走向毁灭；完蛋；毁灭。◆ The man went to the dogs after he started drinking. 那人开始酗酒后便一步步地走向了毁灭。

go to the other extreme　v. phr. To swing to the opposite side in an opinion and especially in the course of one's behavior, like a pendulum. 走到另一个极端。◆ John was a dedicated pacifist before the war, but when the Allies emerged victorious, he suddenly went to the other extreme, advocating future preemptive wars. 战前，约翰是个热诚的和平主义者，但当同盟国取得胜利后，他却突然走向另一个极端，主张在未来要发动先发制人的战争。

go to the trouble or take the trouble　v. phr. To make trouble or extra work for yourself; bother. 不怕麻烦；不辞辛劳；特意。◆ John told Mr. Brown not to go to the trouble of driving him home. 约翰告诉布朗先生不必麻烦开车送他回家。

go to town　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To do something quickly or with great force or energy; work fast or hard. 干得很快；干得很起劲。◆ The boys went to town on the old garage, and had it torn down before Father came home from work. 男孩们起劲地拆除旧车库，在父亲下班回家之前就把它拆完了。2. or go places. To do a good job; succeed. 干得出色；获得成功。◆ Our team is going to town this year, we have won all five games that we played. 我们队今年表现出色。我们赛了5场，全部获胜。◆ Dan was a good student and a good athlete; we expect him to go places in business. 丹是个好学生，也是名好运动员；我们期望他在生意场上也会获得成功。

go to waste　v. phr. To be wasted or lost; not used. 被浪费掉；被糟蹋；未被利用。◆ Joe's work on the model automobile went to waste when he dropped it. 乔做汽车模型的工作因中途放弃而白做了。

go to wrack and ruin　v. phr. To fall apart and be ruined; to become useless. 坍塌毁灭；变得无用。◆ The car will soon go to wrack and ruin standing out in all kinds of weather. 汽车停在外面，任凭风吹雨打日晒，很快就会报废的。

go under　v. 1. To be sunk. 沉没。◆ The ship hit an iceberg and went under. 船撞上一座冰山沉没了。2. To fail; be defeated. 倒闭；失败；被击败。◆ The filling station went under because there were too many others on the street. 那家加油站倒闭了，因为同一条街上加油站太多了。

go under the hammer　v. phr. To be auctioned off. 被拍卖。◆ Our old family paintings went under the hammer when my father lost his job. 父亲失去工作后，我们家藏的一些古画被拍卖了。

go up　v. 1. To go or move higher; rise. 上升。◆ Many people came to watch the weather balloon go up. 很多人来看气象气球升空。◆ The path goes up the hill. 小路通往山上。2. To be able to become heard; become loud or louder. 能被听见；响起。◆ A shout went up from the crowd at the game. 比赛时观众大声喊叫。3. Grow in height while being built; to be built. 建高；被建造起来。◆ The new church is going up on the corner. 街角处正在建新教堂。4. To increase. 增加，增长。◆ Prices of fruit and vegetables have gone up. 水果和蔬菜的价格上涨了。

go up in smoke or go up in flames　v. phr. To burn; be destroyed by fire. 被烧光；被烧毁。1. ◆ The house went up in flames. 那栋房子被烧毁了。◆ The barn full of hay went up in smoke. 堆满干草的谷仓被烧毁了。2. Disappear; fail; not come true. 消失；化为乌有；终告失败；成为泡影。◆ Jane's hopes of going to college went up in smoke when her father lost his job. 父亲失业后，简上大学的希望化为了泡影。

go up in the air　v. phr. To become angry; lose one's temper. 生气；发火；发脾气。◆ Herb is so irritable these days that he goes up in the air for no reason at all. 这几天赫布火气很大，毫无理由也会发脾气。

go with　v. 1. To match; to look good with. 与…相配；与…协调。◆ A yellow blouse goes with her blonde hair. 黄色衬衫和她的金发相配。2. To go out in the company of. 和…一起去；陪伴。Tom goes with the girl who lives across the street. 汤姆经常和住在街对面的那个女孩一起外出。

go without saying　v. phr. To be too plain to need talking about; not be necessary to say or mention. 不言而喻；自不待言。◆ It goes without saying that children should not be given knives to play with. 不该把刀子拿给小孩子玩，这是不言而喻的。

go wrong　v. phr. 1. To fail; go out of order. 失败；发生故障，出毛病。◆ Something went wrong with our car and we stalled on the road. 我们的汽车出了毛病，我们在路上抛锚了。2. To sink into an immoral or criminal existence. 失足，堕落；走入歧途。◆ In a large city many young people go wrong every year. 在大城市里，每年都有很多年轻人失足堕落。

grab a bite to eat　v. phr. To have a quick and informal meal in a fastfood place or inexpensive restaurant. （在快餐店或小饭馆里）赶着吃点东西；随便吃点东西。◆ Let's not spend a lot of money and just grab a bite to eat during shopping. 咱们不要太破费，购物时随便买点东西吃吃就行了。

grab bag　n. 1. A bag from which surprise packages are chosen; a bag in which there are many unknown things. 摸彩袋。◆ The children brought packages to be sold from the grab bag at the school carnival. 在学校游园会上，孩子们带了一小袋一小袋的东西放在摸彩袋里卖。2. A group of many different things from which to choose; a variety. 五花八门的大杂烩；多种多样。◆ The TV program was a grab bag for young and old alike. 电视节目应有尽有，老少咸宜。

grab the bull by the horns or seize the bull by the horns　See见TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

grace period or period of grace　n. The time or extra time allowed in which to do something. 延缓期；宽限期。◆ The teacher gave the class a week's period of grace to finish workbooks. 老师给了全班一周的宽限期来完成练习册上的练习。

grandstand　v., slang, informal To show off, to perform histrionics needlessly. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗炫耀；卖弄。◆ Stop grandstanding and get down to honest work! 别再卖弄了，实实在在地开始干活吧！

grandstander　n., slang, informal A showoff, a person who likes to engage in histrionics. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗爱炫耀的人；喜欢卖弄的人。◆ Many people think that Evel Knievel is a grandstander. 很多人认为伊维尔·克尼维尔是个喜欢卖弄的人。

graphic description or graphic descriptions　n. phr. Extremely detailed, often brutal scenes of the dead, etc. （有关死者等悲惨景象的）详尽而逼真的描述。◆ "What follows are some graphic descriptions of the battle," the television announcer said. "Sensitive viewers and children may not wish to see these."“接下来将是有关这场战役的一些详尽逼真的画面，”电视播音员说。“神经过敏的观众和儿童可能不希望看到这些图像。”

grasp at straws or clutch at straws　v. phr. To depend on something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. 捞救命稻草；作最后的绝望挣扎；（危难中）依靠无用的（或靠不住的）东西。◆ The robber clutched at straws to make excuses. He said he wasn't in the country when the robbery happened. 那名抢劫犯拼命找借口，说抢劫发生时他不在国内。

grass is always greener on the other side of the fence or grass is always greener on the other side of the hill　We are often not satisfied and want to be somewhere else; a place that is far away or different seems better than where we are. 篱笆（或山）那边的草总是更青翠的；这山望着那山高。◆ John is always changing his job because the grass always looks greener to him on the other side of the fence. 约翰老是换工作，因为他总是这山望着那山高。

grass roots　n. phr Of or by common people. 基层群众；普通百姓。◆ The cause of nature conservation was taken up by grass roots organizations. 许多民间组织承担起了保护自然环境的事业。

graveyard shift　n. phr. The work period lasting from sundown to sunup, when one has to work in the dark or by artificial light. 夜班。◆ "Why are you always so sleepy in class?" Professor Brown asked Sam. "Because I have to work the graveyard shift beside going to school," Sam answered. “你为什么上课总是这么想睡觉？”布朗教授问萨姆。“因为我除了上学还得上夜班干活，”萨姆回答说。

gravy train　n., slang, informal The kind of job that brings in a much higher income than the services rendered would warrant. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（收入丰厚而工作轻松的）美差，肥缺。◆ Jack's job at the Athletic Club as Social Director is a regular gravy train. 杰克在体育俱乐部担任交际处处长一职，这真是一份薪金丰厚而工作轻松的美差。

grease-ball　n., slang, derogatory, avoidable An immigrant from a southern country, such as Mexico, Italy, or Spain; a person with oily looking black hair. 〖俚〗〖贬〗〖忌〗原籍（墨西哥、意大利、西班牙等）南方国家的移民；油腻黑发人。◆ Mr. White is a racist; he calls Mr. Lopez from Tijuana a grease-ball because he has dark hair. 怀特先生是个种族主义者；他把来自提华纳的洛佩斯先生叫做黑头鬼，因为他有一头黑发。

grease monkey　n., slang, derogatory, avoidable 〖俚〗〖贬〗〖忌〗1. A person who greases or works on machinery; a mechanic or worker in a garage or gasoline station. 注油工；机械工；汽车修理工；加油工。◆ The grease monkey was all dirty when he came out from under the car. 汽车修理工从汽车下面出来时全身都是脏的。2. Airplane mechanic. 飞机修理师。◆ Jack was a grease monkey in the Air Force. 杰克曾在空军当过飞机修理师。

grease sb.'s palm or grease the palm　slang 〖俚〗1. To pay a person for something done or given, especially dishonestly; bribe. 买通某人；贿赂某人。◆ Some politicians will help you if you grease their palms. 有些政客只要你贿赂他们，他们就会帮你。2. To give a tip; pay for a special favor or extra help. 给某人小费；塞钱给某人以得到优待（或额外帮助）。◆ We had to grease the palm of the waiter to get a table in the crowded restaurant. 我们得给侍者塞钱才能在拥挤的餐厅里弄到一张桌子。

grease the wheels　v. phr., informal To do something or act to make something go smoothly or happen in the way that is wanted. 〖非正式〗疏通关系使事情顺利进行。◆ Mr. Davis asked a friend to grease the wheels so he could borrow money from the bank. 戴维斯先生请一位朋友去疏通关系，使他能顺利地从银行借到钱。

greasy spoon　n., informal Any small, inexpensive restaurant patronized by workers or people in a hurry; a place not noted for its excellence of cuisine or its decor. 〖非正式〗便宜的小饭馆；经济小吃店。◆ I won't have time to eat lunch at the club today; I'll just grab a sandwich at the local greasy spoon. 我今天没有时间去俱乐部吃午饭，我在邻近的小吃店里吃个三明治就行了。

great guns　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Very fast or very hard. — Usually used in the phrases blow great guns, go great guns. 非常快；很猛烈；非常努力。——通常用于blow great guns, go great guns等短语中。◆ The men were going great guns to finish the job. 这些人为了完成任务而努力工作。2. Very well; successfully. 很好；成功地。◆ Smith's new store opened last week and it's going great guns. 史密斯的新店上周开张，现在生意很兴隆。

great minds think alike　When two people happen to think of the same idea, they jokingly quote this saying. — A proverb. 〖谚〗英雄所见略同。◆ "I am tired of cooking tonight," Suzie said. "Let's go to a restaurant." "Just what I was going to suggest," Tom replied. "Goes to show that great minds think alike."“今晚我懒得烧饭做菜了，”苏茜说。“咱们去餐馆吃吧。”“这正是我想建议的，”汤姆回答说。“这表明英雄所见略同。”

great oaks from little acorns grow　As great oak trees grow from tiny acorns, so many great people or things grew from a small and unimportant beginning, so be patient. — A proverb. 〖谚〗高大的橡树从小小的橡果长成；合抱之木，生于毫末；万丈高楼平地起；英雄不怕出身贫。◆ Many great men were once poor, unimportant boys. Great oaks from little acorns grow. 许多伟人小时候都是穷苦的、微不足道的孩子。他们的成功都是一点一滴积累起来的。

Greek to　adj. phr. Strange; alien; incomprehensible. 为（某人）所不理解的。◆ I can't figure out what language those people in the elevator are speaking, but whatever it is, it's all Greek to me. 我不明白电梯里的那些人说的是什么语言，但不管是什么语言，我都听不懂。

green around the gills or pale around the gills　adj. phr., slang Palefaced from fear or sickness; sickly; nauseated. 〖俚〗（吓得或病得）脸色发白的；病态的；想呕吐的。◆ Bill's father took him for a ride in his boat while the waves were rough, and when he came back he was green around the gills. 比尔的父亲在波涛汹涌时带他去乘船出游，回来时他因晕船而脸色苍白。◆ The car almost hit Mary crossing the street, and she was pale around the gills because it came so close. 玛丽穿马路时，汽车几乎撞上她，吓得她脸色发白，因为只差那么一点。

green-eyed monster　n. phr. Jealousy; envy. 绿眼妖魔；嫉妒。◆ When John's brother got the new bicycle, the green-eyed monster made John fight with him. 当约翰的兄弟得到那辆新自行车时，嫉妒使得约翰和他打了起来。

green power　n., slang, informal The social prestige or power money can buy one. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗金钱的力量。◆ In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them. 在美国政治选举中，获胜的候选人通常都是那些有金钱力量支持的人。

green thumb　n., informal A talent for gardening; ability to make things grow. 〖非正式〗园艺高手；种植技能。◆ Mr. Wilson's neighbors say his flowers grow because he has a green thumb. 威尔逊先生的邻居们说他的花长得好是因为他是园艺高手。

green with envy　adj. phr. Very jealous; full of envy. 非常嫉妒的；非常羡慕的。◆ The other boys were green with envy when Joe bought a secondhand car. 当乔买了一辆二手车时，其他男孩都非常羡慕。

grin and bear it　v. phr., informal To be as cheerful as possible in pain or trouble; do something without complaining. 〖非正式〗苦笑忍受；咬紧牙关忍受。◆ If you must have a tooth drilled, all you can do is grin and bear it. 如果你必须在一颗牙上钻洞镶补，你就只能忍受钻牙之苦了。

grind to a halt　v. phr., informal To slow down and stop like a machine does when turned off. 〖非正式〗慢慢地停止。◆ The old car ground to a halt in front of the house. 那辆老汽车慢慢地停在了房子前面。

grin from ear to ear　v. phr. To smile very broadly; to be very happy about something. 咧嘴大笑；笑得合不拢嘴。◆ "What are you grinning from ear to ear about?" Peter asked. "You won't believe it, but I won the lottery," John replied.“什么事儿让你笑得合不拢嘴呀？”彼得问。“说来你也许不信，我买彩票中奖啦，”约翰回答说。

gross out　v., slang To commit a vulgar act; to repel someone by saying a disgusting or vulgar thing. 〖俚〗做出粗鄙行动；言语粗鲁使（人）反感。◆ You are going to gross out people if you continue talking like that. 你如果继续这样讲话，就会使别人反感。

gross-out session　n., slang, avoidable A verbal contest between teenagers in which the object of the game is to see who can be more disgusting or vulgar than anybody else. 〖俚〗〖忌〗（年轻人之间的）说粗话比赛。◆ When Jim got home he found his two teen-age sons engaged in a gross-out session; he bawled them out and cut their weekly allowance. 吉姆回到家时发现他两个十几岁的儿子正在比赛说粗话；他把他们训斥了一顿，并减少了他们每周的零用钱。

ground floor　n. 1. First floor of a house or building. （房子或建筑物的）底层。◆ Mrs. Turner has an apartment on the ground floor. 特纳太太在底楼有一套公寓房间。2. informal The first or best chance, especially in a business. 〖非正式〗（尤指企业中）优先获利的机会；最有利的机会。◆ That man got rich because he got in on the ground floor of the television business. 那个人发了财，因为他从一开始就进入了电视行业。

ground rule　n. A rule, usually not written, of what to do or how to act in case certain things happen. — Usually used in the plural. 基本规则；（不成文的）行动准则。——通常用复数。◆ When you go to a new school, you don't know the ground rules of how you are supposed to behave. 当你进入一所新学校时，常常不知道行事的基本规则。

ground zero　n. 1. A place of total devastation. 遭到完全破坏的地方。◆ Hiroshima and Nagasaki were ground zero after the atomic bomb was dropped on them in August 1945. 广岛和长崎在1945年8月被投下原子弹后遭到了彻底毁坏。2. After September 11, 2001: The place in New York City where the World Trade Center stood that was brought down by suicide terrorists. （2001年9月11日遭恐怖袭击被炸毁的）纽约世贸中心遗址。◆ Many tourists come to see ground zero, the place where the World Trade Center once stood. 很多旅游者来参观世贸中心被毁后的遗址。3. A very messy and disorganized place. 混乱不堪的地方。◆ "Why must you turn your room into a total ground zero?" Father asked indignantly.“你为什么一定要把自己的房间弄成一个混乱不堪的地方呢？”父亲气愤地问。

growing pains　n. 1. Pains in children's legs supposed to be caused by changes in their bodies and feelings as they grow. 发育期疼痛。◆ The little girl's legs hurt, and her mother told her she had growing pains. 小女孩的腿痛，她母亲告诉她这是发育期疼痛。2. informal Troubles when something new is beginning or growing. 〖非正式〗发展初期的困难。◆ The factory has growing pains. 这家工厂正经历发展初期的困难。

grow on or grow upon　v. 1. To become stronger in; increase as a habit of. 在…身上越来越强烈；渐成…的习惯。◆ The habit of eating before going to bed grew upon John. 约翰渐渐养成了睡觉前吃东西的习惯。2. To become more interesting to or liked by. 变得对…越来越有趣；越来越被…喜爱。◆ The more Jack saw Mary, the more she grew on him. 杰克看玛丽越看越喜欢。

grow out of　v. phr. 1. To outgrow; become too mature for. 成长得不再要（或具有）；因成熟而丢弃。◆ As a child he had a habit of scratching his chin all the time, but he grew out of it. 他小时候一直有搔下巴的习惯，但长大后改掉了。2. To result from; arise. 产生于。◆ Tom's illness grew out of his tendency to overwork and neglect his health. 汤姆往往工作过度，忽视自己的健康，因此才生了病。

grow up　v. 1. To increase in size or height; become taller or older; reach full height. 长大，长高；长大成人。◆ Johnny is growing up; his shoes are too small for him. 约翰尼在长大；他的鞋对他已经太小了。◆ I grew up on a farm. 我是在一个农场里长大的。◆ The city has grown up since I was young. 从我年轻的时候起，这个城市一直在发展壮大。2. To become adult in mind or judgment; become old enough to think or decide in important matters. 心智成熟，像成人般思考（或行事）。◆ Tom wants to be a coach when he grows up. 汤姆长大后想做一名教练。

gulp down　v. phr. To eat or drink in a great hurry. 大口吞下，狼吞虎咽。◆It is considered unhealthy to gulp one's food down too fast. 狼吞虎咽地吃东西被认为是对健康有害的。◆Gulping down ice water in the hot weather may give one a sore throat. 大热天大口大口地喝冰水可能会引起咽喉痛。

gum up　v., slang To cause not to work or ruin; spoil; make something go wrong. 〖俚〗使出故障，使停顿；弄砸；弄坏；使出毛病。◆Jimmy has gummed up the typewriter. 吉米把打字机弄坏了。

gun for　v., informal 〖非正式〗1. To hunt for with a gun; look hard for a chance to harm or defeat. 持枪搜捕；伺机伤害（或击败）。◆The cowboy is gunning for the man who stole his horse. 牛仔正持枪追捕偷了他马的那个人。2. To try very hard to get. 拼命追求；竭力谋求。◆The man is gunning for first prize in the golf tournament. 那人在力争高尔夫球赛的头奖。

gung-ho　adj., colloquial Enthusiastic, full of eagerness in an uncritical or unsophisticated manner. 〖口〗热心的；起劲的；狂热的。◆Suzie is all gung-ho on equal rights for women, but fails to see the consequences. 苏茜热衷于妇女的平等权利，但却未能看到其结果。

guns or butter or guns and butter or guns before butter　n. phr. The choice between a country's ability to wage war and feed the population property, or the desire to do both, or the statement that one is rich and powerful enough to do both. 大炮还是黄油；大炮加黄油；大炮优先于黄油（指一个国家的政策是重视军事还是经济或两者并重或重视前者）。◆Countries that don't care for affluence and wish to fight may opt for guns before butter. Wealthy countries that are able to keep society affluent and wage war simultaneously, may speak of the economy's strength to have both guns and butter. Some may simply ask, "Is it going to be guns or butter?" 不重视富裕而希望打仗的国家可能会选择大炮优先于黄油的政策。能同时保持社会富裕并发动战争的富国在谈到经济实力时可以说既有大炮也有黄油。而有些人则可以简单地问一句：“是要大炮呢还是要黄油？”

gut feeling　n. phr. An instinctive reaction. 本能的反应；直觉。◆I have a gut feeling that they will never get married in spite of all they say. 我有一种直觉：尽管他们讲了许多，他们是绝对不会结婚的。

gut reaction　n. phr. A mental or physical response that springs from one's depths. 本能的反应。◆My gut reaction was to get out of here as fast as possible. 我本能的反应就是尽快离开这儿。

gut talk　n. phr. Sincere, honest talk. 实话。◆We admire people who speak gut talk and tell exactly what they think and feel. 我们钦佩那些说实话、想到什么感觉到什么就讲什么的人。

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had better　informal Should; must. 〖非正式〗应该；必须；还是…好；最好还是。◆ I had better leave now, or I'll be late. 我最好现在就离开，不然我就要迟到了。

hail from　v., informal To have your home in; come from; be from; especially, to have been born and raised in. 〖非正式〗来自；是…地方的人。◆ Mrs. Gardner hails from Mississippi. 加德纳夫人来自密西西比州。

haircut place　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Bridge or overpass with tight clearance. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗净空矮的桥或旱桥。◆ Are we going to make it in that haircut place? 我们能穿过那座净空矮的桥吗？

hairdo　n. Style or manner of arranging, combing, or wearing one's hair. 发式；发型；◆ "How do you like my new hairdo?" Jane asked, as she left the beauty parlor. “你看我的新发型怎么样？”简离开美容院时问。

hair stand on end　informal The hair of your head rises stiffly upwards as a sign or result of great fright or horror. 〖非正式〗毛骨悚然。◆ When he heard the strange cry, his hair stood on end. 听到那声怪叫，他吓得头发都竖了起来。◆ The sight of the dead man made his hair stand on end. 他看到那个死人，吓得头发都竖了起来。

hale and hearty　adj. phr. In very good health; well and strong. 健壮的；精神抖擞的。◆ Grandfather will be 80 years old tomorrow, but he is hale and hearty. 祖父明天就要80岁了，但身子骨仍很硬朗。◆ That little boy looks hale and hearty, as if he is never sick. 那个小男孩很健壮，仿佛从来不生病似的。

half a chance or a half chance　n. An opportunity; a reasonable chance. 机会；公平均等的机会。◆ Just give yourself half a chance and you will quickly get used to your new job. 你只要给自己一点机会，很快就会习惯于新工作的。

half a loaf is better than none or half a loaf is better than no bread　Part of what we want or need is better than nothing. — A proverb. ［谚］半个面包比没有面包强；聊胜于无。◆ Albert wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk but the lady would only give him a dollar, so he said that half a loaf is better than none. 艾伯特为铲掉人行道上的积雪要价两美元，但那位夫人只肯给他一美元。他说半个面包总比没有面包强。

half a mind also half a notion　n. phr., informal A wish or plan that you have not yet decided to act on; a thought of possibly doing something. — Used after have or with and before to and an infinitive. 〖非正式〗有点想（做某事）。——与have或with连用，后接带to的不定式。◆ I have half a mind to stop studying and go to the movies. 我有点想停止学习去看电影。◆ Jerry went home with half a mind to telephone Betty. 杰里回家想给贝蒂打电话。

half-and-half^1　adj. As much one thing as the other. 两种成分各占一半的；各占一半的；好坏参半的。◆ We asked the coach if more boys than girls were interested in debating, and he said it was about half-and-half. 我们问教练是不是对辩论感兴趣的男生比女生多，他说差不多是一半对一半。◆ The show last night was neither very good nor very poor —just half-and-half. 昨晚的演出既不是很好也不是很差——好坏参半吧。

half-and-half^2　n. A mixture of milk and cream in equal parts, used with cereal or coffee. 牛奶与奶油各半的混合物（与麦片或咖啡合用）；搀了牛奶的稀奶油。◆ John uses half-and-half with his cereal, but his wife, who is dieting, uses milk. 约翰把搀了牛奶的稀奶油和着麦片糊吃，但他的妻子因减肥只用牛奶。

half an eye　n. phr. A slight glance; a quick look. 一瞥；扫一眼。◆ While Mary was cooking she kept half an eye on the baby to see that he didn't get into mischief. 玛丽一边烧饭一边不时地扫一眼小宝宝，怕他捣蛋。

half-baked　adj., informal Not thought out or studied thoroughly; not worth considering or accepting. 〖非正式〗考虑不成熟的；不值得考虑或接受的。◆ We cannot afford to put the government in the hands of people with half-baked plans. 我们不能把政府交给那些没有周全计划的人。

half-hearted　adj. Lacking enthusiasm or interest. 半心半意的；缺乏热情的；兴趣不大的。◆ Phil made several half-hearted attempts to learn word processing, but we could see that he didn't really like it. 菲尔曾几次三心二意地尝试着学习文字处理，但我们看得出他并不真正喜欢。

half-holiday　n. A day on which you get out of school or work in the afternoon. 半天假日。◆ The principal said that Tuesday would be a half-holiday. 校长说星期二下午放半天假。

half the battle　n. phr. A large part of the work. 工作的大半；成功的一半。◆ When you write an essay for class, making the outline is half the battle. 在班上写作文时，拟好了提纲就完成了工作的大半。◆ To see your faults and decide to change is half the battle of self-improvement. 看到自己的缺点并决心改正，自我改进的工作便已完成了一半。

half-time　n. A rest period in the middle of certain games. （足球、篮球比赛等上下半场间的）中场休息。◆ I saw Henry at the football game and I went over and talked to him at half-time. 我在橄榄球比赛时看到了亨利，便在中场休息时过去跟他聊了一会儿。

ham actor　n. phr., slang An untalented actor; someone who tries so hard to act that his performance becomes foolishly exaggerated. 〖俚〗蹩脚演员；表演过火的演员。◆ Fred is a ham actor who, instead of memorizing his lines, keeps moving around in a ridiculous way. 弗雷德是个蹩脚演员，他不记台词而是荒唐可笑地在台上不停地走来走去。

ham it up　v. phr., slang To do more than look natural in acting a part; pretend too much; exaggerate. 〖俚〗表演过火；假装过分；夸张做作。◆ When Tom told the teacher he was too sick to do homework, he really hammed it up. 当汤姆对老师说他病得太重不能做作业时，他真是装得太过分了。◆ The old-fashioned movies are funny to us because the players hammed it up. 老式的电影在我们看来很滑稽，因为演员们演得太过火。

hammer and tongs　adv. phr. Violently. 猛烈地；激烈地。◆ Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been at it all day, hammer and tongs. 史密斯夫妇激烈地大声争吵了整整一天。

hammer at or hammer away at　v. 1. To work steadily at; keep at. 不懈地致力于；埋头于。◆ That lesson is not easy, but hammer away at it and you will get it right. 那一课不容易，但只要你刻苦钻研，你就能正确地理解。2. To talk about again and again; emphasize. 一再重复；反复强调。◆ The speaker hammered at his opponent's ideas. 演讲者一再抨击论敌的想法。

hammer out　v. 1. To write or produce by hard work. 费劲地写出或制定出；推敲出；苦心制定出。◆ The President sat at his desk till midnight hammering out his speech for the next day. 总统坐在办公桌前仔细推敲第二天的演讲稿直到午夜。2. To remove, change, or work out by discussion and debate; debate and agree on (something). （通过讨论和辩论）排除，消除；改变；解决；通过辩论就（某事）达成一致。◆ Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Green have hammered out their difference of opinion. 布朗夫人和格林夫人经过讨论消除了意见分歧。

hand down　v. To arrange to give or leave after death. 把…传下去。◆ In old times, property was usually handed down to the oldest son at his father's death. 在古时候，父亲死后财产通常都传给长子。

hand in glove or hand and glove　adj. or adv. phr. Very close or friendly; working together; in very close agreement or cooperation. 关系密切；亲密合作；相互勾结。◆ The Navy and the Coast Guard work hand and glove, especially in war time. 海军和海岸警卫队密切合作，尤其是在战时。◆ Judges and others in high office sometimes are hand in glove with gangsters to cheat and steal. 法官和其他担任高级职务的人有时与歹徒相互勾结进行欺骗和偷窃。

hand in hand　adv. phr. 1. Holding hands. 手拉手地；携手。◆ Bob and Mary walked along hand in hand in the park. 鲍勃和玛丽在公园里手拉手地散步。Compare比较ARM IN ARM. 2. Accompanying each other; together; closely connected. —Used with go. 相伴；一起；密切相关。——与go连用。◆ Ignorance and poverty often go hand in hand. 愚昧和贫穷常结伴而行。

hand it to　v. phr., informal To admit the excellence of; give credit or praise to. 〖非正式〗承认…的长处；称赞；赞扬。◆ You have to hand it to Jim; he is very careful and hardworking in all he does. 你不得不承认吉姆的长处；他做任何事都很细心、很努力。

handle to one's name　n. phr., slang A special title used before your name. 〖俚〗姓名前的头衔。◆ Jim's father has a handle to his name. He is Major Watson. 吉姆的父亲有个头衔。他叫沃森少校。◆ Bob came back from the University with a handle to his name and was called Dr. Jones. 鲍勃从大学回来多了一个头衔，被称作琼斯博士。

handle with gloves or handle with kid gloves　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To treat very gently and carefully. 温和而小心谨慎地对待。◆ An atomic bomb is handled with kid gloves. 原子弹必须小心搬运。2. To treat with great tact and diplomacy. 策略地对待。◆ Aunt Jane is so irritable that we have to treat her with kid gloves. 简阿姨性子很急躁，我们必须很灵活很策略地和她打交道。

hand-me-down　n., informal Something given away after another person has no more use for it; especially, used clothing. 〖非正式〗别人用过的旧东西；别人穿过的旧衣服。◆ Alice had four older sisters, so all her clothes were hand-me-downs. 艾丽斯有4个姐姐，所以她穿的都是旧衣服。

hand on　v. To pass along to the next person who should have it. 依次传递。◆ Everyone in class should read this, so when you have finished, please hand it on. 班上每个人都该读一读这篇东西，所以你们读完后请把它依次传下去。◆ In the early days, news was handed on from one person to another. 在古代，消息是一个人接一个人向下传的。

hand on the torch　v. phr. To give the power to the next person in office, or to the younger generation. 把火炬传下来。◆ Before the director announced his retirement officially, he called John to his office and said, "Time to hand on the torch, John. You are my chosen successor." 主任正式宣布退休前，把约翰叫进办公室说：“到了把火炬传下去的时候了，约翰。你就是我选中的接班人。”

handout　n. (stress on hand)(重读hand), 1. A free gift of food, clothes, etc. 施舍物（食物、衣物等）；救济品。◆ The homeless people were standing in a long line for various handouts. 无家可归的人们排着长队领取各种救济品。2. A typed and photocopied sheet or sheets of paper outlining the main points made by a speaker. （印刷或复印的）传单；讲义。◆ Please look at page three of the handout. 请看讲义的第3页。

hand out　v., informal (stress on out)（重读out）To give (things of the same kind) to several people. 〖非正式〗分发；散发。◆ The teacher handed out the examination papers. 老师分发试卷。◆ Handing out free advice to all your friends will not make them like you. 免费为你所有的朋友提建议并不会让他们喜欢你。

hand over　v. To give control or posses- Sion of; give (something) to another person. 交出；移交。◆ When Mr. Jones gets old, he will hand over his business to his son. 琼斯先生老了以后将把商号交给儿子经营。

hand over fist　ahv. phr., informal Fast and in large amounts. 〖非正式〗迅速大量地。◆ Fred may get a pony for Christmas because his father is making money hand over fist. 弗雷德圣诞时可能会得到一匹小马，因为他父亲正在赚大钱。◆ Business is so bad that the store on the corner is losing money hand over fist. 生意很糟糕，街角处的那家店赔得很厉害。

hand over hand　adv. phr. By taking hold with one hand over the other alternately. 双手交互使用地。◆ The only way to climb a rope is hand over hand. 爬绳的唯一方法是双手交互使用。

hand-pick　v., informal To choose very carefully. 〖非正式〗仔细挑选，精选。◆ The political bosses hand-picked a man for mayor who would agree with them. 党魁们精心挑选了一个和他们意见相同的人当市长。

hands-down　adj., informal〖非正式〗1. Easy. 容易的。◆ The Rangers won a hands-down victory in the tournament. 漫游者队在锦标赛中轻松获胜。2. Unopposed; first; clear. 无人反对的；第一的；无疑的。◆ Johnny was the hands-down favorite for president of the class. 约翰是班主席的第一最佳人选。

hands down　adv., informal〖非正式〗1. Without working hard; easily. 毫不费力地；轻而易举地。◆ The Rangers won the game hands down. 漫游者队轻而易举地赢得了比赛。2. Without question or doubt; without any opposition; plainly. 毫无疑问地；无人反对地；明显地。◆ John was hands down the best writer in the class. 约翰无疑是班上写作最好的学生。

hands off　informal Keep your hands off or do not interfere; leave that alone. — Used as a command. 〖非正式〗不许动手；不许干涉；不许碰。——用作命令。◆ I was going to touch the machine, but the man cried, "Hands off!" and I let it alone. 我正要去摸那台机器，那人喊道：“不许碰！”于是我便没有碰。

hands-off　adj., informal Leaving alone, not interfering; inactive. 〖非正式〗不插手的；不干涉的；不活动的。◆ The United States told the European governments to follow a hands-off policy toward Latin America. 美国叫欧洲各国政府对拉丁美洲奉行不干涉政策。

handsome is as handsome does　informal A person must act well and generously so that he will be truly worth respecting. — A proverb. 〖非正式〗〖谚〗行为漂亮才是真漂亮；为人慷慨才是真漂亮。◆ Everyone thinks that Bob is a very handsome boy, but he is very mean too. Handsome is as handsome does. 大家都认为鲍勃是个漂亮的小伙子，但他其实很小气。为人慷慨才是真漂亮。

hand something to someone on a silver platter　v. phr. To give a person a reward that has not been earned. 把某物白白送给某人，用银盘把某物向某人奉上。◆ The lazy student expected his diploma to be handed to him on a silver platter. 那个懒惰的学生期盼着毕业文凭会白白地送给他。

hands up　informal Hold up your hands! Put your hands up high and keep them there! — Used as a command. 〖非正式〗举起手来！——用作命令。◆ The sheriff pointed his gun at the outlaws and called out, "Hands up!" 警长把枪对准歹徒，大声喊道：“举起手来！”

hand to hand　adv. phr. Close together, near enough to hit each other. 逼近地；短兵相接地。◆ The two soldiers fought hand to hand until one fell badly wounded. 两个士兵肉搏，直到一个受了重伤倒下。◆ In modern naval warfare, men seldom fight hand to hand. 在现代海战中，很少有肉搏战了。

hand-to-hand　adj. Close to each other; near enough to hit each other. 逼近的；直接交手的。◆ The result of the battle was decided in hand-to-hand combat. 这场战役的结果是由白刃战决定的。

hand-to-mouth　adj. Not providing for the future; living from day to day; not saving for later. 勉强糊口的；过一天算一天的；吃光用光的。◆ Many native tribes lead a hand-to-mouth existence, content to have food for one day at a time. 许多土著部落过着勉强维持的生活，每次有一天吃的东西就满足了。

handwriting on the wall　n. phr. A sign that something bad will happen. 厄运临头的预兆；凶兆。◆ John's employer had less and less work for him; John could read the handwriting on the wall and looked for another job. 约翰的雇主给他的工作越来越少；约翰看到了不祥之兆，正在另找工作。

hang around　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To pass time or stay near without any real purpose or aim; loaf near or in. （在某处）闲荡；闲呆着。◆ The principal warned the students not to hang around the corner drugstore after school. 校长警告学生放学后不要在街角杂货店旁边闲荡。2. To spend time or associate. （与某人）在一起，厮混。◆ Jim hangs around with some boys who live in his neighborhood. 吉姆跟住在附近的几个男孩在一起鬼混。

hang by a thread or hang by a hair　v. phr. To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. 千钧一发；岌岌可危。◆ For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread. 汤姆连续3天病得很厉害，生命危在旦夕。

hang in effigy or burn in effigy　v. phr. To hang or burn a figure, usually a stuffed dummy, representing a person who is disliked or scorned. 悬吊（或焚烧）某人的模拟像。◆ When the high school team lost the championship game, the coach was hung in effigy by the townspeople. 中学队输掉冠军赛后，镇上的人们悬吊起教练的模拟像以泄愤。◆ During World War II, Hitler was sometimes burned in effigy in the United States. 第二次世界大战期间，在美国人们有时焚烧希特勒的模拟像。

hang in the balance　v. phr To have two equally possible results; to be in doubt; be uncertain. 成败未卜；安危未定；悬而未决；不确定。◆ She was very sick and her life hung in the balance for several days. 她病得很厉害，有好几天生死未卜。

hang in (there)　v. phr., slang, informal To persevere; not to give up; to stick to a project and not lose faith or courage. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗坚持；不放弃；不泄气；不胆怯。◆ Hang in there old buddy; the worst is yet to come. 坚持下去，老兄；最糟糕的情况还在后头呢。

hang on　v. 1. To hold on to something, usually tightly. 抓住，抓紧。◆ Jack almost fell off the cliff, but managed to hang on until help came. 杰克差一点从悬崖上摔下去，幸好他牢牢抓住了岩石直到救援人员赶来。2a. To continue doing something; persist. 继续做某事；坚持下去。◆ The grocer was losing money every day, but he hung on, hoping that business would improve. 食品杂货店老板每天都在赔钱，但他坚持着，希望生意会好转。2b. To hold a lead in a race or other contest while one's opponents try to rally. （在比赛中）领先。◆ The favorite horse opened an early lead and hung on to win as two other horses almost passed him in the final stretch. 那匹最有希望获胜的马一开始就领先，此后虽有另外两匹马差一点在终点直道上超过它，但它仍一直领先直到获胜。3. To continue to give trouble or cause suffering. （疾病等）经久不愈；持续。◆ Lou's cold hung on from January to April. 卢的感冒从1月一直持续到4月。4. To continue listening on the telephone. （打电话时）不挂断。◆ Jerry asked John, who had called him on the phone, to hang on while he ran for a pencil and a sheet of paper. 约翰打电话给杰里，杰里要他不要挂断电话，等他去拿笔和纸。

hang one on　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To give a heavy blow to; hit hard. 向…猛击一拳；猛击。◆ The champion hung one on his challenger in the second round and knocked him out of the ring. 拳击冠军在第二回合中向挑战者猛击一拳，将他击出场外。2. To get very drunk. 喝得大醉。After Smith lost his job, he went to a bar and hung one on. 史密斯丢了工作后去了一家酒吧，喝得烂醉。

hang one's head　v. phr. To bend your head forward in shame. （羞愧地）低下头。◆ Johnny hung his head when the teacher asked him if he broke the window. 当老师问他是不是他打破了窗子时，约翰尼羞愧地低下了头。

hang on the words of also hang on the lips of　v. phr. To listen very attentively to. 全神贯注地倾听（某人）的话。◆ Ann hangs on every word of her history teacher and takes very careful notes. 安聚精会神地听着历史老师的每一句话，并作了非常详细的笔记。

hang onto　v. To hold tightly; keep firmly. 紧紧抓住。◆ The child hung onto its mother's apron, and would not let go. 孩子紧紧抓住母亲的围裙不放。◆ John did not like his job, but decided to hang onto it until he found a better one. 约翰不喜欢自己的工作，但他决定在找到更好的工作前决不放弃。

hang onto your hat or hold onto your hat or hold your hat　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Watch out; be prepared. — Used as a command, usually to warn of an unexpected action. 当心；准备好。——用作命令，通常是对突如其来的行动提出警告。◆ "Hold onto your hat," said Jim as he stepped on the gas and the car shot forward. “坐稳了，”吉姆一边说着一边踩油门，汽车立刻飞快地向前冲去。2. Get ready for a surprise. — Used as a command, usually to warn of unexpected news. 听着。——用作命令，通常表示有惊人的消息。◆ "Hold onto your hat," said Mary. "Jim asked me to marry him." “听着，”玛丽说。“吉姆要我嫁给他。”

hang out　v. 1. slang To spend your time idly or lounging about. 〖俚〗鬼混；闲荡。◆ The teacher complained that Joe was hanging out in poolrooms instead of doing his homework. 老师抱怨乔不做作业而在弹子房里鬼混。2. slang To live; reside. 〖俚〗居住。◆ Two policemen stopped the stranger and asked him where he hung out. 两名警察拦住那个陌生人，问他住在哪儿。3. To reach out farther than the part below. 延伸出去。◆ The branches of the trees hung out over the road. 树枝延伸到了马路上方。◆ The upper floor of that house hangs out above the first. 那幢房子的二楼比一楼宽出很多。

hang out one's shingle　v. phr., informal To give public notice of the opening of an office, especially a doctor's or lawyer's office, by putting up a small signboard. 〖非正式〗（医生、律师等）挂牌开业。◆ The young doctor hung out his shingle and soon had a large practice. 那位青年医生挂牌开业，不久就有许多人前来求诊。

hangover　n. (stress on hang)（重读hang）A bad feeling of nausea and/or headache the day after one has had too much to drink. （酗酒后的）宿醉（指恶心、头痛等不适反应）。◆ Boy, did I have a hangover after that party yesterday! 好家伙，昨天聚会后我的一场宿醉真难受！

hang over　v. (stress on over)（重读over）1. To be going to happen to; threaten. 逼近；威胁。◆ Great trouble hangs over the little town because its only factory has closed down. 小镇将面临巨大的困难，因为它唯一的一家工厂关闭了。2. To remain to be finished or settled. 搁置起来以待处理（或解决）。◆ The committee took up the business that hung over from its last meeting. 委员会讨论了上次会议未解决的事宜。

hang over sb.'s head　v. phr. To be a danger or threat to you. （危险等）临头；威胁着某人。◆ Death hangs over a bullfighter's head every time he performs. 斗牛士每次出场表演，死亡都威胁着他。

hang ten　v., slang 〖俚〗1. To be an outstanding performer on a surfboard or on a skateboard (referring to the user's ten toes). （冲浪或滑板运动中）作十趾驾驭（指身体前倾用两脚十趾钩住冲浪板或滑板）。◆ I bet I am going to be able to hang ten if you let me practice on your skateboard. 如果你让我在你的滑板上练习，我敢肯定我一定能出色地完成十趾驾驭。2. To be a survivor despite great odds. 经历重重困难而继续生存。◆ Don't worry about Jack, he can hang ten anywhere! 不要为杰克担心，他在任何地方都能活得下来！

hang together　v. 1. To stay united; help and defend one another. 团结一致；互相支持。◆ The club members always hung together when one of them was in trouble. 任何一个俱乐部成员遇到困难，大家总是团结一致给予支持和帮助。2. informal To form a satisfactory whole; fit together. 〖非正式〗形成一体；符合逻辑；前后一致。◆ Jack's story of why he was absent from school seems to hang together. 杰克把缺课的原因说得似乎合情合理。

hang up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To place on a hook, peg, or hanger. 挂起。◆ When the children come to school, they hang up their coats in the cloakroom. 孩子们到校后就把外衣挂在衣帽间。2a. To place a telephone receiver back on its hook and break the connection. 挂断电话。◆ Carol's mother told her she had talked long enough on the phone and made her hang up. 卡罗尔的母亲对她说，她打电话讲得够长了，叫她把电话挂断。2b. To put a phone receiver back on its hook while the other person is still talking. — Used with on. （在某人仍在讲话时）挂断电话。——与on连用。◆ I said something that made Joe angry, and he hung up on me. 我说了一些话让乔生气了，他便砰地挂断了我的电话。

hang-up　n., informal 〖非正式〗(stress on hang)（重读hang）1. A delay in some process. 耽搁；延误。◆ The mail has been late for several days; there must be some hang-up with the trucks somewhere. 邮件已经晚了好几天；一定是邮车在什么地方耽误了。2. A neurotic reaction to some life situation probably stemming from a traumatic shock which has gone unconscious. （精神上摆脱不掉的）焦虑；厌惧。◆ Doctor Simpson believes that Suzie's frigidity is due to some hang-up about men. 辛普森大夫认为，苏茜的性冷淡是由于对男人的某种厌惧造成的。

happen on or happen upon　v. literary To meet or find accidentally or by chance. 〖文〗偶然遇到；偶然发现。◆ The Girl Scouts happened on a charming little brook not far from the camp. 女童子军们在离宿营地不远的地方无意中发现了一条可爱的小溪。

happy as the day is long　adj. phr. Cheerful and happy. 非常快活；非常愉快。◆ Carl is happy as the day is long because school is over for the summer. 卡尔非常开心，因为学校放暑假了。

happy camper　v. phr. A person who is satisfied or happy about a given situation someone who doesn't complain. 对现状感到满意的人；心满意足的人。◆ John is generally a happy camper, especially when pursuing the outdoor sports. 约翰通常是个心满意足的人，尤其是在从事户外运动时。◆ Hermione was not a happy camper when Suzanne got the promotion she had hoped for. 当苏珊娜得到她希望得到的提升时，赫迈厄妮很不开心。

happy-go-lucky　See见FOOT-LOOSE AND FANCY-FREE.

happy hour　n., informal A time in bars or restaurants when cocktails are served at a reduced rate, usually one hour before they start serving dinner. 〖非正式〗（酒吧或餐馆削价供应鸡尾酒的）快乐时间。◆ Happy hour is between 6 and 7 P. M. at Celestial Gardens. 天园餐厅削价供应鸡尾酒的时间是每天下午6至7点。

happy hunting ground　n. phr. 1. The place where, in American Indian belief, a person goes after death; heaven. （印第安人所信人死后升入的）欢乐狩猎天堂；天堂。◆ The Indians believed that at death they went to the happy hunting ground. 印第安人相信他们死后就升入欢乐狩猎天堂。2. informal A place or area where you can find a rich variety of what you want, and plenty of it. 〖非正式〗乐土；乐园；得其所哉的好地方。◆ The forest is a happy hunting ground for scouts who are interested in plants and flowers. 森林是喜爱植物和花卉的童子军们的乐园。

happy medium　See见COLDEN MEAN or GOLDEN MEDIUM.

hard-and-fast　adj. Not to be broken or changed; fixed; strict. 不容违反的；不容改变的；确定的；严格的。◆ The teacher said that there was a hard-and-fast rule against smoking in the school. 老师说有一条校内不准吸烟的严格规定。

hard as nails　adj. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Not flabby or soft; physically very fit; tough and strong. 结实的；强壮的。◆ After a summer of work in the country, Jack was as hard as nails, without a pound of extra weight. 在乡下干了一夏天的活儿之后，杰克结实得像铁打的一样，没有一磅多余的体重。2. Not gentle or mild; rough; stern. 铁石心肠的；冷酷无情的；严厉的。◆ John works for a boss who is as hard as nails and scolds John roughly whenever he does something wrong. 约翰尼为一个非常严厉的老板干活，他一出错，老板就把他臭骂一顿。

hard-boiled　adj. Unrefined; tough; merciless. 粗俗的，无教养的；强硬的；冷酷无情的。◆ "Because you were two minutes late," my hard-boiled boss cried, "I will deduct fifteen minutes worth from your salary!" “因为你迟到了两分钟，”我那位冷酷无情的老板大声说道，“我将扣除你15分钟的薪金！”

hard disk　n. phr. The central memory in personal computers of all brands, sometimes called the "Winchester." Originally they came 40 to 100 megabytes; but nowadays 64 gigabytes are not uncommon. （个人电脑的）硬盘。◆ "Sam, please get me a new hard drive! I need at least 30 gigabytes to store all my data." “萨姆，请给我拿一个新的硬盘来！我需要至少30千兆字节来贮存我所有的资料。”

hard facts　n. phr. Circumstances established beyond any doubt. 铁（一般）的事实；不容置疑的事实。◆ "You can't argue with hard facts," the judge said. “你无法与铁一般的事实争辩，”法官说。

hard feeling　n. Angry or bitter feeling; enmity. — Usually used in the plural. 生气；恶感；敌意。——通常用复数。◆ Jim asked Andy to shake hands with him, just to show that there were no hard feelings. 吉姆要求安迪与他握手，以表示对他并无敌意。

hard-fisted　adj. 1. Able to do hard physical labor; strong. 双手粗壮的；强壮的。◆ Jack's uncle was a hard-fisted truck driver with muscles of steel. 杰克的叔叔是个肌肉发达、臂力过人的卡车司机。2. Not gentle or easy-going; tough; stern. 冷酷的；无情的；严厉的。◆ The new teacher was a hard fisted woman who would allow no nonsense. 新来的老师是个严厉的女人，她决不允许学生胡来。3. Stingy or mean; not generous with money. 吝啬的；小气的。◆ The hard-fisted banker refused to lend Mr. Jones more money for his business. 那位吝啬的银行家拒绝借给琼斯先生更多的钱做生意。

hard going　adj. phr. Fraught with difficulty. 进展困难的；困难重重的。◆ Dave finds his studies of math hard going. 戴夫发现自己的数学学习困难重重。

hardheaded　adj. Stubborn; shrewd; practical. 顽固的，固执的；精明的；讲究实际的。◆ Don is a hardheaded businessman who made lots of money, even during the recession. 唐是个精明的商人，即使在经济衰退期也赚了很多钱。

hardhearted　adj. Unsympathetic; merciless. 无同情心的；无情的，冷酷的。◆ Jack is so hardhearted that even his own children expect nothing from him. 杰克心肠很硬，连他自己的孩子也休想从他那儿得到什么。

hard-hitting　adj. Working hard to get things done; strong and active; stubbornly eager. 工作努力的；干劲十足的；有闯劲的。◆ The boys put on a hard-hitting drive to raise money for uniforms for the football team. 男孩子们为替橄榄球队购买队服劲头十足地开展了筹款运动。

hard line　n. phr. Tough political policy. （政治上的）强硬路线（或政策）。◆ Although modern economists were trying to persuade him to open up to the West, Castro has always taken the hard line approach. 虽然现代经济学家们一直试图说服卡斯特罗向西方开放，但他却一直采取强硬路线。

hardly any or scarcely any　Almost no or almost none; very few. 几乎没有；极少。◆ Hardly any of the students did well on the test, so the teacher explained the lesson again. 几乎没有一个学生考得好，所以老师又把那一课讲了一遍。◆ Charles and his friends each had three cookies, and when they went out, hardly any cookies were left. 查尔斯和他的朋友们每人吃了3块饼干，在他们出去时，饼干已所剩无几。

hardly ever or scarcely ever　adv. phr. Very rarely; almost never; seldom. 几乎从不；很少，难得。◆ It hardly ever snows in Florida. 佛罗里达州很少下雪。◆ Johnny hardly ever reads a book. 约翰尼难得读本书。

hard-nosed　adj., slang Tough or rugged; very strict; not weak or soft; stubborn, especially in a fight or contest. 〖俚〗坚韧的；严格的；倔强的；固执的；顽强的。◆ Joe's father was a hard-nosed army officer who had seen service in two wars. 乔的父亲是位身经两次战争、性格倔强的陆军军官。

hard nut to crack also tough nut to crack　n. phr., informal Something difficult to understand or to do. 〖非正式〗难题；难事。◆ Tom's algebra lesson was a hard nut to crack. 代数课对汤姆来说很难应付。

hard of hearing　adj. Partially deaf. 耳朵有点聋的；听觉不灵的。◆ Some people who are hard of hearing wear hearing aids. 有些听觉不灵的人戴着助听器。

hard-on　n. vulgar, avoidable. An erection of the male sexual organ. 〖粗〗〖忌〗阴茎勃起。

hard pill to swallow　n. phr. News or information that is hard or painful to accept. 难以接受的消息；不得不承受的痛苦。◆ The announcement that the state is bankrupt and that there won't be any salary raises for the next two years was a very hard pill to swallow. 州政府已宣布财政拮据，未来两年将不会加薪，这一消息实在令人非常难以接受。

hard put or hard put to it　adj. In a difficult position; faced with difficulty; barely able. 处境困难的；面临困难的；几乎不可能的。◆ John was hard put to find a good excuse for his lateness in coming to school. 约翰很难为他上学迟到找到一个好的借口。

hard sell　n., informal A kind of salesmanship characterized by great vigor, aggressive persuasion, and great eagerness on the part of the person selling something; opposed to 'soft sell'. 〖非正式〗强行推销。◆ Your hard sell turns off a lot of people; try the soft sell for a change, won't you? 你这种强行推销术使很多人感到讨厌；为何不试试换用一下软式推销术呢？

hard-top　n. 1. A car that has a metal roof; a car that is not a convertible. 硬顶汽车；无折篷汽车。◆ Every spring Mr. Jones sells his hardtop and buys a convertible. 每年春天琼斯先生都会卖掉他的硬顶汽车，买进一辆折篷汽车。2. or hardtop convertible A car with windows that can be completely lowered with no partitions left standing, and with a top that may or may not be lowered. 硬顶折篷车。◆ Mr. Brown's new car is a hardtop convertible. 布朗先生的新车是一辆硬顶折篷车。

hard up　adj., informal Without enough money or some other needed thing. 〖非正式〗缺钱的；缺所需之物的。◆ Dick was hard up and asked Lou to lend him a dollar. 迪克没钱，求卢借给他一美元。

hard way　n. The harder or more punishing of two or more ways to solve a problem, do something, or learn something. — Used with the. （以）艰苦的方式；以自己的努力，通过付出代价。——与the连用。◆ The challenger found out the hard way that the champion's left hand had to be avoided. 挑战者付出了被击倒的惨重代价才发现，拳击冠军的左手拳必须避开。

harebrained　adj. Thoughtless; foolish. 轻率的；愚蠢的。◆ Most of the harebrained things Ed does may be attributable to his youth and lack of experience. 埃德做的大多数蠢事可以归因于他的年轻和缺少经验。

hark back　v. literary 〖文〗1. To recall or turn back to an earlier time or happening. 回忆；回顾。◆ Judy is always harking back to the good times she had in college. 朱迪老是回忆她在大学时度过的愉快时光。2. To go back to something as a beginning or origin. 回溯，追溯。◆ The slit in the back of a man's coat harks back to the days when men rode horseback. 男士上装背后的分叉可以追溯到当年男人们骑马的时代。

harp away at or on　v. To mention again and again. 反复提到。◆ In his campaign speeches, Jones harps on his rival's wealth and powerful friends. 在他的竞选演说中，琼斯反复提到其对手的财富和有权势的朋友。

harum-scarum^1　adv., informal In a careless, disorderly or reckless way. 〖非正式〗草率地；杂乱地；冒失地。◆ Jim does his homework harum-scarum, and that is why his schoolwork is so poor. 吉姆做作业很马虎，所以学习成绩才这么差。

harum-scarum^2　adj., informal Careless, wild, or disorderly in one's acts or performance; reckless. 〖非正式〗草率的；乱糟糟的；冒失的；鲁莽的。◆ Jack is such a harum-scarum boy that you can never depend on him to do anything right. 杰克是个冒失鬼，你根本没法指望他做对任何事。

hash out　v., informal To talk all about and try to agree on; discuss thoroughly. 〖非正式〗通过长时间商讨后解决（或决定）；充分讨论。◆ The teacher asked Susan and Jane to sit down together and hash out their differences. 老师要苏珊和简一起坐下来通过交谈消除分歧。

hatchet job　n. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. The act of saying or writing terrible things about someone or something, usually on behalf of one's boss or organization. 受雇进行的诽谤；恶毒攻击。◆ When Phil makes speeches against the competition exaggerating their weaknesses, he is doing the hatchet job on behalf of our president. 当菲尔发表演说攻击竞争对手、夸大他们的弱点时，他是在代表我们的总裁进行诽谤。2. A ruthless, wholesale job of editing a script whereby entire paragraphs or pages are omitted. 大刀阔斧的删节。◆ Don, my editor, did a hatchet job on my new novel. 我的编辑唐对我的新小说作了大刀阔斧的删节。

hatchet man　n., colloquial〖口〗1. A politician or newspaper columnist whose job is to write and say unfavorable things about the opposition. 专门发表攻击性言论的政客（或专栏作家）。◆ Bill Lerner is the hatchet man for the mayor's party; he smears all the other candidates regularly. 比尔·勒纳是市长一派的笔杆子；他定期诽谤所有其他的候选人。2. An executive officer in a firm whose job it is to fire superfluous personnel, cut back on the budget, etc., in short, to do the necessary but unpleasant things. 公司中负责解聘、扣薪之类不愉快事情的行政官员。◆ The firm hired Cranhart to be hatchet man; his title is that of executive vice president. 公司雇用克兰哈特先生负责整顿工作，他的头衔是行政副总裁。

hate sb.'s guts　v. phr., slang To feel a very strong dislike for someone. 〖俚〗对某人恨之入骨，恨透了某人。◆ Dick said that he hated Fred's guts because Fred had been very mean to him. 狄克说他恨透了弗雷德，因为弗雷德对他一直很刻薄。

hat in hand　adv. phr., informal In a humble and respectful manner. 〖非正式〗谦卑地；恭恭敬敬地。◆ They went hat in hand to the old woman to ask for her secret recipe. 他们恭恭敬敬地去见老妇人，希望得到她的烹饪秘方。

hats off to or one's hat is off to　truncated phr. informal Used to recognize and praise a job well-done. 〖非正式〗向…表示致敬。◆ Hats off to anyone who runs the twenty-six mile race. 让我们向参加26英里马拉松比赛的任何人致敬。◆ My hat is off to the chef who created this delicious meal. 我要向烹调出这顿美餐的厨师致敬。

haul down one's colors or strike one's colors　v. phr 1. To pull down a flag, showing you are beaten and want to stop fighting. 降旗投降。◆ After a long battle, the pirate captain hauled down his colors. 经过长时间的战斗，海盗船的船长降旗投降了。2. To admit you are beaten; say you want to quit. 认输。◆ After losing two sets of tennis, Tom hauled down his color. 输了两盘网球，汤姆就认输了。

haul in or haul up or pull in　v. slang To bring before someone in charge for punishment or questioning; arrest. 〖俚〗使出庭受审，传唤；拘捕，逮捕。◆ John was hauled in to court for speeding. 约翰因驾车超速而被法庭传讯。

haul over the coals or rake over the coals　v. phr. To criticize sharply; rebuke; scold. 严厉批评；指责；责骂。◆ The sergeant raked the soldier over the coals for being late for roll call. 中士责骂士兵点名时迟到。

have a ball　v. phr., slang Enjoy yourself very much; have a wonderful time. 〖俚〗玩得痛快；过得愉快。◆ Mary and Tim have a ball exploring the town. 玛丽和蒂姆在城里到处逛，玩得很开心。

have a beef against someone or hold a beef against someone　phrasal idiom To have a complaint against someone. 抱怨某人；对某人心存芥蒂。◆ John behaves very embarrassed around the director; I guess he must have a beef against him. 约翰在主任身边一向举止很尴尬；我猜想他对他一定心存芥蒂。◆ Why hold a beef against me? I didn't cause your troubles! 为什么抱怨我？我又没有给你惹麻烦！

have a big head　v. phr. To be conceited; be excessively proud; think too highly of oneself. 骄傲自大；自以为了不起。◆ Albert is a nice enough guy, but alas, he has a big head. 艾伯特是个相当不错的小伙子，但遗憾的是，他很骄傲自大。

have a blast　v. phr. To have a big celebration, a joyous party; to have a great time. 举行盛大庆典；进行狂欢；玩得很开心。◆ When professor Doolittle retired, he invited the entire department to his country house and we all had a blast. 杜利特尔教授退休时，邀请全系师生去了他的乡间别墅，我们在那里玩得很开心。

have a bone to pick　See见BONE TO PICK.

have a corner on　v. phr. To have a monopoly on some product or trade secret. 垄断（某种产品或行业秘密）。◆ We cannot compete with the big telephone companies, because they have a corner on the market. 我们无法跟那些大的电话公司竞争，因为它们垄断着市场。

have or get or develop a crush on　v. phr. To be infatuated with someone. 迷恋上（某人）◆ Walter has a terrible crush on his English teacher, but she is a lot older and doesn't take it seriously. 沃尔特深深地迷恋上他的英语老师，但她年纪大得多，根本没把这当回事。

have a field day　v. phr. To enjoy great success or unlimited opportunity. 获得重大成功；获得无限的机会。◆ The visiting basketball team was so weak that our school had a field day scoring one point after another. 来访的篮球队水平太差，我们校队大获全胜，得了一分又一分。

have a fit or have fits or throw a fit　v. phr. 1. To have a sudden illness with stiffness or jerking of the body. 手足突然僵硬；身体突然痉挛。◆ Our dog had a fit yesterday. 我们的狗昨天突然抽筋了。2. informal To become angry or upset. 〖非正式〗大发脾气；心烦意乱。◆ Father will throw a fit when he sees the dent in the car. 父亲看到汽车上的凹痕一定会气坏的。◆ Howard will have a fit when he learns that he lost the election. 霍华德得知自己落选一定会生气的。

have a ghost of a chance　v. phr. To have hardly any chance at all. 有一点儿机会；几乎没有机会。◆ Will the Kurds ever have their own independent state? Under the present circumstances they have a ghost of a chance at best. 库尔德人会有自己独立的国家吗？在目前情况下，他们充其量也只有一点儿机会。

have a go at　v. phr., informal To try, especially after others have tried. 〖非正式〗（尤指在别人试过以后）试一试；尝试。◆ She had a go at pottery, but did not do very well. 她曾尝试过制陶，但做得不太好。

have a (good) head for　v. phr. To have a special talent in a certain area. 在…方面有特殊才能。◆ Joan has quite a good head for business administration. 琼在企业管理方面很有才能。

have a good head on one's shoulders　v. phr. To be smart; intelligent; well educated. 聪明，精明；有头脑；受过良好教育。◆ Rob is not the handsomest guy in the world but the girls appreciate him because he has a good head on his shoulders. 罗布并不是世界上最英俊的男子，但因为他精明能干，姑娘们都对他青睐有加。

have a (good) mind to　v. phr. To consider doing; intend to with a high degree of probability. （很）想（做某事）；有意（做某事）◆ I have a good mind to tell my boss that he doesn't know how to run our enterprise. 我很想告诉我的老板说他不知道怎样经营我们的企业。

have a good one　v. phr., greeting on departure This idiom is used when one says good-bye to someone wishing them a pleasant day or upcoming time without naming the time itself. （分别时的问候语）早上好！下午好！晚安；再见；祝你快乐。◆ "Have a good one," the storekeeper said to Mr. Schwartz before July Fourth. "You, too!" Mr. Schwartz answered. 7月4日前，店主对施瓦茨先生说：“节日快乐！”“节日快乐！”施瓦茨先生回答说。

have a hand in　v. phr. To have a part in or influence over; to be partly responsible for. 参与；对…有影响；与…有关。◆ Ben had a hand in getting ready the Senior play. 本参与了高年级戏剧演出的策划工作。

have a heart　v. phr., informal To stop being mean; be kind, generous, or sympathetic. 〖非正式〗行行好；发发慈悲。◆ Have a heart, Bob, and lend me two dollars. 发发善心，鲍勃，借给我两块钱。

have a heart-to-heart talk　v. phr. To confide in someone with great intimacy. 做倾心交谈。◆ Jill and her mother had a heart-to-heart talk before she decided to move in with Andrew. 在决定搬来与安德鲁同居以前，吉尔和母亲倾心交谈了一次。

have a knack for　v. phr. To have an innate talent for something. 有…的天赋；有…的才能。◆ We can't understand how our son became a piano virtuoso, since nobody plays any instrument in the family. We guess he just has a knack for music and the piano in particular. 我们也不懂我们的儿子怎么会成为钢琴大师的，因为我们家里没有人演奏任何乐器。我们猜想他就是具有音乐天赋，特别是演奏钢琴的天赋。

have all one's buttons or have all one's marbles　v. phr., slang To have all your understanding; be reasonable. — Usually used in the negative or conditionally. 〖俚〗头脑正常；有理智。——通常用于否定句或条件句。◆ Mike acts sometimes as if he didn't have all his buttons. 迈克有时行为不大正常。◆ He would not go to town barefooted if he had all his marbles. 他要是脑子正常就不会赤着脚进城了。

have a long face or have on a long face　v. phr. To be and look sad. 愁眉苦脸；露出失望的神情。◆ David had a long face when he heard that he would not get the promotion he had hoped for. 戴维听说他不会得到他盼望已久的晋升时，脸上露出了失望的神情。

have a long fuse　v. phr. To be a patient person, not to lose one's cool even under constant irritation. 很有耐心；不容易激动，不容易发怒。◆ If you want to be a grade school teacher, you had better have a long fuse. 如果你想成为一名小学教师，你最好要有耐心才行。

have a mind of one's own　v. phr. To be independent in one's thinking and judgment. 有主见；能独立思考。◆ Tom has always had a mind of his own so there is no use trying to convince him how to vote. 汤姆一向有主见，所以想说服他如何投票是没有用的。

have an affair with　v. phr. To have a sexual relationship with someone, either before marriage or outside of one's marriage. 与（某人）有不正当的关系。◆ Tom and Jane had a long and complex affair but they never got married. 汤姆和简有过一段长期而复杂的暧昧关系，但他们一直没有结婚。

have an ear for　v. phr. To have a keen perception; have a taste or a talent for; be sensitive to something. 对…听觉灵敏；对…有鉴赏力（或鉴别力）；对…很敏感。◆ I have no ear whatsoever for foreign languages or music. 我对外语和音乐毫无感觉。

have an edge on　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To have an advantage over someone or something else in the course of an evaluative comparison. 对…占优势；比…强；胜过。◆ I can't beat you at tennis, but I have an edge on you in ping-pong. 网球我打不过你，但打乒乓我却胜你一筹。2. To be mildly intoxicated; to have had a few drinks. 略有醉意；微醉。◆ Joe sure had an edge on when I saw him last night. 我昨晚看到乔时，他确实有点醉了。

have an eye for　v. phr. To be able to judge correctly of; have good taste in. 对…能正确判断；对…有鉴赏目光。◆ She has an eye for color and style in clothes. 她对服装的颜色和式样有鉴赏力。

have an eye on or have one's eye on　v. phr., informal To look at or think about (something wanted); have a wish for; have as an aim. 〖非正式〗注视；想得到；看中。◆ John has his eye on a scholarship so he can go to college. 约翰想得到一份奖学金，这样他就可以上大学了。

have a nose for　v. phr. To have a natural talent to find out secrets, etc. 对…嗅觉很灵；对…很敏感；很善于发现（秘密等）。◆ Small wonder Mr. Murphy became chief of police in Chicago; he has a nose for investigative work. 难怪墨菲先生成了芝加哥的警长；他具有做调查工作的才干。

have a peg to hang on　v. phr. To have someone to blame for something. 有（为某事）指责某人的借口；有个承担责任的替罪羊。◆ The boss made a bad mistake at work, so he blamed poor Jack. Lucky for him that he had a peg to hang his own mistake on. 老板在工作中犯了个严重的错误，于是他便责怪起可怜的杰克来。他真幸运，有个为他的错误承担责任的替罪羊。

have a say in or a voice in　v. phr. To have the right to express one's opinion or cast a vote in a pending matter. 对…有发言权。◆ Our boss is friendly and democratic; he always encourages us to have a say in what we will do next. 我们的老板很友好，很民主；他总是鼓励我们对下一步要做的事情发表意见。

have a screw loose　v. phr., slang To act in a strange way; to be foolish. 〖俚〗行为古怪；愚蠢。◆ Now I know he has a screw loose — he stole a police car this time. 现在我知道他神经是有点不正常——这一次他居然偷了一辆警车。

have a short fuse　v. phr. To be impatient; have a hard time taking abuse and irritation. 没有耐心；容易激动；动辄发怒。◆ Jack has a very short fuse; it's better not to mess with him. 杰克很容易发火；最好别惹他。

have a shot at　v. phr. To have a chance at succeeding by trying to do something. （通过尝试）有成功的机会；有机会。◆ "Do you think we have a shot at winning the lottery?" Jim asked. "It's very hard to win the lottery. It's a long shot in any event," Peter replied. “你认为我们买彩票有中大奖的机会吗？”吉姆问。“买彩票中大奖是很难的。无论怎么说，这机会都是极小的，”彼得回答说。

have a snowball's chance in hell　v. phr. To be condemned to failure; enjoy a zero chance of success. 注定要失败；毫无成功的可能。◆ Pessimists used to think that we had a snowball's chance in hell to put a man on the moon; yet we did it in July, 1969. 悲观主义者过去一直认为我们绝不可能使人登上月球；然而我们却在1969年7月做到了。

have a soft spot in one's heart for　v. phr. To be sympathetically inclined towards; entertain a predilection for. 喜欢；偏爱；钟爱。◆ Ron always had a soft spot in his heart for intellectual women wearing mini-skirts. 罗恩一向对穿超短裙的知识女性情有独钟。

have a sweet tooth　v. phr. To be excessively fond of dessert items, such as ice cream, pies, etc. 喜欢甜食。◆ Jill has a sweet tooth; she always orders cake after a meal in a restaurant. 吉尔喜欢吃甜食；她在餐馆用餐后总要点一客蛋糕。

have a time　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To have trouble; have a hard time. 遇到麻烦；日子不好过。◆ Poor Susan had a time trying to get the children to go to bed. 可怜的苏姗费了好大的劲才让孩子们上床睡觉。2. To have a good time; to have fun. — Used with a reflexive pronoun. 玩得痛快；玩得开心。——与反身代词连用。◆ Mary had herself a time dancing at the party. 玛丽在舞会上跳得很开心。

have a way with　v. phr. To be able to lead, persuade, or influence. 能领导（或说服、影响）；善于同…接近。◆ Ted will be a good veterinarian, because he has a way with animals. 泰德会成为一名很好的兽医，因为他善于跟动物接近。

have a way with words　v. phr. To be talented at speech; be able to influence others by expressing oneself succinctly and persuasively. 善于言辞；能言善辩。◆ The reason why John was elected to Congress at such a young age is that he really has a way with words. 约翰这么年轻即被选为国会议员原因就在于他确实能言善辩。

have a word with　v. phr. 1. To talk, discuss, or speak briefly with. 和…谈谈；和…说几句话。◆ Robert, I need to have a word with you about tomorrow's exam. 罗伯特，我需要和你谈谈明天的考试。2. To engage in a sincere discussion with the purpose of persuading the other person or let him or her know of one's dissatisfaction. 和…讨论；和…商量。◆ Our boss has been making funny decisions lately; I think we ought to have a word with him. 我们老板近来一直做出一些奇怪的决定；我觉得我们应该和他讨论讨论。

have been around　v. phr., informal Have been to many places and done many things; know people; have experience and be able to take care of yourself. 〖非正式〗见过世面；经验丰富；老于世故。◆ It's not easy to fool him; he's been around. 要糊弄他可不容易；他可是见过世面的人。

have come to stay　v. phr. To be generally accepted, be permanent. 已被普遍接受；成为永久性的东西。◆ Smaller sized compact cars made in Japan have come to stay. 日本制造的小型汽车已被普遍接受。

have dibs on or put dibs on　v. phr., slang To demand a share of something or to be in line for the use of an object usable by more than one person. 〖俚〗要求分享（某物）；轮到使用（某物）。◆ Don't throw your magazine away! I put (my) dibs on it, remember? 不要把你的杂志扔掉！该轮到我看了，还记得吗？

have done with　v. To stop dong or using something. 做完；用完◆ When you have done with that paintbrush, Barbara, I would like to use it. 芭芭拉，你用完那把漆刷后，我想用一下。

have eyes only for　v. phr. To see or want nothing else but; give all you attention to; be interested only in. 只看；只要；只注意；只对…感兴趣。◆ All the girls liked Fred, but he had eyes only for Helen. 所有的女孩子都喜欢弗雷德，但弗雷德只对海伦感兴趣。

have got it up there　v. phr. To be intellectually supenor; to be smart. 智力超群；聪明。◆ John's success is easy to explain; he's really got it up there. 约翰的成功很容易解释，他确实智力超群。

have got to　v. phr. Must; be in great need to do something; be obliged to. 必须；不得不。◆ I am sorry but we have got to leave, otherwise, we'll miss the last train. 对不起，我们必须走了，不然就要错过最后一班火车了。

have had it　v. phr., slang To have experienced or suffered all you can; to have come to the end of your patience or life. 〖俚〗受够了；忍无可忍了；到了生命的尽头。◆ "I've had it," said Lou, "I'm resigning from the job of chairman right now." “我受够了，”卢说，“我现在就辞去主席的职务。”

have in mind　v. phr. To plan; intend; select. 计划；打算；挑选。◆ We don't know whom our boss has in mind for the new position. 我们不知道老板打算选谁担任这一新的职位。

have in the palm of one's hand　v. phr. To completely control; have a project finished, all wrapped up. 把…完全控制在自己手中；完成（项目）。◆ Our boss felt that if he could calm his critics he would soon have the entire factory in the palm of his hand. 我们老板觉得，只要他能让那些批评他的人平静下来，他很快就会把整个工厂完全控制在他的手中。

have it　v. phr. 1. To hear or get news; understand. 听到消息；得到消息；了解。◆ I have it on the best authority that we will be paid for our work next week. 我得到了最权威的消息：我们下周发工资。2. To do something in a certain way. 以某种方式做某事。◆ Bobby must have it his way and play the game by his rules. 鲍比一定要按他的方式做事，按他的规则来玩这种游戏。3. To claim; say. 坚持说；说。◆ Rumor has it that the school burned down. 据谣传，那所学校烧毁了。4. To allow it — Usually used with will or would in negative sentences. 允许，同意。——通常在否定句中与will或would连用。◆ Mary wanted to give the party at her house, but her mother wouldn't have it. 玛丽想在自己家中举行晚会，但她母亲不允许。5. To win. 获胜。◆ When the senators vote, the ayes will have it. 参议员们投票时，投赞成票者会获胜。6. To get or find the answer; think of how to do something. 得出答案；找到答案；想出办法。◆ "I have it!" said John to Mary. "We can buy Mother a nice comb for her birthday." “我想出办法来了！”约翰对玛丽说。“我们可以给母亲买把好梳子作为生日礼物。”7. informal To have an (easy, good, rough, soft) time; have (certain kinds of) things happen to you; be treated in a (certain) way by luck or life. 〖非正式〗处境（好或坏）；日子（好过或不好过）；运气（好或坏）。◆ Everyone liked Joe and he had it good until he got sick. 大家都喜欢乔，在他生病以前他一直过得很舒心。

have it both ways　v. phr. Two incompatible approaches to the same problem cannot happen at the same time. 两者兼得；两全其美；两面讨好；脚踏两头船。◆ John wants to keep both his wife and his mistress; he doesn't understand that he must choose — you can't have it both ways. 约翰既想保住老婆又想保住情妇；他不明白他必须两者之间择其一——你不可能两者兼得。

have it coming　v. phr. To deserve the good or bad things that happen to you. 应得；活该。◆ I feel sorry about Jack's failing that course, but he had it coming to him. 我对杰克那门课没及格感到遗憾，但他也是活该。◆ Everybody said that Eve had it coming when she won the scholarship. 大家都说伊芙赢得奖学金是应该的。

have it in for　v. phr., informal To wish or mean to harm; have a bitter feeling against. 〖非正式〗总想伤害；对…有恶感。◆ After John beat Ted in a fight, Ted always had it in for John. 约翰在打架时打了泰德后，泰德一直想对约翰进行报复。

have it made　v. phr., slang To be sure of success; have everything you need. 〖俚〗有成功的把握；需要的东西样样都有。◆ With her fine grades Alice has it made and can enter any college in the country. 凭她优异的成绩，艾丽斯肯定能进入国内任何一所大学。

have it out　v. phr. To settle a difference by a free discussion or by a fight. 通过讨论（或斗争）解决分歧；（同某人）一决雌雄；辩个明白。◆ The former friends finally decided to have it out in a free argument and they became friends again. 昔日的好友最后决定畅所欲言，通过辩论解决分歧，结果又和好如初。

have it over or have it all over　v. phr. To be better than; be superior to. 比…好；胜过，优于。◆ A jeep has it over a regular car on rough mountain trails. 在崎岖的山路上行驶，吉普车优于普通汽车。

have lots (everything) going for one　v. phr. To have abilities or qualities that help in achieving one's goal; assets working in one's favor. 有许多（帮助实现目标的）才能或品质；有许多长处。◆ The young woman will surely get the job; she has everything going for her. 那位年轻的女子肯定会得到那份工作；她有很多优点。

have no business　v. phr. To have no right or reason. 没有权利；没有理由。◆ Jack had no business saying those nasty things about Dick. 杰克没有理由说关于狄克的那些坏话。

have none of　v. phr. To refuse to approve or allow. 不同意；不允许。◆ The boss said she would have none of Mike's arguing. 老板说她不许迈克争辩。

have nothing on or not have anything on　v. phr. 1. Not to be any better than; to have no advantage over. 比不上；不及。◆ Although the Smiths have a Rolls Royce, they have nothing on the Jones' who have a Cadillac and a Jaguar. 虽然史密斯家有一辆劳斯莱斯，但他们还是比不上琼斯家，因为琼斯家拥有一辆凯迪拉克和一辆捷豹。2. To have no information or proof that someone broke the law. 缺乏指控（某人）有罪的证据；没有（某人）犯法的材料或证据。◆ Mr. James was not worried when he was arrested because he was sure they had nothing on him. 詹姆斯先生被捕时并不担心，因为他确信他们没有掌握他什么证据。

have nothing to do with　v. phr. To not be involved with; not care about. 跟…没有关系；不关心。◆ Our firm has nothing to do with oil from the Near East; we are interested in solar energy. 我们公司不关心近东的石油；我们感兴趣的是太阳能。

have off　v. phr. To not have to work, such as on weekends or on holidays. 不工作，不上班；休息，休假。◆ "May I speak to John?" a customer at the store asked. "I am afraid you can't, he has his day off."“我能跟约翰说句话吗？”店里的一位顾客问。“恐怕不能，他今天休息。”

have on　v. 1. To be dressed in; wear. 穿着；戴着。◆ Mary had on her new dress. 玛丽穿着她的新套裙。2. To have (something) planned; have an appointment; plan to do. 安排好做（某事）；有约会；计划做。◆ I'm sorry I can't attend your party, but I have a meeting on for that night. 很抱歉我不能参加你们的聚会，那天晚上我要开个会。

have one's ass in a sling　v. phr., slang, vulgar, avoid! To be in an uncomfortable predicament; to be in the doghouse; to be at a disadvantage. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗陷入尴尬处境；失宠；处于不利地位。◆ Al sure had his ass in a sling when the boss found out about his juggling the account. 艾尔做假账的事被老板发现后，他无疑陷入了尴尬的处境。

have one's cake and eat it too　v. phr. To enjoy two opposite advantages. 两者兼得。◆ You can either spend your money goig to Europe or save it for a down payment on a house, but you can't do both. That would be having your cake and eating it, too. 你要么去欧洲旅游把钱花掉，要么把钱省下来作为购房的首付款，但你不可能两件事都办到。那就等于你又要留下蛋糕，又要把它吃掉。

have one's ears on　v. phr., slang, citizen's band radio jargon To have one's CB radio in receiving condition. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗打开无线电接收机。◆ Good buddy in the eighteen wheeler southbound, got your ears on? 南行货车上的老兄，你的无线电接收机开着吗？

have oneself　v. phr., nonstandard To enjoy — Sometimes used in very informal speech to provide emphasis. 〖非规范〗享受；给自己（某物）；使自己做（某事）——有时用于非常不正式的话语中表示强调。◆ After working hard all day, John had himself a good night's sleep. 辛苦地工作了一整天后，约翰好好地睡了一夜。

have one's fill　v. phr. To be satisfied; be surfeited; be overindulged. 满足；厌腻；过分沉溺。◆ Howard says he's had his fill of expensive golf tournaments in Europe. 霍华德说他已经厌腻了欧洲奢华的高尔夫锦标赛。

have one's fling　v. phr. To have one or more romantic and/or sexual experiences, usually before marriage. （通常指婚前）恣意行乐；尽情放纵。◆ Jack has had his fling and now seems to be ready to get married and settle down. 杰克已经纵情玩乐过，现在似乎已准备好结婚安顿下来了。

have one's hand in the till　See见ROB THE TILL.

have one's hands full　v. phr. To have as much work as you can do; be very busy. 手头工作应接不暇；非常忙。◆ The plumber said that he had his hands full and could not take another job for two weeks. 装修水管的管子工说，他手头的工作已应接不暇，两周内不能另外接活儿了。

have one's head in the sand　See见HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.

have one's head screwed on backwards　v. phr. To lack common sense; behave in strange and irrational ways. 缺乏常识；行为怪异无理性。◆ Henry seems to have his head screwed on backwards; he thinks the best time to get a suntan is when it is raining and to sleep with his shoes on. 亨利似乎脑子有问题；他认为把皮肤晒黑的最好时机是在下雨时，而且要穿着鞋睡觉。

have one's moments　v. phr. An expression describing someone's positive or negative behavior in the past. 也有得意（或走运、出风头、欢乐、倒霉等）的时刻。◆ John is generally a kind person, but his daughter says that he, too, had his moments. 约翰通常对人很和蔼，但他的女儿说他也有发火的时候。◆ Mr. White is generally very stingy with his money, but when he saw real need he, too, had his moments of generosity. 怀特先生通常很吝惜钱财，但看到真正需要的东西，他也有过出手大方的时候。

have one's way　v. phr. To make one's will prevail over that of others. 随心所欲；想怎样就怎样。◆ Jim is a very strong-willed person; he wants to have his way all the time. 吉姆是个非常刚愎自用的人；他想一直随心所欲，想怎样就怎样。

have one's wits about one　v. phr. To be alert; remain calm; not panic. 警觉；保持冷静；不惊慌。◆ Sam was the only one who kept his wits about him when the floodwaters of the Mississippi broke into our yard. 当密西西比河的洪水涌入我们的院子时，萨姆是唯一保持冷静的人。

have one's work cut out　See见CUT OUT 1.

have qualms about　v. phr. To feel uneasy about; hesitate about something. 对…感到不安；对…怀有疑虑。◆ Mike had no qualms in telling Sue that he was no longer in love with her. 迈克毫无内疚地对苏说他不再爱她了。

have rocks in one's head　v. phr., informal To be stupid; not have good judgment. 〖非正式〗愚蠢；神经不正常。◆ When Mr. James quit his good job with the coal company to begin teaching school, some people thought he had rocks in his head. 当詹姆斯先生辞去煤矿公司的好工作而开始在学校教书时，有些人认为他是脑子发了昏。

have sb.'s ear　v. phr. To have access to someone in power; receive audiences rather frequently. （意见等）得到某人的倾听；跟某人说得上话。◆ The national security advisor has the president's ear. 国家安全顾问跟总统说得上话。

have sb.'s hide　v. phr., informal To punish severely. 〖非正式〗严惩某人。◆ John's mother said she would have his hide if he was late to school again. 约翰的母亲说，如果他上学再迟到，她就要严厉惩罚他。

have second thoughts about　See见SECOND THOUGHT(S).

have seen better days　See见SEE BETTER DAYS.

have (someone) by the balls　v. phr., slang, vulgar, avoidable To have someone at a disadvantage or in one's power. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗抓住（某人）的小辫子（而可任意摆布），控制（或操纵）（某人）。◆ The kidnappers had the company by the balls for six long weeks. 绑架者摆布这家公司长达6星期之久。

have (someone) over　v. phr. To invite someone; to treat someone to a meal, a snack, or some conversation at one's home. 请（某人）来家作客（吃饭或交谈等）。◆ Our new neighbors really seem like nice people; shouldn't we have them over to our place? 我们的新邻居真的看上去很不错；我们是否应该请他们来我们家作客？

have (something) down pat　v. phr. To know the details of something entirely, in every detail. 对（某事、某物）完全掌握，了解得很透彻；对（某事、某物）记得一清二楚。◆ "Can we trust Jim with making that deal with our Japanese partners?" the company director asked. "I am sure we can," Jim's supervisor answered. "He has all the details down pat." “我们能委托吉姆跟我们的日本合伙人达成那项协议吗？”公司经理问。“肯定能，”吉姆的主管回答说。“他对所有的细节都了如指掌。”

have (something) going for one　v. phr., slang, informal To have ability, talent; good looks, and/or influence in important places helping one to be successful. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗具有获得成功的有利条件（如才能、姿色、影响等）。◆ Well now, Pat Jones, that's another story — she's got something going for her. 至于帕特·琼斯，那就不同啦——她具有获得成功的有利条件。

have something on　v. phr., informal To have information or proof that someone did something wrong. 〖非正式〗握（某人做错事或犯法）的材料（或证据）；掌握（某人）的把柄。◆ Although Miss Brown is not a good worker, her boss does not fire her because she has something on him. 虽然布朗小姐工作得不好，但她的老板因有把柄落在她手中而没有解雇她。

have something on the ball　v. prh., slang, colloquial To be smart, clever; to be skilled and have the necessary knowhow. 〖俚〗〖口〗很精明；很聪明；有才干。◆ You can trust Syd; he's got a lot on the ball OR he's got something on the ball. 你可以信赖希德；他很有两下子。

have the blues　See见FEEL BLUE.

have the constitution of an ox　v. phr. To be able to work extremely hard and to have the stamina to overcome misfortune. 具有像牛一般强壮的体格，体壮如牛。◆ Stan, who has lost both of his parents within one year and is constantly working late, seems to be indestructible, as if he had the constitution of an ox. 斯坦在一年之内父母双亡，而且经常工作到很晚，但他似乎摧不垮，像是有着牛一般强壮的体格。

have the courage of one's convictions　v. phr. To be brave enough to act according to your beliefs. 敢于按自己的信念行事。◆ Steve showed that he had the courage of his convictions by refusing to help another student cheat in the exam. 斯蒂夫表明他敢于坚持自己的信念，拒绝帮助另一个学生考试作弊。

have the guts to do something　v. phr., informal To be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous. 〖非正式〗有勇气做某事。◆ Jack wants to marry Jill, but he doesn't have the guts to pop the question. 杰克想和吉尔结婚，但他却没有勇气提出这个问题。

have the last laugh or get the last laugh　v. phr. To make someone seem foolish for having laughed at you. 笑在最后。◆ Other schools laughed at us when our little team entered the state championship, but we had the last laugh when we won it. 当我们这个小学校的校队参加州的锦标赛时，别的学校都嘲笑我们，但我们却赢得了冠军，笑到了最后。

have the lead　v. phr. To occupy the most prominent part in something. 担任主角；领先。◆ Maria has the lead in our school play. 玛丽亚在我们学校演出的戏剧中担任主角。

have the makings of　v. phr. To possess the basic ingredients; have the basic qualities to do something. 具备成为…的基本要素；具备做（某事）的基本素质。◆ Tom is still young but the seems to have the makings of an excellent pianist. 汤姆还年轻，但他似乎具备了成为一名优秀钢琴家的素质。

have the right-of-way　v. phr. To have priority in proceeding in traffic on a public highway while other vehicles must yield and wait. 有优先通行权。◆ "Go ahead," he said. "We have the right-of-way at this intersection." “继续开，”他说。“我们在这个十字路口有优先通行权。”

have or hold the whip over　v. phr. To control; dominate. 控制；支配。◆ Eugene has always held the whip over his younger brothers and sisters. 尤金一直控制着他的弟弟妹妹们。

have time on one's hands　v. phr. To have the leisure to do something; to be free to do something. 有时间（做某事）；很空闲。◆ Let Aunt Mary do some baby-sitting for us next month; she has recently retired, her children are gone, and she has time on her hands. 下个月让玛丽阿姨为我们临时照看一下孩子吧；她最近刚退休，她的子女都不在身边，她有时间做这事。

have time to kill　v. phr. To be free to spend one's time idly, playing, or pursuing one's favorite hobby or sport. 有时间消遣（或玩耍、从事业余爱好或运动）。◆ Come on and let's play some ping-pong. I've got some time to kill and you, too, can use a bit of relaxation. 来，咱们打一会儿乒乓吧。我现在有一些时间可以运动运动，而你也可以放松一下了。

have to do with　v. phr. 1. To be about; be on the subject of or connected with. 与…有关；关于。◆ The book has to do with airplanes. 这本书与飞机有关。2. To know or be a friend of; work or have business with. — Usually used in negative sentence. 和…有交往；和…有业务关系。——通常用于否定句。◆ Tom said he didn't want to have anything to do with the new boy. 汤姆说他不想和那个新来的男孩来往。

have two strikes against one or have two strikes on one　v. phr., informal To have things working against you; be hindered in several ways; be in a difficult situation; be unlikely to succeed. 〖非正式〗处于不利地位；多方受阻；处境不妙；不大可能成功。◆ Children from the poorest parts of a city often have two strikes against them before they enter school. 城市贫民区的孩子要上学往往困难重重。

have what it takes　v. phr. To be suited to do something; to possess the ability, skill, and qualifications to carry out a certain task. 适合（做某事）；具备（做某事）所需的才能、技术和资格。◆ "Can we make John vice president of the firm?" the director asked. "He certainly has what it takes," John's supervisor replied. “我们能任命约翰担任那家公司的副总裁吗？”经理问。“他无疑具备担任此职的一切条件，”约翰的主管回答说。

have words with　v. phr. To quarrel with someone; to argue; to have a heated verbal contest. 和（某人）争吵，和（某人）争论。◆ "Why is Mom so upset?" Suzie asked. "She and Dad had words again," Suzie's brother replied. “为什么妈妈那么不开心？”苏茜问。“她和爸爸又吵过了，”苏茜的弟弟回答说。

head above water　n. phr. out of difficulty; clear of trouble. 摆脱困难；免除麻烦。◆ Business at the store is bad. They can't keep their heads above water. 店里生意很糟，他们无法维持生计。

head and shoulders　adv. phr. 1. By the measure of the head and shoulders. 以头和肩之差。◆ The basketball player is head and shoulders taller than the other boys. 那位篮球运动员比其他男孩高出了一个头。2. By far; by a great deal; very much. 远远地；大大地；很多。◆ She is head and shoulders above the rest of the class in singing. 在唱歌方面，她比班上其他人好得多。

head back　v. phr. To start to return to the place where one came from. （开始）返回。◆ "It's raining; l think we'd better head back and try to reach the other side of the mountain tomorrow," the leader of the excursion advised his companions. “下雨了；我看我们最好返回原处，明天再想法赶到山的另一边，”远足队队长劝他的同伴们说。

head for　v. phr. To go in the direction of. 朝…方向行进；走向。◆ We left early in the morning and headed for Niagara Falls. 我们一早出发前往尼亚加拉瀑布。

head for the hills　v. phr., informal To get far away in a hurry; run away and hide. — Often used imperatively. 〖非正式〗快跑得远远的；跑开躲起来。——常用作命令。◆ Head for the hills. The bandits are coming. 快跑。强盗要来了。

head-hunting　n., slang informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. The custom of seeking out, decapitating, and preserving the heads of enemies as trophies 割取敌人首级作为战利品保存的风俗。2. A search for qualified individuals to fill certain positions. 物色人才。◆ The president sent a committee to the colleges and universities to do some head-hunting; we hope he finds some young talent. 总裁派出一个委员会去各大学物色人才；希望他能发现一些青年才俊。3. A systematic destruction of opponents, especially in politics. 消除敌手；清除政敌。◆ Billings was hired by the party to do some head-hunting among members of the opposition. 比林斯被该党雇去清除反对党的一些成员。

head in the clouds　See见IN THE CLOUDS.

head in the sand　See见HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.

head off　v. 1. To get in front of and stop, turn back, or turn aside. 上前拦住使退回（或转向一边）；拦截。◆ The sheriff said to head the cattle thieves off at the pass. 警长说要在山口拦截偷牛贼。2. To block; stop; prevent. 阻止；防止。◆ He will get into trouble if someone doesn't head him off. 如果没有人阻止他，他会陷入麻烦的。

head off for the four winds　v. phr. To go in all directions of the compass. 向四面八方前进。◆ The U. S. Marines and Infantry had to head off for the four winds in Iraq to liberate the country. 美国海军陆战队和步兵部队不得不在伊拉克全面进击以解放这个国家。

head-on　adj. or adv. phr. 1. With the head or front pointing at; with the front facing; front end to front end. 头对头；头朝前；正面。◆ Our car skidded into a head-on crash with the truck. 我们的汽车侧滑而与那辆卡车正面相撞。◆ In the fog the boat ran head-on into a log. 船在雾中一头撞上了一根木头。2. In a way that is exactly opposite; against or opposed to in argument. 迎头；正面针对。◆ If you think a rule should be changed, a head-on attack against it is best. 如果你认为某项规则要改，最好对它进行针锋相对的攻击。

head out　v. 1. To go or point away. 朝特定方向行进；（使）面朝特定方向。◆ The ship left port and headed out to sea. 那艘船离开港口驶向大海。◆ The car was parked beside the house. It was headed out towards the street. 汽车停放在房子旁边，车头朝着大街。2. informal Leave; start out. 〖非正式〗出发；启程。◆ I have a long way to go before dark. I'm going to head out. 天黑之前我还有很长一段路要走。我现在就准备动身。

head over heels also heels over head　1a. In a somersault; upside down; head fast. 头朝下地；颠倒地。◆ It was so dark Bob fell head over heels into a big hole in the ground. 天很黑，鲍勃一个跟头跌进了地上的一个大洞里。1b. In great confusion or disorder; hastily. 纷乱地；匆忙地。◆ The children all tried to come in the door at once, head over heels. 孩子们都想一起挤进门，结果乱成了一团。2. informal Completely; deeply. 〖非正式〗完全地；深深地。◆ He was head over heels in debt. 他背了一身债。◆ She was head over heels in love. 她深深地坠入了爱河。

head shrinker　n., slang, informal A psychoanalyst, also called a shrink. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗精神病医生；精神分析学家。—亦称作shrink. ◆ Forrester is falling apart; his family physician sent him to a head shrinker (to a shrink). 福雷斯特的精神要崩溃了；他的家庭医生把他送到一位精神病医生那儿去治疗。

heads or tails　n. phr. The two sides of a coin, especially when the coin is tossed in the air in order to decide which of two alternatives are to be followed. 正面还是反面（掷钱币打赌或做决定时用语）。◆ Tom tossed a quarter in the air and said, "Tails, I win; heads you win." 汤姆掷了一个25美分的硬币，然后说：“反面我赢；正面你赢。”

head start　n. 1. A beginning before someone; lead or advantage at the beginning. 先启动；领先。◆ The other racers knew they couldn't catch Don if he got too big a head start. 其他赛跑者都知道，如果唐一开始就领先太多，他们就追不上了。2. A good beginning. 良好的开端。◆ The teacher gave the class a head start on the exercise by telling them the answers to the first two problems. 老师把头两道题的答案告诉了全班同学，使他们做练习有了一个良好的开端。

head up　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To be at the head or front of. 在…的最前面。◆ The elephants headed up the whole parade. 象群走在游行队伍的最前列。2. To be the leader or boss of. 领导；带领。◆ Mr. Jones will head up the new business. 琼斯先生将出任新公司的负责人。

heap coals of fire on sb.'s head　v. phr., literary To be kind or helpful to somone who has done wrong to you, so that he is ashamed. 〖文〗对某人以德报怨而使之感到羞愧。◆ Alice heaped coals of fire on Mary's head by inviting her to a party after Mary had gossiped about her. 玛丽在背后散布艾丽斯的流言飞语后，艾丽斯却邀请她参加晚会，使她如炭火堆头，羞愧难当。

hear a pin drop　v. phr. Absolute silence. 静得连针掉在地上也听得见。◆ It's so quiet in the room you could hear a pin drop. 房间里极静，连针掉在地上也听得见。

hear from someone　v. phr. To receive news. 得到某人的消息；收到某人的信（或电话等）。◆ Have you heard from your son recently? 最近收到你儿子的消息没有？

heart and soul^1　n. Eager love; strong feeling; great enthusiasm. — Often used with a singular verb. 热切的爱；强烈的感情；巨大的热情。——与动词连用常用作单数。◆ When Mr. Pitt plays the piano, his heart and soul is in it. 皮特先生弹奏钢琴时，把整个的心力都投了进去。

heart and soul^2　adv. Wholly and eagerly; with all one's interest and strength; completely. 全心全意地；尽心尽意地；完全地。◆ Will you try to make our city a better place? Thenwe are with you heart and soul. 你会努力使我们的城市变得更好吗？那我们就全心全意地与你站在一起。

heart bleeds for someone　v. phr. To show exaggerated sympathy for some one, said ironically. 〖讽〗心为某人流血；衷心同情某人。◆ "I won the lottery and now I am worried about what to do with all that money," John said. "My heart really bleeds for you," his brother answered with a sneer. “我买彩票中了大奖，现在反倒担心该拿这一大笔钱怎么办了，”约翰说。“我真同情你的不幸啊，”他的弟弟讥讽地回答说。

heartbreaker　n. One with numerous admirers of the opposite sex; one with whom others fall in love readily. 有许多异性爱慕者的人；令人动情的人。◆ Tom, who has four girls in love with him at college, has developed the reputation of being a heartbreaker. 汤姆在大学里有4个姑娘热恋着他，从而赢得了“人见人爱”的名声。

heart goes out to　formal You feel very sorry for; you feel pity or sympathy for. — Used with a possessive. 〖正式〗对…感到非常难过；对…深表同情。——与表示属有关系的词连用。◆ Our hearts went out to the young mother whose child had died. 我们对那位死了孩子的年轻母亲深感同情。

heart in one's mouth or heart in one's boots　A feeling of great fear or nervousness. 极为恐惧；非常紧张。◆ When the bear came out of the woods towards us, our hearts were in our mouths. 当那头熊走出树林向我们逼近时，我们都极为恐惧。

heart is in the right place or have one's heart in the right place.　To be kindhearted, sympathetic or wellmeaning; have good intentions. 心地善良；怀有善意。◆ Tom looks very rough but his heart is in the right place. 汤姆看上去很粗野，但心地却很善良。

heart miss a beat　See见HEART SKIP A BEAT.

heart of gold　n. phr. A kind, generous, or forgiving nature. 金子般的心，美好的心灵。◆ John has a heart of gold. I never saw him angry at anyone. 约翰心地非常善良。我从未见他对任何人发过怒。◆ Mrs. Brown is a rich woman with a heart of gold. 布朗太太是个心地非常善良的富人。

heart of stone　n. phr. A nature without pity. 铁石心肠。◆ Mr. Smith has a heart of stone. He whipped his horse until it fell down. 史密斯先生有着一副铁石心肠。他用鞭子抽他的马一直抽到它倒下。

heart of the matter　n. phr. The essence of something. 事情的实质。◆ The heart of the matter is that if you want to succeed in life you must work harder than the average person. 事情的实质是，如果你想在人生道路上有所作为，你就必须比一般人工作得更努力。

heart set　See见SET ONE'S HEART ON.

heart sink　To lose hope, courage, or eagerness; be very disappointed. 心直往下沉；灰心；失望。◆ The soldiers' hearts sank when they saw that they were surrounded by Iraqis. 士兵们看到自己被伊拉克人所包围，心直往下沉。

heart skip a beat or heart miss a beat　1. The heart leaves out or seems to leave out a beat; the hear beats hard or leaps from excitement or strong feeling. 心跳停一拍；（因激动等）心跳加快；（因激动、恐惧等）心要跳出来。◆ When Paul saw the bear standing in front of him, his heart skipped a beat. 保罗看到那头熊站在他面前，吓得心都要跳出来了。2. To be startled or excited from surprise, joy, or fright. 惊吓；惊讶；惊喜。◆ When Linda was told that she had won, her heart missed a beat. 琳达得知自己获胜时，又惊又喜。

heart stand still　v. phr. To be very frightened or worried. 吓呆了；忧心忡忡。◆ Everybody's heart stood still when the President announced that war was declared. 当总统宣布已经宣战时，每个人都忧心忡忡。

heart-stopper　n. phr. Something such as bad news that causes great surprise or even shock. 惊心动魄的表演（或动作、事件等）；惊人的坏消息。◆ It was a heart-stopper for the Smith family when they got word that their son was killed in action. 得知儿子阵亡的消息，史密斯一家都惊呆了。

heart-to-heart　adj. Speaking freely and seriously about something private. 坦诚的；推心置腹的。◆ The father decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with his son about smoking. 父亲决定就吸烟的事与儿子谈谈心。

hearty of the party or life and soul of the party　v. phr. The liveliest, most attractive person at a gathering of friends, the one to whom most people pay attention. 社交聚会的灵魂（或中心）人物，活跃分子。◆ No matter how hard she was trying, Helen could not compete with Vanessa, who once more turned out to be the hearty of the party. 无论海伦怎么努力，她都无法与瓦尼萨竞争，后者再次成为晚会的灵魂人物。◆ John is always the life and soul of the party. 约翰一向是晚会的中心人物。

heated argument　n. phr. A loud, often violent quarrel; a shouting match. 激烈的争论。◆ "What's all that noise?" my guests asked. "Nothing special," I answered. "My youthful neighbors are having one of their heated arguments." “那是什么声音呀？”我的客人们问。“没什么特别的，”我回答说。“我年轻的邻居又在激烈地争论呢。”

heated retort　n. phr. Angry reply; furious rebuttal; passionate reply. 愤怒的回答；愤怒的反驳。◆ When his boss scolded him for a poor quarter in earnings, John made a heated retort and blamed the company's situation on the boss. 当老板为了季度赢利欠佳而叱责他时，约翰愤怒地加以反驳，把公司的现状归咎于老板。

heat wave　n. phr. A period of very hot weather. 热浪；酷暑期。◆ The Midwest was experiencing an unusually severe heat wave. 中西部当时正经受着一段罕见的酷暑期。Contrast 对照COLD SPELL.

heave in sight　v. phr. To seem to rise above the horizon at sea and come into sight; come into view; become visible. — Usually used of ships. 出现在地平线上；进入视野；可被见到。——通常用以指船。◆ A ship hove in sight many miles away on the horizon. 一艘船出现在很多英里以外的地平线上。

heaven knows or heaven only knows　See见GOD KNOWS.

heavenly days!　interj., informal Exclamation of amazement and disbelief with negative coloring. 〖非正式〗天哪！（表示惊讶和不信，带有否定色彩。）◆ Heavenly days! Look what happened! The dog did it again on the Persian carpet! 天哪！看看发生了什么吧！那狗又在波斯地毯上撒尿啦！

heave to　v. To bring a ship to a stop; bring a sailing ship to a stand-still by setting the sails in a certain way. 停船；顶风停航。◆ "Heave to!" the captain shouted to his crew. “停船！”船长对船员们喊道。◆ We fired a warning shot across the front of the pirate ship to make her heave to. 我们向海盗船首鸣枪示警，命令它停下来。

heavy-duty　adj. Made for long or hard use; very strong. 耐用的；重型的；强力的。◆ The lumberman used heavy-duty trucks for hauling logs down the mountains. 伐木工人用重型卡车把原木拖下山。

heavy-footed　adj. 1. Slow and clumsy in walking or movement; awkward in using your feet. 脚步沉重的；步态笨拙的。◆ The fat man tried to dance, but he was too heavy-footed. 那个胖子想跳舞，但他脚步太笨重了。2. Awkward in choice and order of words; not smooth and graceful; clumsy. 文体冗赘的；笨拙的。◆ In Mary's compositions, the words seem to dance, but John's compositions are always heavy-footed. 玛丽的作文用词灵活，但约翰的作文却总是不流畅。3. or lead-footed informal Likely to drive an automobile fast. 〖非正式〗爱超速行驶的；爱开快车的。◆ Jerry is a bad driver because he is too heavy-footed. 杰里是个不守规矩的司机，因为他喜欢开快车。

heavy-handed　adj. 1. Not skillful or graceful; clumsy. 不熟练的；不文雅的；笨拙的。◆ George is heavy-handed and seldom catches the ball. 乔治手脚笨拙，很少接得住球。2. Likely to hit or punish hard; harsh or cruel in making (someone) obey. 严厉的；残忍的；暴虐的。◆ Years ago many fathers were heavy-handed bosses in their homes. 多年以前，许多父亲在家中是严厉的家长。

heavy heart　n. phr. A feeling of being weighed down with sorrow; unhappiness. 沉重的心情。◆ They had very heavy hearts as they went to the funeral. 他们去参加葬礼时心情都很沉重。

heck of it　See见DEVIL OF IT.

hedge about or hedge in　1. To surround with a hedge or barrier; protect or separate by closing in. 用树篱（或其他障碍物）围住（或隔开）。◆ The little garden is hedged in to keep the chickens out. 那个小花园用篱笆围着以防止鸡跑进来。2. To keep from getting out or moving freely; keep from acting freely; block in. 围住；限制行动自由。◆ The boys are hedged in today. They can only play in the backyard. 男孩们今天受到了限制。他们只能在后院玩。

heels over head　See见HEAD OVER HEELS.

he laughs best who laughs last　A person should go ahead with what he is doing and not worry when others laugh at him. When he succeeds he will enjoy laughing at them for being wrong more than they enjoyed laughing at him. — A proverb. 〖谚〗谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好。◆ Everyone laughed at Mary when she was learning to ski. She kept falling down. Now she is the state champion. He laughs best who laughs last. 玛丽学习滑雪时，大家都笑她，因为她一直摔倒。现在她是州冠军。谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好。

hell and high water　n. phr. Troubles or difficulties of any kind. 任何麻烦；任何困难。◆ After John's father died he went through hell and high water, but he managed to keep the family together. 父亲去世后，约翰经历了重重困难，但他还是设法保住了这个家。

hell-on-wheels　n., slang A short-tempered, nagging, or crabby person especially one who makes another unhappy by constantly criticizing him even when he has done nothing wrong. 〖俚〗脾气暴躁一味指责的人。◆ Finnegan complains that his wife is hell on wheels; he is considering getting a divorce. 芬尼根抱怨他太太是个母夜叉；他正在考虑离婚。

help oneself　v. phr. To take what you want; take rather than ask or wait to be given. 自取，自用。◆ Help yourself to another piece of pie. 请再吃一块馅饼吧。

help out　v. 1. To be helpful or useful; help sometimes or somewhat. 帮忙干活；做帮手。◆ Mr. Smith helps out with the milking on the farm. 史密斯先生在农场帮着挤奶。◆ Tom helps out in the store after school. 汤姆放学后在店里帮着干活。2. To help (someone) especially in a time of need; aid; assist. （尤指在需要时）帮助（某人）。◆ Jane is helping out Mother by minding the baby. 简正帮着母亲照顾婴儿。

helter-skelter　adv. 1. At a fast speed, but in confusion. 匆促忙乱地。◆ When the bell rang, the pupils ran helter-skelter out of the door. 铃一响，小学生们便乱哄哄地跑出了教室门。2. In a confusing group; in disorder. 杂乱地；混乱地。◆ The movers piled the furniture helter-skelter in the living room of the new house. 搬场公司的人把家具乱七八糟地堆在新房子的起居室里。

he-man　n., informal A man who is very strong, brave,and healthy. 〖非正式〗男子汉；强健的汉子。◆ Larry was a real he-man when he returned from service with the Marines. 拉里从海军陆战队服役回来时，变成了一个真正的男子汉。

hem and haw　v. phr. 1. To pause or hesitate while speaking, often with little throat noises. 说话嗯嗯呃呃；吞吞吐吐；支支吾吾。◆ The man was a poor lecturer because he hemmed and hawed too much. 那个人不太会演说，因为他说话时嗯嗯呃呃太多。2. To avoid giving a clear answer; be evasive in speech. 搪塞着不表态；闪烁其词，模棱两可。◆ The principal asked Bob why he was late to school, and Bob only hemmed and hawed. 校长问鲍勃为什么上学迟到，鲍勃只是嗯嗯呃呃，不做明确回答。

hen party　n. phr., informal A party to which only women or girls are invited. 〖非正式〗女性聚会。◆ The sorority gave a hen party for its members. 妇女联谊会为其成员举行了一次女性聚会。

here and now^1　adv. phr. At this very time and place; right now; immediately. 此刻；马上；立即。◆ I want my dime back, and I want it here and now. 我要讨回我的10分钱，而且马上就要。

here and now^2　n. The present time and place; today. 现时；目前。◆ "I want my steak here and now!" “我现在就要我的牛排！”

here and there　adv. phr. 1. In one place and then in another. 在多处；到处。◆ Here and there in the yard little yellow flowers had sprung up. 院子里处处开放着小黄花。2. In various directions. 四处。◆ We went here and there looking for berries. 我们四处寻找浆果。

here goes　interj., informal I am ready to begin; I am now ready and willing to take the chance; I am hoping for the best. — Said especially before beginning something that takes skill, luck, or courage. 〖非正式〗我这就开始了；看我的。——说话人在开始做某种需要技术、运气或勇气的事情前说的话。◆ "Here goes!" said Charley, as he jumped off the high diving board. “我开始跳了！”查理从高高的跳水板上跳下时说。

here goes nothing　interj., informal 〖非正式〗I am ready to begin, but this will be a waste of time; this will not be anything great; this will probably fail. — Used especially before beginning something that takes skill, luck or courage. 这只是浪费时间；这不会成什么大气候；这可能会失败。——说话人在开始做某种需要技术、运气或勇气的事情前说的话。◆ "Here goes nothing," said Bill at the beginning of the race. “没什么希望，”比尔在开始比赛时说。

here to day and gone to morrow　See见FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE.

here we are or here we are again　See见THERE YOU GO.

hide one's face or hide one's head　v. phr. 1. To lower your head or turn your face away because of shame or embarrassment. （因羞愧或受窘而）低下头；转过脸去。◆ The teacher found out that Tom had cheated, and Tom hid his head. 老师发现汤姆作弊，汤姆羞愧地低下了头。2. To feel embarrassed or ashamed. 感到窘迫；感到羞愧。◆ We will beat the other team so badly that they will hide their heads in shame. 我们要把对方打得落花流水，让他们羞愧得抬不起头来。

hide one's head in the sand or bury one's head in the sand or have one's head in the sand　To keep from seeing, knowing, or understanding something dangerous or unpleasant; to refuse to see or face something. 不正视现实；逃避现实；采取鸵鸟政策。◆ If there is a war, you cannot just bury your head in the sand. 如果有战争，你就不能不正视现实。

hide one's light under a bushel　v. phr. To be very shy and modest and not show your abilities or talents; be too modest in letting others see what you can do. 不露锋芒；不显露自己的才能；过分谦虚。◆ All year long Tom hid his light under a bushel and the teacher was surprised to see how much he knew when she read his exam paper. 整整一年汤姆都深藏不露，直到老师看了他的试卷才惊讶地发现他知识很丰富。

hide or hair or hide nor hair　n. phr., informal A sign or trace of someone that is gone or lost; any sign at all of something missing. — Usually used in negative or interrogative sentence. 〖非正式〗（失踪的人或物的）影踪；踪迹；痕迹。——通常用于否定句或疑问句。◆ Tommy left the house this morning and I haven't seen hide or hair of him since. 汤米今天早晨离开家，此后我连他的影子也没看到。◆ A button fell off my coat and I could find neither hide nor hair of it. 我上衣上掉了一粒纽扣，我怎么找也找不到。

hide out　v. phr. To go into hiding, as in the case of a criminal on the run. 躲藏起来。◆ He tried to hide out but the police tracked him down. 他企图躲藏起来，但警察还是把他捕获归案了。

hideout　n. A place where one hides. 躲藏处。◆ The wanted criminal used several hideouts but he was captured in the end. 那个被通缉的罪犯用了几处藏身之地，但最后还是被捕获了。

high and dry　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Up above the water; beyond the reach of splashing or waves. 不在水中；在水流（或潮水）达不到的地方。◆ Mary was afraid she had left her towel where the tide would reach it, but she found it high and dry. 玛丽担心自己把浴巾丢在了潮水可以涌到的地方，但她发现它在潮水到不了的地方。2. Without anyone to help; alone and with no help. 无人帮忙；孤立无援。◆ When the time came to put up the decorations, Mary was left high and dry. 到开始要把装饰品放上去时，就只剩下玛丽一个人在干活了。

high and low　adv. Everywhere. 上上下下，到处。◆ The police were searching for the criminal high and low, but they couldn't find him. 警察到处在搜寻那名罪犯，但一直没能找到他。

high-and-mighty　adj., informal Feeling more important or superior to someone else; too proud of yourself. 〖非正式〗自命不凡的；高傲的；不可一世的。◆ Mary became high-and-mighty when she won the prize, and Joan would not go around with her any more. 玛丽获奖后就变得神气活现了，于是琼就不愿再和她在一起了。

high as a kite　adj. 1. As excited and happy as one can possibly be. 兴高采烈；兴奋不已；如痴如狂。◆ When Eric won the lottery he was high as a kite. 埃里克中彩后如痴如狂，极为兴奋。2. Intoxicated or under the influence of some drug. 烂醉如泥；被毒品麻醉。◆ Jeff has been drinking again and he is high as a kite. 杰夫又在喝酒，他已烂醉如泥。

highbrow　adj. Very well educated or even over-educated; belonging to the educated middle class; sophisticated. 文化修养很高级的；属于有修养的中产阶级的；不落俗套的。◆ Certain novels are not for everyone and are considered as highbrow entertainment. 某些小说不是为所有人创作的，它们被认为是高雅的消遣读物。

high camp　n., slang, show business 〖俚〗〖娱乐性行业〗1. Kirsch, or pretentious material in bad taste that is still liked by higher class audiences. （上流社会观众仍喜爱的）时新有趣的庸俗矫饰之作；矫揉造作。◆ The Potsdam Quartet is a play full of high camp. 《波茨坦四重奏》是一部平庸拙劣但时新有趣的剧作。2. An exaggerated movie or theater scene that loses believability. （电影、戏剧中）过于夸张的情节（或场面）。◆ Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Sledge Hammer are so full of high camp that no sensible people watch them anymore. 《稻草人和金夫人》及《大锤》中充斥着过于夸张的情节，明智的人们都不再看它们了。middle camp and low camp refer to theatrical kitsch preferred by middle class and low class audiences, respectively. middle camp和low camp分别指中产阶级观众和下层社会观众喜爱的戏剧作品。

high-class　adj. Of the best quality; very good; superior. — Avoided by many careful speakers. 高级的；上等的；优质的。——为许多用词考究者忌用。◆ When Mr. Brown got a raise in pay, Mrs. Brown started to look for a high-class apartment. 布朗先生加薪后，布朗太太便开始寻找一套高级公寓了。

higher education　n. Schooling after graduation from high school, especially in a college or university. 高等教育。◆ Tom plans to get his higher education at the state university. 汤姆计划在这所州立大学接受高等教育。

higher-up　n., informal One of the people who has one of the more important positions in an organization; an important official. 〖非正式〗上级，上司；长官。◆ The teacher's problem was discussed by the higher-ups. 头头们讨论了这个老师的问题。

high fashion or high style　n. phr. The new style in women's dress set each season by designers in Paris or other fashion centers and accepted by fashionable women. （女装的）最新款式。◆ The high styles designed in Paris are often quickly copied by makers of cheap clothing. 巴黎设计的最新款式往往很快便被便宜的成衣商抄袭仿效。

high gear　n. phr., informal Top speed; full activity. 〖非正式〗全速，高速；全力进行。◆ Production got into high gear after the vacation. 假期过后生产开始高速进行。

high-handed　adj. Depending on force rather than right; bossy; dictatorial. 高压的；专横的；专制的。◆ Mr. Smith was a high-handed tyrant in his office. 史密斯先生在办公室里俨如一个专制暴君。

high hopes　n. phr. Great expectations. 很高的期望；巨大的希望。◆ John had high hopes of being named vice president of the company, but he lost out to a colleague. 约翰本来很有希望被任命为公司的副总裁，但他却败给了一位同事。

high on　adj. phr. 1. Intoxicated on some drug or alcoholic drink. 毒品麻醉了的；喝醉了的。◆ Rob was severely scolded by the dean for always being high on marijuana. 罗布因老是吸大麻神魂颠倒而受到训导主任的严厉叱责。2. Enthusiastic about something. 热心于，热衷于；特别喜欢。◆ Jeff is high on Beethoven and Brahms. 杰夫特别喜欢贝多芬和勃拉姆斯的作品。

high place　n. phr. A position of responsibility, honor, and power. 高级职位；要职。◆ Jones had reached a high place in the government at Washington. 琼斯在华盛顿担任过政府要职。

high-powered　adj. phr. Extremely energetic and influential. 精力充沛的；能力很强的。◆ Mr. Horner is a high-powered attorney; small wonder he charges so much. 霍纳先生是位能力很强的律师；难怪他收费这么高。

high seas　n. phr. The open ocean, not the waters near the coast. 公海；大海，外海。◆ It was a big powerful liner built to sail on the high seas. 这是一艘为在大海中航行而建造的巨轮。◆ The ships of every country have the right to sail on the high seas. 每个国家的船只都有在公海上航行的权利。

high season　n. phr. The time of year when the largest number of passengers are travelling; the time when airfare costs more. （旅游等的）旺季。◆ We had to pay $100 more for our tickets because it was the high season. 我们买票不得不多付了100美元，因为当时是旅游旺季。

high-sounding　adj. Sounding important; said for showing off; too fancy. 听上去很了不起的；虚夸的；花哨的。◆ The politician's speech was full of high-sounding words. 那位政治家的演说充满了美妙动听的空话。

high-strung　adj. Nervous; sensitive; tense. 神经紧张的；十分敏感的。◆ Gary has been rather high-strung lately because of too much work at the office. 加里因办公室里工作太多最近神经一直很紧张。

high time　adj. phr., used predicatively (stress on time) Dire, necessary, and sufficient circumstances prompting action. （用作表语，重读time）应该立刻做某事的时候。◆ It is high time we sold the old house; it will fall apart within a year. 现在该是把老房子卖掉的时候了；不出一年它就要塌了。

highway robbery　n. phr. 1. A holdup of or theft from a person committed on an open road or street usually by an armed man. 拦路抢劫。◆ Highway robbery was common in England in Shakespeare's day. 在莎士比亚时代的英国，拦路抢劫很普遍。2. An extremely high price or charge; a profiteer's excessive charge. 过高的价格（或要价）。◆ To someone from a small town, the prices of meals and theater tickets in New York often seem to be highway robbery. 对一个小镇上来的人来说，纽约餐馆和戏票的价格往往高得像强盗抢钱一样。

hinge on or hinge upon　v. To depend on as decisive: be decided by. 依…而定；由…决定。◆ In a dictatorship, everything hinges on one man. 在一个独裁国家，一切都由一个人决定。◆ A tobacco grower's income for the year may hinge on what the weather is like in a few summer weeks. 烟草种植者一年的收入很可能就取决于夏季数周的天气如何。

hip to　adj. phr., slang〖俚〗Knowledgeble about something. 对…熟悉的；对…了解的。◆ Ted prides himself on being hip to the latest trends in popular music. 泰德为自己熟悉流行音乐的最新趋势而感到自豪。

hired man　n. phr. A man employed to do jobs every day about a house or farm. 男佣人；农场雇工。◆ The hired man was sick, and a lot of the daily chores were not done. 男佣人病了，家里许多日常的杂活儿都没有做。

hire out　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To accept a job; take employment. 接受雇用。◆ Frank hired out as a saxophonist with a dance band. 弗兰克受雇于一伴舞乐队，吹奏萨克斯管。2. To rent (as owner). 出租。◆ John used to hire out his tractor sometimes when he did't need it himself. 约翰自己不需要用拖拉机的时候，有时就把它租给别人用。

hit-and-run　adj. 1. Of or about an accident after which a motorist drives away without giving his name and offering help. （汽车驾驶员等）肇事后逃跑的。◆ Judges are stern with hit-and-run drivers. 法官对肇事后逃跑的司机判罚很严。2. Striking suddenly and leaving quickly. 打了就跑的。◆ The bandits often made hit-and-run attacks on wagon trains. 强盗们常对马车队进行打了就跑的袭击。

hit a nerve　v. phr. To affect someone strongly and negatively. 触及要害；触到痛处。◆ When John called his sister a hooker, the remark hit a nerve so strongly that she gave him a slap in the face. 约翰骂妹妹是妓女，这话深深地触到了她的痛处，她掴了他一记耳光。

hit a snag or run into trouble　v. phr. To encounter unexpected difficulties or problems. 碰到意外的困难（或障碍）；陷入困境；遇到麻烦。◆ Sam was repairing my broken computer when he suddenly hit a snag, and said that we needed a new hard disk. 萨姆在修理我的坏电脑时，突然碰到了意外的困难，他说我们需要一个新的硬盘。◆ The construction engineer ran into trouble suddenly when he found that the beams were too weak to hold up the walls. 建筑工程师突然陷入了困境，因为他发现横梁太不牢固，支撑不住墙壁。

hit between the eyes　v. phr., informal To make a strong impression on; surprise greatly. 〖非正式〗给…留下深刻印象；使…大为惊讶。◆ To learn that his parents had endured poverty for his sake hit John between the eyes. 得知父母为了他而饱受贫困之苦，约翰大为惊讶。

hit bottom or touch bottom　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To be at the very lowest. 降到最低点。◆ In August there was a big supply of corn and the price hit bottom. 8月，玉米的供应量很大，价格降到了最低点。2. To live through the worst; not to be able to go any lower. 不幸到极点；倒霉到极点。◆ When they lost all their money they thought they had touched bottom and things would have to get better. 他们丢失了所有的钱后，觉得自己已倒霉到了极点，情况必将会好转的。

hitch one's wagon to a star　v. phr. To aim high; follow a great ambition or purpose. 雄怀大志；好高骛远；野心勃勃。◆ John hitched his wagon to a star and decided to try to become President. 约翰野心勃勃想当总统。

hither and thither or hither and yon　adv. phr., literary In one direction and then in another. 〖文〗这儿和那儿；四处。◆ Bob wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate. 鲍勃四处闲逛，寻找玩耍的伙伴。

hit home　v. phr. To go directly to the mark; strike a vulnerable spot. 打中目标；击中要害。◆ His remark hit home when he referred to those who do not contribute sufficiently to the college fund drive. 当他提到那些对学院基金募集运动捐款不够多的人时，他的话触到了他们的痛处。

hit it off　v. phr., informal To enjoy one another's company; be happy and comfortable in each other's presence. 〖非正式〗合得来，相处得好；志趣相投。◆ Tom and Fred hit it off well with each other. 汤姆和弗雷德相处得很好。◆ Mary and Jane hit it off from the first. 玛丽和简从一开始就合得来。

hit on or hit upon　v. To happen to meet, find, or reach; to choose or think by chance. 偶然遇见；偶然发现；偶然找到；碰巧选择；偶然想到。◆ There seemed to be several explanations of the crime, but the detectives hit on the right one the first time. 对此项犯罪似乎有好几种解释，但警探们第一次就想到了正确的解释。

hit on all cylinders　v. phr. 1. To run smoothly or at full power without any missing or skipping. — Said of a motor. （发动机、马达等）运转正常。◆ The mechanic tuned the car engine until it was hitting on all cylinders. 汽车修理工调整汽车引擎，直到它运转正常。2. informal To think or work well; to use all your ability. 〖非正式〗思路清晰；运转正常；竭尽全力。◆ The football team was hitting on all cylinders and scored a big victory. 这支橄榄球队全力以赴，大获全胜。

hit one's stride　v. phr. 1. To walk or run at your best speed; reach your top speed or game. 以最快的速度走（或跑）；达到最佳竞技状态。◆ The horse began to hit his stride and moved ahead of the other horses in the race. 那匹马开始进入最佳状态，跑到了其他参赛马的前头。2. To do your best work; do the best job you are able to. 发挥出最佳水平；专心努力地工作。◆ Mary didn't begin to hit her stride in school until the fifth grade. 玛丽直到5年级才开始努力学习。

hit on someone　v. phr. To flirt with someone. 与某人调情；调戏某人。◆ "Why are you hitting on me?" Suzie asked, "when your pretty wife is standing just a few feet away from us?" “当你漂亮的妻子就站在离我们只有几步远的地方时，你为什么还要跟我调情呢？”苏茜问。

hit-or-miss also hit-and-miss　adj. Unplanned; uncontrolled; aimless; careless. 无计划的；随意的；无目的的；漫不经心的。◆ John did a lot of hit-or-miss reading, some of it about taxes. 约翰漫无目的地读了不少书，其中有一些是关于税务的。◆ Mary packed her bag in hurried, hit-or-miss fashion. 玛丽匆匆忙忙、毫无选择地把东西装进了旅行包。

hit or miss also hit and miss　adv. In an unplanned or uncontrolled way; aimlessly; carelessly. 无计划地；随意地；无目的地；漫不经心地。◆ George didn't know which house on the street was Jane's, so he began ringing doorbells hit or miss. 乔治不知道街上哪幢房子是简的家，所以他便漫无目标地挨家按门铃。

hit parade　n. 1. A list of songs or tunes arranged in order of popularity. 流行歌曲排行榜。◆ Tom was over-joyed when his new song was named on the hit parade on the local radio station. 汤姆的新歌上了当地电台的排行榜时，他欣喜若狂。2. slang A list of favorites in order of popularity. 〖俚〗最喜欢的人的名次表。◆ Jack is no longer number one on Elsie's hit parade. 杰克已不再是埃尔西最喜欢的第一名男友了。

hit someone in the pocket or hit someone in the wallet　v. phr. To hurt someone economically. 加重某人的经济负担。◆ The expenditure of the war against terrorism has hit all of us in the pocket. 反恐战争的花费加重了我们每个人的经济负担。

hit the books　v. phr., informal To study your school assignments, prepare for classes. 〖非正式〗做功课，用功。◆ Jack broke away from his friends, saying, "I've got to hit the books." 杰克突然离开了他的朋友们，一边说道：“我得去做功课了。”

hit the bull's-eye　v. phr., informal To go to the important part of the matter; reach the main question. 〖非正式〗击中要害；触及关键问题。◆ John hit the bull's-eye when he said the big question was one of simple honesty. 约翰说主要的问题是要绝对诚实，这话真是一针见血。

hit the ceiling or hit the roof　v. phr., slang To become violently angry; go into a rage. 〖俚〗勃然大怒；暴跳如雷。◆ When Elaine came home at three in the morning, her father hit the ceiling. 伊莱恩在凌晨3点回到家时，她父亲大发雷霆。

hit the deck　v. phr. To get up from bed, to start working. (From sailor's language as in "All hands on the deck!") 起床，开始干活。（源于水手的语言，如“All hands on the deck!”“全体船员上甲板集合！”）◆ OK boys, it's time to hit the deck! 好了,孩子们，该起床开始干活了！

hit the dirt　v. phr., slang military To take cover under gunfire by falling on the ground. 〖军俚〗（为隐蔽而）卧倒。◆ We hit the dirt the moment we heard the machine gun fire. 我们一听到机枪开火便立刻卧倒了。

hit the fan　v. phr., informal To become a big public problem or controversy. 〖非正式〗成为公众关注（或争议）的大问题。◆ The whole mess hit the fan when the judge was arrested for drunken driving for the second time. 当法官因酒后驾车第二次被拘捕时，这一团糟的混乱情况立即成了公众关注的大问题。

hit the hay or hit the sack　v. phr., slang To go to bed. 〖俚〗上床睡觉。◆ Louis was so tired that he hit the sack soon after supper. 路易斯太累了，所以晚饭后不久就上床睡觉了。

hit the high spots　v. phr. To consider, mention, or see only the more important parts of something such as a book, war, or school course. 只考虑（或提到、观看）主要部分。◆ The first course in general science hits only the high spots of the physical sciences. 普通科学的第一门课程只谈到物理科学的要点。

hit the jackpot　v. phr., slang To be very lucky or successful. 〖俚〗运气很好；非常成功。◆ Mr. Brown invented a new gadget which hit the jackpot. 布朗先生发明了一种新的小型机械装置，非常成功。

hit the nail on the head　v. phr. To get something exactly right; speak or act in the most fitting or effective way. 正中要害；说得好；做得好。◆ The mayor's talk on race relations hit the nail on the head. 市长关于种族关系的讲话非常中肯。

hit the road　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To become a wanderer; to live an idle life; become a tramp or hobo. 开始流浪；四处漂泊。◆ When Jack's wife left him, he felt a desire to travel, so he hit the road. 在妻子离他而去之后，杰克渴望外出旅行，于是他便开始了流浪。2. To leave, especially in a car. 启程；动身；开车上路。◆ It is getting late, so I guess we will hit the road for home. 天晚了，我想我们该动身回家了。◆ He packed his car and hit the road for California. 他把东西装进汽车，然后启程上路驶往加利福尼亚。

hit the roof　See见HIT THE CEILING.

hit the sack　See见HIT THE HAY.

hit the sauce　v. phr., slang To drink alcoholic beverages — especially heavily and habitually. 〖俚〗喝酒；酗酒。◆ When Sue left him, Joe began to hit the sauce. 在苏离他而去之后，乔开始酗酒了。

hit the spot　v. phr., informal To refresh fully or satisfy you; bring back your spirits or strength — used especially of food or drink. 〖非正式〗（尤指食物或饮料）提神；使人满意；使人振作精神，使人恢复活力。◆ A cup of tea always hits the spot when you are tired. 在你疲倦时，喝杯茶总能给你提神。

hitting skins　n. phr., slang Sex. 〖俚〗性交。"What is Jim the best at?" the prospective employer asked. "Not much that I know of," Tracy answered, "except for hitting skins." “吉姆最擅长的是什么？”未来的雇主问。“这方面我知道得不多，”特蕾西说，“只知道他擅长性交。”

hit town　v. phr. To arrive in town. 来到城里；到达市里。◆ Give me a phone call as soon as you hit town. 你一到城里就给我来个电话。

hive of industry　n. phr. An extremely busy place for work. 繁忙的工业区；工作繁忙的地方。◆ Kaiser Industries, Ltd. became a veritable hive of industry during World War II, when it started to build landing craft for the allied forces. 第二次世界大战期间，当凯泽实业有限公司开始为盟军建造登陆艇时，它完全变成了一个极为繁忙的地方。

hoe one's own row　v. phr. To make your way in life by your own efforts; get along without help. 自力更生；独立谋生。◆ David's father died when he was little, and he has always had to hoe his own row. 戴维很小的时候父亲就去世了，所以只得独立谋生。

hog-tie　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To tie (an animal) so it is unable to move or escape. 把（动物）的四肢捆在一起。◆ The Cowboy caught a calf and hog-tied it. 那个牛仔捉住一头小牛，把它的四肢捆在一起。2. To make someone unable to act freely; limit. 束缚；限制。◆ The welfare worker wanted to help at once, but rules and regulations hog-tied her, so she could only report the case. 那位福利工作者很想马上就提供帮助，但规章制度限制着她，所以她只能把情况向上级汇报。

hoist with one's own petard　adj. phr. Caught in your own trap or trick. 搬起石头砸自己的脚；害人反害己。◆ Jack carried office gossip to the boss until he was hoisted by his own petard. 杰克常把办公室里闲聊的内容报告老板，结果害人反害己，被老板给解雇了。

hold a brief for　v. phr. To argue in support of; defend. — Usually used with a negative. 支持，赞同；为…辩护。——通常与否定词连用。◆ I hold no brief for John, but I do not think he was responsible for the accident. 我并不是为约翰辩护，但我认为他不应对这次事故负责。◆ The lawyer said he held no brief for thievery, but he considered the man should be given another chance. 律师说他并不是为偷窃辩护，但他认为应该再给那个人一次机会。

hold a candle to also hold a stick to　v. phr. To be fit to be compared with; be in the same class with. 与…媲美；比得上。◆ Henry thought that no modern physicist could hold a candle to Einstein. 亨利认为当代的物理学家中无人可与爱因斯坦相比。

hold a grudge against　See见NURSE A GRUDGE.

hold all the trumps　v. phr. To have the best chance of winning; have all the advantages; have full control. 握有全部王牌；占有绝对优势；有充分把握。◆ Fred has $200 and I have no money, so he holds all the trumps and can buy whatever he wants with it. 弗雷德有200美元，而我却身无分文，因此他有决定权，可以想要什么就买什么。

hold back　v. 1. To stay back or away; show unwillingness. 退缩不前；犹豫。◆ John held back from social activity because he felt embarrassed with people. 约翰不愿参加社交活动，因为他在人们面前感到局促不安。2. To keep someone in place; prevent from acting. 阻挡；阻止。◆ The police held back the crowd. 警察拦住了人群。

hold court　v. phr. 1. To hold a formal meeting of a royal court or a court of law. 主持御前会议；临朝听政；开庭。◆ Judge Stephens allowed no foolishness when he held court. 斯蒂芬斯法官开庭时决不允许任何人胡闹。2. informal To act like a king or queen among subjects. 〖非正式〗（在仰慕者中间）摆国王（或女王）的架子。◆ Even at sixteen, Judy was holding court for numbers of charmed boys. 甚至才16岁时，朱迪就在大批被她迷住的男孩子面前摆起了女王的架子。

hold down　v. 1. To keep in obedience; keep control of; continue authority or rule over. 压制；控制；继续统治。◆ Kings used to know very well how to hold down the people. 过去的国王们非常了解怎样压制人民。2. informal To work satisfactorily at. 〖非正式〗保住（工作等）；在（工作等中）干得令人满意。◆ John had held down a tough job for a long time. 有一份很艰难的工作约翰已经顺利地干了很长时间。

hold everything　See见HOLD IT.

hold forth　v. 1. To offer; propose. 提供；提出。◆ As a candidate, Jones held forth the promise of a bright future. 作为一名候选人，琼斯许诺会带来一个光明的前途。2. To speak in public; preach. — Usually used with little respect. 当众演说；说教。——通常带有贬意。◆ Senator Smith was holding forth on free trade. 史密斯参议员当众鼓吹自由贸易。

hold good　v. 1. To continue to be good; last. 继续有用；持续。◆ The coupon on the cereal box offered a free toy, but the offer held good only till the end of the year. 凭谷类食品盒上的赠券可以免费得到一件玩具，但有效期只到年底。2. To continue; endure; last. 继续；持续；延续。◆ The agreement between the schools held good for three years. 两校之间的协议持续了3年。

hold in or hold inside　v. phr. To not let others know what one thinks or feels; to dissemble. 不让别人知道自己的思想（或感情）；掩盖（思想、感情等）。◆ You'll never figure Samantha out; she holds everything inside. 你永远也摸不透萨曼瑟；她总是掩盖自己的一切思想感情。

hold in suspense　v. phr. To not let one know what's happening, or what the outcome of a story might be. 使处于悬念之中，使处于紧张状态。◆ A good mystery writer, such as Agatha Christie, always holds the audience in suspense. 一个好的侦探小说家，比如阿加莎·克里斯蒂，总是使读者处于悬念之中。

hold it or hold everything　v. phr., informal To stop something one is doing or getting ready to do. — Usually used as a command. 〖非正式〗停止！慢着！等一等！——通常用作命令。◆ The pilot was starting to take off, when the control tower ordered "Hold it!" 驾驶员正准备起飞时，机场指挥塔命令“暂停起飞！”

hold no brief for　v. phr. To be far from advocating something; to be far from being a supporter of someone or something. 不支持，不赞同。◆ it is common knowledge the competing candidates for presidency of the United States hold no brief for one another. 人们都知道，竞选美国总统之职的候选人彼此之间谁也不支持谁。

hold off　v. 1a. To refuse to let (someone) become friendly. 使（某人）不易接近。◆ The president's high rank and chilly manner held people off. 总统的高级别及冷淡态度使人们不敢接近他。1b. To be rather shy or unfriendly. 很害羞；冷漠。◆ Perkins was a scholarly man who held off from people. 珀金斯是个有学问的人，他不喜欢与人交往。2. To keep away by fighting; oppose by force. 抵挡住；抗击。◆ The kidnapper locked himself in the house and held off the police for an hour. 劫持者把自己锁在房子里，与警察对抗了一个小时。3. To wait before (doing something); postpone; delay. 推迟；拖延。◆ Jack held off paying for the television set until the dealer fixed it. 杰克拖延付款，直到经销商把电视机安装好才交钱。

hold on　v. 1. To keep holding tightly; continue to hold strongly. 抓牢；紧紧抓住。◆ As Ted was pulling on the rope, it began to slip and Earl cried, "Hold on, Ted!" 泰德用力拉那根绳子时，绳子突然开始滑落，厄尔大声喊道：“抓紧，泰德！”2. To wait and not hang up a telephone; keep a phone for later use. 等一下不挂断电话。◆ Mr. Jones asked me to hold on while he spoke to his secretary. 琼斯先生叫我不要挂断电话，等他先跟秘书讲话。3. To keep on with a business or job in spite of difficulties. 继续；坚持。◆ It was hard to keep the store going during the depression, but Max held on and at last met with success. 经济萧条期间店里的生意很难维持，但马克斯坚持营业，终于获得了成功。4. informal To wait a minute; stop. — Usually used as a command. 〖非正式〗等一下；停止。——通常用作命令。◆ "Hold on!" John's father said, "I want the car tonight." “等一下！”约翰的父亲说，“今晚我要用车。”

hold one's breath　v. phr. 1. To stop breathing for a moment when you are excited or nervous. （兴奋或紧张时）暂时停止呼吸；屏息。◆ The race was so close that everyone was holding his breath at the finish. 比赛非常接近，快到终点时每个人都屏住了呼吸。2. To endure great nervousness, anxiety, or excitement. 极其紧张（或焦虑、兴奋）地等待。◆ John held his breath for days before he got word that the college he chose had accepted him. 约翰焦急不安地等了好多天，才得到通知，说他选定的大学已录取了他。

hold one's end up or hold up one's end or keep one's end up or keep up one's end　v. phr., informal To do your share of work; do your part. 〖非正式〗做好自己分内的工作；尽自己的本分。◆ Mary washed the dishes so fast that Ann, who was drying them, couldn't keep her end up. 玛丽洗盘子洗得很快，负责擦盘子的安跟不上。◆ Bob said he would lend me his bicycle if I repaired the flat tire, but he didn't keep up his end of the bargain. 鲍勃说如果我把漏气的轮胎补好，他就把他的自行车借给我，但他并没有履行诺言。

hold one's fire or hold fire　v. phr. To keep back arguments or facts; keep from telling something. 忍住争论；隐瞒事实；忍住不说。◆ Tom could have hurt Fred by telling what he knew, but he held his fire. 汤姆如果把知道的情况讲出来很可能会伤害到弗雷德，但他忍住了没讲。

hold one's head high　v. phr. To be proud. 感到骄傲；扬眉吐气。◆ After several unsuccessful attempts at passing the special examination for foreign medical graduates, Steve passed his exam on the fourth try, and can now hold his head high. 经过几次努力都未能通过外国医科毕业生的特殊考试后，史蒂夫终于在第四次通过了这一考试，现在他可以扬眉吐气了。

hold one's head up　v. phr. To show self-respect; not be ashamed; be proud. 昂起头；显示自尊；不感到惭愧；感到骄傲。◆ When Mr. Murray had paid off his debts, he felt that he could hold his head up again. 当默里先生还清了他的欠债时，他感到自己又可以把头抬起来了。

hold one's horses　v. phr., informal To stop; wait; be patient. 〖非正式〗停一停；等一下；耐心。◆ "Hold your horses!" Mr. Jones said to David when David wanted to call the police. 戴维要喊警察时，琼斯先生对他说：“等等！”

hold one's own　v. phr. To keep your position; avoid losing ground; keep your advantage, wealth, or condition without loss. 坚持自己的立场；不退让；保持自己的优势；维持原状；维持原有的健康状况。◆ Mr. Smith could not build up his business, but he held his own. 史密斯先生无法扩展他的生意，但他维持了现状。◆ The team held its own after the first quarter. 该队在第一节之后与对方打平。◆ Mary had a hard time after the operation, but soon she was holding her own. 玛丽做过手术之后一度情况很糟，但很快她就稳住了病情。

hold one's peace　v. phr., formal To be silent and not speak against something; be still; keep quiet. 〖正式〗保持沉默；不做声；不说话。◆ I did not agree with the teacher, but held my peace as he was rather angry. 我不同意老师的看法，但因为他很生气，我便没有作声。

hold one's temper or keep one's temper　v. phr. To make yourself be quiet and peaceful; not become angry. 保持平静；捺住性子；不生气。◆ Dave can't keep his temper when he drives in heavy traffic. 戴夫在交通拥挤的情况下开车时，无法保持平静不生气。

hold one's tongue　v. phr. To be silent; keep still; not talk. 保持沉默；一言不发；不说话。◆ The teacher told Fred to hold his tongue. 老师叫弗雷德住嘴。

hold on to v. phr. 1a. or hold to　To continue to hold or keep; hold tightly. 抓住；抓紧。◆ The old man held on to his job stubbornly and would not retire. 那位老人固执地继续工作，不肯退休。1b. To stay in control of. 控制；克制。◆ Ann was so frightened that she had to hold onto her husband in order to not scream. 安受惊不小，只得紧紧抓住丈夫才没有尖声喊叫。2. To continue to sing or sound. 继续唱；继续发声。◆ The singer held on to the last note of the song for a long time. 那位歌手在歌曲的最后一个音符上唱了很久。

hold on to your hat　See见HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.

holdout　n. A rebel who refuses to go with the majority. 拒不参加者；拒不合作者。◆ Sam was a lone holdout in town; he refused to sell his old lakefront cottage to make place for a skyscraper. 萨姆是城里唯一的一个“钉子户”；他怎么也不肯出售他在临湖平地区的那座老房子，给一幢摩天大楼腾地方。

hold out　v. phr. 1. To put forward; reach out; extend; offer. 伸出；拿出；提出；提供。◆ Mr. Ryan held out his hand in welcome. 瑞安先生伸出手表示欢迎。2. To keep resisting; not yield; refuse to give up. 坚持抵抗；坚定不移；不屈服；拒不放弃。◆ The city held out for six months under siege. 该市在炮火围攻下坚守了6个月。Compare比较HANG ON, HOLD ON. 3. To refuse to agree or settle until one's wishes have been agreed to. 拒绝妥协；拒绝达成协议；坚决要求。◆ The strikers held out for a raise of five cents an hour. 罢工者坚决要求每小时提高工资5美分。4. slang To keep something from; refuse information or belongings to which someone has a right. 〖俚〗瞒着；扣下。◆ Mr. Porter's partner held out on him when the big payment came in. 当那笔巨额款项收到时，波特先生的合伙人瞒着没告诉他。

hold out hope　v. phr. To give encouragement to people in difficulty. （对陷入困境的人）抱有希望。◆ The U. S. central command held out hope for our prisoners of war. 美国最高司令部对我们的战俘抱有希望。

holdover　n. 1. A successful movie or theater production that plays longer than originally planned. （上演期满后）继续放映的电影；继续上演的戏剧。◆ Because of its great popularity, Star Wars was a holdover in most movie theaters. 因大受欢迎，《星际大战》在大多数影院里仍在继续放映。2. A reservation not used at the time intended, but used later. 保留座位。◆ They kept my seat at the opera as a holdover because I am a patron. 因为我是一名资助人，所以他们一看保留着我在歌剧院的座位。

hold over　v. 1. To remain or keep in office past the end of the term. （期满后）留任；留用，续用。◆ The new President held the members of the Cabinet over for some time before appointing new members. 新总统在任命新的内阁成员前，让原内阁成员继续留任了一段时间。2. To extend the engagement of; keep longer. 延长…的期限；延长。◆ The theater held over the feature film for another two weeks. 影院把这部故事片又继续放映了两个星期。3. To delay action on; to postpone; to defer. 推迟；延期；拖延。◆ The directors held over their decision until they could get more information. 董事们推迟作出决定，等他们能得到更多信息时再说。

hold sb.'s hand　v. phr. To comfort someone. 给某人以道义上的支持；安慰某人；帮助某人。◆ "Thanks for holding my hand during my obligatory retirement," Professor Miller said to his junior colleague. "Your hand-holding helped me through a difficult period in my life." “谢谢你在我强制性退休时给予我以道义上的支持，”米勒教授对他的年轻同事说。“你的关怀帮我度过了一生中的一段艰难时期。”

hold still　v. phr. To remain motionless. 保持不动。◆ "Hold still," the dentist said. "This won't hurt you at all." “别动，”牙科医生说。“这根本不会弄痛你的。”

hold the bag　v. phr. To be made liable for or victimized. 背他人摔掉的包袱；背黑锅；代人受过。◆ We went out to dinner together but when it was time to pay I was left holding the bag. 我们一起到外面吃饭，但到了该付钱的时候，却让我一个人埋单。

hold the fort　v. phr. 1. To defend a fort successfully; fight off attackers. 守住堡垒；击退进攻者。◆ The little group held the fort for days until help came. 那一小队士兵坚守堡垒好几天，直到援军到来。2. informal To keep a position against opposing forces. 〖非正式〗坚持立场。◆ Friends of civil liberties held the fort during a long debate. 在长时间的辩论中，支持公民自由的议员们坚守着自己的立场。3. informal To keep service or operations going【非正式】坚守岗位；继续工作；代为处理日常事务。◆ Mother and Father went out and told the children to hold the fort. 母亲和父亲出去了，他们告诉孩子们要照看好家。

hold the line　v. phr. To keep a situation or trouble from getting worse; hold steady; prevent a setback or loss. 维持局势不使恶化；稳定局势；保持不变。◆ The company held the line on employment. 该公司使受雇员工数保持不变。

hold the stage　v. phr. 1. To continue to be produced and to attract audiences. 继续上演；继续吸引观众。◆ "Peter Pan" holds the stage year after year at its annual Christmas showing in London. 《彼得·潘》一剧在伦敦每年一度的圣诞节演出年年都很叫座。2. To be active in a group; attract attention. 非常活跃；引人注目。◆ We had only an hour to discuss the question and Mr. Jones held the stage for most of it. 我们只有一个小时讨论这一问题，但琼斯先生却滔滔不绝占去了大部分时间。

hold true or hold good　v. phr. To remain true. 适用；有效。◆ It has always held true that man cannot live without laws. 人类生存不能没有法律，这话永远是正确的。◆ Bob is a good boy and that holds true of Jim. 鲍勃是个好男孩，吉姆也是个好男孩。

holdup　n. (stress on hold)（重读hold）1. Robbery. 抢劫，拦劫。◆ John fell victim to a highway holdup. 约翰在公路上遭到了拦路抢劫。2. A delay, as on a crowded highway. （因交通阻塞而造成的）延迟；耽搁。◆ Boy we're late! What's causing this holdup? 哎呀，我们迟到了！是什么造成这次延误的？

hold up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To raise; lift. 举起；抬起。◆ John held up his hand. 约翰举起了手。2. To support; bear; carry. 支持；支撑；承受住。◆ The chair was too weak to hold up Mrs. Smith. 那把椅子不够结实，承受不住史密斯夫人的体重。3. To show; call attention to; exhibit. 展示；展览。◆ The teacher held up excellent models of composition for her class to imitate. 教师展示出一些范文供学生模仿。4. To check; stop; delay. 使停顿；停止；延迟。◆ The wreck held up traffic on the railroad's main line tracks. 火车失事使铁路干线的交通陷入停顿。5. informal To rob at gunpoint. 〖非正式〗持枪抢劫。◆ Masked men held up the bank. 蒙面歹徒持枪抢劫了银行。6. To keep one's courage or spirits up; remain calm; keep control of oneself. 保持勇气；精神振作；保持平静；控制自己。◆ The grieving mother held up for her children's sake. 悲痛的母亲克制住自己的感情以免孩子们担心。7. To remain good; not get worse. 保持良好；维持。◆ Sales held up well. 销售保持旺势。◆ Our team's luck help up and they won the game. 我们队的运气一直不错，又赢了这场比赛。◆ The weather held up and the game was played. 天气持续晴好，比赛得以进行。8. To prove true. 证明属实。◆ The police were doubtful at first, but Tony's story held up. 警方开始时还有怀疑，但托尼的陈述证明属实。9. To delay action; defer; postpone. 延迟；拖延；使延期。◆ The President held up on the news until he was sure of it. 总统直到确信那消息属实后才加以宣布。

hold up one's end　See见HOLD ONE'S END UP.

hold water　v. phr. 1. To keep water without leaking. 盛得住水，盛水不漏。◆ That pail still holds water. 那只桶仍能盛水。2. informal To prove true; stand testing; bear examination. — Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. 〖非正式〗证明属实；经得起考验；经得起检查。——通常用于否定句，疑问句或条件句。◆ Ernest told the police a story that wouldn't hold water. 欧内斯特对警方所作的陈述根本站不住脚。

hold your hat　See见HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.

hole in one　n. phr. A shot in golf that is hit from the tee and goes right into the cup. （从发球区）一杆进洞，一击入穴。◆ Many golfers play for years and never get a hole in one. 很多高尔夫球手打了多年也没有一杆进洞的记录。

hole-in-the-wall　n. phr. A small place to live, stay in, or work in; a small, hidden, or inferior place. 狭小的住处（或处所、工作场所等）；狭小、隐蔽或破败的地方。◆ The jewelry store occupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall. 这家珠宝店只占有很小的一块地方。◆ When Mr. and Mrs. Green were first married, they lived in a little hole-in-the-wall in a cheap apartment building. 格林先生和夫人最初结婚的时候住在一幢廉价公寓大楼的一间斗室里。2. slang, citizen's band radio jargon. A tunnel. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗隧道。◆ Let's get through this hole in the wall, then we'll change seats. 咱们先开过这个隧道，然后再换座位。

hole out　v. To finish play in golf by hitting the ball into the cup. 把高尔夫球打入穴。◆ The other players waited for Palmer to hole out before they putted. 其他选手等帕默尔将高尔夫球打入穴以后才推球入洞。

hole up also hole in　v., slang To take refuge or shelter; put up; lodge. 〖俚〗避难；躲藏；隐藏；留宿；暂住。◆ The thief holed up at an abandoned farm. 小偷躲藏在一个无人居住的农庄住宅里。

holier-than-thou　adj. Acting as if you are better than others in goodness, character, or reverence for God; acting as if morally better than other people. 伪装虔诚的；假仁假义的；自以为是的。◆ Most people find holier-than-thou actions in others hard to accept. 大多数人觉得别人假仁假义的行为难以接受。

holistic health　n., informal, semi-technical The maintenance of health and the avoidance of disease through such psychogenic practices and procedures as biofeedback, meditation, alternative methods of childbirth, and avoidance of drugs. 〖非正式〗〖半技术〗整体健康。◆ The Murgatroyds are regular holistic health freaks —why, they won't even take aspirin when they have a headache. 默加特罗伊德一家都是整体健康不折不扣的狂热信徒——他们头痛时连阿司匹林药片也不服。

hollow out　v. To cut or dig out or to cut or dig a hole in; make a cut or cave in; excavate. 挖出；挖空；挖掘。◆ The soldier hollowed out a foxhole in the ground to lie in. 那个士兵在地上挖了一个散兵坑平卧在里面。

holy cow or holy mackerel or holy Moses　interj., informal — Used to express strong feeling (as astonishment, pleasure, or anger); used in speech or when writing conversation. 〖非正式〗天哪，哎呀，好家伙。——表达惊叹、高兴或愤怒等强烈感情；用于讲话或对话。◆ "Holy cow! They can't do that!" Mary said when she saw the boys hurting a much smaller boy. “哎呀！他们不能这样做！”当玛丽看到一些男孩欺负一个比他们小得多的男孩时，她叫了起来。

holy terror　n., informal A very disobedient or unruly child; brat. 〖非正式〗调皮捣蛋的孩子；顽童。◆ All the children are afraid of Johnny because he's a holy terror. 所有的孩子都怕约翰尼，因为他是个顽童。

home brew　n. phr. A beer or other malt liquor made at home, not in a brewery. 家酿啤酒；家酿麦芽酒。◆ Home brew reached its greatest popularity in America during national prohibition. 全国禁酒期间，家酿酒在美国达到了最为普及的程度。

home is where the heart is　from Latin. It matters less where one is physically than whether one feels a sense of belonging. — A proverb. （来自拉丁语）〖谚〗心在的地方就是家。◆ Many military families get moved around the United States and even abroad, so they are used to the idea that "home is where the heart is." 很多军人家庭在美国各地甚至海外搬来搬去，所以他们已习惯于这样的理念：“心在的地方就是家。”

home on or home in on　v. To move toward a certain place by following a signal or marker. 随（信号或标志）移向某地◆ The airplane homed in on the radio beacon. 飞机根据无线电信标降落在机场。◆ The ship homed on the lights of New York harbor. 该船在纽约港的航标灯引导下驶进港口。

home plate　n. The base in baseball where the batter stands and that a runner must touch to score. 本垒板。◆ The runner slid across home plate ahead of the tag to score a run. 跑垒员在被触杀前滑过本垒板得了一分。

home run　n. A hit in baseball that allows the batter to run around all the bases and score a run. 本垒打。◆ Frank hit a home run over the left field wall in the second inning. 弗兰克在第二局击出了一个飞出左外场墙的本垒打。

honest broker　n. phr. A person hired or appointed to act as an agent in a legal, business, or political situation where impartial advice is needed in order to settle a dispute. （法律、商务、政治事务等的）调解人，解停人。◆ Michael has been asked to act as an honest broker to settle the argument between the employees and the management. 有人请迈克尔充当调停人解决劳资双方之间的争执。

honest penny　n. phr. Honest money at some work; an honest living. 老老实实挣的钱；用正当手段挣的钱。◆ John may not be a wealthy man, but he was never in jail and with his hard work he certainly earns an honest penny. 约翰也许不是一个有钱的人，但他从未坐过牢，而凭着艰苦劳动他无疑是老老实实在谋生。

honest-to-goodness or honest-to-God　adj. phr., informal Real; genuine. — Used for emphasis. 〖非正式〗真正的。——用以加强语气。◆ She served him honest-to-goodness deep dish apple pie. 她为他端上了真正的深盘苹果馅饼。

honest to goodness or honest to God　adj. phr., informal Really; truly; honestly. — Used to emphasize something said. 〖非正式〗真的；确实；的确。——用以加强语气。◆ "Honest to goodness, Jane, I think you are the messiest girl in the world," said Mother. 母亲说：“真的，简，我认为你是世界上最邋遢的女孩。”

honeymoon is over　The first happy period of friendship and cooperation between two persons or groups is over. 蜜月已经结束；双方友好合作的愉快时光已成过去。◆ A few months after a new President is elected, the honeymoon is over and Congress and the President begin to criticize each other. 新总统当选几个月后，国会与总统之间的蜜月就已结束，他们开始互相批评了。

honky-tonk　n. A cheap nightclub or dance hall. 低级嘈杂的夜总会（或舞厅）。◆ There were a number of honky-tonks near the army camp. 军营附近有一些低级嘈杂的舞厅。

hooked on　adj. 1. Addicted to a substance such as cigarettes, coffee, tea, drugs, or alcohol. 吸（烟或毒）成瘾的；喝（咖啡、茶或酒）成瘾的。◆ Fred is hooked on grass, but Tim is only hooked on tea. 弗雷德特别喜欢吃蔬菜色拉，而蒂姆只喝茶成瘾。2. Enthusiastic or very supportive of something. 对…入迷的；热衷于…的；对…积极支持的。◆ I am hooked on the local symphony. 我非常喜爱本地的交响乐团。

hook, line and sinker　adv. phr., informal Without question or doubt; completely. 〖非正式〗无疑地；完全地，全部地。◆ Johnny was so easily fooled that he fell for Joe's story, hook, line and sinker. 约翰尼极易被愚弄，他竟毫不怀疑地相信了乔的说法。

hookup　n. (stress on hook)（重读hook）A connection, electrical or otherwise, between two instruments or two individuals. 电路耦合；连接，接合；联合。◆ Edwin and Hermione are a perfect couple; they have got the right hookup. 埃德温与赫迈厄妮是完美的一对；他们非常般配。

hook up　v. phr. (stress on up)（重读up）To connect or fit together. 装接。◆ The company sent a man to hook up the telephone. 公司派了一个人去装接电话。◆ They could not use the gas stove because it had not been hooked up. 他们不能用煤气炉，因为煤气管道还没有接通。

hook up with someone　v. phr. To start living with a member of the opposite sex without the benefit of marriage. 与某人未婚同居。◆ "I didn't know your daughter got married," Tom's colleague said. "No, she isn't married at all; she just hooked up with a friend from college. That's modern kids for you!" “我不知道你女儿已经结婚了，”汤姆的同事说。“不，她根本就没有结婚；她只是跟一个大学的朋友同居而已。现在的孩子就是这样！”

hope against hope　v. phr. To try to hope when things look black; hold to hope in bad trouble. 存一线希望；抱着万一的希望。◆ The mother continued to hope against hope although the plane was hours late. 虽然飞机晚了几个小时，母亲仍存有一线希望。◆ Jane hoped against hope that Joe would call her. 简在绝望中仍希望乔会给她打电话。

hope for the best　v. phr. To be optimistic about the outcome of a situation. 抱乐观的希望；从最好的方面着想。◆ Try not to get pessimistic and always hope for the best no matter what trouble you are in. 不管陷入什么困境都不要悲观，要始终抱着乐观的希望。

hop in or hop into　v. phr. To enter a vehicle, mostly a private car. 跳上汽车。◆ When Sam needed to get to the hospital in a hurry and was waiting for the bus in the rain, his friend Ted said, as he drove by: "Hop in, old man; let me give you a lift." 当萨姆急着要去医院，在雨中等候公交车时，他的朋友泰德正好开车路过，便对他说：“上车吧，老兄；让我送你去吧。”

hopped up　adj., slang〖俚〗1. Doped with a narcotic drug. 因吸毒而昏昏沉沉的。◆ Police found Jones hiding in an opium den, among other men all hopped up with the drug. 警察发现琼斯躲在一个鸦片烟馆里，和其他人一样都因吸鸦片而昏昏沉沉的。2. Full of eagerness; excited. 充满渴望的；兴奋的。◆ Fred was all hopped up about going over the ocean. 弗雷德一想到出海旅行便兴奋不已。

hop to it　v. phr., slang To get started; start a job; get going. 〖俚〗开始；开始干活；开始行动。◆ "There's a lot to do today, so let's hop to it," the boss said. 老板说：“今天有很多活儿要干，所以咱们就开始干起来吧。”

horizontal mambo　n. phr., slang 〖俚〗Sex. 性交。◆ "What's going on in the next room? What's all the panting and wheezing I hear?" Sue's father asked his college-age son as he entered the house. "I guess its just some horizontal mambo between Sis and her boyfriend," the son replied. “隔壁房间里在干吗？我听到的那些呼哧呼哧的气喘声是怎么回事？”苏的父亲一进屋就问他那个该上大学的儿子。“我猜想那只是姐姐和她的男朋友在干好事吧，”儿子回答说。

horn in　v., slang To come in without invitation or welcome; interfere. Often used with on. 〖俚〗闯入；插嘴；干涉，干预。——常与on连用。◆ Jack would often horn in on conversations discussing things he knew nothing about. 别人在谈话时，杰克常插嘴进来，谈论一些他毫无所知的东西。

horns of a dilemma　n. phr. Two choices possible in a situation in which neither is wanted. — Usually used after on. 进退两难的处境，左右为难的处境。——通常用在on之后。◆ Joe found himself on the horns of a dilemma; if he went to work, he'd miss seeing Mary; if he stayed out, he'd be too broke to take her anywhere. 乔发现自己处于左右为难的境地；如果他去工作，他就见不到玛丽；如果他不工作，他就没钱带她到任何地方去玩。

horse around　v., slang To join in rough teasing; play around. 〖俚〗哄闹，瞎胡闹；玩耍。◆ They were a bunch of sailors on shore leave, horsing around where there were girls and drinks. 他们是一帮登岸度假的海员，在有酒有女人的地方瞎胡闹。

horselaugh　n. phr. A loud, sarcastic, and derisive laugh. 哈哈大笑；哄笑；嘲笑。◆ When the speaker praised politics as one of the oldest and noblest professions, his audience of college students gave him a horselaugh. 当演讲人赞扬政治是最古老、最高尚的职业之一时，听他演讲的大学生们对他一阵哄笑。

horse of a different color or horse of another color　n. phr., informal Something altogether separate and different. 〖非正式〗完全不同的一回事；两码子事。◆ Anyone can be broke, but to steal is a horse of a different color. 任何人都可能身无分文，但偷窃却是另一码事。

horse opera　n. phr. A Western movie in which cowboys and horses play a major part. 西部牛仔片；西部片。◆ John Wayne played in many horse operas. 约翰·韦恩演过很多西部片。

horseplay　n. Rough, practical joking. 喧闹的嬉戏；胡闹。◆ The newlyweds couldn't get a wink of sleep all night because there was a lot of yelling and screaming outside of their window — the usual horseplay. 那对新婚夫妻一夜没合眼，因为他们窗外喊叫声不断——惯常的闹新房。

horse sense　n., informal A good understanding about what to do in life; good judgment; wisdom in making decisions. 〖非正式〗常识；好的判断力；见识。◆ Some people are well educated and read many books, but still do not have much horse sense. 有些人受过良好的教育，也读过很多书，但仍没有多少见识。

horse trade　n. 1. The sale of a horse or the exchange of two horses. 马匹买卖（或交换）；马匹交易。◆ It was a horse trade in which the owner of the worse animal gave a rifle to make the trade equal. 那是一次马匹交易，马匹较差的主人送一支步枪给对方，以使交易公平。2. informal A business agreement or bargain arrived at after hard and skillful discussion. 〖非正式〗（经过激烈的讨价还价后达成的）交易（或商业协定）。◆ Party leaders went around for months making horse trades to get support for their candidate. ◆ 政党领袖们数月在外奔波，进行政治交易，以获得对其候选人的支持。

hot air　n., informal Nonsense, exaggerated talk, wasted words characterized by emotion rather than intellectual content. 〖非正式〗空话；大话；夸夸其谈。◆ That was just a lot of hot air what Joe said. 乔所说的只是一大堆空话。

hot and bothered　adj., informal Excited and worried, displeased, or puzzled. 〖非正式〗慌张激动的；焦虑不安的；不悦的；困惑的。◆ Fritz got all hot and bothered when he failed in the test. 弗里茨考试不及格后变得焦虑不安。◆ Leona was all hot and bothered when her escort was late in coming for her. 利昂娜的陪伴人迟迟未来使她坐立不安。

hot and heavy　adv. phr., informal Strongly; vigorously; emphatically. 〖非正式〗强烈地；激烈地；强调地。◆ Fred got it hot and heavy when his wife found out how much he had lost at cards. 弗雷德的妻子发现他打牌输了多少钱后把他狠狠骂了一顿。

hot dog　n. phr., informal A frankfurter or wiener in a roll. 〖非正式〗热狗（面包夹香肠）。◆ The boys stopped on the way home for hot dogs and coffee. 男孩子们在回家的路上停下来吃热狗喝咖啡。

hot dog!　interj., informal Hurrah! — A cry used to show pleasure or enthusiasm. 〖非正式〗（表示高兴、热情）好哇！好极了！真棒！◆ "Hot dog!" Frank exclaimed when he unwrapped a birthday gift of a small record player. 弗兰克打开生日礼物包，看到一台小型电唱机时开心地叫了一声：“太棒了！”

hot flashes　n. phr. A time in women's life during or after after menopause they experience sudden sensations of intense heat. 潮热；热潮红（妇女在更年期或更年期后一种突然而短暂的发热感觉，常波及全身）。◆ "Why are you so unhappy?" Jean's husband asked with concern. "I am having one of my lousy hot flashes," she replied in a grumpy mood. “你为什么这么不开心？”琼的丈夫关心地问。“我那讨厌的潮热又来了，”她怨恨地回答说。

hot-headed　adj. phr. Someone easily irritated; one who loses his or her temper at even the least provocation. 暴躁的，易怒的；急性子的。◆ Tom is a generally very patient and nice fellow, but he can be awfully hot-headed sometimes. 汤姆通常是个很有耐心、很和蔼的人，但有时候也会非常暴躁。

hotly contested　adj. phr. Contentious; hard-fought; keenly competitive. 竞争激烈的。◆ The Democratic and the Republican nominees for the vacant Senate seat fought a hotly contested campaign. 被民主党和共和党提名为填补参议院空缺席位的候选人打了一场激烈的竞选战。

hot number　n., slang A person or thing noticed as newer, better, or more popular than others. 〖俚〗时新货；热门货；时髦货；引人注目的人（或物）。◆ John invented a new can opener that was a hot number in the stores. 约翰发明了一种新的开罐器，在商店里很畅销。

hot off the press　adj. phr. Just appeared in print. 刚印好的。◆ This is the latest edition of the Chicago Tribune; it's hot off the press. 这是最新版的《芝加哥论坛报》，刚印好的。

hot one　n., slang, informal Something out of the ordinary; something exceptional, such as a joke, a person whether in terms of looks or intelligence. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗非凡的东西；不寻常的东西；非常滑稽的笑话；突出的人，非凡的人。◆ Joe's joke sure was a hot one. 乔的笑话确实很逗。◆ Sue is a hot one, isn't she? 苏是个才貌出众的女孩，不是吗？

hot potato　n., informal A question that causes strong argument and is difficult to settle. 〖非正式〗难以解决的问题；棘手的问题。◆ Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the 1960s. 在1960年代，很多地方教育董事会都发觉种族隔离是个棘手的问题。

hot rod　n., informal An older automobile changed so that it can gain speed quickly and go very fast. 〖非正式〗改装成的高速汽车。◆ Hot rods are used by young people especially in drag racing. 改装而成的高速汽车被年轻人特别用来参加短程高速赛车。

hot seat　n., slang〖俚〗1. The electric chair used to cause death by electrocution in legal executions. （处决犯人的）电椅◆ Many a man has controlled a murderous rage when he thought of the hot seat. 很多人一想到电椅便克制住了想杀人的怒火。2. informal A position in which you can easily get into trouble. 〖非正式〗困境；容易招致麻烦的职位。◆ A judge in a beauty contest is on the hot seat. If he chooses one girl, the other girls will be angry with him. 选美比赛的裁判是个得罪人的差事。如果他选中某个姑娘，其他姑娘就会生他的气。

hot Stuff　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Coffee. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗咖啡。◆ Let's stop and get some hot stuff. 咱们停下来喝点咖啡吧。

hot under the collar　adj. phr., informal Angry. 〖非正式〗生气的，发怒的。◆ Mary gets hot under the collar if you joke about women drivers. 如果你拿女司机开玩笑，玛丽就会生气。

hot water　n. informal〖非正式〗Trouble. — Used with in, into, out of. 麻烦；困境。——与in, into, out of连用。◆ John's thoughtless remark about religion got John into a lot of hot water. 约翰关于宗教的那句欠考虑的话给自己招来了很多麻烦。

housebroken　adj. Trained to go outside to relieve themselves (said of domestic pets, primarily dogs). （狗、猫等宠物）经训练在家中保持卫生习惯的。◆ All young puppies must eventually be housebroken. 所有的小狗必须最终训练得在家中保持卫生习惯。

house detective　n. A detective employed by a hotel, store, or other business to watch for any trouble. （旅馆、商店等为防止盗窃等而雇用的）私家侦探。◆ The one-armed man sweeping the bank floor was really the house detective. 那个在银行扫地的独臂人其实就是那家银行的私家侦探。

household name　n. phr. The name of a person who is recognized by almost everyone, due to frequent appearances on television or being seen in newspapers and in public. 家喻户晓的人；人人皆知的名字。◆ Hardly anyone knew Elvis Presley before he became a household name after being discharged from the U. S Army. 埃尔维斯·普雷斯利从美国陆军复员之后成了一个家喻户晓的人物，而在那之前则几乎没有人知道他。

household word　n. phr. A well-known company or brand name. 家喻户晓的公司（或品牌）。◆ IBM, KLEENEX, MACINTOSH, and XEROX have all become household words in every English-speaking country. 在每一个讲英语的国家，IBM、KLEENEX、MACINTOSH和XEROX都已成为家喻户晓的品牌。

housekeeper　n. phr. A hired woman who works in the household of a family as cleaning woman, cook, etc. 女管家。◆ Many women, who could not find other employment, used to work as housekeepers, especially in the old days. 很多找不到其他工作的妇女往往做女管家，尤其是在过去。

house of cards　n. phr. Something badly put together and easily knocked down; a poorly founded plan, hope, or action. 纸牌搭成的房子；不牢靠的东西；容易倒塌的东西；不可靠的计划（或希望、行动）。◆ John's business fell apart like a house of cards. 约翰的生意像纸牌搭的房子一样垮掉了。

house of ill fame or of ill repute　n. phr. A bordello; a brothel. 妓院。◆ At the edge of town there is a house of ill repute run by a Madame who used to be a singer in a bar. 在城镇边缘有家妓院，经营者是过去在酒吧间唱歌的一位女士。

hover over　v. phr. 1. To remain close or above. 逗留在…近旁；盘旋在…上方。◆ The rescue helicopter was carefully hovering above the stranded rock climbers. 救援直升机正小心翼翼地盘旋在受困攀岩者的上空。2. To watch over; supervise. 监视；监督。◆ "Mother!" Phillip cried, "if you don't stop hovering over me, I'll go bananas!" “妈！”菲利普喊道，“你如果继续监视我，我就要发疯了！”

how about or what about　interrog. — Used to ask for a decision, action, opinion, or explanation. 用于询问决定、行动，征求意见或要求解释。1. Will you have something or agree on something? 你要…吗？你同意…吗？◆ How about another piece of pie? 再来一块馅饼好吗？◆ What about a game of tennis? 打一盘网球怎么样？2. Will you lend or give me? 借我…好吗？给我…好吗？◆ How about five dollars until Friday? 借我5美元，星期五还怎么样？3. What is to be done about? …怎么办？◆ What about the windows? Shall we close them before we go? 这些窗子怎么办？我们走前要把它们关上吗？4. How do you feel about? What do you think about? What is to be thought or said? 你觉得…怎么样？…你认为如何？对…该怎么想（或说）？◆ What about women in politics? 妇女从政你认为如何？

how about that or what about that　informal An expression of surprise, congratulation, or praise. 〖非正式〗（表示惊奇、祝贺或赞美）太好了！太棒了！◆ When Jack heard of his brother's promotion, he exclaimed, "How about that!" 杰克听说他兄弟提升了，喊道：“太棒了！”

how can you? or how could you?　adv. phr. Elliptical for "How can you behave this way?" or "How could you be so foolish?" said in indignant surprise. 你怎么能这样做？你怎么会这样傻？◆ When Joe found out that his brother Sam had left his wonderful doctor wife for an unmarried bartender with five children, he exclaimed in horror, "How could you?" 当乔发现他的弟弟萨姆为了一个未结婚而有5个孩子的酒吧女招待而遗弃了他做医生的好妻子时，他惊呀地大声说道：“你怎么能这样呢？”

how come informal also nonstandard how's come　interrog. How does it happen that? Why? 〖非正式〗〖非规范〗怎么会…？为什么？◆ How come you are late? 你怎么迟到了？◆ You're wearing your best clothes today. How come? 你今天穿上了你最好的衣服，为什么？

how does it play?　adv. phr. What is the reaction? How do the people evaluate what is happening? 有什么反应？人们的评价如何？◆ "What I need to know is," the public relations director of the famous daily newspaper asked, "how our attempt at liberating Iraq is playing in the Arab streets, now that Baghdad has fallen." “我需要知道的是，”那家著名日报的公关部主任说，“在巴格达已被攻陷的情况下，在阿拉伯人居住的街区里，人们对我们解放伊拉克的努力有什么反应？”

how does that grab you?　adv. phr., slang What do you reply to that? What do you think of that? 〖俚〗你对这事怎么看？你觉得这事怎么样？◆ The income tax cut will have to be less than the president promised before the second Gulf War. Now let me ask you, how does that grab you? 所得税削减的比例将不得不低于总统在第二次海湾战争前所作的承诺。现在让我问你，你对此怎么看？

how do you do　formal greeting How are you? — Usually as a reply to an introduction; it is in the form of a question but no answer is expected. 〖正式〗你好？——通常用于被介绍时；虽形式上是问句，但并不期待回答。◆ "Mary, I want you to meet my friend Fred. Fred, this is my wife, Mary." "How do you do, Mary?" "How do you do, Fred?" “玛丽，我想让你见见我的朋友弗雷德。弗雷德，这是我妻子玛丽。”“你好，玛丽。”“你好，弗雷德。”

how goes it?　v. phr. interrog. How are you and your affairs in general progressing? 你好吗？近况怎样？◆ Jim asked Bill, "how goes it with the new wife and the new apartment?" 吉姆问比尔：“你娶了新夫人住进了新公寓，日子过得好吗？”

how has life been treating you? or how's the world treating you? adv. phr. How are you faring? How are you doing? 近来生活好吗？近来怎么样？◆ "How has life been treating you?" Ted asked his old friend John." Fine, thanks," John replied, "and how's the world treating you?" “近来生活好吗？”泰德问他的老友约翰。“很好，谢谢，”约翰回答说。“你怎么样？”

howling success　n., informal A great success; something that is much praised; something that causes wide enthusiasm. 〖非正式〗巨大的成功；备受称赞之事；引起狂热之事。◆ The party was a howling success. 这次聚会极为成功。

howl with the wolves　v. phr. To agree with those who are in power. 与狼共吼；与当权者持相同意见。◆ John gets around at the university because he howls with the wolves. 约翰在大学里处处兜得转，因为他和那些头头们一个鼻孔出气。

how so　interrog. How is that so? Why is it so? How? Why? 怎么会这样？为什么会这样？怎么回事？为什么？◆ I said the party was a failure and she asked. "How so?" 我说聚会失败了，她便问：“怎么会呢？”◆ He said his brother was not a good dancer and I asked him, "How so?" 他说他兄弟跳舞跳得不好，我便问他：“为什么？”

how's that　informal What did you say? Will you please repeat that? 〖非正式〗你说什么？再说一遍好吗？◆ "I've just been up in a balloon for a day and a half." "How's that?" “我刚乘气球飞行了一天半。”“你说什么？”◆ "The courthouse is on fire." "How's that again?" “法院大楼着火了。”“你再说一遍好吗？”

how's tricks?　adv. phr., informal A friendly greeting meaning "How are you?, how are things going?" etc. 〖非正式〗你好吗？情况怎么样？◆ "How's tricks?" John greeted his old roommate from college. "Have you made your first million yet?" “情况怎么样？”约翰招呼他大学时的室友说。“已经赚到你的第一个百万美元了吗？”

how the wind blows　See见WAY THE WIND BLOWS.

hue and cry　n. 1. An alarm and chase after a supposed wrongdoer; a pursuit usually by shouting men. （追捕坏人的）喊捉声，捉拿声。◆ "Stop, thief," cried John as he ran. Others joined him, and soon there was a hue and cry. “站住，小偷，”约翰一边跑一边喊。众人同他一起追喊，顷刻间就响起了一片喊捉声。2. An excited mass protest, alarm, or outcry of any kind. 大声抗议；大声报警；大声喊叫。◆ The explosion was so terrible that people at a distance raised a great hue and cry about an earthquake. 爆炸声非常可怕，远处的人竟大声报警，说是发生了地震。

hug the road　v. phr. To stay firmly on the road; ride smoothly without swinging. 平稳地行驶。◆ A heavy car with a low center of gravity will hug the road. 重心低的载重车行驶起来很平稳。◆ At high speeds a car will not hug the road well. 高速行驶时汽车不易平稳。

huh-uh or hum-um or uh-uh　adv., informal No. — Used only in speech or to record dialogue. 〖非正式〗不；没有。——仅用于口语或对话。◆ "Did Mary come?" "Huh-uh." “玛丽来过吗？”“没有。”◆ "Is it raining out?" "Uh-uh." “外面在下雨吗？”“没有。”

hunky-dory　adj. OK; satisfactory; fine. 很好的；令人满意的；呱呱叫的。◆ The landlord asked about our new apartment and we told him that so far everything was hunky-dory. 房东问我们是不是喜欢我们的新公寓，我们对他说，到目前为止一切都挺好。

hunt and peck　n. phr., informal Picking out typewriter keys by sight, usually with one or two fingers; not memorizing the keys. 〖非正式〗单指找字打字法；看着键盘打字。◆ Many newspaper reporters do their typing by hunt and peck. 很多新闻记者是看着键盘打字的。— Often used, with hyphens, as an adjective. 用连字符相连后常用作形容词。◆ Mr. Barr taught himself to type, and he uses the hunt-and-peck system. 巴尔先生自己学会了打字，他用的是单指找字打字法。

hunt down　v. 1. To pursue and capture; look hard for an animal or person until found and caught. 追捕到；捕获到。◆ The police hunted down the escaped prisoner. 警察追捕到了那名逃犯。2. To search for (something) until one finds it. 搜寻到；找寻到。◆ Professor Jones hunted down the written manuscript in the Library of Congress. 琼斯教授终于在国会图书馆找到了那份手稿。

hunt for bargains　v. phr. To seek inexpensive things, frequent sales. 觅购特价商品；寻找便宜货。◆ After living in Hong Kong for four years, we learned how to hunt for bargains, even back in Chicago. 在香港生活了4年后，我们学会了寻找便宜货，即使回到芝加哥后也是如此。

hunt up　v. To find or locate by search. 找到。◆ When John was in Chicago, he hunted up some old friends. 约翰在芝加哥时找到了一些老朋友。◆ The first thing Fred had to do was to hunt up a hotel room. 弗雷德首先需要做的就是找到一间旅馆客房。

hurry on with or make haste with　v. phr. To make rapid progress in an undertaking. 赶紧办理；急忙做。◆ Sue promised to hurry on with the report and send it out today. 苏答应把报告赶紧写完，今天就寄出去。

hurry up　v. phr. To rush (an emphatic form of hurry). 赶快，快一点（为hurry的强调形式）。◆ Hurry up or we'll miss our plane. 快点，不然我们就赶不上飞机了。

hurt someone's feelings　v. phr. To offend one's pride or self-image. 伤害某人的感情；冒犯某人。◆ Don't talk to Helen like that; you're bound to hurt her feelings. 别那样跟海伦讲话；那样必然会伤害她的感情。

hush-hush　adj., informal Kept secret or hidden; kept from public knowledge; hushed up; concealed. 〖非正式〗保密的；暗中进行的；不对外公布的；秘密的；隐藏的。◆ The company had a new automobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hushhush project until they knew it was successful. 这家公司当时正在研制一种新的汽车引擎，但在成功之前一直保密。

hush up　v. 1. To keep news of (something) from getting out; prevent people from knowing about. 不让…张扬出去；掩盖，隐瞒。◆ It isn't always easy to hush up a scandal. 掩盖丑闻有时候很难。2. informal To be or make quiet; stop talking, crying, or making some other noise. — Often used as a command. 〖非正式〗（使）安静；（使）不做声。——常用作命令。◆ "Hush up," Mother said, when we began to repeat ugly gossip. 当我们开始重述那些丑恶的流言飞语时，母亲喝道：“住嘴！”

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I been there before or I've been there before　v. phr. I know what it's like; I know all about that; I've had similar experiences. 我知道那是怎么回事；我曾领略过个中滋味；我曾有过类似经历。◆ "It's terrible to be laid off on such short notice," John complained. "I know," Tom answered, "I've been there before." “一接到通知后就被解雇真是可怕，”约翰抱怨说。“我知道，”汤姆回答说。“我也有过类似经历。”

I beg to differ or excuse me!　v. phr. I disagree with what you said. 恕我不能同意。◆ "All people who use marijuana are criminals," the old lady opined. "I beg to differ with you on that," John said. "Some people get a doctor's prescription for it to reduce their pain caused by cancer." “所有吸食大麻的人都是罪犯，”老夫人发表意见说。“请怒我不同意您的看法，”约翰说。“有些人服用大麻是得到医生的处方的，为的是减轻癌症引起的疼痛。”

I bet! or I'll bet!　v. phr. offered as reinforcement of what was heard; meaning "I believe you, I am sure you did, or will do something." 没错！我相信你的话！我相信你！◆ "I know when the weather will turn," the retired sea captain said. "After all, I have sailed around the world a few dozen times." "I bet," the admiring listener responded. “我知道什么时候天气会变，”退休的商船船长说。“毕竟我环球航行也有几十次了。”“没错，”满怀钦佩的听者回答说。

I can't wait or I can hardly wait!　v. phr. Eagerly anticipating something. 我等不及了；我几乎等不及了。◆ "You will be flown to Stockholm, Sweden, at our expense to be able to accompany your husband, who has won the Nobel Prize for Literature," the voice on the other end of the phone announced. "I can hardly wait!" Mrs. Kertész, the Nobel Laureate's wife replied. “我们将出钱让你飞往瑞典斯德哥尔摩，陪伴你荣获了诺贝尔文学奖的丈夫，”电话那头的声音宣布说。“我几乎等不及了！”诺贝尔奖得主的妻子凯尔泰斯夫人回答说。

icebreaker　n. phr. A joke or a funny anecdote used at the beginning of a formal presentation or question-and-answer session after a lecture, which puts the participants at ease, allowing a flow of free conversation. 打破僵局的话；活跃气氛的笑话。◆ "I always welcome an icebreaker in a formal situation," Sir Randolph Quirk, the president of the British Academy said after a heavily attended and televised conference in Singapore. 英国学会会长伦道夫·夸克爵士在新加坡举行的一次参加人数众多并由电视直播的会议后说：“我一向欢迎在正式的场合有人说句笑话活跃气氛。”

I couldn't agree with you more　v. phr. meaning: "How right you are!" 我完全同意你的看法；你说得太正确了。◆ "We need a little more love between human beings on planet Earth," the Reverend Blomerly said. "I couldn't agree with you more," his parishioner answered. “地球上人与人之间需要更多的爱，”布洛默利牧师大人说。“我完全同意您的看法，”他的堂区居民回答说。

I couldn't care less　v. phr. It really doesn't matter to me; I am entirely indifferent in the matter. 我一点也不在乎；我根本不放在心上。◆ "The Milky Way Galaxy will definitely collide with the Andromeda Galaxy in a billion year's time," the lecturer in astronomy said, trying to impress Miss Curtis. "That is interesting," the pretty young girl answered, "but I really couldn't care less. My problems are more immediate." “10亿年后，银河系将肯定与仙女座星系相撞，”天文学讲师说，努力想给柯蒂斯小姐留下深刻的印象。“这的确很有趣，”漂亮的年轻姑娘回答说，“但我真的一点也不在乎。我面临的问题更直接。”

I declare　interj., dialect Well; oh my; truly. — Used for emphasis. 〖方〗嘿；哎呀；说真的。——用以表示强调。◆ I declare, it has been a very warm day! 哎呀，这天可真热！◆ Mother said, "I declare, John, you have grown a foot." 母亲说：“哎呀，约翰，你长高了一英尺。”

idiot box　n. A television set. 电视机。◆ Phil has been staring at the idiot box all afternoon. 菲尔已经盯着电视机看了整整一个下午。

I don't care if I do! or I don't mind if I do!　v. phr., informal Yes, please! 〖非正式〗好吧！也好！◆ "Would you care to have another drink?" the host asked Suzanne. "I don't care if I do," she answered flirtatiously. “要不要再来一杯？”主人问苏珊娜。“好吧，”她卖弄风情地回答说。◆ "Have some more cake, Steve!" his aunt encouraged the rare visitor. "I don't mind if I do," Steve said, holding out his plate. “再吃点蛋糕吧，史蒂夫！”他的姑妈鼓励他这位稀客说。“好吧，”史蒂夫一边说，一边把盘子伸了出去。

if anything　adv. phr. More likely; instead; rather. 更可能；正相反；恰恰相反。◆ The weather forecast is not for cooler weather; if anything, it is expected to be warmer. 天气预报没说天气会转凉；如果要转，更可能是转暖。

if I say so myself　v. phr. A phrase pointing out that the speaker believes strongly in what he or she said, and is adding him-or herself as the authority to back up the statement. 这话是我说的，千真万确。◆ "Your daughter, Sam," Joe said, "is beautiful enough to run for the Miss America contest, if I say so myself." 乔说：“萨姆，你的女儿非常漂亮，完全可以参加美国小姐选美比赛，这话是我说的，绝对没错。”

if it ain't broke, don't fix it　informal If something is in good working order, there is no need to start changing it, as such interference may lead to ruining the thing. — A proverb. 〖非正式〗〖谚〗东西没坏就别修。◆ Too many new ideas are floating around in various experimental sciences, and so we're tempted to change everything around us. Yet there is wisdom in the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" 在各种实验科学中流传着太多的新思想，于是我们都很想改变周围的一切。然而还是那句老话有道理：“东西没坏就别修！”

if it's not one thing it's another　If a certain thing doesn't go wrong, another most probably will. 不是这事出错就是那事出错。◆ When John lost his keys and his wallet, and his car wouldn't start, he exclaimed in despair, "If it's not one thing it's another." 当约翰丢了钥匙和钱包，汽车无法启动时，他绝望地喊道：“不是这事出错，就是那事出错。”

if need be　adv. phr. If the need arises. 如果需要的话。◆ If need be, I can come early tomorrow and work overtime. 如果需要的话，我可以明天一早来加班。

if only　I wish. 要是…就好了。◆ If only it would stop raining! 要是雨停下来就好了！◆ If only Mother could be here. 要是母亲能在这儿该多好！

if the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the hill　If one person will not go to the other, then the other must go to him. — A proverb. 〖谚〗如果山不肯向穆罕默德走来，穆罕默德只好向山走去；事不迁就人，人就得迁就事。◆ Grandfather won't come to visit us, so we must go and visit him. If the hill won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the hill. 祖父不来看我们，我们只得去看他。长辈不来，小辈只好迁就他了。

if the shoe fits, wear it　If what is said describes you, you are meant. — A proverb. 〖谚〗鞋子合脚就穿上；批评得对就接受；说的话符合你就是指你。◆ I won't say who, but some children are always late. If the shoe fits, wear it. 我不说是谁，但有些孩子老是迟到。谁迟到谁心里明白。

if worst comes to worst　If the worst thing happens that be imagined; if the worst possible thing happens; If troubles grow worse. 如果事情坏到极点；如果最坏的事情发生；万一出现最坏的情况。◆ If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will send his family to his mother's farm. 万一出现最坏的情况，琼斯先生失去了房子，他就把子女送到他母亲的农场去。

if you can't lick them, join them　If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doing things, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. 无力胜之则从之；打不过他们，就加入他们。◆ "The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers," the president of an American car factory said. "If we want to stay in business, we must do as they do. In other words, if you can't lick them, join them." “小汽车制造商正在战胜大汽车制造商，”一家美国汽车厂的总裁说。“如果我们想在这一行继续干下去，我们就必须像他们那样干。换句话说，如果你打不过他们，就加入他们。”

if you don't like it, you can lump it　informal If you don't like what I have proposed, you may just quit the entire discussion and go away. — A proverb. 〖非正式〗〖谚〗你如果不喜欢，也只得忍受。◆ Before Grandmother died she called in her two grandsons and told them: "I will leave you each an equal amount of $25,000." "Is that all?" the boys replied indignantly. "I can give it all to the church, you know!" the grandmother answered, and added, "If you don't like it, you can lump it!" 祖母去世前，把两个孙子叫来对他们说：“我将留给你们每人25000美元。”“就这么点？”两个孙子愤愤不平地说。“我完全可以把这些钱全都捐给教会的！”祖母回答说，随后又加了一句：“你们要是不喜欢，那就将就着点吧！”

I give up!　v. phr., informal When confronted with a puzzle to solve or a difficult game to win, such as chess, the party that cannot come up with the right answer or wants to concede defeat uses this phrase. 〖非正式〗我猜不出；我认输；我承认失败。◆ "Who invented the electric locomotive?" the teacher asked. "Was it Bell, Morse, or Kandó?" The boy waited a while, and then said, "I don't know, sir; I give up!" “电力机车是谁发明的？”老师问。“是贝尔，是莫尔斯，还是坎多？”男孩等了一会儿说：“我不知道，先生；我猜不出！”

I got your number　v. phr. I figured out what you're up to. 我已弄清楚你要搞什么名堂；我已发现你的动机；我已看透了你。◆ "You've been sneaking around my back all day, you little scoundrel!" Father said. "I got your number — you are trying to put up a homemade rocket launcher in the backyard!" “你整天都在我背后偷偷摸摸地转来转去，你个小无赖，”父亲说。“我已经知道你要干什么了——你想在后院架设一个自制的火箭发射器！”

I have to hand it to you!　v. phr., informal Compliment; congratulations, I recognize that you are very good at it indeed. 〖非正式〗我不得不佩服你！我不得不赞扬你！我祝贺你！我不得不承认你的确很优秀！◆ "Now that is quite a model airplane you built," Father said proudly. "I have to hand it to you; you've got talent." “你做的这个飞机模型真的不错，”父亲自豪地说。“我不得不赞扬你；你很有天才。”

I hear you　v. phr. I am in sympathy with what you are saying. 你的话我明白了；我同意你的话。◆ "I am being treated very shabbily at my place of employment," Joe complained to his brother. "I hear you, man," his brother answered. "Why don't you quit?" “在我受雇的地方，他们待我非常不公，”乔对他的哥哥抱怨说。“你的话我明白了，老弟，”他哥哥回答说。“那你为什么不辞职呢？”

ill at ease　adj. phr. Not feeling at ease or comfortable; anxious; worried; unhappy. 局促不安，不自在；不舒服；焦急；担心；不开心。◆ When Joe first went to dancing school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act. 乔第一次去舞蹈学校时非常紧张，不知道该怎么做才好。

I'll be damned! or I'll be darned! or I'll be...!　I am greatly surprised; I can hardly believe what you said; I cannot understand why something is happening or has happened. 我决不；我真不。◆ "I'll be damned if I understand what my daughter sees in that idiot Jim!" Sylvia's father exclaimed. “我真不明白我的女儿看中了那个白痴吉姆哪一点！”西尔维亚的父亲大声叫嚷着说。

I'll bet you my bottom dollar　interj., informal An exaggerated assertion of assurance. 〖非正式〗我以最后一美元跟你打赌；我敢跟你打任何赌；我有绝对把握。◆ I'll bet you my bottom dollar that the Cubs will win this year. 我敢跟你打赌：幼狐队今年一定会赢。

I'll bet you the hole of a doughnut　v. phr., said as a joke I am willing to bet you, but nothing worthwhile, as a hole in a doughnut is empty air. （说笑话）我敢空口跟你打赌。◆ "I'll bet you the hole of a doughnut, that we'll have another frost even as late as May," the meteorologist said with an impish smirk. “我敢空口跟你打赌，即使到了5月份我们还会有一次霜冻天气，”气象学家带着顽皮的假笑说。

I'll eat my hat　v. phr., informal Often heard when someone wants to express great surprise or disbelief, meaning that what I heard is so outlandish, strange, unbelievable that my reaction to it will be equally out of the ordinary〖非正式〗（要是…）就砍我的头；我才不信呢；（要是…）那才怪呢。◆ I'll eat my hat if that idiot Jim makes the honor roll. 要是那个白痴吉姆上了优秀生的光荣榜，我就把我的帽子吃下去。◆ If you find a single misquote in my article, I'll eat my hat. 要是你在我的论文中发现一例错误的引文，我情愿受罚。

ill-favored　adj. Ugly; unprepossessing. 丑陋的，难看的；不讨人喜欢的。◆ Oddly enough, the father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than her prettier sister. 说来也怪，那位父亲把他的丑女儿嫁出去倒比嫁她那个漂亮的姐姐还省事。

ill-gotten gains　n. phr. Goods or money obtained in an illegal or immoral fashion. 不义之财。◆ The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think about his ill-gotten gains. 那位关在监狱里的犯人有很多时间想他那些不义之财。

I'll leave it to you or leave it to someone　phr. v. To let someone else make an important decision; to allow another person to be in control. 这事就由你来决定（或处理）吧；把某事交给某人决定（或处理）。◆ "When should we leave?" John asked his wife. "I'll leave it to you, dear," she replied. “我们什么时候离开？”约翰问他的妻子。“这事就由你决定吧，亲爱的，”她回答说。◆ The head of the department decided to leave the scheduling of classes to his administrative assistant. 系主任决定把课表的安排交给他的行政助理去处理。

I'll say or I tell you　interj., informal I agree with this completely. — Used for emphasis. 〖非正式〗当然；确实。——用以表示强调。◆ Did the children all enjoy Aunt Sally's pecan pie? I'll say! 孩子们都喜欢萨莉大婶做的山核桃馅饼吗？当然！◆ I'll say this is a good movie! 这确实是部好影片！

I'll tell you what or tell you what　informal Here is an idea. 〖非正式〗我有个主意；你听我说。◆ The hamburger stand is closed, but I'll tell you what, let's go to my house and cook some hot dogs. 汉堡包店关门了，但我有个主意，咱们到我家去弄些热狗吃吧。

I'm from Missouri　I am skeptical; I don't believe what you said unless you show me. — A proverb. 〖谚〗我是不轻易相信的；我要看到证据才相信。◆ "I won two air tickets and a week in a hotel in Hawaii," John said. "I hope you're coming." "You know me, John," Mary replied, "I'm from Missouri. I'll believe you when you show them to me." “我赢得了两张免费机票和在夏威夷一家宾馆免费住宿一周的礼券，”约翰说。“我希望你和我一起去。”“你是知道我的，约翰，”玛丽回答说，“我是不轻易相信的。等你把机票和礼券拿给我看了我才会相信你。”

impose on　v. To try to get more from (a person who is helping you) than he or she intended to give. 得寸进尺地硬要（某人）帮忙；利用，占便宜。◆ Don't you think you are imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an hour? 邻居的电话你一用就是半小时，你不认为你这有点太过分了吗？

improve on or improve upon　v. To make or get one that is better than (another). 改进；做出比…更好的东西。◆ Dick made good marks the first year, but he thought he could improve on them. 迪克第一年成绩很好，但他认为他还可以更好。

I'm telling you　informal It is important to listen to what I am saying. 〖非正式〗你听我说；让我告诉你。◆ Marian is a smart girl but I'm telling you, she doesn't always do what she promises. 玛丽安是个聪明的女孩，不过我可告诉你，她有时候不守信用。

I'm with you on that or I'm with you, pal　The speaker registers agreement informally and enthusiastically. 在这一点上我和你意见一致。◆ "All twentieth-century dictatorships have failed," the political science major said to his roommate, Tom. "I'm with you on that," Tom replied.“所有20世纪的独裁国家都已经失败，”那位主修政治学的学生对他的室友汤姆说。“在这一点上我完全同意你的看法，”汤姆回答说。

in a bad frame of mind　adv. phr. In an unhappy mood. 心情恶劣；心情不好。◆ Make sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a raise. 一定不要在老板心情不好时要求他加薪。

in a bad way　adv. phr., informal In trouble or likely to have trouble. 〖非正式〗处于困境；情况不好。◆ If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a bad way. 如果你只有那两个女孩帮助你，你的处境就不会好。◆ Mrs. Jones has cancer and is in a bad way. 琼斯太太患有癌症，病情很严重。

in a big way　adv. phr., informal As fully as possible; with much ceremony. 〖非正式〗铺张地；隆重地。◆ Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way. 我们家庆祝生日都很隆重。

in a bind or in a box　adv. phr., informal Likely to have trouble whether you do one thing or another. 〖非正式〗处于困境；左右为难。◆ Sam is in a bind because if he carries home his aunt's groceries, his teacher will be angry because he is late, and if he doesn't, his aunt will complain.萨姆左右为难，因为如果他把姑妈的食品杂货拿回家，老师就会因为他迟到而生气，而如果他不这样做，姑妈又会抱怨。

in absentia　adv. phr., formal When the person is absent. — Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent student or during a court case. 〖正式〗缺席。——用于毕业典礼或法庭审判。◆ On Commencement Day, Joe was sick in bed and the college gave him his bachelor's degree in absentia. 举行毕业典礼那天，乔卧病在床，但学校仍在他缺席的情况下授予他学士学位。

in accordance with　adv. phr. In consonance with something; conforming to something. 与…一致；依照，根据。◆ Employees at this firm are expected to always behave in accordance with the rules. 这家公司的雇员被要求始终按规则行事。

in a certain condition or in an interesting condition　adj. phr. Pregnant.怀孕，有喜。◆ "Your daughter Mary looks rather pale these days," Tom's brother remarked. "Didn't you know? "Tom replied. "She is in a certain condition."“你的女儿玛丽这些天来面色很苍白，”汤姆的哥哥说。“你不知道吗？”汤姆回答说。“她怀孕了。”

in a circle or in circles　adv. phr. Without any progress; without getting anywhere; uselessly. 兜圈子；毫无进展。◆ The committee debated for two hours, just talking in circles.委员会辩论了两个小时，谈来谈去毫无结果。

in addition　adv. phr. As something extra; besides. 另外；加之。◆ He has two cars and in addition a motorboat. 他有两辆汽车外加一艘汽艇。

in advance or in advance of　adv. phr. 1. In front; ahead (of the others); first. 在前面；在…的前面。◆ In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team. 在游行中，乐队将走在橄榄球队前面。◆ The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance. 侦察员在前面开路，士兵们骑着马出了城堡。2. Before doing or getting something. 预先，事先。◆ The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance. 汽车旅馆的人告诉威廉姆斯先生要先付钱。

in a family way or in the family way　adj. phr., informal Going to have a baby. 〖非正式〗怀孕，有喜。◆ Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way. 苏和莉兹很开心，因为她们的母亲怀孕了。

in a fix　adv. phr. In trouble. 处境困难；处于困境。◆ Last night Jack wrecked his car and now he is in a fix. 杰克昨晚搞坏了自己的汽车，现在他犯难了。

in a flash also in a trice　adv. phr. Very suddenly. 转瞬间；非常突然地。◆ We were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone in a flash. 我们在看那只鸟吃面包屑；后来我打了个喷嚏，那鸟一下子就飞走了。

in a flutter　adv. phr., informal In a state of nervous excitement. 〖非正式〗忐忑不安；心慌意乱。◆ Whenever Norm and Cathy are near one another, both are in a flutter; they must be in love. 诺姆和卡西每次靠近对方时，两人都心慌意乱；他俩肯定是在热恋中。

in a fog or in a haze　adv. phr. Mentally confused; not sure what is happening. 困惑的；迷惘的；如坠五里雾中的。◆ I was so upset that for two days I went around in a haze, not even answering when people spoke to me. 我心里很烦恼，所以有两天迷迷糊糊的，甚至别人跟我讲话也不回答。

in a good frame of mind　adv. phr. In a happy mood. 心情好；心情愉快。◆ After a relaxing holiday in the Bahamas, the boss was in a very good frame of mind. 在巴哈马群岛度过一个轻松自在的假期后，老板的心情非常好。

in a hole or in a spot　adj. phr., informal In an embarrassing or difficult position; in some trouble. 〖非正式〗处境尴尬；处于困境。◆ When the restaurant cook left at the beginning of the busy season, it put the restaurant owner in a hole. 餐馆的厨师在旺季开始时离去，使餐馆老板陷入了困境。

in a huff　adv. phr., informal Angrily. 〖非正式〗生气地。◆ Ellen went off in a huff because she didn't get elected class president. 埃伦因为没有被选上班主席而气冲冲地走了。

in a hurry or in a rush　adv. phr. Quickly, rapidly. 匆忙地，急急忙忙地；迅速地。◆ If you want to find the bank open, we must get there in a hurry. 如果你想在银行关门前赶到那儿，我们就必须赶快去。◆ I am sorry about the many typos in my manuscript, but I had to finish it in a great rush. 很抱歉，我的打字稿里有很多打字错误，因为我必须急急忙忙把它赶完。

in a jam　adv. phr., informal In a predicament; in a situation fraught with difficulty. 〖非正式〗处于困境；陷入麻烦。◆ If you continue to disregard the university instructions on how to take a test, you'll wind up in a jam with the head of the department. 如果你继续无视学校关于考试的规定，你最后就会在系主任那儿碰上麻烦。

in a jiffy　adv. phr., informal Immediately; right away; in a moment. 〖非正式〗立即；马上；一会儿。◆ Wait for me; I'll be back in a jiffy. 等我一下；我一会儿就回来。

in all　adv. phr. All being counted; altogether. 总共；合计；总之。◆ You have four apples and I have three bananas, making seven pieces of fruit in all. 你有4只苹果，我有3根香蕉，总共有7个水果。◆ In all we did very well. 总的来说，我们干得很好。

in and out　adv. phr. Coming in and going out often. 进进出出。◆ He was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day. 他星期六很忙，整天进进出出的。

in a nutshell　adv. phr., informal In a few words; briefly, without telling all about it. 〖非正式〗简单地（说）；简明扼要地（说）。◆ We are in a hurry, so I'll give you the story in a nutshell. 我们很匆忙，所以只能简单地给你讲一下事情的经过。

in any case also in any event or at all events　adv. phr. 1. No matter what happens; surely; without fail; certainly; any how; anyway. 无论如何；不管怎样。◆ It may rain tomorrow, but we are going home in any case. 明天可能会下雨，但不管怎样我们都要回家。2. Regardless of anything else; whatever else may be true; anyhow; anyway. 不管别的；在任何情况下。◆ I don't know if it is a white house or a brown house. At all events, it is a big house on Main Street. 我不知道那是一幢白房子还是一幢褐色的房子。但不管怎样，它是主街上的一幢大房子。

in a pickle　adv. phr., informal In a quandary; in a difficult situation. 〖非正式〗左右为难；处境困难。◆ I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew out. 我的汽车前胎爆裂时，我确实遇上麻烦了。

in a pig's eye　adv., slang, informal Hardly; unlikely; not so. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗几乎不；不可能；不是这样。◆ Would I marry him? In a Pig's eye.我会嫁给他吗？不可能。

in a pinch　adv. phr., informal In an emergency. 〖非正式〗在紧要关头。◆ Dave is a good friend who will always help out in a pinch. 戴维是个紧要关头总会帮忙的好朋友。

in arms　adv. phr. Having guns and being ready to fight; armed. 武装起来。◆ When our country is at war, we have many men in arms. 在我们国家处于战争状态时，我们有许多人都武装起来了。

in arrears　adv. phr. Late or behind in payment of money or in finishing something. — Usually used of a legal debt or formal obligation. 拖欠；拖延；落后。◆ Poor Mr. Brown! He is in arrears on his rent. 可怜的布朗先生！他的房租还欠着呢。

in a rush　See见IN A HURRY.

in a rut　adv. phr. Stuck in an unchanging, boring job, marriage, or other situation in life. 陷入枯燥的工作；陷入单调乏味的婚姻（或生活）。◆ "Why is Mary so sad?" her brother Joe asked. "She feels that she is in a rut," Mary's husband replied.“玛丽为什么这么不开心？”她的哥哥乔问。“她觉得工作太单调乏味了，”玛丽的丈夫回答说。

in a sense　adv. phr. In some ways but not in all; somewhat. 从某种意义上说。◆ In a sense, arithmetic is a language. 从某种意义上说，算术是一种语言。

inasmuch as conj. also for as much as　formal Because; for the reason that; since. 〖正式〗因为；由于；既然。◆ Inasmuch as the waves are high, I shall not go out in the boat. 因为浪大，我将不驾船出海。

in at the kill　adj. phr., informal Watching or taking part, usually with pleasure, at the end of a struggle; present at the finish. 〖非正式〗战斗结束时在观看（或参加）；结束时在场。◆ Frank and John have been quarreling for a long time and tonight they are having a fight. Bill says he wants to be in at the kill, because he is Frank's friend. 弗兰克和约翰已争吵了很久，今晚他们还要打一架。比尔说他要去助阵，因为他是弗兰克的朋友。

in a way　adv. phr. 1. also informal 〖非正式〗in a kind of way or informal〖非正式〗in a sort of way To a certain extent; a little; somewhat.在某种程度上；有一点；有几分。◆ I like Jane in a way, but she is very proud. 我有几分喜欢简，但她很骄傲。2. In one thing. 在某一方面；从某一点上看。◆ In a way, this book is easier; it is much shorter. 在某种意义上讲这本书比较容易；它的篇幅短多了。

in a while, crocodile or see you later, alligator!　adv. phr. A joking way to say later, not now. 〖谑〗等一会儿；再见。◆ When John's six-year-old son kept nagging about lunch in the zoo, John said, "In a while, crocodile! "当他6岁的儿子在动物园里缠着要吃午饭时，约翰说：“再等一会嘛！”◆ When the boy's friend left after little Johnny's birthday, Johnny's father said to the boy, "See you later, alligator!"小约翰尼的生日晚会结束后他的朋友离去时，约翰尼的父亲对他说：“再见啦，孩子！”

in a world of one's own or in a world by oneself　1. In the place where you belong; in your own personal surroundings; apart from other people. 在自己的小天地里；远离他人。◆ They are in a little world of their own in their house on the mountain. 他们住在山上的房子里自有一番小天地的乐趣。2a. In deep thought or concentration. 在沉思；聚精会神。◆ Mary is in a world of her own when she is playing the piano. 玛丽在弹钢琴时思想高度集中。2b. slang Not caring about or connected with other people in thoughts or actions. — Usually used sarcastically. 〖俚〗 自顾自；不管他人；不与他人往来。——通常用于讽刺挖苦。◆ That boy is in a world all by himself. He never knows what is happening around him. 那个男孩只顾自己。他从来就不知道周围发生的事情。

in a zone　adv., slang, informal In a daze; in a daydream; in a state of being unable to concentrate. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗茫然；恍惚；在做白日梦；处于无法集中思想的状态。◆ Professor Smith puts everyone in a zone. 史密斯教授使每个人都茫茫然不知所云。

in bad form　adv. phr. Violating social custom or accepted behavior. 违反社会习俗；违反礼节；举止粗野。◆ When Bob went to the opera in blue jeans and without a tie, his father-in-law told him that it was in bad form. 当鲍勃穿着牛仔裤、不打领带去看歌剧演出时，他的岳父告诉他这是不合礼节的。

in behalf of or on behalf of　prep., formal〖正式〗1. In place of; as a representative of; for. 代替；代表；为。◆ John accepted the championship award on behalf of the team. 约翰代表全队接受了冠军奖。2. As a help to; for the good of. 为了帮助；为了…的利益。◆ The minister worked hard all his life in behalf of the poor. 那位牧师为了穷人的利益辛勤地工作了一辈子。

in black and white　See见BLACK AND WHITE

in brief or in short or in a word　adv. phr. Briefly; to give the meaning of what has been said or written in a word or in a few words; in summary. 简单地说；简言之；总之。◆ The children could play as long as they liked, they had no work to do, and nobody scolded them; in short, they were happy. 孩子们想玩多久就玩多久，他们不需要干活儿，也没有人责骂他们；总之，他们很开心。◆ The speaker didn't know his subject, nor did he speak well; in brief, he was disappointing. 演讲人对他所谈的题目知之甚少，口才也不好；总之，他很令人失望。◆ John is smart, polite, and well-behaved. In a word, he is admirable. 约翰很聪明，有礼貌，且行为端正。总之，他很值得赞赏。

in case　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. In order to be prepared; as a precaution; if there is need. — Usually used in the phrase just in case. 以备；以防（万一）；如有需要。——通常用于短语just in case。◆ The bus is usually on time, but start early, just in case. 公交车通常是准时的，不过还是早点出发吧，以防万一它早开。2. in case or in the event conj. If it happens that; if it should happen that; if; lest. 如果；万一；假使；免得。◆ Tom took his skates in case they found a place to skate. 汤姆带上了他的冰鞋，以便找到地方时可以滑滑冰。◆ In the event that our team wins, there will be a big celebration. 如果我们队获胜，将有一个大的庆祝活动。◆ What shall we do in case it snows? 万一下雪我们怎么办？

in case of also in the event of　prep. In order to meet the possibility of; lest there is; if there is; if there should be. 以备；以防；假使；如果发生。◆ Take your umbrellas in case of rain. 带上你的伞吧，以防下雨。◆ The wall was built along the river in case of floods. 沿江筑了堤坝以防水灾。

in character　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In agreement with a person's character or personality; in the way that a person usually behaves or is supposed to behave; as usual; characteristic; typical; suitable. 与自己的性格一致；按通常的行为方式；像平常一样；特有的；典型的；合适的。◆ John was very rude at the party, and that was not in character because he is usually very polite. 约翰在晚会上非常粗暴无礼，这同他的性格不符，因为他通常是很有礼貌的。2. Suitable for the part or the kind of part being acted; natural to the way a character in a book or play is supposed to act. 适合扮演的角色；符合人物的个性。◆ It would not have been in character for Robin Hood to steal from a poor man. 如果让罗宾汉去偷一个穷人的东西那就不符合这个人物的个性了。

in charge　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In authority or control; in a position to care for or supervise; responsible. 主管；看管；管理；负责。◆ If you have any questions, ask the boss. He's in charge. 你有什么问题可以问老板。他是主管。2. Under care or supervision. 由…照管；在…掌管下。◆ During your visit to the library, you will be in the librarian's charge. 在你参观图书馆时，由图书馆长负责接待你。

in charge of　prep. 1. Responsible for; having supervision or care of. 负责；经营；照顾。◆ Marian is in charge of selling tickets. 玛丽安负责售票。2. or in the charge of Under the care or supervision of. 由…照管；在…掌管下。◆ Mother puts the baby in the charge of the baby-sitter while she is out. 母亲外出时把小孩交给临时保姆照看。

in check　adv. phr. In a position where movement or action is not allowed or stopped; under control; kept quiet or back. 受制；处于控制之下；使保持平静；抑制。◆ The soldiers tried to keep the attacking Iraqis in check until help came. 士兵们试图在援兵来到之前阻挡住进攻的伊拉克人。◆ Mary couldn't hold her feelings in check any longer and began to cry.玛丽再也控制不住自己的感情而哭了起来。

inch (one's way) along　v. phr. To proceed slowly and with difficulty. 缓慢地向前移动。◆ When the electricity failed, it took John half an hour to inch his way along the corridors of the office building. 当供电中断时，约翰在办公大楼的走廊里缓慢地向前移动竟走了半小时。

in circulation or into circulation　adj. phr., informal Going around and doing things as usual; joining what others are doing. 〖非正式〗积极参与社交（或业务）活动。◆ John broke his leg and was out of school for several weeks, but now he is back in circulation again. 约翰摔断腿后几个星期没有去上学，但现在他又重新回校上课了。

inclined to　adj. phr. Having a tendency to; positively disposed toward.倾向于…的；对…有好感的。◆ I am inclined to fall asleep after a heavy meal. 饱餐一顿之后我往往会睡着。

in clover or in the clover　adv. or adj. phr., informal In rich comfort; rich or successful; having a pleasant or easy life. 〖非正式〗生活富裕；舒适安逸。◆ They live in clover because their father is rich. 他们的父亲很有钱，所以他们过着舒适安逸的生活。◆ When we finish the hard part we'll be in the clover. 我们做完困难的部分后，其他的部分就轻松了。

in cold blood　adv. phr. Without feeling or pity; in a purposely cruel way; coolly and deliberately. 冷酷无情地；残忍地；蓄意地。◆ The bank robbers planned to shoot in cold blood anyone who got in their way.那些银行抢劫犯计划冷酷无情地枪杀任何阻碍他们的人。

in command　adv. phr. In control of; in charge. 控制；指挥。◆ Helen is in command of the situation. 海伦控制着局势。

in commission or into commission　adv. or adj. phr. 1. On duty or ready to be put on duty by a naval or military service; in active service. 服役（的）；准备好服役（的）；服现役（的）。◆ The old battleship has been in commission for twenty years. 这艘老战艇已服役20年了。2. In proper condition; in use or ready for use; working; running. 可使用（的）；在使用（的）；可运转（的）。◆ The wheel of my bicycle was broken, but it is back in commission now. 我的自行车轮子坏了，但现在已修好可以用了。

in common　adv. phr. Shared together or equally; in use or ownership by all. 共有；共用。◆ Mr. and Mrs. Smith own the store in common. 史密斯夫妇共同拥有这家店。

in consequence　adv. phr. As a resuit; therefore; so. 结果；因此；所以。◆ Jennie got up late, and in consequence she missed the bus. 珍妮起来晚了，结果错过了公共汽车。

in consequence of　prep., formal As a result of. 〖正式〗因为…的缘故；由于。◆ In consequence of the deep snow, school will not open today. 因为积雪太厚，学校今天停课。◆ In consequence of his promise to pay for the broken window, Bill was not punished. 因为已答应赔偿打碎的窗玻璃，比尔才没有受处罚。

in consideration of　adv. phr. 1. After thinking about and weighing; because of. 考虑到；由于。◆ In consideration of the boy's young age, the judge did not put him in jail. 考虑到那男孩年纪还小，法官才没有判他入狱。2. In exchange for; because of; in payment for. 交换；因为；作为对…的酬报。◆ In consideration of the extra work Joe had done, his boss gave him an extra week's pay. 由于乔做了额外的工作，老板多付给他一周的工资。

in days or weeks or years to come　adv. phr. In the future. 在未来的日子里；在未来的岁月里；在未来。◆ In the years to come I will be thinking of my father's advice about life.在未来的岁月里，我将考虑父亲有关人生的忠告。

in deep　adj. phr. Seriously mixed up in something, especially trouble. 深深卷入；深陷其中（尤指麻烦）。◆ George began borrowing small sums of money to bet on horses, and before he knew it he was in deep. 乔治开始借小笔小笔的钱赌赛马，没有多久已债台高筑。

in defiance of　prep. Acting against; in disobedience to. 违抗；不服从。◆ The girl chewed gum in defiance of the teacher's rule. 那女孩违反老师的规定嚼口香糖。

in demand　adj. phr. Needed; wanted. 所需要的。◆ Men to shovel snow were in demand after the snow storm. 暴风雪后需要铲雪的人。

Indian giver　n. phr. A person who gives one something, but later asks for it back. — An ethnic slur; avoid! 送东西给人日后又索回的人。——种族诋毁用语，应避免使用！◆ John gave me a beautiful fountain pen, but a week later, like an Indian giver, he wanted it back. 约翰给了我一支漂亮的自来水笔，但一个星期以后，他像送东西给人日后又索回的人那样，又把它要了回去。

Indian summer　n. phr. A dry and warm period of time late in the fall, usually in October. 晚秋时的一段晴暖宜人的天气（通常在10月份）；小阳春。◆ After the cold and foggy weather, we had a brief Indian summer, during which the temperature was up in the high seventies. 在寒冷、多雾的天气之后，我们有一段短暂的小阳春，气温高达（华氏）77、78度。

in dire straits　adv. phr. In a difficult, terrible situation. 陷入绝境；处于绝境之中。◆ "I am badly in need of an interest-free loan of $5,000, John!" the old roommate from college called to say. "What's the matter? Have you tried your bank?" "I am in such dire straights that they won't give it to me," came the reply. “我现在急需一笔5000美元的无息贷款，约翰！”大学时的室友在电话中说。“怎么啦？你试过向银行贷款吗？”“我现在深陷绝境，他们不肯贷款给我，”对方回答说。◆ The mountain climbers were in dire straights because they had been lost for days without food and water. 登山运动员陷入了绝境，因为他们迷了路，已经几天没有食物和水了。

in dispute　adj. phr. Disagreed about; being argued. 不一致的；在争论中的。◆ The penalty ordered by the referee was in dispute by one of the teams. 其中的一队不同意裁判的判罚。

in doubt　adv. phr. In the dark; having some question or uncertainty. 不知道的；有疑问的；不确定的。◆ When in doubt about any of the words you're using, consult a good dictionary. 对你用的任何词拿不准时，查一本好词典。

in due course or in due season or in due time　See见IN GOOD TIME 2.

in due season or in due time　See见IN GOOD TIME.

industrial park　n. A complex of industrial buildings and/or businesses usually located far from the center of a city in a setting especially landscaped to make such buildings look better.工业园区◆ The nearest supermarket that sells car tires is at the industrial park twenty miles from downtown. 出售汽车轮胎最近的超市在离市区20英里远的工业园区。

in earnest　adv. or adj. phr. Seriously; in a determined way. 认真地；坚定地。◆ Bill did his homework in earnest. 比尔做作业很认真。— Often used like a predicate adjective. Sometimes used with dead, for emphasis. 常用作谓语形容词。有时与dead连用表示强调。◆ Betty's friends thought she was joking when she said she wanted to be a doctor, but she was in dead earnest. 贝蒂说她要做医生时，她的朋友们都以为她在开玩笑，但她是当真的。

in effect　adv. or adj. phr. 1. The same in meaning or result. 实际上；事实上。◆ The teacher gave the same assignment, in effect, that she gave yesterday. 老师布置的作业实际上跟她昨天布置的作业一样。2. Necessary to obey; being enforced. 必须服从的；在实施中。◆ The coach says that players must be in bed by midnight, and that rule is in effect tonight. 教练说所有的队员必须在半夜前上床，这项规定今晚开始实施。

in error　adv. phr. Wrong; mistaken.错误的；弄错了的。◆ You were in error when you assumed that he would wait for us. 你以为他会等我们，你错了。

I never liked it, anyway　v. phr. Similar to "sour grapes," this saying is heard when one loses or breaks something in order to comfort oneself jokingly. — A proverb. 〖谚〗（丢失或打碎东西时安慰自己常说的话）反正我从来也没喜欢过这东西。◆ "I lost my new digital camera!" John sighed. "Oh, it doesn't matter," he added. "I didn't like it, anyway!"“我把新买的数码相机丢了！”约翰叹息着说。“不过没关系，”他又补充说，“反正我也没喜欢过这东西。”

in evidence　adj. phr. Easily seen; noticeable. 显而易见的；明显的。◆ The tulips were blooming; spring was in evidence. 郁金香在盛开；春意盎然。

in fact also in point of fact　adv. phr. Really truthfully. — Often used for emphasis. 事实上；实际上；其实。——常用来表示强调。◆ It was a very hot day; in fact, it was 100 degrees. 天气很热；实际上气温达到了（华氏）100度。

in favor of　prep. On the side of; in agreement with. 支持；赞成。◆ Everyone in the class voted in favor of the party. 全班同学都表决赞成举行晚会。◆ Most girls are in favor of wearing lipstick. 大多数女孩赞成搽口红。

in fear of　adj. phr. Fearful of; afraid of. 担心；害怕。◆ They live so close to the border that they are constantly in fear of an enemy attack. 他们住得离边境很近，所以一直担心遭到敌人的攻击。

in for　prep., informal Unable to avoid; sure to get. 〖非正式〗无法避免；肯定会得到。◆ On Christmas morning we are in for some surprises. 圣诞节早晨我们肯定会得到一些惊喜。

in for a penny, in for a dollar or pound　Once you got into a deal on a low level, you're in all the way, which may be costly. — A proverb.〖谚〗一不做，二不休；一旦开始就干到底。◆ When Mr. Smith decided to invest in Mr. Brown's company, everything went well at the beginning. When things started to go badly, Mr. Smith wanted to get out of the business. At this point Mr. Brown reminded his partner: "In for a penny, in for a pound." 当史密斯先生决定入股布朗先生的公司时，开头一切都进展顺利。当情况开始变得很糟时，史密斯先生想退出来。这时，布朗先生提醒他的合伙人说：“既然干就干到底嘛。”

in force　adj. phr. 1. To be obeyed.在实施中。◆ New times for eating meals are now in force. 新的就餐时刻表现已实施。2. In a large group. 人数众多地；大批地。◆ People went to see the parade in force. 人们蜂拥着去看游行。

in front of　prep. Ahead of; before.在…前面；在…前。◆ A big oak tree stood in front of the building. 一棵高大的橡树屹立在建筑物前面。

in full swing　adj. phr. Actively going on; in full action. 正在积极进行中；正在全力进行。◆ All of the children were planting seeds; the gardening project was in full swing. 所有的孩子都在播种；园艺计划正在全力进行。

in general^1　adv. phr. Usually; very often. 通常；经常；一般说来。◆ The weather in Florida is warm in general. 佛罗里达的天气通常是温暖的。

in general^2　adj. phr. Most; with few exceptions. 大多数；少有例外。◆ Boys in general like active sports more than girls do. 大多数男孩比女孩更喜欢剧烈的体育运动。

in glass houses　See见PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.

in good　adj. phr., informal Well liked; accepted. — Used with with.〖非正式〗被…喜欢；被接受。——与with连用。◆ The boy washed the blackboards so that he would get in good with his teacher. 那男孩擦黑板以便得到老师的好感。◆ Although Tom was younger, he was in good with the older boys. 汤姆虽然年纪较小，却得到大男孩们的好感。

in good faith　See见GOOD FAITH.

in good time or in good season　adv. phr. 1. A little early; sooner than necessary. 及早；提前；提早。◆ The school bus arrived in good time.校车提早到了。◆ We reached the station in good season to catch the 9:15 bus for New York. 我们提前到达车站，赶9点15分的长途汽车去纽约。2. or in due course or in due season or in due time In the usual amount of time; at the right time; in the end. 在通常的时间内；按时；最后；终于。◆ Spring and summer will arrive in due course. 春季和夏季会按时来临。

in great measure　adv. phr. To a great extent; largely. 在很大程度上；大半。◆ The Japanese attack on Hawaii was in great measure a contributing factor to President Roosevelt's decision to enter World War Ⅱ.日本人对夏威夷的进攻在很大程度上促使罗斯福总统作出了参与第二次世界大战的决定。

in hand　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Under control. 在掌握中；在控制下。◆ The baby-sitter kept the children well in hand. 临时保姆完全控制住了孩子们。2. In your possession; with you. — Often used in the phrase cash in hand. 被拥有；在手中。——常用于短语cash in hand。◆ Tom figured that his cash in hand with his weekly pay would be enough to buy a car. 汤姆估计，他手中的现金加上他的周薪足够买辆汽车了。 3. Being worked on; with you to do. （工作等）在进行中；正在做的。◆ We should finish the work we have in hand before we begin something new. 我们应该先完成手头的工作，然后再接手新的工作。

in harm's way or into harm's way　adv. phr. In danger of getting wounded or killed either in a war or in the police force. 在容易受到伤害的危险中；在危险的地方。◆ America worries about sending U. S. troops into harm's way. 美国担心把部队派往危险的地方去。◆ Many reporters during the war lived in harm's way. 战争期间很多记者生活在容易伤亡的危险之中。

in honor of　prep. As an honor to; for showing respect or thanks to. 为纪念…；为了对…表示尊敬（或感谢）。◆ We celebrate Mother's Day in honor of our mothers. 我们庆祝母亲节以表示对母亲的感谢和敬意。

in hot water　See见HOT WATER.

in keeping　adj. phr. Going well together; agreeing; similar. 协调的；一致的；类似的。◆ Having an assembly on Friday morning was in keeping with the school program. 星期五上午举行集会跟学校安排的活动是一致的。

in kind　adv. phr. In a similar way; with the same kind of thing. 以同样的方式；以同样的东西。◆ Lois returned Mary's insult in kind. 洛伊丝以同样的方式回敬了玛丽的侮辱。

in league with or informal〖非正式〗in cahoots with　prep. In secret agreement or partnership with (someone); working together secretly with, especially for harm. 与（某人）联合；与（某人）结盟；与（某人）勾结。◆ People once believed that some women were witches in league with the devil. 人们过去以为，有些女人是与魔鬼勾结的巫婆。

in light of also in the light of　adj. phr. 1. As a result of new information; by means of new ideas. 根据；依照。◆ The teacher changed John's grade in the light of the extra work in the workbook. 老师根据约翰练习册上额外做的练习而更改了他的成绩。2. Because of. 因为，由于。◆ In light of the muddy field, the football team wore their old uniforms. 由于场地泥泞，橄榄球队员都穿上了旧球衣。

in line　adj. phr. 1. In a position in a series or after someone else. 依次，顺次。◆ John is in line for the presidency of the club next year. 明年就要轮到约翰担任俱乐部主席了。2. Obeying or agreeing with what is right or usual; doing or being what people expect or accept; within ordinary or proper limits. 守规矩；符合常规；在正常限度内的。◆ The coach kept the excited team in line. 教练使情绪激动的队员们不越轨。

in line with　prep. In agreement with.与…一致；符合。◆ In line with the custom of the school, the students had a holiday between Christmas and New Year's Day. 按照学校的常规，圣诞节至元旦期间学生们放假。

in love　adj. phr. Liking very much; loving. 热爱；非常喜爱；在恋爱。◆ Tom and Ellen are in love. 汤姆和埃伦在恋爱。◆ Mary is in love with her new wristwatch. 玛丽非常喜爱她那块新手表。

in luck　adj. phr. Being lucky; having good luck; finding something good by chance. 幸运；运气好；走运。◆ Mary dropped her glasses but they did not break. She was in luck. 玛丽的眼镜掉在了地上却没摔碎。她真幸运。

in memory of　prep. As something that makes people remember (a person or thing); as a reminder of; as a memorial to. 纪念；作为…的纪念。◆ Many special ceremonies are in memory of famous people. 很多特别的仪式是纪念名人的。

in mind　adv. phr. In the center of your thought; in your close attention. 在心中；在密切注意中。◆ You have to be home by 11 o'clock. Keep that in mind, Bob. 你必须在11点以前回家。记住这一点，鲍勃。◆ Bear in mind the rules of safety when you swim. 在你游泳时一定要牢记安全规则。

in mint condition　adj. phr. Excellent; as good as new. 完好的；崭新的。◆ Grandma seldom uses her car; it is already ten years old, but it is still in mint condition. 奶奶很少用她的汽车；她的车已买了10年，但仍完好如初。

in name　adj. or adv. phr. Having a title, but not really doing what someone with the title is expected to do.名义上。◆ The old man is a doctor in name only. He does not have patients now. 那位老人只是名义上的医生。他现在没有病人。

in need of　adj. phr. Destitute; lacking something. 没有…的；缺少；需要。◆ The young girl is so ill that she is seriously in need of medical attention. 那个小女孩病得很厉害，急需治疗。

inner city　n., colloquial Densely populated neighborhoods in large metropolitan areas inhabited by low income families usually of minority backgrounds, such as Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, or African Americans; characterized by slums and government-owned high rises. 〖口〗市中心贫民区。◆ Joe comes from the inner city — he may need help with his tuition. 乔来自市中心贫民区——他可能在学费上需要帮助。

in no time or in nothing flat　adv. phr., informal In a very little time; soon; quickly. 〖非正式〗立刻；很快；马上。◆ When the entire class worked together they finished the project in no time. 当全班学生一起干时，他们很快就完成了这个课题。◆ The bus filled with students in nothing flat. 公共汽车上很快就挤满了学生。

in no uncertain terms　See见IN SO MANY WORDS 2.

in on　prep. 1. Joining together for.参加，参与。◆ The children collected money from their classmates and went in on a present for their teacher. 孩子们向同学们收钱一起为他们的老师买件礼物。2. Told about; having knowledge of.知悉；知道。◆ Bob was in on the secret. 鲍勃知道这一秘密。

in one ear and out the other　See见GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER.

in one fell swoop or at one fell swoop　adj. phr. 1. literary In one attack or accident; in one bad blow.〖文〗一举；一下子。◆ The millionaire lost his money and his friends at one fell swoop.那位百万富翁一下子就把钱和朋友全失去了。2. At one time; at the same time. 一次；同时。◆ Three cars drove into the driveway, and Mrs. Crane's dinner guests all arrived at one fell swoop. 3辆汽车驶入私人车道，克莱恩太太的宴会来宾同时都到了。

in one's cups　adv. phr., literary 〖文〗Drunk. 喝醉的。◆ The man was in his cups and talking very loudly. 那人喝醉了，说话的声音很响。

in one's element　adv. phr. 1. In one's natural surroundings. 处于适宜的环境。◆ The deep-sea fish is in his element in deep ocean water. 深海鱼适宜于在深海水中生长。2. Where you can do your best. 处于能发挥所长的环境。◆ John is in his element working on the farm. 约翰在农场工作能发挥其所长。

in one's glory　adj. phr. Pleased and contented with yourself. 得意；踌躇满志。◆ When John won the race, he was in his glory. 约翰赢得赛跑后非常得意。

in one's heart of hearts　adv. phr. Deep down where it really matters; in one's innermost feelings. 在内心深处。◆ In my heart of hearts, I think you're the nicest person in the whole would. 在我的内心深处，我认为你是全世界最好的人。

in one's mind's eye　adv. phr. In the memory; in the imagination. 在记忆中；在想象中。◆ In his mind's eye he saw again the house he had lived in when he was a child. 在记忆中，他再次看到了他小时候住过的房子。

in one's right mind　adj. phr. Accountable; sane and sober. 头脑正常的；神志清醒的。◆ If you were in your right mind, you wouldn't be saying such stupid things to our boss. 如果你当时脑子正常的话，你就不会对我们的老板说那些蠢话了。

in one's shell or into one's shell　adv. or adj. phr., informal In or into bashfulness; into silence; not sociable; unfriendly. 〖非正式〗害羞起来；缄默起来；不爱交际；不友好。◆ The teacher tried to get Rose to talk to her, but she stayed in her shell. 老师设法使罗丝跟她说话，但她却一直羞答答的不说话。

in one's tracks　adv. phr., informal 〖非正式〗Just where one is at the moment; abruptly; immediately. 就地；当场；突然；立刻。◆ Mary stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and ran back home. 玛丽突然在原地停下，然后转身跑回家去。

in on the ground floor　adv. phr. At the start of a new enterprise or new business, giving employees a chance to grow with the place. 在公司（或企业等）的初创阶段参加（从而处于有利地位）◆ "Should we accept appointments at this university, which has been functioning for only one year?" John asked a colleague. "I think it would be a good idea, because we would be getting in on the ground floor, and in ten or fifteen years we will be the senior faculty."“这所大学只运作了一年，我们该接受它的聘任吗？”约翰问一位同事。“我觉得这倒是一个不错的想法，因为这样一来我们就取得了有利地位，10年或15年以后我们就是资深教师了。”

in or into orbit　adj. phr. Thrilled; exuberantly happy; in very high spirits. 非常激动的；兴高采烈的；兴致勃勃的。◆ When Carol won the lottery she went right into orbit. 当卡罗尔赢得彩票大奖时，她欣喜若狂。

in order　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In arrangement; in the proper way of following one another. 按顺序，挨次序。◆ Line up and walk to the door in order. 排好队并挨次序走到门那儿去。◆ Name all the presidents in order. 按先后顺序说出所有总统的名字。2. In proper condition. 处于良好状态。◆ The car was in good working order when I bought it. 我买这辆车时，它处于良好的运转状态。3. Following the rules; proper; suitable. 符合规则；合适的；适当的。◆ Is it in order to ask the speaker questions at the meeting? 在会上问演讲者问题合适吗？◆ At the end of a program, applause for the performers is in order. 每个节目结束时为表演者鼓掌是理所当然的。

in order to or so as to　conj. For the purpose of; to. — Used with an infinitive. 为了。——与不定式连用。◆ In order to follow the buffalo, the hunters often had to move their camps. 为了追逐野牛，猎人们不得不常常迁移营地。◆ We picked apples so as to make a pie. 我们摘苹果为的是做馅饼。

in part　adv. phr. To some extent; partly; not wholly. — Often used with large or small. 在某种程度上；部分地。——常与large或small连用。◆ We planted the garden in part with flowers. But in large part we planted vegetables. 我们在园子里一部分种花，但大部分种蔬菜。◆ Tom was only in small part responsible. 汤姆只负一小部分责任。

in particular　adv. phr. In a way apart from others; more than others; particularly; especially. 特别；尤其。◆ The speaker talked about sports in general and about football in particular. 演讲人一般地谈了谈体育，特别谈到了橄榄球。

in passing　adv. phr. While talking about that subject; as extra information; also. 顺便；附带地；也。◆ The writer of the story says he grew up in New York and mentions in passing that his parents came from Italy. 故事的作者说他是在纽约长大的，同时也提到他的父母来自意大利。

in person also in the flesh　adv. phr. Yourself; personally. 本人；亲自。◆ The governor cannot march in the parade in person today, but his wife will march. 州长今天不能亲自参加游行，但他的夫人会参加。

in place^1　adv. phr. 1a. In the right or usual place or position. 在合适的位置；在通常的位置。◆ Nothing is in place after the earthquake. Even trees and houses are turned over. 地震之后，所有的东西都不在原来的位置了。连树和房子也都倒了。◆ 1b. In one place. 在一个地方。◆ Our first exercise in gym class was running in place. 我们体育课的第一个练习是原地跑。2. In proper order. 按顺序。◆ Stay in place in line, children. 孩子们，按顺序排好队。

in place^2　adv. phr. In the right place or at the right time; suitable; timely. 适当的；适时的。◆ A dog is not in place in a church. 狗进教堂不合适。

in place of　See见INSTEAD OF.

in plain English　adv. phr. Plainly; simply; in clear language. 用浅显的英语；简单明了地说；直率地说。◆ Stop beating around the bush and saying that John "prevaricates"; in plain English he is a liar. 不要转弯抹角地说什么约翰“含糊其辞”了；说得明白点，他就是个说谎的骗子。

in poor shape　adv. phr. In a bad condition. 处于不良状况。◆ Most of the streets of Chicago are in poor shape due to the heavy snow and frost during the winters. 由于冬季的大雪和冰冻，芝加哥的大多数街道路况很差。

in practice^1　also into practice　adv. phr. In actual doing. 在实践中。◆ The idea sounds good but will it work in practice? 这主意听上去不错，但在实践中行得通吗？

in practice^2　adj. phr. In proper condition to do something well through practice. 经常练习的；熟练的。◆ A pianist gets his fingers in practice by playing scales. 钢琴家通过练习指法使其手指灵活熟练。

in print　adj. phr. Obtainable in printed form from a printer or publisher; printed. 印好的；已出版的。◆ The author has finished writing his book but it is not yet in print. 作者已写完了他的书，但还没有出版。◆ It is a very old book and no longer in print. 那是一本很老的书，现已绝版。

in private　adj. or adv. phr. Not openly or in public; apart from others; confidentially; secretly. 非公开地；在私下；秘密地。◆ The teacher told Susan that she wanted to talk to her in private after class. 老师对苏珊说，她想下课后跟她私下谈谈。

in progress　adj. phr. Going ahead; being made or done; happening. 正在进行；正在做；正在发生。◆ Plans are in progress to build a new school next year. 明年建造一所新学校的计划正在进行之中。

in public　adv. phr. In a place open to the people; in such a way that the public may see, hear, or know; not secretly ; openly. 当众；公开地。◆ The mayor has told his friends that he is sick but will not admit it in public. 市长告诉他的朋友们说他病了，但他不会公开承认。

in question　adj. phr. 1. In doubt; in dispute ; being argued about or examfined. 被怀疑的；成问题的；有争议的。◆ I know Bill would be a good captain for the team. That is not in question. But does he want to be captain? 我知道比尔会成为这个队的好队长。这是毫无疑问的。但他想做队长吗？2. Under discussion; being talked or thought about. 讨论中的；正被谈论的；正被考虑的。◆ The girls in question are not in school today. 我们谈到的几个女孩子今天没来上学。

in quotes　See见INVERTED COMMAS.

in real time　adv. phr. As something happens; immediately; synchronously on several continents. 在实时；在事件发生的同时。◆ American television stations have been broadcasting the news from Iraq in real time. 美国的电视台一直在实时播报来自伊拉克的新闻。

in reason　adv. phr., formal Following the rules of reasoning; sensibly; reasonably. 〖正式〗合情合理地；明智地；正当地。◆ One cannot in reason doubt that freedom is better than slavery. 一个人要怀疑自由胜过奴役是毫无道理的。

in reference to or with reference to or in regard to or with regard to　prep. In connection with; from the standpoint of; concerning; regarding; about. 关于；有关；至于。◆ I am writing with reference to your last letter. 我正就你的上一封来信作答。◆ I spoke to him with regard to his low marks. 我就他的低分跟他谈过了。◆ In regard to the test tomorrow, it is postponed. 至于明天的测验，它已延期了。

in relation to or with relation to　prep. In connection with; in dealing with; as concerns; in comparison to; respecting; about. 关于；涉及；与…相比；在…方面。◆ With relating to his job, skill is very important. 对于他的工作来说，技术是非常重要的。◆ In relation to Texas, Rhode Island is quite a small state. 与得克萨斯相比，罗得岛是很小的一个州。

in respect to or with respect to　In connection with; related to; about; on. 关于。◆ The teacher told stories about Washington and Lincoln in respecs to the importance of being honest. 老师讲述华盛顿和林肯的故事以说明诚实的重要性。

in return　adv. phr. In order to give back something; as payment; in recognition or exchange. — Often used with for. 作为报答；作为回报；作为交换。——常与for连用。◆ How much did John give you in return for your bicycle? 约翰买你的自行车给了你多少钱？◆ I hit him in return for the time he hit me. 我打他因为他打过我。

in reverse　adj. or adv. phr. In a backward direction; backward. 向相反方向；向后。◆ John hit the tree behind him when he put the car in reverse without looking first. 约翰没先看一下就倒车，结果撞在后面的树上。

in round figures　adv. phr. As an estimated number; as a rounded-off figure containing no decimals or fractions. 大致是；以整数表示。◆ Skip the cents and just tell me in round figures how much this car repair will cost. 略去几角几分，只用整数告诉我，这次修车要花多少钱。

ins and outs　n. phr. The special ways of going somewhere or doing something; the different parts. 迂回曲折；详情，细节。◆ Jerry's father is a good life insurance salesman; he knows all the ins and outs of the business. 杰里的父亲是名优秀的人寿保险推销员；他对这一行了解得一清二楚。

in sb. 's behalf or on sb. 's behalf　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. For someone else; in your place. 代表某人。◆ My husband could not be here tonight, but I want to thank you on his behalf. 我丈夫今晚不能前来，但我要代表他谢谢你们。2. For the good of another person or group; as a help to someone. 为了某人的利益。◆ My teacher went to the factory and spoke in my behalf when I was looking for a job. 在我寻找工作时，我的老师去工厂为我说话。

in sb. 's blood or into sb. 's blood　adv. phr. Agreeing perfectly with someone's sympathies, feelings, and desires. 完全符合某人的同情心（或感情、欲望）。◆ Living in a warm section of the country gets in your blood. 住在该国温暖的地区在合你意。

in sb. 's face　adv. phr. 1. Against your face. 对着某人的面。◆ The trick cigar blew up in the clown's face. 那支变戏法用的雪茄对着小丑的脸爆炸了。◆ A cold wind was in our faces as we walked to school. 我们步行去上学时，一股寒风向我们迎面吹来。2. In front of you. 在某人面前；当着某人的面。◆ I told the boys that they were wrong, but they laughed in my face. 我对男生们说他们错了，可他们却当着我的面大笑起来。

in sb. 's favor　dv. or adj. phr. In a way that is good for you. 对某人有利。◆ Bob made good grades in high school, and that was in his favor when he looked for a job. 鲍勃在中学时成绩很好，这对他找工作有利。

in sb. 's footsteps　See见FOLLOW IN sb. 'S FOOTSTEPS.

in sb. 's good graces or in sb. 's good books　adv. phr. Approved of by you; liked by someone. 被某人认可；被某人喜欢。◆ Bill is back in the good graces of his girlfriend because he stopped drinking. 比尔重又得到女朋友的欢心，因为他戒酒了。

in sb. 's hair　adj. phr., informal Bothering you again and again; always annoying. 〖非正式〗不断烦扰某人；总是令某人厌烦。◆ John got in Father's hair when he was trying to read the paper by running and shouting. 约翰的父亲在读报，约翰尼又是跑又是叫，惹得他很恼火。

in sb. 's shoes also in sb. 's boots　adv. phr. In or into one's place or position. 处于某人的地位（或境地）。◆ How would you like to be in a lion tamer's boots? 你想做一名驯狮员吗？

in sb. 's way　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Within reach; likely to be met; before you. 可及；可能遇到；在某人面前。◆ The chance to work for a printer was put in my way. 为一个印刷商工作的机会摆在了我面前。2. or in the way In your path as a hindrance; placed so as to block the way. 挡着某人的路；妨碍某人。◆ A tree had fallen across the street and was in Jim's way as he drove. 一棵树横倒在街上，挡住了吉姆开车的路。

in search of or literary in quest of　prep. Seeking or looking for; in pursuit of. 寻找；寻求。◆ Many men went West in search of gold. 很多男人到西部去淘金。

in season　adv. or adj. phr. 1. literary At the proper or best time. 〖文〗在合适的时候；在最好的时候。◆ Fred's father told him that he was not old enough yet but that he would learn to drive in season. 弗雷德的父亲对他说他现在年纪还小，到了合适的时候就可以学着开车了。2a. At the right or lawful time for hunting or catching. 处于允许狩猎（或捕捉）期。◆ Deer will be in season next week. 下周就可以猎鹿了。◆ In spring we'll go fishing when trout are in season. 春天可以捕鲑鱼时，我们就去钓鱼。2b. At the right time or condition for using, eating, or marketing; in a ripe or eatable condition. 应时；当令；上市；成熟可食。◆ Christmas trees will be sold at the store in season. 圣诞树会应时在商店里出售。

in secret　adv. phr. In a private or secret way; in a hidden place. 私下里；秘密地；在隐蔽地方。◆ The miser buried his gold in secret and no one knows where it is. 那个守财奴把他的金子埋在隐蔽处，没有人知道在哪里。

in shape or in condition　adj. phr. In good condition; able to perform well. 处于良好状况；能很好工作。◆ Mary was putting her French in shape for the test. 玛丽正认真复习法语准备考试。

in short　See见IN BRIEF.

in short order　adv. phr. Without delay; quickly. 毫不耽搁地；立刻；马上。◆ Johnny got ready in short order after his father said that he could come to the ball game if he was ready in time. 约翰尼的父亲对他说，如果他及时准备好就可以去看球赛，约翰尼很快就准备好了。

in short supply　adj. phr. Not enough; in too small a quantity or amount; in less than the amount or number needed. 供应不足；数量太少；短缺。◆ We have five people and only four beds, so the beds are in short supply. 我们有5个人只有4张床，所以床不够用。

inside and out　See见INS AND OUTS, INSIDE OUT 2.

inside dope　n. phr. Secret information about the inner workings of a business, an organization, or some place of employment. （企业、组织等的）内幕消息；秘密情报。◆ "How does one get ahead at the Chicago Tool and Die Company?" Peter asked his friend Tom, who had been working there for several years. "I'll give you the inside dope," Tom replied. "Rule number one: never disagree with the boss; he is very vain."“在芝加哥工具模具公司一个人怎样才能取得成功？”彼得问已在那里工作了几年的朋友汤姆。“我来告诉你内幕消息吧，”汤姆回答说：“第一条规则：千万别跟老板意见不同；他非常自负。”

inside of　prep. In; within; on or in an inside part of; not beyond; before the end of. 在…以内；在…里面；不超过；在…结束前。◆ There is a broom inside of the closet. 壁橱里有一把扫帚。◆ There is a label on the inside of the box. 盒子里面有一张标签。◆ Hand your papers in to me inside of three days. 3天之内把你们的文章交给我。

inside out　adv. 1. So that the inside is turned outside. 里面朝外。◆ Mother turns the stockings inside out when she washes them. 母亲洗袜子时，把它们都翻了过来。2. or inside and out also in and out In every part; throughout; completely. 在每个部分；到处；完全地。◆ We searched the house inside and out for the kitten. 我们搜遍了整幢房子寻找那只小猫。

inside track　n. phr. 1. The inside, shortest distance around a curved racetrack; the place that is closest to the inside fence. 内圈跑道。◆ A big white horse had the inside track at the start of the race. 比赛一开始，一匹大白马就占据了内圈跑道。2. informal An advantage due to special connections or information. 〖非正式〗有利地位；优先权利。◆ I would probably get that job if I could get the inside track. 如果我能得到优先权，我可能就会得到那份工作了。

insofar as　conj. To the extent that; to the point that; as much as. 到…的程度；像…那么多。◆ You will learn your lessons only insofar as you are willing to keep studying them. 只要你愿意坚持学习，你就会学好你的功课。

in so many words　adv. phr. 1. In those exact words. 一字不差地。◆ He hinted that he thought we were foolish but did not say so in so many words. 他认为我们很愚蠢，但他只是暗示而没有直说。2. or in no uncertain terms In an outspoken way; plainly ; directly. 直言不讳地；明确地；直截了当地。◆ I told him in so many words that he was crazy. 我明确地对他说他疯了。◆ Bob was very late for their date, and Mary told Bob in no uncertain terms what she thought of him. 鲍勃约会姗姗来迟，玛丽把自己对他的看法直截了当地告诉了他。

in spite of　prep. phr. Against the influence or effect of; in opposition to; defying the effect of; despite. 不顾；不管；虽然；尽管。◆ In spite of the bad storm John delivered his papers on time. 尽管有狂风暴雨，约翰仍按时送他的报纸。

instead of or in place of also formal in lieu of　prep. In the place of; in substitution for; in preference to; rather than. 代替；而不是。◆ I wore mittens instead of gloves. 我戴的是连指手套，而不是一般的手套。◆ The grown-ups had coffee but the children wanted milk in place of coffee. 大人们喝咖啡，而孩子们宁愿喝牛奶。◆ The magician appeared on the program in lieu of a singer. 魔术师顶替歌手出现在节目单上。

in step　adv. or adj. phr. 1. With the left or right foot stepping at the same time as another's or to the beat of music; in matching strides with another person or persons. 齐步；合着步伐；和着节奏。◆ The long line of soldiers marched all in step: Left, right! Left, right!那一长队士兵在齐步前进：左、右！左、右！2. In agreement; abreast. — Often followed by with. 一致；协调。——常后跟with。◆ Mary wanted to stay in step with her friends and have a car too. 玛丽想和朋友们一样也有一辆汽车。

in stitches　adj. phr ., informal Laughing so hard that the sides ache; in a fit of laughing hard. 〖非正式〗大笑不止；捧腹大笑。◆ The comedian was so funny that he had everyone who was watching him in stitches. 那位滑稽演员真有趣，他把每一位看他演出的人都逗得捧腹大笑。

in stock　adj. phr. Having something ready to sell or use; in present possession or supply; to be sold. 有现货的；有库存的；可出售的。◆ The store had no more red shoes in stock, so Mary chose brown ones instead. 这家商店没有红鞋卖了，所以玛丽便选了棕色的鞋子。

in store　adj. or adv. phr. 1. Saved up in case of need; ready for use or for some purpose. 储存着；储备着。◆ The squirrel has plenty of nuts in store for the winter. 松鼠储备了大量的坚果过冬。2. Ready to happen; waiting. — Often used in the phrase hold or have in store. 即将发生；等待着。——常用于短语hold (或have) in store。◆ What does the future hold in store for the boy who ran away? 那个离家出走的男孩会有怎样的前途呢？◆ There is a surprise in store for Helen when she gets home. 海伦到家时将有一个惊喜等着她。

in substance　adv. phr. In important facts; in the main or basic parts; basically ; really. 在重要事实上；在主要方面；基本上；实际上。◆ In substance the weather report said that it will be a nice day tomorrow. 实际上天气预报说明天将是一个晴天。

in terms of　prep. 1. In the matter of; on the subject of; especially about; about. 就…而言；关于；特别是有关。◆ He spoke about books in terms of their publication. 他从出版的角度谈到书。◆ What have you done in terms of fixing the house? 就修房子而言你做了些什么？2. As to the amount or number of. 折合；以…计算。◆ We swam a great distance. In terms of miles, it was three. 我们游了很长的距离。以英里计算，有3英里。

in that　conj. For the reason that; because. 由于；因为。◆ I like the city, but I like the country better in that I have more friends there. 我喜欢城市，但更喜欢乡下，因为我在那里有更多的朋友。

in the air　adv. phr. 1. In everyone's thoughts. 受到众人关心。◆ Christmas was in the air for weeks before. 圣诞节的气氛几周前已经很浓。◆ The war filled people's thoughts every day; it was in the air. 人们每天都在关注着战争；战争的气氛弥漫在空气中。2. Meeting the bodily senses; surrounding you so as to be smelled or felt. 可被感觉到；被人们意识到。◆ Spring is in the air. 春意盎然。

in the bag　adj. phr., informal Sure to be won or gotten; certain. 〖非正式〗稳操胜券的；十拿九稳的；确定无疑的。◆ We thought we had the game in the bag. 我们以为这场比赛我们肯定会赢。

in the balance　See见HANG IN THE BALANCE.

in the ballpark　adv. phr. In roughly the amount mentioned. （数量）大致正确；差不多，相近。◆ "Will the new employee cost us $75,000 a year? " Tom asked the director. "You're in the ballpark," the director replied. “我们付给新雇员的年薪会有75000美元吗？”汤姆问经理。“你说得差不多，”经理回答说。

in the black　adv. or adj. phr., informal In a successful or profitable way ; so as to make money. 〖非正式〗有盈余；赚钱。◆ A business must stay in the black to keep on. 公司必须赚钱才能维持。

in the can　adj., slang, movie jargon Ready; finished; completed; about to be duplicated and distributed to exhibitors. 〖俚〗〖电影行话〗（影片）摄制完成的；已完成的。◆ No sneak previews until it's all in the can! 影片全部摄制完成前不搞内部预映！

in the cards also on the cards　adj. phr., informal To be expected; likely to happen; foreseeable; predictable. 〖非正式〗可预期的；可能发生的；可预见的；可预测的。◆ It was in the cards for the son to succeed his father as head of the business. 由儿子继承父亲担任公司老板本是意料中事。

in the clear　adj. phr. 1. Free of anything that makes moving or seeing difficult; with nothing to limit action. 无障碍的；无限制的。◆ The plane climbed above the clouds and was flying in the clear. 飞机升到云层之上，在碧空飞行。◆ Jack passed the ball to Tim, who was in the clear and ran for a touchdown. 杰克把球传给蒂姆，蒂姆在无人阻拦的情况下冲至底线触地得分。2. informal Free of blame or suspicion; not thought to be guilty. 〖非正式〗清白无辜的；无嫌疑的。◆ Steve was the last to leave the locker room, and the boys suspected him of stealing Tom's watch, but the coach found the watch and put Steve in the clear. 斯蒂夫最后一个离开更衣室，所以男孩子们都怀疑他偷了汤姆的手表，但教练找到了表，从而使斯蒂夫得以解脱。3. Free of debt; not owing money to anyone. 无债务；不欠任何人钱。◆ Bob borrowed a thousand dollars from his father to start his business, but at the end of the first year he was in the clear. 鲍勃向父亲借了1000美元创业，但第一年年尾他就还清了借款。

in or into the clear　adj. phr. Free; cleared of all responsibility and guilt. 自由的，不受拘禁的；没有责任的；清白无辜的。◆ Because of the new evidence found, Sam is still in the clear, but Harry is still behind bars. 由于新发现的证据，萨姆仍未受到拘禁，而哈里仍在坐牢。

in the clouds　adj. phr. Far from real life; in dreams; in fancy; in thought. 远离现实生活的；在梦中；幻想的；心不在焉的。◆ When Alice agreed to marry Jim, Jim went home in the clouds. 当艾丽斯同意嫁给吉姆时，吉姆一路幻想着回家了。— Often used with head, mind, thoughts. 常与head, mind, thoughts连用。◆ Mary is looking out the window, not at the chalkboard; her head is in the clouds again. 玛丽望着窗外，不看黑板；她又在胡思乱想了。

in the cold light of day　adv. phr. After sleeping on it; after giving it more thought; using common sense and looking at the matter unemotionally and realistically. 经过一夜考虑之后；经过慎重考虑以后；运用常识理智地看问题。◆ Last night my ideas seemed terrific, but in the cold light of day I realize that they won't work. 昨晚我的一些想法似乎好得不得了，但一觉醒来冷静一想才认识到这些想法行不通。

in the dark　adj. phr. In ignorance; without information. 不知道；蒙在鼓里。◆ John was in the dark about the job he was being sent to. 约翰不知道派他去做的是什么工作。

in the dead of night　adv. phr. In total darkness. 在深更半夜，在夜深人静时。◆ The inmates tried to escape from the maximum security prison in the dead of night. 犯人们想乘着夜深人静时逃出那座戒备极为森严的监狱。

in the doghouse　adj. phr., slang In disgrace or disfavor. 〖俚〗失宠，受冷遇。◆ Our neighbor got in the doghouse with his wife by coming home drunk. 我们的邻居喝醉了酒回家，受到妻子冷落。

in or into the doldrums　adj. phr. Inactive; sluggish; depressed. 没精打采的；毫无生气的；意志消沉的。◆ The news of our factory's going out of business put all of us in the doldrums. 我们工厂停业的消息使我们大家都很消沉。

in the door　See见FOOT IN THE DOOR.

in the driver's seat　adv. phr. In control; having the power to make decisions. 处于控制地位；有权做决定。◆ Stan is in the driver's seat now that he has been made our supervisor at the factory. 斯坦已被任命为我们工厂的总管，现在他在掌权。

in the event of　See见IN CASE OF.

in the extreme　adv. phr. Extraordinarily. 极端地，极度地，非常地。◆ "Why does Mary allow John to do anything he wants? " Suzie asked. "Because she loves him in the extreme," Mary's brother replied. “为什么玛丽允许约翰想干什么就干什么？”苏茜问。“因为她非常爱他。”玛丽的哥哥回答说。

in the face of　adv. phr. 1. When met or in the presence of; threatened by. 面对；在…面前；在…的威胁下。◆ He was brave in the face of danger. 面对危险他很勇敢。2. Although opposed by; without being stopped by. 不管；不顾。◆ Talking continued even in the face of the teacher's command to stop. 尽管老师喝令停止，讲话仍在继续。

in the first place　adv. phr. Before now; in the beginning; first. 早先；一开始；首先。◆ Carl patched his old football but it soon leaked again. He should have bought a new one in the first place. 卡尔补好了旧橄榄球，但它很快又漏气了。他本来一开始就该买个新的。

in the flesh　See见IN PERSON.

in the forefront　adv. phr. Way out; leading. 处在最前列；处于领先地位。◆ The University of Chicago is in the forefront of medical research. 芝加哥大学处在医学研究的最前列。

in the groove　adj. phr., slang Doing something very well; near perfection; at your best. 〖俚〗做得出色；近乎完美；处于最佳状态。◆ The band was right in the groove that night. 那天晚上乐队演奏得棒极了。◆ It was an exciting football game; every player was really in the groove. 那是一场令人激动的橄榄球比赛；每个球员都打得很精彩。

in the heat of the moment　adv. phr. In great anger; not thinking. 盛怒之下；不假思索地。◆ In the heat of the moment, John killed his wife when he found her in bed with their neighbor. He pleaded temporary insanity and got away with two years in jail. 约翰发现妻子跟他们的邻居睡在床上，盛怒之下便杀死了她。他申辩自己一时精神失常，被从轻发落，只入狱两年。

in the hole　adv. or adj. phr., informal〖非正式〗1a. Having a score lower than zero in a game, especially a card game; to a score below zero. （尤指在牌戏中）得负分。◆ John went three points in the hole on the first hand of the card game. 约翰第一手牌就负了3分。1b. Behind an opponent; in difficulty in a sport or game. 落后于对手；（比赛中）陷入困境。◆ We had their pitcher in the hole with the bases full and no one out. 我们满垒无人出局使对方的投手陷入困境。2. In debt; behind financially. 欠债；亏空；财政窘迫。◆ John went in the hole with his hot dog stand. 约翰的热狗摊子亏了本。

in the know　adj. phr., informal Knowing about things that most people do not know about; knowing secrets or understanding a special subject. 〖非正式〗了解内情；熟知内幕；懂行。◆ In a print shop, Mr. Harvey is in the know, but in a kitchen he can't even cook an egg. 哈维先生在印刷所是行家，但在厨房里却连煮鸡蛋也不会。

in the lap of luxury　adv. phr. Well supplied with luxuries; having most things that money can buy. 在优裕的环境中；在奢侈的环境中。◆ Mike grew up in the lap of luxury. 迈克在奢侈的环境中长大。

in the lap of the gods also on the knees of the gods　adv. phr., literary Beyond human control; not to be decided by anyone. 〖文〗非人力所能左右；无人能决定。◆ Frank had worked hard as a candidate, and as election day came he felt that the result was in the lap of the gods. 弗兰克作为候选人工作一直很努力，但选举日来到时，他觉得选举结果只能听天由命。◆ The armies were evenly matched and the result of the battle seemed to be on the knees of the gods. 两军势均力敌，战役的结果似乎难以预料。

in the least　adv. phr. Even a little; in any degree or amount. — Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. 一点儿；丝毫；极少。——用于否定句、疑问句和条件句。◆ Mike was not upset in the least by the storm. 迈克对这场暴风雨一点儿也没感到烦恼。◆ It is no trouble to help you. Not in the least. 帮助你不麻烦。一点儿都不麻烦。

in or into the limelight　adv. phr. In the center of attention. 成为注意的中心；引人注目。◆ Some people will do almost anything to be able to step into the limelight. 有些人为了能引人注目，几乎什么事情都肯干。

in the line of duty　adj. phr. Done or happening as part of a job. 在执行公务中；在值勤时。◆ The policeman was shot in the line of duty. 那位警察在值勤时遭到枪击。

in the line of fire　adv. phr. In a dangerous position between two opposing parties. 处在双方的射击线上；处于易受攻击的位置。◆ John is right in the line of fire between the company's director and the vice president, who couldn't agree on John's proposal about the budget. 公司经理和副总裁对约翰提出的预算计划无法取得一致意见，从而使约翰夹在两人中间，成为易受攻击的对象。

in the long run　adv. phr. In the end; in the final result. 最终；最后的结果；从长远看。◆ John knew that he could make a success of the little weekly paper in the long run. 约翰知道他最终是能把这份小小的周报办成功的。

in the long term　See见IN THE LONG RUN.

in the loop　adj. phr. Knowledgeable about; involved in something. 知道内情的；参与某事的；属于圈内的；在决策圈内的。◆ John felt a great deal of responsibility, because he was in the loop on all essential decisions at the new bank. 约翰感到自己的责任很重，因为他要参与新银行的所有重大决策。

in the lurch　See见LEAVE IN THE LURCH.

in the market for　adj. phr. Wishing to buy; ready to buy. 想买；准备买。◆ Mr. Jones is in the market for a new car. 琼斯先生想买辆新车。

in the middle　adv. or adj. phr. In between two sides of an argument; caught between two dangers. 夹在中间；左右为难。◆ Mary found herself in the middle of the quarrel between Joyce and Ethel. 玛丽发觉自己夹在了乔伊斯和埃塞尔的争吵中间。

in the middle of nowhere　adv. phr. In a deserted, faraway place. 在偏僻的地方。◆ When my car stopped on the highway in the middle of nowhere, it took forever to get help. 当我的汽车停在茫茫荒野的公路上时，过了很长很长时间才找到人帮忙。

in the mood (for)　adj. phr. 1. Interested in doing something. 对…感兴趣；对…有兴致；想（做某事）。◆ Sorry, I'm just not in the mood for a heavy dinner tonight. 对不起，我今晚对吃盛宴毫无兴致。2. Feeling sexy. 性欲被激起的。◆ I am sorry, darling, I am just not in the mood tonight. 对不起，亲爱的，我今晚没有兴致。

in the nick of time　adv. phr. Just at the right time; barely soon enough; almost too late. 适时，及时；在关键时刻；差一点太迟。◆ The doctor arrived in the nick of time to save the child from choking to death. 医生及时赶到使孩子免于窒息而死。

in the open　adj. phr. Publicly known; common knowledge. 公开的；众所周知的。◆ Ever since he worked up the courage to come out of the closet, Professor Chisolm's former secret he is gay is now out in the open. 自奇索姆教授鼓起勇气公开了自己的隐私后，他是同性恋的秘密现已广为人知。

in the picture　adj. phr. Understanding what goes on; part of the whole; included in matters. 了解情况的。◆ Would you please clue me in on what's happening at the firm? I am a new employee and I am not yet in the picture. 请你就公司的运营给我提供一些情况好吗？我是一名新雇员，对这里的情况还不太熟悉。

in the pink or in the pink of condition　adj. phr., informal In excellent health; strong and well; in fine shape. 〖非正式〗红润健康的；健壮的；健康状况极好的。◆ Mr. Merrick had aged well; he was one of those old men who always seem in the pink of condition. 梅里克先生老当益壮；他是那些一直看上去面色红润身体健康的老人之一。◆ After a practice and a rubdown, Joe felt in the pink. 训练完，擦过身，乔感觉身体好极了。

in the prime of life　adv. phr. At the peak of one's creative abilities; during the most productive years. 在壮年时期；在年富力强之时。◆ Poor John lost his job due to restructuring when he was in the prime of his life. 正当年富力强之时，可怜的约翰因公司改组而失去了工作。

in the public eye　adj. phr. Widely known; often seen in public activity; much in the news. 众所熟知的；常在公共场合露面的；新闻人物。◆ The senator's activity kept him in the public eye. 参议员的活动使他成为新闻人物。

in the raw　adj. or adv. phr. 1. In the simplest or most natural way; with no frills. 处在自然状态；最简朴的；无装饰的。◆ Henry enjoyed going into the woods and living life in the raw. 亨利喜欢到树林里去过最简朴的生活。2. informal Without any clothing; naked. 〖非正式〗一丝不挂；赤身裸体。◆ In the summer the boys slept in the raw. 夏天的时候，男孩子们光着身子睡觉。

in the red　adv. or adj. phr., informal In an unprofitable way; so as to lose money. 〖非正式〗有赤字；亏空；亏损。◆ A large number of American radio stations operate in the red. 很多美国无线电台都经营亏损。

in the right　adj. phr. With moral or legal right or truth on your side; in agreement with justice, truth, or fact; correct. 正确的；有理的。◆ In many disputes, it is hard to say who is in the right. 在很多争论中，很难说谁对谁错。

in the running　adj. or adv. phr. Having a chance to win; not to be counted out; among those who might win. 有获胜希望；不会被打败；在可能获胜者之列。◆ At the beginning of the last lap of the race, only two horses were still in the running. 比赛的最后一圈开始时，只有两匹马还有获胜的希望。◆ A month before Joyce married Hal, three of Joyce's boyfriends seemed to be still in the running. 乔伊斯嫁给哈尔的前一个月，她的3位男友似乎仍有赢得她的机会。

in the saddle　adv. or adj. phr. In command; in control; in a position to order or boss others. 指挥；控制；掌权。◆ Getting appointed chief of police put Stevens in the saddle. 被任命为警长使斯蒂文斯处于指挥地位。

in the same boat　adv. or adj. phr. In the same trouble; in the same fix; in the same bad situation. 处于同样的困境；面临同样的危险。◆ When the town's one factory closed and hundreds of people lost their jobs, all the storekeepers were in the same boat. 当城里的一家工厂关闭，几百名工人失业时，所有的店主都处境艰难。

in the same breath　adv. phr. 1. At the same time; without waiting. 同时。◆ John would complain about hard times, and in the same breath boast of his prizewinning horses. 约翰经常抱怨日子不好过，但同时又炫耀他那些获奖的马。2. In the same class; in as high a group — Usually used in the negative with mention, speak, or talk. 在同一等级；在同一范畴。——通常与mention, speak或talk一起用于否定句。◆ Mary is a good swimmer, but she should not be mentioned in the same breath with Joan. 玛丽是一名优秀的游泳运动员，但还不能与琼相提并论。

in the sand　See见HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.

in the short run　adv. phr. In the immediate future. 从短期来看；在短期内；暂时；目前。◆ We are leasing a car in the short run; later we might buy one. 我们暂时租了一辆汽车；以后我们也许会买一辆。

in the soup　adj. phr., slang In serious trouble; in confusion; in disorder. 〖俚〗处于困境；陷入混乱。◆ When his wife overdrew their bank account without telling him, Mr. Phillips suddenly found himself really in the soup. 当妻子透支银行账户而没有告诉他时，菲利普斯先生突然发现自己真的陷入了困境。

in the spotlight　adv. phr. In the center of attention, with everybody watching what one is doing. 成为公众瞩目的中心。◆ It must be difficult for the President to be in the spot-light wherever he goes. 不管走到哪儿都会成为人们瞩目的中心，这对总统来说一定很难受吧。

in the twinkling of an eye　See见BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.

in the wake of　prep., literary As a result of; right after; following. 〖文〗作为…的结果；在…之后；随…而来。◆ Many trou-bles follow in the wake of war. 很多灾难跟随战争而来。

in the way　See见IN ONE'S WAY.

in the wind　adj. phr. Seeming probable; being planned; soon to happen. 看上去可能的；正在酝酿中的；即将发生的。◆ Changes in top management of the company had been in the wind for weeks. 公司上层管理人员的人事变动已酝酿了好几个星期。

in the works　adv. or adj. phr. In preparation; being planned or worked on; in progress. 在筹备中；在计划中；在进行中。◆ John was told that the paving of his street was in the works. 约翰听说他那条街道的铺设工作正在筹划之中。

in the world or on earth　adv. phr., informal Of all possible things; ever. — Usually used for emphasis after words that ask questions, as who, why, what, etc. 〖非正式〗到底；究竟。——通常用于疑问词who, why, what等后表示强调。◆ Where in the world did you find that necktie? 你究竟是在哪里找到那根领带的？◆ The boys wondered how on earth the mouse got out of the cage. 男孩们纳闷，不知道那只老鼠到底是怎么逃出笼子的。

in the wrong　adj. phr. With moral or legal right or truth against you; against justice, truth, or fact; wrong. 错误的；不对的。◆ In attacking a smaller boy, Jack was plainly in the wrong. 杰克打一个比他小的男孩显然是不对的。

in time　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Soon enough. 及时。◆ We got to Washington in time for the cherry blossoms. 我们到华盛顿时正好赶上樱花盛开。◆ We got to the station just in time to catch the bus. 我们到达车站时正好赶上了公共汽车。2. In the end; after a while; finally. 最终；经过一段时间之后；终于。◆ Fred and Jim did not like each other at first, but in time they became friends. 弗雷德和吉姆最初并不喜欢对方，但他们最终成了朋友。3. In the right rhythm; in step. 有节奏地；合拍。◆ The marchers kept in time with the band. 游行者合着乐队的拍子前进。

into a nose dive　See见GO INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO A NOSE DIVE.

into a tail spin　See见GO INTO A TAIL SPIN.

into effect　adv. phr. Into use or operation. 实施；生效。◆ The new rule was put into effect at once. 新规则被立即付诸实施。◆ The judge ordered the old suspended penalty into effect. 法官命令将原来缓期执行的刑罚开始执行。

into line　adv. phr. 1. Into agreement. 一致。◆ The department's spending was brought into line with the budget. 该部门的开支已与预算一致。2. Under control. 处于控制之下。◆ The players who had broken training rules fell into line when the coach warned them that they would be put off the team. 当教练警告那些违反了训练规则的球员，说他们将被从队中除名时，他们都就范了。

into practice　See见IN PRACTICE.

into question　adv. phr. Into doubt or argument. — Usually used with call, bring or come. 怀疑；争论。——通常与call, bring或come连用。◆ This soldier's courage has never been called into question. 这名士兵的勇气从未受到过怀疑。

into thin air　adv. phr. Without anything left; completely. 无影无踪；完全地。◆ When Bob returned to the room, he was surprised to find that his books had vanished into thin air. 鲍勃回到房间时，惊讶地发现他的书已不翼而飞。

in toto　adv. phr. As a whole; in its entirety; totally; altogether. 完全地；全部地；整个地。◆ The store refused the advertising agency's suggestion in toto. 那家商店完全拒绝了广告代理公司的建议。

in touch　adj. phr. Talking or writing to each other; giving and getting news. 联系；接触。◆ John kept in touch with his school friends during the summer. 整个夏天，约翰与他学校里的朋友们一直保持着联系。◆ The man claimed to be in touch with people on another planet. 那人声称自己与另一星球上的人保持着联系。

in tow　adj. phr. 1. Being pulled. 被拖着。◆ The tugboat had the large ocean liner in tow as they came into the harbor. 远洋巨轮进港时，拖轮把它拖进了码头。2. Being taken from place to place; along with someone. 随着；陪伴着。◆ Janet took the new girl in tow and showed her where to go. 珍妮特带着新来的女孩告诉她到哪儿去。

in trust　adv. or adj. phr. In safe care for another. 受托保管。◆ The money was held by the bank in trust for the widow. 这钱由银行为这位寡妇保管。◆ At his death Mr. Brown left a large sum in trust for his son until he was twenty-five. 布朗先生去世时，留下一大笔钱托人为他儿子保管，直到他25岁为止。

in tune　adv. or adj. phr. 1. At the proper musical pitch; high or low enough in sound. 合调；音调准确。◆ The piano is in tune. 这架钢琴音很准。2. Going well together; in agreement; matching; agreeable. — Often used with with. 和睦；一致；协调；和谐。——常与with连用。◆ In his new job, John felt in tune with his surroundings and his associates. 在新的工作中，约翰觉得自己与周围环境和同事们都很融洽。

in turn　adv. phr. According to a settied order; each following another. 依次地；轮流地。◆ Each man in turn got up and spoke. 每个人依次站起来发言。

in two　adv. phr. Into two parts or pieces; into two divisions. 分为两半；成两部分。◆ John and Mary pulled on the wishbone until it came in two. 约翰和玛丽把家禽胸骨上的如愿骨用力扯成了两半。

in two shakes of a lamb's tail　adv., informal Quickly; in no time at all. 〖非正式〗很快地；马上。◆ I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail. 我马上就回来。

in vain　adv. phr. Without effect; without getting the desired result; without success. 无效；徒劳；枉然。◆ The drowning man called in vain for help. 那溺水的男人大声呼救但却无人听到。

in view　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In sight; visible. 被看到；看得见。◆ We came around a bend and there was the ocean in view. 我们绕过一个转弯处，眼前便是大海。2. As a purpose, hope, or expectation. 作为目标（或希望、期望）◆ John had his son's education in view when he began to save money. 约翰开始存钱时，目的是让儿子以后受教育。

in view of　prep.　After thinking about; because of. 鉴于；考虑到；由于。◆ Schools were closed for the day in view of the heavy snowstorm. 由于这场大的暴风雪，学校这一天都停课了。◆ In view of rising labor costs, many companies have turned to automation. 鉴于劳动成本上升，许多公司已开始采用自动化技术。

in with　prep. In friendship, favor, or closeness with; in the trust or liking of. 与…友好；得…欢心；与…亲近；受…信任（或喜欢）。◆ It took the new family some time to get in with their neighbors. 新搬来的这家人花了一些时间才与邻居们相处得很友好。

I. O. U.　adj. phr. I owe you, abbreviated ; a promissory note. （由I owe you的读音缩略转义而成。）期票；借据。◆ I had to borrow some money from John and, in order to remind both of us, I wrote him an I. O. U. note for $250. 我不得不向约翰借些钱，为了提醒我们俩不忘记，我给他写了一张250美元的借据。

iron horse　n., informal A railroad locomotive; the engine of a railroad train. 〖非正式〗“铁马”（指火车头，机车）。◆ In its first days, the iron horse frightened many people as it roared across country scattering sparks. 早期的火车头飞溅着火花呼啸着穿过乡村时曾吓坏了许多人。

iron in the fire　n. phr. Something you are doing; one of the projects with which a person is busy; job. 正在做的事情；工作。◆ John had a number of irons in the fire, and he managed to keep all of them hot. 约翰有很多事情要做，而他设法把它们都做得很好。— Usually used in the phrase too many irons in the fire. 通常用于短语too many irons in the fire中。◆ "Ed has a dozen things going all the time, but none of them seem to work out. " "No wonder. He has too many irons in the fire. "“埃德一直有很多事情同时在做，但似乎一样也没做成。”“这一点也不奇怪。他揽的事儿太多了。”

iron out　v., informal To discuss and reach an agreement about (a difference); find a solution for (a problem); remove (a difficulty). 〖非正式〗消除（分歧）；解决（问题）；克服（困难）。 ◆ The House and Senate ironed out the differences between their two different tax bills. 众议院和参议院消除了他们两个纳税法案之间的分歧。

is or are or was or will be history　adj. phr. Dead; defeated; finished; done with; often used as a threat. 已死的；被打败的；完蛋了的；了结的（常用作威胁）。◆ Move one finger buddy, and you are history! 动一动就要你的命，小子！◆ Don't worry too much about the terrorists; in a few years they will be history. 不必过分担心那些恐怖分子；再过几年他们就要完蛋了。

is it cricket or would it be cricket?　v. phr. Be allowed; be fair game; permissible; socially acceptable. Used both as question and as a statement. 允许…吗？…是公正的吗？…可以吗？…为社会所认可吗？◆ It's not cricket to inquire about one's grade before the rest of the class is told. 在班上其他同学被告知之前，打听自己的分数是不可以的。◆ Would it be cricket to take a peek if I made the list of the finalists for the scholarship? 能允许我偷看一眼我是否进入获得奖学金的最终名单吗？

is that so　informal〖非正式〗1. Oh, indeed? That's interesting. — Used in simple acceptance or reply. 是这样吗？真的吗？真有趣。——用以表示简单的认可或回答。◆ "The Republicans have pulled a trick at city hall. " "Is that so? "“共和党人在市政厅玩了一个花招。”“真的吗？”2. Surely not? — Used in disbelief or sarcasm. 不会吧？——用以表示怀疑或讽刺。◆ "The moon is made of green cheese. " "Is that so? "“月亮是绿奶酪做的。”“不会吧？”◆ "I'm going to take your girlfriend to the dance," said Bob. "Oh, is that so!" said Dick. "Try it and you'll be sorry. "鲍勃说：“我打算带你的女朋友去跳舞。”迪克说：“哦，不会吧。试试看，你会后悔的。”

it all depends　adv. phr. To be relative, please clarify your meaning. 那要看情况而定。◆ "Do you consider yourself a rich man? " John asked. "It all depends on what you mean," Peter replied. “你认为自己是个富人吗？”约翰问。“那要看你所谓的富人是什么意思而定，”彼得回答说。

it can't happen here　v. phr. Heard from people who are astonished at some really bad news. 这里是安全的；灾难不可能发生在这里。◆ When the terrorists exploded the U. S. Embassy in Kenya, the old lady from New York remarked, "It can't happen here." 当恐怖分子炸了美国驻肯尼亚大使馆时，那位纽约的老太太说：“这种灾难不可能发生在这里。”

itching palm　n., slang A wish for money ; greed. 〖俚〗贪钱；贪婪。◆ The bellboys in that hotel seem always to have itching palms. 那家旅馆的青年侍者似乎都很贪婪。

itchy feet　adj. phr. Anxious to travel; bitten by wanderlust. 喜欢旅行的；旅游成癖的。◆ My brother John is constantly traveling somewhere, it seems he can never stop. He's got itchy feet, for sure. 我兄弟约翰经常在外面旅行，似乎永远也停不下来。他无疑已旅游成癖。

it figures　informal sentence It checks out; it makes sense; it adds up. 〖非正式句〗合乎情理；有道理；说得通。◆ It figures that Bob got the highest raise at our firm; he is the most productive salesman. 鲍勃在我们公司里得到最高的加薪是合乎情理的；他是业绩最好的推销员。

it happens all the time　v. phr. Said of something that happens as a common occurrence; is nothing out of the ordinary. — A proverb. 〖谚〗这种事一直在发生；这事一点不稀奇。◆ "A guy ran into my car the other day at a red light. " "Oh, that's nothing, "said the policeman. "In a big city like Chicago, it happens all the time. "“前两天一个家伙在红灯处撞了我的车。”“啊，这没什么，”警察说。“在芝加哥这样的大城市，这种事一直在发生。”

it is an ill wind that blows nobody good　No matter how bad a happening is, someone can usually gain something from it. — A proverb. 〖谚〗使人人遭殃的风才是恶风；天下没有对人人都有害的事；无论发生什么不幸，总有人从中得到好处。◆ When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. 当弗雷德在比赛中受伤时，约翰获得了上场机会。天下没有对人人都有害的事。

it never rains but it pours　One good thing or bad thing is often followed by others of the same kind. — A proverb. 〖谚〗不雨则已，雨则倾盆；福来双至；祸不单行。◆ John got sick, then his brothers and sisters all got sick. It never rains but it pours. 约翰病了，接着他的兄弟姐妹都病了，真是祸不单行。

it's a cinch　informal sentence It is very easy. 〖非正式句〗这很容易。◆ "What about the final exam? " Fred asked. "It was a cinch," Sam answered. “期末考试怎么样？”弗雷德问。“容易得很，”萨姆回答说。

it's a deal　informal sentence Consider it done; OK; it is agreed. 〖非正式句〗就这么定了；好；一言为定。◆ "How much for this used car? " Bill asked. "Two thousand," the man answered. "I'll give $1,500," Bill said. "It's a deal!" the owner answered as they sealed the transaction. “这辆旧车多少钱？”比尔问。“2000美元，”那人回答说。“我给你1500,”比尔说。“就这么定了！”车主回答说，于是两人成交。

it's a different ball game　Different rules apply. — A proverb. 〖谚〗这完全是不同的一回事；这是一种不同的情况。◆ Being in college is one thing, but to be working for a. Ph. D. in graduate school is a different ball game. 读大学是一回事，但在研究生院攻读博士学位则完全是不同的一回事。

it's a gas or it's a gasser or it's a gig or it's a giggle　adj. phr., slang A highly amusing, laughable thing. 〖俚〗这特有趣，这特好笑。◆ Every joke John tells is a real gasser. 约翰讲的每个笑话都特逗。◆ Professor Doolittle's lecture often turns into a giggle. 杜利特尔教授的讲课往往让人忍俊不禁。

it's a go or it's all go　adj. phrase, informal Agreed; it's OK; we can proceed. 〖非正式〗同意；行；我们可以开始做了。◆ "Are we going to Europe this summer, or not? " John's family wanted to know. "I have good news," John replied. "It's a go!"“今年夏天我们去不去欧洲？”约翰的家人问。“我有好消息，”约翰回答说。“去！”

it's a lemon　adj. phr. informal The thing is badly made; it won't work. 〖非正式〗这是件次品；这是件蹩脚货。◆ "I sure bought myself a lemon," John said. "This car will never work."“我确实给自己买了辆蹩脚车，”约翰说。“这车根本没法开。”◆ "What's wrong with your watch? You're always late." "It is a lemon, I must admit," John said. “你的表怎么啦？你老是迟到。”“我必须承认，我的表是块蹩脚货，”约翰说。

it's all good clean fun　adj. phr., informal A saying often heard when one makes fun of others at their expence, or when committing some other mischief. 〖非正式〗这完全是无伤大雅的玩笑。◆ When the Harvard undergraduate fraternity conducted a panty raid on the girls' dormitory, they were caught by the campus police. "Can't you think of something better to do? " the officer asked. "But sir, it's all good clean fun!" the leader of the boys answered. 当哈佛大学的男生联谊会突袭女生宿舍争抢女衬裤时，学校警卫人员捉住了他们。“你们就不能想出一些更好的事情去做吗？”警官问。“但是长官，这完全是无伤大雅的玩笑嘛！”男生的领袖回答说。

it's all right by me　adj. phrase, a proverb OK, I agree. 〖谚〗这对我来说是可以的（或方便的、合适的）。◆ "Shall we go to the movies tonight? " Ted asked his wife. "It's all right by me," his wife Sue replied. “我们今晚去看电影怎么样？”泰德问妻子。“可以呀，”他的妻子苏回答说。

it's a shame or it's a real shame　adj. phr. It is too bad; it is unfortunate. 真不幸，真遗憾。◆ It's a real shame that Grandmother's first operation didn't succeed, and she must go back for more surgery. 真遗憾，外婆的第一次手术没有成功，还要再回去做手术。

it's a small world!　phr. How nice to see you; I am surprised to run into you here. — A proverb. 〖谚〗这世界真小！我们又见面了！◆ When John and Jerry saw each other for the first time in ten years after graduation from high school, both exclaimed simultaneously, "It's a small world!"高中毕业10年后，约翰和杰里第一次相遇，两人同时大声说道：“这世界真小！”

it's as simple as that　adj. phr. Not a big problem, do not worry about it, this is a trivial matter. 就这么简单。◆ "Would you help me change this tire? " John asked the gas station attendant, "I don't know how to do it. " When the man finished the job he said, "It's as simple as that!"“你能帮我换一下这只轮胎吗？”约翰问加油站的服务员，“我自己不会换。”服务员换好后说：“就这么简单！”

it's been——, it's been real　informal Shortened form for "it has been real nice (being with you)" — used colloquially between very close friends. 〖非正式〗（跟你在一起）太高兴啦。——亲密朋友间的口语用语。

it's boloney (or bologna or baloney) — no matter how thin you slice it　adj. phr. It is sheer nonsense, no matter how hard you try to prove the opposite. 这完全是一派胡言——不管你把它说得多么天花乱坠。◆ The members of the UFO cult believed that if they commit suicide, the UFO will gather up their souls and take them to another solar system. One should be tolerant toward different religious beliefs, but this one is boloney, no matter how thin you slice it. 不明飞行物的狂热信徒认为，如果他们自杀，不明飞行物就会把他们的灵魂集中起来带到另一个太阳系去。我们应该容忍一切宗教信仰，但这种信仰完全是一派胡言，不管你把它说得多么天花乱坠。

it's high time　informal sentence it is overdue. 〖非正式句〗是时候了；该是做…的时候了。◆ It is high time for John Browning to be promoted to full professor; he has written a great deal but his books went unnoticed. 是该将约翰·勃朗宁晋升为正教授的时候了。他著述甚丰，只是他的书没引起注意罢了。

it shouldn't happen to a dog!　v. phr., a proverb To be too disagreeable and unjust to be wished even on a dog. 〖谚〗即便是狗也不该遭此厄运；这事真不该发生，这事真不像话。◆ Poor John was mugged, robbed, beaten, and thrown unconscious in a ditch by the gang. He was lucky to survive the attack. This is the kind of thing that shouldn't happen to a dog! 可怜的约翰遭到那帮歹徒的抢劫、毒打，最后被他们扔进壕沟里昏了过去。算他幸运，还没有被打死。这种事儿真太不像话了！

it's not my bag　phrasal idiom, slang It's not my thing, not my affair, not in my karma. 〖俚〗我对此不感兴趣，这不是我的爱好（或特长）。◆ "Come on, brother, let's rob that store; it will be a cakewalk," the guy in tattered clothes said to John. "Sorry," John replied. "That sort of thing is not my bag. "“来呀，哥们，咱们去抢那家商店吧；这事易如反掌，”那个衣衫褴褛的家伙对约翰说。“对不起，”约翰回答说。“这种事我不在行。”

it's your funeral　n. phrase, a proverb The consequences will be your concern, not mine. — A proverb. 〖谚〗这是你自作自受；后果由你自己承担。◆ "You had better play it by the book when you see the new director," John said to Ted. "Why should I care? " Ted replied, somewhat irritated. "Look," John said, "do as you wish! After all , it's your funeral. "“你去见新主任时最好还是按常规 行事，”约翰对泰德说。“我为什么在乎这个？”泰德有点恼怒地回答说。“哎，”约翰说，“那你想怎么做就怎么做吧！反正到时候吃亏的是你！”

it takes one to know one　One recognizes talent more easily if one has talent oneself. — A proverb. 〖谚〗天才方能识天才。◆ "You really are a first-class poet!" the Nobel Laureate for Literature said to an outstanding colleague. "Thanks, it takes one to know one. "“你确实是位一流的诗人，”那位诺贝尔文学奖得主对一位杰出的同行说。“谢谢，这叫天才慧眼识天才。”

it takes two to tango　Co-operation is always necessary in order to accomplish something, whether good or bad. — A proverb. 〖谚〗要有两个人才能跳探戈；要办成事需要两个人合作。◆ If you won't help me restore the business to normal, we'll never get anyplace. You should know that it takes two to tango. 如果你不肯帮我把生意恢复正常，我们永远也不会成功。你应该知道，办任何事情都需要两个人配合才行。◆ "Who starts all those quarrels next door? " Suzie asked her girlfriend Mable. "I think it's the husband," Mable replied, "but the wife must also be involved. After all it takes two to tango. " “隔壁的争吵是谁先引起来的？”苏茜问她的女友梅布尔。“我想是那个丈夫，”梅布尔回答说，“但那个妻子肯定也有责任。毕竟，一个巴掌拍不响。”

it won't wash or that won't wash　v. phr. It will never be believed; it will never pass the test of truth. — A proverb. 〖谚〗这没有人会相信；这站不住脚；这经不起考验。◆ Your story about meeting the little green men from the flying saucer just won't wash. 你说你碰到了飞碟上下来的矮小绿衣人，这话根本没有人会相信。

Ivy League　n. A small group of the older and more famous eastern U. S. colleges and universities. 常春藤联合会（指美国东部8所著名的老大学）◆ Several Ivy League teams play each other regularly each year. 几个常春藤名牌大学的球队每年都定期举行比赛。◆ Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were the original Ivy League. 哈佛、耶鲁和普林斯顿是最早的常春藤联合会成员。

I wasn't born yesterday　v. phr. I am not naïve or credulous enough to believe what you said. — A proverb. 〖谚〗我不是刚出世的娃娃；别把我当傻瓜；我才不会上当受骗呢。◆ So you want me to believe that you're the sister of Princess Anastasia Romanoff? Come on, I wasn't born yesterday. 你是想让我相信你是阿纳斯塔西娅·罗曼诺夫公主的妹妹啰？得了吧，我不是刚出世的娃娃。

I wouldn't know　v. phr., informal I couldn't say; I am not sure; I don't know. Also said in order to avoid a direct answer. 〖非正式〗我说不上来；我不清楚；我不知道。 "How much does your brother make these days?" Joe pumped Ted for information. Ted, who knew perfectly well how much his brother made, didn't want to answer, so he said "I wouldn't know." “现在你弟弟挣多少钱？”乔不停地追问泰德。泰德完全知道弟弟挣多少钱，但他不想回答，于是便说：“我说不上来。”

I, you, one (really) dig it!　v. phr., informal To really be wildly enthusiastic about something; also asked as a question. 〖非正式〗我（或你或某人）（真的）非常喜欢它！◆ I really dig the Country Western songs those girls are singing. 我真的非常喜欢那些姑娘正在唱的西部乡村歌曲。◆ John digs his newly found hippie life. 约翰非常喜欢他新发现的嬉皮士生活。◆ Do you dig drugs? 你喜欢毒品吗？

◆J◆

jack of all trades　n., informal A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. — Often followed by the words master of none. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation. 〖非正式〗什么都懂一点的人；三脚猫。——后常接master of none. 可用作褒意或贬意。◆ "How come Joe did such a sloppy job?" Mary asked. "He's a jack of all trades," Sally answered. 玛丽问：“这事乔怎么做得这么马虎？”萨莉回答说：“他是个杂而不精的人。”

jack-rabbit start　n., informal A very sudden start from a still position; a very fast start from a stop. 〖非正式〗突然启动；猛然一动。◆ Bob made a jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green. 交通灯转绿时，鲍勃猛然启动。

jack up　v. 1. To lift with a jack.用千斤顶托起。◆ The man jacked up his car to fix a flat tire. 那人用千斤顶托起汽车，修理一只漏气的轮胎。2. informal To make (a price) higher; raise. 〖非正式〗抬高（价格）；提高。◆ Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices. 就在圣诞节前，一些商店抬高了物价。

jailbait　n., slang A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; one who tempts you to intimacy which is punishable by imprisonment. 〖俚〗未成年女子；祸水妞儿（指与之发生性关系即导致犯罪入狱的未成年女子）。◆ Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait. 离阿拉贝拉远一点，她是个祸水妞儿。

jailbird　n., informal A convict; someone who is in jail or has been recently released from prison. 〖非正式〗犯人；（服刑中或刚从监狱中被放出来的）囚犯。◆ Because Harry was a jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being imprisoned. 哈里刚从监狱中被放出来，所以他很难找到工作是可以理解的。

jar on　v. phr. To irritate.刺激。◆ The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting. 持续不断的施工噪音开始令与会者感到不快。

jawbreaker　n. 1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum. 大块硬糖；泡泡糖。◆ Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and a chocolate bar. 比利问他母亲要了25美分去买几块硬糖和一块巧克力。2. informal A word or name that is hard to pronounce. 〖非正式〗难发音的词（或名字）。◆ His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker. 他的名字，尼西裹格，读上去非常拗口。

jaw drop or jaw drop a mile　informal Mouth fall wide open with surprise. — Used with a possessive. 〖非正式〗惊诧得张口结舌。——与所有格连用。◆ Tom's jaw dropped a mile when he won the prize. 汤姆获奖时惊诧得张口结舌。

jaws tight　adj., slang, informal Angry; uptight; tense. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗生气；紧张。◆ Why are you getting your jaws so tight? 你为什么生这么大的气？

jazz up　v., slang To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting. 〖俚〗使生色；使更活泼（或热烈）；使更兴奋。◆ The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums. 晚会本来很沉闷，直到皮特表演击鼓时，才活跃起来。

jerry-built　adj. 1. Built poorly or carelessly of cheap materials; easily broken. 粗制滥造的；用劣质材料建成的；易损坏的。◆ That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in a strong wind. 那座用劣质材料建成的小木屋会被狂风吹倒的。2. Done without careful preparation or thought; planned too quickly. 准备（或考虑）不周的；草草拼凑而成的。◆ When the regular television program didn't come on, a jerry-built program was substituted at the last minute. 原定的电视节目被取消后，最后一刻改播了一个草草拼就的节目。

Jesus boots or Jesus shoes　n., slang Men's sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. 〖俚〗（尤指嬉皮士和穿着非常随便的人穿的）男式凉鞋。◆ I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool. 老兄，我很喜欢你的凉鞋，它们看上去很酷。

jet set, or jet-setter　n. phr. A trendy affluent person who travels a lot, especially by airplane, and dressed like a Hollywood star. （经常乘喷气式飞机旅行的）喷气式飞机阶层；阔佬阶层。◆ Tom is so rich he is a member of the jet set. Both Tom and his brother Jerry are jet-setters. 汤姆非常有钱，是经常乘坐喷气式飞机到处旅游的阔佬阶层的一员。汤姆和他的哥哥杰里都是经常乘喷气式飞机到处旅游的富豪。

John Hancock or John Henry　n., informal Your signature; your name in writing. 〖非正式〗亲笔签名。◆ The man said, "Put your John Hancock on this paper." 那人说：“请在这份文件上签上你的名字。”◆ Joe felt proud when he put his John Henry on his very first driver's license. 乔在自己的第一张驾照上签上“约翰·亨利”时感到很骄傲。

Johnny-come-lately　n. Someone new in a place or group; newcomer; also: a new person who takes an active part in group affairs before the group has accepted him; upstart. 新来的人；未加入某团体即积极参加该团体活动的新成员；暴发户，新贵。◆ Everybody was amazed when a Johnny-come-lately beat the old favorite in the race. 当一位新手在比赛中击败大家看好的老手时，每个人都大吃一惊。

Johnny-on-the-spot　adj. phr. At the right place when needed; present and ready to help; very prompt; on time. 随时待命的；可随时应召出力的；非常及时的；准时的。◆ A good waterboy is always Johnny-on-the-spot. 一个好的送水人总是随时待命的。

join forces or join hands　v. phr. To get together for the same aim; group together for a purpose; unite. 携手合作；会师；联合。◆ The students and the graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym burned down. 体育馆烧毁后，学生们与校友们联合发起了募捐。

join the army and see the world — the next world　Poking fun at the recruiting slogan "join the army and see the world"; this saying implies that you may die. — A proverb. 〖谚〗参军可以游遍全世界——包括来世。（对招兵口号“参军可以游遍全世界”开的玩笑，暗示也可能战死。）◆ "Join the army and see the world!" Sergeant O'Toole said to the class of graduating seniors. "You mean the next world?" Tim O'Brien, the class' smart aleck asked sarcastically. “参军可以游遍全世界！”奥图尔中士对毕业班的学生说。“你的意思是说来世吗？”班上的机灵鬼蒂姆·奥布赖恩话带讽刺地问。

joking aside or joking apart　v.phr., informal No fooling; without exaggerating; seriously. 〖非正式〗不开玩笑；不夸张；说正经的，言归正传。◆ Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred people in the room. 毫不夸张，屋子里肯定有100多号人。

jot down　v. phr. To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something. 匆匆记下；草草记下。◆ Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe. 让我把你的地址记下来，我好从欧洲给你寄一张明信片。

jug-eared　adj. With ears that stick out like the handles of a jug. 长着一对招风耳朵的。◆ Tommy was a red-headed, freckle faced, jug-eared boy. 汤米是个红头发、雀斑脸、长着一对招风耳朵的男孩。

juice dealer　n., slang An underworld money lender who charges exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently collects payment by physical force. 〖俚〗非法放高利贷且强行逼债者。◆ No matter how broke you are, never go to a juice dealer.不管你多么穷，千万不可向放高利贷的人借钱。

jump all over　See见JUMP ON.

jump at　v. To take or accept quickly and gladly. 急切地接受；欣然接受。◆ Johnny jumped at the invitation to go swimming with his brother. 约翰尼欣然接受了邀请，和哥哥一起去游泳。

jump bail or skip bail　v. phr., informal To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come. 〖非正式〗保释后逃之夭夭。◆ The robber paid $2,000 bail so he wouldn't be put in jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped to Mexico. 盗贼交了2000美元的保释金，以便在受审前不致入狱，但他交保后却逃到墨西哥去了。

jump ball　n. The starting of play in basketball by tossing the ball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps and tries to hit the ball to a member of his own team. （篮球）跳球。◆ Two players held onto the ball at the same time and the referee called a jump ball. 两名球员同时抓住球，裁判即判跳球。

jump down sb.'s throat　v. phr. To suddenly become very angry at someone; scold severely or angrily. 对某人勃然大怒；严厉训斥某人。◆ The teacher jumped down Billy's throat when Billy admitted he did not do his homework. 当比利说他没有做家庭作业时，老师严厉批评了他。

jumping-off place　n. phr. 1. A place so far away that it seems to be the end of the world. 边远的地方，世界尽头。◆ Columbus' sailors were afraid they would arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west. 哥伦布的船员们担心如果他们再向西航行便会到达世界的尽头。2. The starting place of a long, hard trip or of something difficult or dangerous. （漫长而艰苦的旅程或艰巨工作的）起点；出发点。◆ The jumping-off place for the explorer's trip through the jungle was a little village. 那位探险家丛林之旅的起点是一个小村子。

jump on or jump all over or land on or land all over　v. phr., informal To scold; criticize; blame. 〖非正式〗责骂；批评；责备。◆ Tom's boss jumped all over Tom because he made a careless mistake. 汤姆不小心出了个差错，老板便把他痛骂了一顿。◆ Janice landed on Robert for dressing carelessly for their date. 詹妮丝埋怨罗伯特在他们约会时穿着太随便。◆ "I don't know why Bill is always jumping on me; I just don't understand him," said Bob. 鲍勃说：“我不知道比尔为什么总是骂我，我真弄不懂他。”

jump on the bandwagon or get on the bandwagon　v. phr., informal To join a popular cause or movement. 〖非正式〗参加有成功希望的事业（或运动）。◆ At the last possible moment, the senator jumped on the winning candidate's bandwagon. 到了最后一刻，那位参议员转而支持起那位胜利在望的候选人。

jump out of one's skin　v. phr., informal To be badly frightened; be very much surprised. 〖非正式〗吓坏了；大吃一惊。◆ The lightning struck so close to Bill that he almost jumped out of his skin. 闪电雷击距离比尔仅一步之遥，他差点吓掉了魂。

jump pass　n. A pass (as in football or basketball) made by a player while jumping. （橄榄球、篮球）跳起传球。◆ The Bruins scored when the quarterback tossed a jump pass to the left end. 熊队的四分卫一个跳传把球掷给左边锋，从而使他们得了分。

jump-start　v. phr. To restart an enterprise or business with vigorous action. 助推启动（汽车）；以有力的行动重新启动（企业等）。◆ The president of the United States decided to jump-start the economy with a tax cut stimulus package. 美国总统决定以减税的一整套刺激措施重新启动经济的发展。

jump the gun also beat the gun　v. phr. 1. To start before the starter's gun in a race. 发令枪未响即开始；抢跑。◆ The runners were called back because one of them jumped the gun. 赛跑者被叫了回来，因为他们中有人抢跑了。2. informal To start before you should; start before anyone else. 〖非正式〗提前开始；先于他人开始。◆ The new students were not supposed to come before noon, but one boy jumped the gun and came to school at eight in the morning. 新生按规定午后到校，但有一个男生提前在早上8点就来了。

jump the track　v. phr. 1. To go off rails; go or run the wrong way. 出轨；走错方向。◆ The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident. 火车出轨，造成了一次可怕的事故。2. informal To change from one thought or idea to another without plan or reason; change the thought or idea you are talking about to something different. 〖非正式〗胡思乱想；心不在焉。◆ Bob didn't finish his algebra homework because his mind kept jumping the track to think about the new girl in class. 鲍勃没有做完代数作业，因为他一直心不在焉，老是想着班上那个新来的女生。

jump through a hoop　v. phr., informal To do whatever you are told to do; obey any order. 〖非正式〗俯首听命；唯命是从。◆ Bob would jump through a hoop for Mary. 鲍勃对玛丽唯命是从。

jump to a conclusion　v. phr. To decide too quickly or without thinking or finding the facts. 草率下结论。◆ Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot. 杰里见他的狗拖着一条流血的腿一瘸一拐地走着，就匆忙下结论说它被枪射伤了。

junked up　adj. or. v phr., slang, drug culture To be under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. 〖俚〗（因吸毒尤指海洛因而）晕晕乎乎。◆ You can't talk to Billy, he's all junked up. 你没法儿跟比利讲话，他服了迷幻药正神志不清。

junk food　n. phr. The name given to hamburgers, hot dogs, french fines, and the like available at fast-food restau-rants. 垃圾食品（指快餐店里出售的汉堡包、热狗、炸薯条等高热量低营养的食品）。◆ "Eat a regular home-cooked meal," Dr. Gordon suggested. "Stay away from junk food." “要经常吃家里烧的饭，”戈登医生建议说。“不要吃垃圾食品。”

junk mail　n. phr. Unwanted and unsolicited mail stuffed into one's mailbox both at home and at work, usually advertisements of one sort or another. 垃圾邮件（指塞入信箱的各类广告宣传品）。◆ "Did you check the mailbox, honey?" Ted asked his wife. "Yes, but it's only junk mail," she answered. “查看过信箱没有，亲爱的？”泰德问妻子。“查过了，不过都是些垃圾邮件，”她回答说。

just about　adv., informal Nearly; almost; practically. 〖非正式〗差不多；几乎；简直。◆ Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak. 城里几乎所有的人都来听市长演讲了。

just for the fun of it or just for the hell of it　adv. phr. Merely as a matter of amusement. 只是闹着玩。◆ "I'll bring a goat to class," Bob said to his classmates, "just for the fun of it; I want to see what kind of a face Professor Brown will make." “我会带只山羊到教室里来，”鲍勃告诉他的同学们说，“只是开个玩笑而已；我想看看布朗教授会有什么样的表情。”

just for the record　adv. phr. Let me make my position clear; let's get things straight. 只为记录在案；我要郑重说明；让我们把事情弄清楚。◆ "Just for the record Sam," Ted said, "you still owe me $100 from last time. I hope you understand that I can't give you further loans until you repay me." “我要郑重说明，塞姆，”泰德说，“上次借的钱你还有100美元没还我。我希望你明白，在你把这钱还我之前，我不可能再借钱给你。”

just in case　adv. phr. For an emergency; in order to be protected. 以防万一。◆ "Here are my house keys, Sue ," Tom said. "I'll be back in two weeks, but you should have them, just in case…" “苏，这是我房子的钥匙，”汤姆说。“我两个星期就回来，但你还是拿着吧，以防万一……”

just in time See见IN TIME.

just now　adv. phr. 1. Just at this moment; at this time. 此刻，现在。◆ Mr. Johnson isn't here just now. Will you phone back later? 约翰逊先生现在不在，你过一会儿再打电话来好吗？2. informal A very short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while ago. 〖非正式〗刚才，刚刚。◆ "Where could that boy have gone so quickly? He was here just now!" “那男孩这么快跑到哪儿去了？他刚才还在这里的！”

just so^1　adj. Exact; exactly right. 严谨的；井然有序的。◆ Mrs. Robinson likes to keep her house just so, and she makes the children take off their shoes when they come in the house. 罗宾逊太太喜欢把屋子保持得井井有条，因此孩子们进屋时她都让他们把鞋脱掉。

just so^2　conj. Provided; if.只要；如果。◆ Take as much food as you want, just so you don't waste any food. 要吃多少你尽管拿，只要不浪费就行。

just so^3　adv. phr. With great care; very carefully. 细心照料；小心谨慎。◆ In order to raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so. 要种好非洲紫罗兰，你一定要仔细照料它们。

just the other way or the other way around　adv. phr. Just the opposite. 正好相反。◆ One would have thought that Goliath would defeat David, but it was the other way around. 你或许认为歌利亚会打败大卫，但结果却正好相反。

just the same　See见ALL THE SAME.

just what the doctor ordered　n. phr., informal Exactly what is needed or wanted. 〖非正式〗正是需要的东西。◆ "Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!" exclaimed Joe when Mary brought him a cold soda. 玛丽给乔端来一杯冰汽水时，乔喊道：“啊！就要这个！”

◆K◆

kangaroo court　n. A self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong. “袋鼠法庭”（指私设的公堂或非正规的法庭）。◆ The Chicago mob held a kangaroo court and shot the gangster who competed with Al Capone. 那伙芝加哥暴徒私设公堂，枪杀了那个跟艾尔·卡彭竞争的流氓。

keel over　v. 1. To turn upside down; tip over; overturn. — Usually refers to a boat. 倾覆；打翻；翻倒。——通常指船。◆ The strong wind made the sailboat keel over and the passengers fell into the water. 帆船在狂风中倾覆，乘客们纷纷落水。2. informal To fall over in a faint; faint. 〖非正式〗晕倒；眩晕。◆ When the principal told the girl her father died, she keeled right over. 当校长告诉那女孩她父亲去世的消息时，她当场就晕了过去。

keen about or on　adj. phr. Very enthusiastic about someone or something. 热衷于；喜爱。◆ It is well known that Queen Elizabeth is keen on horses. 众所周知，伊丽莎白女王非常喜欢马。

keep abreast (of) someone or something　v. phr. To be informed of the latest developments. 跟上某人或某事；不落后于某人或某事。◆ It is difficult to keep abreast of all the various wars that are being waged on planet Earth. 要掌握发生在地球上的各种战争的最新情况并非易事。

keep a civil tongue in one's head　v. phr. To be polite in speaking. 说话有礼貌。◆ He was very angry with his boss, but he kept a civil tongue in his head. 他很生老板的气，但言语仍然彬彬有礼。

keep a close check on　See见KEEP TAB(S) ON.

keep after　v., informal To speak to (someone) about something again and again; remind over and over again. 〖非正式〗一再对（某人）说；反复提醒。◆ Sue's mother had to keep after her to clean her bedroom. 苏的母亲只得反复提醒她打扫自己的卧室。

keep an eye on or keep one's eye on or have one's eye on　v. phr. 1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to. 密切注意；不停地关注。◆ A good driver keeps his eye on the road. 好的驾驶员总是注意看路。◆ The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I was cheating. 老师一直盯着我，因为她以为我在作弊。2. To watch and do what is needed for; mind. 照顾；照看。◆ Mother told Jane to keep an eye on the baby while she was in the store. 母亲去商店时，叫简照看婴儿。

keep an eye open or keep an eye out for　See见KEEP AN EYE ON.

keep a stiff upper lip　v. phr. To be brave; face trouble bravely. 勇敢；勇敢地面对困难。◆ John was very much worried about his sick daughter, but he kept a stiff upper lip. 约翰很担心生病的女儿，但他并不垂头丧气。

keep a straight face　See见STRAIGHT FACE, DEADPAN.

keep at　v. To continue to do; go on with. 坚持做；继续。◆ Mary kept at her homework until she finished it. 玛丽坚持做作业直到做完为止。

keep away　v. phr. To remain at a distance from. 不靠近；离开。◆ Her mother advised Diane to keep away from men offering a ride. 黛安娜的母亲劝她离那些主动让她搭车的男人远一点。

keep back　v. phr. To refrain or be restrained from entering; remain back. （使）不靠近；留在后面。◆ The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon. 当宇航员在月球上行走后来到城里时，警察们费了好大的劲才挡住了人群。

keep body and soul together　v. phr. To keep alive; survive. 维持生活；生存。◆ John was unemployed most of the year and hardly made enough money to keep body and soul together. 约翰那一年大部分时间都失业，所挣的钱几乎不够糊口。

keep books　v. phr. To keep records of money gained and spent; do the work of a bookkeeper. 记账；当簿记员。◆ Miss Jones keeps the company's books. 琼斯小姐担任公司的簿记员。

keep company　v. phr. 1. To stay or go along with (someone) so that he will not be lonely; to visit with (someone). 陪伴。◆ John kept Andy company while his parents went to the movies. 安迪的父母去看电影时，约翰与他做伴。2. To go places together as a couple; date just one person. 出双入对；固定与一人约会。◆ Who is Bill keeping company with now? 比尔现在在和谁约会？

keep cool　v. phr. Remain calm; remain unexcited. 保持平静；保持冷静。◆ The main thing to remember in an emergency situation is to not lose one's head and keep cool. 遇到紧急情况时，最要紧的就是不要慌乱，要保持冷静。

keep down　v. Keep from progressing or growing; keep within limits; control. 阻止进展（或生长）；限制；控制。◆ You can't keep a good man down. 有本事的人什么困难也压不倒。

keep from　v., informal To hold yourself back from; stop or prevent yourself from (doing something). 〖非正式〗克制；阻止，防止。◆ Jill can't keep from talking about her trip. 吉尔忍不住要说她旅行的事。— Usually used with can in the negative. 通常与can的否定式连用。◆ You can't keep from liking Jim. 你肯定会喜欢吉姆的。

keep good time　See见KEEP TIME.

keep house^1　v. phr. To do the necessary things in a household; do the cooking and cleaning. 管理家务。◆ Since their mother died, Mary and her brother keep house for their father. 自从母亲死后，玛丽和弟弟就为父亲管理家务。

keep house^2　also play house　v. phr., informal To live together without being married. 〖非正式〗未婚同居。◆ Bob and Nancy keep house these days. 目前，鲍勃和南希在同居。

keep in mind　See见IN MIND.

keep in touch with　v. phr. To remain in communication with; maintain contact with. 与…保持联系。◆ Don't forget to keep in touch, either by letter or phone, when you're in Europe! 到了欧洲，别忘了保持联系，写信或打电话都可以。

keep late hours　v. phr. To go to bed late; habitually stay up (and work) late. 晚睡；熬夜。◆ "If you always keep such late hours, your health might suffer," Tom's doctor said. “如果你总是这么熬夜的话，你的身体会吃不消的，”汤姆的医生说。

keep off　v. phr. To refrain from entering; stay away from. 不进入；不接近。◆ "Keep off the grass," the sign in the park indicated. 公园里的牌子上写着：“勿踩草地。”

keep on　v. 1. To go ahead; not stop; continue. 继续前行；不停；继续。◆ Columbus kept on until he saw land. 哥伦布继续前行，直到看见陆地。— Often used before a present participle. 通常后接现在分词。◆ Relentlessly, the boy kept on asking about outer space. 那男孩持续不断地询问有关宇宙空间的事。2. To allow to continue working for you. 继续雇用。◆ The new owner kept Fred on as gardener. 新业主继续雇用弗雷德做园丁。

keep one's balance　v. phr. To stay even-tempered; not become overexcited. 保持镇静，不过分激动。◆ Mike has the best personality to run our office; he always keeps his balance. 迈克的个性最适合管理我们的事务所；他总能保持镇静。

keep one's chin up　v. phr. To be brave; be determined; face trouble with courage. 勇敢；坚定；不气馁，不灰心。◆ He didn't think that he would ever get out of the jungle alive, but he kept his chin up. 虽然他认为自己难以活着走出丛林了，但他毫不气馁。

keep one's cool or keep one's head　v. phr. To stay in control of one's composure; stay calm. 保持冷静；保持镇定。◆ "Keep your cool, John, when you face the director," Ted advised. "He has a tendency to get on people's nerves." “约翰，你在面对主任时要保持冷静，”泰德建议说。“他往往容易使人紧张不安。”◆ Fred succeeded in keeping his head when the building burst into flames. 当那座房屋突然着火时，弗雷德保持住了镇定。

keep one's distance　v. phr. To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. 保持距离；冷淡；不友好。◆ Mary did not like her co-worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her. 玛丽不喜欢她的同事贝蒂，因此对她很冷淡。

keep one's end up　See见HOLD ONE'S END UP.

keep one's eye on　See见KEEP MY EYE ON.

keep one's eye on the ball　v. phr., informal To be watchful and ready; be wide-awake and ready to win or succeed; be smart. 〖非正式〗警惕；小心地行动；机灵。◆ Tom is just starting on the job but if he keeps his eye on the ball, he will be promoted. 汤姆刚刚开始工作，但他如果机灵点的话，是会得到提升的。

keep one's eyes open　See见EYES OPEN.

keep one's eyes peeled or keep one's eyes skinned　v. phr., informal To watch carefully; be always looking. 〖非正式〗密切注视；时刻注意看。◆ The bird-watcher kept his eyes peeled for bluebirds. 观鸟人很注意地寻找着蓝色鸣鸟。

keep one's feet on the ground　See 见FEET ON THE GROUND.

keep one's fingers crossed　See见CROSS ONE'S FINGERS lb.

keep one's hand in　v. phr. To keep in practice; continue to take part. 经常练习以保持熟练；继续参加。◆ After he retired from teaching, Mr. Brown kept his hand in by giving a lecture once in a while. 自教书岗位上退休以后，布朗先生仍不时开个讲座，以不脱离教学。

keep one's head also keep one's wits about one　v. phr. To stay calm when there is trouble or danger. 保持镇静。◆ When Tim heard the fire alarm he kept his head and looked for the nearest exit. 听到火警时，蒂姆保持镇静，寻找最近的出口。

keep one's head above water　v. phr. To remain solvent; manage to stay out of debt. 使自己免于负债；勉强不借债。◆ Herb's income declined so drastically that he now has difficulty keeping his head above water. 赫伯的收入剧减，致使他现在不借债便难以过下去。

keep one's mouth shut　v. phr., informal To be or stay silent. — Rude when used as a command. 〖非正式〗闭嘴；保持沉默。——用作命令时粗鲁。◆ When the crooks were captured by the police, their leader warned them to keep their mouths shut. 当那伙骗子被警察抓住时，他们的头儿警告他们不许讲话。

keep one's nose clean　v. phr., slang To stay out of trouble; do only what you should do. 〖俚〗不惹麻烦；行为规矩。◆ The policeman warned the boys to keep their noses clean unless they wanted to go to jail. 警察告诫那些男孩放规矩些，除非他们想坐牢。

keep one's nose to the grindstone or have one's nose to the grindstone or hold one's nose to the grindstone　v. phr., informal To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring or tiresome work. 〖非正式〗埋头苦干；不停地干苦活。◆ Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves as much as possible to start her own business. 萨拉终日埋头苦干，尽量多积些钱准备自己开业。

keep one's own counsel　v. phr., formal To keep your ideas and plans to yourself. 〖正式〗将意见和计划保密；深藏不露。◆ John listened to what everyone had to say in the discussion, but he kept his own counsel. 讨论时，约翰听每一个人发表意见，而他自己的想法却深藏不露。

keep one's shirt on　v. phr., slang To calm down; keep from losing your temper or getting impatient or excited. 〖俚〗保持冷静；不发脾气；耐着性子；不激动。◆ John said to Bob, "Keep your shirt on." 约翰对鲍勃说：“别太激动。”

keep one's wits about one　See见KEEP ONE'S HEAD.

keep one's word　v. phr. To do what one has promised; fulfill one's promise. 守信用，履行诺言。◆ Paul kept his word and paid me the $250 that he owed me right on time. 保罗守信用，准时将他欠我的250美元还给了我。

keep on truckin'　v. phr. Advice given to one about to despair, saying that one has to keep working, doing what one's job demands, or to encourage a vigorous or self-assertive action. 继续干吧；坚持干下去。◆ "OK, gang, this is going to be a great show. I know the practice is tiring, but let's keep on truckin'." “好了，伙伴们，这将是一场伟大的演出。我知道反复练习很累人，但还是让我们继续干吧。”

keep open house　v. phr. To offer hospitality and entertain those who come at any given time on a certain day or afternoon. 随时欢迎来客；凡有来客无不款待。◆ Beth and Charlie have a cottage by the lake where they keep open house on Saturday afternoons during the summer. 贝丝和查理在湖边有座别墅，夏天的每个星期六下午，他们都在那儿款待随时来访的客人。

keep out (of)　v. phr. 1. To stay out; remain out of. 留在外面，不进入。◆ The sign on the fence said, "Danger! Keep out!" 栅栏上有块牌子，上面写着：“危险！切勿入内！”2. To stave off; not allow in. 阻挡在外面；不让入内。◆ The border patrol near El Paso, Texas, is trying to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States. 得克萨斯州埃尔帕索附近的边境巡逻队正试图阻止非法移民进入美国。

keep pace　v. phr. To go as fast; go at the same rate; not get behind. 齐步前进，并驾齐驱；不落后。◆ When Bill was moved to a more advanced class, he had to work hard to keep pace. 比尔转到高级班后，不得不努力学习以跟上别人。

keep plugging along　v. phr., informal To continue to work diligently and with great effort, often against hardship. 〖非正式〗一直埋头苦干。◆ Bob was not particularly talented but he kept plugging along year after year, and eventually became vice president. 鲍勃并不是特别有天赋，但他年复一年地埋头苦干，终于当上了副总裁。

keep someone at a distance or keep someone at arm's length　v. phr. To avoid (someone's) company; not become too friendly toward. 同某人疏远；对某人冷淡；与某人保持一定距离。◆ Betty likes Bill and is trying to be friendly, but he keeps her at arm's length. 贝蒂喜欢比尔并设法向他示好，可他却对她很冷淡。

keep (someone) posted　v. phr. To receive current information; inform oneself. 不断向（某人）提供最新消息。◆ My associates phoned me every day and kept me posted on new developments in our business. 我的合伙人每天都给我打电话，把我们公司的最新进展情况告诉我。

keep (something) bottled up　See见BOTTLE UP.

keep step with　v. phr. To maintain the same degree of progress as someone else. 与…齐步前进。◆ The United States has no choice but to keep step with potential enemies in terns of modern defense systems. 美国别无选择，唯有在现代防御体系上与潜在的敌人保持同步。

keep tab on or keep tabs on　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To keep a record of. 记录。◆ The government tries to keep tabs on all the animals in the park. 政府试图把公园里所有的动物都记录下来。2. To keep a watch on; check. 注视；检查。◆ The house mother kept tabs on the girls to be sure they were clean and neat. 女舍监经常检查女孩子们是否整洁。

keep the ball rolling　v. phr., informal To keep up an activity or action; not allow something that is happening to slow or stop. 〖非正式〗使活动继续下去；使活动不中断。◆ Clyde kept the ball rolling at the party by telling funny jokes. 克莱德讲了一些有趣的笑话，以使晚会不致冷场。

keep the change!　v. phr. Don't give me any money back. Said to taxi drivers, waiters, etc, when one wants to give them a tip. 不必找零啦！◆ "Keep the change!" Ted said,　after handing a $20 bill to the cab　driver, who wanted to return $3.50 to him. 泰德拿给出租车司机一张20美元的钞票，司机要找他3.5美元时，他说：“不必找零啦！”

keep the faith　v. phr. To not abandon hope; stay committed to the cause of democracy and racial equality. 不灰心；恪守信仰。◆ "Keep the faith, Baby," my neighbor said as he raised his fingers to show the "V" for victory sign. “别灰心，孩子，”，我的邻居说道，并举起手指做了一个“V”字，以示胜利。

keep the home fires burning　v. phr. To keep things going as usual while someone is away; wait at home to welcome someone back. 维持现状；在家等候某人归来。◆ While John was in the army, Mary kept the home fires burning. 约翰入伍后，玛丽在家持家等着他归来。

keep the wolf (wolves) from the door　v. phr. To avoid hunger, poverty, and/or creditors. 免于挨饿，免于穷困。◆ "I don't like my job," Mike complained, "but I must do something to keep the wolves from the door." 迈克抱怨道：“我不喜欢我的工作，可我总得干活填饱肚子吧。”

keep things humming　v. phr. To cause thing to perform smoothly and efficiently. 使事情正常运转。◆ Until Mr. Long joined our computer center, we had all sorts of problems, but he has corrected them and really keeps things humming. 在朗先生加盟计算机中心之前，我们遇到了各种问题，可他来后把这些问题都解决了，使一切运转正常。

keep time　v. phr. 1. To show the right time. （钟、表）走得准。◆ My watch has not kept good time since I dropped it. 我的表自从摔过以后就走得不准了。 2. To keep the beat; keep the same rhythm; keep in step. 合拍；保持相同节奏。◆ Many people are surprised at how well deaf people keep time with the music when they dance. 许多人都很惊讶，聋人在跳舞时竟然能很好地跟上音乐的节拍。

keep to oneself　See见TO ONESELF 2.

keep track　v. phr. To know about changes; stay informed or up-to-date; keep a count or record. 了解变化；掌握最新信息；计算；记录。◆ What day of the week is it? I can't keep track. 今天是星期几？我记不得了。

keep under one's hat　v. phr., informal To keep secret; not tell. — Often used as a command. 〖非正式〗保密；不泄露。——常用作命令。◆ Keep it under your hat. 这事不要告诉别人。

keep up　v. 1a. To go on; not stop; continue. 继续，持续；不停止。◆ The rain kept up for two days and the roads were flooded. 雨连着下了两天，路上积满了水。1b. To go on with (something); continue steadily; never stop. 保持；坚持。◆ Mrs. Smith told John to keep up the good work. 史密斯太太叫约翰继续好好干。2a. To go at the same rate as others. 并驾齐驱。◆ John had to work hard to keep up. 约翰必须努力工作才能跟上别人。2b. To keep (something) at the same level or rate or in good condition. 使（某物）保持同等水平（或比例或良好状态）。◆ Grandfather was too poor to keep up his house. 祖父太穷，无法修缮他的房子使其保持良好状况。3. To keep informed. — Usually used with on or with. 知悉；了解。——通常与on或with连用。◆ Mary is interested in politics and always keeps up with the news. 玛丽对政治很感兴趣，一直关注着新闻。

keep up appearances　v. phr. To maintain an outward show of prosperity in spite of financial problems. 维持门面，保持体面。◆ Mr. Smith's widow had a hard time keeping up appearances after her husband's death. 史密斯先生去世后，他的遗孀艰难地维持着门面。

keep up on　v. phr. To keep cultivating a habit in order not to forget it. 坚持做（某事）。◆ Ted tries to keep up on his saxophone playing whenever he has the time. 泰德一有时间就努力坚持吹萨克斯管。

keep up one's end　See见HOLD ONE'S END UP.

keep up with　See见KEEP STEP WITH, KEEP ABREAST OF.

keep up with the Joneses　v. phr. To follow the latest fashion; try to be equal with your neighbors. 赶时髦；与邻居比排场。◆ Mrs. Smith kept buying every new thing that was advertised. Finally Mr. Smith told her to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses and to start thinking for herself. 史密斯太太不停地购买广告上的每一样新东西，最后史密斯先生叫她不要再赶时髦而要想想自己究竟需要什么。

keep watch　v. phr. To be vigilant; be alert; guard. 保持警惕；监视。◆ The police have asked the neighborhood to keep watch against an escaped convict. 警方已要求该居民点的居民警惕一名逃犯。

keep your fingers crossed　See见CROSS ONE'S FINGERS.

kettle of fish　v. phr., informal Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business. 〖非正式〗需要考虑的事；真相；事情。◆ He had two flat tires and no spare on a country road at night, which was certainly a pretty kettle of fish. 在夜间乡村的道路上，他的汽车有两只轮胎爆了，而他又没有备用胎，真是糟糕透了。

keyed up　adj., informal Excited; nervous; anxious to do something. 〖非正式〗兴奋的；紧张的；急于做某事的。◆ Mary was all keyed up about the exam. 玛丽对考试非常紧张。

kick against the pricks　v. phr., literary To fight against rules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself. 〖文〗作无益的反抗；以卵击石，螳臂当车。◆ Johnny kicked against the pricks in his foster home until he learned that he could trust his new family. 在知道自己可以信任新家之前，约翰尼一直无益地反抗他的养父母。

kick around　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To act roughly or badly to; treat badly; bully. 粗暴地对待，虐待；欺凌。◆ John likes to kick around the little boys. 约翰喜欢欺负小男孩。2. To lie around or in a place; be treated carelessly; be neglected. 被闲置；被忽视；被冷落。◆ The letter kicked around on my desk for days. 这封信丢在我桌子上已有好多天了。3. slang To talk easily or carelessly back and forth about; examine in a careless or easygoing way. 〖俚〗随便谈一谈，闲扯；随意检视。◆ Bob and I kicked around the idea of going swimming, but it was hot and we were too lazy. 鲍勃和我闲扯了一下去游泳的想法，但天太热了，我们懒得动。

kick back　v., slang, informal (stress on back)（重读back）To pay money illegally for favorable contract arrangements. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗给（回扣）。◆ I will do it if you kick back a few hundred for my firm. 如果你给我们公司几百美元回扣，那我就干。

kickback　n., slang, informal (stress on kick)（重读kick）Money paid illegally for favorable treatment. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗回扣。◆ He was arrested for making kickback payments. 他因给人回扣而被捕。

kick down　v. phr., slang To shift an automobile, jeep, or truck into lower gear by hand-shifting. 〖俚〗把（汽车或摩托车等）换到低挡。◆ Joe kicked the jeep down from third to second, and we slowed down. 乔将吉普车从三挡换到二挡，我们的速度就慢了下来。

kick in　v. To start. 开始。◆ The payments on the new car won't kick in until February! 新买的这辆汽车要到2月才开始付款！

kick in the pants or kick in the teeth　n. phr., informal Unexpected scorn or insult when praise was expected; rejection. 〖非正式〗意外的侮辱；拒绝。◆ Mary worked hard to clean up John's room, but all she got for her trouble was a kick in the teeth. 玛丽辛辛苦苦把约翰的房间打扫干净了，可费尽周折得到的却是他的侮辱。

kick it　v. phr., slang To end a bad or unwanted habit such as drinking, smoking, or drug addiction. 〖俚〗戒除恶习（如酗酒、抽烟、吸毒等）。◆ Farnsworth finally kicked it; he's in good shape. 法恩斯沃思终于戒掉了恶习，现在他身体很健康。

kickoff　n. (stress on kick)（重读kick）The start of something, like a new venture, a business, a sports event, or a concert season. （企业等的）开张；（体育赛事、音乐季节等的）开始。◆ Beethoven's Ninth will be the kickoff for this summer season at Ravinia. 贝多芬的第九交响曲将拉开今夏拉维尼亚音乐节的序幕。

kick off　v. phr. (stress on off)（重读off）1. informal To begin; launch; start. 〖非正式〗开始；出发。◆ The candidate kicked off his campaign with a speech on television. 候选人做了一次电视演讲，从而开始了他的竞选运动。2. slang To die. 〖俚〗死。Mr. Jones was almost ninety years old when he kicked off. 琼斯先生死的时候快90岁了。

kick oneself　v. phr., informal To be sorry or ashamed; regret. 〖非正式〗自责；内疚；懊悔。◆ Mary could have kicked herself for letting the secret out before it was announced officially. 玛丽在这一秘密正式宣布前把它泄露了出去，为此她感到很内疚。

kick out or boot out　v., informal To make (someone) go or leave; get rid of; dismiss. 〖非正式〗赶走；撵走；开除。◆ The boys made so much noise at the movie that the manager kicked them out. 那些男孩在电影院里太吵，经理把他们撵了出去。◆ The chief of police was booted out of office because he was a crook. 警长被革职了，因为他是个坏蛋。

kick over　v. 1. Of a motor: To begin to work.（引擎）启动。◆ He had not used his car for two months and when he tried to start it, the motor would not kick over. 他已有两个月没用他的汽车了，所以当他试图开车时，引擎却发动不起来了。2. slang To pay; contribute. 〖俚〗缴付；捐赠。◆ The gang forced all the storekeepers on the block to kick over $500 a week. 那帮歹徒强迫这一街区的所有店主每周缴付500美元。3. slang To die. 〖俚〗死。◆ Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over this morning. 欧莱利太太的母牛今天早晨死了。

kick the bucket　v. phr., slang To die. 〖俚〗死，翘辫子。◆ Old Mr. Jones kicked the bucket just two days before his ninety-fourth birthday. 老琼斯先生死的时候离他94岁的生日只有两天。

kick Up　v., informal To show signs of not working right. 〖非正式〗出毛病。◆ John had had too much to eat and his stomach started to kick up. 约翰吃得太多，他的胃开始出问题了。

kick up a fuss or kick up a row or raise a row also kick up a dust　v. phr., informal To make trouble; make a disturbance. 〖非正式〗挑起事端，闹事；大吵大闹。◆ When the teacher gave the class five more hours of homework, the class kicked up a fuss. 当老师又布置了5个小时的家庭作业时，全班同学一片哗然。◆ When the teacher left the room, two boys kicked up a row. 老师一离开教室，两个男孩就吵闹起来。

kick up one's heels　v. phr., informal To have a merry time; celebrate. 〖非正式〗度过一段快乐时光；庆祝。◆ When exams were over the students went to town to kick up their heels. 考试一结束，学生们就进城去狂欢了。

kiddie car　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon A school bus. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗校车。◆ Watch out for that kiddie car coming up behind you! 当心！有辆校车在你后面开过来了！

kill off　v. To kill or end completely; destroy. 杀光；灭绝；破坏。◆ The factory dumped poisonous wastes into the river and killed off the fish. 那家工厂把有毒的废弃物倒入河中，把鱼都毒死了。

kill or cure　phrasal idiom Drastic treatment or action that will either ruin one or set things right. Said mostly of certain kinds of medicine or food. （药物、食物等）要么致死要么治好；要么彻底完蛋，要么渡过难关。◆ This new wonder drug will either kill me or cure me. 这种新的特效药要么把我医死，要么就把我医好。◆ This Indian soup is so hot that it will kill or cure whoever tastes it. 这种印第安人的汤辣味十足，它要么把人辣得要死，要么让人爱得发狂。

kill the goose that laid the golden egg　To spoil something that is good or something that you have, by being greedy.— A proverb. 〖谚〗杀鸡取卵；竭泽而渔。◆ If he never gives his loyal customers a break on some items in his store, he'll kill the goose that laid the golden egg. 如果他在某些商品上不给老顾客打折，他就会失去这些顾客。

kill time　v. phr. To cause the time to pass more rapidly; waste time. 消磨时间，打发时间。◆ The plane trip to Hong Kong was long and tiring, but we managed to kill time by watching several movies. 乘飞机去香港的旅程既长又累人，但我们看了好几部电影，把时间消磨了过去。

kill two birds with one stone　v. phr. To succeed in doing two things by only one action; get two results from one effort. 一石二鸟；一箭双雕；一举两得。◆ Mother stopped at the supermarket to buy bread and then went to get Jane at dancing class; she killed two birds with one stone. 母亲既去超市买了面包，又到舞蹈班接了简，真是一举两得。

kind of or sort of　adv. phr., informal Almost but not quite; rather. 〖非正式〗相当；有点儿；有几分。◆ A guinea pig looks kind of like a rabbit, but it has short ears. 豚鼠看上去有点儿像兔子，不过它的耳朵较短。◆ The teacher sort of frowned but then smiled. 老师稍微皱了皱眉头，但接着又笑了。

kindred spirits　n. phr. People who resemble each other in numerous ways, including their ways of thinking and feeling. 志趣相投的人。◆ They are kindred spirits; they both like to go on long walks in the forest. 他们俩志趣相投，都喜欢在森林里长时间地散步。

king's ransom　n. phr. 1. An excessively large sum of money extorted by kidnappers to let someone go free. 巨额赎金。◆ The Smith family had to pay a king's ransom for the freedom of their seven-year-old son. 史密斯家不得不付一笔巨额赎金以换取他们7岁的儿子的自由。2. An exorbitant fee one is forced to pay. 一大笔钱，巨款。◆ The realtors exacted a king's ransom for that choice lot on the corner. 那些房地产经纪人对街角处那块上等地皮索取了一笔巨款。

kiss of death　n. phr. A curse, a very bad thing. 祸因，祸根；导致严重后果之事。◆ Having unsafe sex with a stranger can often be the kiss of death. 与陌生人进行不安全的性交往往可能会酿成严重后果。

kiss off　v. phr., slang Go away, leave me alone! 〖俚〗走开；别烦我！◆ "Kiss off, Buster," the bartender said, when the neighborhood drunk, who didn't have any money, asked for another glass of whiskey. 当住在附近的那个没钱的酒鬼想再要一杯威士忌酒时，酒吧间侍者对他说：“走开吧，小子。”

kiss someone or something goodbye　v. phr. To lose or give up someone or something forever. 永远失去（或放弃）某人或某物。◆ "If you won't marry Jane," Peter said to Tom, "you might as well kiss her good-bye." 彼得对汤姆说：“如果你不愿跟简结婚，那你最好还是与她分手吧。”◆ People who bet on a losing horse at the races might as well kiss their money goodbye. 把钱押在一匹必败的赛马上就等于把它白白地扔掉。

kith and kin or kith or kin　n. phr. A relative, even if not a very close one. 朋友和亲属，亲友。◆ "Why won't you help poor John, when he is in such trouble?" Mary asked her husband. "He just pretends to be close," Ted answered, "but he is no kith or kin of ours." “可怜的约翰陷入了这样的困境，你怎么不愿帮他一下呢？”玛丽问她的丈夫。“他只是自称跟我关系密切，”泰德回答说，“但他其实既不是我们的朋友也不是我们的亲戚。”

kitty comer　adv. phr. Diagonally, or turning, so as to make a large object fit through a narrow doorway. 成对角线地，斜地。◆ The movers cleverly moved the larger pieces of furniture kitty corner from one room to the next. 搬运家具的人聪明地把大件家具斜过来，从一个房间搬到了另一个房间。

knee-deep or neck-deep　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Very much; deeply; having a big part in. 深深地；深陷其中（的）◆ Johnny was knee-deep in trouble. 约翰尼深深陷入了麻烦之中。2. Very busy; working hard at. 忙着的。◆ We were neck-deep in homework before the exams. 考试前我们忙于做功课。

kneeling bus　n., informal A bus equipped with a hydraulic device to enable it to drop almost to curb level for greater ease of boarding and leaving vehicle, as a convenience for elderly or handicapped passengers. 〖非正式〗下跪式公共汽车（指装有气动悬挂装置的公共汽车，车身可降低，便于乘客特别是老年人和残疾人上下车）。◆ The man on crutches was pleased to see the kneeling bus. 那位拄着双拐的男子很高兴看到来了一辆下跪式公共汽车。

knight in shining armor　n. phr. The ideal boyfriend, lover, or future husband, who may take a young woman away to a better life. 有骑士风度的男人；理想的男友（或情人、未婚夫）。◆ "So Jim got you pregnant, and then he left you, is that right?" Mary asked her sister Joan. "Yes," Joan replied, "but I used to think of him as my knight in shining armor before he revealed his true face." “这么说吉姆让你怀了孕以后又把你甩了，是吗？”玛丽问她的妹妹琼。“是的，”琼回答说，“但在他暴露出自己的真面目以前，我却一直以为他是我的理想男友呢。”

knock about or knock around　v. To travel without a plan; go where you please. 漫游；闲逛。◆ After he graduated from college, Joe knocked about for a year seeing the country before he went to work in his father's business. 大学毕业以后，乔在全国各地漫游了一年才到他父亲的公司去工作。

knock cold　v. phr., informal To render unconscious. 〖非正式〗击昏。◆ The blow on the chin knocked Harry cold. 哈里因下巴挨了一击而昏了过去。

knock down　v. phr. To reduce; lower. 减少；降低。◆ The realtors said that if we decided to buy the house, they would knock the price down by 10%. 房地产经纪人说，如果我们决定买那幢房子，他们愿把房价降低10％。

knocked out　adj., slang Intoxicated; drugged; out of one's mind. 〖俚〗喝醉的；麻醉的；神志不清的。◆ Jim sounds so incoherent, he must be knocked out. 吉姆说话前言不搭后语的，他一定是喝醉了。

knock for a loop or throw for a loop　v. phr., slang To surprise very much. 〖俚〗使大吃一惊。◆ The news of their marriage threw me for a loop. 他们结婚的消息使我大吃一惊。

knock it off　v. phr., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. To stop talking about something considered not appropriate or nonsensical by the listener. — Used frequently as an imperative. 别说了；别胡说了。——常用于祈使句。◆ Come on, Joe, knock it off, you're not making any sense at all! 好了，乔，闭嘴吧，你说的毫无道理！2. To cease doing something; to quit. — Heavily favored in the imperative. 住手，别胡闹了。——尤用于祈使句。◆ Come on boys, knock it off, you're breaking the furniture in my room! 好了，孩子们，别胡闹了，你们把我房间里的家具都搞坏了！

knock off　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To burglarize someone. 撬窃；抢劫。◆ They knocked off the Manning residence. 他们撬窃了曼宁的住所。2. To murder someone. 杀死，谋杀。◆ The gangsters knocked off Herman. 那帮暴徒杀死了赫尔曼。

knock off one's feet　v. phr. To surprise (someone) so much that he does not know what to do. 使（某人）惊奇得不知所措。◆ When Charlie was given the prize, it knocked him off his feet for a few minutes. 查理获奖时，惊喜得有好几分钟不知所措。

knock (one or something) down with a feather　v. phr. To push a person or institution that doesn't need energetic destroying, one that would crumble at the least push. 轻而易举地击倒（某人或某物）。◆ That regime overseas talks loudly, but is really only a paper tiger. I believe that we could knock it down with a feather. 那个外国政权说话的口气很强硬，但其实只是一只纸老虎。我相信我们不费吹灰之力就可以摧毁它。

knock oneself out　v. phr., informal To work very hard; make a great effort. 〖非正式〗工作非常努力；尽最大努力。◆ Mrs. Ross knocked herself out planning her daughter's wedding. 罗斯太太不遗余力地张罗女儿的婚礼。

knock on wood　v. phr. To knock on something made of wood to keep from having bad luck. — Many people believe that you will have bad luck if you talk about good luck or brag about something, unless you knock on wood; often used in a joking way. 用手碰木头以避邪。——许多人相信谈论好运或炫耀某事会遭厄运，除非用手碰一下木头；常用于玩笑中。◆ Charles said, "I haven't been sick all winter." Grandfather said, "You'd better knock on wood when you say that." 查尔斯说：“我整个冬天都没生病。”祖父说：“你说这话最好用于碰一下木头。”

knockout　n., slang (stress on knock)〖俚〗（重读knock）1. Strikingly beautiful woman. 大美人。◆ Sue is a regular knockout. 苏是个十足的大美人。2. A straight punch in boxing that causes one's opponent to fall and lose consciousness. （拳击中）击昏对手的一击。◆ The champion won the fight with a straight knockout. 拳王以一记直拳击倒对手获胜。

knock out　v. phr. (stress on out)（重读out）To make helpless, unworkable, or unusable. 击倒；打败；毁坏。◆ The soldier knocked out two enemy tanks with his bazooka. 那个士兵用火箭筒摧毁了敌军的两辆坦克。

knock over　v. phr. To overturn; upset. 打翻；撞倒。◆ I accidentally knocked over the Chinese lamp that fell on the floor and broke. 我不小心碰翻了那盏灯笼，它掉到地板上摔坏了。

knock someone's block off　v. phr., slang To hit someone very hard; beat someone up. 〖俚〗痛打某人；狠揍某人。◆ Stay out of my yard or I'll knock your block off. 不要到我的院子里来，不然我就把你揍扁。

knock someone up　v. phr. vulgar, avoidable〖粗〗〖忌〗To get a woman pregnant. 使某人怀孕；把某人的肚子搞大。◆ Did you hear that poor Suzie got knocked up by her careless boyfriend when they were vacationing together in the mountains? 可怜的苏茜和男友在山里一起度假时，被他不当心搞大了肚子，你听说了没有？

knock the bottom out of something　v. phr. To render invalid or ineffective. 打掉某物的基础；驳倒（论据、理论等）；推翻某物；使某物站不住脚。◆ Vigorous new research knocked the bottom out of various older theories about the structure of the universe. 新的、充满活力的研究推翻了各种有关宇宙结构的老理论。

knock the living daylights out of　v. phr., slang, informal To render (someone) unconscious (said in exaggeration). 〖俚〗〖非正式〗使（某人）失去知觉（夸张语）。◆ The news almost knocked the living daylights out of me. 这条消息使我差一点昏了过去。

knotty problem　n. phr. A very complicated and difficult problem to solve. 棘手的问题。◆ Doing one's income tax properly can present a knotty problem. 准确填报所得税有时还真是个棘手的问题。

know a thing or two about　v. phr. To be experienced in; have a fairly considerable knowledge of. 对…很有经验；对…见多识广。◆ Tom has dealt with many foreign traders; he knows a thing or two about stocks and bonds. 汤姆与许多外商打过交道；他对股票和债券颇为熟悉。

know chalk from cheese　To be very smart; to be able to distinguish valuable things from rubbish. 很聪明；有分辨能力。◆ Poor Jerry will never amount to much; the poor guy doesn't even know chalk from cheese. 可怜的杰里绝不会有什么大出息，他连起码的分辨能力都没有。

know-how　n., slang Expertise; ability to devise and construct. 〖俚〗专门知识；专门技术；技能；本事。◆ The United States had the know-how to beat the Soviet Union to the moon in 1969. 美国在1969年就掌握了在登月竞赛中击败苏联的技术。

know if one is coming or going or know whether one is coming or going　v. phr. To feel able to think clearly; know what to do. — Usually used in the negative or with limiters. 思路清晰；知道该做什么；应付自如。——通常用于否定句。◆ My cousin is so much in love that she scarcely knows whether she's coming or going. 我表妹深陷情网，简直热昏了头。

know-it-all　n. A person who acts as if he knows all about everything; someone who thinks no one can tell him anything new. 自以为无所不知的人。◆ After George was elected class president, he wouldn't take suggestions from anyone; he became a know-it-all. 乔治当选为班主席后，任何人的建议都听不进去；他变成了一个自以为无所不知的人。

know one in high places　v. phr. To be connected with people in power. 认识上层人士。◆ Ted's grandfather was the mayor of Chicago so he knows people in high places. 泰德的祖父是芝加哥的市长，所以他认识一些上层人士。

know one's own mind　v. phr. To not hesitate or vacillate; be definite in one's ideas or plans. 有决断；有自己明确的想法（或计划）。◆ It is impossible to do business with Fred, because he doesn't know his own mind. 与弗雷德做生意是不可能的，因为他总是拿不定主意。

know one's place　v. phr. To be deferential to one's elders or superiors. 对长辈（或上司）恭敬顺从；知趣，识相。◆ Ken is a talented teaching assistant, but he has a tendency to tell the head of the department how to run things. Somebody ought to teach him to know his place. 肯是个有才干的助教，但他往往对系主任指手画脚。应该有人教教他不要不知天高地厚。

know one's way around or know one's way about　v. phr. To understand how things happen in the world; be experienced in the ways of the world. 精于世事；老于世故。◆ The sailor had been in the wildest ports in the world. He knew his way around. 这名海员到过世界上最荒野的港口。他见多识广，老于世故。

know shit from shinola　vulgar, avoidable〖粗〗〖忌〗To be knowledgeable enough not to confuse things of unequal value. 有分辨能力。◆ Algernon talks big, but he doesn't know shit from shinola about money matters. 阿尔杰农喜欢说大话，但在财务方面他却非常无知。

know (something) inside out　v. phr. To be extremely well conversant with something; be an expert in; have thorough knowledge of. 对（某事）非常熟悉；精通（某事）。◆ Tom knows the stock market inside out. 汤姆对股市非常熟悉。

know (something) like the back of one's hand　phrasal idiom To know something thoroughly, inside out. 对（某事、某物）了如指掌；熟悉（某事）；精通（某事）。◆ John is a man-about-town; he knows London like the back of his hand. 约翰是一个经常出没于游乐场所的花花公子；他对伦敦了如指掌。

know the ropes　See见THE ROPES.

know the score　See见THE SCORE.

know what's what　See见KNOW SOMETHING INSIDE OUT.

know where one stands　v. phr. To be aware of one's monetary or social position. 知道自己的地位；知道别人如何看待自己。◆ "Excuse me, sir!" Ted said to the company director, "I hate to bother you, but I'd really like to know where I stand. Will I get a pay raise next year?" “对不起，先生！”泰德对公司经理说。“我不想打扰你，但我的确想知道自己的地位。明年我会加薪吗？”

know which side one's bread is buttered on　v. phr. To know who can help you and try to please him; know what is for your own gain. 知道讨好谁于己有利；善为个人利益谋算。◆ Dick was always polite to the boss; he knew which side his bread was buttered on. 迪克总是对老板彬彬有礼；他知道自己的利益所在。

know which way to turn　See见NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN.

knuckle under　v. phr. To do something because you are forced to do it. 屈服；认输。◆ Bobby refused to knuckle under to the bully. 博比拒不向那个恶棍屈服。

◆L◆

labor of love　n. phr. Something done for personal pleasure and not pay or profit. 心甘情愿做的工作。◆ Building the model railroad was a labor of love for the retired engineer. 制作铁路模型是这位退休工程师不计报酬心甘情愿做的事。

labor under　v. phr. To be the victim of; suffer from. 受害于；为…所困惑。◆ Ken is obviously laboring under the delusion that Jennifer will marry him out of love. 肯显然有这样的错觉，以为詹妮弗会因为爱他而嫁给他。

ladies' room　n. phr. A public toilet and restroom for women. 女厕所；女盥洗室。◆ Can you please tell me where the ladies' room is? 请问女盥洗室在哪儿？

lady friend　n. 1. A woman friend.女友。◆ His aunt stays with a lady friend in Florida during the winter. 冬天的时候，他的姨妈住在佛罗里达的一个女友家里。2. A woman who is the lover of a man. 情妇，情人。◆ The lawyer took his lady friend to dinner. 律师带着他的情人去吃饭。

lady-killer　n., informal〖非正式〗1. Any man who has strong sex appeal toward women. 令女人倾心的男人。◆ Joe is a regular lady-killer. 乔对女人很有吸引力。2. A man who relentlessly pursues amorous conquests, is successful at it, and then abandons his heartbroken victims. 专门勾引女人的男人；风流浪荡子。◆ The legendary Don Juan of Spain is the most famous lady-killer of recorded history. 西班牙传奇中的唐璜是有史以来最出名的风流浪荡子。

lady of the house　n. phr. Female owner, or wife of the owner, of the house; the hostess. 女房东；女主人。◆ "Dinner is served," the lady of the house announced to her guests. “请各位入席吧！”女主人对客人们说道。

lady's man　n. A man or boy who likes to be with women or girls very much and is popular with them. 喜欢在女人中间厮混的男人；讨女人喜欢的男人。◆ Charlie is quite a lady's man now. 查理现在整天跟姑娘们泡在一起。

laid out　adj. Arranged. 布置。◆ Her house is very conveniently laid out. 她的房子布置得非常舒适。

laid up　adj. Sick; confined to bed. 生病的；卧病在床的。◆ I was laid up for a couple of weeks with an ear infection. 我因为耳朵发炎卧床休息了好几个星期。

lame duck　n., informal An elected public official who has been either defeated in a new election or whose term cannot be renewed, but who has a short period of time left in office during which he can still perform certain duties, though with somewhat diminished powers. 〖非正式〗“跛脚鸭”（指任期将满而不能竞选连任的官员或任期将满未再当选的官员。）◆ In the last year of their second terms, American presidents are lame ducks. 在第二任期的最后一年，美国总统都不能再竞选连任了。

landing ship　n. A ship built to land troops and army equipment on a beach for an invasion. 登陆舰。◆ The landing ship came near the beach, doors in the bow opened, and marines ran out. 登陆舰驶近海滩，舰首的舱门一打开，海军陆战队员们便冲了出来。

land of Lincoln　n. phr. The state of Illinois's nickname. 林肯之乡（美国伊利诺伊州的别称）。◆ I could tell you're from Illinois, because it says "Land of Lincoln" on your license plate. 我看得出你是从伊利诺伊州来的，因为你的汽车牌照上写着“林肯之乡”。

land of nod　n. phr. Sleep.梦乡。◆ The little girl went off to the land of nod. 小女孩已进入了梦乡。

land on one's feet also land on both feet　v. phr., informal To get yourself out of trouble without damage or injury and sometimes with a gain; be successful no matter what happens. 〖非正式〗安然脱离困境；（无论发生什么）总会成功。◆ No matter what trouble he gets into, Julius always seems to land on his feet. 无论遇到什么麻烦，朱利叶斯似乎总能顺利解决。

landslide　n. An overwhelming victory during a political election. （竞选中）压倒优势的胜利；一面倒的胜利。◆ Ronald Reagan won the election of 1980 in a landslide. 罗纳德·里根在1980年的总统竞选中大获全胜。

lap up　v. 1. To eat or drink with the tip of the tongue. 舔食。◆ The kitten laps up its milk. 小猫舔食牛奶。2. informal To take in eagerly. 〖非正式〗爱听；爱看；热切地接受。◆ She flatters him all the time and he just laps it up. 她一直奉承他，而他也爱听。

lardhead　n., slang A stupid or slowwitted person. 〖俚〗笨蛋◆ You'll never convince Algernon; he's a lardhead. 你永远也无法说服阿尔杰农，因为他是个笨蛋。

large as life　See见BIG AS LIFE.

large order　n. phr. Difficult job; a difficult task to fulfill. 艰巨的工作；难以完成的任务。◆ It is a large order to educate three children in college at the same time. 同时供3个孩子上大学是个非常艰巨的任务。

lash out　v. 1. To kick. 猛踢。◆ The horse lashed out at the man behind him. 马猛踢它后面的人。2. To try suddenly to hit. 猛击，猛打。◆ The woman lashed out at the crowd with her umbrella. 那个妇女突然用伞向人群打去。3. To attack with words. 猛烈抨击。◆ The senator lashed out at the administration. 参议员猛烈抨击行政当局。

last but not least　adv. phr. In the last place but not the least important. 最后但并非最不重要。◆ Billy will bring sandwiches, Alice will bring cake, Susan will bring cookies, John will bring potato chips, and last but not least, Sally will bung the lemonade. 比利将带三明治，艾丽斯带蛋糕，苏姗带饼干，约翰带炸薯片，最后但同样重要的是，萨莉将带柠檬汁。

last ditch　n. The last place that can be defended; the last resort. 最后一道防线；最后一着。◆ They will fight reform to the last ditch. 他们将为改革奋斗到底。

last-ditch　adj. Made or done as a last chance to keep from losing or failing. 坚持到底的，作最后努力的。◆ He threw away his cigarettes in a last-ditch effort to stop smoking. 他丢掉了香烟，为戒烟作最后一搏。

last-ditch effort　See见LAST DITCH.

last lap　n. phr. The final stage.最后阶段。◆ Although the trip had been very interesting, we were glad that we were on the last lap of our tiring journey. 尽管这次旅行一路上都很有意思，但我们仍很高兴累人的旅程已到了最后阶段。

last laugh　See见HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.

last leg　n. phr. 1. Final stages of physical weakness before dying. 临终前身体虚弱的最后阶段。◆ The poor old man was on his last leg in the nursing home. 可怜的老人在养老院已奄奄一息。2. The final stage of a journey. 最后的行程。◆ The last leg of our round-the-world trip was Paris to Chicago. 我们环球旅行的最后一段是从巴黎到芝加哥。

last of the Mohicans　n. phr. The last individual belonging to a certain group, such as a tribe, generation, or practitioners of a rare or dying art. 最后一个莫希干人；（某部落、某群体、某一代人或某种艺术的）最后一批，最后一人。◆ Woodcuts are a vanishing art; George Buday, who lived in England and made them, was one of the last of the Mohicans. 木刻是一种日渐消亡的艺术，生活在英国的木刻家乔治·布戴是最后一批木刻家中的一员。

last out　v. 1. To be enough until the end of. 够用。◆ There is enough food in the house to last out the snowstorm. 家里储备的食物足够吃到暴风雪结束。2. To continue to the end of; continue to live after; live or go through. 坚持到底；活过；度过。◆ The old man is dying; he won't last out the night. 老人奄奄一息；他活不过今晚了。

last straw or straw that breaks the camel's back　n. phr. A small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one lose patience and be unable to bear them. （一系列麻烦后）使人无法忍受的最后一个小麻烦；压断骆驼背的最后一根稻草。◆ Bill had a bad day in school yesterday. He lost his knife on the way home, then he fell down, and when he broke a shoe lace, that was the last straw and he began to swear. 比尔昨天在学校过得很不愉快。回家的路上他丢了小刀，随后他又摔了个跟斗，最后当他又弄断一根鞋带时，他再也忍不住，开始骂了起来。

last word　n. 1. The last remark in an argument. （辩论等中的）最后一句话。◆ I never win an argument with her. She always has the last word. 我和她辩论从未赢过。她到最后总是有话可说。2. The final say in deciding something. 最后决定权。◆ The superintendent has the last word in ordering new desks. 校长对订购新课桌有最后的决定权。3. informal The most modern thing. 〖非正式〗最新式的东西。◆ Mr. Green's Jaguar is the last word in cars. 格林先生的捷豹是最新式的汽车。

latch on or latch onto　v., informal 〖非正式〗1. To get hold of; grasp or grab; catch. 抓住。◆ He looked for something to latch onto and keep from falling. 他四处寻找，看看有什么东西可以抓住，以免跌倒。2. slang To get into your possession. 〖俚〗得到。◆ The banker latched onto a thousand shares of stock. 那个银行家买了1000股股票。3. slang To understand. 〖俚〗理解。◆ The teacher explained the idea of jet engines until the students latched onto it. 老师解释喷气发动机的原理，直到学生们理解为止。4. informal To keep; to hold. 〖非正式〗保留；握住。◆ The poor woman latched onto the little money she had left. 那可怜的女人死死保住她仅剩的一点钱。

laugh all the way to the bank　v. phr. To have made a substantial amount of money either by lucky investment or by some fraudulent deal and rejoice over one's gains. （靠运气或欺诈性交易）发了财而喜笑颜开。◆ If you had done what I suggested, you, too, could be laughing all the way to the bank. 如果你当初按我的建议去做的话，你也可以发大财而喜笑颜开了。

laughing matter　n. A funny happening; a silly situation. — Usually used with no. 可笑之事。——通常与no连用。◆ John's failing the test is no laughing matter! 约翰考试不及格是需要严肃对待的事！

laugh in one's beard　See见LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

laugh in one's sleeve　See见LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

laugh off　v. To dismiss with a laugh as not important or not serious; not take seriously. 对…一笑置之；藐视。◆ He had a bad fall while ice skating but he laughed it off. 他滑冰时摔了个大跟斗，但他只是一笑置之。

laugh one's head off　v. phr., informal To laugh very hard; be unable to stop laughing. 〖非正式〗大笑；笑个不停。◆ Paul's stories are so wildly funny that I laugh my head off whenever he starts telling one of them. 保罗的故事太滑稽了，他一开始讲我就笑个不停。

laugh someone out of　v. phr. To cause another to forget his/her worries and sorrows by joking. 用笑声使某人忘掉烦恼和忧愁。◆ Jack was worried about getting airsick, but his son and daughter laughed him out of it. 杰克担心自己会晕机，但他的儿子和女儿跟他说说笑笑，使他忘了晕机的事。

laugh someone out of court　v. phr. To render a person or project ridiculous by laughter and scorn. 对…一笑置之；用嘲笑以示拒绝。◆ Proponents of solar energy were originally laughed out of court, but with the world's oil crisis on the increase, they will soon be heard again. 主张利用太阳能的人原先是受人嘲笑的，但随着世界石油危机的日益加深，人们很快又将听到他们的声音。

laugh up one's sleeve or laugh in　one's sleeve or laugh in one's beard　To be amused but not show it; hide your laughter. 偷偷地乐；窃笑。◆ He was laughing up his sleeve when Joe answered the phone because he knew the call would be a joke. 乔去接电话时，他偷偷地笑了，因为他知道那是个开玩笑的电话。

launch window　n., Space English; informal〖航天〗〖非正式〗1. A period of time when the line-up of planets, Sun, and Moon are such as to make favorable conditions for a specific space launch. （行星、太阳和月亮的排列有利于航天器发射的）最佳发射时段。◆ The mission was canceled until the next launch window which will be exactly six weeks from today. 航天任务取消了，要等到最佳发射时段再执行，而那时离今天正好有6个星期。2. A favorable time for starting some kind of ambitious adventure. （开始冒险活动等的）有利时机。◆ My next launch window for a European trip isn't until school is over in June. 我下次去欧洲旅行的最佳时机是6月份学期结束之时。

laundry list　n. phr. A list of things to buy or to do. 开列一长串项目的单子；细目清单。◆ The government has a whole laundry list of things to accomplish before U.S. troops can be withdrawn from Iraq. 在美军可以撤出伊拉克之前，政府还有许许多多的事情要做。

law-abiding　adj. Obeying or following the law. 遵纪守法的。◆ Michael had been a law-abiding citizen all his life. 迈克尔一生都是个守法的公民。

law and order　n. phr. A state of affairs where crime and criminals are kept in check by a strong and wellorganized police force, a conservative set of political values. 法律与秩序；法治；治安。◆ The Republican candidate for president was a strong law and order advocate. 共和党总统候选人是位坚决主张法治的人。

law of averages　n. phr. The idea that you can't win all the time or lose all the time. 有胜必有负（或有负必有胜）的规律。◆ The Celtics have won 10 games in a row but the law of averages will catch up with them soon. 　凯尔特人已连续赢了10场比赛，但按照有胜必有负的规律，他们不久就会输几场球了。

law unto oneself　n. phr., literary A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't like it. 〖文〗一意孤行者；无视法律者。◆ Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself. 在德国，人人都惧怕希特勒，因为他是个无视法律、一意孤行的人。

lay a finger on　v. phr. To touch or bother, even a little. — Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. 触碰；干扰。——用于否定、疑问和条件句。◆ Don't you dare lay a finger on the vase! 谅你也不敢碰一下那只花瓶！◆ If you so much as lay a finger on my boy, I'll call the police. 如果你胆敢动我儿子一根毫毛，我就叫警察来。

lay an egg　v. phr., slang To fail to win the interest or favor of an audience. 〖俚〗完全失败；不受观众欢迎。◆ His joke laid an egg. 他的笑话一点也不好笑。◆ Sometimes he is a successful speaker, but sometimes he lays an egg. 他有时演说很成功，但有时却不受听众欢迎。

lay aside　v. phr. 1. To put off until another time; interrupt an activity. 把…放在一边；把…搁置一旁；中断。◆ The president laid aside politics to turn to foreign affairs. 总统将政治事务暂搁一边，转而关注外交事务。2. To save. 储存。◆ They tried to lay aside a little money each week for their vacation. 他们设法每周都存一点钱以备度假之用。

lay at sb.'s door　v. phr., literary To blame (something) on a person. 〖文〗把…归咎于某人。◆ The failure of the plan was laid at his door. 人们把计划的失败归咎于他。

lay away　v. 1. To save. 储蓄。◆ She laid a little of her pay away each week. 她每周都储蓄一点工资。2. To bury (a person). — Used to avoid the word bury, which some people think is unpleasant. 埋葬。——用来替代某些人认为令人不快的bury一词。◆ He was laid away in his favorite spot on the hill. 他被安葬在山上他最喜欢的地方。

lay-away plan　n. A plan for buying something that you can't pay cash for; a plan in which you pay some money down and pay a little more when you can, and the store holds the article until you have paid the full price. 分期累积预付购货法。◆ She could not afford to pay for the coat all at once, so she used the lay-away plan. 她没法一下子付现款买下那件大衣，所以就采用了分期付款的方式。

lay bare　v. phr. To expose; reveal; divulge. 揭露；暴露；泄露。◆ During his testimony the witness laid bare the whole story of his involvement with the accused. 证人在作证时披露了他与被告的一切瓜葛。

lay by　v. To save, especially a little at a time. （尤指一点点地）储蓄；储存。◆ The farmer laid by some of his best corn to use the next year for seed. 农夫将他最好的一些玉米储存起来，以便来年用作种子。

lay down　v. 1. To let (something) be taken; give up or surrender (something). 放下；放弃。◆ The general told the troops to lay down their arms. 将军命令士兵们放下武器（投降）。◆ He was willing to lay down his life for his country. 他愿意为祖国献出自己的生命。2. To ask people to follow; tell someone to obey; make (a rule or principle). 规定；制定。◆ The committee laid down rules about the size of tennis courts. 该委员会对网球场的大小作了规定。

lay down one's arms　v. phr. To cease fighting; surrender. 放下武器；缴械投降。◆ The Civil War ended when the Confederate army finally laid down its arms. 南部联军终于缴械投降，于是南北战争结束。

lay down one's cards　See见LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE.

lay down one's life　v. phr. To sacrifice one's life for a cause or person; suffer martyrdom. 献出生命；牺牲。◆ The early Christians often laid down their lives for their faith. 早期的基督徒常常为了信仰而献出自己的生命。

lay down the law　v. phr. 1. To give strict orders. 严令。◆ The teacher lays down the law about homework every afternoon. 老师每天下午都严格规定学生的家庭作业。2. To speak severely or seriously about a wrongdoing; scold. 严厉责备。◆ The principal called in the students and laid down the law to them about skipping classes. 校长把学生们叫来，对他们的逃课行为严加斥责。

lay eyes on or set eyes on　v. phr. To see. 看见。◆ I didn't know the man; in fact, I had never set eyes on him. 我不认识那个人；事实上，我从未见过他。

lay hands on　v. phr. 1. To get hold of; find; catch. 攫取；发现；抓住。◆ If the police can lay hands on him, they will put him in jail. 警方如果能抓到他，将把他关入监狱。2. To do violence to; harm; hurt. 对…行凶；伤害。◆ They were afraid that if they left him alone in his disturbed condition he would lay hands on himself. 他们担心，在他精神不正常的情况下，如果没人陪着他，他会做出伤害自己的事。

lay hold of　v. phr. 1. To take hold of; grasp; grab. 抓住。◆ He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore. 他抓住绳子，拉着船靠了岸。2. To get possession of. 占有，获得。◆ He sold every car he could lay hold of. 他把能弄到手的每一辆汽车都卖掉了。3. Chiefly British To understand. 〖主英〗理解。◆ Some ideas in this science book are hard to lay hold of. 这本科学书中有一些概念很难理解。

lay in　v. To store up a supply of; to get and keep for future use. 储存；储备。◆ Before school starts, the principal will lay in plenty of paper for the students' written work. 开学前，校长要储备充足的纸张，供学生们写作业用。

lay into or light into　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To attack physically; go at vigorously. 狠狠地打；大吃。◆ The two fighters laid into each other as soon as the bell rang. 铃声一响，两个拳击手就狠命地对打起来。◆ John loves Italian food and he really laid into the spaghetti. 约翰喜欢吃意大利食品，他确实吃了不少意大利式细面条。2. slang To attack with words. 〖俚〗谴责，责骂。◆ The senator laid into the opponents of his bill. 参议员激烈攻击反对他所提议案的人。

lay it on or lay it on thick also put it on thick or spread it on thick or lay it on with a trowel　v. phr., informal To persuade someone by using very much flattery; flatter. 〖非正式〗过分讨好；奉承。◆ Bob wanted to go to the movies. He laid it on thick to his mother. 鲍勃想去看电影，所以拼命讨好他母亲。

lay it on the line　See见LAY ON THE LINE 2.

layoff　n. (stress on lay)（重读lay）A systematic or periodical dismissal of employees from a factory or a firm. 临时解雇。◆ Due to the poor economy, the car manufacturer announced a major layoff starting next month. 由于经济不景气，该汽车制造商宣布从下个月起将大幅裁员。

lay off　v. phr. (stress on off)（重读off）1. To mark out the boundaries or limits. 划出界线。◆ He laid off a baseball diamond on the vacant lot. 他在那片空地上划出了一块棒球场。2. To put out of work. （临时性地）解雇。◆ The company lost the contract for making the shoes and laid off half its workers. 公司失去了那份制鞋合同而临时性地解雇了一半工人。3. slang To stop bothering; leave alone. — Usually used in the imperative. 〖俚〗停止打扰；不理会。——常用于祈使句。◆ Lay off me, will you? 别烦我好吗？4. slang To stop using or taking. 〖俚〗停止使用；戒绝。◆ His doctor told him to lay off cigarettes. 医生要他戒烟。

lay of the land also how the land lies　n. phr. 1. The natural features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. 地形。◆ The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land. 承包商所建房屋的式样部分地取决于地形。2. The way something is arranged; the important facts about something; how things are. 情况；概况；情势。◆ The banker wanted to check the lay of the land before buying the stock. 那位银行家想在买进股票前查明情况。

lay on　v. To spread on or over a surface; apply. 涂抹；敷。◆ He told us that we should lay on a second coat of paint for better protection against the weather. 他告诉我们，为了更好地防止风雨的侵蚀，应再涂上一层油漆。

lay one's cards on the table or lay down one's cards or put one's cards on the table　v. phr., informal To let someone know your position and interest openly; deal honestly; act without trickery or secrets. 〖非正式〗摊牌；把自己的想法和盘托出；开诚布公。◆ In talking about buying the property, Peterson laid his cards on the table about his plans for it. 在谈到购置房产时，彼得森将他的计划和盘托出。

lay oneself open to　v. phr. To make oneself vulnerable to; expose oneself. 使自己易遭攻击。◆ If you don't perform your job properly, you will lay yourself open to criticism. 你如果不好好工作的话，就会使自己容易受到批评。

lay one's hands on or get one's hands on　v. phr. 1. To seize in order to punish or treat roughly. （为惩罚等而）抓住。◆ If I ever lay my hands on that boy he'll be sorry. 哪天让我抓住那个男孩，他就要后悔了。2. To get possession of. 得到。◆ He was unable to lay his hands on a camel for the school play. 他没法为学校的演出搞到一匹骆驼。3. or lay one's hand on or put one's hand on To find; locate. 找到。◆ He keeps a file of letters so he can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it. 他将信件归档保存，一旦需要就可以找到。

lay on the line or put on the line　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To pay or offer to pay. 付款，出钱。◆ The bank is putting $5,000 on the line as a reward to anyone who catches the robber. 银行悬赏5000美元捉拿劫匪。2. To say plainly so that there can be no doubt; tell truthfully. 坦率地说；坦诚相告。◆ I'm going to lay it on the line for you, Paul. You must work harder if you want to pass. 保罗，我要坦率地告诉你，你要想通过考试，就得更加用功才行。3. To take a chance of losing; risk. 冒险。◆ Frank decided to lay his job on the line and tell the boss that he thought he was wrong. 弗兰克决定冒着丢掉工作的危险告诉老板，他认为老板错了。

lay out　v. phr. 1. To prepare (a dead body) for burial. 为（尸体）作殡葬准备。◆ The corpse was laid out by the undertaker. 殡仪员准备将尸体入殓。2. slang To knock down flat; to hit unconscious. 〖俚〗击倒；打昏。◆ A stiff blow to the jaw laid the boxer out in the second round. 在第二个回合，正中下颌的一击重拳把那位拳击手打倒在地。3. To plan.计划。◆ Come here, Fred, I have a job laid out for you. 过来，弗雷德，我给你安排了一份工作。4. To mark or show where work is to be done. 给（工件）做记号。◆ The foreman laid out the job for the new machinist. 工头把工件做好记号，让新来的技师去做。5. To plan the building or arrangement of; design. 设计。◆ The architect laid out the interior of the building. 建筑师设计了房屋的内部结构。6. slang To spend; pay. 〖俚〗花（钱）；付（款）。◆ How much did you have to lay out for your new car? 你的新车花了你多少钱？

layout　n. General situation; arrangement; plan. 布局；安排；设计。◆ The layout of their apartment overlooking Lake Michigan was strikingly unusual. 他们的公寓俯瞰密歇根湖的设计真是不同凡响。

layover　n. A stopover, usually at an airport or in a hotel due to interrupted air travel. （尤指坐飞机旅行中途的）短暂停留。◆ There were several layovers at O'Hare last month due to bad weather. 上个月由于天气不好，奥黑尔机场发生了好几次让乘客短暂停留的事。

lay over　v. 1. To put off until later; delay; postpone. 延期；推迟。◆ We voted to lay the question over to our next meeting for decision. 我们投票通过把这个问题推迟到下次会议再作决定。2. To arrive in one place and wait some time before continuing the journey. 作短暂停留。◆ We had to lay over in St. Louis for two hours waiting for a plane to Seattle. 我们只得在圣路易停留两小时，等待飞往西雅图的飞机。

lay rubber or lay a patch　v. phr., slang To take off in a car or a motorcycle so fast that the tires (made of rubber) leave a mark on the pavement. 〖俚〗（汽车、摩托车高速行驶在地面）留下车胎痕。◆ Look at those crazy drag racers; they laid rubber in front of my house. 瞧那些疯狂的短程高速赛车手，他们在我屋前留下了一道道车胎痕。

lay the blame at sb.'s door　v. phr. To say that another person or group is responsible for one's own failure. 归咎于某人。◆ The angry coach laid the blame at the door of the players when our college lost the basketball game. 我们学院输掉了篮球比赛，愤怒的教练归罪于球员。

lay to rest　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To put a dead person into a grave or tomb; bury. 安葬，埋葬。◆ President Kennedy was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. 肯尼迪总统被安葬在阿林顿国家公墓。2. To get rid of; put away permanently; stop. 消除；结束。◆ The rumor that the principal had accepted another job was laid to rest when he said it wasn't true. 谣传校长已另谋高就，但当他说没这回事后，谣言就平息了。

lay up　v. 1. To collect a supply of; save for future use; store. 储存。◆ Bees lay up honey for the winter. 蜜蜂为过冬而储存蜂蜜。2. To keep in the house or in bed because of sickness or injury; disable. 使因伤病卧床（或在家）休养。◆ Jack was laid up with a twisted knee and couldn't play in the final game. 杰克因扭伤了膝盖而在家休养，没能参加决赛。3. To take out of active service; put in a boat dock or a garage. 停止使用；把…放入船坞（或车库）。◆ Bill had to lay up his boat when school started. 开学后，比尔只得把他的船收了起来。

lay waste　v. phr., literary To cause wide and great damage to; destroy and leave in ruins; wreck. 〖文〗毁坏；蹂躏。◆ Enemy soldiers laid waste the land. 敌军士兵蹂躏了那片土地。

lead a dog's life　v. phr., informal To live a hard life, work hard, and be treated unkindly. 〖非正式〗过着悲惨的生活。◆ Some poorer college students led a dog's life. 从前一些比较穷的大学生日子很不好过。

lead a merry chase　v. phr. To delay or escape capture by (someone) skillfully; make (a pursuer) work hard. 使…徒劳追逐；使（追逐者）花费大力气。◆ Valerie is leading her boyfriend a merry chase. 瓦莱丽使她的男友苦苦追求。

lead by the nose　v. phr., informal To have full control of; make or persuade (someone) to do anything whatever. 〖非正式〗牵着（某人）的鼻子走；任意摆布；完全操纵。◆ Don't let anyone lead you by the nose; use your own judgment and do the right thing. 不要让人牵着鼻子走，自己要有主见，做正确的事。

leading light　n. phr. A prominent person in a community, company, or group. （社区、公司或社团中）有影响的主要人物。◆ Alan is the leading light of our discussion group on music. 艾伦是我们音乐讨论小组的主要人物。

lead off　v. To begin; start; open开始；首攻；（棒球比赛中）作第一击球手。◆ Richard led off the chess game with a knight. 理查德走了一步马，开始了这场国际象棋比赛。◆ We always let Henry lead off. 我们总是让亨利打第一棒。◆ Mr. Jones led off with the jack of diamonds. 琼斯先生首攻方块J。

lead on　v. phr. To encourage you to believe something untrue or mistaken. 引…入歧途；使人误信。◆ We were led on to think that Jeanne and Jim were engaged to be married. 我们误以为珍妮和吉姆已经订婚。

lead someone a merry dance　v. phr. To cause someone unusual discomfort or expense; tire someone by causing one to overdo. 给某人造成极大麻烦（或损失）；使某人疲于奔命。◆ With her personal extravagances Carol led her husband a merry dance. 卡罗尔生活奢侈，挥霍无度，给她的丈夫带来极大的麻烦。

lead the way　v. phr. To go before and show how to go somewhere; guide. 带路；引路。◆ The boys need someone to lead the way on their hike. 男孩们远足需要有人带路。◆ Thai school led the way in finding methods to teach reading. 该校在阅读教学法的探索方面处于领先地位。

lead to　v. phr. To result in.导致。◆ Such a heavy arms race can only lead to war. 如此激烈的军备竞赛只会导致战争。

leaf through　v. phr. To scan or glance through a book or other reading matter. 匆匆翻阅，浏览。◆ I only had time to leaf through the program before the concert started. 音乐会开始前，我只来得及浏览了一下节目单。

leak out　v. phr. To become known; escape. 泄露；漏出。◆ The famous beauty queen tried to keep her marriage a secret, but news of it soon leaked out. 那位著名的选美王后试图对自己结婚的事保密，但消息还是很快就泄露出去了。

leak to　v. phr. To purposely let a secret be known, as if conveying it in the strictest confidence. 把…泄露给。◆ The movie star's secret divorce was leaked to the tabloids by her housekeeper. 那位影星秘密离婚的消息被她的管家泄露给了通俗小报。

lean on　v. phr., slang, informal To pressure (someone) by blackmailing, threats, physical violence, or the withholding of some favor in order to make the person comply with a wish or request. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗对…施加压力；威逼；恐吓；讹诈。◆ I would gladly do what you ask if you only stopped leaning on me so hard! 只要你不再如此苦苦逼我，我将乐意按你的要求去做。

lean-to　n. 1. A shed for tools, such as spades, hoes, etc., attached to the wall of a house. （放置铲、锄等工具的）披屋；披棚。◆ Jo looked for the garden hose in the lean-to. 乔在披屋中寻找花园浇水用的软管。2. A small cabin in the country. 乡间小木屋。◆ They spend their weekends in their modest lean-to in Wisconsin. 他们在威斯康星乡间那座简朴的小木屋里度周末。

leap year　n. Every fourth year during which the month of February contains 29 rather than 28 days. 闰年。◆ During a leap year one must wait a day longer for one's February paycheck. 闰年时，2月份的工资要多等一天才能拿到。

learn by heart　See见BY HEART.

learn by rote　v. phr. To blindly memorize what was taught without thinking about it. 死记硬背。◆ If you learn a subject by rote, it will be difficult to say anything original about it. 如果死记硬背地学习一门学科，就很难有独创性的见解。

learn one's way around　See见KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND.

learn the hard way　See见HARD WAY.

learn the ropes　See见THE ROPES.

leatherneck　n., slang, informal A member of the United States Marine Corps. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗美国海军陆战队士兵。◆ I didn't know your son Joe became a leatherneck. 我不知道你儿子乔在海军陆战队当兵。

leave a bad taste in sb.'s mouth　v. phr. To feel a bad impression; make you feel disgusted. 给某人留下一个坏印象；使某人厌恶。◆ His rudeness to the teacher left a bad taste in my mouth. 他对老师的粗野无理给我留下了很坏的印象。

leave a door open　v. phr. To not do something that cannot be undone. 不把门关死；不把事做绝；留有回旋的余地。◆ "I know you dislike the boss at your place of work, but don't resign in anger; leave a door open!" John advised his younger brother. “我知道你不喜欢你们的老板，但不要一怒之下就辞职；要留有回旋的余地！”约翰劝他的弟弟说。

leave alone　See见LET ALONE.

leave at the altar　v. phr. 1. To decide not to marry someone in the last minute; jilt. 在最后一刻决定不与（某人）结婚；抛弃（情人）。◆ Ed left poor Susan at the altar. 埃德在最后一刻抛弃了可怜的苏珊。2. To overlook and skip for promotion; not fulfill deserved expectation. 漏过而没有提升（某人）；使（某人）未实现应实现的期望。◆ Once again I didn't get my promotion and was left at the altar. 我又一次没有得到晋升，期望再次落空。

leave behind　v. phr. 1. Abandon. 放弃；丢弃；抛弃。◆ Refugees on the run must sometimes leave old and sick people behind. 奔逃的难民有时必须将老弱病残者丢下。2. To forget; go away without. 忘了带；不带。◆ We had reached our car when we noticed that we had left our keys behind. 我们走到了汽车那儿才发觉没带钥匙。

leave flat　v. phr., informal To quit or leave suddenly without warning when wanted or needed; desert; forsake; abandon. 〖非正式〗突然离开；遗弃；抛弃。◆ My car ran out of gas and left me flat, ten miles from town. 我的车子没油了，把我撂在了离城还有10英里的地方。

leave hanging or leave hanging in the air　v. phr. To leave undecided or unsettled. 使悬而未决。◆ Because the committee could not decide on a time and place, the matter of the spring dance was left hanging. 因为委员会不能确定时间和地点，所以春季舞会的事仍悬而未决。

leave high and dry　See见HIGH AND DRY.

leave holding the bag or leave holding the sack　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To cause (someone) not to have something needed; leave without anything. 使（某人的）需要落空；使一无所得。◆ In the rush for seats, Joe was left holding the bag. 在争抢座位时，乔一无所获。2. To force (someone) to take the whole responsibility or blame for something that others should share. 迫使（某人）承担全部责任；使（某人）代他人受过；使背黑锅。◆ After the party, the other girls on the clean-up committee went away with their dates, and left Mary holding the bag. 晚会结束后，负责清扫的姑娘们都跟她们的男朋友走了，留下玛丽一个人负责清扫。

leave in the lurch　v. phr. To desert or leave alone in trouble; refuse to help or support. 弃…于困境而不顾；拒绝帮助。◆ Bill quit his job, leaving his boss in the lurch. 汤姆辞职不干了，使他的老板陷入了困境。

leave it at that　v. phr. To avoid further and more acrimonious disagreement; not argue or discuss any further. 就到此为止，不再争吵（或讨论）◆ Our opinion on health care is obviously different, so let's just leave it at that. 我们对医疗保健的看法显然有分歧，所以就让我们到此为止，不要再争论了吧。

leave it to someone　v. phr. To delegate; give someone authority or responsibility to carry out a certain job. 把这事交给某人去处理；把这事委托某人去办。◆ Leave it to Ted to make the office Christmas party a resounding success; he is a terrific organizer. 把成功举办咱们事务所圣诞晚会的任务交给泰德去办吧；他很有组织才能。

leave much to be desired　v. phr. To be highly flawed, bad, unsatisfactory. 极不完善；很糟糕；令人很不满意；还有许多地方需要改进。◆ "How is your health these days?" Dr. Gordon asked, when one of her patients returned from an extended stay abroad. "I am afraid," the patient answered, "it leaves much to be desired." 当她的一位病人在国外呆了很长一段时间回来时，戈登医生问道：“你近来身体可好？”病人回答说：“恐怕是很糟糕。”

leave no stone unturned　v. phr. To try in every way; miss no chance; do everything possible. — Usually used in the negative. 想尽办法；千方百计；不遗余力。——通常用于否定句。◆ The police will leave no stone unturned in their search for the bank robbers. 警方将竭尽全力搜捕那些银行抢劫犯。

leave off　v. To come or put to an end; stop. 结束；停止。◆ Marion put a marker in her book so that she would know where she left off. 玛丽安在书中夹了张书签，这样她就可以知道读到哪里了。

leave one's mark　v. phr. To leave an impression upon; influence someone. 留下（深刻的）印象，留下（深远的）影响。◆ Tolstoy never won the Nobel Prize, but he left his mark on world literature. 托尔斯泰虽然没有得过诺贝尔奖，但他却对世界文学留下了深远的影响。

leave open　v. phr. To remain temporarily unsettled; subject to further discussion. 尚未解决；留待进一步讨论。◆ Brad said that the question of health insurance would be left open until some future date. 布雷德说有关健康保险的问题将留待以后作进一步的讨论。

leave out　v. phr. To skip; omit. 遗漏；省略。◆ The printer accidentally left out two paragraphs from Alan's novel. 排字工人无意中将艾伦的小说漏排了两段。

leave out in the cold　See见OUT IN THE COLD.

leave out of account　v. phr. To fail to consider; forget about. 对…未予考虑；忘记。◆ The picnic planners left out of account that it might rain. 野餐会的策划者没有考虑到有可能会下雨。Contrast对照TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

leave over　v. phr. (stress on over)（重读over）To leave unfinished. 剩下。◆ They gave us such huge portions of food in our favorite Chinese restaurant that we had to leave lots over and take it home in a doggy bag. 在我们最喜欢的那家中国餐馆，他们给我们的每客菜肴量都很大，结果我们剩下了很多，只得打包带回家。

leave someone cold　v. phr. To be of no interest to someone at all. 引不起某人的兴趣。◆ I tried to take Fred to the Symphony Center, but unfortunately, classical music leaves him entirely cold. All he is interested in is Country and Western music. 我想带弗雷德去交响乐演出中心，但遗憾的是，他对古典音乐毫无兴趣。他只对乡村与西部音乐感兴趣。

leave something up to someone　v. phr. To hand over the right to decide a certain matter to someone else. 把某事交由某人决定。◆ I leave it up to you, sir, what you want to do about next year's budget. 对于明年的预算你想怎么做，我就交给你去决定吧，先生。

leave to one's own devices　v. phr. To not worry about how someone will succeed, but to allow a person to take care of himself or herself and his or her own affairs. 听任（某人）自便；让（某人）自行发展；让（某人）自己照顾自己。◆ John is a big boy now; no need to always rush to his aid. We can leave him to his own devices. 约翰现在已经是个大男孩；没有必要一直急着去帮助他了。我们可以让他自己照顾自己了。

leave well enough alone　See见LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

leave word with　v. phr. To leave a message. 给（某人）留言。◆ Hank left word with his secretary where he could be reached by phone while he was away from his office. 汉克留言告诉他的秘书，他不在办公室时打哪儿的电话可以找到他。

left-handed　adj., informal〖非正式〗1. Using the left hand habitually. 惯用左手的。2. Crooked; phoney. 欺诈的；虚假的。◆ Morris is such a left-handed guy. 莫里斯是个非常虚伪的家伙。3. Clumsy; untoward; awkward. （手脚）不灵活的，笨拙的。◆ Grab that hammer and stop acting so left-handed. 把那把铁锤抓牢些，别再这么笨手笨脚的。

left-handed compliment　An ambiguous compliment which is interpretable as an offense. 虚情假意的恭维。◆ I didn't know you could look so pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing? 我真没想到你看上去会这么漂亮！你戴的是假发吗？

leftovers　n. phr. (stress on left)（重读left）Food that remains uneaten from a meal. 没吃完的饭菜；吃剩的食物。◆ May we take home some of these delicious leftovers? 我们能把这些没吃完的美味佳肴带一些回家吗？

left-wing　adj. That which is or belongs to a group of people in politics that favors radical change in the direction of socialism or communism. 左翼的。◆ The left-wing faction called for an immediate strike. 左翼派要求马上举行罢工。

legal age or lawful age　The age at which a person is allowed to do a certain thing or is held responsible for an action. 法定年龄；成年。◆ In most states the legal age for voting is 21. 在大多数州，法定选举年龄为21岁。

leg man　n., informal〖非正式〗1. An errand boy; one who performs messenger services, or the like. 供差遣的童仆；替人传递信息等的外勤。◆ Joe hired a leg man for the office. 乔为事务所雇了个跑腿的外勤。2. Slang, semi-vulgar, avoid! A man who is particularly attracted to good looking female legs and pays less attention to other parts of the female anatomy. 〖俚〗〖俗〗〖忌〗爱看女人性感大腿的男人。◆ Herb is a leg man. 赫伯就喜欢看女人性感的大腿。

leg to stand on　n. phr. A firm foundation of facts; facts to support your claim. — Used in the negative. 事实依据；支持要求的事实。——用于否定句。◆ Jerry's answering speech left his opponent without a leg to stand on. 杰里的答词使他的对手理屈词穷。

leg work　n., informal The physical end of a project, such as the typing of research reports; the physical investigating of a criminal affair; the carrying of books to and from libraries; etc. 〖非正式〗外勤，跑腿活儿（如研究报告的打字、刑事案件的外出调查、上图书馆借书还书等）。◆ Joe, my research assistant, does a lot of leg work for me. 我的研究助手乔替我做了不少跑腿的活儿。

lemon law　n. phr. A law in effect in some states that allows customers to return a faulty product for a full refund, after they have proven that they tried to fix the item more than once. 柠檬法；劣质产品补偿法（在美国一些州实施的向购买劣质产品的顾客提供全额退款的法律）。◆ "Dad, our car is a lemon ," Mark and Sylvia bitterly complained. "I think Wisconsin has a lemon law," Sylvia's father answered. "See if they will give you a refund." “爸爸，我们的汽车是辆蹩脚货，”马克和西尔维亚愤愤不平地抱怨说。“我想威斯康星州是有劣质产品补偿法的，”西尔维亚的父亲回答说。“看他们会不会给你们退款。”

lend a hand or give a hand also bear a hand　v. phr. To give help; make yourself useful; help. 伸出援手，给予帮助，帮忙。◆ Dick saw a woman with a flat tire and offered to give her a hand with it. 迪克看见一位妇女的车胎爆了，就主动出手帮忙。

lend an ear to　See见GIVE AN EAR TO.

lend color to　See见GIVE COLOR TO.

lend credence to　v. phr. To believe. 相信。◆ We cannot lend credence to enemy propaganda. 我们不能相信敌人的宣传。

lend itself to　v. phr. To give a chance for or be useful for; to be possible or right for. 给…一个机会，对…有用；使…有可能，适合于。◆ This poem lends itself to our program very well. 这首诗非常适合于我们的节目。

lend oneself to　v. phr. To give help or approval to; encourage; assist. 帮助；赞同；鼓励。◆ Alice wouldn't lend herself to the plot to steal the teacher's chalk. 艾丽斯不赞成偷老师粉笔的计划。

less than　adv. Not; little. 不；很少。◆ We were busy and less than delighted to have company that day. 那天我们很忙，因此不希望有人来访。◆ The boys were less than happy about having a party. 男孩子们对举行聚会并不起劲。

less than no time　n. phr., informal Very quickly. 〖非正式〗非常快。◆ We can be ready to go in less than no time. 我们很快就可以准备好出发。◆ It took Sally less than no time to get dinner ready. 萨莉一眨眼工夫就准备好了晚餐。

let alone　conj. phr. 1. Even less; certainly not. — Used after a negative clause. 更别提。——用在否定句之后。◆ I can't add two and two, let alone do fractions. 2加2等于几我都不会，更别提做分数题了。2. let alone or leave alone　v. To stay away from; keep hands off; avoid. 避开；不碰；避免。◆ When Joel gets mad, just let him alone. 乔尔生气时，别理他就行了。

let be　v. To pay no attention to; disregard; forget. 不理会；不打扰；别管。◆ Let her be; she has a headache. 她头痛，让她独自安静一会儿吧。

let bygones be bygones　v. phr. To let the past be forgotten. 过去的事就让它过去吧；既往不咎，不计前嫌，不念旧恶。◆ We should let bygones be bygones and try to get along with each other. 我们应该忘掉过去的不愉快，彼此努力和睦相处。

letdown　n. A disappointment; a heartbreak. 失望；沮丧；心碎。◆ It was a major letdown for John when Mary refused to marry him. 当玛丽拒绝嫁给约翰时，约翰感到极为沮丧。

let down　v. phr. 1. To allow to descend; lower. 放下；降下。◆ Harry let the chain saw down on a rope and then climbed down himself. 哈里用绳子把链锯吊了下来，然后自己也爬了下来。2. To relax; stop trying so hard; take it easy. 放松；松懈。◆ The horse let down near the end of the race and lost. 那匹马在临近比赛终点时松了劲，结果输了。3. To fail to do as well as (someone) expected; disappoint. 辜负（某人）的期望；使失望，使沮丧。◆ The team felt they had let the coach down. 球员们感到自己辜负了教练的期望。

let down easy　v. phr. To refuse or say no to (someone) in a pleasant manner; to tell bad news about a refusal or disappointment in a kindly way. 婉转地拒绝；以婉转的方式说出。◆ The boss tried to let Jim down easy when he had to tell him he was too young for the job. 老板婉转地告诉吉姆，说他年纪还小，不适于做这份工作。

let down one's hair　See见LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN.

let drop　v. phr. 1. To cease to talk about; set aside; forget. 停止谈论；把…搁置一边；忘记。◆ This is such an unpleasant subject that I suggest we let it drop for a few days. 这个话题太令人不愉快了，我建议我们暂且把它搁置几天。2. To disclose; hint. 透露；暗示。◆ He unexpectedly let drop that he was resigning and joining another firm. 他出人意料地透露他正打算辞职跳槽到另外一家公司去。

let go　v. 1a. To stop holding something; loosen your hold; release. 松手；放开。◆ The boy grabbed Jack's coat and would not let go. 那男孩抓住杰克的外套不肯松手。— Often used with of. 常与of连用。◆ When the child let go of her mother's hand, she fell down. 那孩子一松开她母亲的手就跌倒了。1b. To weaken and break under pressure. 断裂，破裂。◆ The old water pipe suddenly let go and water poured out of it. 那根旧水管突然破裂，水都涌了出来。2. To pay no attention to; neglect. 不注意；不理会；忽略。◆ Robert let his teeth go when he was young and now he has to go to the dentist often. 罗伯特年轻时不注意保护牙齿，结果现在不得不经常去看牙医。3. To allow something to pass; do nothing about. 听任发生；不管。◆ The children teased Frank, but he smiled and let it go. 孩子们取笑弗兰克，但他只是付之一笑不加理会。4. To discharge from a job; fire. 解雇；开除。◆ Mr. Wilson got into a quarrel with his boss and was let go. 威尔逊先生与老板吵了一架，结果被开除了。5. To make (something) go out quickly; shoot; fire. 使射出；发射；开枪。◆ Robin Hood let go an arrow at the deer. 罗宾汉对着那只鹿射出了一箭。6. or let oneself go informal To be free in one's actions or talk; relax. 〖非正式〗随心所欲；放松。◆ The cowboys worked hard all week, but on Saturday night they went to town and let themselves go. 牛仔们辛辛苦苦地干了一周活，周六晚上便到镇上去纵情欢乐一番。

let go of　v. phr. To release one's grasp. 松手。◆ As soon as Sally let go of the leash, her dog ran away. 萨莉一松开皮带，她的狗就跑开了。

let grass grow under one's feet　v. phr. To be idle; be lazy; waste time. — Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. 无所事事；懒散；浪费时间。——用于否定句、条件句和疑问句中。◆ The new boy joined the football team, made the honor roll, and found a girlfriend during the first month of school. He certainly did not let any grass grow under his feet. 那个新来的男生入学第一个月就加入了橄榄球队，上了光荣榜，还交了个女朋友。他简直一点都没有浪费时间。

let it all hang out　v. phr., slang, informal Not to disguise anything; to let the truth be known. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗无所隐瞒；和盘托出。◆ Sue can't deceive anyone; she just lets it all hang out. 苏不会骗人，她什么事都不隐瞒。

let it lay　v. phr., used imperatively, slang Forget it; leave it alone; do not be concerned or involved. 〖俚〗不必在意，别提它了；别理它；别挂在心上；让它去。——用于祈使句。◆ Don't get involved with Max again— just let it lay. 别再跟马克斯扯在一起了——别理他就是了。

let it rip　v. phr., used imperatively, slang 1. Don't be concerned; pay no attention to what happens. 〖俚〗别担心；别在意。——用于祈使句。◆ Why get involved? Forget about it and let it rip. 干吗要牵扯进去呢？别把它放在心上，让它去！2. (Imperatively) Do become involved and make the most of it; get in there and really try to win. 尽力而为；拼命干；努力争胜。——用于祈使句。◆ Come on man, give it all you've got and let it rip! 快，老弟，使出所有的劲儿拼命干一场吧！

let it spread　v. phr., slang Said to people who are worried that they would gain too much weight. 〖俚〗不必担心发胖。◆ "How about some more cake?" the hostess asked John. "I am afraid, I can't." John answered. "Let it spread," the hostess said. "You aren't that overweight." “再吃点蛋糕好吗？”女主人问约翰。“恐怕不能再吃了，”约翰回答说。“不必担心发胖，”女主人说。“你并没怎么超重。”

let know　v. phr. To inform. 通知。◆ Please let us know the time of your arrival. 请告诉我们你到达的时间。

let loose　v. 1a. or set loose or turn loose To set free; loosen or give up your hold on. 释放；放开。◆ The farmer opened the gate and let the bull loose in the pasture. 农夫打开门，把那头公牛放到牧场上去。1b. or turn loose To give freedom (to someone) to do something; to allow (someone) to do what he wants. 给（某人）以自由；放任。◆ The children were turned loose in the toy store to pick the toys they wanted. 孩子们得到允许在玩具店任意挑选他们想要的玩具。1c. To stop holding something; loosen your hold. 松手。◆ Jim caught Ruth's arm and would not let loose. 吉姆抓住露丝的手臂不肯松手。2a. informal To let or make (something) move fast or hard; release. 〖非正式〗使（某物）快速移动；发射。◆ The fielder let loose a long throw to home plate after catching the ball. 外场手接球后迅速将球投向本垒。2b. informal To release something held. 〖非正式〗放出。◆ Those dark clouds are going to let loose any minute. 那些乌云随时会降下倾盆大雨来。3. informal To speak or act freely; disregard ordinary limits. 〖非正式〗任意说话（或行动）；痛痛快快地说。◆ The boss told Jim that some day she was going to let loose and tell him what she thought of him. 老板告诉吉姆总有一天她要痛痛快快地说出她对他的看法。

let loose the dogs of war or unleash the dogs of war or let slip the dogs of war　To start and wage war. 发动战争。◆ When diplomacy fails, nations may have to unleash the dogs of war. 当外交手段失败时，一些国家可能就不得不发动战争了。

let me see or let us see　informal〖非正式〗1. Let us find out by trying or performing an action. 让我（或我们）看看。◆ Let me see if you can jump over the fence. 让我看看你能否跳过那道栅栏。2. Give me time to think or remember. 让我（或我们）想一想。◆ I can't come today. Let me see. How about Friday? 今天我来不了。让我想一想。星期五怎么样？

let off　v. 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. 开（枪、炮等）；使爆炸；发射。◆ Willie accidentally let off his father's shotgun and made a hole in the wall. 威利不小心让他父亲的猎枪走了火，把墙打了一个洞。2. To permit to go or escape; excuse from a penalty, a duty, or a promise. 放过；免去处罚；免去工作任务（或承诺）。◆ Two boys were caught smoking in school but the principal let them off with a warning. 两名男生在学校里抽烟被抓住，但校长予以警告后放过了他们。3. or informal let off the hook To miss a chance to defeat or score against, especially in sports or games. 〖非正式〗（尤指在体育运动或比赛中）错过取胜（或得分）的机会。◆ The boxer let his opponent off the hook many times. 那名拳击手多次错过了用钩拳击败对手的机会。

let off steam or blow off steam　v. phr. 1. To let or make steam escape; send out steam. 排气；放气。◆ The janitor let off some steam because the pressure was too high. 因为压力太大，看门人放掉了一些蒸气。2. informal To get rid of physical energy or strong feeling through activity; talk or be very active physically after forced quiet. 〖非正式〗宣泄过剩的精力（或压抑的感情）；松弛紧张的情緖。◆ After the long ride on the bus, the children let off steam with a race to the lake. 坐了很长时间的公共汽车后，孩子们跑着冲向湖边，宣泄过剩的精力。

let on　v. informal〖非正式〗1. To tell or admit what you know. — Used in the negative. 告诉；泄露。——用于否定句。◆ Frank lost $50 but he didn't let on to his mother. 弗兰克丢了50美元，但他没对他母亲说。2. To try to make people believe; pretend. 竭力使人相信；假装。◆ The old man likes to let on that he is rich. 那位老人喜欢装模作样，让人以为他很有钱。

let one's hair down or let down one's hair　v. phr., informal Act freely and naturally; be informal; relax. 〖非正式〗随意；不拘礼节；无拘无束；放松。◆ Kings and queens can seldom let their hair down. 国王和王后们难得有轻松的时候。

let out　v. 1a. To allow to go out or escape. 放走，释放。◆ The guard let the prisoners out of jail to work in the garden. 看守将犯人们放出来到花园里干活。◆ Mother won't let us out when it rains. 下雨的时候母亲不让我们出去。1b. informal To make (a sound) come out of the mouth; utter. 〖非正式〗发出。◆ A bee stung Charles. He let out a yell and ran home. 一只蜜蜂刺了查尔斯。他大叫一声跑回了家。◆ Father told Betty to sit still and not let out a peep during church. 父亲叫贝蒂坐好，在做礼拜时不许发出声音。2. To allow to be known; tell. 使被知道；泄露；说出。◆ I'll never tell you another secret if you let this one out. 你要是泄露了这个秘密，我就再也不会告诉你别的了。3. To make larger (as clothing) or looser; allow to slip out (as a rope). 放大（衣服），放松；放长（绳子）。◆ Father hooked a big fish on 　his line. He had to let the line out so the fish wouldn't break it. 父亲钓到了一条大鱼。他不得不把钓鱼线放松，这样鱼才不致把它挣断。4. informal To allow to move at higher speed. 〖非正式〗使加快速度行进。◆ The rider let out his horse to try to beat the horse ahead of him. 骑手放马飞奔，想超过他前面的那匹马。5. informal To dismiss or be dismissed. 〖非正式〗解散；放学；散场。◆ The coach let us out from practice at 3 o'clock. 教练让我们3点钟结束了训练。◆ I'll meet you after school lets out. 放学后我和你碰头。

let pass　v. phr. To disregard; overlook. 不理会；放过。◆ Herb may have overheard what was said about him, but he decided to let it pass. 赫伯可能已无意中听到了对他的议论，但他决定不予理会。

let ride　v. phr., informal To allow to go on without change; accept (a situation or action) for the present. 〖非正式〗听任自然发展；暂时接受，不马上采取行动。◆ The committee could not decide what to do about Bob's idea, so they let the matter ride for a month or so. 委员会无法决定该如何处理鲍勃的意见，所以就让这事搁置了一个月左右。

let's don't also don't let's　nonstandard Let's not; let us not; I suggest that we don't. 〖不规范〗让我们别；让我们不要；我建议我们不要。◆ "Let's go out and play," said Fred. "Let's don't until the rain stops," said Mary. “让我们出去玩吧，”弗雷德说。“不要，等雨停了再去吧，”玛丽说。◆ Don't let's go now. Let's go tomorrow instead. 咱们现在别去，明天去吧。

let sleeping dogs lie　Do not make (someone) angry and cause trouble or danger; do not make trouble if you do not have to. — A proverb. 〖谚〗别惹是生非；不要惹麻烦。◆ Don't tell Father that you broke the window. Let sleeping dogs lie. 别告诉父亲你打破了窗子。少惹麻烦吧。

let slip　v. phr. To unintentionally reveal. 无意中泄露。◆ Ellen let it slip that she had been a witness to the accident. 埃伦无意中说出她是那场事故的目击者。

let someone have it　v. phr. 1a. slang To hit hard. 〖俚〗痛打某人。◆ He drew back his fist and let the man have it. 他收回拳头，然后又出拳狠狠地揍了那人一下。lb. slang To use a weapon on; to shoot or knife. 〖俚〗用武器伤害某人；射某人；用刀刺某人。◆ The guard pulled his gun and let the robber have it in the leg. 警卫拔枪射中了抢劫者的大腿。1c. slang To attack with words; scold; criticize. 〖俚〗责骂；责备；批评。◆ Mary kept talking in class until the teacher became angry and let her have it. 玛丽上课时一直在讲话，结果老师很生气，把她批评了一顿。2. informal To tell about it. — Used in the imperative phrase, let's have it. 〖非正式〗讲，说。——用于祈使短语let't have it中。◆ Now, Jack, let's have it from the beginning. 好了，玛丽，让我们从头开始讲吧。

let someone in on　v. phr. To reveal a secret to; permit someone to share in. 让某人得知（秘密）；让某人参与。◆ If I let you in on something big we're planning, will you promise not to mention it to anyone? 假如我把我们的宏伟计划告诉你，你能答应不告诉别人吗？

let's roll　v. phr. Let's start the competition, the battle, the fight. 让我们开始战斗吧。◆ "Let's roll!" said the leader of the hijacked plane heading for the White House, after which the passengers disarmed the hijackers, with the plane finally crashing in Pennsylvania. “让我们开始战斗吧！”正向白宫飞去的那架被劫持飞机的机长说，接着乘客们便解除了劫机者的武装，最后飞机坠毁在宾夕法尼亚州。

letter-perfect　adj. phr. Memorized perfectly; perfect to the last letter. 熟记台词的；字字正确的。◆ The actor was letter-perfect in his role. 那个演员对自己所扮角色的台词背得滚瓜烂熟。

let the cat out of the bag　v. phr., informal To tell about something that is supposed to be a secret. 〖非正式〗泄露秘密。◆ We wanted to surprise Mary with a birthday gift, but Allen let the cat out of the bag by asking her what she would like. 我们想送玛丽一件生日礼物，给她一个惊喜，可艾伦却问她想要什么，结果泄露了秘密。— Sometimes used in another form. 有时以另一种形式使用。◆ Well, the cat is out of the bag — everybody knows about their marriage. 这下秘密可就泄露了——人人都知道他们结婚的事了。

let the chips fall where they may　v. phr. To pay no attention to the displeasure caused others by your actions. 不顾后果；不管别人高兴不高兴。◆ The senator decided to vote against the bill and let the chips fall where they may. 那位参议员决定投票反对那项议案而不管别人高兴不高兴。

let the grass grow under one's feet　v. phr., informal To waste time; be slow or idle. 〖非正式〗浪费时间；行动迟缓；无所事事。◆ Grandpa spends so much time sitting and thinking that Grandma accuses him of letting the grass grow under his feet. 爷爷长时间地坐在那儿沉思默想，结果奶奶便指责他无所事事。

let up　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To become less, weaker, or quiet; become slower or stop. 减少，减弱，减轻；减慢；停止。◆ It's raining as hard as ever. It's not letting up at all. 雨一直下得这么大，一点也没小。2. To do less or go slower or stop; relax; stop working or working hard. 少做；放慢；停止；放松；停止工作。◆ Let up for a minute. You can't work hard all day. 休息一下吧，你不能整天都这么拼命干啊。◆ Jim ran all the way home without letting up once. 吉姆一路跑回家，一次也没停。3. To become easier, kinder, or less strict. — Usually used with on. 宽容些；友善些。——常与on连用。◆ Let up on Jane. She is sick. 对简宽容些吧，她病了。

let well enough alone or leave well enough alone　v. phr. To be satisfied with what is good enough; not try to improve something because often that might cause more trouble. 知足；不要弄巧成拙（或画蛇添足）。◆ Ethel made a lot of changes in her test paper after she finished. She should have let well enough alone, because she made several new mistakes. 埃塞尔答完试卷后作了许多修改，结果反而弄巧成拙，又增加了好几个新的错误。

level best　adj. phr. One's utmost; one's very best. 全力；最大的努力。◆ Eric refused to stay in school although his parents did their level best to make him finish. 埃里克不肯继续上学，尽管他的父母竭尽全力想使他完成学业。

levelheaded　adj. phr. Having good common sense; practical; reasonable. 头脑冷静的；注重实际的；理智的。◆ What our office needs is a good, levelheaded manager. 我们事务所需要的是一位精明能干、头脑冷静的经理。

level off or level out　v. 1. To make flat or level. 使变得平坦。◆ The steamroller leveled out the gravel roadbed and then the concrete was poured. 蒸汽压路机先把沙砾铺成的路基压平，然后便浇注上了混凝土。2. To move on an even level. 水平移动。◆ The airplane leveled out at 30,000 feet. 飞机在3万英尺的上空平飞。◆ After going up for six months, the cost of living leveled off in September. 经过6个月的上涨之后，生活费用在9月份稳定了下来。

level playing field　n. phr. Equal opportunity; fair chance for both competitors in a game or employment. 均等的机会；（比赛或就业方面）公平的机会。◆ In a democracy people should be afforded a level playing field in all walks of life. 一个民主国家应向社会各阶层的人们提供均等的机会。

level with　v. phr. To tell someone the truth; not engage in lies and subterfuge. 告诉（某人）实情；不撒谎，不找托辞。◆ "You can level with me," his father said. "Did you break that window?" “你可以对我说实话，”他的父亲说。“那扇窗子是你打破的吗？”

lick into shape　v. phr. To make perfect; drill; train. 使成形；使完美；把…训练好。◆ The sergeant licked the new volunteer army into shape in three months. 中士用了3个月时间就把新招募的志愿兵训练得像个样子了。

lick one's chops　v. phr., informal To think about something pleasant; enjoy the thought of something. 〖非正式〗想到某件愉快的事；高兴地期待。◆ John is licking his chops about the steak dinner tonight. 约翰正美滋滋地想着今晚的牛排晚餐。

lick sb.'s boots　v. phr. To flatter or act like a slave; do anything to please another. 奉承某人；拍某人马屁。◆ A wise prime minister would not want his friends and officials to lick his boots. 一个明智的首相是不会希望他的朋友和官员对他拍马奉承的。

lie around　v. phr. To be unused; inert. 搁置不用；闲着。◆ This old typewriter has been lying around ever since Grandpa died. 自从爷爷去世后，这台旧打字机就一直闲置着。

lie down on the job　v. phr., informal To purposely fail to do your job; neglect a task; loaf. 〖非正式〗逃避责任；偷懒；磨洋工。◆ Bill isn't trying to learn his lessons. He is lying down on the job. 比尔不想用功读书，他是在混日子。

lie in state　v. phr. Of a dead person: To lie in a place of honor, usually in an open coffin, and be seen by the public before burial. （遗体安葬前）受公众瞻仰。◆ When the president died, thousands of people saw his body lying in state. 总统逝世后，成千上万的人瞻仰了他的遗容。

lie in wait　v. phr. To watch from hiding in order to attack or surprise someone; to ambush. 埋伏以待；伏击。◆ The driver of the stagecoach knew that the thieves were lying in wait somewhere along the road. 驿站马车的赶车人知道强盗们正在路边某处埋伏着。

lie low or nonstandard lay low　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To stay quietly out of sight; try not to attract attention; hide. 躲藏；隐匿。◆ After holding up the bank, the robbers lay low for a while. 强盗抢劫银行后躲藏了一段时间。2. To keep secret one's thoughts or plans. 不露声色，保持沉默。◆ I think he wants to be elected president, but he is lying low and not saying anything. 我认为他想竞选总统，但他却不露声色，什么也不说。

lie through one's teeth　v. phr. To lie uninhibitedly and unashamedly. 说无耻的谎言，撒弥天大谎。◆ Everyone in the courtroom could sense that the accused was lying through his teeth. 法庭上的每个人都能感觉到被告完全是在撒谎。

lie to　v. Of a ship: To stay in one place facing against the wind; stop. （船）逆风滞航；抛锚，停泊。◆ Our ship will lie to outside the harbor until daylight. 我们的船将在港口外一直停泊到天亮。

life and soul of the party　See见HEARTY OF THE PARTY.

life begins at forty　A quasi-proverbial idiom praising the virtue of having reached middle age. — A proverb. 〖谚〗人生始于四十；人生四十才开始。◆ "Never mind that you turned thirty-five, Suzie," her husband said. "Life begins at forty!" “千万别把自己35岁了当回事，苏茜，”她的丈夫说。“人生四十才开始呢！”

life of Riley　n. phr., informal A soft easy life; pleasant or rich way of living. 〖非正式〗安逸的生活；舒适（或奢侈）的生活。◆ He's living the life of Riley. He doesn't have to work anymore. 他过着舒适的生活，再也不必工作了。

life of the party　n. phr. A person who makes things enjoyable or interesting for a group of people. 聚会上最活跃的人；助兴之人。◆ Bill is the life of the party at school. He is always making us laugh. 比尔在学校里是我们的开心果，他总给我们带来欢笑。

lift a finger or lift a hand also raise a hand　v. phr. To do something; do your share; to help. — Usually used in the negative. 做某事；做分内事；帮一点忙。——通常用于否定句。◆ We all worked hard except Joe. He wouldn't lift a finger. 除了乔，我们都在努力工作。他一点力也不肯出。

lift one's spirits　v. phr. To make someone feel better. 提高情绪。◆ Listening to some nice classical music usually lifts one's spirits. 听一些优美的古典音乐通常可以提高一个人的情绪。

light at the end of the tunnel　n. phr. The first sign of hope after a long period of difficulties. 隧道尽头的亮光；（历经艰辛之后终于看到的）成功之望，希望之光。◆ Ted was near bankruptcy, but after some successful business transactions there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. 泰德几近破产，但在几笔成功的交易之后，终于又看到了希望之光。

lighten up　v. phr. To put oneself in a better mood, or do it to others. （情绪）变得愉快（或轻松）；使轻松，使愉快。◆ "Lighten up, Sam," the doctor suggested. "You worry too much." “放轻松些，萨姆，”医生建议说。“你过分担心了。”◆ Joe tried to lighten up the party with a few innocent jokes. 乔试图用一些无伤大雅的笑话使晚会的气氛活跃起来。

light-fingered　adj. Given to stealing; having a tendency to be dishonest or a kleptomaniac. 惯于扒窃的；惯窃的。◆ I always suspected that Freddie might be light-fingered and my suspicions were confirmed when he was arrested for shoplifting. 我一直怀疑弗雷迪可能是个惯偷，后来他因在商店偷东西被捕，我的怀疑得到了证实。

light housekeeping　n., slang An arrangement in which an unmarried couple live together. 〖俚〗未婚同居。◆ "Are Joe and Sue married?" "Oh, no, — it's just a case of light housekeeping." “乔和苏结婚了吗？”“哦，没有，他们只是同居。”

light on also light upon　v. To pick out by sight from among others; see; notice. 看中；看见；注意到。◆ Her eyes lighted upon the row of boxes, and she asked what was in them. 她看见了那一排盒子，就问里面装的是什么。

light out　v., slang〖俚〗1. To run as fast as you can. 尽快跑。◆ The boy lit out for home with the bully chasing him. 恶棍在后面追着，男孩飞快地往家跑。2. To go away in a hurry; leave suddenly. — Often used with for. 匆匆离去；突然离开。——常与for连用。◆ Jack won't be in town long. He wants to light out as soon as he has enough money saved. 杰克不会在镇上待很久的，他一积到足够的钱就会离开。

light up　v. Suddenly to look pleased and happy. 脸露喜色，容光焕发。◆ Martha's face lit up when she saw her old friend. 玛莎看到了老朋友，脸上便露出了喜色。

like a fish out of water　See见FISH OUT OF WATER.

like a hole in the head　adv. phr. Not at all; scarcely; grudgingly; in an unwelcome manner. 一点也不；几乎不；勉强地，不情愿地；不欢迎地。◆ Joan needs her mother-in-law to stay with her for a week like a hole in the head. 琼根本就不需要她婆婆来和她一起待一个星期。

like anything　adv. phr. To an extreme degree. 以全力；非常迅猛地，拼命地。◆ He swore like anything when he found out that he hadn't been promoted. 当他得知自己没有被提拔时，他破口大骂。

like clockwork　See见 GO LIKE CLOCKWORK or GO OFF LIKE CLOCKWORK.

like father, like son　A son is usually like his father in the way he acts. — A proverb. 〖谚〗有其父必有其子。◆ Mr. Jones and Tommy are both quiet and shy. Like father, like son. 琼斯先生和汤米都文静怕羞，真是有其父必有其子。

like hell　adv., slang, vulgar, avoid! 〖俚〗〖俗〗〖忌〗1. With great vigor. 非常；拼命地；猛烈地。◆ As soon as they saw the cops, they ran like hell. 他们一看到警察就拼命地跑了起来。2. interj. Not so; untrue; indicates the speaker's lack of belief in what he heard. 绝不（会），肯定不。◆ Like hell you're gonna bring me my dough! 你绝不会把钱带给我的！

like hell I will or across my dead body or not across my dead body　See见ACROSS MY DEAD BODY.

like it or lump it　See见TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

like looking for a needle in a haystack　See见NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

like mad or like crazy　adv., slang, informal With great enthusiasm and vigor; very fast. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗疯狂地；拼命地；飞快地。◆ We had to drive like mad (like crazy) to get there on time. 我们必须拼命开快车才能准时赶到那里。

like two peas in a pod　adj. phr. Closely similar; almost exactly alike. 非常相似；几乎完全一样。◆ The twin sisters Eve and Agnes are like two peas in a pod. 那对双胞胎姐妹伊夫和艾格尼丝长得几乎一模一样。

like water　adv. phr. As something easily poured out or wasted; freely. — Usually used in the phrase spend money like water. 如流水般地；毫无节制地。——通常用于短语spend money like water中。◆ During the World Wars, the United States spent money like water. 美国在两次世界大战中花钱如流水。

like water off a duck's back　adv. phr., informal Without changing your feelings or opinion; without effect. 〖非正式〗如水落鸭背；不起作用；毫无影响。◆ Advice and correction roll off him like water off a duck's back. 劝导和惩罚对他丝毫不起作用。

line of fire　n. phr. The path that something fired or thrown takes. （子弹、火箭等的）发射线，行进线。◆ When the bandit and the police began to shoot, John was almost in their line of fire. 当那个歹徒与警察开始枪战时，约翰几乎就在他们的射击线内。

line of least resistance or path of least resistance　n. phr. The easiest way; the way that takes least effort. 最容易的办法；最不费力的方法。◆ Some parents take the path of least resistance with their children and let them do as they please. 有些父母采取了最省力的办法，让他们的孩子想怎么做就怎么做。

line one's pockets also line one's purse　v. phr., informal To get a lot of money unfairly; get rich by being dishonest. 〖非正式〗为自己牟利，中饱私囊。◆ The policeman lined his pockets by taking bribes. 那个警察贪赃受贿，中饱私囊。

lineup　n. (stress on line)（重读line）1. An alignment of objects in a straight line. 物体排成一直线。◆ A lineup of Venus and the moon can be a very beautiful sight in the night sky. 金星和月亮连成一线可以成为夜空中一道非常美丽的景色。2. An arrangement of suspects through a oneway mirror so that the victim or the witness of a crime can identify the wanted person. （为辨认嫌疑犯）警方安排有待辨认的一列人。◆ She picked out her attacker from a police lineup. 她从警方安排的一列人中认出了袭击她的那个人。

line up　v. phr. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To take places in a line or formation; stand side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. 排队；排列。◆ The boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard. 男孩们排好队依次从跳板上跳下水。2. To put in line. 把…排成一行。◆ John lined up the pool balls. 约翰将台球排列成行。3. To adjust correctly. 调正，校准。◆ The garage man lined up the car's wheels. 修车人将汽车轮子调正了。4a. informal To make ready for action; complete a plan or agreement for; arrange. 〖非正式〗为行动作好准备；完成；安排。◆ The superintendent lined up all the new teachers he needed before he went on vacation. 教育局长将所需的新教师都安排妥当后才去休假。4b. informal To become ready for action; come together in preparation or agreement. 〖非正式〗准备实行；一起准备；联合起来。◆ Larry wanted to go to the seashore for the family vacation, but the rest of the family lined up against him. 拉里想要全家一起去海滨度假，但家人一致反对。

lion's share　n. phr. A disproportionate share; the largest part. 不成比例的一份；最大（或最好）的一份。◆ The manager always gets the lion's share of the company's profits. 经理总是拿公司利润中最大的一份。

lips are sealed　See见MUM IS THE WORD.

lip service　n. Support shown by words only and not by actions; a show of loyalty that is not proven in action. — Usually used with pay. 空口的应酬话，口惠。——通常与pay连用。◆ All the parties pay lip service to environment issues. 对环境问题各方都是嘴上讲得好听而无实际行动。

liquid assets　n. phr. Those belongings that can be easily converted into cash. 流动资产。◆ Herb asked for a loan and the bank manager told him to bring in proof of all his liquid assets. 赫伯申请贷款时，银行经理要他提供其全部流动资产的证明。

liquor up　v. phr., slang To drink an excessive amount of liquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a car that needs to be filled before a journey. 〖俚〗灌酒。◆ Joe always liquors up before he takes Sue for a dance. 乔在带苏去跳舞前总是先喝个够。

listen in　v. 1. To listen to a radio broadcast. 听广播。◆ We found them listening in to the president's speech. 我们发现他们正在收听总统的广播讲话。2. To listen to the talk of others, often to talk that is not intended for your ears ; eavesdrop. 监听；偷听。◆ When Mary talked to her boyfriend on the telephone, her little brother listened in. 玛丽与她的男朋友通电话时，她的小弟弟在偷听。

listen to reason　v. phr. To listen to and think about advice that you are given. 听劝告。◆ It will save you a lot of trouble if you will just listen to reason. 你只要肯听劝告，就会省去很多麻烦。

listen who's talking or look who's talking　v. phr., informal Said to one mockingly who under the circumstances had better keep quiet. 〖非正式〗你没有资格讲这话；你自己不也一个样。◆ "Divorce is a bad thing ," said the famous actress, who had just married for the seventh time, when her daughter got a divorce." Look who's talking," her daughter said. 那位著名的女演员刚刚第7次结了婚，而当她的女儿离婚时，她却说：“离婚可不是件好事。”她的女儿说：“你自己不也一个样。”

litterbug　n., slang, informal A person who leaves garbage in a public place, such as a park or beach or a street; one who litters. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（在公共场所）乱扔垃圾的人。◆ Don't be a litterbug；keep the city clean! 请勿乱扔垃圾；保持城市清洁！

little does one think　v. phr. To not realize; not expect; be hardly aware of. 一点也没想到；没料到；一点也不知道。◆ Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the father of twin daughters. 埃德一点也没想到他很快就要成为一对双胞胎女儿的父亲了。

little frog in a big pond or small frog in a big pond　n. phr. An unimportant person in a large group or organization. 大团体（或组织）中的小人物。◆ In a large company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a big pond. 在大公司里，即使一个相当成功的人也可能会觉得自己是个小人物。

little pitchers have big ears　Little children often overhear things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect they would notice. — A proverb. 〖谚〗人小耳朵长（意指小孩常会无意中听到他人说话）。◆ Be especially careful not to swear in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears. 要特别小心别在小孩子们面前骂人，他们人小耳朵长。

little rabbits have big ears　See见LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS.

little strokes fell great oaks　a proverb Lots of minor acts in a sequence can accomplish great tasks. 〖谚〗小斧不断砍，巨橡也会倒；滴水穿石。◆ The men got discouraged when building the tower seemed impossible. The architect comforted them by saying:"Little strokes fell great oaks." 当建成高楼似乎不可能时，工人们都很沮丧。建筑师安慰他们说：“小斧不断砍，巨橡也会倒，只要坚持就会成功。”

lit up like a Christmas tree　adj. phr., informal To be drunk. 〖非正式〗喝醉的。◆ On New Year's Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree. 除夕之夜，内德喝得烂醉如泥。

live and learn　You learn more new things the longer you live; you learn by experience. — A proverb. 〖谚〗真是活到老学到老；真是活到老学不了。◆ "Live and learn," said Mother. "I never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is." 母亲说：“真是活到老学到老。我以前从不知道印第安人曾在我们家房子这地方建过营地。”

live and let live　v. phr., To live in the way you prefer and let others live as they wish without being bothered by you. 自己活也让别人活；互相宽容；互不相扰。◆ Father scolds Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it's her hair and his pipe; live and let live. 父亲指责母亲，因为她留卷发，母亲指责父亲，因为他抽味道难闻的烟斗；祖父说每个人都有各自的生活方式，要相互宽容。

live down　v. To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter) by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or forgotten by not repeating it. 改过自新（消除人们的指责、不信任、嘲笑等）；通过行动使人们原谅（或忘掉）（自己以往的过失等）。◆ John's business failure hurt him for a long time, but in the end he lived it down. 约翰经商失败使他伤心了很久，但最后他终于使大家对他又有了信心。

live from hand to mouth　v. phr. To live on little money and spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have just enough. 挣一天吃一天；仅够糊口。◆ Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand to mouth when he had no job. 约翰逊先生挣的钱很少，当他失业时，全家过着勉强糊口的日子。

live high off the hog or eat high on the hog　See见EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.

live in or room in　v., informal To live in the school you attend or the place where you work. 〖非正式〗住在学习（或工作）的地方。◆ Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college. 杰克决定在读大学一年级期间住校。◆ Many women advertise for mother's helpers to room in with families and help take care of children. 很多妇女征聘保姆住在家里帮助照顾孩子。

live in a fool's paradise　v. phr. To deceive oneself; tell oneself unreal stories. 自欺欺人；陶醉在虚幻的乐境中。◆ His information is based on a lot of misunderstanding — the poor guy is living in a fool's paradise. 他的信息基于很多误解之上——这可怜的家伙陶醉在虚幻的乐境中。

live in an ivory tower　v. phr. To be blind to real life; live an unrealistically sheltered existence. 生活在象牙塔中；脱离实际生活。◆ Professor Nebelmacher has no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower. 内布尔马彻教授对生活费用一无所知，他生活在象牙塔中。

live in the fast lane　v. phr., informal To live a full and very active life pursuing wealth and success. 〖非正式〗过着一心奔名利的快节奏生活。◆ They have been living in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City. 自从到了纽约后，他们就过着一心奔名利的快节奏生活。

live it up　v. phr., informal To pursue pleasure; enjoy games or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. 〖非正式〗追求欢乐；爱好球赛（或夜生活）；喜欢去娱乐场所。◆ Joe had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it up. 乔在荒凉偏僻的地方度过了严冬，现在他在城里纵情享乐。

liven up　v. phr. To make oneself or others more lively or active. （使）活跃起来；（使）愉快起来。◆ Graduate student applicants livened up when they found out that there were scholarships available at the university. 报考研究生的学生得知那所大学里可以申请奖学金都很高兴。◆ We will need a few clever musicians to liven up this dreary party with some dancing. 我们需要一些聪明的乐师用舞蹈使这次沉闷的聚会活跃起来。

live off someone　v. phr. To be supported by someone. 靠某人供养，依赖某人生活。◆ Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to live off his elderly parents. 虽然埃里克已经40岁了，但他没有工作，仍在依靠他年迈的父母生活。

live on borrowed time　v. phr. To live or last longer than was expected. 比预计的寿命活得长；比预期的时间持续更久。◆ Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on borrowed time. 自做过手术后，哈维觉得自己又可以多活一些时间了。

live out　v. 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. 活过（一段时间）；消磨（时间）。◆ After retiring, John and his wife lived out their lives in Florida. 约翰退休后，和妻子在佛罗里达度过了晚年。2. To last through; endure to the end of. 度过；忍耐到最后。◆ We lived out the winter on short ration. 我们在缺粮的情况下熬过了冬天。

live out of a suitcase　v. phr. To have no permanent residence or a permanent place to hang one's clothes. 没有固定的住处；提着衣箱过日子。◆ When Jennifer accepted her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a suitcase for six months. 在詹妮弗接受那份新工作时，她根本没想到自己会6个月没有一个固定的住处。

live up to　v. To act according to; come up to; agree with; follow. 遵守；符合；不辜负（期望）；跟随。◆ So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the example he saw in Lincoln. 约翰总是尽可能地努力以林肯为榜样。

live wire　n. phr. 1. An electrically charged wire, usually uninsulated. 载电线，火线。◆ The electrician was severely burned by the live wire. 那名电工被带电的电线严重灼伤。2. An alert or energetic person. 活跃分子，富有进取心的人。◆ To sell the new merchandise, our company needs several salespeople who are live wires. 为销售新产品，我们公司需要一些富于进取心的推销员。

live within one's means　See见CUT YOUR COAT ACCORDING TO YOUR CLOTH.

living end　adj., slang Great; fantastic; the ultimate. 〖俚〗顶呱呱；绝妙；棒极了。◆ That show we saw last night was the living end. 我们昨晚看的那场演出真是棒极了。

loaded for bear　adj. phr., slang Ready for action; prepared and eager. 〖俚〗作好准备的；跃跃欲试的。◆ Frank liked the new merchandise and as he set out on his rounds as a salesman, he felt really loaded for bear. 弗兰克很喜欢这批新商品，当他开始推销时，觉得自己迫不及待地想把它们卖出去。◆ The football team arrived Friday noon, loaded for bear. 橄榄球队于星期五中午抵达，全队摩拳擦掌，准备参加比赛。

load up (on)　v. phr. To buy more than one needs for a future time when there might be a shortage. （为防止未来可能的短缺而）大量购买。◆ Florida residents often load up on fresh drinking water and canned goods when there is a hurricane watch. 佛罗里达州的居民在有飓风危险时往往大量购买饮用水和罐头食品。

loan shark　n. phr. A money lender who charges excessive interest. 高利贷者。◆ Why go to a loan shark when you can borrow from the bank at the legal rate? 在你能以法定利率从银行贷款时，为什么要去找高利贷者呢？

local yokel　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon City police officer, as opposed to state police or highway patrol. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗本地警察（指本地警官而不是州警或高速公路巡警）。◆ There's a local yokel westbound on the move. 有一名本地警官正在朝西行驶。

lock on　v. phr. To find a mobile target, such as a tank or a boat, by radar, sonar, or radio signal. （用雷达、声纳或无线电信号）跟踪（目标）；锁定（目标）。◆ The U.S. Army's success in battle is largely due to its ability to lock on even distant targets. 美军之所以能在战斗中获胜在很大程度上是因为即使是远程目标它也能锁定。

lock, stock, and barrel　n. phr. Everything; completely. 完全，全部。◆ The robbers emptied the whole house — lock, stock, and barrel. 盗匪把整幢房子洗劫一空——什么也没剩下。

lock the barn door after the horse is stolen　To be careful or try to make something safe when it is too late. — A proverb. 〖谚〗贼去关门，为时已晚。◆ After Mary failed the examination, she said she would study hard after that. She wanted to lock the barn door after the horse was stolen. 玛丽考试不及格以后才说从此一定要努力学习。这是小偷跑了才锁门，为时已晚。

lock up　v. phr., slang To be assured of success. 〖俚〗确信能成功。◆ "How did your math test go?" "I locked it up, I think." “你的数学测验考得怎么样？”“我想一定考得很好。”

lodge a complaint　v. phr. To make a complaint; complain. 提出控告；投诉。◆ If our neighbors don't stop this constant noise, I will have to lodge a complaint with the management. 如果我们的邻居不停止这种无休无止的噪音，我将不得不去向管理人员投诉了。

log in　v. phr. To register at work at the beginning. 上班签到；打卡上班。◆ All employees at this firm are required to log in at the start of their work day. 这家公司的雇员均须在上班时打卡签到。

log off　v. phr. To finish using the e-mail or the Internet on one's computer. 关机退出计算机系统。◆ Every evening I finish my work at the computer and I log off. 每天晚上我在电脑上结束我的工作时都会关机退出。

log on　v. phr. To start work on the Internet or one's e-mail on a computer. 进入计算机系统。◆ I log on twice a day to see if I have e-mail. 我每天两次上机，看是否有电子邮件。

log out　v. phr. To register at the end of one's work day. 下班登记；打卡下班。◆ All employees are required to log out at the end of the work day, just as they logged in when they started. 所有的雇员均须在下班时打卡登记，正像他们上班时打卡签到一样。

Lone Star State　n. phr. Texas.孤星州（美国得克萨斯州的别称）。◆ The Lone Star State is one of the largest in the United States, next to only California in size. 孤星州得克萨斯是美国最大的州之一，其面积仅次于加利福尼亚州。

lone wolf　n. A man who likes to work or live alone. 喜欢独来独往（或独处）者。◆ Jones is a good pitcher, but he is a lone wolf. 琼斯是一名出色的投手，但他不喜欢与其他球员合作。

long and short of it　n. phr. The essence; the whole story in a nutshell. 总的意思；要点。◆ The long and short of it is that he is lazy and doesn't really want to find a job. 总而言之，他这人很懒，根本不想去找工作。

long ball　n. A baseball hit far enough to be a home run. 全垒打。◆ The White Sox need a player who can hit the long ball. 白袜队需要一名能击出全垒打的球员。

long face　n. A sad look; disappointed look. 愁闷（或失望）的面容。◆ He told the story with a long face. 他愁眉苦脸地讲述了这个故事。

long for　v. phr. To desire greatly; miss someone or something badly. 渴望；非常惦念。◆ All I am longing for is a little peace and quiet after a hard day's work. 我现在只渴望在辛辛苦苦地工作了一天后能有一点平静和安宁。◆ John was longing for Suzie even after they had been divorced for three years. 即使已经离婚3年，约翰仍在想念苏茜。

longhair^1　1. n., slang A male hippie. 〖俚〗男嬉皮士。◆ "Who's that longhair?" "It's Joe." “那位留长发的嬉皮士是谁？”“是乔。”2. An intellectual who prefers classical music to jazz or acid rock. 喜爱古典音乐（而不喜欢爵士乐或摇滚乐）的人。◆ Catwallender is a regular longhair; he never listens to modern jazz. 卡特瓦伦德是个彻底的古典音乐爱好者，他从来不听现代爵士乐。

longhair^2　adj., slang Pertaining to classical art forms, primarily in dancing and music. 〖俚〗古典的。◆ Cut out that longhair Mozart Symphony and put on a decent pop record! 别再放那张古典的莫扎特交响乐唱片了，放一张优雅的流行音乐唱片吧！

long haul or long pull　n., informal 〖非正式〗1. A long distance or trip. 长距离；长途旅行。◆ It is a long haul to drive across the country. 开车穿越这个国家是一段漫长的旅行。2. A long length of time during which work continues or something is done; a long time of trying. 费时费力的工作；长时间的努力。◆ A boy crippled by polio may learn to walk again, but it may be a long haul. 因患小儿麻痹症而瘫痪的男孩可以重新学习走路，但可能需要一段很长的时间。— Used in the phrase over the long haul. 用于词组over the long haul中。◆ Over the long haul, an expensive pair of shoes may save you money. 从长远来看，一双昂贵的鞋可能更省钱。

long shot　n. A bet or other risk taken though not likely to succeed. 冒险图利的赌博；冒险的尝试。◆ The horse was a long shot, but it came in and paid well. 在那匹马上下注很冒险，但它却跑赢了，让投注者赚了不少钱。

long time no see　informal, greeting I haven't seen you for quite a long while — a joking imitation of Pidgin English. 〖非正式〗好久不见（洋泾浜英语的玩笑式模仿）。◆ "Long time no see," said Mr. Wong, the furniture shop owner, when we visited him in Hong Kong after several years. 几年之后我们去香港拜访家具店老板王先生时，他说：“好久不见了。”

long-winded　adj. Tedious; overlong; given to too much talking. 啰唆的；冗长的；唠唠叨叨的，喋喋不休的。◆ Everyone was bored by the old man's longwinded stories. 每个人都听腻了老人那些啰里啰唆的故事。

look after also see after　v. To watch over; attend to. 照料，照顾，照管。◆ John's mother told him to look after his younger brother. 约翰的母亲告诉他要照看好弟弟。◆ When he went to Europe, Mr. Jenkins left his son to see after the business. 詹金斯先生去欧洲时，让他的儿子照管生意。

look a gift horse in the mouth　To complain if a gift is not perfect. — A proverb. Used with a negative. 〖谚〗。对礼物吹毛求疵。——用于否定句。◆ John gave Joe a baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth. 约翰送给乔一个棒球，可乔抱怨说这球是旧的。他父亲告诉他对礼物不可吹毛求疵。

look alive　v. Act lively; be quick; wake up and work; be busy; hurry. — Often used as a command. 快些；干起来。——常用作命令。◆ "Look alive there," the boss called. 老板叫道：“快点干活！”

look around　v. phr. To reconnoiter the scenery for goods and services or a romantic partner. 四处察看；四处寻找。◆ "Look around in California for a nice girlfriend," Aunt Agnes encouraged her nephew, Steve. "Don't be a lone wolf." “在加州找个好的女朋友吧，”艾格尼丝姑妈鼓励她的侄子史蒂夫说：“不要成为一个孤独的人。”◆ We decided to take our time and look around for the best buy before purchasing a house. 我们决定在买房前不着急，要四处寻找最好最便宜的房子。

look at　v. To have a way of thinking or feeling toward; think about something in a certain way. 看待。◆ Is he a hero or a villain? That depends on how you look at it. 他是个英雄，还是个恶棍？那全在于你如何看待了。

look at the world through rose-colored glasses or see with rose-colored glasses　v. phr. To see everything as good and pleasant; not see anything hard or bad. 乐观地看待一切；把一切都看得很美好。◆ If you see everything through rose-colored glasses, you will often be disappointed. 如果你把一切都看得很美好，你就会经常失望。

look back　v. To review the past; think of what has happened. 回顾，回忆。◆ Murphy looked back on his early struggles as having made him feel especially alive. 回顾早年的奋斗历程，墨菲认为这番经历使他感到特别充满活力。

look bleak　v. To indicate misfortune; appear threatening or ruinous. 显得黯淡；显示不幸就要降临；呈现危机。◆ As prices dropped lower and lower, things looked bleak for Henry's company. 当价格一再下跌时，亨利的公司就危机重重了。

look daggers　v. phr. To show anger with a look; express hate or enmity by a look or stare; look fiercely. 怒视，怒目而视；表情愤怒。◆ Mary did not dare talk back to her father, but she looked daggers. 玛丽不敢顶撞父亲，但她露出了愤怒的表情。

look down on also look down upon　v. To think of (a person or thing) as less good or important; feel that (someone) is not as good as you are, or that (something) is not worth having or doing; consider inferior. 看不起；轻视。◆ Mary looked down on her classmates because she was better dressed than they were. 玛丽看不起她那些同学，因为她穿得比她们漂亮。

look down one's nose at　v. phr., informal To think of as worthless; feel scorn for. 〖非正式〗看不起；蔑视。◆ The banker's wife has beautiful china cups, and she looked down her nose at the plastic cups that Mrs. Brown used. 那位银行家的太太有漂亮的瓷杯，所以对布朗太太使用的塑料杯嗤之以鼻。

look facts in the face　v. phr. To be practical and realistic. 正视事实，面对现实。◆ "You will never be a mountain climber, Joe," his doctor said. "After all, you have lost a leg in the war. Look facts in the face and be glad that you can walk with an artificial leg." “你永远也不会成为登山运动员的，乔，”他的医生说。“毕竟你在战争中失去了一条腿。要面对现实，并为自己能借助义肢行走感到高兴。”

look for　v. 1. To think likely; expect. 期望；预期。◆ We look for John to arrive any day now. 我们期待着约翰，他说不定哪天就到。2. To try to find; search for; hunt. 寻找；寻求。◆ Fred spent all day looking for a job. 弗雷德一整天都在找工作。3. To do things that cause (your own trouble); make (trouble) for yourself; provoke. 惹起，招来；自寻（麻烦）。◆ Joe often gets into fights because he is always looking for trouble. 乔经常跟人打架，因为他总是惹麻烦。

look for a needle in a haystack　See 见NEEDLE IN A HAY STACK.

look forward to　v. 1. To expect. 预料，预期。◆ At breakfast, John looked forward to a difficult day. 约翰吃早饭时就料到这一天不好过。2. To expect with hope or pleasure. 期待；盼望。◆ Frank was looking forward to that evening's date. 弗兰克在期待着那天晚上的约会。

look high and low for　v. phr. To look everywhere; search all over. 到处看；到处找。◆ Everyone has been looking high and low for the lost key but no one could find it. 大家都在到处找那把丢掉的钥匙，但没有一个人能找到。

look in on　v. To go to see; make a short visit with; make a call on. 顺便看看；顺道拜访。◆ The doctor looked in on Mary each day while she was in the hospital. 玛丽住院时，医生每天都进来看她。

look in the eye or look in the face　v. phr. To meet with a steady look; to face bravely or without shame. 直视；正视。◆ We often believe a person who looks us in the eye, but it does not prove he is truthful. 我们常相信敢正视我们的人，但这并不能证明他就是诚实的。

look into　v. To find out the facts about; examine; study; inspect. 调查；观察；研究；审视。◆ Mr. Jones said he was looking into the possibility of buying a house. 琼斯先生说他正在研究购房的可能性。

look like a million bucks　See见LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

look like a million dollars　v. phr., informal To look well and prosperous; appear healthy and happy and lucky; look pretty and attractive. 〖非正式〗神采奕奕；满面春风；显得十分漂亮。◆ John came back from Florida driving a fine new car, tanned and glowing with health. He looked like a million dollars. 约翰开着一辆漂亮的新车从佛罗里达回来了。他皮肤晒得黑黑的，十分健康。他看上去真是容光焕发。

look like the cat that ate the canary or look like the cat that swallowed the canary　v. phr. To seem very self-satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success. 得意洋洋；踌躇满志。◆ When she won the prize, she went home looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. 她获奖后得意洋洋地回家了。

look on or look upon　v. 1. To regard; consider; think of. 认为；视作。◆ The stuff had always been looked on as a worthless factory waste. 这种东西过去一直被认为是毫无价值的工厂废品。2. To be an observer; watch without taking part. 观看；旁观。◆ Fred had never been able to do more than look on at athletic sports. 弗雷德在体育运动方面，只能做个旁观者，而从来不能自己参与。

look one's age　v. phr. To appear in accordance with one's real age. 容貌和真实年龄相当。◆ Grandpa looks his age, but then he just had his ninety-fifth birthday last week. 爷爷看上去确实老了，不过话得说回来，上周他刚刚过了他的95岁生日。◆ Agnes sure doesn't look her age. She is fifty-nine, but she doesn't look a day older than thirty-five. 艾格尼丝看上去不老。她59岁了，但看上去只有35岁。

look oneself　v. phr. To appear selfpossessed and well; look or seem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; to appear all right or normal. （在气色、情绪等方面）看上去如常。◆ Mary had had a long illness, but now she looked quite herself again. 玛丽病了很长一段时间，但现在她看上去已恢复了健康。

look out or watch out　v. 1. To take care; be careful; be on guard. — Usually used as a command or warning. 小心，当心；警惕。——通常用作命令或警告。◆ "Look out!" John called, as the car came toward me. 当车子朝我驶来时，约翰大叫：“当心！”◆ "Look out for the train," the sign at the railroad crossing warns. 铁路道口的告示牌上写着：“小心火车！”2. To be alert or watchful; keep watching. 留神；注意。◆ A collector of antique cars asked Frank to look out for a 1906 gas head lamp. 一位古董车收藏者要弗兰克留心寻觅一盏1906年产的煤气前灯。3. informal To watch or keep (a person or thing) and do what is needed; provide protection and care. — Used with for. 〖非正式〗照管；看护。——与for连用。◆ Lillian looked out for her sister's children one afternoon a week. 莉莲每星期一次去照看她姐姐的孩子。

look out for　v. phr. To watch out for; be on the alert. 留心守候；留心注意；注意防备。◆ There were signs along the highway warning drivers to look out for deer crossing. 公路沿线有告示牌提醒驾车者留心注意横穿公路的鹿。

look over　v. To look at and try to learn something about; look at every part or piece of or at every one of; examine; inspect; study. 仔细察看；把…看一遍；检查；审视；研究。◆ We looked over several kinds of new cars before deciding. 在决定买车之前，我们仔细看了好几种新车。

look over sb.'s shoulder　v. phr. To constantly supervise one in an obtrusive and irritating way. 监视某人；监督某人。◆ It drives me crazy when my mom keeps looking over my shoulder while I'm doing my homework. 我做家庭作业时，妈妈一直在监视我，这真逼得我要发疯。

look to　v. 1. To attend to; get ready for; take care of. 注意；准备；照顾。◆ The president assigned a man to look to our needs. 校长派了一个人来照顾我们的需要。2. To go for help to; depend on. 指望；依赖。◆ The child looks to his mother to cure his hurts. 孩子依赖母亲来治愈他的伤痛。

look up　v. 1. informal To improve in future chances; promise more success. 〖非正式〗好转；有起色。◆ The first year was tough, but business looked up after that. 第一年很艰难，但在那以后，生意就好起来了。2. To search for; hunt for information about; find. （在词典、参考书等中）查找，查检。◆ It is a good habit to look up new words in a dictionary. 遇到生词查词典是个好习惯。3. To seek and find. 寻访，看望。◆ While he was in Chicago, Henry looked up a friend of college days. 在芝加哥期间，亨利探望了大学时代的一位朋友。

look up to　v. To think of (someone) as a good example to copy; honor; respect. 视（某人）为榜样；尊敬；敬仰。◆ Young children look up to older ones, so older children should be good examples. 年幼的孩子都仰慕年长的孩子，因此年长的孩子应该做他们的好榜样。

look who's talking　See见LISTEN WHO'S TALKING.

loose cannon　n. phr. A person who has lost control over himself or herself and is behaving wildly and unpredictably. 信口开河的“大炮”；举止难以预料的狂人。◆ Sheriff Madigan had to be asked to quit his job. After his wife's death he started drinking heavily, and has generally become a loose cannon. 对马迪根警官不得不请他辞职。在他妻子去世后，他便开始酗酒，现已基本上成了一个什么事都乱来的狂人。

loose ends　n. Parts or things that should be finished or put together. 未了结的零星事务；松散的部分。◆ Mary's composition had many loose ends. 玛丽的作文写得很松散。

loose lips sink ships　from World WarⅡ. Revealing too much information will eliminate opportunities and may put American troops in harm's way; revealing closely guarded production or manufacturing secrets will give the competition an edge. — A proverb. 〖谚〗（源自第二次世界大战）嘴巴不严能沉船；泄露秘密，对手得利。◆ "You're talking too much about your work," the director warned Joe. "Don't you know that loose lips sink ships?" “关于你的工作你说得太多了，”主任警告乔说。“难道你不知道，嘴巴不严会让对手占先吗？”

loosen up　v. phr. To become relaxed, more informal. 放松；变得不拘束。◆ "Come on, Ted," Bonnie said to her husband. "Loosen up a bit. You've been working too hard lately. Why don't we go to see a good movie or to the concert?" “好啦，泰德，”邦妮对她的丈夫说。“放松一点吧。你最近工作太辛苦了。为什么我们不去看场电影或者去听场音乐会呢？”

lord it over　v. phr. To act as the superior and master of; dominate; be bossy over; control. 对…指手画脚，以主人自居；对…摆官架子；支配；控制。◆ The office manager lorded it over the clerks and typists. 办公室主任对办事员和打字员指手画脚，发号施令。

lose face　v. To be embarrassed or shamed by an error or failure; lose dignity, influence or reputation; lose self-respect or the confidence of others. 失面子；丢脸；失去尊严（或影响力、声誉等）；失去自尊（或别人的信任）。◆ Many Japanese soldiers were killed in World WarⅡbecause they believed that to give up or retreat would make them lose face. 第二次世界大战时很多日本军人之所以被杀是因为他们认为投降或撤退会使他们失去尊严。

lose ground　1. To go backward; retreat. 后退；撤退。◆ The soldiers began to lose ground when their leader was killed. 在他们的首领被杀之后，士兵们开始撤退。2. To become weaker; get worse; not improve. 变得更弱（或更糟）；没有改进。◆ The sick man began to lose ground when his cough grew worse. 病人的咳嗽加剧，病情开始恶化。

lose heart　v. phr. To feel discouraged because of failure; to lose hope of success. 失去勇气（或信心）；灰心；气馁。◆ The team had won no games and it lost heart. 球队一场比赛也没赢，因此大家都灰心了。

lose one's cool　See见BLOW ONE'S COOL.

lose oneself　v. phr. 1. To go wrong; miss your way; become unable to find the right direction. 迷失方向；迷路。◆ Fred lost himself in the confusion of downtown Boston streets. 弗雷德在波士顿市中心混乱的街道中迷了路。2. To conceal yourself; hide. 隐藏；躲藏。◆ The pickpocket lost himself in the crowd and escaped the police. 扒手躲进人群中逃过了警察的追捕。3. To become deeply interested and forget yourself; become absorbed. 沉醉，专注。◆ Sometimes Harry would lose himself in a book for an afternoon at a time. 有时候哈里会整个一个下午都沉醉在一本书中。

lose one's grip　v. phr. To fail in control or command; lose your strength, force, or ability to lead. 失去控制；失去领导（能）力。◆ Mr. Jones began to lose his grip: he no longer wanted the hard jobs, and he left decisions to others. 琼斯先生开始失去了领导能力：他不想再做艰苦的工作，就把决策权交与他人。

lose one's head (over)　v. phr. 1. To panic. 慌乱，仓皇失措。◆ "Let's not lose our heads," the captain cried. "We have good lifeboats on this vessel." 船长大声说：“大家不要慌，我们船上有足够的救生船。”2. To become deeply infatuated with someone. 迷恋（某人）。◆ Don't lose your head over Jane; she is already married. 不要迷恋简了，她已经结婚了。

lose one's heart　v. phr. To fall in love; begin to love. 爱上；钟情于。◆ She lost her heart to the soldier with the broad shoulders and the deep voice. 她爱上了那位肩膀宽阔、声音浑厚的军人。

lose one's marbles　v. phr. To go mad; become crazed. 发疯；失去理智。◆ Stan must have lost his marbles; he is hopelessly pursuing a happily married woman. 斯坦一定是发疯了，他正在毫无希望地追求一位婚姻美满的女士。

lose one's shirt　v. phr., slang To lose all or most of your money. 〖俚〗丢光所有的钱；输得精光。◆ Mr. Matthews lost his shirt betting on the horses. 马修斯先生赌马输得精光。

lose one's temper　v. phr. To lose control over one's anger; to get angry. 发脾气；生气；发怒。◆ He lost his temper when he broke the key in the lock. 当他把钥匙断在锁眼里时，他很生气。

lose one's tongue　v. phr., informal To be so embarrassed or surprised that you cannot talk. 〖非正式〗窘得（或惊讶得）说不出话来。◆ The man would always lose his tongue when he was introduced to new people. 这位男士被介绍给他不认识的人时总会窘得说不出话来。

lose one's touch　v. phr. To forget how to do something well, effortlessly, and smoothly. 失去原有的技艺（或能力）。◆ John used to be able to sight-read any piece of classical music you put in front of him. Nowadays he fumbles, like a beginner. We can't figure out what made him lose his touch. 约翰过去一看到摆在眼前的任何古典音乐乐谱就能马上弹奏出来。现在他却像个初学者一样经常弹错。我们真不明白是什么原因使他的技艺大不如前了。

lose out　v. To fail to win; miss first place in a contest; lose to a rival. 输掉；失败。◆ John lost out in the rivalry for Mary's hand in marriage. 约翰在追求玛丽的竞争中失败了。

lose sight of　v. phr. 1. Not to be able to see any longer. 不再看见。◆ I watched the plane go higher and higher until I lost sight of it. 我看着飞机越飞越高直到再也看不到为止。2. To forget; overlook. 忘记；忽略。◆ No matter how rich and famous he became, he never lost sight of the fact that he had been born in the slums. 不管他变得多么有钱、多么出名，他始终不曾忘记自己出生于贫民窟。

lose sleep over　v. phr. To worry about something. 因牵挂（某事）而睡不着觉；为（某事）而担忧（或操心）。◆ "The tests have turned out to be negative, you're doing just fine. Just go home and don't lose any sleep over your health," the doctor said toJoe. “化验结果均呈阴性，说明你的健康状况很好。那就回家吧，别因为担心自己的身体而睡不着觉，”医生对乔说。

lose the thread of one's discourse or lose one's train of thought　v. phr. To forget what one was going to say next; forget where one was in telling a story. 失去讲话的线索；断了思路。◆ "Help me; where was I?" Joe asked his friends. "I am afraid I lost my train of thought." “帮我一下，我刚才说到哪里了？”乔问他的朋友们。“恐怕我的思路给打断了。”◆ Older people sometimes lose the thread of their discourse. 年纪大一点的人有时候说着说着话就会忘了话头。

lose touch　v. phr., informal To fail to keep in contact or communication. — Usually used with with. 〖非正式〗失去联系。——通常与with连用。◆ After she moved to another town, she lost touch with her childhood friends. 她搬到另一个城镇后，便与儿时的朋友失去了联系。

lose track　v. phr. To forget about something; not stay informed; fail to keep a count or record. 忘记；没跟上…的进展；与…失去联系；未计算；未记录。◆ What's the score now? I've lost track. 现在的比分是多少？我也不清楚。— Used with of. 常与of连用。◆ John lost track of the money he spent at the circus. 约翰没有计算他在马戏场花了多少钱。

lost cause　n. phr. A movement that has failed and has no chance to be revived. 败局已定的事业。◆ Communism in Eastern Europe has become a lost cause. 共产主义在东欧败局已定。

lost to view　adj. phr. Gone from one's sight; off the radar screen; vanished. 从视野中消失；从雷达网上消失；消失不见。◆ At first the marines could see the enemy soldiers in the field, but after a sudden cloudburst, they were lost to view. 开始时海军陆战队的官兵还能看到战场上的敌军士兵，但在突如其来的一阵倾盆大雨之后，他们便消失不见了。◆ The submarine commander was able to observe the enemy destroyer for a while, but the vessel went off the radar screen and became lost to view. 有一段时间，潜水艇艇长还能看到敌人的驱逐艇，但突然驱逐艇就离开了雷达网，消失不见了。

lost upon　adj. Wasted.对…是浪费；对…不起作用。◆ Tim's generosity is completely lost upon Sue; he can't expect any gratitude from her. 蒂姆的慷慨对苏毫无作用，他别想指望她会感激他。

loud mouth or big mouth　n., slang A noisy, boastful, or foolish talker. 〖俚〗大嘴巴；叽里呱啦的人；爱吹牛的人；信口乱说的人。◆ Fritz is a loud mouth who cannot be trusted with secrets. 弗里茨是个大嘴巴，什么秘密都不能告诉他。

loud-mouthed or big-mouthed　adj., slang Talking noisily, boastfully, or foolishly. 〖俚〗叽里呱啦的，爱吹牛的；信口乱说的。◆ Fred was a loud-mouthed fellow, whose talk no one listened to. 弗雷德是个爱吹牛的家伙，没有人愿意听他胡说八道。

lounge lizard　n. phr. A well-dressed male fortune hunter who sits around in bars and other public places, and attends many social events to try to pick up wealthy women through smart conversation. 喜欢在社交圈厮混追逐有钱女人的男人；花花公子。◆ Harry has the reputation of being a lounge lizard; he is looking for a rich wife. 哈里是个出了名的花花公子，他想娶个富婆为妻。

louse up　v., slang To throw into confusion; make a mess of; spoil; ruin. 〖俚〗搞糟；弄乱；毁坏。◆ The rain loused up the picnic. 这场雨毁了这次野餐。

love affair　n. A friendship between lovers; a romance or courtship. 恋爱关系；风流韵事。◆ The love affair of Bob and Jane went on for months. 鲍勃和简的恋爱关系持续了好几个月。

love-in　n., slang, informal A festival or occasion to celebrate life, human sensuality, the beauty of nature, human sexuality, and universal love; affairs so conceived by some frequently deteriorate into obscenity and drug using sessions in parody of their stated purpose. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（颓废派青年、嬉皮士等的）爱情聚会。◆ The hippies gathered for a big lovein in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. 嬉皮士们聚集在旧金山的海特—阿什伯里地区举行了一次盛大的爱情聚会。

lovers' lane　n. A hidden road or walk where lovers walk or park in the evening. （适于恋人们谈情说爱的）僻静小径，情侣小径。◆ A parked car in a lonely lover's lane often is a chance for holdup men. 停在僻静的情侣小径上的汽车经常是歹徒抢劫的对象。

lowbrow　n. A person of limited culture; a nonintellectual. 缺乏文化修养的人；对文化艺术不感兴趣的人。◆ Some people claim that only lowbrows read the comics. 有些人声称，只有缺乏文化修养的人才看连环漫画。

lowdown　n., slang, informal The inside facts of a matter; the total truth. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗内幕；真相；实情。◆ Nixon never gave the American people the lowdown on Watergate. 尼克松从未将“水门事件”的内幕实情告诉美国人民。

lower the boom　v. phr., informal To punish strictly; check or stop fully. 〖非正式〗严惩；严查；严禁。◆ The police lowered the boom on open gambling. 警方严禁公开赌博。

low-key　adj. Relaxed and easygoing. 无拘无束的，随意的。◆ Surprisingly, dinner with the governor was a lowkey affair. 出乎意料的是，与州长共进晚餐竟然很轻松随意。

luck of the Devil or the Devil's own luck　n. phr. Incredible, fantastic luck. 极好的运气；难以置信的好运。◆ John keeps winning lots of money in Las Vegas, and hardly ever loses. He appears to have the luck of the Devil. 约翰一直能在拉斯韦加斯赢到很多钱，几乎从未输过。看来他真是交了好运。

luck out　v. phr., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. Suddenly to get lucky when in fact the odds are against one's succeeding. 逢凶化吉；走运；交好运。◆ I was sure I was going to miss the train as I was three minutes late, but I lucked out; the train was five minutes late. 我晚了3分钟，本以为肯定赶不上火车了，可我运气好，火车竟晚点了5分钟。2. To be extraordinarily fortunate. 运气特别好。◆ Catwallender really lucked out at Las Vegas last month; he came home with $10,000 in cash. 卡特瓦伦德上个月在拉斯维加斯运气特别好，他赢了1万美元现金带回家。3. (By sarcastic opposition) to be extremely unfortunate; to be killed. 〖讽〗特别倒霉；被杀死。◆ Those poor marines sure lucked out in Saigon, didn't they? 那些可怜的海军陆战队员肯定是在西贡被杀的，不是吗？

lucky star　n. A certain star or planet which, by itself or with others, is seriously or jokingly thought to bring a person good luck and success in life. 幸运之星。◆ Ted was unhurt in the car accident, for which he thanked his lucky stars. 泰德在车祸中安然无恙，为此他感谢他的幸运之星。

lump in one's throat　n. phr. A feeling (as of grief or pride) so strong that you almost sob. （因悲伤或自豪等强烈感情而形成的）哽咽；喉咙哽住。◆ The bride's mother had a lump in her throat. 新娘的母亲因激动而哽咽欲泣。

lump sum　n. The complete amount; a total agreed upon and to be paid at one time. 总额；一次总付的金额。◆ The case was settled out of court with the plaintiff receiving a lump sum of half a million dollars for damages. 这件案子在庭外解决了，原告一次性获得了50万美元的赔偿。

lunar module (L. M.) or Lem　n., Space English That portion of the rocket assemblage on a flight to the Moon in which the astronauts descend to the Moon's surface. 〖航天〗登月舱。◆ Building the L.M. was one of the most expensive parts of the American space program. 建造登月舱是美国航天计划中花费最大的部分之一。

lust for　v. phr. To physically yearn for; hanker after; want something very strongly. 贪求；贪恋；渴望。◆ Ed has been lusting after Meg for a very long time. 很长一段时间以来，埃德一直贪恋着梅格。

◆M◆

mad about　adj. phr. 1. Angry about. 对…生气。◆ What is Harriet so mad about? 哈丽特这么生气是因为什么？。2. Enthusiastic about. 对…着迷；痴迷。◆ Dan is mad about pop music. 丹对流行音乐非常着迷。

mad as a hatter or mad as a March hare　adj. phr. Not able to think right; crazy. 疯疯癫癫的；疯狂的。◆ Anyone who thinks the moon is made of green cheese is mad as a hatter. 谁要是以为月亮是绿奶酪做成的，他一定疯了。

mad as a hornet or mad as a wet hen　adj. phr., informal In a fighting mood; very angry. 〖非正式〗暴跳如雷的；气得发狂的；狂怒。◆ When my father sees the dent in his fender, he'll be mad as a hornet. 我父亲要看到挡泥板上的凹痕，肯定会暴跳如雷的。◆ Mrs. Harris was mad as a wet hen when the rabbits ate her tulips. 哈里斯夫人气得要死，因为兔子吃了她的郁金香。

made of money　adj. phr. Very rich; wealthy. 很有钱的，富有的。◆ Mr. Jones buys his children everything they want. He must be made of money. 孩子们要什么琼斯先生就给他们买什么。他一定很有钱。

made-to-measure or tailor-made　adj. Made to fit a special set of measurements or needs. 特制的；定做的；符合特殊需要的。◆ John has a new made-to-measure suit. 约翰有一套定做的新西服。

made to order　adj. phr. 1. Made specially in the way the buyer wants instead of all the same in large amounts; made especially for the buyer. 定做的。◆ Mr. Black's clothes were all made to order. 布莱克先生的衣服都是定做的。2. Just right.正好。◆ The weather was made to order for the hike. 这种天气正好去远足。

magic carpet　n. 1. A rug said to be able to transport a person through the air to any place he wishes. （《一千零一夜》中能载人飞行的）魔毯。◆ The caliph of Baghdad flew on his magic carpet to Arabia. 巴格达的哈里发乘坐着魔毯飞往阿拉伯半岛。2. Any form of transportation that is comfortable and easy enough to seem magical. 舒适、便捷的交通工具；魔毯式飞行器。◆ Mr. Smith's new car drove so smoothly it seemed like a magic carpet. 史密斯先生的新车开起来非常平稳，就像是块魔毯。

maiden speech　n. phr. One's first public speech, usually before some legislative body. （通常指某人在立法机关里的）首次演说。◆ It was the new congressman's maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly. 这是那位新议员的首次演说，所有人都听得很认真。

maiden voyage　n. phr. The first voyage of a boat. 处女航；首航。◆ The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage to America from England. “泰坦尼克号”在由英格兰开往美国的处女航中沉没。

mail order　n. phr. A purchase made by mail. 邮购。◆ If you don't have a chance to go to a store, you can sometimes make a purchase by mail order. 如果你没有时间去商店，有时你可以通过邮购买东西。

main drag　n., colloquial〖口〗1. The most important street or thoroughfare in a town. （城镇的）主要街道；大街。◆ Lincoln Avenue is the main drag of our town. 林肯大道是我们镇上的主要街道。2. The street where the dope pushers and the prostitutes are. 毒贩与妓女出没的街道。◆ Wells Street is the main drag of Chicago, action-wise. 威尔斯街是芝加哥的红灯区。

main squeeze　n., slang〖俚〗1. The top ranking person in an organization or in a neighborhood; an important person, such as one's boss. （某一组织或地区的）头面人物；重要人物；老板；工头。◆ Mr. Bronchard is the main squeeze in this office. 布朗查德先生是这个办公室里的头儿。2. The top person in charge of an illegal operation, such as drug sales, etc. 首恶；元凶。◆ Before we can clean up this part of town, we must arrest the main squeeze. 我们要清除城镇这一地区的不法之徒，就必须先逮捕首恶。3. One's principal romantic or sexual partner. 情人。◆ The singer's main squeeze is a member of the band. 那位歌手的情人是乐队里的一名乐手。

majority leader　n. The leader of the political party with the most votes in a legislative house. 多数党领袖。◆ The majority leader of the House of Representatives tried to get the members of his party to support the bill. 众议院多数党领袖设法使本党成员支持这一法案。

make a beeline for　v. phr. To go in a straight line toward. 径直向…走去；直奔。◆ When the bell rang Ted made a beeline for the door of the classroom. 铃声一响，泰德便径直朝教室门奔去。

make or build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door　Often heard when one invents an improved version of a commonly used item, comparable in its simplicity to a mousetrap. — A proverb. 〖谚〗哪怕改进一个小的捕鼠器，世人也会争先恐后来找你；改进适路的产品可以引来无限商机。◆ Volkswagen improved the little car called "the bug." Goes to show that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. 大众汽车公司改进了那种叫“甲虫”的小车。这表明改进适路的产品就可以引来无限的商机。

make a big deal about　v. phr., informal To exaggerate an insignificant event. 〖非正式〗对…小题大做。◆ Jeff said, "I'm sorry I banged into you in the dark. Don't make a big deal out of it." 杰夫说：“对不起，我在黑暗中，撞了你。不要小题大做。”

make a blunder　v. phr. To make a bad mistake; spoil something by carelessness. 犯大错误。◆ The chancellor of our university was forced to resign because administrators at our medical school made a blunder with experimental subjects. 我们大学的校医学院管理人员在实验对象问题上犯了大错而被迫辞职。

make a clean breast of　v. phr. To admit (your guilt); tell all about (your wrong doing); confess everything. 承认（罪行）；彻底坦白；和盘托出。◆ Arthur worried because he cheated on the test, and finally he went to the teacher and made a clean breast of it. 阿瑟因考试作弊而感到不安，最后到老师那儿承认了错误。

make a clean sweep of　v. phr. 1. Achieve a complete victory. 大获全胜。◆ In 1980 the Reagan Republicans made a clean sweep of the western states. 1980年，里根领导的共和党在西部各州大获全胜。2. To eliminate thoroughly and completely. 彻底清除；全部撤换。◆ The new attorney general is expected to make a clean sweep of all the old administrative personnel. 预计新任司法部长会撤换全部老的行政人员。

make a comeback　v. phr. To reappear on the social, sports, artistic, or professional scene after a period of inactivity, absence, or illness. 东山再起；卷土重来；复出。◆ The legendary Michael Jordan made a comeback when he came out of retirement and started playing basketball again. 传奇巨星迈克尔·乔丹又打起了篮球。

make a day of it　v. phr., informal To do something all day. 〖非正式〗干上整整一天；玩它一整天。◆ When they go to the beach they take a picnic lunch and make a day of it. 他们每次去海边，总在那儿野餐，玩上一整天。

make a dent in　v. phr., informal To make less by a very small amount; reduce slightly. — Usually used in the negative or with such qualifying words as hardly or barely. 〖非正式〗在…方面取得初步进展；略为减少。——通常用于否定句或与hardly 或barely等限定词连用。◆ Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework. 玛丽整整一个下午都在学习，却只做了一点点作业。

make a difference or make the difference　v. phr. To change the nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. 有影响；很重要；起作用。◆ John's good score on the test made the difference between his passing or failing the course. 约翰这次考试成绩很好，从而使他通过了这门功课。

make a face　v. phr., informal To twist your face; make an ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue). 〖非正式〗做怪相；（伸出舌头）做鬼脸。◆ The boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back. 老师转过身去时，那个男孩对着她做了个鬼脸。

make a fast buck　See见FAST BUCK.

make a federal case out of　See见MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

make a fool of or (informal) make a monkey of　v. phr. To make (someone)look foolish. 愚弄（某人）。◆ The boy made a fool of himself. 那位男孩自己出丑了。

make after　v. phr. To chase something; run after something. 追逐；追赶。◆ The mouse escaped from the kitchen corner and the cat made after it. 老鼠从厨房的一角逃出去，猫在后边追。

make a fuss over　v. phr. 1. To quarrel about something or someone. 为…争吵；争执。◆ I want you kids to stop fussing about who gets the drumstick. 我希望你们这些孩子不要再为争鸡腿吵闹了。2. To be excessively concerned about someone or something; worry. 对…大惊小怪；对…小题大做。◆ Let's not fuss over such an insignificant problem! 咱们别对这样一个无关紧要的问题大惊小怪了！3. To show exaggerated care or preoccupation about a person or an animal. 过分关心（某人或某动物）。◆ Aunt Hermione is constantly fussing over her old lapdog. 赫迈厄妮姨妈一直百般溺爱她那条老巴儿狗。

make a go of　v. phr. To turn into a success. 使成功；取得好结果。◆ He is both energetic and highly skilled at trading; he is sure to make a go of any business that holds his interest. 他精力旺盛又熟谙经营之道，只要他感兴趣的生意就一定能做成。

make a hit　v. phr., informal To be successful; be well-liked; get along well. 〖非正式〗大获成功；大受欢迎；进展顺利。◆ Mary's new red dress made a hit at the party. 玛丽那条红色的新衣裙在宴会上很抢眼。

make a killing　v. phr. To earn or suddenly win a very large sum of monkey. 突然赚到（或赢得一大笔钱）。◆ Herb bought a lot of soybean stock when the price was low and sold it when the price went up. Small wonder he made a huge killing. 赫伯在价格低时购进大量大豆股票，又在价格上扬时抛出。难怪他赚了一大笔钱。

make a living　v. phr. To earn one's livelihood. 谋生。◆ It is easier to make a living in the United States than in many other countries. 在美国谋生要比在别的许多国家容易。

make allowances　v. phr. To judge results by the circumstances. 考虑；体谅。◆ When a small boy is helping you, you must make allowances for his age. 一个小男孩帮你忙时，你必须考虑到他的年龄。

make a long story short　v. phr. To summarize a lengthy narrative. 简而言之，长话短说。◆ "So, to make a long story short," he said, "I made a killing on the stock market." “简而言之，”他说，“我在证券市场上大赚了一笔。”

make a match　v. phr. To bring a man and woman together for the purpose of an engagement or marriage. 促成亲事；撮合成一对。◆ Sheila's aunt is anxious to make a match between her and an attractive, wealthy man. 希拉的姑姑急于要把她和一位迷人而富有的男子撮合成一对。

make a mess of　See见SCREW UP.

make a motion　v. phr. To propose in some committee meeting or legislative group that a certain action be taken. 提出，动议。◆ The secretary made a motion that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted. 秘书提议接受上次会议的记录。

make a mountain out of a molehill　To think a small problem is a big one; try to make something unimportant seem important. 小题大做。◆ You're not hurt badly, Johnny. Stop trying to make a mountain out of a molehill with crying. 约翰尼，你伤得并不重，别大哭小叫的。

make a move　v. phr. 1. To budge; change places. 动一动；移动。◆ "If you make a move," the masked gangster said, "I'll start shooting." “如果你动一动，”戴面罩的匪徒说，“我就开枪。”2. To go home after dinner or a party. 离开（宴会回家）；告辞。◆ "I guess it's time to make a move," Roy said at the end of the party. 聚会结束时，罗伊说：“我想我们该走了。”

make a name for oneself　v. phr. To become recognized in a field of endeavor; become a celebrity. 成名；出名。◆ Bill has made a name for himself both as a pianist and as a composer. 比尔作为钢琴家和作曲家都已成名。

make an end of　v. phr. To make (something) end; put a stop to; stop. 终止（某事）；制止；停止。◆ To make an end of rumors that the house was haunted, a reporter spent the night there. 为了终止那房子闹鬼的谣传，一位记者在那儿住了一夜。

make an example of　v. phr. To punish (someone) publicly to show what happens when someone does wrong. 惩罚（某人）儆戒他人；惩一儆百。◆ The Pilgrims made an example of a thief by putting him in the stocks. 清教徒前辈移民给小偷戴上手枷以惩一儆百。

make an exhibition of oneself　v. phr. To behave foolishly or embarrassingly in public. 当众出丑，出洋相。◆ Stop drinking so much and making an exhibition of yourself. 不要喝那么多，免得当众出丑了。

make a night of it　v. phr., informal To spend the whole night at an activity. 〖非正式〗通宵做一件事。◆ The boys and girls at the dance made a night of it. 参加舞会的男女青年跳了个通宵。

make an issue　v. phr. To complain about something; protest against a certain way of treatment; to animatedly discuss and bring something into question. 抱怨；抗议；制造争端；挑起争论。◆ The mailman always mixes up the letters, putting them into the wrong boxes, but he is such a nice helpful person that we won't make an issue over this. 那位邮递员总是把信件弄乱，投错信箱，但他是个非常肯帮忙的人，我们不会为这事制造争端。

make a nuisance of oneself　v. phr. To constantly bother others. 惹人讨厌。◆ The screaming kids made a nuisance of themselves around the swimming pool. 那些尖叫的孩子在游泳池周围惹人讨厌。

make a pass at　v. phr., slang, informal Make advances toward a member of the opposite sex (usually man to a woman) with the goal of seducing the person. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗同（异性）调情、勾引（异性）（通常指男性对女性）；向（女性）作过分亲热的表示。◆ We've been dating for four weeks but Joe has never even made a pass at me. 我们约会有4个星期了，但乔还未对我有过任何亲昵之举。

make a pig of oneself　v. phr., informal To overindulge; eat too much. 〖非正式〗过分放纵自己；吃得过多◆ Mary said, "This dessert is so delicious that I am going to make a pig of myself and have some more." 玛丽说：“这甜点真好吃，我要放纵一下自己，再多吃些。”

make a play for　v. phr., slang To try to get the interest or liking of; flirt with; attract. 〖俚〗尽力讨好；同…调情；吸引。◆ Bob made a play for the pretty new girl. 鲍勃尽力讨好那位新来的漂亮女孩。

make a plug for or put in a plug for　To ask for a favor; recommend; promote a cause or a friend. 赞美；推荐；宣传。◆ "Let me put in a plug for publishing this article by one of my colleagues," Professor Fish asked the editor of the Journal of American Speech. 菲什教授对《美国语》杂志的编辑说：“我要推荐一位同事写的这篇论文供你们发表。”

make a point　v. phr. To try hard; make a special effort. — Used with of and a verbal noun. 努力设法；特意。——与of和动名词连用。◆ He made a point of remembering to get his glasses fixed. 他竭力记得去修眼镜。

make a practice of　v. phr. To make a habit of; do regularly. 养成…的习惯；经常做（某事）。◆ Make a practice of being on time for work. 养成准时上班的习惯。

make a quick buck　See 见 FAST BUCK.

make a racket　v. phr. To cause a lot of noisy disturbance. 大声喧闹。◆ I wish the kids playing in the street wouldn't make such a racket while I'm trying to take a nap. 我希望在街上玩耍的孩子们在我午休时别太吵闹。

make a scene　v. phr. To act hysterically; attract unfavorable attention. 大吵大闹；当众吵闹。◆ I didn't want Kate to make a scene in front of all of those people, so I gave her the money she wanted. 我不希望凯特当着那些人的面大吵大闹，就把她要的钱给她了。

make a splash　v. phr. To cause a sensation. 引起轰动。◆ The brilliant young pianist, barely 14 years old, made quite a splash on the concert circuit. 那位才华横溢的钢琴家，才14岁就在巡回演出中引起了轰动。

make a stab at　v. phr. To try doing something at random without sufficient preparation. 试图做，尝试。◆ The singer was not familiar with the aria but she decided to make a stab at it anyhow. 那位歌唱家对咏叹调并不熟悉，但她决定无论如何也要试一试。

make a stand　v. phr. 1. To take a firm position on an issue. 采取坚定立场。◆ He keeps talking about politics but he never makes a stand for what he believes in. 他不停地谈论政治，但对其信仰却从来没有坚定的立场。2. To take up a defensive position against the enemy. 抗击，抵抗。◆ The retreating troops decided to make a stand by the river. 后撤的部队决定在河边抗击敌人。

make a touch　v. phr. To borrow money; try to borrow money. 借钱；想借钱。◆ He is known to make a touch whenever he is hard up for cash. 大家都知道，他手头一紧就借钱。

make a virtue of necessity　v. phr. Make the best of things as they are; do cheerfully what you do. 随遇而安；高高兴兴地做非做不可的事。◆ After Mr. Wilson lost all his money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting life as a teacher. 威尔逊先生失去所有的钱后随遇而安，他发现做一名老师是一种新鲜而有趣的生活。

make away with　v., informal Take; carry away; cause to disappear. 〖非正式〗拿走；携…而逃；使消失。◆ Two masked men held up the clerk and made away with the payroll. 两个蒙面人拦劫了那个办事员，把发工资的钱全抢走了。

make-believe　n. False; untrue; created by illusion. 假的；虚假的；虚幻的。◆ The creatures of Star Wars are all make-believe. 《星球大战》里的生物都是假的。

make believe　v. To act as if something is true while one knows it is not; pretend. 假装。◆ Let's make believe we have a million dollars. 让我们假装我们是百万富翁。

make book　v. phr. To serve as a bookmaker taking bets on the horse races. （在赛马中）接受并代入赌注。◆ The police were out to prosecute anybody who made book illegally. 警方出面起诉任何非法赌注登记经纪人。

make bricks without straw　v. phr. To make something without the wherewithal; do something the hard way; do a job under hard conditions. 做无米之炊；艰难地做某事；在艰难的条件下做事。◆ John could not go to a library, and writing the report was a job of making bricks without straw. 约翰无法去图书馆，这份报告是在缺乏材料的情况下写成的。

make certain　v. phr. Ascertain; assure; insure. 弄确实，弄清楚；确保；保证。◆ I need delivery confirmation on that priority mail. I want to make certain that my friend got my manuscript. 我需要那份加急邮件的投递证明书。我要确保我的朋友拿到了我的手稿。

make clear or make it perfectly clear　v. phr. To clarify; explain; assert forcefully. 澄清；阐明。◆ "Let me make clear what I think," the director said. "people absent without a doctor's certificate will get their pay reduced. “让我清楚地说出我的想法，”主任说。“凡无医生证明而缺席者将被扣工资。”◆ I want to make it perfectly clear that cheating on final exams will result in disciplinary action. 我要非常明确地告诉你们，期终考试作弊将会受到纪律处分。

make conversation　v. phr. To talk with someone just so that there will be talk. 没话找话；闲聊。◆ John made conversation with the stranger so that he would not feel left out. 约翰没话找话地与那个陌生人闲聊，免得他感到受冷落。

make do　v. phr. To use a poor substitute when one does not have the right thing. 将就使用；凑合着用。◆ Many families manage to make do on very little income. 许多家庭仅靠很少的收入为生。

make ends meet　v. phr. To have enough money to pay one's bills; earn what it costs to live. 收支相抵；靠微薄收入为生。◆ Both husband and wife had to work to make ends meet. 夫妻俩都得去工作才能维持家用。

make eyes at　v. phr., informal To look at a girl or boy in a way that tries to attract him or her to you; flirt. 〖非正式〗向…送秋波；向…使媚眼。◆ The other girls disliked her way of making eyes at their boyfriends instead of finding one of her own. 她自己不找男朋友却向别的姑娘的男友送秋波，所以她们都讨厌她的这种做法。

make faces at　v. phr. To grimace; scowl. 对…做鬼脸；对…做怪相；愁眉苦脸。◆ "Stop making faces at each other, you children," my aunt said, "and start eating." 我姑姑说：“别相互做鬼脸了，孩子们，开始吃饭吧！”

make for　v. To go toward; start in the direction of. 朝…走去；朝…前进。◆ The children took their ice skates and made for the frozen pond. 孩子们拿了溜冰鞋向结了冰的池塘走去。

make free with　v. 1. To take or use (things) without asking. 擅自拿走；擅自使用。◆ Bob makes free with his roommate's clothes. 鲍勃随便穿室友的衣服。2. To act toward (someone) in a rude or impolite way. 对（某人）无礼；对（某人）放肆。◆ The girls don't like Ted because he makes free with them. 女孩们不喜欢泰德，因为他对她们很放肆。

make friends　v. phr. To become friends; form a friendship. 交朋友；建立友谊。◆ You can make friends with an elephant by giving him peanuts. 你给大象一些花生，就能跟它建立友情。

make fun of or poke fun at　v. phr., informal To joke about; laugh at; tease; mock. 〖非正式〗拿…开玩笑；嘲弄。◆ Men like to make fun of the trimmings on women's hats. 男人喜欢拿女人帽子上的花饰寻开心。◆ James poked fun at the new pupil because her speech was not like the other pupils. 詹姆斯嘲笑那个新同学，因为她说话和别的同学不一样。

make good　v. phr. 1. To do what one promised to do; make something come true. 履行（诺言）；实现。◆ Joe made good his boast to swim across the lake. 乔夸口要游到湖对岸，结果他真的做到了。2. To compensate; pay for loss or damage. 补偿；赔偿损失。◆ The policeman told the boy's parents that the boy must make good the money he had stolen or go to jail. 警察告诉男孩的父母，他必须如数归还所偷的钱，不然就得坐牢。3. To do good work at one's job; succeed. 做好工作；成功。◆ Kate wanted to be a nurse. She studied and worked hard in school. Then she got a job in the hospital and made good as a nurse. 凯特想当护士，她在学校里刻苦学习，后来她在一家医院找到一份工作，成为一名出色的护士。

make good time　v. phr. To make unimpeded progress on a journey; arrive at one's destination sooner than estimated. 旅行顺利；走得快；用较短的时间到达目的地。◆ There was not much traffic on the expressway so we made good time on our way to the airport. 高速公路上车辆不是很多，所以我们提前到达了机场。

make haste　v. phr. To move fast; hurry. 赶紧；赶快。◆ Marry saw that she had hurt Jane's feelings, and made haste to say she was sorry. 玛丽发现自己伤了简的感情，于是连忙说对不起。

make hay while the sun shines　v. phr. To do something at the right time; not wait too long. 晒草要趁太阳好；抓紧时机。◆ Dick had a free hour so he made hay while the sun shone and got his lesson for the next day. 迪克有一个小时的空闲，于是，他便抓紧时间准备第二天的功课。

make head or tail of　v. phr., informal To see the why of; finding a meaning in; understand. — Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. 〖非正式〗弄清楚；了解；理解。——用于否定句、条件句和疑问句。◆ Can you make head or tail of the letter? 你能看懂这封信吗？

make headway　v. phr. To move forward; make progress. 前进；取得进展（或进步）。◆ The university is making headway with its campus reorganization project. 这所大学的校园整顿工程正取得进展。

make it hot　v. phr., informal To bring punishment; cause trouble. 〖非正式〗报复；刁难。◆ Dick threatened to make it hot for anyone who tied knots in his pajama legs again. 迪克威胁说，谁要是再给他的睡衣裤腿打结，他就不定气了。

make it snappy　v. phr., informal To move quickly; be fast; hurry. — Usually used as a command. 〖非正式〗赶快；赶紧。——通常用作命令。◆ "Make it snappy," Mother said, "or we'll be late for the movie." “动作快点，”母亲说，“不然我们看电影就要迟到了。”

make it to the big time　v. phr., informal To succeed in becoming famous and rich, a part of the elite. 〖非正式〗飞黄腾达；成名致富；成为名流。◆ Kim Novak used to work as a supermarket checkout girl before she was discovered by a Hollywood director; after that she made it to the big time in Alfred Hitchcock's films. 在被好莱坞的一位导演发现以前，金·诺瓦克曾在一家超市做收银员；后来她在艾尔弗雷德·希区柯克的电影中成了大明星。

make it with　v. phr., slang, informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. To be accepted by a group. 被接受。◆ Joe finally made it with the in crowd in Hollywood. 乔终于被好莱坞的小圈子所接受。2. vulgar To have sex with (someone). 〖粗〗与（某人）有性关系。◆ I wonder if Joe has made it with Sue. 我不知道乔和苏之间是否已有过性关系。

make light of　v. phr. To treat an important matter as if it were trivial. 视…为微不足道；轻视。◆ One ought to know which problems to make light of and which ones to handle seriously. 一个人应该知道哪些问题可以不在乎，而哪些问题却要认真对待。

make little of　v. phr. To make (something) seem unimportant; belittle. 对…不以为意；轻视，小看，贬低。◆ Tom made little of his saving the drowning boy. 汤姆认为自己救起溺水男孩的事没什么了不起。

make love　v. phr. 1. To be warm, loving, and tender toward someone of the opposite sex; try to get him or her to love you too. 向（异性）表示爱情；求爱。◆ There was moonlight on the roses and he made love to her in the porch swing. 月光洒在玫瑰上，他在游廊的秋千上向她求爱。2. To have sexual relations with (someone). 发生性关系；做爱。◆ It is rumored that Alfred makes love to every girl he hires as a secretary. 有谣传说阿尔弗雷德与他雇作秘书的每个女孩都有性关系。

make merry　v. phr., literary To have fun, laugh, and be happy. 〖文〗尽情欢乐；寻欢作乐。◆ In Aesop's fable the grasshopper made merry while the ant worked and saved up food. 在伊索寓言里，蚂蚁忙着储藏食物时，而蚱蜢却在寻欢作乐。

make mincemeat(out) of　v. phr. To destroy completely. 摧毁；彻底击溃；把…驳得体无完肤。◆ The defense attorney made mincemeat of the prosecution's argument. 被告律师把原告律师的论点驳得体无完肤。

make neither head nor tail of　v. phr. To be unable to figure something out. 弄不清楚；不理解。◆ This puzzle is so complicated that I can make neither head nor tail of it. 这道难题太复杂了，我一点也弄不清楚。

make no bones　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To have no doubts; not to worry about right or wrong; not to be against. — Used with about. 毫不怀疑；毫无顾忌；不反对。——与about 连用。◆ The boss made no bones about hiring extra help for the holidays. 老板并不反对在假日多雇用一些帮工。2. To make no secret; not keep from talking; admit. — Used with about or of the fact. 毫不掩饰；直言不讳；承认。——与about或of the fact连用。◆ John thinks being poor is no disgrace and he makes no bones of the fact. 约翰认为穷并不丢脸，所以他对此毫不掩饰。

make no mistake　v. phr., always in the negative To be certain; understand me well; don't think wrong thoughts. 完全可以肯定；毫无疑问；不要弄错。◆ "We suffered great losses and a terrible shock on 9/11/01, but make no mistake — no terrorist shall ever intimidate us Americans," the mayor of New York said. “2001年9月11日，我们遭到了重大的损失和极大的打击，但毫无疑问，任何恐怖分子都休想吓倒我们美国人，”纽约市长说。

make of　v. phr. To interpret; understand. 解释；理解。◆ What do you make of his sudden decision to go to Africa? 你对他突然决定要去非洲怎么看？

make off　v. To go away; run away; leave. 走开；逃走；离去。◆ A thief stopped John on a dark street and made off with his wallet. 一个小偷在一条暗街拦住了约翰，抢了他的钱包逃走了。

make one feel at home　v. phr. To be hospitable; welcome; make someone feel at ease. 热情接待某人；欢迎某人；使某人感到像在家中一样随便（或无拘无束）。◆ They are very popular hosts because they always manage to make their guests feel at home. 他们很会待客，总能让客人们感到无拘无束。

make one out to be　v. phr. To accuse someone of being something. 指责某人是；把某人说成是。◆ Don't make me out to be such a grouch; I am really quite happy-go-lucky. 别指责我牢骚满腹，其实我是个随遇而安的人。

make one's bed and lie in it　To be responsible for what you have done and so to have to accept the bad resuits. 自作自受，自食其果。◆ Billy smoked one of his father's cigars and now he is sick. He made his bed, now let him lie in it. 比利抽了他父亲的一根雪茄，他现在病了，真是自作自受。

make one's blood boil or make the blood boil　v. phr., informal To make someone very angry. 〖非正式〗使某人怒火中烧。◆ When someone calls me a liar it makes my blood boil. 如果有人说我是个说谎的骗子，我就会火冒三丈。

make one's day　v. phr. To cause one to feel to have been successful; to please someone. (Often used in the imperative as an exclamation; used as a threat.)（常作为感叹语用于祈使句；用作威胁）成全某人；使某人高兴。◆ "Go ahead and try to shoot me!" the sheriff cried at the outlaws reaching for his own gun. "Make my day!"“来吧，对我开枪吧！”警长一边掏枪一边对那些歹徒喊道。“成全我吧！”

make oneself at home　v. phr. To feel comfortable; act as if you were in your own home.（像在家里一样）随便，自在；无拘束。◆ If you get to my house before I do, help yourself to a drink and make yourself at home. 如果你比我先到我家，请自己弄点喝的，别拘束。

make oneself scarce　v. phr., slang To leave quickly; go away. 〖俚〗迅速离开；溜走。◆ The boys made themselves scarce when they saw the principal coming to stop their noise. 那些男孩看到校长来制止他们吵闹就溜走了。

make one's head spin　v. phr. To be bewildered; be confused. 使某人头昏脑涨；使某人迷惑不解。◆ It makes my head spin to think about the amount of work I still have to do. 一想到还有那么多工作要做，我就头昏。

make one's mark　v. phr. To become known to many people; do well the work you started to do; make a reputation. 出名；出人头地；成名。◆ Shakespeare made his mark as a playwright. 莎士比亚作为剧作家而闻名于世。

make one's mouth water　v. phr. 1. To look or smell very good; make you want very much to eat or drink something you see or smell. 使某人馋得流口水。◆ The pies in the store window made Dan's mouth water. 橱窗里的馅饼使丹馋得直流口水。2. To be attractive; make you want to have something very much. 使某人垂涎欲滴。◆ Judy loves Swiss chocolates, and the ones in the store window made her mouth water. 朱迪爱吃瑞士巧克力，橱窗里的巧克力令她垂涎欲滴。

make one's pile　v. phr. To make one's fortune. 发财；赚钱。◆ The rich man made his pile in the stock market. 那个有钱人是在股市上发的财。

make one's skin crawl　v. phr. To disgust someone; horrify and upset someone with revulsion. 使某人毛骨悚然；使某人皮肤起鸡皮疙瘩。◆ The sight of the enormous scorpion climbing up her bed, made Suzie's skin crawl. 看到一只大蝎子正爬上床，吓得苏茜毛骨悚然。◆ The discovery of a dead body in the closet made everyone's skin crawl. 在壁橱里发现了一具死尸吓得众人汗毛直竖。

make one's way　v. phr. 1. To go forward with difficulty; find a path for yourself. 艰难地前进；挤出一条路。◆ They made their way through the crowd. 他们艰难地穿过人群。2. To do many hard things to earn a living; make a life work for yourself. 艰苦谋生；自食其力。◆ He was anxious to finish school and make his own way in the world. 他渴望快点毕业好在社会上谋生。

make one tick　v. phr. To cause to operate; to motivate. 使某人活动；给某人以动力。◆ He is so secretive that we are unable to figure out what makes him tick. 他这个人讳莫如深，我们不明白他的动机是什么。

make or break　v. phr. To bring complete success or failure, victory or defeat. 使…大获成功或彻底失败。◆ Playing the role of Hamlet will make or break the young actor. 扮演哈姆雷特这一角色会使这位年轻演员或一鸣惊人，或一败涂地。

make out　v. 1. To write the facts asked for (as in an application blank or a report form); fill out. 写出；填写。◆ The teacher made out the report cars and gave them to the students to take home. 老师填好成绩报告单，交给学生们带回家。2. To see, hear, or understand by trying hard. 看出；听出；辨认出；理解。◆ It was dark, and we could not make out who was coming along the road. 天很黑，我们看不清路上走过来的是谁。3. informal To make someone believe; show; prove. 〖非正式〗使人相信；显示；证明。◆ Charles and Bob had a fight, and Charles tried to make out that Bob started it. 查尔斯和鲍勃打了一架，查尔斯试图证明是鲍勃先动的手。4. informal Do well enough; succeed. 〖非正式〗进展；成功。◆ John's father wanted John to do well in school and asked the teacher how John was making out. 约翰的父亲希望约翰在学校里表现良好，他向老师询问约翰在学校的情况。5. To kiss or pet. 亲吻；爱抚。◆ "What are Jack and Jill up to?" "They're making out on the back porch."“杰克和吉尔在干什么？”“他们在后门廊那儿亲热呢。”

make out a check　v. phr. To write one a check. 给某人开支票。◆ "How can I pay you?" Mrs. Smith asked the clerk in the store. "Just make out a check to Cash," the clerk replied. “我怎么付钱给你呢？”史密斯夫人问店里的营业员。“开张现金支票就行，”营业员回答说。

make over　v. 1. To change by law something from one owner to another owner; change the name on the title (lawful paper) from one owner to another. （通过法律）移交；转让。◆ Mr. Brown made over the title to the car to Mr. Jones. 布朗先生将汽车转让给了琼斯先生。2. To make something look different; change the style of. 翻新；改变。◆ He asked the tailor to make over his pants. 他要裁缝给他把裤子改一改。

make room for someone or something　v. phr. To accommodate a person physically; create space for someone; allow into one's life or sphere of activities. 给某人或某物让出地方；为某人或某物腾出位置（或空间）。◆ "So you're pregnant again?" Barry asked his wife, Donna Jo. "We already have four children," she answered. "We can always make room for a fifth one."“这么说你又怀孕了？”巴里问他的妻子唐娜·乔。“我们已经有了4个孩子，”她回答说。“我们总能为第5个腾出地方吧。”

make rounds　v. phr. To travel the same route, making several stops along the way. 挨户送信（或牛奶等）；巡视。◆ The doctor makes the rounds of the hospital rooms. 医生查房。

make sense　v. phr. 1. To be something you can understand or explain; not be difficult or strange. 有意义；讲得通；可以被理解。◆ The explanation in the school book made no sense because the words were hard. 这本教科书的解释叫人看不懂，因为用词太难。2. To seem right to do; sound reasonable or practical. 有道理；合乎情理。◆ Does it make sense to let little children play with matches? 让小孩子玩火柴对吗？

make sit up　v. phr. To shock to attention; surprise; create keen interest. 使警觉；使惊讶；使大感兴趣。◆ Her sudden appearance at the party and her amazingly low-cut dress made us all sit up. 她在晚会上的突然出现和她那大袒胸式的连衣裙使我们都大吃一惊。

make small talk　See 见 SMALL TALK.

make (something) fly　v. phr. To make something work; render something viable or functional. 使（某物）运转；使（某物）奏效；使（某物）切实可行（或可以实施）。◆ Bob has terrific ideas about how to improve sales, but he can't make them fly. 鲍勃对于改进销售有一些极好的想法，但他却无法使这些想法付诸实施。

make something of　v. phr. 1. To make (something) seem important. 使…显得重要。◆ When girls see another girl with a boy, they often try to make something of it. 姑娘们看到别的女孩和一个男孩在一起，常会小题大做张扬一番的。2. To start a fight over; use as an excuse to start a quarrel. 因…而争吵；借…生事。◆ Ann didn't like what Mary said about her. She tried to make something of what Mary said. 安不喜欢玛丽说她的话，便想方设法要跟她争吵。

make sport of　See 见 MAKE FUN OF.

make sure　v. phr. To see about something yourself; look at to be sure. 查明；弄清楚；确保。◆ Father makes sure that all the lights are off before he goes to bed. 父亲睡前总要检查一下灯是否都关了。

makes you think, doesn't it　adj. phr. Something that makes one wonder or reconsider a proposal; reevaluate a situation. 让你重新考虑（或评价），是不是。◆ "Susie is really nice, and I like her a lot," Bob said, "but she smokes three packs of cigarettes a day. Makes you think, doesn't it?"“苏茜的确很好，我也很喜欢她，”鲍勃说，“但她一天抽3包香烟。这就要让你重新考虑了，对不对？”

make the best of　v. phr. To do something you do not like to do and not complain; accept with good humor. （虽不喜欢却）尽力做好（某事）；以愉快的心情接受。◆ The girl did not like to wash dishes but she made the best of it. 那姑娘不愿洗盘子，但她还是尽力洗了。

make the feathers fly　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗To enjoy working; be strong and work hard. 干得带劲；干得卖力。◆ When Mrs. Hale did her spring cleaning she made the feathers fly. 黑尔夫人春季大扫除总是干得很带劲。

make the grade　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To make good; succeed. 做成功；成功。◆ It takes hard study to make the grade in school. 在学校必须刻苦学习才能取得好成绩。2. To meet a standard; qualify. 达到标准；合格。◆ That whole shipment of cattle made the grade as prime beef. 那批牛都达到了上等牛肉的标准。

make the most of　v. phr. To do the most you can with; get the most from; use to the greatest advantage. 尽量利用；充分利用。◆ She planned the weekend in town to make the most of it. 她计划充分利用周末在城里的时间多做些事情。

make the punishment fit the crime　Punishment should not be too severe or too light; it should be measured and proportional to the transgression committed. — A proverb. 〖谚〗使罪罚相当；以罪量刑。◆ In the Middle Ages if someone stole a chicken, his or her hand was cut off as punishment. It's probably worth two weeks in jail, but no more. The judges back then didn't know how to make the punishment fit the crime. 在中世纪时，如果某人偷了一只鸡，就要被剁去手以示惩罚。偷只鸡也许只是蹲两周监狱的事。而那时候的法官不知道该如何以罪量刑。

make the scene　v. phr., slang To be present; to arrive at a certain place or event. 〖俚〗出席；露面；到场。◆ I am too tired to make the scene; let's go home. 我太累了，不想去了。咱们回家吧。

make the supreme sacrifice　v. phr. To die. 牺牲自己的生命；捐躯。◆ The American military honors those who make the supreme sacrifice for their country. 美国军方向为国捐躯者致敬。

make time　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To be successful in arriving at a designated place in short or good time. 短时间内（或准时）到达指定地点。◆ We're supposed to be there at 6 P. M., and it's only 5:30 — we're making good time. 我们应该下午6点钟到那儿，现在才5点30分——我们肯定能赶到。2. To be successful in making sexual advances to someone 勾搭上（异性）。◆ Joe sure is making time with Sue, isn't he? 乔肯定和苏勾搭上了，对不对？

make tracks　v. phr., informal To go fast; get a speedy start; hurry. 〖非正式〗匆匆离去；跑开；快走。◆ Man, it's time we made tracks! 哎呀，咱们得快点儿走了！

makeup　n. (stress on make) 1. Cosmetics.（重读make）化妆品。◆ All the actors and actresses put on a lot of makeup. 男女演员都浓妆艳抹。2. Attributive auxiliary in lieu of, or belated. 补考；补课。◆ The professor gave a makeup to the sick students. 教授给那些生病的学生补了一次课。

make up　v. (stress on up) 1. To make by putting things or parts together. （重读up）组成，构成。◆ A car is made up of many different parts. 汽车由许多不同部件组成。2. To invent; think and say something that is new or not true. 发明；虚构；编造。◆ Jean makes up stories to amuse her little brother. 琼编一些故事逗她的小弟弟。3a. To do or provide (something lacking or needed); do or supply (something not done, lost, or missed); get back; regain; give back; repay. 弥补；补足；补偿；取回；偿还。◆ I have to make up the test I missed last week. 我得补上上周错过的考试。3b. To do what is lacking or needed; do or give what should be done or given; get or give back what has been lost, missed, or not done; get or give instead; pay back. — Used with for. 弥补；补偿；补给；偿还。——与for连用。◆ We made up for lost time by taking an airplane instead of a train. 我们没乘火车而改乘飞机以弥补失去的时间。4. To put on lipstick and face paint powder. 化妆。◆ Clowns always make up before a circus show. 小丑们在马戏表演前都要化妆。◆ Tom watched his sister make up her face for her date. 汤姆看着姐姐约会前梳妆打扮。5. To become friends again after a quarrel. 和解，言归于好。◆ Mary and Joan quarreled, but made up after a while. 玛丽和琼吵架了，不过一会儿就和好了。6. To try to make friends with someone; to win favor. — Followed by to. 讨好；巴结。——后跟to。◆ The new boy made up to the teacher by sharpening her pencils. 新来的男孩给老师削铅笔以讨好老师。

make up one's mind　v. phr. To choose what to do; decide. 下定决心；决定。◆ They made up their minds to sell the house. 他们决定把房子卖掉。

make waves　v. phr., informal Make one's influence felt; create a disturbance, a sensation. 〖非正式〗兴风作浪；引起混乱；引起轰动。◆ Joe Catwallender is the wrong man for the job; he is always trying to make waves. 乔·卡特沃伦德不适合做这份工作，他总想兴风作浪。

make way　v. phr. To move from in front so someone can go through; stand aside. 开路；让路。◆ When older men retire they make way for younger men to take their places. 老年人退休时让位给年轻人。

malfunction　n. phr., slang A problem. 〖俚〗问题。◆ Stop complaining. What's your malfunction? 别抱怨了。你有什么问题？

mama's boy　n. phr., informal A boy who depends too much on his mother; a sissy. 〖非正式〗离不开妈妈的男孩；娘娘腔的男孩；没有男子气的男人。◆ The other boys called Tommy a mama's boy because he wouldn't come out to play unless his mother stayed near him. 别的孩子都管托米叫“离不开妈妈的孩子”，因为妈妈不在跟前，他就不肯出来玩儿。

man or the man　n., slang〖俚〗1. The police; a policeman. 警方；警察。◆ I am gonna turn you in to the man. 我要把你交给警察。2. The boss; the leader; the most important figure in an organization or outfit. 老板；上司；头儿。◆ The man will decide. 老板会做决定的。

man-about-town　n. phr. A sophisticate; an idler; a member of café society; one who knows where the best plays and concerts are given. 世故之人；游手好闲之人；常出没于咖啡馆、夜总会的人；知道哪儿上演最好的戏剧和音乐会的人。◆ Ask Mark where to go when you're in New York City; he's a real man-about-town. 在纽约该去哪些地方，可以问马克，他是个货真价实的纽约通。

man in the moon　n. phr. An imaginary or nonexistent person (often used to indicate a person of ignorance). 月中人；想象中的人（常用来表示无知的人）。◆ Stop asking me such difficult questions about nuclear physics; I know as much about it as the man in the moon. 别再问我有关核物理的这些深奥问题了，我对此一无所知。

man in the street　n. phr. The man who is just like most other men; the average man; the ordinary man. 普通人；平民；常人。◆ The newspaper took a poll of the man in the street. 这家报纸以平民为对象做了一次民意调查。

man of few words　n. phr. A man who doesn't talk very much; a man who says only what is needed. 沉默寡言的人；话不多的人。◆ The principal is a man of few words, but the pupils know what he wants. 校长是一个沉默寡言的人，但学生都知道他想要他们做什么。

man of his word　n. phr. A man who keeps his promises and does the things he agrees to do; a man who can be trusted. 讲信用的人；值得信赖的人。◆ My uncle is a man of his word. 我叔叔是个讲信用的人。

man of letters　n. phr. A writer; an author; a scholar. 作家；作者；学者。◆ Chekhov was not only a practicing physician but also a first-rate man of letters. 契诃夫不仅是一位开业的医生，还是一位第一流的作家。

man of means　n. phr. A rich person. 富有的人。◆ He became a man of means by successfully playing the stock market. 他在证券市场上玩得很转，成了一个有钱的人。

man of straw or straw man　n. phr. A phony issue; an imaginary adversary; an allegation, made about a set of opponents or opposing theories, created to destroy it more easily in a self-serving, one-sided argument. 稻草人；假想的敌人；假想的论敌；假想的对立观点。◆ It is bad scholarship to set up a man of straw to prove one's point. 树立一个假想的论敌借以证明自己的论点，这样做学问很恶劣。

man-of-war　n. phr. 1. A stinging jellyfish in the Gulf of Mexico. 僧帽水母（产于墨西哥湾的一种蜇人海蜇）。◆ "No swimming today," the sign said, "as we have a man-of-war alert." 告示牌上写着“因有海蜇，今日禁止游泳。”2. A large battleship displaying its national flag or insignia. （挂国旗或标记的）军舰。◆ The shipwreck victims were picked up by an American man-of-war. 海难事故的遇难者被一艘美国军舰救起。3. The albatross bird. 信天翁。◆ After several days at sea we noticed some men-of-war majestically sailing through the skies. 在海上航行了几天后，我们注意到一些信天翁矫健地飞过天空。

man-to-man　adj. Honest and full in the telling; not hiding anything embarrassing. 坦诚的，推心置腹的。◆ Tom and his father had a man-to-man talk about his smoking pot. 汤姆和父亲就自己吸大麻烟的事做了一次坦诚的交谈。

many a　adj. Many (persons or things) — Used with a singular noun. 许多的。——与单数名词连用。◆ Many a boy learns to swim before he can read. 许多男孩在识字前就学游泳了。

many moons ago　adv. phr. A long, long time ago. 很久以前。◆ Many moons ago, when I was young, I was able to dance all night. 很久以前，那时我还年轻，我能通宵跳舞。

map out　v. phr. To arrange; lay out; plan. 安排；布置；筹划。◆ The candidate will meet with his campaign manager tomorrow to map out his campaign strategy. 候选人明天将与他的竞选总管会面制定竞选策略。

mare's nest　n. phr. Something that doesn't exist; a discovery that proves to be worthless. 虚幻（不存在）的东西；价值的发现物。◆ He claims that he has discovered a gasoline substitute but we suspect it will turn out to be a mare's nest. 他自称发现了一种石油的代用品，但我们怀疑那恐怕是一种毫无价值的东西。

markdown　n. (stress on mark)（重读mark）A reduction in price. 减价；减价商品。◆ Joan asked, "Do you like my new sandals? They were markdowns at Marshall Field's." 琼问：“你喜欢我的新凉鞋吗？这是马歇尔·弗尔德店里的减价商品。”

mark down　v. phr. (stress on down) 1. To lower the price. 降低…的价格，削价。◆ The department store marked down their prices on women's sandals. 这家百货商店降低了女式凉鞋的价格。2. To give a poor grade to a student. 降低…的分数。◆ Peter was marked down for his numerous spelling errors. 彼得因为有许多拼写错误而被降低了分数。3. To make a written note of something. 记下。◆ Here is my phone number; mark it down. 这是我的电话号码，请把它记下来。

marked man　n. phr. A man whose behavior has made him the object of suspicion; a man whose life may be in danger. 被怀疑的人；处于险境的人。◆ When Dave dared to criticize the dictator openly, he became a marked man. 当戴夫敢于公开批评那位独裁者时，他就成了一个处境危险的人。

mark my words　See见READ MY LIPS.

mark off　v. phr. Mark with lines; lay out in sections. 标示；划分。◆ The field will be marked off in accordance with the special track events that will take place tomorrow. 场地将根据明天举行的不同田径比赛项目进行划分。

mark one's words　v. phr. To pay close attention to what one says; an emphatic expression indicating prophecy. 注意听某人的话；记住某人的话；表示预言的强调性说法。◆ "It will certainly rain tomorrow," he said. "Mark my words." “明天肯定下雨，”他说。“记住我的话好了。”

mark time　v. phr. 1. To move the feet up and down as in marching, but not going forward. 原地踏步。◆ The officer made the soldiers mark time as a punishment. 那军官罚士兵们原地踏步。2. To be idle; waiting for something to happen. 无所事事；等待。◆ The teacher marked time until all the children were ready for the test. 老师等待着，直到所有的孩子都为考试做好了准备。3. To seem to be working or doing something, but really not doing it. 混时间，磨洋工。◆ It was so hot that the workmen just marked time. 天太热了，工人们只是磨洋工罢了。

marry in haste, repent at leisure　If one accepts a deal, job, or position too fast, one may come to regret it later. — A proverb. 〖谚〗结婚太急，后悔莫及。◆ "I am really unhappy with this overseas assignment," John complained to his brother Ted. " Well, I told you to wait and look around some more, remember?" Ted answered. "Marry in haste, repent at leisure, as the saying goes." “对这份派驻海外的工作我真的很不满意，”约翰对他的哥哥泰德抱怨说。“嗯，我早就告诉过你要等一等，多看看再说，还记得吗？”泰德回答说。“俗话说得好，结婚太急，后悔莫及。”

marry money　v. phr. To marry a rich person. 与有钱人结婚。◆ Ellen married money when she became Hal's wife 埃伦是因为哈尔有钱才嫁给他的。

masking tape　n. A paper tape that is stuck around the edges of a surface being painted to keep the paint off the surface next to it. （喷漆时用以遮盖无须油漆部分的）遮蔽胶带。◆ The painters put masking tape around the window frames to keep the paint off the glass. 油漆工在窗框四周贴上遮蔽胶带，防止油漆粘到玻璃上。

master copy　n. 1. A perfect text to which all copies are made to conform; a corrected version used as a standard by printers. （供复制的）原始版本；标准版本。◆ The master copy must be right, because if it isn't, the mistakes in it will be repeated all through the edition. 原始版本必须正确，否则印出来的版本就会重复同样的错误。2. A stencil from which other copies are made. 已打印的蜡纸。◆ Mr. Brown told his secretary to save the master copy so that they could run off more copies whenever they needed them. 布朗先生叫秘书把已打印出的蜡纸收好，以便在需要时能够再多印一些。

master key　n. phr. A key that opens a set of different locks. 万能钥匙。◆ The building janitor has a master key to all of the apartments in this building. 大楼的管理员有一把万能钥匙，能打开楼内所有单元的门。

mastermind　v. To create; direct; invent the central plan for several individuals to follow. 创造；指导；策划。◆ Lenin masterminded the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. 列宁领导了俄国的布尔什维克革命。

mastermind　n. A person who supplies the intelligence for a project and/or undertakes its management. 智囊；策划者；组织者。◆ Winston Churchill was the mastermind in the war against Hitler. 温斯顿·丘吉尔领导了抵抗希特勒的战争。

master of ceremonies or M. C. or emcee　n. The person in charge of introducing the various participants in a show or entertainment. （典礼、节目的）主持人，司仪。◆ Bob Hope was the M. C. of many memorable shows. 鲍勃·霍普在许多令人难忘的节目中担任主持人。

matter of course　n. phr. Something always done; the usual way; habit; rule. 一向做的事；惯例；习惯；规则。◆ Bank officers ask questions as a matter of course when someone wants to borrow money. 有人贷款时，银行职员照例要问一些问题。

matter of fact　n. phr. Something that is really true; something that can be proved. 事实；可证实的事。◆ The town records showed that it was a matter of fact that the two boys were brothers. 镇上的记录表明，这两个男孩事实上是兄弟俩。— Used for emphasis in the phrase as a matter of fact. 用于短语as a matter of fact 之后。◆ I didn't go yesterday, and as a matter of fact, I didn't go all week. 我昨天没去，事实上，我整个星期都没去。

matter-of-fact　adj. 1. Simply telling or showing the truth; not explaining or telling more. 据实相告的；真实的。◆ The newspaper gave a matter-of-fact account of the murder trial. 报纸对谋杀案的审理进行了据实报道。2. Showing little feeling or excitement or trouble; seeming not to care much. 不带感情的；就事论事的。◆ He was a very matter-of-fact person. 他是个不苟言笑、很刻板的人。

matter of opinion　n. phr. Something that may or may not be true; something that people do not all agree on. 有争议的事；看法不同的事。◆ Whether or not he was a good general is a matter of opinion. 他是不是一个好将军，人们的看法各不相同。

matter of record　n. phr. A fact or event that is kept officially as a legal record. 有案可查的事情；记录在案的事情。◆ A birth certificate or a marriage license is a matter of record. 出生证或结婚证都是有案可查的东西。

M. C. or emcee　v. To act as master of ceremonies at a show. 做司仪，做主持人。◆ The famous actor emceed the entire television show. 那位名演员主持了整个电视节目。

mean as a junkyard dog　adj. phr. Exceedingly nasty. 凶相毕露的；恶语伤人的。◆ It's OK if you disagree with me, but why do you have to be mean as a junkyard dog? 你完全可以不同意我的看法，但你为什么一定要恶语伤人呢？

mean beans or amount to a hill of beans　adj. phr., slang To amount to nothing or extremely little. 〖俚〗毫无价值。◆ Ted boasts a lot about his new invention, but frankly, the whole thing means beans. 泰德大肆吹嘘自己的新发明，但坦白地说，那整个东西毫无价值。◆ Uncle Noam's new ideas don't amount to a hill of beans. 诺姆叔叔的那些新想法毫无价值。

mean business　v. phr., informal To decide strongly to do what you plan to do; really mean it; be serious. 〖非正式〗说到做到；说话当真；认真。◆ The boss said he would fire us if we didn't work harder and he means business. 老板说如果我们不更卖力干活他就解雇我们，他这话是当真的。

means to an end　n. phr. An action leading to some end or purpose. 达到目的的手段。◆ Money for him was just a means to an end; actually he wanted power. 钱对他来说只是一种达到目的的手段，其实他要的是权。

mean well　v. phr. To have good intentions. 怀有好意。◆ Fred generally means well, but he has a tendency to be tactless. 弗雷德一般来说都怀有好意，但他往往不讲策略。

measure off　v. phr. To mark by measuring. 量好作上记号，量出。◆ She measured off three yards with which to make the new dress. 她量出3码布，准备用来做新裙子。

measure up　v. To be equal; be of fully high quality; come up. 与…相当，合格；达到。◆ Lois' school work didn't measure up to her ability. 洛伊丝的学业成绩辜负了她的能力。

meatball　n., slang A dull, boring, slowwitted, or uninteresting person. 〖俚〗乏味的人；令人厌倦的人；笨蛋。◆ You'll never get an interesting story out of that meatball — stop inviting him. 你休想从那个乏味的人那儿听到什么有趣的故事——别再请他了。

meet halfway　See 见 GO HALFWAY.

meet one's death　v. phr. To die. 死去，丧命。◆ Algernon met his death in a car accident. 阿尔杰农在一次车祸中丧生。

meet one's eye　v. phr. To be in plain view or come into plain view; appear clearly or obviously. 显现在某　人眼前；显而易见。◆ on a first reading the plan looked good, but there was more to it than met the eye. 这计划乍看上去还不错，但其中还有一些不清楚的地方。

meet one's match　v. phr. To encounter someone as good as oneself. 遇上对手；棋逢对手。◆ The champion finally met his match and lost the game. 那位冠军遇上了对手，结果输掉了比赛。

meet one's Waterloo　v. phr. To be defeated; lose an important contest. 遭到惨败；遭到毁灭性打击；输掉重要比赛。◆ After seven straight victories the team met its Waterloo. 该球队连胜7场后，输掉了关键的一场。

meet up with　v. phr. To meet by accident; come upon without planning or expecting to. 与…偶然相遇；与…不期而遇；遭遇。◆ The family would have arrived on time, but they met up with a flat tire. 这一家人本来可以准时赶到的，可他们的车胎在路上爆了。

meet with　v. 1. To meet (someone), usually by accident. （偶然）遇见（某人）。◆ In the woods he met with two strangers. 他在树林里遇见两个陌生人。2. To meet together, usually by plan; join; have a meeting with. （经过安排）与…会见；与…碰头；与…会晤。◆ The two scouts met with the officers to talk about plans for the march. 两名侦察员与军官会晤，讨论行军计划。3. To experience (as unhappiness); suffer (as bad luck); have (as an accident or mishap). 经历（不快）；遭受（厄运）；遭遇（意外或不幸事故）。◆ The farmer met with misfortune; his crops were destroyed by a storm. 那位农夫遭遇不幸，一场暴雨毁了他的庄稼。

meet with an untimely end　v. phr. To die prematurely. 夭折；死得过早。◆ Many young soldiers, barely out of high school, meet with an untimely end. 很多高中还没毕业的年轻士兵死得过早。

melting pot　n. phr. A country where different nationalities mingle and mix with the result that, in the second generation, most people speak the main language of the country and behave like the majority. “大熔炉”（很多民族同化的国家）。◆ It is no longer considered entirely true that the United States is a melting pot; many immigrants speak a second language. 人们认为，说美国是个大熔炉已不再完全正确；许多移民都讲第二语言。

melt in one's mouth　v. phr. 1. To be so tender as to seem to need no chewing. 入口即化。◆ The chicken was so tender that it melted in your mouth. 鸡肉很嫩，入口即化。2. To taste very good; be delicious. 味美；好吃。◆ Mother's apple pie really melts in your mouth. 妈妈做的苹果馅饼非常好吃。

mend one's fences　v. phr., informal To do something to make people like or follow you again; strengthen your friendships or influence. 〖非正式〗修复友好关系；加强自己的地位；搞好关系。◆ John saw that his friends did not like him, so he decided to mend his fences. 约翰看出朋友们不喜欢他，所以决定改善与他们的关系。

mend one's ways　v. phr. To reform; change one's behavior from negative to positive. 改过；改过自新。◆ He had better mend his ways or he'll wind up in jail. 他最好改过自新，否则总有一天要坐牢的。

mental telepathy　n. phr. The passing of one person's thoughts to another without any discoverable talking or carrying of signals between them. 心灵感通（不需交谈或传信号，一个人就能得知另一个人的想法）。◆ Most or all men who practice mental telepathy on stage have really trained themselves to detect tiny clues from the audience. 大多数或者所有在台上表演心灵感通的人都是从观众那里得到线索的。

mercy killing　n. phr. The act of killing a terminally ill patient or animal in order to avoid further suffering. 安乐死（为使久病不愈的患者或动物免除痛苦而实施的致死行为）。◆ Mercy killing of humans is illegal in most countries, yet many doctors practice it secretly. 安乐死在大多数国家是非法的，然而仍有不少医生在秘密地实施。

mess around　v. phr. 1. To engage in idle or purposeless activity. 瞎混；瞎忙。◆ Come on, you guys, — start doing some work, don't just mess around all day! 好啦，各位，开始干点活吧，别整天瞎混了！2. vulgar To be promiscuous; to indulge in sex with little discrimination as to who the partner is. 〖粗〗鬼混；乱搞男女关系。◆ Allen needs straightening out; he's been messing around with the whole female population of his class. 艾伦需要改邪归正；他和班上所有的女生都鬼混过。

mess up　v. phr., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. To cause trouble ; to spoil something. 惹麻烦；把（事实）弄乱。◆ What did you have to mess up my accounts for? 你为什么一定要把我的账目弄乱？2. To cause someone emotional trauma. 使（某人）感情上受到创伤。◆ Sue will never get married; she got messed up when she was a teenager. 苏永远不会结婚，她十几岁的时候在感情上受到过创伤。3. To beat up someone physically. 殴打；狠揍。◆ When Joe came in after the fight with the boys, he was all messed up. 乔和那些男孩打完架进来时，全身伤痕累累。

method in (to) one's madness　n. phr. A plan or organization of ideas hard to perceive at first, but that becomes noticeable after longer and closer examination. 疯态中的条理；疯狂行为中的道理。◆ We thought he was crazy to threaten to resign from the university but, when he was offered a tenured full professorship, we realized that there had been method in his madness. 当他威胁要辞掉大学里的职位时，我们以为他疯了。但后来他被授予终身教授职位时，我们才意识到他貌似反常的行为中是有道理的。

mickey mouse^1　adj., slang Inferior; second rate; chicken; easy; gimmicky. 〖俚〗蹩脚的；二流的；胆子小的；容易的；耍花招的。◆ Watch out for Perkins; he's full of mickey mouse ideas. 对帕金斯要当心点儿，他满脑子的馊主意。

mickey mouse^2　n. (derogatory) A stupid person; a policeman; a white man (as used by blacks). 〖贬〗笨蛋；警察；白人（黑人用语）。

middle ground　n. A place halfway between the two sides of an argument; a compromise. 中间立场；妥协；折中的办法。◆ The committee found a middle ground between the two proposals. 委员会在两个提议之间找到了一个折中方案。

middleman　n. A person or small business standing in an intermediary position between two parties. 中间人；经纪人。◆ A retail merchant is the middleman between the factory and the consumer. 零售商是厂家和消费者之间的中间人。

middle of the road　n. phr. A way of thinking which does not favor one idea or thing too much; being halfway between two different ideas. 中间道路；中间立场。◆ The teacher did not support the boys or the girls in the debate, but stayed in the middle of the road. 在辩论中，老师既没支持男生也没有支持女生，而是采取了中间立场。

middle-of-the-road　adj. Favoring action halfway between two opposite movements or ideas; with ideas halfway between two opposite sides; seeing good on both sides. 中间道路的；中间立场的；折中的。◆ The men who wrote the Constitution followed a middle-of-the-road plan on whether greater power belonged to the United States government or to the separate states. 起草宪法的人在美国政府与各州政府谁拥有更大权利的问题上采取了折中态度。

might as well　adv. phr. For no particular reason; as an alternative. 不妨；还是…的好；倒不如。◆ Since the weather is too hot outside, we might as well turn on the air conditioner and eat inside. 既然外面太热，我们还是开开空调在里面吃好。

mile markers　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Small signs along interstate highways usually bearing a number. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗（州际公路上带有数字的）里程标。◆ The Smokey is located at 131 mile marker. 131号路标处有巡逻的州警察。

miles away　adj. phr. Inattentive; not concentrating. 漫不经心的；心不在焉的。◆ When Betty said, "We have theater tickets for tonight," Ken didn't react as his mind was miles away. 当贝蒂说“我们有今晚的戏票”时，肯因为心不在焉而毫无反应。

mill around　v. phr. To move impatiently in no particular direction. 转来转去；乱转。◆ The crowd milled around, waiting for the arrival of the president. 人群转来转去，等待着总统的到来。

mills of God or God's mills　n. phr. Eventual vindication after a long time; rehabilitation in due course or delayed punishment that eventually catches up with the perpetrator. 上帝的磨，上帝的法轮；神明报应。◆ The innocent man who was mistakenly imprisoned for many years, took comfort in the thought that the mills of God grind slow but sure. 那个无辜但被错判入狱多年的人想到上帝的法轮磨得虽慢但自己的冤案终将会平反时，心里得到了一些安慰。

millstone around one's neck　n. phr. An intolerable burden. 沉重的负担。◆ Max said that his old car was a millstone around his neck. 马克斯说他那辆旧车简直就是个负担。

mince words　v. phr. To choose words carefully for the sake of politeness or deception. 婉转地说话；转弯抹角地说话。◆ I like people who speak frankly and truthfully without mincing words. 我喜欢说话坦率不转弯抹角的人。

mind boggles　v. phr. or mind-boggling　adj. phr. A comment made on any marked absurdity or incredibly news or statement. 令人难以想象（的），令人难以置信（的）。◆ The mind boggles when one hears of the suicide of the UFO cult followers, who believed that after committing suicide their souls would be picked up by a UFO. 听到一些崇拜飞碟的信徒自杀的消息真令人难以置信；他们自杀是因为相信死后灵魂就会被飞碟带去。◆ It is mind-boggling to think of what the Nazis did to innocent people in the concentration camps. 想到纳粹分子在集中营里对那些无辜者所做的一切真令人惊愕不已。

mind like a steel trap　n. phr. A very quick and understanding mind, which is quick to catch an idea. 极其敏锐的头脑；灵活的头脑。◆ A successful lawyer must have a mind like a steel trap. 一个成功的律师必须具有一个极其敏锐的头脑。

mind one's p's and q's　v. phr. To be very careful what you do or say; not make mistakes. 谨言慎行；小心行事。◆ When the principal of the school visited the class the students all minded their p's and q's. 校长巡视这个班级时，学生们都规规矩矩的。

mind one's won business　v. phr. To not interfere in the affairs of others. 管自己的事；不管闲事。◆ He finally got tired of her criticism and told her to mind her own business. 他终于厌倦了她的批评，便叫她少管闲事。

mind over matter　n. phr. The power of the mind over physical matters, such as illness, fear, etc. — A proverb. 〖谚〗精神胜过物质；精神力量胜过肉体的病痛（或恐惧等）。◆ Advocates of alternative medicine discourage the taking of too many drugs and point out that since most illnesses are psychosomatic, one might as well use "mind over matter" to cure oneself. 主张替代疗法的人劝人们不要服用太多的药。他们指出，因为大多数疾病都是精神压力引起的，人们不妨用“精神力量”治愈自己。

mind you　v. phr., informal I want you to notice and understand. 〖非正式〗请你注意；请你听清楚。◆ Mind you, I am not blaming him. 你听清楚，我并不是在责怪他。

mine of information　n. phr. A person, a book, etc., that is a valuable source of information. 知识宝库；信息库。◆ A dictionary can be a mine of information. 一部词典可以是个知识宝库。

minority leader　n. phr. The leader of the political party that has fewer votes in a legislative house. 少数党领袖。◆ The minority leader of the Senate supported the bill. 参议院少数党领袖支持这一法案。

minutes of the meeting　n. phr. The notes taken by the recording secretary of an official body or an association recording of what was said and transacted during the given session. 会议记录。◆ "Shall we accept the minutes of our last meeting as read by the secretary?" the chairman asked. 主席问：“我们要不要接受秘书所宣读的上次会议的记录呢？”

misfire　v. To fail to appeal; fall flat. 未达到预期效果；落空，失败。◆ The standup comic's jokes misfired with the audience. 滑稽演员的笑话没有在观众中达到预期的效果。

miss a trick　v. phr. To fail to see, hear, or notice something of even the slightest importance. 错过细微之处。◆ He never misses a trick when it comes to the stock market. 关于股市行情他无所不知。

miss by a mile　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To shoot at something and be far from hitting it; not hit near. 远远没击中。◆ Jack's first shot missed the target by a mile. 杰克的第一枪远远没击中目标。2. To be very wrong; be far from right. 大错特错；完全离谱。◆ Lee tried to guess on the examination, but his answers missed by a mile. 李考试时连蒙带猜，但答案却差了十万八千里。3. To fail badly; not succeed at all. 遭到惨败；完全不成功。◆ John Brown wanted to be governor but in the election he missed by a mile. 约翰·布朗想当州长，但在选举中却遭到惨败。

missing link　n. 1. Something needed to complete a group; a missing part of a chain of things.（整体的）短缺物；（一连串事物中）缺少的一环。◆ The detective hunted for the fact that was the missing link in the case. 侦探寻找案件中短缺的那份证据。2. An unknown extinct animal that was supposed to be a connection between man and lower animals. 被推测存在于类人猿与人类之间的动物。◆ The missing link would be half man and half ape. 介于类人猿与人类之间的动物应该是半人半猿。

miss out　v., informal To fail; lose or not take a good chance; miss something good. 〖非正式〗失败；失去机会；错过良机。◆ You missed out by not coming with us; we had a great time. 你没有和我们一起来真是坐失良机。我们玩得真开心。

miss the boat also miss the bus　v. phr., informal To fail through slowness; to put something off until too late; do the wrong thing and lose the chance. 〖非正式〗错过机会；坐失良机。◆ Ted could have married Lena but he put off asking her and missed the boat. 泰德本来可以娶到莉娜的，但他求婚太晚，因而错过了机会。

miss the point　v. phr. To be unable to comprehend the essence of what was meant. 没有领会中心意思；没有抓住要点。◆ The student didn't get a passing grade on the exam because, although he wrote three pages, he actually missed the point. 这位学生这次考试没及格，因为他虽然写了3页纸，但实际上他并没有弄懂题目的意思。

misty-eyed or dewy-eyed　adj. phr. 1. Having eyes damp with tears; emotional. 泪眼汪汪的；动感情的。◆ The teacher was misty-eyed when the school gave her a retirement gift. 学校赠送这位教师一份退休礼物时，她的眼睛湿润了。2. Of the kind who cries easily; sentimental. 爱哭的；伤感的。◆ The movie appealed to dewy-eyed girls. 那些爱哭的女孩子喜欢这部电影。

mixed bag　n. phr. A varied set of people, ideas, objects, or circumstances, including both the good and the bad. 各类人或物；（人或物的）混合体；大杂烩。◆ There was a mixed bag of people at the press conference. 形形色色的人参加了记者招待会。

mixed blessing　n. Something good that has bad features. 好坏兼有的事物；有好处也有坏处的事情。◆ John's new car was a mixed blessing. The other students were always asking John to drive it. 约翰的新自行车有好处也有坏处。别的男孩子老是要骑他的车。

mixed up　adj. phr. 1. informal Confused in mind; puzzled. 〖非正式〗头脑混乱的；迷惑不解的。◆ Bob was all mixed up after the accident. 事故发生后，鲍勃头脑完全混乱了。2. Disordered; disarranged; not neat. 混乱的，乱七八糟的；不整齐的。◆ The papers on his desk were mixed up. 他桌子上的文件堆得乱七八糟。3. informal Joined or connected (with someone or something bad). 〖非正式〗（坏人、坏事）有牵连；被卷入。◆ Harry was mixed up in a fight after the game. 哈里参与了比赛后的一场斗殴。

mix up　v. To confuse; make a mistake about. 混淆；弄错。◆ Jimmy doesn't know colors yet; he mixes up purple with blue. 吉米还分不清颜色，他总是把紫色和蓝色弄混。◆ Even the twins' mother mixes them up. 即使是这对双胞胎的母亲也常常分不清他俩谁是谁。

mom-and-dad operation or mom-and-pop operation　n. phr. A very small business, sometimes run out of one's home, that has no employees and is done by a husband-and-wife team. 夫妻店；夫妻经营的小企业。◆ Jack and Suzie became small desktop publishers doing everything themselves; it has been a typical mom-and-dad operation ever since. 杰克和苏茜开了一家规模很小、样样事 情自己干的桌面出版社；它一直以来都是一家典型的夫妻店。

money is no object　informal sentence The price of something is irrelevant. 〖非正式〗价钱多少无所谓。◆ Please show me your most beautiful mink coat; money is no object. 请把你们最漂亮的貂皮大衣拿给我看；价钱不成问题。

money makes the world go 'round　Most things in the world depend on finances. — A proverb. 〖谚〗金钱驱使世界运转；有钱才能办成事。◆ John has outstanding plans, but he will never succeed in implanting them, because he lacks the capital. We had to remind him that "money makes the world go 'round." 约翰有些极好的计划，但却因为缺少资本而永远不可能成功地实施。我们不得不提醒他：“有钱才能办成事。”

money talks　v. phr. People tend to believe and admire those who are rich; while a poor person may speak the truth, he or she is seldom listened to. 金钱最有发言权；金钱万能；有钱能说话，无钱话不灵。◆ There are two solutions to the problem of how to improve automobiles, solar energy, and more oil. Unfortunately the oil concerns are bound to win out, because "money talks." 如何改进汽车的问题有两种解决方案，一是用太阳能，一是用更多的油。遗憾的是，石油公司一定会胜出，因为“金钱最有发言权”。

money to bum　n. phr., informal Very much money, more than is needed. 〖非正式〗钱多的是；富得很。◆ Dick's uncle died and left him money to burn. 迪克的叔叔死了，给他留下了花不完的钱。

monkey around　See见FUCK AROUND, HORSE AROUND, MESS AROUND.

monkey business　n., slang, informal 1. Any unethical, illegitimate, or objectionable activity that is furtive or deceitful, e. g., undercover sexual advances, cheating, misuse of public funds, etc. 〖俚〗骗人的勾当；不正当的行为。◆ There is a lot of monkey business going on in that firm; you'd better watch out who you deal with! 那家公司有许多非法勾当，你最好注意是和谁打交道！2. Comical or silly actions; goofing off. 胡闹；恶作剧；鬼混。◆ Come on boys, let's cut out the monkey business and get down to work! 好了，小伙子们，咱们别胡闹了，开始干活吧！

monkey love　n. phr. An exaggerated show of affection often covering up true and meaningful fondness and caring, which may include occasional punishment. 溺爱。◆ The Chisolms are guilty of showering their children with monkey love. It would be far better for the two teenagers to be told occasionally that they are out of line. 奇泽姆夫妇的过失在于对子女过于溺爱。当他们举止失当时偶尔讲讲他们反倒对两个十几岁的孩子要好得多。

monkey on one's back　n. phr., informal An unsolved or nagging problem. 〖非正式〗未解决的难题；甩不掉的包袱。◆ "My math course is a real monkey on my back," Jack complained. 杰克抱怨说：“数学课真是我甩不掉的包袱。”

monkey wrench　See见THROW A MONKEY WRENCH.

moonshine　n. Illegally distilled alcoholic beverage made at home, mostly on a farm. 非法酿制的酒。◆ Grandpa is at it again in the barn, making moonshine out of plums. 祖父在谷仓里用洋李非法酿酒了。

moot point　n. phr. A point not worth discussing because of its hypothetical nature. （基于假设而）不值得讨论的问题；无实际意义的问题。◆ To discuss what would have happened to Europe if Hitler had won World War Ⅱ is a moot point. 如果希特勒赢得第二次世界大战欧洲会怎样，这是一个不值得讨论的问题。

mop the floor with or mop up the floor with or wipe the floor with or wipe up the floor with　v. phr., slang To defeat very clearly or quickly; to beat badly. 〖俚〗把（某人）打得一败涂地；痛打（某人）。◆ Our team wiped the floor with the visiting team. 我队大胜客队。

mop up　v. phr. To disperse or liquidate isolated groups or detachments of opposing forces. 肃清（残敌）。◆ Our forces won the basic battle but there still remain pockets of resistance they must mop up. 我军臝得了主要战斗，但仍有一些零星的残敌必须肃清。

more Catholic than the pope　See见OUTHEROD HEROD.

more often than not　adv. phr. More than half the time; fifty-one or more times out of a hundred; not quite usually, but fairly regularly. 多半；往往；经常。◆ Nancy comes over on Saturday more often than not. 南茜经常在星期六来。

more or less　adv. phr. 1. Somewhat; rather; mostly; fairly. 或多或少，有几分；有点儿；大多数；相当地。◆ Earl made some mistakes on the test, but his answers were more or less right. 厄尔在考试中出了些错，但他的答案大多数是正确的。2. About; nearly; not exactly, but almost. 差不多；大约，几乎。◆ It is a mile, more or less, from his home to the school. 从他家到学校大约1英里。

more power to you　adj. phr., a proverb Expressing encouragement and congratulations when someone accomplishes something difficult. 好样的！加油！祝你成功。◆ When the double amputee started to participate in a walking marathon, people exclaimed, "More power to you!" 当那位截去双肢者开始参加步行马拉松时，人们都大声喊道：“加油！”

more than　adv. Over what you might expect; very. 超出预期的；很，非常。◆ They were more than glad to help. 他们非常乐意帮忙。◆ He was more than upset by the accident. 这次意外事故使他感到很沮丧。

more than meets the eye　adj. phr. More than is physically apparent; more than one is deducible or can be surmised. 比表面看到的要复杂；远不止看到的这一点。◆ "There is more to this apparent accident," Detective Sergeant Jones said, "than meets the eye. I suspect foul play." “这看上去是一次意外事故，”警探琼斯说，“但事情没那么简单。我怀疑是凶杀。”

more than pleased　adj. phr. Very grateful; very pleased; delighted. 非常高兴。◆ I am more than pleased that both of my daughters found such wonderful husbands. 我非常高兴我的两个女儿都找到了这样好的丈夫。

more the merrier　n. phr. The more people who join in the fun, the better it will be. — Used in welcoming more people to join others in some pleasant activity. 多多益善；人越多，越开心。——用来欢迎更多人来参加愉快的活动。◆ Come with us on the boat ride; the more the merrier. 来和我们一起乘船玩吧；人越多越热闹。

morning after　n., slang The effects of drinking liquor or staying up late as felt the next morning; a hangover. 〖俚〗因前夜狂饮或迟睡而产生的疲惫状态；宿醉。◆ One of the troubles of drinking too much liquor is the morning after. 喝酒太多的麻烦之一就是第二天早晨的宿醉。◆ Jack woke up with a big headache and knew it was the morning after. 史密斯先生醒来时头痛得厉害，他知道是昨晚喝得太多了。

mouse click or mouse clicks away　adj. phr. Easy to gain access to; just as easy as to make a click with one's "mouse" at a home personal computer. 容易进入；像点击“鼠标”一样容易；非常方便。◆ You can find anything you need in our store; we are just a mouse click away. 在我们店里你可以找到任何你需要的东西；我们这里非常方便。

mouth-watering　adj. Smelling or looking very good to eat. 令人垂涎的；诱人的；美味的。◆ It was a mouth-watering meal. 那可是一顿令人垂涎的美餐。

move a muscle　v. phr. To move even a very little. — Used in negative sentences and questions and with if. 稍稍动一动，动一下。——用于否定句、疑问句或与if连用。◆ The deer stood without moving a muscle until the hunter was gone. 那头鹿站着一动不动，直到猎人离开。◆ The robber said he would shoot the bank worker if he moved a muscle. 抢劫犯说，要是银行职员动一下，他就开枪打死他。

move heaven and earth　v. phr. To try every way; do everything you can. 千方百计；尽一切可能；竭尽全力。◆ Joe moved heaven and earth to be sent to Washington. 乔想尽各种办法使自己被派到华盛顿去。

move in on　v. phr., slang, colloquial To take over something that belongs to another. 〖俚〗〖口〗掠夺；夺走（属于他人的东西）。◆ He moved in on my girlfriend and now we're not talking to each other. 他抢走了我的女朋友，现在我们谁也不理谁了。

move in the wrong circles　v. phr. To fall in with the wrong crowd and under their negative influence, either because they are doing bad things or because they are in political favor with the present government. 和一帮坏人交往。◆ Mike's son became a dope addict because in high school he moved in the wrong circles. 迈克的儿子吸毒上了瘾，因为他在高中时跟一帮不三不四的人混在一起。

move over　v. phr. 1. Shift one's position from right to left, forward or backward. 挪动。◆ We had to move the dinner table over to be able to put down the new suitcases temporarily. 我们必须把餐桌挪动一下才能把这些新提箱暂时放一放。2. To yield one's place in the arts, music, dancing, etc., because of new younger talent. 让位。◆ "Move over, Elvis!" "Michael Jackson is coming!" “让位吧，埃尔维斯！”“迈克尔·杰克逊来了！”

moving spirit　n. phr. The main figure behind a business or an activity; the one who inspires the others. 策划人；推动者；鼓动者。◆ Mr. Smith is the moving spirit behind our expansion plans. 史密斯先生是我们扩张计划的策划人。

much less　conj. And also not; and even less able or likely to. — Used after a negative clause. 更不用说；更不可能。——用于否定句后。◆ I never even spoke to the man, much less insulted him. 我从没与那人说过话，更不用说侮辱过他了。

much of a muchness or too much of a muchness　n. phr. Similarity; much of the same substance, value, or significance. 很相像；差不多；半斤八两。◆ "Won't you have some more cake?" my aunt Meggie asked. "Thanks, I can't. I'm full." "Anything wrong with it?" she kept on prodding. "No, it just too much of a muchness; I mean, too much cream." “不想再吃点蛋糕啦？”我的梅吉阿姨问。“谢谢，我吃不下了。我吃饱了。”“这蛋糕不好吃？”阿姨继续地催问。“不是，只是蛋糕都差不多。我是说，奶油太多。”

mud in your eye　n. phr., informal A cheering exclamation when people drink, much like "cheers!" 〖非正式〗干杯！祝您健康！（祝酒用语）◆ Each time John raised his glass he said, "Well, here's mud in your eye!" 约翰每次举起酒杯时都说：“来，干怀！”

mug shot　n. phr. A police photograph showing the arrested person's full face and profile. （警察给被捕者拍的）脸部照片。◆ "Go over these mug shots," Sergeant O'Malley said, "and tell me if you find the person who held up the liquor store!" “仔细看看这些照片，”奥麦利警长说，“然后告诉我这里有没有持枪抢劫酒店的那个人！”

mull over　v. phr. To consider; think over. 仔细考虑；反复思考。◆ He mulled over the offer for some time, but finally rejected it. 他对报价仔细考虑了一段时间，但最后还是拒绝了。

mum is the word　You must keep the secret; keep silent; don't tell anyone. — Often used as an interjection. 要保密；别声张；不要讲出去。——常用作感叹语。◆ We are planning a surprise party for John and mum is the word. 我们在为约翰安排一次惊喜聚会，要保密。

muscle in on　v. phr. To intrude; penetrate; force oneself into another's business or territory. 侵入；闯入；强行进入；强行参与。◆ The eastern Mafia muscled in on the western Mafia's turf and a shooting war was started. 东部地区黑手党闯入了西部地区黑手党的地盘，引发了一场枪战。

musical chairs　n. phr. (Originally the name of a children's game.) The transfer of a number of officers in an organization into different jobs, especially each other's jobs. （原为儿童游戏名——抢椅子游戏。）组织内部人员的工作（相互）调动。◆ The boss regularly played musical chairs with department heads to keep them fresh on the job. 那位老板经常调动部门主管的工作以保持他们对工作的新鲜感。

music to one's ears　n. phr. Something one likes to hear. 悦耳的声音；佳音；听起来令人高兴的话。◆ When the manager phoned to say I got the job, it was music to my ears. 当经理打电话来说我得到了那份工作时，我真是高兴极了。

my God or my goodness　interj. Used to express surprise, shock, or dismay. （表示惊讶、震惊或失望）天哪！◆ My God! What happened to the car? 天哪！车子怎么啦？

my home is my castle　chiefly British One's home is impregnable, a place of safety, privacy and security. — A proverb. 〖主英〗〖谚〗我的家就是我的城堡。◆ "Where will you spend your retirement years, sir?" The student asked the famous scientist. "At home, of course," the professor answered, "I won't be bothered by journalists on this island. My home is my castle, as they say." “您退休后的岁月会在哪里度过呀，先生？”学生问那位著名的科学家。“当然是在家里，”教授回答说。“在那个孤岛上我就不会受到记者的烦扰了。就像人们说的那样，我的家就是我的城堡。”

my lips are sealed　informal sentence A promise that one will not give away a secret. 〖非正式句子〗我绝对保密；我一定会守口如瓶。◆ "You can tell me what happened," Helen said. "My lips are sealed." “你可以告诉我出了什么事，”海伦说。“我绝对不会讲出去的。”

◆N◆

nail down　v. phr., informal To make certain; make sure; settle. 〖非正式〗弄清；确定；决定。◆ Joe had a hard time selling his car, but he finally nailed the sale down when he got his friend Sam to give him $300. 乔的车很难卖出，但最后他还是以300美元的价格把车卖给了他的朋友萨姆。

nail one's colors to the mast　literary To let everyone know what you think is right and refuse to change. 〖文〗明确宣布并坚持自己的主张；拒绝让步；不投降。◆ During the election campaign the candidate nailed his colors to the mast on the question of civil rights. 在竞选期间，那位候选人在民权问题上坚持己见。

naked truth　n. phr. The pure, unadulterated truth. 赤裸裸的事实；明摆着的事实。◆ "Are you, or are you not a Republican?" John asked his college roommate, Ted. "The naked truth is, old friend, that I am a typical 'swing voter' —sometimes I vote for a Democrat, and sometimes for a Republican." “你是不是共和党人？”约翰问他大学里的室友泰德。“老朋友，明明白白的事实是，我是一个典型的‘独立选举人’——有时候我投民主党人的票，有时候我投共和党人的票。”

name calling　See见CALL NAMES

named after　adj. phr. Given the same name as someone. 用（某人）的名字命名。◆ Archibald was named after his father. 阿切博尔德是以他父亲的名字命名的。

name day　n. The day of the saint for whom a person is named. 与本人同名的纪念日；命名日。◆ Lawrence's name day is August 10, the feast of St. Lawrence. 劳伦斯的命名日是8月10日圣·劳伦斯节。

namedropper　n. A person who is always mentioning well-known names. 总把名人的名字挂在嘴边的人。◆ Since her move to Hollywood she has become a regular namedropper. 自从她搬到好莱坞以来，她就经常把一些明星的名字挂在嘴边。

name is mud　informal (You) are in trouble; a person is blamed or no longer liked. — Used in the possessive. 〖非正式〗陷入麻烦；倒霉；失宠。——与物主代词或名词的所有格连用。◆ If you tell your mother I spilled ink on her rug my name will be mud. 如果你告诉你母亲我把墨水泼在她的地毯上，我就要倒霉了。

name of the game　n., informal The crux of the matter; that which actually occurs under the disguise of something else. 〖非正式〗事物的本质；问题的关键；事情的真相。◆ Getting medium income families to support the rest of society — that's the name of the game! 让中等收入的家庭来养活整个社会——这就是事情的真相！

narrow down　v. phr. To limit within very strict margins. 限制；压缩；缩减。◆ Of the numerous applicants, the list has been narrowed down to just a few. 申请者的名单已从很多人压缩到只有几个人。

narrow escape　n. phr. An escape by a very small margin; a near miss. 九死一生；死里逃生；幸免于难。◆ If the truck that hit his car had been coming faster, it would have killed him; it was certainly a narrow escape that he only had a broken arm! 如果撞他车的那辆卡车开得再快点儿，他就没命了。他只断了一只手臂，真是死里逃生。

narrow-minded　adj. phr. Limited in outlook; resistant to new ideas; bigoted. 胸襟狭窄的；思想偏狭的；偏执的。◆ Jack is generally very open about everything, but when it comes to politics, he is terribly narrowminded. 总的来说，他对所有的事情都很开明，但在政治上他却极为偏执。

nasty-nice　adj. Unkind in a polite way; disagreeable while pretending to be gracious. 笑里藏刀的；口蜜腹剑的。◆ The bus driver has a nastynice way of showing his dislike. 这位巴士司机有一套笑里藏刀的办法表示他的厌恶之意。

natives are restless　The locals are in a rebellious mood; taken from colonial days when certain African tribes rebelled against the British; used in other contexts. — A proverb. 〖谚〗（源自殖民时代某些非洲部落对英国殖民者的造反）土著人要造反；看样子有麻烦。◆ "What's happening on campus?" Professor Brown asked. "Why is everyone talking so excitedly?" "The natives are restless," a colleague answered, "because they forced the chancellor to resign over the budget." “校园里出什么事啦？”布朗教授问。“为什么每个人讲话都这么激动？”“看样子有麻烦，”一位同事回答说，“因为他们因预算的事已强迫校长辞职。”

natural-born　adj. 1. Being a (citizen) because you were born in the country. 本国出生的。◆ Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt came to the United States from Germany and are naturalized citizens but their children are natural-born citizens. 施密特夫妇是从德国来到美国的，是归化的公民；而他们的子女则是美国出生的公民。2. Born with great ability to become ( something); having great ability (as in a sport or art) almost from the start. 天生的；生就的。◆ Mozart was a natural-born musician. He could play the piano well when he was only six years old. 莫扎特是位天生的音乐家。他6岁时就弹得一手好钢琴。

near at hand　See见AT HAND.

neck and neck　adj. or adv., informal Equal or nearly equal in a race or contest; abreast; tied. 〖非正式〗（比赛中）并驾齐驱；齐头并进；势均力敌；不相上下。◆ At the end of the race the two horses were neck and neck. 比赛结束时，两匹马平分秋色。

neck of the woods.　n. phr., informal Part of the country; place; neighborhood; vicinity. 〖非正式〗地带；附近地区；附近。◆ We visited Illinois and Iowa last summer; in that neck of the woods the corn really grows tall. 去年夏天，我们访问了伊利诺伊和衣阿华两州。那一带的玉米长得很高。

needle in a haystack　n. phr., informal Something that will be very hard to find. 〖非正式〗落进草垛里的一根针，很难找的东西。◆ "I lost my class ring somewhere in the front yard," said June. Jim answered, "Too bad. That will be like finding a needle in a haystack." 琼说：“我的毕业生纪念指环掉在前院的什么地方了。”吉姆说：“那太糟了，这要找起来就像大海捞针一样了。”

neither fish nor fowl also neither fish, flesh, nor fowl　Something or someone that does not belong to a definite group or known class; a strange person or thing; someone or something odd or hard to understand. 非驴非马；不伦不类；古怪的人（或物）；难以理解的人（或物）。◆ The man is neither fish nor fowl; he votes Democrat or Republican　according to which will do him the most good. 那人无党无派，他投民主党或共和党的票只根据哪个党对他最有利。

neither here nor there　adj. phr. Not important to the thing being discussed; off the subject; not mattering. 与本题无关的；不相干的；无关紧要的。◆ The boys all like the coach but that's neither here nor there; the question is, "Does he know how to teach football?" 男孩子们都喜欢那位教练，但这无关紧要。问题是：“他知道怎么教踢足球吗？”

neither rhyme nor reason　n. phr. No emotional or intellectual substance. 杂乱无章；毫无道理。◆ As far as I am concerned, his proposal makes no sense; it has neither rhyme nor reason. 在我看来，他的提议毫无道理，简直莫名其妙。

nervous breakdown　n. A mild or severe attack of mental illness; a collapse of a person's ability to make decisions and solve problems because of overwork, great mental strain, or the like. 精神失常；精神崩溃。◆ When the mother saw her baby run over, she suffered a nervous breakdown. 那位母亲看到自己的婴儿被车子压过，当时精神就失常了。

Nervous Nellie　n., informal A timid person who lacks determination and courage. 〖非正式〗胆小怕事的人；优柔寡断的人。◆ I say we will never win if we don't stop being Nervous Nellies! 听着，如果我们还是这么胆小怕事，我们就永远别想赢！

nest egg　n. Savings set aside to be used in the future. 储备金，存款。◆ Herb says he doesn't have to worry about his old age because he has a nest egg in the bank. 赫布说他根本不担心自己上了岁数，因为他在银行里有存款。

never a dull moment　Something out of the ordinary is happening all the time, good or bad. — A proverb. 〖谚〗从没有乏味的时刻；一直有不寻常的事情发生。◆ When the Mississippi flooded their house, the Smiths remarked with a wry sense of humor, "Never a dull moment…" 在密西西比河泛滥淹没了他们的房子后，史密斯夫妇带着冷嘲式的幽默感说：“生活真是那么丰富多彩……”

never mind　v. phr. Don't trouble about it; don't worry about it; forget it; skip it. — Usually used in speaking or when writing dialogue. 别费心；别担心；别在意；不要紧；没关系。——通常用于口语或对话中。◆ "What did you say?" "Oh, never mind."“你说什么？”“哦，没什么。”◆ "What about money?" "Never mind that. I'll take care of it." “钱怎么办？”“这你别担心，我会想办法的。”

never say die　v. phr. Don't quit; don't be discouraged. 别放弃；别气馁。◆ "Never say die!" John said, as he got on his feet and tried to ice skate again. “绝不泄气！”约翰一边说一边站起来，又试着继续滑起冰来。

new blood　n. Something or someone that gives new life or vigor, fresh energy or power. 新鲜血液；新生力量；生力军。◆ New blood was brought into the company through appointment of younger men to important positions. 任命一些较年轻的人担任要职给公司注入了新的活力。

new broom sweeps clean　A new person makes many changes. — A proverb. 〖谚〗新官上任三把火。◆ The new superintendent has changed many of the school rules. A new broom sweeps clean. 新上任的教育厅长改变了许多校规，真可谓“新官上任三把火”呀。

new deal　n., informal 〖非正式〗1. A complete change; a fresh start. 彻底改变；新开端。◆ People had been on the job too long; a new deal was needed to get things out of the old bad habits. 人们干这个工作时间太久了，就需要一场变革来改一改陋习。2. Another chance. 自新机会；改过机会。◆ The boy asked for a new deal after he had been punished for fighting in school. 那个男孩因在学校里打架受到处罚后要求给他一个改过自新的机会。

newfangled　adj. Newly invented or contrived; excessively complex. 新发明的；新奇的；过于复杂的。◆ Dorothy felt that many newfangled gadgets in Kate's all-electric kitchen weren't really necessary. 多萝西认为，在凯特家的电气化厨房里，很多新奇的小玩意儿实际上并不需要。

new flame　n. phr. A new girlfriend or boyfriend. 新男（或女）朋友。◆ John is very excited; he has a new flame. 约翰很兴奋；他有了个新女朋友。

new lease on life　n. phr. A new chance to live; an improved manner of living. 更有生气的新生活；新的生活方式。◆ After his illness and his retirement, living in Hawaii was a new lease on life. 生病退休后，他住在夏威夷开始了一种新的生活。

new man　n. A person who has become very much better. 面貌一新的人。◆ Diet and exercise made a new man of him. 节食和运动使他像换了个人似的。

new money　n. phr. People who have become rich recently. 新近发财的人；新富人。◆ Since Bob's father invented a new computer component, Bob and his family are new money. 自从鲍比的父亲发明了一种新的计算机元件，鲍比一家就发了财。

newshawk　n. A newspaper reporter. 新闻记者。◆ There are always a lot of newshawks following the president. 总是有很多记者尾随在总统的身后。

new wine in old bottles　Biblical New ideas presented in an old, familiar form. — A proverb. 〖谚〗（源自《圣经》）旧瓶装新酒；旧形式表现新思想。◆ John writes wonderfully interesting new poetry in sonnet form. A successful case of "new wine in old bottles." 约翰以十四行诗的形式绝妙地写出了有趣的新诗。这是一个“旧瓶装新酒”的成功例子。

next door　adv. or adj. 1. In or to the next house or apartment. （在）隔 壁；邻居。◆ He lived next door to me. 他住在我的隔壁。2. Very close. — Used with to. 靠近；接近。——与to连用。◆ The sick man was next door to death. 那个病人快死了。

next to^1　adv. Almost; nearly. 几乎，差不多。◆ It was next to unthinkable that the boy would steal. 想不到那男孩居然会偷东西。

next to^2　prep. Just after; second to. 居于…之后；次于。◆ Next to his family, baseball was his greatest love. 除了家人外，棒球就是他的最爱。

next to nothing　n. phr. Very little; almost nothing. 寥寥无几；很少；几乎没有。◆ They gave me next to nothing for my old car when I traded it in for a new one. 当我用旧车换新车时，他们没有把我那辆旧车折几个钱。

nibble at or nibble away at　Compare比较EAT AT.

nice going　n. phr. Wonderful progress that deserves congratulations, offered as praise. 进步神速啊！好极了！◆ "Nice going, Johnny!" the boy's father said, when he heard his eleven-year-old son play a Bach solo sonata on the violin. “好极了，约翰尼！”男孩的父亲在听到自己11岁的儿子用小提琴演奏完一首巴赫的独奏奏鸣曲后说。

night and day　See见DAY AND NIGHT.

nightcap　n. A good-night drink; a drink taken just before bedtime. 临睡前喝的酒；睡前酒。◆ Would you like to come up to my place for a nightcap? 你愿意上楼来我的住处喝一杯睡前酒吗？

night letter　n. A telegram sent at night at a cheaper rate and delivered in the morning. （收费比较低廉、夜间发出次晨投递的）夜间电报。◆ I waited until after six o'clock in the evening before sending the telegram home because I can say more for the same price in a night letter. 我等到晚上6点钟以后才给家里拍了电报，因为拍夜间电报花同样的钱可以多写些内容。

night life　n. phr. Entertainment at night. 夜生活。◆ People in the city are able to find more night life than those who live in the country. 城里的人比乡下人能享受更多的夜生活。

night on the town　n. phr. An evening of drinks, dinner, and entertainment. （去餐馆、酒吧、舞厅等）寻欢作乐之夜，娱乐之夜。◆ "We haven't been doing anything for so long," Mary complained to her husband. "Let's go and have a night on the town!" “我们很久没有出去开心了，”玛丽对她的丈夫抱怨说。“让我们出去痛痛快快地玩一个晚上吧。”

night owl　n. phr. One who sleeps during the day and stays up or works during the night. 夜猫子；夜里工作的人。◆ Tom hardly ever sleeps at night; he prefers to work by lamp light and has become a regular night owl. 汤姆晚上难得睡觉，他喜欢在灯光下工作，成了个十足的夜猫子。

nine days' wonder　n. phr. An unusual occurrence that first causes surprise or consternation, but that will be soon forgotten. 轰动一时即被遗忘的事。◆ Many a Hollywood scandal involving divorces and marriages is nothing but a nine days' wonder. 很多涉及离婚和结婚的好莱坞丑闻只轰动一时就被人忘记了。

nine-to-five job　n. phr. A typical office job that starts at 9 A. M. and ends at 5 P. M. with a one-hour lunch break at 12 noon or 1 P. M.早上9点干到下午5点的工作；按时上下班的工作。◆ We professors are not too well paid but I could never get used to a nine-to-five job. 我们教授的工资不是很高，但我永远不习惯那种朝九晚五的工作。

nip and tuck　adj. or adv., informal Evenly matched; hard fought to the finish. 〖非正式〗旗鼓相当（的）；苦战到底（的）。◆ The game was nip and tuck until the last minute. 比赛直到最后一刻才分出胜负。

nip in the bud　v. phr. To check at the outset; prevent at the start; block or destroy in the beginning. 把…消灭在萌芽状态；防患于未然。◆ The police nipped the plot in the bud. 警方在一开始时就挫败了这个阴谋。

nitpick　v. phr. To argue about something small or relatively insignificant in an annoying manner. 找茬儿，挑剔，吹毛求疵。◆ Stop nitpicking at every little detail! Our work is finished and is quite good on the whole. 别对每一处细节都吹毛求疵了。我们的工作已经完成，而且总的看来完成得相当好。

nitty-gritty　n. phr. The minute details of an agreement or contract. （契约、合同等的）细节。◆ All right, then, now that we have agreed on the broad outlines of the deal, let's get down to the nitty-gritty! “那好吧，既然我们已就协议的大概轮廓取得了一致意见，现在就让我们讨论一下细节吧。

no account^1　adj. phr. Of no importance. 不重要的，无足轻重的。◆ The lowly clerk's opinion is of no account in this matter. 在这件事上，那位低级职员的意见无足轻重。

no account^2　n. phr. A person of low social station. 没有社会地位人。◆ Fred was first considered a no account but he soon proved himself to be a person of great ability. 一开始人们没把弗雷德放在眼里，但很快他便证明了自己是个极有能力的人。

nobody home　slang〖俚〗1. Your attention is somewhere else, not on what is being said or done here; you are absentminded. 注意力涣散；心不在焉。◆ The teacher asked him a question three times but he still looked out the window. She gave up, saying, "Nobody home." 一个问题老师问了他3遍，但他还是望着窗外。老师只得作罢，说道：“心不在焉。”2. You are feebleminded or insane. 傻里傻气；脑子有毛病。◆ He pointed to the woman, tapped his head, and said, "Nobody home." 他指着那个女人，拍拍自己的脑袋说：“她这里有毛病。”

nobody's fool　n. phr. A smart person; a person who knows what he is doing; a person who can take care of himself. 精明的人；聪明能干的人；能照顾自己的人。◆ In the classroom and on the football field, Henry was nobody's fool. 无论在教室里还是在足球场上，亨利都是把好手。

no-brainer　n. phr. Something easy to do or solve that requires little or no thinking. 无需用脑的事；容易解决的问题。◆ How do we decide the salary raises for next year? I tell you how; it's a no-brainer — nobody gets any, because the state cut our budget. 我们怎么决定明年加薪的事呢？我来告诉你怎么决定；这非常简单——谁都不加薪，因为州里已削减了我们的预算。

no comment　adj. phr. I have no answer to give; I refuse to discuss the issue. Often said by political figures during press interviews. 无可奉告（政界人士回答记者等的问题时常用）。◆ "Will you run for president of the United States next year, Senator?" "No comment," the senator answered, and quickly got into his car. “参议员先生，你明年会竞选美国总统吗？”“无可奉告，”参议员一边回答一边迅速地钻进了汽车。

nodding acquaintance　n. Less than casual acquaintance. 点头之交；泛泛之交。◆ I have never spoken to the chancellor; we have only a nodding acquaintance. 我从未跟校长说过话，我们只是点头之交。

no deal or no dice or no go or no sale　slang Not agreed to; refused or useless; without success or result;no; certainly not. — Used in the predicate or to refuse something. 〖俚〗不被赞成的；被拒绝的；没用的；徒劳的；没有结果的；不行；没门。——用于谓语中或表示拒绝。◆ Billy wanted to let Bob join the team, but I said that it was no deal because Bob was too young. 比利想让鲍勃加入球队，但我说不行，因为鲍勃年龄太小。◆ "Let me have a dollar." "No dice!" answered Joe. “给我一美元吧。”“不给！”乔说。◆ I tried to get Mary on the telephone but it was no go. 我试着给玛丽打电话，但没成功。◆ "let's go to the beach tomorrow." "No sale, I have my music lesson tomorrow." “明天我们去海滨吧。”“不行，明天我有音乐课。”

no doubt　adv. 1. Without doubt; doubtless; surely; certainly. 毫无疑问；无疑地；肯定地。◆ No doubt Susan was the smartest girl in her class. 毫无疑问，苏珊是班上最聪明的女孩子。2. Probably. 可能；也许。◆ John will no doubt telephone us if he comes to town. 如果约翰进城来，他可能会给我们打电话。

no end　adj., informal〖非正式〗1. Very much; exceedingly. 非常；极其。◆ Jim was no end upset because he couldn't go swimming. 因为不能去游泳，吉米非常不开心。2. Almost without stopping; continually. 不断地；连续地。◆ The baby cried no end. 那婴儿哭个不停。

no end to　or informal〖非正式〗no end of So many, or so much of, as to seem almost endless; very many or very much. 很多；许多；大量。◆ There was no end to the letters pouring into the post office. 送到邮局来的信件源源不断。

no expense spared　adj. phr. Money has been spent freely. 不惜代价，不惜费用。◆ The Smiths completely refurbished their new home and even had a heated swimming pool put in, no expense spared. 史密斯夫妇不惜代价把他们的新家全部整修了一遍，甚至新建了一个温水游泳池。

no foolin' or no fooling　v. phr. A humorous way of affirming something, saying "Yes indeed." 真的；不开玩笑。◆ "Do you actually want to buy my old horse?" the old farmer asked the recently retired university professor, who moved down to Texas. "No foolin', my man," the professor answered. "I've been riding ever since I was a kid." “你真的要买我的老马吗？”老农夫问最近退休后搬来得克萨斯州的大学教授。“真的，老弟，”教授回答说。“我从小就一直在骑马。”

no frills　n. phr. A firm or product that offers no extras; a generic product that carries no expensive label. 无装饰的产品；无昂贵商标的产品。◆ We went on a no frills trip to Europe with few luxuries. 我们去欧洲做一次无奢侈享受的简朴旅游。

no good　adj. phr. Not satisfactory; not adequate; not approved. 不令人满意的；不足的；不好的。◆ He was no good at arithmetic. 他算术不好。◆ He tried appealing to the man's pride, but it did no good. 他试图唤起那人的自尊心，但行不通。

no great shakes　adj., informal Mediocre; unimportant. 〖非正式〗平凡的；不重要的。◆ Joe Wilson is no great shakes. 乔·威尔逊是个平凡人。

no hard feelings　n. phr. A lack of resentment or anger; a state of peace and forgiveness. 不怨恨；不生气；平和宽恕之心。◆ "No hard feelings, " he said. "You should feel free to make constructive criticism any time." “我不生气，”他说，“欢迎你随时能提出建设性的批评意见。”

no harm in looking　v. phr., informal The excuse of husbands whose eyes wander. 〖非正式〗（喜欢盯着美女看的男人回答妻子责问时的借口）看看又没有什么。◆ "Why are you staring at that salesgirl?" Mary nervously asked her husband. "No harm in looking," he replied. "You must admit she has a striking figure." “你为什么一直盯着那个女售货员看？”玛丽情绪不安地问丈夫。“看看又没有什么，”他回答说。“你必须承认她的身材还是很出众的。”

no ifs, ands, or buts about it　adj. phr. Absolutely certain; without a doubt. 绝对肯定；毫无疑问。◆ "I am afraid your condition calls for immediate surgery," the doctor said. "Are you sure, Doctor," the patient inquired. "No ifs, ands, or buts about it!" the physician replied. “恐怕你的病情需要立即做手术，”医生说。“你肯定吗，医生？”病人问。“绝对肯定！”医生回答说。

no kidding　n. phr. Without jokes or teasing; honestly spoken. 不开玩笑；不骗你；说真的。◆ "You actually won the lottery?" Dick asked. "No kidding," Joe replied. "I really did" “你真的中彩了？”迪克问。“不骗你，”乔回答说，“我真的中了。”

no longer　adv. Not any more; not at the present time. 不再。◆ He could no longer be trusted and they had to let him go. 他们不可能再信任他了，所以只得辞退了他。

no love lost　n. phr. Bad feeling; ill will. 厌恶；敌意。◆ Bob and Dick both wanted to be elected captain of the team, and there was no love lost between them. 鲍勃和迪克都想当队长，所以他们俩之间相互没有什么好感。

no matter　1. Not anything important. 不要；无关紧要。◆ I wanted to see him before he left but it's no matter. 我想在他离开之前见他一面，不过，这并不重要。2. It makes no difference; regardless of. 无论；不管。◆ She was going to be a singer no matter what difficulties she met. 不管遇到什么困难，她都想当一名歌手。

no matter what　adv. phr. Under any circumstances. 无论如何；不管怎样。◆ We will go to Europe this summer, no matter what. 今年夏天我们无论如何都要到欧洲去。◆ Charles had decided to go to the football game and he felt he must go no matter what. 查尔斯已决定去看足球比赛，他觉得不管怎样都必须去。

none of ones' business　n. phr., informal Something that doesn't concern someone; something one should not interfere with or inquire about. 〖非正式〗不关某人的事，跟某人无关；某人无权过问；别瞎操心。◆ "How old are you actually?" the inexperienced young journalist asked the famous actress. "None of your business, young man!" she replied indignantly. “你到底有多大岁数啦？”那位缺乏经验的年轻记者问那位著名的女演员。“这跟你无关，年轻人！”她气愤地回答说。

none too　adv. Not very; not at all. 一点也不；根本不。◆ The doctor arrived none too soon as Lucy's fever was alarmingly high. 医生到得很迟，结果露西的热度高得吓人。

nonstarter　n. An idea, plan, or project that doesn't work or is obviously no good. 不切实际的想法；空想。◆ His plan to start a new private school is a nonstarter because he is unable to organize anything. 他要办新的私立学校的计划纯属空想，因为他毫无组织能力。

no percentage　n. phr. No advantage; no profit. 无用，无益，没好处；无利润，没赚头。◆ There is no percentage in complaining about the zero raise policy of our university next year; there isn't anything anyone can do about it. 对我们大学明年的零提薪政策进行抱怨没用；这事谁也没有办法。

no picnic　n. phr. Something arduous; something that requires great effort to accomplish. 不是容易的事；不是轻松愉快的事。◆ It is no picnic to climb Mount Everest. 要攀登珠穆朗玛峰可不是一件容易的事。

no sale　See见NO DEAL.

nose about or nose around　v. phr., informal To look for something kept private or secret; poke about; explore; inquire; pry. 〖非正式〗搜寻；寻找；探索；打听；刺探。◆ In Grandmother's attic, Sally spent a while nosing about in the old family pictures. 在祖母的阁楼上，萨莉花了一些时间翻找家里的旧照片。

nose down　v., of an aircraft To head down; bring down the nose of. （飞机）俯飞；使…俯飞。◆ The big airliner began to nose down for a landing. 大型客机开始俯飞准备着陆。

nose in^1 or nose into^1　informal Prying or pestering interest in; unwelcome interest in; impolite curiosity. 〖非正式〗对…窥探的兴趣；对…令人讨厌的关心；对…不礼貌的好奇心。◆ He always had his nose in other people's business. 他总爱打探别人的事。

nose in^2 or nose into^2　v. To move in close; move slowly in with the front first. 靠近；慢慢向前移动。◆ The ship nosed into the pier. 那船缓缓驶进了码头。◆ The car nosed into the curb. 汽车慢慢地驶近路边。

nose in a book　n. phr. Busy interest in reading. — Used with a possessive. 埋头读书。——与物主代词连用。◆ Mother can't get Mary to help do the housework; she always has her nose in a book. 母亲没法让玛丽帮着做家务，她总是埋头读书。

nose is out of joint　See见PUT ONE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.

nose out　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To learn by effort (something private or secret); uncover. 探知；揭露。◆ The principal nosed out the truth about the stolen examination. 校长查出了试卷被盗的真相。2. To defeat by a nose length; come in a little ahead of in a race or contest. 以微弱优势击败；险胜。◆ The horse we liked nosed out the second horse in a very close finish. 我们喜欢的那匹马在临近终点时以微弱优势战胜了位于第二的马。

nose out of　informal Curious attention; bothering. — Usually used with a possessive and usually used with keep. 〖非正式〗少管；少烦。——通常与物主代词和keep连用。◆ When Billy asked his sister where she was going she told him to keep his nose out of her business. 比利问姐姐要去哪儿，姐姐叫他少管闲事。

nose over　v. To turn over on the nose so as to land upside down. （飞机）机头着地翻身。◆ The airplane made a faulty landing approach and nosed over. 飞机因着陆失误而翻了身。

nose up　v. To head up; incline the forward end upwards; move up. （使）向上飞；（使）向上移动。◆ The airplane nosed up through the cloud bank. 飞机仰飞穿过云层。

no-show　n., informal A person who makes a reservation, e. g., at a hotel or at an airline, and then neither claims nor cancels it. 〖非正式〗预订了（飞机等）座位而不搭乘的人；预订了（旅馆）房间而不来住的人。◆ The airlines were messed up because of a great number of no-show passengers. 航空公司被大量预订了机票而不来搭乘的旅客搅得一团糟。

no sooner — than　As soon as; at once when; immediately when. 一…就。◆ No sooner did he signal to turn than the other car turned in front of him. 他刚发出信号要转弯，另一辆汽车就超到了他前面。

no spring chicken　n. phr. A person who is no longer young. 上岁数的人。◆ Even though she is no spring chicken anymore, men still turn their heads to look at her. 尽管她已不再年轻，男人们仍然转过头来看她。

no sweat^1　adj., slang, informal Easily accomplished, uncomplicated. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗容易完成的；简单的。◆ That job was no sweat. 那工作一点也不难。

no sweat^2　adv. Easily. 容易地。◆ We did it no sweat. 我们毫不费力地就把它干完了。

not a leg to stand on　n. phr., informal No good proof or excuse; no good evidence or defense to offer. 〖非正式〗没有好的证据或借口；缺乏立论根据。◆ The man with a gun and $300 in his pocket was accused of robbing an oil station. He did not have a leg to stand on. 那个口袋里有枪和300美元的男子被指控抢劫了加油站，他真是有口难辩。

not all there　adj. phr. Not completely alert mentally; absentminded; not together. 稀里糊涂的；心不在焉的。◆ Bill is a wonderful guy but he is just not all there. 比尔是个很好的人，就是有点心不在焉。

not bad or not so bad or not half bad　adj., informal Pretty good; all right; good enough. 〖非正式〗相当好；不错；足够好。◆ The party last night was not bad. 昨晚的聚会不错。◆ It was not so bad, as inexpensive vacations go. 就花费不多的度假而言，这已经很好了。◆ The show was not half bad. 演出相当不错。

not breathe a word　v. phr. To keep a confidence well; to not reveal a secret. 只字不提；保守秘密。◆ "I won the lottery!" Jack whispered in his wife's ear. "Don't you breathe a word!" "OK, honey; mum is the word." “我中彩了！”杰克在妻子的耳边悄声说。“你千万要保密！”“好的，绝对不讲出去。”

not by a long shot　See见BY A LONG SHOT.

not by any means　See见BY NO MEANS.

notch　See见TIGHTEN ONE'S BELT.

not cricket　adj. phr. Not "comme il faut"; not proper; not to be done in polite society. 不适当的，不合礼仪的；不光明正大的；不公正的。◆ It's not cricket to look into your playing partner's hand of cards when playing for money. 打牌赌钱时，偷看搭档手中的牌是不光明磊落的。

not feel oneself (today)　v. phr. To be unhinged; to not feel good physically or emotionally. （今天）感觉身体不舒服；（今天）感觉心情不好。◆ The weather must be affecting me — I haven't been feeling myself all day. 肯定是天气在影响我——我一整天都感到不舒服。

not for all the coffee in Brazil or not for all the tea in China or not for anything in the world or not for love or money　See见NOT FOR THE WORLD.

not for the world or not for worlds　adv. phr. Not at any price; not for anything. 决不；无论如何也不。◆ I wouldn't hurt his feelings for the world. 我决不会伤害他的感情。◆ Not for worlds would he let his children go hungry. 他怎么也不会让自己的孩子挨饿。

not give a damn or dam or not to give a hoot　v. phr., always negative To not care about something; be scornfully unconcerned; said in disdain and derision. 毫不在乎。◆ "Myron is in jail again for shoplifting," Myron's brother said to Bob. "Sorry," Bob replied, "but I tried to help him for years without success. At this point I don't give a damn what happens to him." “迈伦因在店里偷东西又被送进了监狱，”迈伦的哥哥对鲍勃说。“对不起，”鲍勃回答说。“我几年来一直想帮助他都没有成功。现在，不管他出什么事，我都不在乎了。”

not give a thought　v. phr. To disregard something as important, given as advice. 不要去想。◆ "I still owe you $5 from last year," Bob said to his wealthy lawyer brother. "Don't give it a thought," the brother answered. “我现在仍欠你去年借的5美元，”鲍勃对他有钱的做律师的哥哥说。“别去想它了，”哥哥回答说。

not have a prayer　v. phr. To have no chance at all. 毫无机会；毫无希望。◆ John keeps hoping to win the U. S. Open golf tournament, but in reality he doesn't have a prayer. 约翰一直希望能赢得美国高尔夫公开赛的冠军，但实际上他毫无希望。

not have the heart to　v. phr. To not be insensitive or cruel. 不忍心。◆ My boss did not have the heart to lay off two pregnant women when they most needed their jobs. 我们老板不忍心解雇两名极其需要工作的孕妇。

nothing doing　adv. phr., informal I will not do it; certainly not; no indeed; no. 〖非正式〗不行；绝对不行；肯定不行；不。◆ "Will you lend me a dollar?" "Nothing doing!" “能借我1美元吗？”“不行！”

nothing if not　adv. phr. Without doubt; certainly. 毫无疑问；肯定；确实。◆ With its bright furnishings, flowers, and sunny windows, the new hospital dayroom is nothing if not cheerful. 有着明亮的家具、鲜花和阳光充足的窗户，医院的新休息室确实让人感到愉快。

nothing of the kind　adv. phr. On the contrary. 正相反；没有那回事。◆ "Did you quit your job?" he asked. "No, I did nothing of the kind," she answered. 他问：“你辞掉工作了？”她回答说：“没有，没有那回事。”

nothing short of　adv. phr. Absolutely; thoroughly; completely. 绝对地；彻底地，完全地。◆ Olivier's performance in Hamlet was nothing short of magnificent. 奥利维尔在《哈姆雷特》中的表演绝对动人。

nothing to boast about or nothing to write home about or nothing to wire home about　adj. phr. Nothing interesting or significant; nothing to brag about. 没有什么有趣（或有意义）的东西；没有什么可吹嘘的东西；怎么样；平平常常。◆ This is the fifth time in a year that I hit a lamppost with my car. My driving is nothing to write home about, I guess. 这是我一年中第5次开车撞上路灯柱了。看来我的开车技术不怎么样。

nothing to it　adj. phr. Presenting no serious challenge; easily accomplished. 不费事的；很容易的。◆ Once you learn how to tread water, swimming is really easy; there is nothing to it. 一旦学会踩水，游泳就容易了。

nothing to sneeze at　See见SNEEZE AT.

not if I can help it　adv. phr. I will not do something if it can be avoided. 如能避免我就不会做某事。◆ "Will you go and work in sub-zero weather in northern Alaska?" John's brother asked. "Not if I can help it," came the reply. “你愿意去阿拉斯加北部在零下气温的天气里工作吗？”约翰的哥哥问。“能不去则不去，”约翰回答说。

not in the least　adv. phr. Not at all. 一点也不；丝毫不。◆ She was not in the least interested in listening to a long lecture on ethics. 她对听道德准则方面的大报告根本不感兴趣。

not know which way to turn　v. phr. To be puzzled about getting out of a difficulty; not know what to do to get out of trouble. 不知如何是好；不知所措；束手无策。◆ When Jane missed the last bus home, she didn't know which way to turn. 简没有赶上回家的末班车，不知道怎么办才好。

not one iota　(n. phr) from the Bible referring to the Greek letter "i." Not at all; not in the least. 毫不，一点也。没有。◆ Not an iota must be changed or omitted in that valuable, ancient manuscript while you try deciphering it. 在你试图破译那份珍贵的古代手稿时，对里面的内容不得有任何一点改动或遗漏。

not on your life　adv. phr., informal Certainly not; not ever; not for any reason. — Used for emphasis. 〖非正式〗肯定不行；根本不行；绝对不。——用以强调。◆ I wouldn't drive a car with brakes like that — not on your life. 这种刹车的汽车我可不开——绝对不开。

not over until the fat lady sings or it's not over until it's over　adv. phr., from old-fashioned country circus performances, or sports, said in jest Ongoing activities do not come to an end until the proper conclusion. 〖谑〗（源自老式的乡村马戏表演或体育运动）事情有了适当的结论才结束；要等结束了才算完。◆ During the lengthy court trial jurors were getting restless and many wanted to leave, until the foreman said, "It's not over until the fat lady sings." 在冗长的庭审期间，陪审员们越来越焦躁不安，很多人都想离开，这时陪审团团长说：“要等审出个结果来才算完。”

not so hot or not too hot　adj. phr. Ineffective; not very good. 不起作用；不太好。◆ His plans to rebuild the house in a hurry obviously weren't so hot. 他的那些匆忙改建房子的计划显然不太好。

not the only fish in the sea　n. phr. One of many; not the only one of the kind; not the only one available. 并非仅有；不稀罕。◆ he said he could find other girls — she was not the only fish in the sea. 他说他可以找别的姑娘——她并不是绝无仅有的女孩。

not the only pebble on the beach　n. phr. Not the only person to be considered; one of many. 并非绝无仅有；大有人在。◆ George was acting pretty self-important and we finally had to tell him that he wasn't the only pebble on the beach. 乔治表现得自命不凡，最后我们不得不告诉他，像他这样的人多的是。

not the smartest tool in the shed　adj. phr., informal Not the most intelligent person in a given setting. 〖非正式〗不是某一工作环境中最聪明的人。◆ Poor Jerry has been suffering from a bad inferiority complex all his life; he has been told too often that he is not the smartest tool in the shed. 可怜的杰里一辈子都有一种严重的自卑感；人们经常对他说，他在工作单位里绝不是最聪明的人。

not the thing　n. phr. Not the accepted form of action; something socially improper. 举止不当的；不合礼节的。◆ It is simply not the thing to wear blue jeans to the opera. 穿着牛仔裤去歌剧院是不合礼仪的。

not to amount to a hill of beans　See 见MEANS BEANS.

not to get to first base　v. phr. To fail to make initial progress; have no success at all. 一开始就失败；毫无成功可言。◆ I tried various ways to make Mary interested in me as a potential husband, but I couldn't even get to first base. 我想尽办法让玛丽对我感兴趣，可能的话嫁给我，但我连起码的成功也得不到。

not to give one the time of day　v. phr., slang, informal To dislike someone strongly enough so as to totally ignore him. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（因深恶痛绝而）不理睬某人。◆ Sue wouldn't give Helen the time of day. 苏根本不理睬海伦。

not to give quarter　v. phr. 1. To be utterly unwilling to show mercy; not to allow a weaker or defeated party the chance to save themselves through escape. 毫不心慈手软；不饶恕；斩尽杀绝。◆ The occupying foreign army gave no quarter — they took no prisoners, shot everyone, and made escape impossible. 外国占领军心狠手辣——他们不抓俘虏，见人就开枪，一个也不放过。2. To argue so forcefully during a negotiation or in a court of law as to make any counter-argument or counter-proposal impossible. （在谈判中或在法庭上）咄咄逼人；据理力争。◆ The District Attorney hammered away at the witnesses and gave no quarter to the attorney for the defense. 地方检察官频频向证人发问，不给辩护律师以喘息的机会。

not to know one from Adam　v. phr. To not know a person; be unable to recognize someone. 根本不认识某人；认不出是谁。◆ I have no idea who that guy is that Jane just walked in with; I don't know him from Adam. 我不知道刚刚和简走进来的那个家伙是谁，我根本不认识他。

not to know the first thing about　v. phr. To be totally ignorant about a certain issue. 对…毫不知情；对…不无所知。◆ Al assured us that he didn't know the first thing about Mary's whereabouts. 艾尔向我们保证说他根本不知道玛丽的行踪。

not to know what to make of　v. phr. To be unable to decipher; be unable to identify; not know how to decide what something really is. 无法解释；无法确定；不理解；弄不懂。◆ I got a mysterious letter asking me to meet Santa Claus at 6 P. M. at the supermarket. Is this a joke? I don't know what to make of it. 我收到一封神秘的来信，叫我下午6点到超市去见圣诞老人。这是开玩笑吗？我真弄不懂是怎么回事。

not to know whether one is coming or going　v. phr. To be completely confused. 糊里糊涂；不知所措。◆ He was so perplexed he didn't know whether he was coming or going. 他非常困惑，不知道该如何是好。

not to lift a finger　v. phr. To not help in the slightest degree. 不出力帮助。◆ "My husband won't lift a finger to help me," she complained, "although we have 12 people coming for dinner." 她抱怨说：“尽管我们有12位客人要来吃晚饭，可我丈夫还是不肯出一点力帮我一下。”

not to mention or not to speak of or to say nothing of　Without ever needing to speak of; in addition to; besides. — Used to add something to what you have said or explained. 更不用说；此外还有；而且；还不算。——用以进一步说明。◆ They have three fine sons, not to speak of their two lovely daughters. 他们有三个好儿子，另外还有两个可爱的女儿。

not to miss a beat　v. phr. negative only To do without hesitation; go on undisturbed. 做事不犹豫；泰然自若。◆ John is the most clever and most poised engineer we ever had at this auto plant; he simply never misses a beat. 约翰是我们这家汽车厂里最聪明最沉着的工程师；他做事从来不迟疑不决。◆ Ervin is a terrific pianist with a phenomenal memory; he just never misses a beat. 欧文是一位记忆力惊人的杰出的钢琴家；他绝不会弹错半个节拍。

not to say 'boo!' to a goose　v. phr. To be too shy to say anything. 非常羞怯，连对鹅喊一声“嘘”的勇气都没有。◆ Poor Jerry is so self-conscious and shy that he doesn't say "boo" to a goose. 可怜的杰里很怕难为情、很害羞，连对鹅喊一声“嘘”的勇气都没有。

not to see the forest for the trees　v. phr. negative only To be unable to see the total picture in a situation because of being lost in the details. 只见树木不见林；只见细节不见整体。◆ Ernie is a great toolmaker, but sometimes he needs reminding what the whole project is about; otherwise he doesn't see the forest for the trees. 厄尼是个了不起的机床维修工，但有时候也要提醒他不要忘了整个工程是怎么回事；不然他就会只见树木不见林。

not to touch (something) with a ten-foot pole　v. phr. To consider something completely undesirable or uninteresting. 碰都不想碰（某物）；对（某物）丝毫不感兴趣。◆ Some people won't touch spinach with a ten-foot pole. 有些人对菠菜碰都不想碰。

not to worry　phrasal idiom, offered as advice, always negative Relax, troubles will go away, don't get upset. 不用担心；别发愁。◆ "How will I ever learn how to drive?" Phil said worriedly, "I am afraid of highways." "Not to worry," the instructor answered. "It's just a question of time. You will soon get used to it and overcome your fears." “我怎么样才能学会开车呢？”菲尔担心地说，“我见了公路就害怕。”“别担心，”教练回答说。“这只是个时间问题。很快你就会适应，不会再害怕的。”

not worth a dime　See见NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.

not worth a hill of beans　See见NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.

not worth a tinker's damn or not worth a tinker's dam　adj. phr., informal Not worth anything; valueless. 〖非正式〗不中用；毫无价值。◆ Iam not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker's dam. 我对这门学科不熟悉，所以我的意见可能没有什么价值。

not worth the paper it's written on　adj. phr. Entirely worthless, mostly because of the falsehoods contained in a document. 毫无价值。◆ This entire accusation of Mr. Brown is a total fabrication; it isn't worth the paper it is written on. 布朗先生的这一番指控完全是捏造；它毫无价值。◆ I don't know how Ollie ever got a Ph. D. His diploma isn't worth the paper it is written on. 我不知道奥利是怎么得到哲学博士学位的。他那张学位证书毫无价值。

no two ways about it　n. phr. No other choice; no alternative. 别无选择；没有别的办法。◆ The boss said there were no two ways about it; we would all have to work late to finish the job. 老板说：“没有别的选择，我们大家只能加班把活干完。”

no use　n. 1. No purpose; no object; no gain. 没用；无益。◆ There's no use in crying about your broken bicycle. 自行车坏了，哭也没用。2. Bad opinion; no respect; no liking. — Used after have. 恶感；厌恶。——通常用于have之后。◆ He had no use for dogs after a dog bit him. 他被狗咬过后就厌恶狗了。

no use crying over spilled milk or no use crying over spilt milk　See见CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

now and then or now and again　adv. phr. Not often; not regularly; occasionally; sometimes. 偶尔；有时。◆ Now and then he goes to a ballgame. 他偶尔去看球赛。

no way　adv. Not at all; never; under no circumstances. 不行；没门儿；不可能；决不；无论如何不。◆ Do you think I will do the house chores alone? No way! 你以为我会独自干这些家务活吗？没门儿！

now — now　coord. adv. Sometimes… sometimes; by turns; at one time… then at another. — Often used with adjectives that are very different or opposite, especially to show change. 时而…时而…；忽而…忽而。——常与不同或相反意思的形容词连用，尤其用来表明变化。◆ The weather changed every day; it was now hot, now cool. 天气每天内都在变，忽冷忽热的。

no wonder also small wonder　adj. Not surprising; to be expected. 难怪；不足为奇。◆ It is no wonder that the children love to visit the farm. 孩子们喜欢到农场去玩，这不足为怪。

now or never　adv. phr. This is the right time to do something; at other times the opportunity to carry out such an activity will not be there. 机不可失，时不再来；莫失良机。◆ Mary was thirty-nine when she got pregnant for the first time after fifteen years of marriage. "Should I have this child?" she asked her doctor. "It's now or never," the doctor answered. 玛丽已结婚15年，到了39岁才第一次怀孕。“我应该生这个孩子吗？”她问医生。“机不可失，时不再来，”医生回答说。

now that　conj. Since; because; now. 既然；由于；现在。◆ Now that dinner is ready, wash your hands. 饭做好了，洗手去吧。

now you're talking　adv. phr. This is the right attitude, now you are on the right track, this is the way to make sense. 你这话就对了；这才像话。◆ "OK, I will try to overcome my fears and learn how to be a good driver," Phil said to his driving instructor, who replied, "Now you're talking!" “好的，我将尽力克服恐惧心理，学着做一名好的驾驶员，”菲尔对驾驶教练说。“你这话就对了，”教练说。

nuke a tater　v. phr. To bake a potato in a microwave oven. 用微波炉烘土豆。◆ "We have no time for standard baked potatoes in the oven," she said. "We'll just have to nuke a tater." “我们没有时间在烘箱里做标准的烘土豆了，”她说：“只有用微波炉了。”

null and void　adj. Not worth anything; no longer valid. 无价值的；失效的。◆ Both the seller and the buyer agreed to forget about their previous contract and to consider it null and void. 买卖双方均同意忘记以前的合同，认为它已失效。

number among　v. phr. Consider as one of; consider to be a part of. 把…包括进；把…归入。◆ I number Al among my best friends. 我把艾尔归入我最好的朋友之列。

number one^1 or Number One^1　n. phr., informal Yourself; your own interests; your private or selfish advantage. 〖非正式〗自我；自我利益。Usually used in the phrase look out for number one. 通常用在短语look out for number one 中。◆ He was well known for his habit of always looking out for number one. 他那种处处只考虑自己利益的习性是众所周知的。

number one^2　adj. phr. 1. Of first rank or importance; foremost; principal. 头号的；最重要的；首要的。◆ Tiger Woods is easily America's number one golfer. 泰格·伍兹无疑是美国的头号高尔夫球手。2. Of first grade; of top quality; best. 头等的；第一流的，最好的。◆ That is number one western steer beef. 那是最好的西部菜牛肉。

nurse a drink　v. phr., informal To hold a drink in one's hand at a party, pretending to be drinking it or taking extremely small sips only. 〖非正式〗慢慢地喝酒（或饮料）◆ John's been nursing that drink all evening. 约翰把那杯酒慢慢地喝了一个晚上。

nurse a grudge　v. phr. To keep a feeling of envy or dislike toward some person; remember something bad that a person said or did to you, and dislike the person because of that. 怀恨；记恨；怨恨。◆ Mary nursed a grudge against her teacher because she thought she deserved a better grade in English. 玛丽怨恨老师，因为她自己觉得英语应得到更好的分数。

nurture a snake in one's bosom or nourish a snake in one's bosom　To be good and friendly to a false friend who will never repay one's friend ship, but will betray his or her benefactor. — A proverb. 〖谚〗在胸口养一条蛇；善待恩将仇报的人；养虎遗患。◆ When we supported Dale Edwards for promotion at the university, we had no idea that we were nurturing a snake in our bosom. He subsequently opposed every sensible proposal. 当我们支持戴尔·爱德华兹在大学里得到提升时，我们根本没有想到是在养虎遗患。在得到提升后他一直反对每一项合理的建议。

nut case　n. phr. A very silly, crazy, or foolish person. 傻瓜；疯子，狂人；笨蛋。◆ I am going to be a nut case if I don't go on a vacation pretty soon. 如果我不赶紧去度假的话，那我真要变成呆瓜了。

nuts and bolts of　n. phr. The basic facts or important details of something. …的基本事实；…的重要细节。◆ "Ted will be an excellent trader," his millionaire grandfather said, "once he learns the nuts and bolts of the profession." 泰德的那位富翁祖父说：“一旦泰德学会做生意的基本功，他就会成为一个出色的生意人。”

nutty as a fruitcake　adj. phr., slang Very crazy; entirely mad. 〖俚〗非常疯狂的；完全疯了的。◆ He looked all right, as we watched him approach, but when he began to talk, we saw that he was as nutty as a fruitcake.我们看着他走过来时，他看上去还好好的。但是他一开口说话，我们就看出他很不正常。

◆O◆

occupy oneself　v. phr. To make oneself busy with. 使自己忙于；使自己从事于。◆ Having retired from business, he now occupies himself with his stamp collection. 他退休不再做生意后，现在热衷于集邮。

occur to someone　v. phr. To think of something. 被某人想到。◆ "Did it ever occur to you that you might be better off looking for a job elsewhere?" Peter asked. "No," John replied, "but it did occur to me to ask for a raise." “你可曾想到，你去别处找个工作也许会过得宽裕一些？”彼得问。“没有，”约翰回答说，“但我确实想到过要求加薪。”

oddball　n., slang, informal An eccentric person; one who doesn't act like everyone else. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗古 怪的人；怪人。◆ John is an oddball — he never invites anyone. 约翰是个怪人——他从来不邀请任何人。

odd jobs　n. phr. Work that is not steady or regular in nature; small, isolated tasks. 零工；杂活。◆ Dan does odd jobs for his neighbors, barely making enough to eat. 丹为邻居们干点零活，挣的钱还不够他吃饭的。

odds and ends　n. phr. Miscellaneous items; remnants. 零星的东西；残剩的东西。◆ After the great annual clearance sale there were only a few odds and ends left in the store. 一年一度的清仓大甩卖之后，店里只剩下了一些零零碎碎的东西。

odds are　phrasal idiom Chances are; the likelihood is; what will probably happen is x or y. 很可能；大约。◆ odds are it will rain tonight. 今晚很可能会下雨。◆ Odds are the price of gasoline will go down after the war in Iraq has come to an end. 伊拉克战争结束后，汽油的价格很可能会下降。

odds are against　v. phr. The likelihood of success is not probable; the chances of success are poor. 不大可能。◆ The odds are against her getting here before Monday. 她不大可能在星期一前赶到这儿。

odds-on　adj., informal Almost certain; almost sure; probable. 〖非正式〗几乎肯定的；十拿九稳的；很可能的。◆ Ed is the odds-on choice for class president, because he has good sense and good humor. 埃德很可能被选为班主席，因为他很有头脑，脾气也好。

of age　adj. phr. la. Old enough to be allowed to do or manage something. 达到做某事的年龄。◆ Mary will be of driving age on her next birthday. 玛丽下次过生日就到了可以驾车的年龄。1b. Old enough to vote; having the privileges of adulthood. 达到选举年龄；达到法定的成年年龄。◆ The age at which one is considered of age to vote, or of age to buy alcoholic drinks, or of age to be prosecuted as an adult, varies within the United States. 一个人多少岁被认为达到选举年龄、可以购买含酒精饮料的年龄或作为成人被提起公诉的年龄，在美国各州是不一样的。2. Fully developed; mature. 发达的；成熟的。◆ Education for the foreign born came of age when bilingual education was accepted as a necessary part of the public school system. 当双语教育作为公立学校系统必要的一部分得到承认时，对移民的教育就成熟了。

of course　adv. phr. 1. As you would expect; naturally. 当然；自然。◆ Bob hit Herman, and Herman hit him back, of course. 鲍勃打了赫尔曼，赫尔曼当然要回击。2. Without a doubt; certainly; surely. 毫无疑问地；肯定地。◆ Of course you know that girl; she's in your class. 你肯定认识那个女孩；她是你们班的。

of every stripe and color　adj. phr. All kinds; from everywhere; different both physically and otherwise. 形形色色的；各种各样的；来自四面八方的。◆ "What kind of people did you see at the meeting?" Ted asked. "There were people there of every stripe and color, from several dozen countries on all known continents," John replied. “你在会上看到些什么样的人？”泰德问。“那里有各种各样的人，他们来自各个大陆的几十个国家，”约翰回答说。

off-again, on-again or on-again, off-again　adj. phr., informal Not settied; changeable; uncertain. 〖非正式〗断断续续的；未确定的；易变化的；不肯定的。◆ John and Susan had an off-again, on-again romance. 约翰和苏珊的恋爱关系断断续续，时好时坏。

off and on also on and off　adv. Not regularly; occasionally; sometimes. 断断续续地；间歇地；有时候。◆ It rained off and on all day. 雨断断续续地下了一整天。— Sometimes used with hyphens like an adjective. ——有时加连字符用作形容词。◆ A worn-out cord may make a hearing aid work in an off-and-on way. 一根破旧的塞绳会使助听器一会儿响一会儿不响。

off balance　adj. phr. 1. Not in balance; not able to stand up straight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or falling; unsteady. 失去平衡的；站立不稳的；摇摇欲坠的；不稳定的。◆ Never stand up in a canoe; it will get off balance and turn over. 千万不要在独木舟里站起来；它会失去平衡翻掉了。2. Not prepared; not ready; unable to meet something unexpected. 没准备的；未准备好的；没法应付的。◆ The teacher's surprise test caught the class off balance, and nearly everyone got a poor mark. 老师出其不意的考试令全班同学措手不及，几乎每个人都成绩很差。

off base　adj. phr., informal Not agreeing with fact; wrong. 〖非正式〗与事实不符的；错误的。◆ The idea that touching a toad causes warts is off base. 碰一下癞蛤蟆就会生疣子的说法是错误的。

offbeat　adj., informal Nonconventional; different from the usual; odd. 〖非正式〗非常规的；非正统的；异常的；古怪的。◆ Linguistics used to be an offbeat field, but nowadays every self-respecting university has a linguistics department. 过去语言学是一个非正统的领域，但如今，每一所名副其实的大学都有语言学系。

off center　adv. phr. Not exactly in the middle. 偏离中心地；不在正中。◆ Mary hung the picture off center, because it was more interesting that way. 玛丽没有把画挂在正中，因为这样挂更别致。

off-center　adj., informal Different from the usual pattern; not quite like most others; odd. 〖非正式〗异常的；与众不同的；古怪的。◆ Roger's sense of humor was a bit off-center. 罗杰的幽默感有点与众不同。

off-color or off-colored　adj. 1. Not of the proper hue or shade; not matching a standard color sample. 色泽不佳的；颜色不正的。◆ The librarian complained that the painter had used an off-color green on the walls. 图书馆馆长抱怨说，油漆工漆墙用的绿漆颜色不正。2. informal Not of the proper kind for polite society; in bad taste; dirty. 〖非正式〗粗俗的；低级趣味的；下流的。◆ When Joe told his off-color story, no one was pleased. 乔讲他的下流故事时，大家没有人高兴。

off day　n. phr. A period when one is not functioning at his or her best; a period of weakness. 竞技状态不佳的日子（或时期）；身体不适的日子（或时期）。◆ The champion was obviously having an off day; otherwise she would have been able to defeat her opponent. 那位冠军显然处在竞技状态不佳的时期，否则她定能击败对手。

off duty　adj. Not supposed to be at work; having free time; not working. 不在值班的；下了班的。◆ Sailors like to go sight-seeing, when they are off duty in a foreign port. 船停靠在外国港口时，不值班的海员喜欢去游览观光。

off (one/he/she/it) goes!　v. phr. Said of a person, a vehicle, or a memorable thing who/which has started leaving or moving, both as a statement of fact (declarative assertion) or as a command (imperative). （人）走啦！走开！滚！（船）下水了！（用于陈述句或祈使句。）◆ When the boat hit the water in the formal launching ceremony, they cried out simultaneously, "Off she goes!" 在正式的下水典礼中，当船触水之时，他们同时大声喊道：“船下水了！”

off guard　adj. In a careless attitude; not alert to coming danger; not watching. 不提防，不警觉；不注意。◆ Tim's question caught Jean off guard, and she told him the secret before she knew it. 蒂姆的问题使琼措手不及，她还没明白过来就把秘密告诉了他。

offhand　adj. 1. Informal; casual; careless. 非正式的；随随便便的。◆ Dick found Bob's offhand manner inappropriate for business. 迪克认为鲍勃那种随随便便的态度不适合经商。2. In an improvised fashion. 不假思索地；即席地。◆ Offhand, I would guess that at least five thousand people attended the festival. 我用不着考虑就敢说，至少有5千人参加了庆祝活动。

off-key　adj., informal〖非正式〗1. Not proper; queer. 不恰当的，不得体的；古怪的。◆ When George told jokes at the funeral, everyone thought his action was off-key. 当乔治在葬礼上说笑话时，大家都认为他的行为很不得体。2. In a false key. 走调的。◆ John always sings off-key. 约翰唱歌总是走调。

off limits　See见OUT OF BOUNDS.

off one's chest　adj. phr., informal Told to someone and so not bothering you anymore; not making you feel worried or upset, because you have talked about it. 〖非正式〗把心中的烦恼说出来。◆ After Dave told the principal that he had cheated on the test, he was glad because it was off his chest. 戴夫把自己考试作弊的事告诉校长后反而感到轻松了，因为他已把心中的烦恼说了出来。

off one's hands　adv. phr. No longer in your care or possession. 脱手；不再由自己照管。◆ Ginny was glad to have the sick dog taken off her hands by the doctor. 金妮很高兴医生把照管病狗的工作从她手里接过去了。

off one's high horse　adj. phr., informal Not acting proud and scornful; humble and agreeable. 〖非正式〗不再高傲；变得谦和；放下架子。◆ The girls were so kind to Nancy after her mother died that she came down off her high horse and made friends with them. 南希的母亲去世后，女孩们对她非常体贴友好，这使她不再高傲，与她们交了朋友。

off one's rocker or off one's trolley　adj. phr., informal Not thinking correctly; crazy; silly; foolish. 〖非正式〗想法不正确；发疯；愚蠢。◆ Tom is off his rocker if he thinks he can run faster than Bob can. 如果汤姆认为他能跑得比鲍勃快，那他就想错了。◆ If you think you can learn to figure skate in one lesson, you're off your trolley. 如果你以为上一堂课就能学会花样滑冰，那你就想错了。

off sb. 's back　adj. phr. informal Stopped from bothering someone; removed as an annoyance or pest. 〖非正式〗不再打扰（或纠缠）某人。◆ "Having a kid brother always following me is a nuisance," Mary told her mother. "Can't you get him off my back?" “有个小弟弟一直跟着我实在是讨厌，”玛丽对母亲说。“你就不能让他不再缠着我吗？”

offshoot　n. A derivative; a side product. 衍生物；副产品。◆ The discovery of nuclear reactors was an offshoot of research in quantum physics. 核反应堆的发现是量子物理学研究的一个副产品。

off the air　adj. phr. Not broadcasting; observing radio silence. 停止广播；不再被播。◆ The talk show is off the air on Wednesdays and Fridays. 访谈节目在星期三和星期五停播。

off the beam　adv. or adj. phr. 1. (Of an airplane) Not in the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the wrong direction. （飞机）偏离无线电射束指示的航道；脱离正确航向。◆ A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when his plane is off the beam. 飞机偏离航道时，无线电信号就会告诉驾驶员。2. slang Wrong; mistaken. 〖俚〗 错误的；不对头的。◆ Maud was off the beam when she said that the girls didn't like her. 当莫德说女孩子们都不喜欢她时，她说错了。

off the beaten track　adv. phr. Not well known or often used; not gone to or seen by many people; unusual. 不出名的；不常用的；去的人不多的；看的人不多的；不寻常的。◆ We are looking for a vacation spot that is off the beaten track. 我们想找个去的人不多的地方去度假。

off the cuff　adv. phr., informal Without preparing ahead of time what you will say; without preparation. 〖非正式〗即席地；未经准备地。◆ Some presidents like to speak off the cuff to newspaper reporters but others prefer to think questions over and write their answers. 有些总统喜欢对新闻记者即席讲话，而另外一些总统却更喜欢先把问题考虑一下并把回答写下来。

off-the-cuff　adj., informal Not prepared ahead of time. — Used of a speech or remarks. 〖非正式〗（演说、讲话）即席的；未经准备的。◆ Jack was made master of ceremonies because he was a good off-the-cuff speaker. 杰克被选为司仪，因为他善于即席讲话。

off the hook　adv. phr. Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation. 脱离困境；脱身；摆脱尴尬的处境。◆ Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys. 特尔玛发现自己同一个晚上答应了两个约会，于是她便请萨莉跟一个男孩外出，以帮她摆脱困境。

off the mark　adv. phr. Having missed the target; gone astray. 脱靶，没有打中目标；不切题。◆ Your comments to the boss were way off the mark; I am afraid he will start watching you very closely from now on. 你对老板发表的意见离题太远；恐怕从现在起他要开始密切关注你了。

off the phone　adj. phr. Finished; through; having stopped talking. 打完电话。◆ "Please let me know when you're off the phone," John said to his wife. "I have to make some important calls." “请告诉我你什么时间能打完电话，”约翰对妻子说。“我有几个重要的电话要打。”◆ "Get off the phone, you chattering teenager!" John yelled at his sixteen-year-old daughter, who kept talking on the phone for hours. “电话好挂断了，你这个年纪轻轻的话匣子！”约翰对着他16岁的女儿大声喊道，因为她抱着电话已经讲了好几个小时。

off the record^1　adv. phr. Confidentially. 秘密地；机密地。◆ "Off the record," the boss said, "you will get a good raise for next year, but you'll have to wait for the official letter." “不要跟外人讲，”老板说，“明年你会获得幅度相当大的加薪，但你要等公函下来。”

off the record^2　adj. phr. Not to be published or told; secret; confidential. 不得发表的；不可对别人讲的；秘密的；机密的。◆ The president told the reporters his remarks were strictly off the record. 总统告诉记者们，对他的话必须严守机密。— Sometimes used with hyphens, before the noun. 有时加连词符用于名词前。◆ The governor was angry when a newspaper printed his off-the-record comments. 当一家报纸刊登了州长要求保密的评论后，他很生气。

off the table　adv. phr. Not included in the agenda; not to be discussed; not a part of scheduled debate. 未列入议事日程；不予以讨论；不是预定的辩论议题。◆ Salary raises at our university are off the table for the next two years due to the state's financial difficulties. 由于州里的财政困难，我们大学未来两年的加薪问题未被列入议事日程。

off the top of one's head　adv. or adj. phr., informal Without thinking hard; quickly. 〖非正式〗不假思索地（的）；很快地（的）。◆ Vin answered the teacher's question off the top of his head. 维恩未经思考，随口就回答了老师的问题。

off the wagon　adj. phr., slang No longer refusing to drink whiskey or other alcoholic beverages; drinking liquor again, after stopping for a while. 〖俚〗开酒戒；又喝起酒来。◆ When a heavy drinker quits he must really quit. One little drink of whiskey is enough to drive him off the wagon. 一个酒瘾极大的人要戒酒就必须真戒。一小杯威士忌就足以使他又喝起酒来。

off the wall　adj. phr. Strange; out of the ordinary; stupid. 奇怪的；异乎寻常的；愚蠢的。◆ He has been making off-the-wall remarks all day; something must be the matter with him. 他一整天都在说一些稀奇古怪的话；他肯定是有什么毛病了。

of late　adv. phr., formal In the recent past; not long ago; a short time ago; lately; recently.〖正式〗最近，近来。◆ There have been too many high school dropouts of late. 最近以来有太多的中学生中途退学。

of necessity　adv. phr. Because there is no other way; because it must be; necessarily. 不可避免地；势必；必然。◆ Being a professional actor of necessity means working nights and Sundays. 做一名职业演员必然意味着在晚上和星期天工作。

of old　adj. phr. Of ancient times; of long ago. 古代的；很久以前的。◆ Knights of old had to wear armor in battle. 古代的骑士上战场时都得穿盔甲。

of one's life　adj. phr. The best or worst; greatest. — Usually describing a time or effort. 一生中最好的（或最坏的）；一生中最重大的。——通常形容一段时光或努力。◆ His race for the presidency was the political fight of his life. 竞选总统是他一生中最重大的一次政治搏斗。

of one's own accord or of one's own free will　adv. phr. Without suggestion or help from anyone else; without being told; voluntarily. 出于自愿；主动地；自动地。◆ On her mother's birthday, Betsy did the dishes of her own accord. 在她母亲生日那天，贝齐主动地洗了餐具。◆ John hates baths I can't believe he would take one of his own free will. 约翰讨厌洗澡，我不相信他会主动洗个澡。

of service　adj. phr. Valuable as a source of aid; helpful; useful. 有帮助的，有用的。◆ A good jackknife is often of service to a camper. 一把好的大折刀对野营者往往很有用。

of sorts or of a sort　adj. phr. Not especially good; not very good; of common quality. 不是特别好的；不是很好的；质量一般的。◆ Joel was a magician of sorts, and popular at parties. 乔尔并不是一个特别好的魔术师，但在各种聚会上却很受欢迎。

of the same mind　adv. phr. In agreement; in consonance. 想法相同，意见一致。◆ It is a good thing when father and son are of the same mind regarding business and politics. 父子对经商和政治看法一致是一件好事。

oil and water　n. phr. Two very different things that will not mix. 截然不同的东西，不相容的东西。◆ Mimi and Helen are sisters, but they really are as different as oil and water. 咪咪和海伦是两姐妹，但实际上她们却像油和水一样截然不同。◆ You can't make a Jew worship in a mosque, and you can't make a Muslim worship in a synagogue. They may resemble one another outwardly, but inside they are oil and water. 你不可能让一个犹太人在清真寺拜神，也不可能让一个穆斯林在犹太教堂做礼拜。他们也许在外表上彼此相像，但在内心深处他们却互不相容。

old as the hills　adj. phr. Very old; ancient. 古老的。◆ "Why didn't you laugh?" she asked. "Because that joke is as old as the hills," he answered. “你为什么不笑呢？”她问。“因为那个笑话已经老掉牙了。”他回答说。

old bag　n. phr., slang, avoidable Old, ragged woman. 〖俚〗〖忌〗老太婆。◆ "Who's that poor old bag over there?" John asked. "For your information," Ted answered, "that poor old bag is my mother." "Oh, I am so sorry," John said. "I hope I didn't offend you." “那边那个可怜的老太婆是谁？”约翰问。“告诉你，”泰德说，“那个可怜的老太婆是我母亲。”“啊，太对不起了，”约翰说，“希望没有冒犯你。”

old boy network　n. phr. A system whereby men who went to the same school help each other to get good jobs, regardless of their ability or training. 老同学关系网。◆ Peter got his lucrative job thanks to the old boy network rather than because of his qualifications. 彼得得到他那份赚钱的工作靠的是老同学关系网而不是他的资历。

old college try　n. phr. An attempt to win a favor from another by mentioning the fact that one had gone to the same college or university as the party from whom the favor is requested. 以大学校友的名义套近乎。◆ Since he needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he contacted Jerry, but it didn't work. 因为他需要一份工作，所以决定在与杰里联系时以大学校友的名义套近乎，但这一招没起作用。

old country　n. phr. Primarily Europe, but also any country other than the United States where one originally came from. （移民的）故国（尤指欧洲国家）。◆ Al's wife was born in Chicago but Al himself is from the old country, Ireland. 阿尔的妻子出生在芝加哥，而阿尔本人则来自欧洲的爱尔兰。

old flame　n. phr. An erstwhile lover. 以前的情人，旧情人。◆ Did you know that Meg was one of Howard's old flames? 你知道梅格曾是霍华德的旧情人之一吗？

old guard　n. phr. People whose ideas may be out of date, but who have been in power for a long time. 元老派；保守派；卫道士。◆ There will not be any change in policy at the company, as long as the old guard still works here. 只要那些元老还在这里工作，公司的政策就不会有什么改变。

old hand　n. phr. An experienced and highly skilled expert at some particular job. 老手；内行，有经验的专家。◆ Uncle Joe is an old hand at repairing car engines. 乔叔叔是修理汽车引擎的老手。

old hat　adj., informal Old-fashioned; not new or different. 〖非正式〗老式的，过时的；不新的。◆ By now, putting satellites in orbit is old hat to space scientists. 到了现在，把卫星送入轨道对航天科学家来说已不是什么新鲜事了。

old head on young shoulders　adj. phr. Said of someone much wiser than the number of his or her years would warrant. — A proverb. 〖谚〗少年老成；年轻而有见识。◆ "Your son is a very precocious person; watch out for him." John said to Ted. "What do you mean?" Ted asked. "He has an old head on young shoulders," Ted went on. "It is obvious from all the remarks he makes." “你儿子是个早熟的人，要密切注意他，”约翰对泰德说。“你什么意思？”泰德问。“他年纪虽轻但却很有见识，”约翰接着说。“从他的谈吐就可明显地看出这一点。”

old maid　n. phr. A spinster; a woman who has never married. 老处女；大龄未婚女子。◆ Because my old maid aunt is a terrific cook as well as a good-looking woman, nobody understands why she never married. 我的老处女姑姑不仅人长得漂亮，而且厨艺精湛，所以谁都不理解她为什么不结婚。

old stamping ground　See见HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.

old story　n. An everyday occurrence; something that often happens. 司空见惯的事；经常发生的事。◆ Jane's temper tantrums were an old story. 简发脾气是常有的事。

old-timer　n. An old person who remembers bygone days, matters, and personalities. 老人，老伯。◆ There was an old-timer at the party who told us interesting details about World War Ⅱ. 聚会上有位老伯给我们讲了很多有关第二次世界大战的有趣细节。

old world　n. phr. Europe, the continent; a continental manner. 旧世界；（尤指）欧洲，欧洲大陆。◆ Tom had an old world manner that thoroughly charmed all the ladies. 汤姆有一种欧洲大陆的典雅风度，把所有的女士都彻底迷住了。

olive branch　n. phr. An overture; a symbol of peace. （象征和平的）橄榄枝；（为建立友谊、开始谈判等而作出的）主动表示，姿态。◆ Tired of the constant fighting, the majority government extended an olive branch to the militant minority. 多数派政府厌倦了持续的战争，便向好战的少数派伸出了橄榄枝。

on account　adv. phr. As part payment of a debt; to lessen the amount owed. 作为部分账款；以分期付款方式。◆ John paid $10 down and $5 on account each month for his bicycle. 约翰买自行车时首付10美元，以后每月分期付款5美元。

on account of　prep. As a result of; because of. 由于；因为。◆ The picnic was held in the gym on account of the rain. 因为下雨，野餐改在体育馆内举行。

on a diet　adv. phr. In a weight-losing program characterized by eating low-calorie food. （为了减肥）进规定的饮食；节食。◆ John is on a diet; he's already lost twenty pounds. 约翰在节食；他已经减了20磅体重。

on a dime　adv. phr., informal In a very small space. 〖非正式〗在极小的空间内。◆ Bob can turn that car on a dime. 鲍勃可以在极小的空间内开着那辆车转弯。

on-again, off-again　See见OFF-AGAIN, ON-AGAIN.

on all fours　adv. phr. 1. On all four legs; on hands and knees. 四脚着地地；手足并用地；匍匐着；爬着。◆ Fido sat up to "beg" but dropped down on all fours to eat the dog biscuit Sam gave him. 菲多坐起来乞食但却四脚落地去吃萨姆给它的狗食饼干。2. informal On a level of equality; of the same value. 〖非正式〗处于同一水平；价值完全一样。◆ Wigs may be widely used, but they are still not on all fours with beautiful natural hair. 假发也许被广泛使用，但它们仍比不上天然秀发。

on an average or on the average　adv. phr. In most cases; usually. 在多数情况下；通常；平均。◆ On the average, Mr. Blank trades in his car for a new one every three years. 布兰克先生平均每3年就把他的旧车折价贴换一辆新车。

on and off　See见OFF AND ON.

on an even keel　adv. phr., informal In a well-ordered way or condition; orderly. 〖非正式〗平平稳稳地；有条不紊地。◆ When the football rally became a riot, the principal stepped to the platform and got things back on an even keel. 当橄榄球联谊会变成一场骚乱时，校长走上讲台，让事态重又稳定了下来。

on a pedestal　adv. phr. Lovingly honored and cared for. 受崇敬地；得到细心照顾地。◆ Bill is always waiting on his fiancee and bringing her flowers and candy. He has certainly put her on a pedestal. 比尔总是服侍着未婚妻，并带给她鲜花和糖果。他对她真可谓奉若神明，百般宠爱。

on approval　adv. phr. With the understanding that the thing may be refused. （商品）供试用的，包退包换的。◆ Mr. Grey bought his camera on approval. 格雷先生买了一架包退包换的照相机。◆ The company offered to send a package of stamps on approval. 该公司表示要寄一袋邮票来，如不买可退回去。

on a roll　adv. phr. Having a good time; doing well; progressing very well. 好运连连；连连获胜；进展顺利。◆ The poet had a great time with his new volume; he produced poem after poem. He was on a roll, as never before. 那位诗人出了新诗集后很红了一阵；他的诗作一首接着一首，创作的激情空前高涨。

on a shoestring　adv. phr. With little money to spend; on a very low budget. 以极少的钱；以极少的预算。◆ The couple was seeing Europe on a shoestring. 那对夫妻用极少的钱在游览欧洲。

on behalf of　See见IN BEHALF OF.

on board^1　prep. On (a ship). 在（船）上。◆ Joan was not on board the ship when it sailed. 船起航时琼并不在船上。

on board^2　adv. or adj. phr. On a ship. 在船上（的）。◆ A ship was leaving the harbor, and we saw the people on board waving. 一艘船正驶离港口，我们看到船上的人在挥手。

on borrowed time　See见LIVE ON BORROWED TIME.

on call　adj. phr. 1. Having to be paid on demand. 要求即付的，即期支付的。◆ Jim didn't have the money ready even though he knew the bill was on call. 尽管吉姆知道这份账单是即期支付的，他却还没有把钱准备好。2. Ready and available. 随叫随到的；听候召唤的。◆ This is Dr. Kent's day to be on call at the hospital. 今天是肯特医生在医院里日夜候诊的日子。

once and for all　adv. phr. 1. One time and never again; without any doubt; surely; certainly; definitely. 最后一次；毫无疑问地；肯定地。◆ For once and for all, I will not go swimming with you. 我肯定不会和你一起去游泳。2. Permanently. 永远地；一劳永逸地。◆ The general decided that two bombs would destroy the enemy and end the war once and for all. 将军认定，两枚炸弹即可摧毁敌人并永远结束战争。

once in a blue moon　adv. phr. Very rarely; very seldom; almost never. 难得有一次；极为罕见。◆ Coin collecting is interesting, but you find a valuable coin only once in a blue moon. 硬币收藏很有趣，但有价值的硬币却千载难逢，极为罕见。

once in a while　adv. phr. Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally. 不经常；有时；偶尔。◆ We go for a picnic in the park once in a while. 我们偶尔去公园野餐。

once-over　n., slang〖俚〗1. A quick look; a swift examination of someone or something. — Usually used with give or get. 匆匆打量；草草过目。——通常与give或get连用。◆ The new boy got the once-over from the rest of the class when he came in. 新来的男生进来时，全班同学都对他打量了一眼。2. or once-over-lightly A quick or careless job, especially of cleaning or straightening; work done hastily for now. 匆匆打扫；草草了事。◆ Ann gave her room a quick once-over-lightly with the broom and dust cloth. 安用扫帚和抹布把她的房间匆匆打扫清理了一下。

once upon a time　adv. phr. Sometime before now, long ago. Used at the beginning of fairy stories. （用在童话开头）从前；很久以前。◆ Once upon a time there lived a king who had an ugly daughter. 从前有个国王，他有个丑女儿。

on cloud nine　adj. phr., slang Too happy to think of anything else; very happy.〖俚〗欢天喜地；非常高兴。◆ Ada has been on cloud nine since the magazine printed the story she wrote. 自那家杂志刊登了她写的那篇故事后，艾达一直非常高兴。

on condition that　conj. Providing that; if. 假如；如果。◆ I will lend you the money on condition that you pay it back in one month. 如果你能在一个月内归还，我就把钱借给你。

on credit　adv. pr. Without having to pay in cash or with a check; on a charge by signature or by credit card to be paid later. 赊购，赊账。◆ We bought our new car on credit because we had no cash to pay for it in full. 我们以赊购的方式买了新车，因为我们没有足够的现金全额付款。◆ Most people buy their first home on credit. 大多数人都以赊账的方式购买第一座住宅。

on deck　adv. or adj. phr. 1. On a floor of a ship open to the outdoors. 在甲板上。◆ The passengers were playing shuffleboard on deck. 旅客们在甲板上玩打圆盘游戏。◆ The sailors kept busy cleaning and painting on deck. 海员们一直忙着在甲板上清扫和涂漆。2. informal Ready to do something; present. 〖非正式〗准备好做某事；到场，出席。◆ The scout leader told the boys to be on deck at 8:00 Saturday morning for the hike. 童子军队长要男孩们星期六早晨8点到场集合去远足。

on deposit　adv. phr. In a bank. （在银行里）储存着。◆ I have almost $500 on deposit in my account. 我的账户上有近500美元的存款。

on duty　adj. phr. Doing one's job; supervising. 在上班；在值班。◆ Two soldiers are on duty guarding the gates. 两名士兵正值班守卫着大门。

one and the same　adj. phr. The same; identical. 完全一样的；同一个的。◆ Erle Stanley Gardner and A. A. Fair are one and the same person. 厄尔·斯坦利·加德纳和A.A.费尔是同一个人。

one-armed bandit　n., slang A slot machine, like those used in Las Vegas and other gambling places. 〖俚〗独臂强盗，吃角子老虎。◆ Joe was playing the one-armed bandit all day — and he lost everything he had. 乔玩了一整天吃角子老虎，结果把钱输了个精光。

on easy street　adj. phr., informal Having enough money to live very comfortably; rather rich. 〖非正式〗生活优裕；相当有钱。◆ After years of hard work, the Grants found themselves on easy street. 经过了多年的苦干，格兰特一家过上了富裕的生活。

one damn thing after another or ODTAA　(pronounced owed-tay) n. phr. If there is one problem, there will be more. 祸不单行。◆ First I lost my wallet, then a kid broke the window, and, lastly, my car refused to start. It was just one damn thing after another! 我先是丢了钱包，然后有个小孩打碎了我家的窗玻璃，最后是我的汽车怎么也发动不起来。真可谓祸不单行！

on edge　adj. phr. Excited or nervous; impatient. 兴奋；紧张不安；不耐烦。◆ The magician kept the children on edge all through his show. 魔术师在整场表演中一直让孩子们兴奋不已。

one eye on　informal Watching or minding (a person or thing) while doing something else; part of your attention on. — Used after have, keep, or with. 〖非正式〗（一边做事）一边注视（或注意）着（某人或事）——用于have, keep或with之后。◆ Jane had one eye on the baby as she ironed. 简一边熨衣服一边注视着婴儿。

one foot in the grave　n. phr. Near to death. 一只脚已踏入坟墓，离死不远了。◆ The dog is fourteen years old, blind, and feeble. He has one foot in the grave. 这条狗14岁，两眼已瞎，虚弱不堪，离死不远了。

one for the books　n. phr., informal Very unusual; a remarkable something. 〖非正式〗不同寻常的事；值得记载的事。◆ The newspaper reporter turned in a story that was one for the books. 报社记者写了一篇不同寻常的惊人报道。

one for the road　n. phr. A last drink before one leaves a party. 临走前的最后一杯酒。◆ "How about one for the road?" John asked his guests before they left his house. “临走前再来一杯怎么样？”约翰在客人们离开他家前问他们。

one-horse　adj. phr. Insignificant; modest; provincial. 不重要的；不太大的；偏僻的。◆ Arnold's business is a one-horse operation; he never had a single employee. 阿诺德的生意做得不大；他一名雇员也未用过。

one man's meat is another man's poison　What is good for one person is not necessarily good for another. — A proverb. 〖谚〗对甲有利的未必对乙也有利；兴趣爱好因人而异。◆ Even though Jeff likes to swim in ice cold water, his brother Tim hates it. This is understandable, however, because one man's meat is another man's poison. 尽管杰夫喜欢在冰冷的水里游泳，他的弟弟蒂姆却不喜欢冬泳。然而这是可以理解的，因为兴趣爱好是因人而异的。

on end　adj. phr. Seemingly endless. — Used with plural nouns of time. 连续地。——与表示时间的复数名词连用。◆ Judy spent hours on end writing and rewriting her essay. 朱迪连续花了好几个小时一遍又一遍地写她那篇文章。

one-night stand　n. phr. 1. A single performance given by a traveling company while on a tour. （巡回演出剧团等在某地的）一夜演出。◆ After they went bankrupt in the big cities, the traveling jazz quartet played one-night stands in the country. 在大城市里彻底失败之后，那个四重奏爵士乐团便在乡间作巡回一夜演出。2. A brief affair or sexual encounter. 一夜情。◆ "With AIDS all around us," said Jane, "nobody is having one-night stands anymore." “随着艾滋病在我们周围蔓延，”简说，“再也没人搞一夜情了。”

one of these days or some of these days　adv. phr. Someday; sometime soon. 日内；总有一天。◆ One of these days Herbert will be famous. 赫伯特总有一天会成名。

one of us　n. phr. A friend; someone who thinks and reacts to things as we do; not an outsider. 一个朋友；志同道合者；自己人。◆ "Is Mike reliable?" Fred asked anxiously. "Oh yes, absolutely.You can say anything to him, really... He is one of us, you know," Ted assured him. “迈克可靠吗？”弗雷德急切地问。“可靠，绝对可靠。你什么都可以对他讲；真的…你要知道，他是自己人。”泰德向他保证说。

one on the city　n., slang A glass of water (which is provided free of charge, as a free gift from the city). 〖俚〗（市里免费提供的）一杯水。◆ "What will you have?" "Oh, just give me one on the city." “你想要什么？”“哦，给我一杯水就行了。”

one's money's worth　n. phr. A fair return on one's money spent or invested. 钱花得值。◆ I wouldn't say that the trip was a great bargain, but I feel that we got our money's worth. 我虽然不会说这次旅游非常便宜，但我觉得我们这钱花得值。

one's own master　n. phr. A person whose livelihood does not depend on others; a free person; a self-employed individual, who is not under the influence of others. 自己的主人；自己做主；独立自主。◆ "It is not surprising that George speaks so openly and sincerely; he doesn't owe allegiance to anyone, he is self-employed and doing remarkably well; in short his is his own master." “乔治讲话这么坦率、这么真诚并不出人意料；他不必效忠于任何人，他独自经营而且经营得很好；总之，他是自己的主人。”

one's own worst enemy　n. phr. A person who has a tendency to hurt himself either by being physically clumsy, or by saying the wrong things at the wrong time to the wrong people, or by making the wrong choices in every walk of life. 自己害自己；自己最凶狠的敌人。◆ Albert ought to understand that nobody is against him; it's just that he is his own worst enemy. 艾伯特应该明白，没有人反对他；他才是自己最凶狠的敌人。

one's pride and joy　n. phr. Something or someone that one is extremely proud of. 某人骄傲和快乐的源泉。◆ John's daughter, who is a violin virtuoso, is his pride and joy. 约翰的女儿是位小提琴大师，她是他的骄傲和快乐的源泉。

one swallow doesn't make a summer　One manifestation of an expected larger event does not necessarily mean that the event itself is happening just yet. — A proverb. 〖谚〗一燕不成夏；不可凭偶然现象而贸然下结论。◆ When the first customer entered their new cosmetics shop, June said to her partner, Liz, who believed that they were going to be rich instantly, "Hold it, dear. One swallow doesn't make a summer." 当第一位顾客走进她们新开的化妆品店时，琼就对以为她们马上就会致富的合伙人莉兹说：“慢着，亲爱的。一燕不成夏，你先别忙着下结论。”

one that got away　n. phr. Someone that one has almost married, but didn't. Said meaning both "good riddance" and "that was unfortunate." 几乎得到而又失去的人。◆ "Who is that lovely lady at the other table?" John asked his friend Ted. "Oh, that's my former fiancée, Joan, who fell in love with another guy a month before we were going to get married. She is the one that got away." “另一张餐桌上那位可爱的女士是谁？”约翰问他的朋友泰德。“啊，那是我原来的未婚妻琼。就在我们要结婚前的一个月，她却爱上了另一个家伙。她就是我几乎得到而又失去的女人。”

one-two　n. 1. A succession of two punches, the first a short left, followed by a hard right punch, usually in the jaw. （拳击中的）连续左右猛击。◆ Ali gave Frazier the one-two. 阿里对弗雷泽连续左右猛击。2. Any quick or decisive action which takes the opposition by surprise, thereby ensuring victory. 突然的连续进攻。◆ He gave us the old one-two and won the game. 他突然对我们发起了连续进攻，从而赢得了比赛。

one up　adj. phr. Having an advantage; being one step ahead. 占上风；略胜一筹。◆ John graduated from high school; he is one up on Bob, who dropped out. 约翰中学毕了业，他比辍学的鲍勃略胜一筹。

one-upmanship　v., informal Always keeping ahead of others; trying to keep an advantage. 〖非正式〗胜人一筹（的本事）；占有优势。◆ No matter what I do, I find that Jim has already done it better. He's an expert at one-upmanship. 不论我做什么，我都发现吉姆已经做得更好。他有胜人一筹的本事。

on faith　adv. phr. Without question or proof. 毫不怀疑地；未经证实地。◆ He looked so honest that we accepted his story on faith. 他看上去很诚实，所以我们就毫不怀疑地相信了他的话。

on file　adv. phr. Placed in a written or electronic file; on record. 存档；记录在案。◆ We are sorry we cannot hire you right now but we will keep your application on file. 很抱歉我们现在不能雇用你，但我们会把你的申请存档备查的。

on foot　adv. or adj. phr. 1. By walking. 步行。◆ Sally's bicycle broke and she had to return home on foot. 萨莉的自行车坏了，她只好步行回家。2. Being planned. 在计划中。◆ The reporter said that a civil rights demonstration was on foot. 那位记者说，一次民权示威游行正在计划之中。◆ Plans have been set on foot for a party for Miss Jackson, because she is retiring. 为杰克逊小姐举行晚会的计划在进行之中，因为她即将退休。

on guard　adj. phr. Watchful; watching. 警惕，提防；警戒。◆ The police warned people to be on guard for pickpockets during the Christmas rush. 警方提醒人们在圣诞节的购物热潮期间要提防扒手。

on hand　adv. phr. la. Nearby; within reach. 在手边；在近处。◆ Always have your dictionary on hand when you study. 学习时要随时把词典放在手边。1b. Here. 即将来临（或发生）。◆ Soon school will end and vacation will be on hand. 学期即将结束，假期即将来临。2. Present. 在场；出席。◆ Mr. Blake's secretary is always on hand when he appears in public. 布莱克先生公开露面时，他的秘书总是在场。3. In your possession; ready. 现有；备有。◆ The Girl Scouts have plenty of cookies on hand. 女童子军备有很多饼干。

on hold　adv. phr. 1. Left waiting while making a telephone call. （电话拨号后）等待接通中。◆ "Sorry sir," the secretary said, "I'll have to put you on hold for a minute." “对不起，先生，”秘书说，“你要等一下我才能帮你接通。”2. Waiting; temporarily halted. 等候；暂停。◆ "Put your marriage plans on hold, son, and wait until after graduation," his father said seriously. “把你的结婚计划暂停一下吧，儿子，等毕业以后再说，”父亲严肃地说。

on ice　adv. or adj. phr., slang〖俚〗1. The same as won; sure to be won. 肯定会取胜的；必胜无疑的。◆ The score was 20-10 in the last in ning, and our team had the game on ice. 最后一局的比分为20比10，我们队肯定会取得比赛的胜利。2. Away for safekeeping or later use; aside. 保存着；储备着；暂搁着。◆ The senator was voted out of office. He is on ice until the next election. 该参议员落选了。在下次选举之前他不会再活动。

on leave　adv. phr. Having vacation; to not be on active duty. 在休假。◆ "Can I speak to Dr. Smith ?" the patient asked. "Try again in two days," the nurse replied. "He is still on leave." “可以请史密斯大夫听电话吗？”病人问。“两天以后再打电话来试一下吧，”护士回答说。“他仍在休假。”

only too glad or only too happy or only too pleased　adj. phr. Eager to comply or please; very willing to do something. 非常高兴，非常愿意（做某事）。◆ "Would you watch the kids while we're gone?" Joan asked her neighbor Mary, who had no children of her own. "I'd be only too glad to do so," Mary eagerly replied. “我们出去时，你能帮我们照看一下孩子吗？”琼问她的邻居玛丽。玛丽自己没有小孩，所以热切地回答说：“我非常高兴帮你们照看孩子。”

on occasion　adv. phr. Sometimes; occasionally. 有时；偶尔。◆ We go to New York on occasion. 我们偶尔去纽约。

on one hand　adv. phr. Looking at a thing in one of two possible ways; from one point of view. — Usually used with on the other hand. 一方面；从一种观点看。——通常与on the other hand连用。◆ John wants to be a printer or a teacher; on one hand, printing pays better; on the other hand, teaching is more fun. 约翰想做一个印刷商或一名教师；一方面，印刷业报酬高；但另一方面，教书更有趣。

on one's chest　adj. phr., informal Hidden in your thoughts or feelings and bothering you; making you feel worried or upset; that is something you want to talk to someone about. 〖非正式〗闷在心里，郁积在心；闷闷不乐；有心事。◆ "Well, Dave," said the coach, "You look sad — what's on your chest?" “喂，戴夫，”教练说，“你看上去闷闷不乐——有什么事吗？”

on one's feet　adv. phr. 1. Standing or walking; not sitting or lying down; up. 站着；走动着；起立。◆ Before the teacher finished asking the question, George was on his feet ready to answer it. 老师的问题还没问完，乔治已经站起来准备回答了。2. Recovering; getting better from sickness or trouble. （病后）复原，可以下床走动；（经历困境后）恢复。◆ Jack is back on his feet after a long illness. 杰克久病之后已经康复，可以下床走动了。

on one's good behavior　adv. phr. Behaving right to make a good impression. 行为检点，循规蹈矩。◆ The minister is coming to dinner, and Mother wants us to be on our good behavior. 牧师要来吃晚饭，母亲要我们规矩点。

on one's hands　adv. or adj. phr. In your care or responsibility; that you must do something about. 需要照管（或负责）；必须处理。◆ Mrs. Blake left her five children with me while she shopped. I could not get anything done with the children on my hands. 布莱克太太去商店购物时把她的5个孩子交给了我。因为要照管这些孩子，我什么事也干不成。

on one's head or upon one's head　adv. phr. On one's self. 落到自己头上。◆ When the school board fired the superintendent of schools, they brought the anger of the parents upon their heads. 当地方教育董事会解雇了那名督学时，他们就把学生家长的怒气引到了自己头上。

on one's high horse　adj. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. 趾高气扬；神气活现；高傲自大。◆ Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do. 玛莎是野餐会的主席，在野餐时她神气活现，指派大家干这干那。2. Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper. 气呼呼的；发脾气。◆ Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn't giving him enough attention. 乔很生气，因为他觉得玛丽对他不够关心。

on one's honor　adj. phr. Bound by one's honesty; trusted. 以名誉担保。◆ The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on their honor not to cheat. 学生们考试时没人监考。他们以名誉担保决不作弊。

on one's knees　adj. phr. 1. Pleading; begging very hard. 恳求；苦苦哀求。◆ The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans. 男孩子们苦苦哀求了好几个小时，他们的父母才同意了他们的野营计划。2. In a very weak condition; near failure. 筋疲力尽；十分虚弱；濒临失败。◆ When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close. 该校的毕业生听说母校在经济上难以维持时，纷纷慷慨解囊，使学校不致关闭。

on one's last legs　adj. phr. Failing; near the end. 即将失败；濒于死亡。◆ The blacksmith's business is on its last legs. 铁匠这一行当已濒临绝境。

on one's mind　adv. phr. In one's thoughts. 惦记。挂在心上；有心事。◆ What's on your mind? 你有什么心事？

on one's nerves　See见GET ON ONE'S NERVES.

on one's own　adj. phr. With no help from others. 靠自己的力量；独自地。◆ Being on your own may be a frightening experience. 孤立无援地做事可能是一种可怕的经历。

on one's own account or informal on one's own hook　adv. phr. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. 为自己；独立地。◆ After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account. 在选定了全班的礼物之后，委员会的成员们也各为自己买了一些东西。

on one's own feet　See见STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET.

on one's own time　adv. phr. During one's free time; not during working or school hours. 在业余时间；在非工作时间。◆ If you want to play football, you'll have to do it on your own time. 你如果想打橄榄球，只能在业余时间打。

on one's toes　adj. phr., informal Alert; ready to act. 〖非正式〗警觉的；准备行动的。◆ The successful ball player is always on his toes. 成功的球员总是机警的。

on one's uppers　adj. phr., informal Very poor. 〖非正式〗非常穷困的。◆ Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers. 怀特先生已失业数月，非常穷困。

on pain of also under pain of　prep., formal At the risk of; under penalty of. 〖正式〗冒着…的风险；违规受…处罚。◆ The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs. 工人们冒着失去工作的危险举行了罢工。

on paper　adv. or adj. phr. Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. 在表面上；在理论上。◆ On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War. 在理论上，美国的13个州本来是不会赢得独立战争的。

on pins and needles　adj. phr., informal Worried; nervous. 〖非正式〗焦躁不安的；紧张的；如坐针毡的。◆ Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play. 很多著名演员在演出大幕拉开前都是坐立不安的。

on purpose　adv. phr. For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. 为了某一原因；故意地；有意地。◆ Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose. 简并非忘了拿她的外衣；她是有意把它留在衣物柜里的。

on record　adj. phr. 1. An official or recorded statement of fact; said for everyone to know. 记录在案的；公之于众的。◆ The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record. 两位候选人上电视公开发表各自的意见。2. Known to have said or done a certain thing. — Usually used with as. 公开说过（或做过）某事。——通常与as连用。◆ The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise. 市长曾公开说过他反对加税。

on sale　adj. phr. Selling for a special low price. 廉价出售。◆ Tomato soup that is usually sold for ninety cents a can is now on sale for seventy cents. 通常卖90美分一罐的番茄汤现在削价卖50美分。

on sb.'s account　adv. phr. For your good; because you want to help or please someone. 为了某人的利益；为了某人的缘故。◆ I hope you didn't bring tea to the picnic just on my account. 我希望你不是单单为了我的缘故才带茶来野餐的。

on sb.'s back 　adj. phr., informal Making insistent demands of you; being an annoyance or bother. 〖非正式〗缠磨某人；找某人的麻烦。◆My wife has been on my back for weeks to fix the front door screen. 几个星期来，我妻子一直缠着我要我把前门的纱窗修好。

on sb.'s bad side or on the bad side of one　adj. phr., informal Not liked by someone; not friendly with a person. 〖非正式〗不为某人所喜欢。◆ Sally's boyfriend got on Father's bad side by keeping Sally out too late after the dance. 萨莉的男朋友因在舞会后与萨莉玩得太晚而不讨她父亲的喜欢。

on sb.'s coattails　adv. phr. Because of another's merits, success, or popularity. 沾某人的光；靠某人的提携。◆ Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails. 鲍勃和吉姆是最好的朋友。当吉姆被邀请加入兄弟会时，鲍勃沾他的光也跟着加入了。

on sb.'s good side or on the good side of someone　adj. phr., informal Friendly with someone; liked by a person. 〖非正式〗讨某人喜欢；为某人所喜欢。◆ Successful workers stay on the good side of their bosses. 工作出色的工人能一直为他们的老板所喜欢。

on sb.'s part or on the part of someone　adj. phr. Of or by you; of someone's. 某人的；某人做的。◆ When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part. 布朗小姐说我是个好学生，这完全是因为她仁慈。

on sb.'s shoulders　adv. or adj. phr. In your care; as your responsibility. 由某人照管；由某人负责。◆ The success of the program rests on your shoulders. 这项计划的成功就全靠你了。

on schedule^1　adv. phr. As planned or expected; at the right time. 按时间表；准时。◆ The school bus arrived at school on schedule. 校车准时到达学校。

on schedule^2　adj. phr. Punctual; as planned. 准时的；按时间表的。◆ The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition. 那家新的航空公司声称比竞争对手有更多准时到达的航班。

on second thought　See见SECOND THOUGHT.

on speaking terms　adv. phr. To be familiar with someone so as to actually speak with that person instead of just waving or nodding; cordial. 达到互相谈话的交情；彼此友好的。◆ John and Tim have been on speaking terms for many years, but otherwise they are not very close. 约翰和蒂姆多年来只是见了面讲讲话的泛泛之交，除此之外关系并不是很密切。◆ Mary and Ted are no longer on speaking terms; they were divorced ten years ago. 玛丽和泰德的关系已经不好了；10年前他们就离婚了。

on strike　adv. phr. To not be working as a matter of protest against low wages or other unacceptable employment conditions. 在罢工。◆ "Why are those people walking around in front of the store carrying signs?" the foreign visitor asked Ted. "Because they are on strike," he explained. “那些人为什么举着牌子在商店门前走来走去？”外国游客问泰德。“因为他们在罢工，”泰德解释说。

on tenterhooks　adv. phr. To be in a state of painful suspense; to feel anxious and impatient to receive some news, good or bad. 提心吊胆，焦虑不安；如坐针毡。◆ When Rose's father was near death, her husband told me, "We are on tenterhooks waiting for the phone call every day." 当罗斯的父亲快要去世时，她的丈夫告诉我：“我们每天都在提心吊胆地等电话。”◆ The young poet was on tenterhooks until his new manuscript was accepted by Princeton University Press. 在普林斯顿大学出版社接受他的新手稿之前，那位年轻的诗人一直如坐针毡。

on the air　adj. or adv. phr. Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. （在电台或电视台）广播；播出。◆ His show is on the air at six o'clock. 他的演出将在6点钟播出。

on the alert　adj. phr. Alert; watchful; careful. 警惕的；密切注意的；小心的。◆ Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak. 野营者必须密切注意气根毒藤和栎叶毒漆树。

on the average　See见ON AN AVERAGE.

on the ball　adj. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Paying attention and doing things well. — Used after is or get. 勤奋的，一心苦干的。——用于is或get之后。◆ The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team. 教练叮嘱吉姆一定要好好打球，不然就只能离开球队。2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. — Used after have. 有技术的；有能力的；高明的。——用于have之后。◆ John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball. 约翰会在人生道路上取得成功的；他很有能耐。

on the bandwagon　adj. phr., informal In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it. — Often used after climb, get, or jump. 〖非正式〗赶浪头；随大流。——常用于climb，get或jump之后。◆ When all George's friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too. 当所有乔治的朋友决定投票支持比尔时，乔治也随大流投了比尔的票。

on the beam　adv. or adj. phr. 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. （飞机）在无线电射束指示的航道上；飞行在正确方向上。◆ A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam. 无线电信号会告诉飞机驾驶员他正飞行在正确方向上。2. slang Doing well; just right; good or correct. 〖俚〗对头；正确。◆ Kenneth's answer was right on the beam. 肯尼思的回答完全正确。

on the bench　1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. 当法官；开庭审问案件。◆ Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning. 今天上午是怀赞斯基法官开庭审判。2. Sitting among the substitute players. 坐在替补队员席上；暂不参加比赛。◆ The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle. 教练不得不把他那位扭伤了脚踝的明星队员一直放在替补席上。

on the blink　adj. phr. Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. 坏了；出故障；失灵。◆ I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again. 我需要叫一名有能力的修理员来，因为我的电脑又坏了。

on the block　adj. phr. To be sold; for sale. 出售；待售。◆ The vacant house was on the block. 那幢空房子待售。

on the brain　adj. phr., slang Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. 〖俚〗念念不忘；一心想着；满脑子想着。◆ Mary Ann has boys on the brain. 玛丽安满脑子想的都是男孩子。

on the brink of　adv. phr. Facing a new event that's about to happen. 濒于；处于…的边缘；即将。◆ "I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced. “我即将有一个新的发现。”我们的物理学教授自豪地宣布。

on the button　adv., adj., slang At the right place; at the heart of the matter. 〖俚〗准确；正中要害。◆ John's remark was right on the button. 约翰的话说得一点不错。

on the cheap　adv. phr. Inexpensively; on a tight budget. 便宜地；节约地。◆ She buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores. 她的衣服大多是在旧货店很便宜地买来的。

on the contrary　adv. phr. Exactly the opposite; rather; instead. 正相反；相反地。◆ "You don't like football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very much." “你不喜欢橄榄球对吗？”“恰恰相反，我非常喜欢。”

on the dole　adv. phr. Drawing unemployment benefits. 领取失业救济金。◆ When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it. 吉姆失业后开始领取失业救济金，现在仍在领取。

on the dot also on the button　adv. phr., informal Exactly on time; not early and not late. 〖非正式〗准时地。◆ Susan arrived at the party at 2:00 P. M. on the dot. 苏珊在下午两点准时来到聚会处。

on the double!　adv. phr. Hurry up! 赶快！快点！◆ "Let's go! On the double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the engine of the small plane. “咱们出发啦！快点！”飞行员一边启动小飞机的引擎一边喊道。

on the eve of　prep. Just before (an event). 在…的前夕，在…的前夜。◆ On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes. 在选举的前夜，总统提出了减税的计划。

on the face of it　adv. phr. Apparently; as it seems. 从表面判断，乍看起来；显然。◆ His statement that he is a millionaire is, on the face of it, false. 他说他是百万富翁，这话显然是假的。

on the fast track　adv. phr. In a position where one rises through the ranks of an organization faster than one would normally. 驶上（提升的）快车道。◆ John got three early promotions one after another; he sure seems to be on the fast track! 约翰一次又一次地连续得到3次提前晋升；他似乎确实驶上了提升的快车道！

on the fence　adj. or adv. phr. Not able, or not wanting to choose; in doubt; undecided. — Often used with sit. 骑墙，观望；疑惑；犹豫不决。——常与sit连用。◆ Mrs. Jones has decided to vote for the Democrats, but Mr. Jones is still on the fence. 琼斯太太已决定投民主党的票，但琼斯先生还在犹豫不决。

on the fly^1　adv. phr. 1. While in the air; in flight. 在空中；在飞行中。◆ The bird caught a bug on the fly. 鸟在飞行中捉到一只虫子。2. informal Between other activities; while busy with many things. 〖非正式〗在忙碌之中；在百忙中。◆ The president was so busy that he had to dictate letters on the fly. 总统日理万机，只得在百忙中抽空口授信函由别人代笔。

on the fly^2　adj. phr., informal Busy; going somewhere in a hurry; going about doing things. 〖非正式〗忙碌的；匆匆赶往某处；四处奔忙。◆ Getting the house ready for the visitors kept Mother on the fly all day. 为了准备客人来访，母亲清理房间忙碌了一整天。

on the go　adj. phr., informal Active and busy. 〖非正式〗忙个不停；非常活跃。◆ Successful businessmen are on the go most of the time. 成功的商人大多数时间都忙个不停。

on the heels of　prep. Just after; following (something, especially an event). — Often used with hard for emphasis. 就在…之后；紧跟在…后 面。——常与hard连用表示强调。◆ Hard on the heels of the women's liberation parade, homosexuals declared a "gay pride week." 紧跟在妇女解放的游行之后，同性恋者即宣布了“同性恋尊严周。”

on the hour　adv. phr. Each time the hour has zero minutes and zero seconds. 每小时正点地。◆ The uptown bus goes past the school on the hour. 开往城外的公共汽车每小时正点都经过学校。

on the house　adj. phr., informal Paid for by the owner. 〖非正式〗由店家出钱。◆ At the opening of the new hotel, the champagne was on the house. 新旅馆开张时，老板请大家喝香槟。

on the job　adj. phr., informal Working hard; not wasting time. 〖非正式〗努力工作；专心地工作；不浪费时间。◆ Joe was on the job all of the time that he was at work. 乔在工作时一直很专心。

on the lam　adj. or adv. phr., slang Running away, especially from the law; in flight. 〖俚〗在潜逃中；在逃跑。◆ The bank robber was on the lam for ten months before the police caught him. 那名银行抢劫犯潜逃了10个月后才被警方捉住。

on the level　adj. phr., informal Honest and fair; telling the whole truth. 〖非正式〗诚实的；说实话的。◆ Our teacher respects the students who are on the level with her. 我们的老师尊重对她诚实的学生。

on the line　See见LAY ON THE LINE or PUT ON THE LINE.

on the lookout　adj. phr. Watching closely. 密切注视着；警觉注意着。◆ Forest rangers are always on the lookout for forest fires. 护林员随时都在密切注意着森林火灾。

on the loose　adj. phr., informal Free to go; not shut in or stopped by anything. 〖非正式〗到处乱跑；行动不受限制。◆ The zookeeper forgot to close the gate to the monkey cage and the monkeys were on the loose. 动物园看守人忘了关猴笼的门，结果猴子们在到处乱跑。

on the make　adj., slang〖俚〗1. Promiscuous or aggressive in one's sexual advances. 求欢心切的；动手动脚的。◆ I can't stand Murray; he's always on the make. 我无法容忍默里；他总喜欢动手动脚。2. Pushing to get ahead in one's career; doing anything to succeed. 一心想出人头地的；不择手段追名逐利的。◆ The new department head is a young man on the make, who expects to be company president in ten years. 新的部门经理是个一心想出人头地的年轻人，他期待10年后成为公司总裁。

on the market　adj. phr. For sale. 上市；出售。◆ In the summer many fresh vegetables are on the market. 夏天有许多新鲜蔬菜出售。

on the mend　adj. phr. Healing; becoming better. 痊愈；正逐渐好起来。◆ John's broken leg is on the mend. 约翰的断腿正在逐渐好起来。

on the money　adv. phr. Exactly right; exactly accurate. 完全正确；准确无误。◆ Algernon won the lottery; the numbers he picked were right on the money. 阿尔杰农买彩票中了大奖；他选的号码完全正确。

on the move　adj. or adv. phr. 1. Moving around from place to place; in motion. 四处走动；在动个不停。◆ It was a very cold day, and the teacher watching the playground kept on the move to stay warm. 那天天气很冷，负责看管操场的老师不停地走来走去使身体保持暖和。2. Moving forward; going somewhere. 在前进；在发展。◆ The candidate promised that if people would make him president, he would get the country on the move. 那位候选人承诺，如果人们选他当总统，他将使国家不断前进。

on the nose　adv. phr., informal Just right; exactly. 〖非正式〗正好；准确地。◆ The airplane pilot found the small landing field on the nose. 飞机驾驶员准确地找到了那个小机场。

on the other hand　adv. phr. Looking at the other side; from another point of view. — Used to introduce an opposite or different fact or idea. 另一方面；从另一种观点看。——用以引出一个相反的事实或看法。◆ Jim wanted to go to the movies; his wife, on the other hand, wanted to stay home and read. 吉姆想去看电影，而他的妻子则想待在家里读书。

on the outs　adj. phr., informal Not friendly; having a quarrel. 〖非正式〗关系不好；不和；争吵。◆ Mary and Sue were on the outs. 玛丽和苏闹翻了。

on the phone　adv. phr. Using the telephone; speaking to someone by telephone. 在打电话，在接电话。◆ Please don't disturb me when I am on the phone. 在我打电话的时候请不要打扰我。

on the point of　prep. Ready to begin; very near to. — Usually used with a verbal noun. 即将；正要；就要。——通常与动名词连用。◆ The baby was on the point of crying when her mother finally came home. 婴儿正要哭的时候，母亲终于回家了。

on the Q. T.　adv. phr., informal Secretly; without anyone's knowing. 〖非正式〗悄悄地；秘密地；偷偷地。◆ The teachers got the principal a present strictly on the Q. T. 老师们悄悄地给校长买了一件礼物。

on the right track　adv. phr. Going in the right direction; proceeding correctly. 循着正确的路线；方向正确；做法正确。◆ The detectives were on the right track in trying to find the kidnapped girl. 在努力寻找被诱拐的女孩方面，警探们的方向是正确的。◆ John quit literature for chemistry, which suits his talents much better. He is now finally on the right track. 约翰放弃了文学而改学化学，因为化学远更适合他的才能。他现在终于走上了正确的道路。

on the road　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Traveling; moving from one place to another. 在（旅）途中；在路上。◆ When we go on vacation, we take a lunch to eat while on the road. 我们去度假时，总是带着午饭在路上吃。2. Changing; going from one condition to another. 在转变中，在…的过程中。◆ Mary was very sick for several weeks, but now she is on the road to recovery. 玛丽前几个星期病得很厉害，但现在正在康复中。

on the rocks　adj. phr. 1. informal Wrecked or ruined. 〖非正式〗触礁；（婚姻等）濒于破裂。◆ Mr. Jones' business and marriage were both on the rocks. 琼斯先生的生意濒于破产而他的婚姻也濒于破裂。2. With ice only. 加冰块的。◆ At the restaurant, Sally ordered orange juice on the rocks. 在餐馆里，萨莉要了一杯加冰块的橘子汁。

on the ropes　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Against the ropes of a boxing ring and almost not able to stand up. （拳击时）被逼到拳击的围绳上。◆ The fighter was on the ropes and could hardly lift his gloves. 那名拳击手被逼到拳击台的围绳上，已无力举拳还击了。2. Almost defeated; helpless; near failure. 即将完蛋；处于困境；濒于 失败。◆ The new supermarket took most of the business from Mr. Thomas's grocery, and the little store was soon on the ropes. 新开的超市抢走了托马斯先生食品杂货店的大部分生意，这家小店很快就要完蛋了。

on the run　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In a hurry; hurrying. 奔跑着；急急忙忙。◆ Jane called "Help!" and Tom came on the run. 简大喊“救命！”汤姆赶紧跑了过来。2. Going away from a fight; in retreat; retreating. 奔逃着；撤退。◆ The enemy soldiers were on the run. 敌军士兵在奔逃撤退。

on the safe side　adv. phr. Provided for against a possible emergency; well prepared. 为了稳妥（或安全）起见。◆ "Please double-check these proofs, Mr. Brown," the printer said, "just to be on the safe side." “请把这些校样复核一遍，布朗先生，”印刷商说，“正是为了稳妥起见。”

on the same page　See见ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH.

on the same page with　adv. phr. In agreement with someone; subscribing to the same values. 与…意见一致；赞成同样的价值观。◆ It will be interesting to see if the European Union and the United States can be on the same page as far as the war against terrorism is concerned. 看一看欧盟和美国在反恐战争的问题上能否意见一致将是非常有趣的。

on the same wavelength　adv. phr. To think exactly the same way as someone else; agree with someone concerning an important issue. 想法完全一样；具有相同观点。◆ The president and the national security advisor are on the same wavelength when it comes to national defense. 总统和国家安全顾问在国防问题上观点一致。◆ Will the Palestinians and the Israelis ever be on the same page as far as statehood is concerned? 巴勒斯坦人和以色列人究竟会不会在国家地位问题上取得一致意见呢？

on the shelf　adv. or adj. phr., informal Laid aside; not useful anymore. 〖非正式〗被搁置一边；不再有用。◆ When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on the shelf. 当一个女孩长大后，她就把儿时的一些习惯丢弃了。

on the side　adv. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. In addition to a main thing, amount or quantity; extra. 在主要的部分之外；额外地；作为配菜。◆ He ordered a hamburger with onions and French fries on the side. 他点了一份洋葱汉堡包，外加一份法式炸薯条。2. or on the — side Tending toward; rather. 颇为；相当。◆ Grandmother thought Jane's new skirt was on the short side. 祖母认为简的新裙子太短了一点。

on the sly　adv. phr. So that other people won't know; secretly. 诡秘地；偷偷地。◆ The boys smoked on the sly. 男孩们偷偷地抽烟。

on the spot　adv. or adj. phr. 1. or upon the spot At that exact time and at the same time or place; without waiting or leaving. 立即；当场；在现场。◆ The news of important events is often broadcast on the spot over television. 重大事件的新闻经常进行现场直播。2. informal also in a spot In trouble, difficulty, or embarrassment. 〖非正式〗处于困难（或尴尬）的境地。◆ Mr. Jones is on the spot because he cannot pay back the money he borrowed. 琼斯先生因还不出欠款而处境很尴尬。3. slang In danger of murder; named or listed for death. 〖俚〗处于被谋杀的危险；被列入死亡名单。◆ After he talked to the police, the gangsters put him on the spot. 他向警方供认之后，匪徒们决定干掉他。

on the spur of the moment　adv. phr. On a sudden wish or decision; suddenly; without thought or preparation. 一时冲动之下；突然；未经仔细考虑（或准备）地。◆ John had not planned to take the trip; he just left on the spur of the moment. 约翰事先并没有计划去旅行；他只凭一时的冲动就出发了。

on the stage　adv. or adj. phr. In or into the work of being an actor or actress. 当演员。◆ John's brother is on the stage. 约翰的兄弟是演员。

on the strength of　prep. With faith or trust in; depending upon; with the support of. 凭借；依靠；在…的支持下。◆ Bill started a restaurant on the strength of his experience as a cook in the army. 比尔是凭借着他在军队中当过炊事员的经验才开餐馆的。

on the string or on a string　adv. phr., informal Under your influence or control; obedient to every wish. 〖非正式〗操纵（或支配）（某人）；让（某人）百依百顺。◆ The baby had his mother on a string. 那婴儿让他母亲对他百依百顺。

on the table　adv. phr. To be part of the agenda; be included in what is to be discussed and decided. 被列入议事日程；被提交讨论。◆ "Is Palestinian statehood on the table?" the representative from the Arab League asked. "Not yet, but it will soon be on the table," the secretary of the United Nations answered. “巴勒斯坦的国家地位问题列入议事日程没有？”来自阿拉伯联盟的代表问。“还没有，不过很快就会列入议程的，”联合国秘书回答说。

on the take　adv. phr. Bribable; corrupt. 接受贿赂；贪赃枉法。◆ Officer O'Keefe was put on three months' probation because it was alleged that he was on the take. 奥基夫警官被处以留局察看了3个月，因为他被指称接受贿赂。

on the tip of sb.'s tongue　adv. phr. About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. 就在某人嘴边；某人差一点说出口。◆ "His name is on the tip of my tongue." Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute." “他的名字就在我嘴边，”汤姆说。“我要等一会才能想起来。”

on the town　adv. or adj. phr., informal In or into a town to celebrate; having a good time or enjoying the amusements in a town. 〖非正式〗在城里（或进城）欢乐；在城里纵情玩乐。◆ When the sailors got off their ship they went out on the town. 水手们下了船就进城去寻欢作乐了。

on the track of or on the trail of　adv. or adj. phr. Hunting or looking for; trying to find; following. 追猎；寻找；追踪。◆ The hunter is on the track of a deer. 猎人正在追踪一头鹿。◆ The lawyer is on the trail of new proof in the case. 律师正在为此案寻找新的证据。

on the up and up　adj. phr., informal Honest; trustworthy; sincere. 〖非正式〗诚实的；可以信赖的；真诚的。◆ We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This information is on the up and up. 我们觉得他是诚实的、可以信赖的。这消息真实可靠。

on the wagon　adv. phr. Participating in an alcohol addiction program; not touching any alcoholic beverage. 戒酒；不喝酒。◆ Jim's doctor and his family finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on the wagon. 吉姆的医生和家人终于设法使他相信他饮酒过度，应该戒酒才是。

on the wane and on the wax　adv. phr. Decreasing and increasing. — Said of the moon. 月亏月盈。◆ The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax at regular intervals lasting half a month. 月亮盈亏有序，每隔半个月它会渐亏，再隔半个月它又会渐盈。

on the warpath　adj. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Very angry. 极为恼火；怒不可遏。◆ When Mother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath. 母亲看到厨房里又脏又乱的样子极为恼火。2. Making an attack; fighting. 发动进攻；正在作战。◆ The government is on the warpath against narcotics. 政府正在跟毒品作战。

on the watch　adj. phr. Alert; watchful. 警惕；密切注视；提防。◆ The customs inspector was on the watch for diamond smugglers. 海关检查员密切注视着钻石走私犯。

on the way or on one's way　adv. or adj. phr. Coming; going toward a place or goal; started. 即将来到；在途中；已开始。◆ Help was on the way. 援助就要到了。◆ The train left and Bill was on his way to New York. 火车开了，比尔已在去纽约的途中。

on the whole　adv. phr. 1. In the most important things; in most ways. 总的来说，总的看来。◆ On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year. 总的来说，比利今年在学校里表现得很好。2. In most cases; usually. 在大多数情况下；一般；通常。◆ On the whole, men are stronger than women. 一般说来，男人比女人强壮。

on the wing　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In the air; while flying. 在空中；在飞行中。◆ The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing. 野鸭子飞走了，但约翰把飞行中的野鸭子打了下来。2.informal In constant motion; always very busy. 〖非正式〗忙碌着。◆ Susan was on the wing doing things to get ready for her trip. 苏珊正忙着做这做那，为旅行做准备。◆ 3. informal Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere. 〖非正式〗奔波着；在旅行。◆ Mary's husband is a traveling salesman and he's always on the wing. 玛丽的丈夫是个旅行推销员，他总是在四处奔波。

on the wrong track　adv. phr. Lost; pursuing the wrong lead. 循着错误的路线；方向错误。◆ Professor MacAlister confessed that his chemical experiments were on the wrong track. 麦卡利斯特教授承认，他的化学实验路子错了。

on time　adv. or adj. phr. 1. At the time arranged; not late; promptly. 准时；按时。◆ The train left on time. 火车准时开出。◆ Mary is always on time for an appointment. 玛丽一向准时赴约。2. On the installment plan; on credit, paying a little at a time. 以分期付款方式。◆ John bought a car on time. 约翰以分期付款的方式买了一辆汽车。

on top　adv. or adj. phr., informal In the lead; with success; with victory. 〖非正式〗领先；获得成功；获胜。◆ The horse that everyone had expected would be on top actually came in third. 大家原先预期会跑第一的那匹马结果跑了个第三名。

on top of　prep 1. On the top of; standing or lying on; on. 在…上面；站（或躺）在…上面。◆ When the player on the other team dropped the ball, Bill fell on top of it. 当对方那名球员丢掉了球时，比尔扑到了球上。2. informal Very close to. 〖非正式〗紧跟着…。◆ The elevator was so crowded that everybody was on top of each other. 电梯里挤得人挨着人。3. informal In addition to; along with. 〖非正式〗除…之外（还）。◆ Mary worked at the store all day and on top of that she had to baby-sit with her brother. 玛丽整天在店里工作，此外还要照看她小弟弟。4. informal Managing very well; in control of. 〖非正式〗妥善处理；完全控制（或掌握）着。◆ Although his new job was very complicated, John was on top of it within a few weeks. 约翰的新工作虽然很复杂，但他在几周内就完全掌握了它。5. Knowing all about; not falling behind in information about; up-to-date on. 对…一清二楚；对…的新情况很熟悉。◆ Mary stays on top of the news by reading newspapers and magazines. 玛丽阅读报纸杂志，一直对各种新闻非常熟悉。

on top of the world or sitting on top of the world also (Southern) sitting on high cotton　adj. phr., informal Feeling pleased and happy; feeling successful. 〖非正式〗开心到极点，幸福到极点；心满意足。◆ John was on top of the world when he found out that he got into college. 查询到自己已被大学录取时，约翰非常高兴。◆ The girls were sitting on high cotton because their basketball team had won the trophy. 因为她们的篮球队赢得了奖杯，姑娘们都非常开心。

on trial　adv. or adj. phr. 1. For testing or trying out for a time before making a decision. 在试用中；试验性地。◆ I was lucky that I had bought the machine on trial because I didn't like it and was able to return it. 我很幸运以试用的方式买了这台机器，因为我并不喜欢它，准备去退掉。2. In a court being tried for a crime before a judge or jury. 在受审。◆ John White was on trial for murder. 约翰·怀特因谋杀罪而受审。

open a can of worms　See见CAN OF WORMS, PANDORA'S BOX

open and aboveboard　adj. phr. Honest. 诚实的；坦率的；光明正大的。◆ Jacob felt that the firm he was doing business with wasn't entirely open and aboveboard. 雅各布觉得与他做生意的那家公司不那么真诚老实。

open and shut　See见CUT AND DRIED.

open-door policy　n. phr. A policy that states that newcomers are welcome to join the company, firm, or country in question. 门户开户政策。◆ During the nineteenth century the United States had an open-door policy regarding immigration. 在19世纪，美国在移民问题上实行门户开放政策。

open doors　v. phr. To give others a chance to better their position in life; get ahead. 提供机会；创造条件。◆ The summer camp financed by the city is opening doors for aspiring young musicians and singers, who want to try out at the local symphony center. 由市里提供资金举办的夏令营为有雄心壮志的年轻音乐家和歌手提供了机会，他们都想在当地的交响乐队一试身手。

open fire　v. phr. To begin shooting. 开火。◆ The big warship turned its guns toward the enemy ship and opened fire. 那艘大军舰把炮转向敌舰开火。

openhanded　adj. Generous; liberal. 慷慨的，大方的。◆ Although not wealthy himself, Bob was always very openhanded with those who needed help. 虽然自己并不富有，但鲍勃对需要帮助的人却一向很慷慨。

open heart　n. 1. No hiding of your feelings; frankness; freedom. 毫不隐瞒自己的感情；坦率；开诚布公。◆ She spoke with an open heart of her warm feelings for her pupils. 她毫不隐瞒地谈到她对自己学生们的热爱。2. Kindness; generosity. 仁慈；慷慨。◆ She contributed to the fund with an open heart. 她慷慨解囊为该基金捐款。

open its doors　v. phr. 1. To allow someone or something to enter or join; become open. 开门接纳；准许进入（或参加）。◆ That college was started for women only, but a few years ago it opened its doors to men. 那所学院开始时只收女生，但几年前也收男生了。2. To begin doing business; open. 开始做生意；开业。◆ Proffitts Department Store is having a birthday sale; it first opened its doors fifty years ago this month. 普罗菲茨百货公司正在举行周年大拍卖；它创办于50年前的这个月。

open letter　n. phr. A public message in the form of a letter addressed to a particular person or to a group. 公开信。◆ There was an open letter to the president of the United States in today's morning paper. 今天的晨报刊登了一封致美国总统的公开信。

open market　n. phr. Goods or securities available for purchase by all. 公开市场。◆ The stocks of certain companies are on the open market. 某些公司的股票可以在公开市场上买到。

open marriage　n. phr. An arrangement by mutual agreement between husband and wife whereby they are both allowed to have extramarital affairs. （允许婚外性关系的）开放婚姻。◆ Chances are the open marriage arrangement they had didn't work out too well so they are getting a divorce. 很可能是他们作出的开放婚姻安排实行得不是太顺利，所以他们现在在办离婚。

open-minded　adj. Having no dogmatic or biased views on matters of theory, religion, politics, etc. 思想开阔的；无先入之见的，无偏见的。◆ Fred is easy to talk to about anything; he is a highly intelligent and open-minded person. 与弗雷德交谈任何事情都很容易；他是个很有才智、心胸开阔的人。

open one's heart　v. phr. 1. To talk about your feelings honestly; confide in someone. （对某人）敞开心扉；（向某人）吐露真情。◆ John felt much better after he opened his heart to Betty. 约翰向贝蒂吐露真情后，感觉好多了。 2. To be sympathetic to; give love or help generously. （对某人）表示同情（或爱怜）；慷慨帮助。◆ Mrs. Smith opened her heart to the poor little boy. 史密斯太太很同情那个穷苦的小男孩。

open onto　v. phr. To have a view of. 朝向。◆ Our apartment in Chicago has a set of windows that open onto Lake Michigan. 我们在芝加哥的公寓有一排窗子面向密歇根湖。

open question　n. phr. A debatable issue. 尚未解决的问题；容许争论的问题，可争论的问题。◆ Whether assisted suicide is legal and moral or not is still an open question, recent publicity on the matter notwithstanding. 尽管近来公众对此事非常关注，但辅助性自杀是否合法，是否符合道德准则仍是一个有争论的问题。

open sb.'s eyes or open up one's eyes　v. phr. To make a person see or understand the truth; make a person realize; tell a person what is really happening or what really exists. 使某人看清；使某人理解；使某人认识到。◆ John's eyes were opened up to the world of nature when he visited his grandfather's farm. 参观了祖父的农场才使约翰对自然界有所认识。— eye opener　n. Something that makes you understand the truth. 使人大开眼界的经历（或事情）。◆ Pam's first visit to school was a real eye-opener. 帕姆第一次参观学校就让她去大开眼界。

open secret　n. phr. Something that is supposed to be a secret but that everyone knows. 公开的秘密。◆ It is an open secret that Mary and John are engaged. 玛丽和约翰已订婚是个公开的秘密。

open sesame　n. phr., literary Immediate means of entrance, or unobstructed access to something. 〖文〗（进入某处或达到某一目的的）法宝；通行手段；敲门砖。◆ Tom mistakenly believed that his wealth would be an open sesame to the world of creative arts. 汤姆错误地以为，他的财富会成为他跻身创作艺术界的敲门砖。

open shop　n. phr. A factory or firm that employs both union and nonunion labor. （工会会员和非工会会员一律雇用的）开放企业，自由雇用企业。◆ The firm refuses to adopt an open shop policy. 该公司拒绝采取不管是否工会会员一律雇用的政策。

open the door　v. phr. To allow more action or discussion; give a chance. 创造条件；提供机会。◆ Learning to read and write opens the door to a better job and better living conditions. 学会读写为得到更好的工作和更好的生活条件提供了机会。

open the floodgates　v. phr. To let loose an outburst of human activity or emotion. 开防洪闸门；让感情等尽情发泄；引发。◆ It would open the floodgates of anger and discontent if the university raised tuition too soon. 如果大学提高学费提得太快，定会引起人们的强烈愤怒和不满。

open up　v. 1. To show for the first time; make clear; reveal. 展示；展现；揭示。◆ The story of Helen Keller's life opened up a whole new world to Mary. 海伦·凯勒的生平故事给玛丽展示了一个全新的世界。2. To make available; present an opportunity; offer. 提供可能性；提供机会；提供。◆ The building of the railroad opened up new lands to the pioneers. 铁路的建成为开拓者提供了新的土地。3. informal To go faster. 〖非正式〗加速。◆ When they got out on the highway John opened up and drove at 65 miles per hour. 他们一开上公路，约翰就加快速度，以每小时65英里的速度行驶。4. informal To begin to shoot. 〖非正式〗开始射击。◆ When they got close to the enemy lines, they opened up with all they had. 接近敌人防线时，他们便用所有的武器开始射击。5. informal To begin to talk frankly. 〖非正式〗开始坦率地谈；畅谈。◆ After John learned to trust Mr. Jones, he opened up and told him how he felt. 在约翰发现可以信任琼斯先生后，他便敞开心扉，把自己的感受告诉了他。6. To spread out. 展开；变宽。◆ After a while the road opened up and they traveled more quickly. 过了一会，路面变宽，我们行驶得更快了。7. To become available. 变得可能；可以得到。◆ When she got her college diploma, many new jobs opened up. 在她获得了大学文凭后，许多新的工作就可供她选择了。

opposite number　n. phr. A person occupying the same position as someone in a different group, organization, or country. 对等的人，对应的人。◆ The opposite number of the President of the United States in Germany is the Chancellor of the Federal Republic. 在德国，跟美国总统对等的人是联邦共和国的总理。

opposite sex　n. phr. The sex different from the one being discussed or mentioned. 异性。◆ Fred came out and said he was gay, having never had any interest in the opposite sex. 弗雷德公开表明自己是同性恋者，从来就对异性不感兴趣。

optional origin　n. Stipulation in international commodities contract whereby the seller may ship from either his foreign or his domestic resources. 任选的原产地（指外贸合同条款中说明卖方可从国外或国内产地发货。）◆ Be sure to enter that in the books as an optional origin order. 务必在协议书中写明那是一份产地任选的订单。

order about or around　v. phr. To dictate arrogantly to someone; domineer. 把…差来遣去；任意驱使；颐指气使。◆ Dan orders his younger colleagues around in a most unpleasant way. 丹任意驱使比他年轻的同事，那样子非常令人不快。

or other　adv. — Used to emphasize indefinite words or phrases beginning with some (as someone, something, somewhere, somehow, sometime). （与someone，something，somewhere，somehow，sometime等以some开头的词连用，起强调作用。）◆ I'll think of something or other for the program. 我会为这一计划想出点什么东西的。◆ Someone or other will take the letters to the post office. 总会有人把这些信送去邮局的。

or so　adv. About; or a little more. 大约；左右；上下。◆ Mr. Brown will be back in a day or so. 布朗先生一两天就会回来。◆ The book cost $5 or so. 这本书花了5美元左右。

or words to that effect　n. phr. An expression used when one cannot quote something exactly, but gives a paraphrase of what was said, meaning "that is the rough meaning of what I am quoting." 或类似意思的话。◆ Ted complained that his boss was a common thief, or words to that effect. 泰德抱怨说他的老板是个臭名昭著的恶棍，或意思类似的话。

other fish to fry　n. phr., informal Other things to do; other plans. 〖非正式〗另外要做的事；另外的计划。◆ They wanted John to be the secretary, but he had other fish to fry. 他们想让约翰当秘书，但他另有计划。

other half　n. phr. One's husband or wife. 配偶；丈夫（或妻子）。◆ "Where is your other half?" Suzanne asked Mary. "He is still at work," Mary replied. “你的丈夫在哪儿？”苏珊娜问玛丽。“他还在工作，”玛丽回答说。

out and about　See见UP AND ABOUT.

out-and-out　adj. Extreme; complete; thorough. 完全的，彻底的，不折不扣的。◆ The candidate was an out-and-out conservative. 那个候选人是个地地道道的保守派。

out at the elbows　adj. phr. Poorly or shabbily dressed. 衣衫槛褛的。◆ Roy walks around out at the elbows, but it's not because he is penniless, but more in imitation of a certain style. 罗伊四处闲逛时总是一副衣衫褴褛的样子，但这并不是因为他一贫如洗，而是他在模仿某种时尚。

out back　adv. phr. In one's backyard. 在自家后院。◆ On the Fourth of July they were out back making preparations for their holiday barbecue. 7月4日美国独立纪念日那天，他们在自家后院准备节日烤肉野餐。

outback　n. 1. The remote and uncultivated wilderness areas of Australia or New Zealand, with very few inhabitants. （澳大利亚或新西兰的）内陆地区。◆ Mike and Barbara roughed it in the Australian outback for nearly two years. 迈克和芭芭拉在澳大利亚的内陆地区过了近两年的艰苦生活。2. Any remote, sparsely populated region. 人口稀少的边远地区。◆ Tom's old ranch in Texas is next to an arid outback. 汤姆在得克萨斯州的老牧场紧靠着一片不毛之地。

out cold　adv. or adj., informal Unconscious; in a faint. 〖非正式〗失去知觉的（地）；昏迷的（地）。◆ The ball hit Dick in the head and knocked him out cold for ten minutes. 球击中了迪克的头，使他昏迷了10分钟之久。

outer space　n. What is outside of the earth's air. 外层空间；宇宙空间。◆ An astronaut cannot live without oxygen when he goes into outer space. 宇航员进入外层空间后，没有氧气便无法生存。

out for　prep. Joining, or planning to join; taking part in; competing for a place in. 参加；计划参加；在…中争一席之地。◆ John is out for the basketball team. 约翰想参加篮球队。◆ Mary is going out for the school newspaper. 玛丽想参加校刊的工作。

out from under　adj. phr., informal Free from something that worries you; seeing the end; finished. — Usually used with be or get. 〖非正式〗摆脱困境；脱离危难。——通常与be或get连用。◆ John had so many debts, he couldn't get out from under. 约翰负债累累，无法摆脱。

out-Herod Herod or more Catholic than the pope　v. phr. To exaggeratedly do or overdo something, usually done by neophytes in a religious or political context. 暴虐超过希律王；暴虐之极；比教皇还正统；做得极过分。◆ For in marrying Gertrude after murdering his brother, Claudius did indeed out-Herod Herod, who merely married the divorced wife of a half-brother. 在杀死兄长后娶嫂子格特鲁德这件事上，克劳迪斯真是比希律王还暴虐，后者只不过是娶了同父异母兄弟已离婚的妻子。◆ Recent converts to Roman Catholicism often try to be more Catholic than the Pope. 刚刚皈依天主教的人往往比教皇还要笃信天主教。

out in force　adv. phr. Present in very large numbers; en masse. 大批出动；全体出动。◆ On the Fourth of July the police cars are out in force in the Chicago area. 在7月4日美国独立纪念日那一天，芝加哥地区的警车大批出动。

out in left field　adj. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Far from the right answer; wrong; astray. 大错特错的；错得离谱的；错误的；不对头的。◆ Johnny tried to answer the teacher's question but he was way out in left field. 约翰尼试图回答老师的问题，但完全答非所问。2. Speaking or acting very queerly; crazy. （言谈、举止）怪异的；疯狂的。◆ The girl next door was always queer, but after her father died, she was really out in left field and had to go to a hospital. 邻家的女孩一向古怪，自她父亲死后，她真的发了疯，只得住院。

out in the cold　adj. phr., informal Alone; not included. 〖非正式〗被冷落；遭排斥。◆ All the other children were chosen for parts in the play, but John was left out in the cold. 所有的孩子都被选中在戏里担任角色，只有约翰被排斥在外。

out in the open　See见COME OUT IN THE OPEN.

out like a light　adj. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Fast asleep; to sleep very quickly. 很快入睡。◆ As soon as the lights were turned off, Johnny was out like a light. 灯一关，约翰尼很快就睡着了。2. In a faint; unconscious. 昏迷；失去知觉。◆ Johnny was hit by a ball and went out like a light. 约翰尼被球击中，立刻就昏了过去。

out loud　adv. phr. In an ordinary speaking voice and not whispering or talking quietly; so everybody can hear; aloud. 大声地。◆ The teacher read the final grades out loud. 老师大声读出期末考试的成绩。

out of　prep. 1a. From the inside to the outside of. 从…里面。◆ John took the apple out of the bag. 约翰从包里拿出一只苹果。1b. In a place away from. 不在。◆ No, you can't see Mr. Jones; he is out of the office today. 不，你见不到琼斯先生；他今天不在办公室。2. From a particular condition or situation; not in; from; in a way changed from being in. 摆脱；脱离；不再在…中。◆ The drugstore is going out of business. 这家杂货店就要停业了。3. Beyond the range of. 在…范围之外；越出…之外。◆ The plane is out of sight now. 飞机现在已看不见了。4. From (a source). 从…中；从…身上。◆ Mother asked Billy who started the fight, but she couldn't get anything out of him. 母亲问比利打架是谁引起的，但从他那儿问不出什么来。5. Because of; as a result of. 由于；出于。◆ Mary scolded Joan out of jealousy. 玛丽责骂琼是由于嫉妒。6. Without; not having. 缺乏；没有。◆ The store is out of coffee. 店里咖啡脱销了。7. From (a material). 用…（制成）。◆ The house is built out of stone. 这幢房子是用石头建造的。8. From among. 从…中。◆ The man picked Joe out of the crowd. 那人从人群中选出了乔。

out of a clear sky or out of a clear blue sky　See见OUT OF THE BLUE.

out of action　adv. phr. Useless; crippled; damaged so as to be quiescent. 不再活动，不再起作用，不再运转。◆ American bombers put Nazi heavy industry out of action during World WarⅡ. 第二次世界大战期间，美国的轰炸机使纳粹德国的重工业陷于瘫痪。

out of all proportion　adv. phr. Disproportionate; lopsided. 完全不成比例；不相称。◆ The news coverage of the sensational celebrity double murder has grown out of all proportion, obscuring the international news. 对那起轰动性的名人特大谋杀案的新闻报道连篇累牍，已多得不成比例，连国际新闻也被掩盖了。

out of bounds　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Outside of the boundary lines in a game; not on or inside the playing field. 在界外；在球场边线之外。◆ Bill thought he had scored a touchdown, but he had stepped out of bounds before he reached the goal line. 比尔以为自己触地得分了，但他在抵达球门线之前跑出了边线。2. Outside of a circumscribed area for a certain kind of work, such as construction or military site. 位于可自由出入的地界之外，不准进入。◆ The captain's cabin is out of bounds to the passengers on the ship. 船长的房舱禁止船上的旅客时入。3. Outside of safe or proper limits; not doing what is proper; breaking the rules of good behavior. 逾越限度；越轨；不守规矩。◆ John was out of bounds when he called Tom a liar in the meeting. 约翰在会上骂汤姆撒谎是越轨的行为。

out of breath　adj. or adv. phr. Not breathing easily or regularly; gasping; panting. 喘不过气过；上气不接下气；气喘吁吁。◆ The fat man was out of breath after climbing the stairs. 那个胖男人爬上楼梯后气喘吁吁。

out of character　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Not in agreement with a person's character or personality; not in the way that a person usually behaves or is expected to behave; not usual; unsuitable; uncharacteristic. 与自身个性不相符（或不相称）；出乎预料；反常的；不适当的。◆ Mary is a nice girl. Her fit of temper was out of character. 玛丽是个好姑娘；她突然大发脾气有点出乎意外。2. Not in character; unsuitable for a part or character. （与所扮演的角色）不相称，不适合。◆ It isn't always out of character for a young actor to play an old man, if he is a good actor. 如果是名好演员，年轻人演老人也不一定演不好。

out of circulation　adj. phr., informal Not out in the company of friends, other people, and groups; not active; not joining in what others are doing. 〖非正式〗脱离社交活动；不活跃；不参加活动。◆ John has a job after school and is out of circulation with his friends. 约翰放学后要打工，所以不能和朋友们交往。

out of commission　adj. phr. 1. Retired from active military service; no longer on active duty. 退出现役的；不再服役的。◆ When the war was over, many warships were placed out of commission. 战争结束后，许多军舰退出了现役。2. Not in use or not working; so that it cannot work or be used. 不在使用中；不能使用的。◆ The strike put the airline out of commission for a week. 罢工使这家航空公司停航一周。

out of date　adj. phr. Old fashioned; superseded; no longer valid; too old to be used. 老式的；过时的；不再有效的；陈旧不用的。◆ Father's suit is out of date; he needs a new one. 父亲的那套衣服已经过时；他需要一套新装。

out of earshot　adv. phr. Too far to be heard by the naked ear. 在听力所及的范围之外；在耳朵听不见的地方。◆ Make sure you are out of earshot before you tell me anything in confidence. 在你秘密地告诉我任何事情以前，先要确保你是在别人听不到的地方。◆ If you are out of earshot, use your cell phone. 如果你离得太远听不见，就用手机。

out of fashion　adj. phr. Having passed from vogue; out of the current mode. 不合时尚的；不明髦的；不时兴的。◆ The miniskirt is now out of fashion in most quarters, but it may very well come back some day. 超短裙现在在大多数地方已不时兴，但很可能哪一天它又会重新流行起来。

out of gas　adv. phr. 1. Out of fuel (said of automobiles). （汽车）没油了。◆ Be sure you don't run out of gas when you go on a long distance trip by car. 在你开车长途旅行时，务必不要中途把油用光。2. Rundown; depleted of energy; in poor physical condition. 筋疲力尽的；耗尽体力的；身体虚弱的。◆ Mary said she had to take a break from her job as she was running totally out of gas. 玛丽说她必须停止工作休息一段时间，因为她已筋疲力尽了。

out of hand　adv. phr. 1. Out of control. 失去控制。◆ Bobby's birthday party got out of hand and the children were naughty. 鲍比的生日晚会失去了控制，孩子们太顽皮了。2. Suddenly, quickly without examination of possible truth or merit; without any consideration. — Often used after dismiss or reject. 突然地；迅速地；不假思索地。——常用于dismiss或reject之后。◆ The senator rejected out of hand the critics' call for his resignation. 参议员不假思索地拒绝了批评家们请他辞职的要求。

out of harm's way　adv. phr. No longer in danger. 脱离了危险；在安全的地方。◆ Our liberated prisoners of war were out of harm's way at last when they were liberated by the marines. 当我们的战俘被我们的海军陆战队救出来时，他们终于脱离了危险。

out of here　adv. phr. Soon to be gone; about to leave in a rush. 很快就要离开这儿；急着要走。◆ "Just give me my change, and I am out of here," John said impatiently to the slow salesman. “请把零头找给我，我急着要走，”约翰不耐烦地对那位慢腾腾的售货员说。

out of keeping　adj. phr. Not going well together; not agreeing; not proper. 不协调；不一致；不适宜。◆ Loud talk was out of keeping in the library. 图书馆里不宜大声说话。

out of kilter　adj. phr., informal〖正式〗1. Not balanced right; not in a straight line or lined up right. 失去平衡；不成直线。◆ The wheels of my bicycle were out of kilter after it hit the tree. 我的自行车撞上树后，前后轮都已七扭八歪。2. Needing repair; not working right. 需要修理；运转失灵。◆ My watch runs too slowly; it must be out of kilter. 我的表走得太慢了；一定是坏了。

out of line　adj. phr. Not obeying or agreeing with what is right or usual; doing or being what people do not expect or accept; outside ordinary or proper limits; not usual, right, or proper. 不合常规；违反规定；出格，举止不当；不适当。◆ Mrs. Green thought the repair man's charge was out of line. 格林太太认为修理工的收费高得离谱。

out of line with　prep. Not in agreement with. 与…不一致。◆ The price of the bicycle was out of line with what Bill could afford. 自行车的价格太高，比尔买不起。

out of luck　adj. phr. Being unlucky; having bad luck; having something bad happen to you. 运气不好；倒霉。◆ All of the girls had dates so Ben was out of luck. 所有的女孩都有约会对象，所以本就倒霉了。

out of nowhere　adv. phr. Without having been seen before; suddenly and unexpectedly. 不知从什么地方；突然冒出来。◆ Mr. Jones was driving too fast on the express highway when a police patrol car appeared out of nowhere and stopped him. 琼斯先生正在高速公路上超速行驶，不知从什么地方突然冒出来一辆巡逻警车把他拦住了。

out of one's blood　adv. phr, Separate from one's feelings, interests, or desires. 忘怀。◆ When Tom moved to the city, he couldn't get the country out of his blood. 汤姆搬到城里后，仍对乡下无法忘怀。

out of one's depth or out of one's ground　adv. phr. In a situation in which one feels unprepared or not ready to react intelligently. 超出自己的理解力。◆ When it comes to rocket science, I feel out of my depth. 说到火箭科学，我感到很茫然。

out of one's element　adv. phr. Outside of your natural surroundings; where you do not belong or fit in. 处于不相宜的环境；不得其所；格格不入。◆ Wild animals are out of their element in cages. 野生动物不习惯在笼中生活。

out of one's hair　adj. phr., informal Rid of as a nuisance; relieved of as an annoyance. 〖非正式〗摆脱…的烦扰。◆ Harry got the boys out of his hair so he could study. 哈里摆脱了男孩子们的烦扰，可以学习了。

out of one's head or out of one's mind or out of one's senses also off one's head　adj. phr., informal Acting in a crazy way; especially, wildly crazy. 〖非正式〗精神错乱的；发狂的，发疯的。◆ The patient was feverish and out of his head and had to be watched. 病人发高烧，神志不清，必须严加看护。

out of one's pocket　adv. phr. Having sustained a financial loss; poorer by a said amount. 损失了钱；白花了钱。◆ The show was so bad that, besides having a lousy time, I was also $35 out of my pocket. 演出很糟糕，我除了玩得不开心，还白花了35美元。

out of one's senses　See见OUT OF ONE'S HEAD.

out of one's shell　adv. phr., informal Out of one's bashfulness or silence; into friendly conversation — Usually used after come. 〖非正式〗不再羞怯；不再沉默；开始交谈。——通常用在come之后。◆ The other girls tried to draw Ella out of her shell, but without success. 其他女孩试图使埃拉参加交谈，但没有成功。

out of order　adv. or adj. phr. 1. In the wrong order; not coming after one another in the right way. 次序颠倒；不按顺序。◆ Peter wrote the words of the sentence out of order. 彼得把句中的词序写颠倒了。2. In poor condition; not working properly. 身体不适的；出故障的；工作不正常的。◆ Our television set is out of order. 我们的电视机坏了。3. Against the rules; not suitable. 违反规则的；不合适的，不妥当的。◆ The judge told the people in the courtroom that they were out of order because they were so noisy. 法官告诉法庭上的人们说他们违反了规则，因为他们太吵了。

out of place　adj. phr. In the wrong place or at the wrong time; not suitable; improper. 不在适当的位置上；不适时的；不适当的；不协调的。◆ Joan was the only girl who wore a formal at the party, and she felt out of place. 琼是晚会上唯一穿礼服的女孩，这使她觉得格格不入。

out-of-pocket expenses　n. phr. Expenses one has to pay for oneself, not the company that sends one on a given assignment, such as tips for waiters, cab drivers, etc. 自己掏腰包的费用（如付给服务员、出租车司机等的小费）。◆ Luckily, my out-of-pocket expenses didn't amount to more than $15. 幸好，我自己掏腰包的费用没有超过15美元。

out of practice　adj. phr. Not in proper condition; unable to do something well because of lack of practice. （因久不练习而）荒废的，生疏的。◆ The basketball team got out of practice during the Christmas holidays. 篮球队在圣诞节期间球技生疏了。

out of print　adj. phr. No longer obtainable from the publisher because the printed copies have been sold out; no longer printed. （书等）已售完的；已绝版的。◆ The book is out of print. An edition of one thousand copies was sold and no more copies were printed. 这本书已经绝版。一版印了一千册卖完后就不再加印了。

out of range　adv. phr. Unreachable socially, financially, or intellectually. （社会地位、财力或智力上）达不到的；得不到的。◆ "I'd like to date the college beauty queen, but she is out of range for me," John sighed sadly. “我很想和那位大学的选美王后约会，但我高攀不上啊，”约翰哀叹道。◆ "I'd like to buy a new Mercedes Benz," Ted said, "but it is out of range for us right now." “我很想买一辆新的梅赛德斯-奔驰车，”泰德说，“但目前我们的财力还达不到。”◆ "Medical school is out of range for me now," Mike said, after he took a look at the tuition costs. “医学院我现在还读不起，”迈克看了一眼学费后说。

out of (sb.'s) reach　adv. phr. Unreachable; unattainable; unobtainable. （某人）够不到的；（某人）达不到的；（某人）得不到的；（某人）力所不能及的。◆ Sam wanted to be a United States senator but he came to realize that such a dream was out of his reach. 萨姆本想成为一名美国的参议员，但他慢慢意识到这样的梦想是他无法实现的。

out of season　adv. phr. 1. Not at the right or lawful time for hunting or catching. 处于禁猎（或禁捕）期。◆ The boys were caught fishing out of season. 男孩子们在禁捕期捕鱼给人撞见了。2. Not at the usual time for growing and selling. （水果、蔬菜等）不当令的；已过旺季的；已下市的。◆ The corn we get out of season is different from the kind we grow here. 我们在时令已过时买的玉米跟我们这里种的玉米不一样。

out of shape or out of condition　adj. phr. 1. Not in good condition; not able to perform well. 处于不良的（健康）状况；表现不佳。◆ Jack's pitching arm got out of condition during the winter, when he wasn't using it. 因为冬天不训练，杰克用以投球的手臂变得不灵了。2. Not look the same; changed. 变形；走样。◆ Someone sat on father's new hat and mashed it. It is now out of shape. 有人坐在父亲的新帽子上把它压扁了。现在它已经变形了。

out of sight　adv. phr. 1. Not within one's field of vision. 在视野之外；在看不见的地方。◆ The sailboat disappeared out of sight over the horizon. 帆船消失在地平线之外看不见了。2. Extremely expensive. 极贵的；出奇的高，惊人的高。◆ The builder's estimate was so high that it was out of sight. 建筑承包商的估价高得出奇。3. Unbelievable; fantastic; incredible (both in the positive and the negative sense; an exaggeration.) 难以置信的；极好的；不可思议的。（夸张语。既可用于褒义也可用于贬义。）◆ Roxanne is such a stunning beauty, it's simply out of sight. 罗克珊是个绝色美人，简直是美极了。4. Unreachable; unrealizable; belonging to the world of fiction and fantasy. 够不到的，达不到的；不能实现的；幻想的。◆ Max's dreams about winning the Senatorial election are really out of sight; he admits it himself. 马克斯想赢得参议员选举的梦想确实无法实现；他自己也承认这一点。

out of sight, out of mind　If one doesn't see something for an extended period of time, one tends to forget about it. — A proverb. 〖谚〗眼不见，心不想；离久情疏。◆ After Caroline moved out of town, Ray soon found other women to date. As the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind." 卡罗琳搬出城后，雷很快就找到别的女人约会了。正如俗话说的：“眼不见，心不想。”

out of sorts　adj. phr. In an angry or unhappy mood; in a bad temper; grouchy. 心情不佳；脾气坏的。◆ Bob was out of sorts because he didn't get a bicycle for his birthday. 鲍勃因为过生日这天没有得到自行车而很不高兴。

out of step　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Not in step; not matching strides or keeping pace with another or others. 不合步伐；不合拍子。◆ George always marches out of step with the music. 乔治行进的步伐老是跟音乐不合拍。2. Out of harmony; not keeping up. — Often followed by with. 不协调；不一致。——常与with连用。◆ Just because you don't smoke, it doesn't mean you are out of step with other boys and girls your age. 仅仅因为你不抽烟并不意味着你与同年龄的男孩和女孩不协调。

out of stock　adj. phr. Having none for sale or use; no longer in supply; sold out. 无现货的；脱销的；卖光的。◆ When Father tried to get tires for an old car, the man in the store said that size was out of stock and were not sold anymore. 当父亲想为一辆旧车买些轮胎时，店里的人说那种尺寸的轮胎已经脱销而且不再卖了。

out of the blue or out of a clear sky or out of a clear blue sky　adv. phr., informal Without any warning; by surprise; unexpectedly. 〖非正式〗出乎意外地；突然地；出其不意地。◆ The cowboy thought he was alone but suddenly out of a clear sky there were bandits all around him. 那个牛仔本以为只有他一个人，但突然之间便在他周围冒出了许多强盗。

out of the corner of one's eye　adv. phr. Without looking at a person or thing directly or openly; secretly; without being noticed. 用眼角的余光（看）；秘密地；暗地里。◆ The cat looked at the mouse out of the corner of his eye. 猫用眼角的余光看着老鼠。

out of the frying pan into the fire　Out of one trouble into worse trouble; from something bad to someting worse. — A proverb. 〖谚〗跳出油锅又入火海；逃脱小难又遭大难。◆ The policeman was out of the frying pan into the fire. After he escaped from the gang, he was captured by terrorists. 那位警察刚跳出油锅又落入了火海。他从那帮歹徒那儿逃出来以后，又被恐怖分子俘虏了。

out of the game　adv. phr. Losing; out of competition; to have no more chance to participate or win. 输了；退出竞争；不再有机会参加（或获胜）。◆ "Will John ever become captain of the football team?" Ted asked. "No," Peter answered. "With his broken legs and arms after his car accident he is out of the game." “约翰还会成为橄榄球队队长吗？”泰德问。“不会了，”彼得回答说。“因为车祸后他的腿和手臂都骨折了，他已退出了竞争。”

out of the hole　adv. or adj. phr., informal〖非正式〗1a. With a score better than zero in a game; especially a card game, to a score above zero. 比赛中（尤指牌戏中）打破零分。◆ It took us a long time to get out of the hole in the card game. 我们在打牌时花了很长时间。幸免得零分。1b. Even with an opponent after being behind; out of trouble in a sport or game. 追成平局；脱离败局。◆ The team played very hard, but could not get out of the hole. 该队打得非常卖力，但仍未能扳平比分。2. Out of debt; ahead financially. 不负责；财务状况良好。◆ It was a small business, but it was wisely managed, and it kept out of the hole. 那是家小企业，但因经营得法而财务状况甚佳。

out of the loop　Contrast对照IN THE LOOP.

out of the ordinary　adj. phr. Outside or beyond common experience; unusual; wonderful; extraordinary. 不寻常的；非凡的；令人惊叹的。◆ This juggler was out of the ordinary because he could juggle with his feet as well as his hands. 这个玩杂耍的人身手非凡，不仅能用手玩杂耍，还能用脚玩。

out of the picture　adv. phr. No longer a possibility or in the running; rejected. 不再有可能的；退出竞赛的；被拒绝的。◆ Mark assured Carol that his ex-wife was completely out of the picture. 马克向卡罗尔保证，他的前妻完全不可能与他破镜重圆了。

out of the question　adj. phr. Not worth considering; unthinkable; impossible. 不值得考虑的；不能想象的；不可能的。◆ It sometimes snows as late as June in the mountains, but the summer campers thought that snow was out of the question. 有时到了6月山上还会下雪，但参加夏令营的人们以为没有必要去考虑下雪的问题。

out of the red　adv. phr. Having reached solvency; no longer in debt. 扭亏为盈；不再负债。◆ Under the new management, our company finally got out of the red. 在新的管理人员领导下，我们公司终于扭亏为盈了。

out of the running　adj. or adv. phr. Having no chance to win; not among the real contenders; not among those to be considered. 没有获胜希望；不参加竞争；不在被考虑之列。◆ John had been out of the running since his first date with Mary, but he didn't realize it. 自第一次与玛丽约会开始，约翰就没有成功的希望，但他并没有意识到这一点。

out of the swim　adj. phr. Not doing what others are doing; not active in business or social affairs. 不合潮流的；不积极参加社交活动的。◆ Mary had to stay home and take care of Mother while she was sick, and soon felt out of the swim. 母亲生病时，玛丽不得不留在家里照顾她，很快她就感到跟朋友们生疏了。

out of the way　adv. phr. 1. Not where people usually go; difficult to reach. 偏远的；难以到达的。◆ When Tom comes to visit her, Aunt Sally puts her lamps and vases out of the way. 汤姆来看她时，萨莉姨妈总把灯和花瓶放到他够不着的地方去。— Often used with hyphens before a noun. ——常加连词符用在名词前。◆ Gold was found in an out-of-the-way village in the mountains, and soon a good road and airfield were built. 在山区一个偏远的村子里发现了黄金，于是很快便建成了一条很好的公路和一个机场。2. Not what is usual or proper; strange. 不寻常的；不适当的；出格的；奇特的。◆ To leave before the guest of honor would be out of the way. 先于贵宾离席是不礼貌的。◆ I'm sorry if I said something out of the way. 如果我说了什么出格的话，我很抱歉。3. or out of one's way Not able to stop or bother you. 不挡道；不碍事；离开。◆ Tom wished the visitors were out of the way so that he could have the cake for himself. 汤姆希望客人们都快走，好让他一个人独享蛋糕。

out of the woods　See见CROW BEFORE ONE IS OUT OF THE WOODS.

out of thin air　adv. phr. Out of nothing or from nowhere. 无中生有地；凭空地。◆ The teacher scolded Dick because his story was made out of thin air. 老师训斥了迪克，因为他的故事是凭空捏造的。

out of this world　adj. phr., slang Wonderfully good or satisfying; terrific; super. 〖俚〗极好的；极棒的；超凡的。◆ The dress in the store window was out of this world! 商店橱窗里的那件衣服真是漂亮极了！

out of touch　adj. phr. Not writing or talking with each other; not getting news anymore. 失去联系的；不再通信的。◆ On his island Robinson Crusoe was out of touch with world news. 鲁滨孙·克鲁索在岛上与外界失去了联系。

out of town　adv. phr. Having left one's usual residence or place of work on a longer trip. 不在城里。◆ "Mr. Smith is out of town until Monday," the secretary said. "May I take a message?"”史密斯先生不在城里，要到星期一才回来，”秘书说。“我可以给他带个话吗？”

out of tune　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Out of proper musical pitch; too low or high in sound. 走调；音调不准。◆ The band sounded terrible, because the instruments were out of tune. 乐队演奏得太差劲，因为乐器都走调了。2. Not in agreement; in disagreement; not going well together. — Often used with with. 不一致；不协调；不和睦。——常与with连用。◆ What Jack said was out of tune with how he looked; he said he was happy, but he looked unhappy. 杰克说的与他的表情不一致；他说他很愉快，但他看上去并不愉快。

out of turn　adv. phr. 1. Not in regular order; at the wrong time. 不按顺序地。◆ By taking a day off out of turn, Bob got the schedule mixed up. 鲍勃不按顺序休假，把日程安排都打乱了。 2. Too hastily or wrongly; at the wrong time or place; so as to annoy others. 轻率地；鲁莽地；不合时宜地；不看场合地。◆ Dick loses friends by speaking out of turn. 迪克说话轻率，失去了不少朋友。

out of wedlock　See见BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK.

out of whack　adj. phr., slang〖俚〗1. Needing repair; not working right. 需要修理的；运转不正常的，有毛病的。◆ Ben was glad the lawn mower got out of whack, because he didn't have to mow the lawn. 本很高兴刈草机出毛病了，因为他不必给草坪刈草了。2. Not going together well; not in agreement. 不相称；不一致。◆ The things Mr. Black does are out of whack with what he says. 布莱克先生的言行不一致。

out of work　adv. phr. Having no income-producing job; unemployed. 无工作；无职业。◆ When too many people are out of work, it is a sign that the economy is in a recession. 当太多的人失业时，那就表明经济在衰退。

out on a limb　adv. phr. With your beliefs and opinions openly stated; in a dangerous position that can't be changed. 公开发表自己的意见；处境危险。◆ The president went out on a limb and supported a foreign aid bill that many people were against. 总统公开发表自己的意见，支持一项许多人反对的援外法案。

out on bail　adv. phr. Released from prison because a security deposit known as "bail" has been put up by an individual or a bail bond broker. 交保释放在外；交保后在外（候审）。◆ The murder suspect was out on a one million dollar bail awaiting trial. 那名凶杀嫌犯在交了一百万美元的保释金后释放在外候审。

out on parole　adv. phr. Released from prison but still under the supervision of the police. 获假释在外。◆ Although Henry is out on parole he must watch his step very carefully. If he commits another burglary he may have to go to jail for a very long time. 虽然亨利获假释在外，但他言行必须非常谨慎。如果他再次抢劫，很可能要长期坐牢。

out on the town　adv. phr. Going from one bar or restaurant to the next in order to celebrate an event. 在城里寻欢作乐（以庆祝某事）。◆ They all went out on the town to celebrate Tom's promotion to vice president. 为了庆祝汤姆晋升为副总裁，他们都进城去寻欢作乐了。

outside of　prep 1. Not in; outside. 在…的外面。◆ I would not want to meet a lion outside of a zoo. 我可不想在动物园外面遇到一头狮子。2. Except for; not including. 除…之外；不包括。◆ Outside of Johnny, all the boys on the basketball team are over six feet tall. 除了约翰尼，篮球队所有的男孩都身高超过了6英尺。

outtakes　n. phr. The scenes not included in the final product when editing films. （剪辑影片时）删掉的镜头。◆ If you want to see the actress in the nude, you will have to look at the out-takes. 如果你想看那位女演员的裸体，只能去看那些删掉的镜头了。

out to lunch　adj., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. Gone for the midday meal. 已去吃午饭。2. Inattentive; daydreaming; inefficient; stupid. 注意力不集中的；做白日梦的；工作效率很差的；愚蠢的。◆ Neil Bender is just out to lunch today; he's in a fog. 尼尔·本德今天的工作效率很差；他一直稀里糊涂的。

over a barrel also over the barrel　adv. phr., informal In the power of your enemies; not able to do anything about what happens to you; in a helpless condition; trapped. 〖非正式〗受制于敌人；一筹莫展；处于无助的状况；陷于困境。◆ Bill had Tom over a barrel because Tom owed him money. 比尔可以任意支配汤姆，因为汤姆欠他钱。

over age　adj. phr. Too old; not young enough; above the legal age. 太老的；超龄的；超过法定年龄的。◆ Grandfather wanted to fight in World War Ⅱ, but he could not because he was over age. 祖父本想参加第二次世界大战的，但因年纪太大而未能如愿。

overall　adj. All inclusive; comprehensive. 总的，包括一切的；全面的。◆ What our department needs is an overall revamping of our undergraduate curriculum. 我们系需要的是全面修改我们的本科课程设置。

over and above　adv. phr. Besides; more than; in excess of something. 除…之外（还）；多于；超过。◆ The new department head was given a large summer research allowance over and above his already huge salary. 除了已经很高的年薪外，新系主任还有一大笔夏季科研津贴。

over and done with　adj. phr. Finished; completed; forgotten. 已经结束；已经完了；已经忘了。◆ Norm and Meg's affair has been over and done with for a long time. 诺姆和梅格的恋爱关系很久以前就已经结束了。

over and over (again)　See见TIME AND AGAIN.

overhead　n. Expenses incurred in the upkeep of one's plant and premises, employees' salaries, etc., which are not due to the cost of individual items or products. 经常性开支；管理费用。◆ "Our overhead is killing us!" the used car lot owner complained. "We have to move to a cheaper place." “我们的经常性开支使我们难以继续下去！”二手车销售处的老板说。“我们得搬到一个便宜点的地方去。”

over my dead body or not over my dead body or like hell I will　adv. phr. Under no circumstances; by no means. 我死也不同意；除非我死了（表示坚决反对）。◆ "Did you hear they want to appoint Mort Doolittle as dean of the college?" Joe asked. "Over my dead body they will!" I replied. “他们要任命莫特·杜利特尔为学院院长，你听说了吗？”乔问。“我死也不同意！”我回答说。

overnight　adj. Rapidly. 一夜之间；突然。◆ When Tom won the lottery he became a rich man overnight. 汤姆买彩票中了大奖，一夜之间变成了富翁。

over sb.'s head　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Not understandable; beyond your ability to understand; too hard or strange for you to understand. 某人不能理解的；超出某人理解力的。◆ The lesson today was hard; it went over my head. 今天的功课太难，超过了我的理解力。2. To a more important person in charge; to a higher official. 越过某人报告（或请求）。◆ When Mary's supervisor said no, Mary went over her head to the person in charge of the whole department. 当玛丽的主管说不行时，玛丽便越级找了整个部门的负责人。

overstay one's welcome　v. phr. To remain longer at a party or one's house than desired by the host, thereby making an unpleasant nuisance of oneself. 因待得太久而惹人讨厌；因待得太久而不再受欢迎。◆ "At the risk of overstaying my welcome, may I use your guestroom for a few more days?" John asked his old college roommate, "But of course!" Ted answered. "You will never overstay your welcome with us!" “冒着久待令人生厌的危险，我可以在你的客房里再多住几天吗？”约翰问他大学时的室友。“当然可以！”泰德回答说。“你在我们这儿待多久都永远受欢迎！”

over the hill　adj., informal Past one's prime; unable to function as one used to; senile. 〖非正式〗过了巅峰期；在衰退中；在走下坡路；老了体弱。◆ Poor Mr. Jones is sure not like he used to be; well, he's over the hill. 可怜的琼斯先生确实不像过去那样了；啊，他已在走下坡路了。

over the hump　adj. phr., informal Past the most difficult part; past the crisis; out of danger. 〖非正式〗已度过最困难阶段；已渡过危机；已脱离危险。◆ Mary was failing math, but she is over the hump now. 玛丽过去数学一直不及格，但现在好了。

over the long haul　See见IN THE LONG RUN. Contrast对照OVER THE SHORT HAUL.

over the short haul　See见IN THE SHORT RUN. Contrast对照OVER THE LONG HAUL.

over the top　adv. phr. 1. Out of the trenches and against the enemy. 越出战壕出击。◆ The plan was to spend the night in the trenches and go over the top at dawn. 计划是夜里埋伏在战壕里，到黎明时越出战壕出击。2. Over the goal. 超过定额（或指标）。◆ Our goal was to collect a half million dollars for the new school building, but we went over the top. 我们的目标是为新校舍筹集50万美元，但我们超额完成了。

over with^1　prep. At the end of; finished with; through with. 结束；完成。◆ They were over with the meeting by ten o'clock. 他们的会议是10点钟结束的。

over with^2　adj., informal At an end; finished. 〖非正式〗结束；完成。◆ After the hard test, Jerry said, "I'm glad that's over with!" 在艰苦的考试之后，杰里说：“考完了真高兴！”

owe it to　v. phr. To be in someone's debt. 把这事归功于；为这事应感谢。◆ I owe it to my doctor that I am no longer in need of a costly operation. 我不再需要做昂贵的手术了，这我应该感谢我的医生。

owing to　adv. phr. Because; on account of. 因为；由于。◆ Owing to my aunt's generosity, I inherited the old family house. 由于我姑妈的慷慨，我继承了家族的老房子。◆ Owing to unexpectedly cold weather, I came down with the flu. 由于突如其来的寒冷天气，我得了流感。

own up　v., informal To take the blame; admit your guilt; confess. 〖非正式〗承担责任；承认；坦白。◆ When Mother saw that someone had broken the vase, Billy owned up to it. 当母亲看到花瓶被人打破时，比利承认是他打破的。

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pack a punch or pack a wallop　v. phr., slang〖俚〗 1. To be able to give a powerful blow; have a dangerous fist. 能猛击；（拳击手）出拳很猛。◆ He packed a mean punch. 他出拳既猛又漂亮。2. To have a violent effect; be powerful. 有强烈的影响；有力量。◆ It was vodka, and it packed quite a wallop. 这是伏特加，酒性很烈。

packed (in) like sardines　adj. phr. So tightly crowed that there is hardly room to turn. 挤得像罐头里的沙丁鱼；拥挤不堪。◆ The trains are so full during rush hour that we must go to work packed in like sardines. 交通高峰时间，火车上拥挤不堪，我们去上班挤得就像罐头里的沙丁鱼。

pack off　v., informal〖非正式〗To send away; dismiss abruptly. 送走；匆匆打发走。◆ When an Englishman got in trouble long ago, his family would pack him off to Australia or some other distant land. 很久以前，英国人遇到麻烦时，其家人就会将他送往澳洲或其他遥远的地方。

pack of lies　n. phr. An unbelievable story; unprovable allegations. 不可信的故事；一派谎言。◆ What Al told us about his new girlfriend was nothing but a pack of lies. 艾尔告诉我们的有关他新女朋友的事，完全是一派谎言。

pack one's bag　v. phr. To leave a place out of anger, annoyance, or disagreement. （因生气、烦恼或不合而）打点行装离开。◆ "This place is beginning to irritate me," she said to her friend. "I want to pack my bags and get out of here." “我开始厌烦这个地方了，”她对朋友说。“我想打点行装离开这个鬼地方。”

pack rat　n., informal〖非正式〗A person who cannot part with old, useless objects; an avid collector of useless things; a junk hoarder. 收藏无用小玩意的人。◆ "Why are there so many things in this room?" John asked. "It is my brother's room, and he is a pack rat; he is unable to throw stuff away." “这个房间里怎么会有这么多东西？”约翰问。“这是我哥哥的房间，他喜欢收藏些无用的东西，舍不得扔掉。”

pack up　v. phr. To pack one's suitcase for traveling; prepare a package. 收拾行李；整装打包。◆ Without saying a single word, the unhappy husband packed up and left. 不愉快的丈夫一言未发，收拾好行李就走了。

paddle one's own canoe　v. phr., informal To work without help; earn your own living; support yourself 〖非正式〗自力更生；独自谋生。◆ After his father died, John had to paddle his own canoe. 父亲死后，约翰只得自谋生路。

paddy wagon　n., informal A police van used for transporting prisoners to jail or the police station. 〖非正式〗运送囚犯的警车，囚车。◆ The police threw the demonstrators into the paddy wagon. 警察将示威者扔进囚车。

pad the bill　v. phr. To add false expenses to a bill; make a bill larger than it really was. 虚报账单。◆ The salesman padded the bill for his traveling expenses by exaggerating his food expenses. 那名推销员夸大就餐费来多报出差费。

pain in the ass or pain in the neck　n., slang, vulgar with ass An obnoxious or bothersome person or event. 〖俚〗〖粗〗讨厌的人（或事）。◆ Phoebe Hochrichter is a regular pain in the neck/ass. 菲比·霍克里克特真是个讨厌的家伙。

paint a gloomy picture　v. phr. To describe something in a gloomy, pessimistic way. 描绘一幅令人沮丧的景象。◆ We are sad because the weather forecast has painted a gloomy picture for all of next week when we go on vacation. 在我们即将度假之时，天气预报称整个未来一周天气都很糟糕，这令我们很伤心。

paint a picture　v. phr. To describe a situation in a certain way, positively or negatively. 描绘一幅…景象。◆ John is an eternal optimist; he always paints a rosy picture about the future of the American economy. 约翰是个永远不变的乐观主义者；他总把美国经济的未来描绘得充满希望。◆ Ted is an eternal pessimist; he always paints a dark picture of the future. 泰德是个永远不变的悲观主义者；他总把未来描绘得一团漆黑。

paint oneself into a corner　v. phr. To get oneself into a bad situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of. 使自己陷入困境。◆ By promising to both lower taxes and raise the defense budget, the president has painted himself into a corner. 总统许诺减轻税收，同时又增加国防预算，这就使他自己陷入了困境。

paint the town red or paint the town　v. phr., slang To go out to drink and have a good time; celebrate wildly; carouse. 〖俚〗饮酒作乐，狂欢庆祝。◆ It was the sailors' first night ashore; they painted the town red. 那是水手们上岸的第一晚，他们饮酒狂欢。

pair off　v. 1. To make a pair of; put two together; associate; match. 把…分成一对一对；使成对；使联合；使结婚。◆ Mrs. Smith paired off her guests by age and tastes. 史密斯夫人根据年龄和品味将客人们分成一对一对。2. To belong to a pair; become one of a pair. 配对，合作。◆ Jane paired off with Alice in a tennis doubles match. 在网球双打比赛中简与艾丽斯配对。3. To divide or join into pairs. 组成一对一对。◆ Later in the day the picnic crowd paired off for walks and boat rides. 那天晚些时候，野餐的人便成双成对地去散步和划船了。

pair up　v. 1. To make a pair of; match. 使组成对；配对。◆ When she finished the mending, she paired up the socks. 她补好袜子以后将它们一双双配好。2. To form a pair; to be or become one of a pair. 成对，成搭档。◆ Not all the socks would pair up. 袜子不全成对。

palm off　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To sell or give (something) by pretending it is something more valuable; to sell or give by trickery. 用欺骗的手段把…卖掉。◆ He palmed off his own painting as a Rembrandt. 他把自己的一幅画冒充伦勃朗的画卖了出去。2. To deceive (someone) by a trick or lie. 用（谎言、诡计等）欺骗。◆ He palmed his creditors off with a great show of prosperity. 他大大炫耀了一番自己的富有来欺骗他的债主。3. To introduce someone as a person he isn't; present in a false pretense. 把…冒充成；使呈现假象。◆ He palmed the girl off as a real Broadway actress. 他把那个女孩冒充成百老汇的演员。

Pandora's box　n. phr., literary A thing or problem that, if activated, will give rise to many unmanageable problems. 〖文〗潘多拉的盒子（内装各种灾难和祸害）；灾祸之源。◆ If they insist on having that inquiry, they will open up a Pandora's box. 如果他们坚持进行调查，就会引起种种灾祸。

pan gravy　n. Gravy made with meat drippings with seasoning and often a little water. （用作调味的）肉卤，纯肉汁。◆ His wife liked cream gravy, but he preferred pan gravy. 他妻子喜欢加了奶油的肉汁，而他更喜欢纯肉汁。

pan out　v., informal To have a result, especially a good result; result favorably; succeed. 〖非正式〗结果是（通常指好结果）；成功。◆ Edison's efforts to invent an electric light bulb did not pan out until he used tungsten wires. 爱迪生在使用了钨丝之后才成功发明了电灯泡。

pant for　v. phr. To desire something very deeply. 极度渴望。◆ He is panting for his girlfriend, who went out of town to see her family. 他十分想念出城探望家人的女友。

paper trail　n. phr. Records that establish a traceable chronology of past transactions and events. （揭示来龙去脉的）系列文件，书面记录。◆ If you want to be a responsible accountant, always leave an appropriate paper trail. 如果你想成为一名负责任的会计师，就要始终留一份适当的书面记录。◆ The embezzler was easily caught by the police because he left a paper trail of all of his illegitimate business deals. 那个贪污分子很容易就被警方发现了，因为他对自己所有的非法交易留了一份书面记录。

parade rest　n. A position in which soldiers stand still, with feet apart and hands behind their backs. 阅兵时稍息姿势。◆ The marines were at parade rest in front of the officials' platform. 海军陆战队的官兵们在司令台前稍息站立。

parallel bars　n. Two horizontal bars the same distance apart, that are a few feet above the floor of a gymnasium. 双杠。◆ The boys exercised on the parallel bars in the gym. 男孩们在体育馆里练习双杠。

parcel out　v. To give out in parts or shares; divide. 分配；分。◆ He parceled out the remaining food to the workers. 他把剩余的食物分给了工人们。

pardon my French　v. phr. To apologize for having uttered a vulgarity. 原谅我说了粗话。◆ "What the bloody hell is this asshole doing here?" John said, and added blushingly, "Pardon my French, but I really dislike this guy." “这个可恶的家伙究竟他妈的在这里干什么？”约翰说，但接着又脸红地补了一句，“原谅我说了粗话，不过我真的不喜欢这家伙。”

pare down　v. phr. To limit; economize; reduce. 削减，缩减。◆ With a smaller income per month, the family had to pare down their household expenses. 由于每月收入的减少，这家人不得不缩减家用开支。

par for the course　n. phr., informal Just what was expected; nothing unusual; a typical happening. — Usually refers to things going wrong. 〖非正式〗意料中的事，常有的事。——通常指糟糕的事。◆ When John came late again, Mary said, "That's par for the course." 约翰又迟到了。玛丽说：“这是常有的事。”

parliamentary law　n. The rules for legislative or other meetings. 议会法；会议法。◆ The club followed parliamentary law at the business meeting. 该俱乐部在业务会议中遵守会议法。

parrot-fashion　adv. Like a parrot; by rote memorization and without any understanding. 鹦鹉学舌般地，机械模仿地。◆ The candidate delivered a speech that was prepared for him and he read it parrot-fashion. 候选人机械地念着别人为他写好的演讲稿。

partake of　v., formal〖正式〗1. To take some of; receive a share of; eat. 分享；参与；吃。◆ He partook of ordinary country fare as he traveled. 他在旅行时就吃普通的农家饭菜。2. To have the same qualities as; show the characteristics of. 带有（某种性质或特征），有几分。◆ Her way of cooking partook of both Italian and American habits. 她的烹调术兼具意大利和美国习惯。

part and parcel　n. phr. A necessary or important part; something necessary to a larger thing. — Usually followed by of. 主要部分，必需部分。— 通常后接of。◆ Freedom of speech is part and parcel of the liberty of a free man. 言论自由是自由人的自由中最主要的部分。

part company　v. phr. 1. To part with someone; leave each other; separate. （与某人）分离；分开。◆ George parted company with the others at his front door. 乔治在自己家前门与其他人分手。2. To be different from someone in opinion or action; follow your own way; disagree; differ. （与…）有分歧。◆ The mayor parted company with the newspapers on raising taxes. 在提高税收的问题上，市长与媒体持不同意见。

partial to　v. phr. Having a weakness for; favorable toward. 偏爱。◆ He seems to be partial to blondes while his brother is partial to redheads. 他似乎偏爱金发女郎，而他哥哥则偏爱红发姑娘。

parting of the ways　n. phr. A time or place where a choice must be made; a deciding point. 关键时刻，需要作出重大抉择的时刻。◆ He had come to a parting of the ways: he had to choose the high school courses that would prepare him for college, or the courses that would prepare him for business. 他要作出抉择的关键时刻到了：要么选高中课程准备上大学，要么选商科课程以后做生意。

parting shot　n. phr. A clever or witty remark that one makes on leaving a group of people with whom one had a disagreement. （古代安息国骑兵在退却或佯作退却时返身发射的）回马箭；回马枪；临别时说的尖刻话；临别时的攻击。◆ "We don't want your business," Suzie said, "because you don't have any money." "OK," Ted replied with a grin, "but just for your information, I won $25,000,000 on the lottery yesterday." He sounded his parting shot, and showed her the certified check. “我们不要跟你做生意，”苏茜说，“因为你没钱。”“好的。”泰德咧着嘴笑着说，“但我要告诉你，我昨天刚中彩赢了2500万美元。”他杀了个回马枪，并把保付支票拿给她看。◆ "I feel sorry for you that you bought that uninhabited, worthless island full of soft wood and birds," said the seller, after the signing of the contract. "Well, how about three million pairs of chopsticks a year?" the buyer sounded his parting shot. “我为你感到可惜，因为你居然买了那个无人居住、毫无价值、到处是针叶树和禽鸟的海岛，”卖主在签过合同后说。“嗯，可我每年生产300万双筷子又怎么说呢？”买主杀了个回马枪。

part of the action or piece of the action or piece of the pie　n. phr. Participation in some desirable activity, said when one wants to be included in a situation from which one expects to benefit. （想参与的）一部分活动；一份好处。◆ "Give me a piece of the action, Dad!" Peter yelled at his father, when he opened a new branch of the highly profitable family business. “让我也得一份好处，爸爸！”当彼得的父亲把赢利丰厚的家族企业又开出一家新的分公司时，彼得大声对他叫喊道。

part of the furniture　n. phr. In a job or position for so long that one is taken entirely for granted, like a part of the physical surroundings. （工作或职位中）不可缺少的人，被认为当然的人（或事）。◆ He has been working in the same office for so many years now that people consider him to be a part of the furniture. 他在这间办公室里已工作了很多年，大家都把他看成是办公室里不可缺少的一部分。

part with　v. 1. To separate from; leave. 与…分开；向…告别，离开。◆ He parted with us at the end of the trip. 旅程结束时，他与我们告别了。2. To let go. 放弃，放开。They were sorry to part with the old house. 他们卖掉了老房子很难过。◆ He had to part with his secretary when she got married. 秘书结婚后，他不得不放她走。

party animal　See见SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.

party line　n. phr. Ideas, policies, and goals set forth by the leadership of a group or organization. 政党的路线（或政策）；组织（或团体）的宗旨（或原则）。◆ Dan seldom has an original idea but he keeps faithfully repeating his company's party line. 丹很少有创见，但他一直忠实地坚持公司的宗旨。

party pooper　n. phr. A humorless person, who habitually manages to spoil the fun of others at a gathering of friends. 社交聚会上无精打采令人扫兴的人，煞风景的人。◆ "Come on, John! Have a drink and cheer up! Why are you such a party pooper?" Ted tried to cheer his friend up. "I am no party pooper, you idiot!" John replied, "Haven't you heard that I'm having surgery tomorrow?" “来吧，约翰！喝一杯，打起精神来！你为什么这么无精打采让大家扫兴呢？”泰德努力想让他的朋友振作起来。“我绝不是煞风景的人，你个白痴！”约翰回答说，“你没听说我明天要动手术吗？”

party to　adj. phr. Concerned with; participating in. 参与，参加。◆ The prosecution has been trying to show that the defendant was party to a fraud. 原告律师一直在试图证明被告参与了诈骗。

pass around　v. phr. To circulate from one to another; distribute something among a group of people. （在一群人中）传递。◆ Why doesn't he pass around the appetizers to the guests? 他为什么不把开胃小吃传递给客人们？

pass away　v. 1. To slip by; go by; pass. （时间等）过去。◆ Forty years had passed away since they had met. 他们相识已有40年了。2. To cease to exist; end; disappear; vanish停止；消逝；消失。◆ When automobiles became popular, the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车风行后，马车的使用就停止了。3. To have your life stop; die. 去世，死亡。◆ He passed away at eighty. 他80岁时去世了。

passed ball　n. A pitched baseball missed by the catcher when he should have been able to catch it. （接手的）漏接球。◆ The batter singled and went to second on a passed ball. 击球手击出了一垒打，又凭着对方的一个漏接球上了二垒。

pass for　v. phr. To be taken for; be considered as. 被看作，被当作。◆ Charles speaks Arabic so fluently that he could easily pass for an Arab. 查尔斯的阿拉伯语讲得非常流利，他很容易被当成阿拉伯人。

pass muster　v. phr., informal To pass a test or check-up; be good enough. 〖非正式〗通过检验；被认为合格。◆ His work was done carefully, so it always passed muster. 他工作做得很仔细，所以每次都能通过检验。

pass off　v. 1. To sell or give (something) by false claims; offer (something fake) as genuine. 用欺骗手段把…卖掉。◆ The dishonest builder passed off a poorly built house by pretending it was well constructed. 那个不诚实的建筑商把粗制滥造的房子冒充好房子卖掉。2. To claim to be someone you are not; pretend to be someone else. 冒充（某人）。◆ He passed himself off as a doctor until someone checked his record. 他一直冒充自己是医生，直到有人查了他的档案为止。3. To go away gradually; disappear. 渐渐消失。◆ Tom's morning headache had passed off by that night. 到了那天晚上，汤姆早晨的头疼就好了。4. To reach an end; run its course from beginning to end. （顺利地）进行，举行；完成。◆ The party passed off well. 聚会进行得很顺利。

pass on　v. 1. To give an opinion about; judge; settle. 提…提出意见；对…作出裁决（或判决）；解决。◆ The college passed on his application and found him acceptable. 学院审查了他的申请书，认为可以接收他。◆ The committee recommended three people for the job and the president passed on them. 委员会就这份工作推荐了3个人，主席对他们作出决定。2. To give away (something that has been outgrown.) 把…传给另一个。◆ As he grew up, he passed on his clothes to his younger brother. 长大后，他把衣服传给了弟弟。3. To die. 死亡，去世。◆ Mary was very sorry to hear that her first grade teacher had passed on. 听到教她一年级的老师去世的消息，玛丽非常难过。

pass out　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To lose consciousness; faint. 失去知觉；昏倒。◆ She went back to work while she was still sick, and finally she just passed out. 她病还没好就回去工作了，结果昏了过去。2. or slang pass out cold To drop into a drunken stupor; become unconscious from drink. 〖俚〗烂醉如泥；醉得不省人事。◆ After three drinks, the man passed out. 三杯下肚，那人就醉倒了。

pass over or pass by　v. To give no attention to; not notice; ignore. 忽略，不注意。◆ In choosing men to be given a salary raise, the foreman passed Mr. Hart by. 在挑选加薪人员时，工长忽略了哈特先生。

pass the buck　v. phr., informal To make another person decide something or accept a responsibility or give orders instead of doing it yourself; shift or escape responsibility or blame; put the duty or blame on someone else. 〖非正式〗推诿责任（给某人）；归罪（于某人）。◆ If you break a window, do not pass the buck; admit that you did it. 如果你打破了窗子，不要推卸责任，要承认是你干的。— buck-passer　n. phr. A person who passes the buck. 老是推卸责任的人。◆ Mr. Jones was a buck-passer even at home, and tried to make his wife make all the decisions. 琼斯先生甚至在家中也不愿承担责任，他把一切决定权都要交给妻子。— buck-passing n. or adj. 推卸责任（的）。◆ Buck-passing clerks in stores make customers angry. 商店里推卸责任的店员令顾客气愤。

pass the hat　v. phr. To solicit money; take up collections for a cause. 募捐。◆ The businessmen's club frequently passes the hat for contributions toward scholarships. 那家商人俱乐部经常募捐给学校作奖学金。

pass the time of day　v. phr. To exchange greetings; stop for a chat. 与（某人）打招呼；与（某人）寒暄。◆ They met at the corner and paused to pass the time of day. 在街角相遇后，他们停下来寒暄了几句。

pass up　v. To let (something) go by; refuse. 放过（机会等）；拒绝。◆ Mary passed up the dessert because she was on a diet. 玛丽拒吃甜点，因为她正在减肥。

pass upon　v. phr. To express an opinion about; judge. 就（某事或某人）发表看法；判断。◆ George said he wanted his wife to pass upon the new house before he decided to buy it. 乔治说他想要妻子先对那幢新房子发表看法，然后再决定买不买。

pass with flying colors　See见WITH FLYING COLORS.

past master　n. phr. An expert. 专家。◆ Alan wins so often because he is a past master at chess. 艾伦经常赢，因为他是国际象棋高手。

past one's peak　adj. phr. No longer as strong, efficient, or able as one once was, usually because of advanced age and decreased ability. （由于年龄增长或能力下降）已过了巅峰期的。◆ He used to be a terrific athlete but we're afraid he is past his peak. 他曾经是个非常出色的运动员，但恐怕现在已过了巅峰期。

pat-a-cake　n. A clapping game that keeps time to a nursery rhyme. （按儿歌韵律一起拍手的）儿童拍手游戏。◆ Mother played pat-a-cake with the baby. 母亲与婴儿玩拍手游戏。

patch up　v. 1. To mend a hole or break; repair; fix. 修补；修理。◆ The lovers patched up their quarrel. 那对情侣已和好如初。2. To put together in a hurried or shaky way. 仓促做好，草草做成。◆ They patched up a hasty peace. 他们草草达成了和约。

pat oneself on the back　v. phr. To be proud of oneself; give oneself credit for having achieved something; praise oneself. 感到自豪；赞扬自己；称赞自己。◆ When Eleanor won the lottery after trying in vain for many years, she patted herself on the back. 在多年买彩票都毫无斩获之后，埃莉诺终于赢得了大奖，为此她感到很自豪。◆ You deserve to pat yourself on the back for saving that child's life by getting him out of the burning house. 你从失火的房子里救出了那个孩子，值得自我赞扬一番。

pat on the back^1　v. phr. 1. To clap lightly on the back in support, encouragement, or praise. 轻拍后背以示支持、鼓励或赞许。◆ The coach patted the player on the back and said a few encouraging words. 教练拍拍选手的背，说了几句鼓励的话。2. To make your support or encouragement for (someone) felt; praise. 赞扬，鼓励。◆ After he won the game, everyone patted him on the back for days. 他赢得比赛后，大家赞扬了他好几天。

pat on the back^2　n. phr. 1. An encouraging tap of the hand on someone's back; a show of sympathy or support. 鼓励；赞扬。◆ I gave her a pat on the back and told her she had done fine work. 我鼓励她，说她工作很出色。2. A word or gesture of praise or other encouragement; applause. 表扬；鼓励的话。◆ Pats on the back weren't enough; he wanted hard cash. 光表扬还不够，他要的是现钱。

pave the way　v. phr. To make preparation; make easy. 铺平道路，作好准备。◆ Aviation paved the way for space travel. 航空为太空旅行铺平了道路。

pay a call　v. phr. To visit someone. 拜访（某人），探望（某人）。◆ "Come and pay us a call some time, when you're in town," Sue said to Henry. “进城时来看看我们，”苏对亨利说。

pay as one goes　v. phr. To pay cash; to pay at once; to avoid charging anything bought; to avoid debt entirely by paying cash. — Usually used with you. 付现钱，银货两讫。— 通常与you连用。◆ It is best to pay as you go; then you will not have to worry about paying debts later. 最好是付现款，以免日后为还债担忧。

pay attention　v. phr. To listen to someone; hear and understand someone alertly. 注意，专心听。◆ "Pay attention, children!" the teacher cried. "Here is your homework for next week!" “注意啦，孩子们！”老师喊道。“现在布置下周的家庭作业！”

pay a visit　v. phr. To visit someone, usually by previous arrangement. （按照事先安排）拜访（某人）。◆ "It's your turn to pay me a visit," John said, "I've been to your place several times." “现在该轮到你来拜访我了，”约翰说。“我已经去你那儿好几次了。”

pay court to　v. phr. To woo; to shower with attention. 讨好；向…献殷勤。◆ He had been paying court to her for three long years before he worked up the courage to ask her to marry him. 他追求了她足足3年之久才鼓起勇气向她求婚。

pay dirt　n., slang〖俚〗1. The dirt in which much gold is found. 含金矿土。◆ The man searched for gold many years before he found pay dirt. 那人寻金多年才找到含金矿土。2. informal A valuable discovery. — Often used in the phrase strike pay dirt. 〖非正式〗有价值的发现。——常用于短语strike pay dirt。◆ When Bill joined the team, the coach struck pay dirt. 比尔加入队里后，教练如获至宝。

pay down　v. phr. 1. To give as a deposit on some purchase, the rest of which is to be paid in periodic installments. （分期付款购物时）先付（部分货款）作为定金。◆ "How much can you pay down on the house, sir?" the realtor asked. “先生，这幢房子你能先付多少定金？”房地产经纪人问道。2. To decrease a debt with periodical payments. 分期偿还（债务）。◆ I'd like to pay down the charges on my credit cards. 我想从信用卡中分期扣除货款。

pay for　v. To have trouble because of (something you did wrong or did not do); be punished or suffer because of. 为…付出代价，因…而受罚。◆ Mary was very mean to John because she wanted to make him pay for all the years in which he had ignored her. 玛丽对约翰很凶狠，因为她想让他为多年来一直冷落她付出代价。

pay in advance　See见IN ADVANCE.

pay lip service to　See见LIP SERVICE.

payoff　n. (stress on pay) （重读pay）Culmination point; climax. 报偿；结局；（故事等的）高潮。◆ After many months of patient labor on your book, the payoff comes when you see the first printed copy. 当你看到第一本印出来的书时，很多月以来你花在书上的心血总算得到了回报。

pay off　v. phr. (stress on off) （重读off）1. To pay the wages of. 付清工资。◆ The men were paid off just before quitting time, the last day before the holiday. 在放假前最后一天的下班时间以前，大家都领到了工资。2. To pay and discharge from a job. 发工资遣散。◆ When the building was completed he paid off the laborers. 大楼完工后，他发工资遣散了工人。3. To hurt (someone) who has done wrong to you; get revenge on. 报仇，报复。◆ When Bob tripped Dick, Dick paid Bob off by punching him in the nose. 鲍伯绊倒了迪克，迪克猛击他的鼻子进行报复。4. informal To bring a return; make profit. 〖非正式〗得到回报；获利。◆ At first Mr. Harrison lost money on his investments, but finally one paid off. 哈里森先生的许多投资项目都赔了钱，可最终有一项赚了。5. informal To prove successful, rewarding, or worthwhile. 〖非正式〗取得成功；得到好结果；值得。◆ John studied hard before the examination, and it paid off. He made an A. 约翰考试前用功读书，取得了好结果，得了个优。

pay one a left-handed compliment　See见LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT.

pay one's respect to　v. phr. To discharge one's social obligations by visiting someone or by calling them on the phone. （通过拜访）向…表示敬意。◆ The newly arrived people paid their respects to their various neighbors during their first couple of weeks in town. 刚搬到镇上来的最初几个礼拜，新来的人对众多邻居作了礼节性的拜访。

pay one's way　v. phr. 1. To pay in cash or labor for your expenses. 支付分内的费用。◆ He paid his way by acting as a guide. 他做导游维持生活。2. To be profitable; earn as much as you cost someone; be valuable to an employer; to yield a return above expenses. 赢利；收支相抵；合算。◆ The bigger truck paid its way from the start. 大卡车一开始就可赢利。

pay out　See见PAY OFF.

pay someone back in his own coin　v. phr. To retaliate. 以其人之道，还治其人之身。◆ Jim refused to help Bob when he needed it most, so Bob decided to pay him back in his own coin and told him to go and look for help elsewhere. 在鲍勃最需要帮助的时候吉姆不肯帮他，因此鲍勃决定以其人之道还治其人之身，叫他到别处去找人帮助。

pay the piper or pay the fiddler　v. phr. To suffer the results of being foolish; pay or suffer because of your foolish acts or wasting money. 为享乐（或愚蠢的行为）付出代价。◆ Bob had spent all his money and got into debt, so now he must pay the piper. 鲍勃把他的钱全花光了而且还欠了债，现在他得吃苦受罪了。

pay through the nose　v. phr., informal To pay at a very high rate; pay too much. 〖非正式〗付出高昂的代价；付费过高。◆ There was a shortage of cars; if you found one for sale, you had to pay through the nose. 汽车缺货，如果你发现有车卖，就得出高价。

pay up　v. To pay in full; pay the amount of; pay what is owed. 全部付清；还清欠款。◆ The monthly installments on the car were paid up. 这辆车每个月的分期付款已付清。

pecking order　n. The way people are ranked in relation to each other (for honor, privilege, or power); status classification; hierarchy. （任何团体中的）长幼尊卑制度，权势等级。◆ After the president was in office several months, his staff developed a pecking order. 总统任职几个月后，他的工作班子中已形成了一种权势等级。

peel off　v. To dive away from a group of airplanes in a flight formation; bring one plane down from a group. （飞机）脱离编队；使飞机脱离编队。◆ As the group neared the home base, pilot after pilot peeled off for a landing. 机群接近基地时，飞行员们一个个脱离编队降落下来。

peeping Tom　n. A man or boy who likes sly peeping. 窥视者，有窥淫癖的人。◆ He was picked up by the police as a peeping Tom. 他因窥视被警察逮捕。

peg away　v. To work methodically, industriously, or steadily. 有条不紊地（或勤劳地、坚持不懈地）工作。◆ Thomson pegged away for years at a shoe repair business. 汤姆森多年来一直勤勤恳恳地在一家修鞋店里工作。

peg to hang something on　n. phr. A pretext or an excuse; an opportunity, or a theme. 借口，托词；时机，机会；话题。◆ Economic depression provides many pegs to hang various theories on. 经济萧条为各种理论的提出提供了很多机会。◆ The lack of experience of the new employees turned out to be a convenient peg for the director to hang his problems on. 新雇员们的缺乏经验最后竟成了经理推卸自己问题责任的方便借口。

penalty box　n. A place where penalized hockey players are required to go to wait until the penalty is over. （冰球等）被罚下场的队员坐席，受罚席。◆ Two players got into a fight and were sent to the penalty box for two minutes. 两名球员因打架而被罚到受罚席上停赛两分钟。

penny for one's thoughts　Please tell me what you are thinking about; what's your daydream. 你在呆呆地想什么！◆ "A penny for your thoughts!" he exclaimed. 他喊道：“你在呆呆地想什么！”

penny pincher, penny pinching　See 见PINCH PENNIES.

penny wise and pound foolish　Wise or careful in small things but not careful enough in important things. — A proverb. 〖谚〗小事精明大事糊涂。◆ Mr. Smith's fence is rotting and falling down because he wouldn't spend money to paint it. He is penny wise and pound foolish. 史密斯先生因为不肯花钱油漆，所以他的篱笆已经腐烂就要坍了。他真是个小事精明大事糊涂的人。

pen pal　n. A friend who is known to someone through an exchange of letters. 笔友。◆ John's pen pal writes him letters about school in Alaska. 约翰的笔友写信告诉他在阿拉斯加的学校生活。

people who live in glass houses should not throw stones　Do not complain about other people if you are as bad as they are. — A proverb. 〖谚〗责人须先责己。◆ Mary says that Betty is promiscuous, but Mary is a call girl. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. 玛丽说贝蒂性生活淫乱，而玛丽自己却是名应召女郎。自身有短就不要指责别人了。

pep talk　n., informal A speech that makes people feel good so they will try harder and not give up. 〖非正式〗鼓动性讲话。◆ The football coach gave the team a pep talk. 橄榄球教练向球队讲话，给他们打气。

perish the thought　v. phr. Let us not even think of it; may it never come true. — Used as an exclamation. 死了心吧；但愿不会发生。——用作感叹句。◆ If John fails the college entrance exam — perish the thought — he will go back to high school for one more year. 假如约翰大学入学考试失败的话——但愿不会——他就得重读一年高中。

perk up　v. To get or give back pep, vigor, health, or spirit; become or make more lively; liven up. 振作起来；活跃起来。◆ He perked up quickly after his illness. 他生病后很快就活跃起来。

pester the life out of someone　v. phr. To irk; irritate; annoy a person. 对某人纠缠不休；没完没了地纠缠某人。◆ Helen pesters the life out of her poor husband by constantly demanding money for new clothes and jewelry. 海伦不停地要钱买新衣服和首饰，把她可怜的丈夫纠缠得要死。

peter out　v., informal To fail or die down gradually; grow less; become exhausted. 〖非正式〗逐渐减少，逐渐衰弱；终止；消失；耗尽。◆ The mine once had a rich vein of silver, but it petered out. 矿中原有一条含量丰富的银矿脉，但渐渐被挖光了。

pet name　n. phr. A special or abbreviated name indicating affection. 昵称。◆ He never calls his wife her real name, "Elizabeth," but only such pet names as "honey," "honey bunch," "sweetheart," and "sugar." 他从不叫他妻子的真名“伊丽莎白”，而只用昵称，比如“亲爱的”、“宝贝”、“甜心”和“蜜糖”。

pet peeve　n. phr. Something that particularly annoys someone. 特别令人烦恼的事。◆ The grunting noise Jim makes with his stuffed-up nose is a pet peeve of most people who know him. 吉姆的鼻子塞住了，他发出的呼噜声让大多数认识他的人都感到特别讨厌。

photo finish　n. phr. A close finish in a race of people or animals, where the camera must decide the actual resuit, sometimes by millimeters. （比赛者到达终点时十分接近，故需要用照片来判断结果的）摄影定名次。◆ The black horse was declared the winner in a photo finish. 根据比赛的摄影显示，那匹黑马被宣布为胜者。

pick a fight　See见PICK A QUARREL.

pick a hole in or pick holes in　v. phr., informal To find a mistake in or things wrong with; criticize; blame. 〖非正式〗挑…的毛病；找…的漏洞；批评；责备。◆ Mary is always picking holes in what the other girls do. 玛丽总是挑其他女孩做事的毛病。

pick a/the lock　v. phr. To burglarize; open illegally; open a lock without the regular key. 撬锁入室盗窃。◆ The robber got into the house by picking the lock. 盗贼是撬锁入室行窃的。

pick and choose　v. To select with much care; choose in a fussy way; take a long time before choosing. 挑三拣四；挑挑拣拣。◆ He was never one to pick and choose. 他从来不挑挑拣拣。

pick apart or pick to pieces　v. phr. To criticize harshly; find things wrong with; find fault with. 严厉批评；挑错；对…吹毛求疵。◆ They picked the play to pieces. 他们把这出戏批得一无是处。

pick a pocket　v. phr. To steal by removing from the pocket of another. 扒窃某人。◆ While on the train, somebody picked his pocket and took the last dollar he had. 他在火车上遭人扒窃，被偷得分文不剩。

pick a quarrel　v. phr. To seek the opportunity for a fight or a quarrel. 寻衅吵架。◆ When Charlie has too much to drink, he has a tendency to pick a quarrel with whomever happens to be around. 查理喝多了就会向正好在身边的任何人寻衅吵架。

pick at　v. 1. To reach or grasp for repeatedly. 扯拉，抓弄。◆ The baby kept picking at the coverlet. 婴儿不停地抓弄床罩。2. To eat without appetite; choose a small piece every little while to eat. 无食欲地吃；小口小口地吃。◆ He picked at his food. 他毫无胃口，只吃了一点点。3. To annoy or bother continually; find fault with. 找…的茬；挑刺儿。◆ They showed their displeasure by continually picking at her. 他们不停地数落她以表示他们的不满。

pick holes in　v. phr. To criticize or find fault with something, such as a speech, a statement, a theory, etc. 批评，挑…的毛病。◆ It is easier to pick holes in someone else's argument than to make a good one yourself. 挑别人论点的毛病很容易，自己提出好论点却很难。

pick-me-up　n. phr. Something you take when you feel tired or weak. 提神的饮料（或食品），兴奋剂。◆ Mary always carried a bar of chocolate in her pocketbook for a pick-me-up. 玛丽总是在手提包里放着一块巧克力用以提神。

pickpocket　n. A thief; a petty criminal who steals things and money out of people's pockets on a bus, train, etc. 扒手。◆ In some big cities many poor children become pickpockets out of poverty. 在一些大城市里，很多可怜的孩子由于贫穷而成了扒手。

pick off　v. 1. To pull off; remove with the fingers. 摘下，拔去。◆ He picked off the burs that had stuck to his overcoat. 他摘掉了粘在大衣上的刺果。2. To shoot, one at a time; knock down one by one. （逐个地）瞄准射中。◆ The sniper picked off the slower soldiers as they came out into the road. 狙击手逐个射杀了所有在路上掉队的士兵。

pick of the bunch or pick of the crop　See见CREAM OF THE CROP.

pick on　v. 1. informal To make a habit of annoying or bothering (someone); do or say bad things to (someone). 〖非正式〗作弄，惹恼。◆ Other boys picked on him until he decided to fight them. 其他男孩都作弄他直到他决定与他们搏斗。2. To single out; choose; select. 选择；挑出。◆ He visited a lot of colleges, and finally picked on Stanford. 他访问过很多大学，最终选择了斯坦福大学。

pick one's teeth　v. phr. To clean one's teeth with a toothpick. （用牙签）剔牙。◆ It is considered poor manners to pick one's teeth in public. 当众剔牙被视为不雅的行为。

pick one's way　v. phr. To go ahead carefully in difficult or unfamiliar places; advance with care. 小心走路；谨慎行事。◆ He picked his way across the rough and rocky hillside. 他在崎岖的山坡上小心前进。

pick on somebody your own size　A person should not fight with someone much weaker. — A proverb. 〖谚〗别欺负比你小的孩子；别专捡弱小者欺负。◆ When the fifteen-year-old Johnny started to beat up on his seven-year-old brother, their father said, "Pick on somebody your own size, Johnny, or I will box your ears, and then you'll know what it feels like." 当15岁的约翰尼开始痛打他7岁的弟弟时，他们的父亲说：“别欺负比你小的孩子，约翰尼，不然我就给你两个耳光，然后你就知道是什么滋味了。”

pick out　v. 1. To choose. 选择；挑选。◆ It took Mary a long time to pick out a dress at the store. 玛丽在店里挑了很久才选到一件衣服。2. To see among others; recognize; tell from others. 认出；分辨。◆ We could pick out different places in the city from the airplane. 我们从飞机上能认出市里不同的地方。3. To find by examining or trying; tell the meaning. 弄清，了解（含义）。◆ The box was so dirty we couldn't pick out the directions on the label. 盒子很脏，我们无法看清标签上的说明。

pick over　v. To select the best of; look at and take what is good from; choose from. 仔细检查…以便选出佳品，挑拣。◆ She picked the apples over and threw out the bad ones. 她逐个地检查了苹果，把坏的扔掉。

pick the brains of　v. phr. To get ideas or information about a particular subject by asking an expert. 访问（专家）以获得观点或信息。◆ If you have time, I'd like to pick your brains about home computers. 如果你有时间的话，我想向你请教有关家用电脑的一些问题。

pickup　n., (stress on pick) （重读pick）1. A rugged, small truck. 小卡车，轻型货车。◆ When he got into the lumber business, Max trade in his comfortable two-door sedan for a pickup. 经营木材生意后，马克斯把他那辆舒适的两门小轿车折价贴换了一辆小卡车。2. Scheduled meeting in order to transfer merchandise or stolen goods. （转让商品或赃物的）交接碰头；提货。◆ The dope pushers usually make their pickup on Rush Street. 毒品贩子通常在拉什街进行交接。3. A person who is easy to persuade to go home with the suitor. 娼妓；（为调情而）偶然结识的人。◆ Sue is said to be an easy pickup. 据说苏是个很容易勾搭上的性伙伴。

pick up　v. (stress on up) （重读up）1. To take up; lift. 拿起，捡起；提起。◆ During the morning Mrs. Carter picked up sticks in the yard. 早晨，卡特太太拾捡院子里的小树枝。2. informal To pay for someone else. 〖非正式〗为别人付账。◆ After lunch, in the restaurant, Uncle Bob picked up the check. 在餐馆里用过午餐后，鲍勃叔叔为大家付了账。3. To take on or away; receive; get. 把…载上车；搭乘（车、船）等。◆ At the next corner the bus stopped and picked up three people. 公共汽车在下一个拐角处停下来，让3个人上了车。4. To get from different places at different times; a little at a time; collect. 随时随地收集。◆ He had picked up rare coins in seaports all over the world. 他已在世界各地的海港收集到不少的珍贵的硬币。5. To get without trying; get accidentally. 无意地获得；偶然得到。◆ He picked up knowledge of radio just by staying around the radio station. 他只是待在电台里就学到了一些无线电的知识。6a. To gather together; collect. 收拾；收集。◆ When the carpenter finished making the cabinet, he began picking up his tools. 造完柜子后，木匠开始收拾他的工具。6b. To make neat and tidy; tidy up; put in order. 使整洁；整理。◆ Pick up your room before Mother sees it. 在母亲看到之前，整理好你的房间。6c. To gather things together; tidy a place up. 收拾好东西；收拾整洁。◆ It's almost dinner time, children. Time to pick up and get ready. 快要吃晚饭啦，孩子们！收拾好东西准备吃饭吧。7. To catch the sound of. 收听到。◆ He picked up Chicago on the radio. 他收听到芝加哥的电台广播。8. To get acquainted with (someone) without an introduction; make friends with (a person of the other sex). 与…偶然结识（常指与异性调情）。◆ Mother told Mary not to walk home by herself from the party because some stranger might try to pick her up. 母亲告诉玛丽舞会后不要独自回家，以免陌生人与她搭讪。9. informal To take to the police station or jail; arrest. 〖非正式〗逮捕；拘捕。◆ Police picked the man up for burglary. 警察逮捕了那个窃贼。10. To recognize the trail of a hunted person or animal; find. 发现（逃犯或动物的踪迹）。◆ State police picked up the bandit's trail. 州里的警察找到了歹徒的踪迹。11. To make (someone) feel better; refresh. 振作；提神；使恢复精力。◆ A little food will pick you up. 吃点东西你就有精神了。12a. To increase (the speed); make (the speed) faster. 加速。◆ The teacher told her singing class to pick up the tempo. 老师要唱歌班上的同学唱得快一些。12b. To become faster; become livelier. 变快；活泼起来。◆ The speed of the train began to pick up. 火车的速度开始变快。13. To start again after interruption; go on with. 中止后重新开始；继续。◆ The class picked up the story where they had left it before the holiday. 班上的学生继续读放假前未读完的故事。14. informal To become better; recover; gain. 〖非正式〗好转；康复。◆ He picked up gradually after a long illness. 久病之后他逐渐地康复了。

pick up the pieces or pick up the thread　v. phr. To continue living life normally, after some tragedy that put a major roadblock in one's way. 收拾残局；重新就绪；恢复正常。◆ After her husband's untimely death, it took Jane a year to pick up the pieces. 在丈夫过早的去世以后，简花了一年时间才使生活重新就绪。◆ John developed a writer's block, and it took him several weeks to pick up the thread and continue writing his novel. 约翰得了一种作家心理阻滞病，几个星期以后才恢复正常，继续写他的小说。

pick up the tab　v. phr. To pay the bill in a restaurant; be the one who underwrites financially what others are doing. （代他人）付账；会钞；承担全部费用。◆ "I am always the one who picks up the tab," Charlie complained bitterly. "Others get away with being freeloaders." “总是由我来付账，”查理愤愤不平地抱怨。“其他人总是吃白食。”

pick up the threads　v. phr. To resume an occupation or a piece of work after a longer break. （工作等中断后）再继续下去。◆ After his trip to Europe Ed will pick up the threads as if there had been no interruption. 欧洲之行回来后，埃德将继续工作，就像没有中断过一样。

picture of health　n. phr. A strikingly healthy, good-looking person. 健康的化身；非常健康。◆ I can't believe that John has just come home from the hospital — he is the very picture of health. 我简直不敢相信约翰是刚出院回家的——他看上去非常健康。

Pidgin English　n. phr. A jargon that consists of some mispronounced English words and some foreign words used by Orientals in talking with Westerners. 混杂英语；洋泾浜英语。◆ You can conduct a lot of business in Pidgin English in the Far East. 你能用洋泾浜英语在远东做很多生意。

piece of cake　adj., slang Easy. 〖俚〗容易的事情。◆ The final exam was a piece of cake. 期末考试太容易了。

piece of the pie　See见PART OF THE ACTION.

piecework　n. Work paid for in accordance with the quantity produced. 计件工作。◆ Al prefers working on a piecework basis to being on a regular salary because he feels he makes more that way. 与拿固定工资的工作相比，艾尔更喜欢计件工作，因为他觉得那样可以赚得更多。

pie in the sky　n. phr., informal An unrealistic wish or hope. 〖非正式〗渺茫的希望。◆ Our trip to Hawaii is still only a pie in the sky. 我们的夏威夷之行仍然只是个渺茫的希望。

pigeonhole　v. 1. To set aside; defer consideration of. 把…搁置一边；把…束之高阁。◆ The plan was pigeonholed until the next committee meeting. 那项计划被搁在一边，直到下一次委员会会议再讨论。2. To typecast; give a stereotypical characterization to someone. 把（某人）归类。◆ It was unfair of the committee to pigeonhole him as a left-wing troublemaker. 委员会把他说成是左翼捣乱者是不公平的。

pigeonhole　n. 1. Small compartment for internal mail in an office or a department. （放置内部信件的）信件架，文件格。◆ "You can just put your late exam into my pigeonhole," said Professor Brown to the concerned student. “你可以把迟交的试卷放进我的信件格，”布朗教授对那个忧心忡忡的学生说。2. One of the small compartments in a desk or cabinet. （书桌或柜子中）鸽笼式分类架。◆ He keeps his cufflinks in a pigeonhole in his desk. 他把袖口链扣放在书桌的分类架中。

piggy-back　adj. or adv. Sitting or being carried on the shoulders. 坐在肩上；驮在背上。◆ When Mary sprained her ankle, John carried her piggy-back to the doctor. 玛丽扭伤了脚踝，约翰驮着她去看医生。

piggy bank　n. A small bank, sometimes in the shape of a pig, for saving coins. 猪形储蓄罐，猪形扑满。◆ John's father gave him a piggy bank. 约翰的父亲给了他一个猪形储蓄罐。

pigheaded　adj. Stubborn; unwilling to compromise. 顽固的；固执的。◆ "Stop being so pigheaded!" she cried. "I, too, can be right sometimes!" “别这么固执了！”她叫道。“我也有对的时候！”

pig in a poke　n. phr. An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. 未经细看就买下的东西。◆ Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water. 邮购地皮是一种盲目的交易：有时那块地竟是在水底下的。

pig out　v. phr. 1. To eat a tremendous amount of food. 狼吞虎咽地大吃。◆ "I always pig out on my birthday," she confessed. “我过生日时总是大吃一顿，”她承认道。2. To peruse; have great fun with; indulge in for a longer period of time. 阅读；过度沉湎，尽情享受。◆ "Go to bed and pig out on a good mystery story," the doctor recommended. “上床去尽情地读一部精彩的推理小说吧，”医生建议。

pile up　v. phr. (stress on up) （重读up）1. To grow into a big heap. 堆积。◆ He didn't go into his office for three days and his work kept piling up. 他3天没去办公室，工作就堆积如山了。2. To run aground. 搁浅。◆ Boats often pile up on the rocks in the shallow water. 船常在浅水处触礁搁浅。3. To crash. 撞毁。◆ One car made a sudden stop and the two cars behind it piled up. 一辆车猛然煞车，后面两辆车就撞在了一起。

pile-up　n. (stress on pile) （重读pile）1. A heap; a deposit of one object on top of another. 一堆。◆ There is a huge pile-up of junked cars in this vacant lot. 这块空地上堆放着一大堆报废汽车。2. A large number of objects in the same place, said of traffic. （车辆或人的）混乱。◆ I was late because of the traffic pileup on the highway. 因为公路上塞车，所以我迟到了。

pillar of society　n. phr. A leading figure who contributes to the support and the well-being of his/her society; a person of irreproachable character. 社会栋梁；中坚。◆ Mrs. Brown, the director of our classical symphony fund, is a true pillar of society. 古典交响乐基金会主任布朗夫人是真正的社会栋梁。

pinch and scrape　v. phr. To save as much money as possible by spending as little as possible. 省吃俭用。◆ They are trying to buy their first house so they are pinching and scraping every penny they can. 他们正打算买第一幢房子，所以他们一直在省吃俭用，一分钱都不舍得花。

pinch-hit　v. informal To act for a while, or in an emergency, for another person; take someone's place for a while. 〖非正式〗（紧急时）充当替代者；暂时代替。◆ I asked him to pinch-hit for me while I was away. 我请他在我不在时暂时代替我一下。◆ When our teacher was sick, Mrs. Harris was called as a pinch-hitter. 我们的老师生病时，哈里斯太太被请来代课。— pinch-hitting adj. or n. 暂时代替 ◆ Pinch-hitting for another teacher is a hard job. 代别的老师上课是个苦差事。

pinch pennies　v. phr., informal Not spend a penny more than necessary; be very saving or thrifty. 〖非正式〗非常节省；精打细算。◆ When Tom and Mary were saving money to buy a house, they had to pinch pennies. 汤姆和玛丽为了存钱买房，不得不精打细算。— penny-pincher n., informal A stingy or selfish person; miser. 〖非正式〗吝啬鬼，花钱节俭的人。◆ He spent so little money that he began to get the name of a penny-pincher. 他花钱极少，因此获得吝啬鬼的恶名。— penny-pinching adj. or n., informal〖非正式〗精打细算（的）。◆ Bob saved enough money by penny-pinching to buy a bicycle. 鲍勃一分一分地攒下足够的钱买了一辆自行车。

pin curl　n. A curl made with a hair clip or bobby pin. 用发夹做的鬈发。◆ Mary washed her hair and put it up in pin curls. 玛丽洗了头发然后用发夹把头发卷起来。

pin down　v. 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a place or position; trap. 使不能行；固定；困住。◆ Mr. Jones' leg was pinned down under the car after the accident. 琼斯先生的腿在车祸中被压在了车下。1b. To keep (someone) from changing what (he) says or means; make (someone) admit the truth; make (someone) agree to something. 强使承诺；迫使承认；促使同意。◆ Mary didn't like the book but I couldn't pin her down to say what she didn't like about it. 玛丽不喜欢这本书，而我没办法逼她说出不喜欢的理由。2. To tell clearly and exactly; explain so that there is no doubt. 明确说明；确定；证实。◆ The police tried to pin down the blame for the fire in the school. 警方试图确定学校起火的责任。

pine away　v. phr. To waste away with grief. （因悲伤等而）消瘦，憔悴，衰弱。◆ After George was sent abroad, his wife pined away for him so much that she became ill. 乔治被派往国外后，她妻子因过度悲伤而日渐憔悴，最后病倒了。

pin money　n. phr. Extra money used for incidentals. 闲钱；外快。◆ She has a regular fulltime job but she earns extra pin money by doing a lot of baby-sitting. 她有份固定的全职工作，但她还替人看小孩赚点外快。

pin one's faith on　v. phr. To depend upon; trust. 信赖；信任。◆ We pinned our faith on our home basketball team to win the state finals, and they did! 我们坚信我们家乡的篮球队能赢得州决赛，果然，他们赢了！

pin sb.'s ears back　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To beat; defeat. 打败，击败某人。◆ After winning three games in a row, our team had our ears pinned back by the visitors. 连赢3场后，我队被来访的客队打败了。2. To scold. 责骂某人。◆ Mrs. Smith pinned Mary's ears back for not doing her homework. 史密斯太太责骂玛丽不做作业。

pint-size　adj., informal Very small. 〖非正式〗很小的。◆ The new pintsize, portable TV sets have a very clear picture. 新的手提式小型电视机画面很清晰。

pinup girl　v. phr. An attractive girl whose picture is pinned or tacked to the wall by an admirer. （照片将被人钉在墙上欣赏的）富有魅力的女子，美女。◆ Some Hollywood actresses are understandably very popular pinup girls among male soldiers. 有些好莱坞女演员是男士兵非常喜欢将其照片钉在墙上欣赏的美女，这是可以理解的。

pious fraud　n. phr. A deception practiced in order to promote a cause that is considered to be beneficial to the public. （为了受骗一方的利益而进行的）虔诚欺诈，善意欺骗。◆ The Catholic priests committed an act of pious fraud when they made the statue of the Virgin Mary shed some red tears in order to stop the gang violence in their neighborhood. 天主教牧师们为了阻止他们地区歹徒帮派间的暴力行为而让圣母马利亚雕像流一些红色眼泪，他们这样做是在进行一种虔诚欺诈。

pipe down　v. 1. To call (sailors) away from work with a whistle. 吹长口哨通知（水手）下班。◆ He piped the men down after boat drill. 船上的救生演习结束后，他吹口哨命令船员下班。2. slang To stop talking; shut up; be quiet. 〖俚〗命令停止讲话，安静下来。◆ "Oh, pipe down," he called. 他叫道：“请安静！”

pipe dream　n., informal An unrealizable, financially unsound, wishful way of thinking; an unrealistic plan. 〖非正式〗白日梦；幻想，空想。◆ Joe went through the motions of pretending that he wanted to buy that $250,000 house, but his wife candidly told the real estate lady that it was just a pipe dream. 乔煞有介事地假装要买那幢价值25万美元的房子，而他妻子则坦率地告诉房地产女经纪人，说那只是个白日梦。

pipe up　v., informal To speak up; to be heard. 〖非正式〗（尖声地）说，讲话。◆ Everyone was afraid to talk to the police, but a small child piped up. 人人都害怕跟警察讲话，但有个小孩却开口讲话了。

pip-squeak　n., informal A small, unimportant person. 〖非正式〗无足轻重的人。◆ If the club is really democratic, then every little pip-squeak has the right to say what he thinks. 假如俱乐部真正民主的话，那么任何无名之辈都有权畅所欲言。

piss into the wind　v. phr. vulgar, avoidable To cause problems for oneself by going against powerful prevailing trends. 〖粗〗〖忌〗对着风撒尿——给自己找麻烦；白费精力。◆ John wants to reform the company, but I am afraid he is merely pissing into the wind, because the boss managed to persuade all employees not to change the daily routine. 约翰想革除公司的弊病，但我担心他只是在自找麻烦，因为老板已说服所有的雇员不要改变日常的工作程序。

piss off　v., slang, vulgar, avoid! To bother; annoy; irritate. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗使恼火；使厌烦；使生气。◆ You really piss me off when you talk like that. 你那样讲话真令我生气。— pissed off adj. 恼火的；生气的。◆ Why act so pissed off just because I made a pass at you? 我只是碰了你一下，你为什么就这么生气呢？

pit against　v. To match against; oppose to; put in opposition to; place in competition or rivalry with. 使对抗，使竞争。◆ The game pits two of the best pro football teams in the East against each other. 这场比赛将东部两支最好的职业橄榄球队安排在一起进行较量。

pit-a-pat　adv. With a series of quick pats. 劈劈啪啪地；卜卜地。◆ When John asked Mary to marry him, her heart went pit-a-pat. 约翰向玛丽求婚时，她的心扑扑直跳。

pitch a curve or a curve ball　v. phr. To catch someone unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act. 出其不意地难住（某人）；出乎意料地戏弄某人。◆ My professor pitched me a curve ball when he unexpectedly confronted me with a complicated mathematical equation that was way over my head. 我的教授突然让我解一道我一点也不懂的、复杂的数学方程，这下可把我难住了。

pitch dark　adj. Totally, completely dark. 漆黑的。◆ A starless and moonless night in the country can be pitch dark. 在乡下，一个没有星星和月亮的夜晚可能会一片漆黑。

pitch in　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To begin something with much energy; start work eagerly. 开始大干；使劲干。◆Pitch in and we will finish the job as soon as possible. 动手干吧，我们会尽快完成这项工作的。2. To give help or money for something; contribute. 帮助；作出贡献。◆ Everyone must pitch in and work together. 大家都得协力相助，共同工作。

pitch into　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To attack with blows or words. 猛烈攻击；痛打；大骂。◆ He pitched into me with his fists. 他拔拳打我。2. To get to work at; work hard at. 开始忙于，动手干。◆ She pitched into the work and had the house cleaned up by noon. 她开始干活，中午前就把屋子打扫干净了。

plain Jane　n. phr. A common or simple looking young woman or girl. 相貌平常的女子；质朴无华的女子。◆ When we were in school, Ann was a plain Jane, but she blossomed out and even won the title of Miss Indiana. 我们在学校读书时，安只是个相貌平常的女孩，但她后来越长越漂亮，甚至摘得了“印第安纳小姐”的桂冠。

plain or smooth sailing　n. phr. An uncomplicated, unhampered, or easy course. 一帆风顺；轻而易举的事。◆ For a graduate of such a famous university as he was, that assignment was plain sailing. 对他这样一个著名大学的毕业生来说，那项任务定能顺利完成。

plain white wrapper　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon〖俚〗〖民用波段〗Unmarked police car. 没有标记的警车。◆ There's a plain white wrapper at your rear door! 有辆没标记的警车停在你家后门口！

plan on　v. 1. To have the plan of; have in mind. — Used with a verbal noun. 有…的计划；打算，想要。——与动名词连用。◆ I plan on going to the movies after I finish my homework. 我打算做完功课后去看电影。◆ Mary was planning on seeing John at the baseball game. 玛丽想在棒球比赛时看到约翰。2. To think you will do or have; be sure about; expect. 确定；期望。◆ I'm hoping to go away for the weekend, but I'm not planning on it. 周末我希望外出，但我现在还没确定。

platonic love　n. phr. Great affection toward another person without sex. （无肉欲的）柏拉图式恋爱，精神恋爱。◆ They are platonic lovers; they do everything together except make love. 他们是一对精神恋人；除了做爱，他们在一起时什么都做。

play along (with)　v. Cooperate; make no trouble. （与）…合作；参与。◆ The honest jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker's illegal plan. 那个诚实的赛马骑师拒绝参与赌注登记经纪人的非法计划。

play a part in　v. phr. To be instrumental in; have a role in; be concerned with. 在…中起作用。◆ Some First Ladies play a greater part in political life than others. 有些第一夫人在政治生活中起的作用大于其他人。

play a role in　See见PLAY A PART IN.

play around　See见FOOL AROUND.

play a waiting game　v. phr. To withhold action until one's chances for success improve. 待机而动，见机行事。◆ Ray would like to be vice president of the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the president will soon recognize his abilities. 雷想当公司的副总经理，所以他在等待时机，希望总经理很快就会认可他的能力。

play ball　v. phr. informal To join in an effort with others; cooperate. 〖非正式〗（和别人）一起干；合作。◆ To get along during Prohibition, many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters. 在禁酒时期想过活，很多人觉得他们只得跟歹徒合作。

play by ear　v. phr. 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. 不看乐谱弹奏（乐曲或乐器）。◆ Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear. 玛丽不识乐谱，她弹奏钢琴只凭听觉记忆。2. informal To decide what to do as you go along; to fit the situation. — Used with it. 〖非正式〗没有充分准备地处理；即时应付。——与it连用。◆ It was her first job and she didn't know what to expect, so she had to play it by ear. 这是她的第一份工作而且她也不知道会出现什么情况，所以只得随机应变。

play cat and mouse with　v. phr. To tease or fool (someone) by pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. 对…欲擒故纵，对…搞猫戏老鼠的把戏。◆ The policeman decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in the store. 警察决定对在商店里偷衣服的那个女人采取欲擒故纵的手法。

play down　v. To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. 对…不多强调；降低…的重要性。◆ A salesman's job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he must play down any faults it has. 售货员的职责是强调所卖商品的优点，少提它的缺点。

played out　adj. phr. Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted. 筋疲力尽的；耗尽的。◆ It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out. 辛苦了一天，到晚上他已疲惫不堪。

play fair　v. phr. To do what is right to others; act in a fair and truthful way. 办事公正合理；行为光明正大。◆ The boys like the principal because he always plays fair. 孩子们喜欢校长，因为他总是公平待人。

play fast and loose　v. phr. To do as you please without caring what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. 处事轻率；不可信。◆ He played fast and loose with the company's good name. 他拿公司的信誉当儿戏。

play favorites　v. phr. To treat certain people preferentially; be kinder to some people than to others. 偏爱，偏袒。◆ A good teacher must never play favorites with her students. 一个好的老师绝不可偏爱一部分学生。

play footsie　v. phr., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. Touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation. 在桌下碰异性的脚调情，偷偷调情。◆ Have you at least played footsie with her? 你有没有在桌下跟她偷偷地碰腿碰脚？2. To engage in any sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political situation. 搞秘密交易；勾勾搭搭。◆ The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the Syndicate. 市长被怀疑与那家财团勾勾搭搭。

play for keeps　v. phr. To take an action of finality and irreversibility.采取严肃的行动；采取决定性的行动。◆ "Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."“你对我是认真的吗？”她问。“是的，”他回答。“我想和你结婚。我心已定。”

play hard to get　v. phr. To act as if one weren't interested; be fickle; be coy. 故意装出不感兴趣的样子；三心二意；扭捏作态。◆ "Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our dean said, "but I know he will acceps our offer and come to teach here." “布朗教授在卖关子，”我们的院长说，“可我知道他会接受我们的提议来这儿执教的。”

play havoc with or raise havoc with　v. phr. To cause destruction; ruin; injure badly. 造成严重破坏；毁坏；严重伤害。◆ The storm played havoc with the apple orchard. 暴风雨对苹果园造成了严重破坏。

play hooky　v. phr., informal To stay out of school to play. 〖非正式〗逃学。◆ Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times during the year. 卡尔成绩不及格，因为他今年已多次逃学。

play into sb.'s hands　v. phr. To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself. 做对某人有利的事；让某人占便宜（而自己吃亏）。◆ Mary and Bobby wanted the last piece of cake, but Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it. 玛丽和鲍比都想要最后一块蛋糕，但鲍比抢蛋糕的行为却使玛丽得益了。

play it close to the vest　v. phr. To handle matters secretly and confidentially; not reveal one's intentions. 对某事保守秘密；不透露自己的意图。◆The dean is playing it so close to the vest that nobody has any idea who will be the next head of the department. 院长守口如瓶，所以没人知道谁会成为下一任系主任。

play off　v. 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests so that they balance each other. 使相斗。◆ Britain tried to play off European nations against each other so that she would have a balance of power. 英国设法使欧洲各国相互争斗，从而使自己保持力量均衡。2. To finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) 完成（中断的）比赛。◆ The visitors came back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain. 客队在第二个星期六回来把因雨中断的比赛赛完。3. To settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. 延长比赛（或加赛）以破（平局）。◆ When each player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing off the tie. 当两名选手各胜两场后，再赛一场的得胜者即为冠军。

play on or play upon　v. 1. To cause an effect on; influence. 对…产生效果；影响。◆ A heavy dose of television drama played on his feelings. 观看太多的电视剧影响了他的情绪。2.To work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning plans; manage. 利用。◆ The makeup salesman played on the woman's wish to look beautiful. 那个化妆品售货员利用该妇女爱美的心理来推销他的商品。

play one's card right or play one's cards well　v. phr., informal To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. 〖非正式〗善于利用机会；办事高明，做事有心计；充分利用自己的地位或技能。◆ People liked Harold, and he played his cards well—and soon he began to get ahead rapidly. 大家都喜欢哈罗德，而他也很善于把握机会，很快就取得了成功。

play ostrich　v. phr. To refuse to face painful facts or unpleasant truths. 回避现实；不正视不愉快的事。◆ She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband's drinking problem. 谈到丈夫的嗜酒问题，她就回避。

play politics　v. phr. To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. 玩弄政治手腕；耍权术。◆ Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics. 玛丽总是玩弄办公室权术得到她想要的东西。

play safe or play it safe　v. phr., informal To be very careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for the sake of safety.〖非正式〗十分小心；谨慎行事。◆ Tom didn't know what the other driver would do, so he played it safe and stopped his own car. 汤姆不知道另一位驾驶员会怎么办，为安全起见就停下了自己的车。

play second fiddle　v. phr., informal To act a smaller part; follow another's lead; be less noticed. 〖非正式〗充当副手，做第二把手。◆ His wife had the stronger mind and he played second fiddle to her. 他太太意志更坚强，他只得充当他的副手。

play someone for　v., informal To treat (someone) as; act toward (someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. 〖非正式〗把某人当作。◆He played the man for a sucker. 他把那人当傻瓜。

play the field　v. phr., informal To date many different people; not always have dates with the same person. 〖非正式〗滥交情人，同时与几个人谈情说爱。◆ Al had a steady girlfriend, but John was playing the field. 艾尔有一个固定的女朋友，而约翰却跟几个人在谈情说爱。

play the game　v. phr., informal To obey the rules; do right; act fairly. 〖非正式〗遵守规则；办事公道；做事讲道德。◆ "That's not playing the game," we told him when he wanted to desert his wife. 他想遗弃他妻子时，我们对他说：“那样做不道德。”

play the market　v. phr. To try to make money on the stock market by buying and selling stocks.（证券交易中）投机；炒股票。◆ Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when he plays the market, and sometimes he loses. 史密斯先生炒股有时赚大钱有时赔本。

play (the) Monday morning quarterback　v. phr. To practice hindsight; be wise after an event has happened. 放马后炮；做事后诸葛亮。◆ "You shouldn't have invested all your money in that uncertain, new company," Jack said. "Small wonder you lost a fortune." "That is unfair!"Tom replied. "You are playing the Monday morning quarterback." “你原本就不该把你所有的钱都投资于那家捉摸不定的新公司，”杰克说。“你损失了一大笔钱并不奇怪。”“这话不公平！”汤姆回答说。“你这是在放马后炮。”

play to the gallery　v. phr. To try to get the approval of the audience. 迎合观众的趣味；哗众取宠。◆ Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery. 每当约翰在课堂上背诵时总像在哗众取宠。

play tricks on　v. phr. To make another the victim of some trick or joke. 欺骗（某人）；开（某人）玩笑。◆ Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by hiding his clothes while he was swimming. 艾尔很生气，因为他的同学跟他开玩笑，在他游泳时把他的衣服藏了起来。

play up　v. To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. 对…多加重视；提高…的重要性；强调。◆ The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our weaknesses. 教练强调我们获胜的可能性，使我们少想自己的弱点。

play up to　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To try to gain the favor of, especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to please. 投…所好，讨好；迎合。◆ He played up to the boss. 他讨好上司。2. To use (something) to gain an end; to attend to (a weakness). 利用（某事）达到目的。◆ He played up to the old lady's vanity to get her support. 他利用老妇人的虚荣心来获得她的支持。

play with fire　v. phr. To put oneself in danger; to take risks. 玩火；冒险。◆ Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire. 在纽约市不锁门是很危险的。

plot thickens　v. phr. Becoming more intense, more complex, more difficult to see through. 情况（或情节）越来越复杂。◆ When three different people all confessed to the same murder, the detective exclaimed, "Well! The plot thickens!" 当3个不同的人都对同一宗谋杀案供认有罪时，警探大声说：“啊！情况越来越复杂了。”

plough the sands or plow the sands　v. phr. To do something futile or useless. 做徒劳无功的事，白费力气。◆ If you try to persuade the gang to become saints, you're plowing the sands. 如果你想说服这帮歹徒立地成佛，你是在枉费唇舌。

plough or plow through　v. phr. Pass through laboriously. 费力地通过；费劲地阅读。◆ Sam had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to get ready for his test.萨姆不得不费劲地阅读数百页的美国历史书以应付考试。

plow into　v. 1. To attack vigorously. 猛烈攻击；奋力从事（工作等）。◆ He plowed into his work and finished it in a few hours. 他拼命工作，几个小时就干完了。2. To crash into with force. 猛撞。◆ A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender. 一辆卡车猛地撞上了我的车，把挡泥板撞坏了。

pluck up　v. 1. To have (courage) by your own effort; make yourself have (courage). 鼓起（勇气）。◆ He plucked up courage when he saw a glimmer of hope. 他看到一丝希望，于是又鼓起了勇气。2. To become happier; feel better; cheer up. 快乐起来；高兴起来；振作起来。◆ He plucked up when his wife recovered. 他太太痊愈后，他又高兴起来了。

plug in　v. phr. To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power wire by putting its plug into a receptacle or hole.（将插头插入插座）给…通电；接通电源。◆ The integrated circuit has multiplied the number of small radios that need not be plugged in. 集成电路大大增加了无须接插头的小收音机的数量。

plug into　v. To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power wire by inserting its plug into a receptacle or hole. （插上插头）通电。◆ He thought he had left the lamp plugged into the wall, and so was puzzled when it wouldn't light that night. 他以为他把电灯插头插在墙上的插座里了，因此那天晚上灯不亮时他感到迷惑不解。

plume oneself　v. phr., literary To be proud of yourself; boast. 〖文〗炫耀自己；自豪；自夸。◆ He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as his date. 他因得到舞会上第一号美女与他约会而自豪。

plunk down　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To drop down; fall. 掉下；落下。◆ After walking a mile we plunked down on a bench to rest. 走了一英里路后，我们一屁股倒在长凳上休息。2. To drop something noisily or firmly. 重重放下。◆ He plunked the heavy suitcase down at the station. 到了车站，他把沉重的箱子砰的一声扔在地上。3. To pay out, primarily an excessive amount（啪地）扔下（钱）付款。◆ I had to plunk down $55 for a concert ticket. 我不得不花55美元买了张音乐会的票。

pocket money　See见SPENDING MONEY.

pockets of resistance　n. phr. Isolated areas where the fighting continues after the main battle is over. 零星的抵抗。◆ Even after the marines had taken over the entire country, there still remained a few isolated pockets of resistance. 甚至在海军陆部队接管了整个国家后，还仍然有一些零星的抵抗。

point-blank　adv. Straightforwardly; bluntly; directly. 直截了当地；断然地；直接地。◆ Sue refused pointblank to discuss marriage with Sam. 苏断然拒绝与萨姆谈婚论嫁。

point of view　n. Attitude; opinion. 态度；观点。◆ From the American point of view, Fidel Castro is a bad neighbor to have. 从美国的观点来看，菲德尔·卡斯特罗是个坏邻居。

point out　v. 1. To show by pointing with the finger; point to; make clear the location of. 指出；指向；指明地点。◆ The guide pointed out the principal sights of the city. 导游指出了该市的主要风景点。2. To bring to notice; call to attention; explain. 引起注意；解释。◆ The policeman pointed out that the law forbids public sale of firecrackers. 警察指出，法律禁止公开出售爆竹。

point up　v. To show clearly; emphasize. 清楚地表明；强调。◆ The increase in crime points up the need for greater police protection. 犯罪的增加清楚地表明需要更多警方的保护。

poison-pen　adj. Containing threats or false accusations; written in spite or to get revenge, and usually unsigned. 带有威胁或诬告内容的；报复性的；匿名诽谤的。◆ Mrs. Smith received a poison-pen letter telling her that her husband was untrue. 史密斯太太收到一封匿名诽谤信，说她的丈夫对她不忠。

poke around or poke about　v. 1. To search about; look into and under things. 四处寻找；搜索。◆ The detective poked around in the missing man's office. 警探在失踪者的办公室里东翻西找。2. To move slowly or aimlessly; do little things. 行动缓慢；混日子。◆ He didn't feel well, and poked around the house. 他感觉不舒服，就在家里闲待着。

poles apart　adj. Completely different.完全不同。◆ The two brothers were poles apart in personality. 两兄弟在性格上完全不同。

polish off　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To defeat easily. 轻易击败。◆ The Dodgers polished off the Yankees in four straight games in the 1963 World Series. 道奇队在1963年的世界棒球锦标赛中连胜扬基队4场。2. To finish completely; finish doing quickly, often in order to do something else. （飞快地）完成（工作）；飞快地吃光（或喝光）。◆ The boys were hungry and polished off a big steak. 男孩们饿坏了，很快就把一大块牛排吃个精光。◆ Mary polished off her homework early so that she could watch TV. 玛丽为了看电视，早早地就赶完了功课。

polish the apple　v. phr., slang To try to make someone like you; to try to win favor by flattery. 〖俚〗努力讨好；谄媚。◆ Susan is the teacher's pet because she always polishes the apple. 苏珊是老师的宠儿，因为她总是讨好老师。—apple-polisher n., slang A person who is nice to the one in charge in order to be liked or treated better; a person who does favors for a superior. 〖俚〗送礼拍马的人；讨好上司的人。◆ Joe is an apple-polisher. He will do anything for the boss. 乔是个马屁精，他什么事都肯为老板做。—apple-polishing n., slang Trying to win someone's good-will by small acts currying favor; the behavior of an apple-polisher. 〖俚〗用小手段以赢得某人的欢心；讨好求宠。◆ When John brought his teacher flowers, everyone thought he was apple-polishing. 约翰给老师带花来时，大家都认为他是在拍马屁。

pool one's resources　v. phr. To utilize and share one's resources into a commonly accessibly repository. 集中资源；集中财力。◆ "Let us pool our resources," the three local shoe manufacturers said, before they put their respective signatures on the merger that made them into one big company. 当地的3位制鞋商说：“让我们集中财力一起经营吧，”随后他们便在合并书上分别签上名，将他们的小企业变成了一家大公司。

pooped out　adj., slang Worn out; exhausted. 〖俚〗筋疲力尽；疲惫不堪。◆The heat made them feel pooped out. 炎热使他们感到十分困乏。

poor as a church mouse　adj. phr., informal Penniless; broke; extremely poor. 〖非正式〗身无分文的；一贫如洗的。◆The newly arrived boat people were poor as church mice. 新来的船民们一贫如洗。

poor-mouth　v. To be constantly complaining about one's poverty; keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. 哭穷；叹穷。◆ Uncle Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor-mouthing, but we know that he has three million dollars stashed away in a secret savings account. 杰克叔叔常常大肆哭穷，可我们知道他有300万美元存在一个秘密账户里。

pop in　v. phr. To suddenly appear without announcement. 突然出现；顺道拜访。◆ "Just pop into my office any time you're on campus," Professor Brown said. “你来学校时请随时到我办公室坐坐，”布朗教授说。

pop into one's head　v. phr. To suddenly remember or to think of something. 突然被想起（或想到）。◆ It suddenly popped into my head that April 20th is my daughter's birthday, so I stopped at a pay phone and gave her a call. 我突然想到4月20日是我女儿的生日，于是我便在一个投币式公用电话前停下来给她打了个电话。

pop one's cork　See见BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE, LOSE ONE'S MARBLES, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.

pop the question　v. phr., slang To ask someone to marry you. 〖俚〗求婚。◆ After the dance he popped the question. 跳完舞后他向她求婚。

pop up　v. or bob up To appear suddenly or unexpectedly; show up; come out. 突然出现；突然冒出。◆ After no one had heard from him for years, John popped up in town again. 已经多年没有人听到约翰的消息了，他突然又在镇上出现了。

port of call　n. phr. 1. Any of the ports that a ship visits after the start of a voyage and before the end; a port where passengers or cargo may be taken on or put off; an in-between port. 航行沿途停泊的港口；装卸乘客或货物的港口。◆ Savannah is a port of call for many Atlantic coasting vessels. 萨凡纳是许多大西洋船只中途停靠的港口。2. A place you visit regularly or often; a stop included on your usual way of going. 经常去的地方；途中逗留的地方。◆ It was an obscure little restaurant which I had made something of a port of call. 我以前经常歇脚的地方是一家偏僻的小餐馆。

port of entry　n. phr. 1. A port where things brought into the country to sell may pass through customs. （货物的）进口港，报关港。◆ Other ports of entry have been taking business from New York. 其他进口港一直在取代纽约港的一些业务。2. A port where a citizen of another country may legally enter a country; a port having passport and immigration facilities. （人员的）入境港。◆ Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样已成为外国来访者的入境关口。

potboiler　n. A book, play, or film written for the primary purpose of earning money for the author. （以赚钱为目的的）粗制滥造的文艺作品。◆ "Reading a cheap potboiler helps me go to sleep," the professor wryly remarked. “粗俗的作品有助于我入睡，”教授讽刺地说。

pot calling the kettle black　informal The person who is criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he or she accuses; the charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he or she makes it against. 锅嫌水壶黑；五十步笑百步。◆ Bill said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was calling the kettle black. 比尔说约翰在比赛中作弊，而约翰却说他是五十步笑百步。

potluck　See 见 TAKE POTLUCK.

potluck supper　See 见 COVERED-DISH SUPPER.

potshot　n. A direct shot at an easy, stationary target from behind a protected position or camouflage; criticism. 近距离射击；盲目射击；随意的攻击（或批评）。◆ Modern journalists like to take potshots at the president of the United States. 现在的记者喜欢随意批评美国总统。

pound away at　v. phr. 1. To attack; criticize. 攻击；批评。◆ In his campaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at the administration's foreign policy. 那位候选人在竞选演说中不断抨击政府的外交政策。2. To work industriously. 勤奋地工作；卖力地做。◆ Mike was pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels and pickaxes. 迈克用铁锹和丁字镐卖力地打他新房子的地基。

pound out　v. phr. 1. To play a piece of music very loudly on a percussion instrument. 重重地弹奏出；敲击出。◆ The boy was pounding out the tune "Mary had a little lamb" on the marimba. 那男孩在马林巴琴上重重弹奏出一曲《玛丽有只小羊羔》。2. To flatten something with a hammer. （用锤子）敲平。◆ The bodyshop uses special hammers to pound out the indentations in the bodies of cars. 车身修理厂用一种特殊的锤子敲平汽车车身上的凹痕。3. To produce a piece of writing on a typewriter in haste and without much care. （在打字机上）敲打出。◆ She hurriedly pounded out a letter of recommendation for the foreign graduate student. 她匆忙地在打字机上为那名外国研究生打出了一封推荐信。

pound the pavement　v. phr., informal To walk up and down the streets; tramp about. 〖非正式〗徘徊街头；四处奔走。◆ John pounded the pavement looking for a job. 约翰为找工作而四处奔走。

pour money down the drain　v. phr. To spend one's money unwisely; to waste one's funds. 乱花钱；白白浪费钱。◆ "Stop supporting Harry's drug habit," Ralph said. "You're just pouring money down the drain." “别再助长哈里吸毒的坏习惯了，”拉尔夫说。“你这样做无异于把钱打水漂。”

pour oil on troubled waters　v. phr. To quiet a quarrel; say something to lessen anger and bring peace. 平息争吵；息事宁人。◆ The troops were nearing a bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters. 士兵们越吵越凶，直到领导出面才平息。

pour out　v. 1. To tell everything about; talk all about. 倾诉。◆ Mary poured out her troubles to her pal. 玛丽向朋友倾诉自己的烦恼。2. To come out in great quantity; stream out. 涌出，泻出。◆ The people poured out of the building when they heard the fire alarm. 听到火警警报，人们从大楼中蜂拥而出。

powder room　n. The ladies' rest room. 女厕所；女盥洗室。◆ When they got to the restaurant, Mary went to the powder room to wash up. 他们到了餐馆后，玛丽去女盥洗室洗手。

power behind the throne　n. phr. The person with the real power backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of public figures). 幕后实际掌权的人。◆ It is rumored that the First Lady is the power behind the throne in the White House. 有谣言说第一夫人才是白宫的真正主宰。

praise to high heaven or praise to the skies　v. phr. To shower someone with extreme, exaggerated praise. 极口称赞；把…捧上天。◆ The theater critic, who was in love with the mediocre actress, decided to gain her favors by praising her to high heaven. 那位戏剧评论家热恋着那位二流的女演员，决定把她捧上天以赢得她的欢心。

pray to the toilet　v. phr., slang To vomit from having consumed too much alcohol. 〖俚〗（酗酒后）对着马桶呕吐。◆ "What's that ugly noise coming from the bathroom ?" John's father asked. "He is praying to the toiler, as usual," John's younger brother replied. “盥洗室里那种讨厌的声音是怎么回事？”约翰的父亲问。“像平常一样，是约翰在对着马桶呕吐，”约翰的弟弟回答说。

preach to the saved or preach to the choir　v. phr. To be engaged in persuading a group of people about something they already believe in. 向已信教的人讲道。◆ "You are preaching to the saved!" John exclaimed, when Jerry was trying to convince him to give up smoking. "I quit a long time ago, cold turkey!" 当杰里试图说服约翰戒烟时，约翰大声说：“你这是在向信教的人布道嘛！我早就戒了，一下子就戒掉了！”

presence of mind　n. phr. Effective and quick decision-making ability in times of crisis. 镇定自若；遇事不慌。◆When Jimmy fell into the river, his father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from drowning. 当吉米掉入河中时，他父亲沉着镇定地跳入河中，把他救了出来。

press box　n. The place or room high in a sports stadium that is for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. 体育场中的记者席。◆ In baseball the official scorer sits in the press box. 棒球比赛时，计分员坐在记者席上。

press conference　n. phr. A meeting with news reporters. 记者招待会。◆ The reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press conference. 记者招待会上，记者们就外交事务向总统提问。

press one's luck or push one's luck　v. phr. To depend too much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. 过于依靠运气；希望好运持续。◆ If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck. 即使开头运气好，也不要指望运气一直好。

press the flesh　v., slang To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one's popularity during political elections. 〖俚〗（尤指在政党竞选活动中与选民等）握手致意。◆ Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels. 现任州长麦克斯韦一整天在6家宾馆与选民握手致意。

pressure group　n. phr. An organization whose goal it is to create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. 压力集团。◆ Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aims. 某些肆无忌惮的压力集团为了自私的目的而不择手段。

pretty penny　n. phr. A large amount of money. 一大笔钱，很多钱。◆Their new house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a pretty penny. 他们的新房子又大又现代，一定花了他们不少钱。

prevail upon or prevail on　v. To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. 劝说；改变；说服。◆ He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence. 他使我相信他是无罪的。

prey on or prey upon　v. 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. 捕食；攫食。◆ Cats prey on mice. 猫捕食老鼠。2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. 掠夺，劫掠。◆Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War. 在美国独立战争刚刚结束后的几年里，海盗们经常掠夺美国船只。3. To cheat; rob. 欺诈；抢夺。◆ Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited. 在禁酒时期流氓团伙抢夺了很多种生意。4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. 折磨；使衰弱。◆ Ill health had preyed on him for years. 体弱多病折磨了他好多年。

prey on sb.'s mind　v. phr. To afflict; worry. 使苦恼；使烦恼。◆ He couldn't sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind. 他睡不着觉，因为负债累累使他忧心忡忡。

price on sb.'s head　n. phr. Reward offered to anyone who catches a thief or a murderer. 为缉拿某人悬的赏。◆ The hotel manager learned that the quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a price on his head. 旅馆经理得知，被警察从房中带走的那个文静的男人，原来是被悬赏缉拿的杀人凶手。

prick up one's ears　v. phr., informal To come to interested attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. 〖非正式〗竖起耳朵听；仔细听。◆ The woman pricked up her ears when she heard them talking about her. 听到他们在谈论自己，那个女人便竖起耳朵听了起来。

pride must take a pinch　One must endure the minor pains and hardships one encounters while being made pretty. — A proverb. 〖谚〗吃得苦中苦，方为人上人。◆ "Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know that pride must take a pinch?"“妈妈，”苏喊道，“别拉我头发！”“再坚持一会儿，小姑娘，”母亲边回答边帮她梳头。“你难道不懂‘吃得苦中苦，方为人上人’的道理吗？”

pride oneself on　v. phr. To be proud of; take satisfaction in; be much pleased by. 以…自豪；自负，得意于。◆ She prided herself on her beauty. 她为自己的美貌感到自豪。

prime of life　n. phr. The healthiest and most vigorously active time of one's life. 壮年时期；年富力强时期。◆ "I am getting old," John complained, "I just had my fortieth birthday." "Come on, Dad," his son replied, "you're just coming into the prime of your life!"“我开始老了，”约翰抱怨说，“我刚过完40岁的生日。”“得了吧，爸爸，”他的儿子回答说，“你才刚进入壮年呢。”

private eye　n., colloquial A private investigator; a detective. 〖口语〗私家侦探；侦探。◆ Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Barnaby Jones." 巴迪·埃布森在《巴纳比·琼斯》中饰演了一名私家侦探。

promises, promises!　n. phr. used as a teasing exclamation Often heard when one makes a semithreatening statement that the addressee wishes to belittle, it also indicates disbelief. 光许愿，不兑现！这话我们听过多遍了！◆ "I shall marry you, you beautiful woman!" the old millionaire said to the young bar dancer. "Promises, promises!" she answered with a flirtatious smile. “我会娶你的，美人，”年迈的百万富翁对年轻的酒吧舞女说。“光许愿，不兑现，这话我听过许多遍了！”她面带挑逗性的微笑回答说。

promise the moon　v. phr. To promise something impossible. 作无法兑现的许诺。◆ I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I can. 我不能对你乱许诺，但我一定会尽力而为。

proof of the pudding is in the eating　Only through actual experience can the value of something be tested. — A proverb. 〖谚〗布丁好不好，吃了才知道；只有通过实践才能对事物的价值作出判断。◆ He was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars. "Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." 他被那些高里程新型跑车的广告迷住了。“开一辆试试吧，先生，”推销员说，“布丁好不好，吃了才知道嘛。”

pros and cons　n. phr. The relative advantages and disadvantages of a matter at hand. 赞成与反对的理由；正反两方面的理由；利弊。◆ I want to move to Hawaii, when I retire. Can you tell me what are the pros and cons of living there? 我想退休后搬到夏威夷去。你能告诉我在那里生活有什么利弊吗？

psyched up　adj., informal Mentally alert; ready to do something. 〖非正式〗心理上作好准备的。◆ The students were all psyched up for their final exams. 学生们都为期末考试作好了准备。

psychological moment　n. phr. The critical time during a game or some other activity; the nick of time. 最有利的时机；关键时刻。◆ The two ping-pong players were battling each other tooth and nail, when the foreign visitor missed the psychological moment and failed to return the opponent's backhand slam．两位乒乓选手正在拼命厮杀时，来访的外国选手却错过了最佳时机，没能把对手的反手击球还回去。

psych out　v. phr., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. To find out the real motives of (someone). 猜透（某人）的真实动机。◆ Sue sure has got Joe psyched out. 苏无疑猜透了乔的真实动机。2. To go berserk; to lose one's nerve. 发狂；心理上完全崩溃；失去勇气。◆ Joe says he doesn't ride his motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out. 乔说他再也不在高速公路上骑摩托车了，因为他已经吓破了胆。

public-address system　n. A set of devices for making a speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. 扩音系统。◆ The public-address system broke down during the senator's speech. 参议员演说时扩音器坏了。

public enemy　n. phr. A famous criminal 社会公敌；（通缉的）要犯。◆ Al Capone of Chicago used to be Public Enemy Number One during Prohibition. 芝加哥的艾尔·卡彭曾是美国禁酒时期的头号社会公敌。

public speaker　n. A person who speaks to the public. 演说家。◆ A public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people. 演说家必须对各种各样的人有吸引力。

puffed up　adj. Elated; proud; conceited. 高傲的，趾高气扬的；自负的。◆ Just because Bob inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so puffed up. 仅仅因为继承了父亲一笔钱绝不是鲍勃可以趾高气扬的理由。

pull a fast one　v. phr. To gain the advantage over one's opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. 诈骗；欺骗；作弄。◆ When Smith was told by his boss that he might be fired, he called the company president, his father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted. 当史密斯的上司告诉他他可能会被解雇时，史密斯打电话给他身为公司总经理的岳父，并耍了个花招让他的上司降了职。

pull an all-nighter　v. phr. To stay up and work through the night without a break. 通宵工作；开通宵夜车。◆ "Why are you so tired?" John asked his friend. "I had to pull an allnighter, as we were shorthanded at work," Ted answered. “你为什么这么疲倦？”约翰问他的朋友。“因为我们工作上缺人手，我不得不开了个通宵夜车，”泰德回答说。

pull date　n., informal The date stamped on baked goods, dairy products, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on which they may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in a retail store. 〖非正式〗（烘烤食物、牛奶制品等易腐食品上盖印标明的）销售期限。◆ This pie is way past the pull date — small wonder it's rotten. 这只馅饼早就过了销售期，难怪它已经腐烂了。

pull down　v. To earn. 〖非正式〗赚（钱），获得。◆ Mr. Blake pulls down $500 a week. 布莱克先生一周可赚500美元。◆ John pulled down an A in algebra by studying hard. 约翰由于学习刻苦代数得了个优。

pull for　v. phr. To encourage someone; show support for a person or a team. 鼓励；声援。◆ "Who are you pulling for? Harvard or Yale?" Tom asked during the annual football contest between the old rivals. "Yale, of course," Alan answered. "That was my undergraduate alma mater."“你为哪个队加油？哈佛还是耶鲁？”在两个老对手每年一度的橄榄球比赛期间汤姆问。“当然是耶鲁，”艾伦回答说。“那是我读本科时的母校。”

pull in　See 见 HAUL IN.

pull in or pull into　v. phr. To park one's car by leaving the road. 靠路边停车。◆ Let's pull into the driveway before it starts raining. 开始下雨前让我们把车停在车行道上吧。◆ We left the highway and pulled into a diner parking lot for a cup of coffee. 我们驶离公路，在路边一家小餐馆的停车场停下来喝了杯咖啡。

pull in one's horns or draw in one's horns　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back down on a promise. 收敛傲气；软下来；临阵退缩。◆ He said he could beat any man there singlehanded, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward. 他说他能独自打败那里的任何人，但在杰克站出来时，他却退缩了。2. To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or activities; save. 收敛原来的生活方式；减少开支或活动；保存。◆ After the business failed, Father had to pull in his horns. 经营失败后，父亲不得不紧缩开支。

pull off　v., informal To succeed in (something thought difficult or impossible); do.〖非正式〗（成功地或艰苦地）完成，做成，赢得。◆ The bandits pulled off a daring bank robbery. 那伙强盗胆大包天，成功地抢劫了银行。

pull one's chain　See 见 PULL ONE'S LEG.

pull oneself together　v. phr. To become calm after being excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. 恢复镇静；恢复自制；控制自己。◆ It had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself together. 那是个令人不安的计划，但他却能控制住自己。

pull oneself up by the bootstraps or pull oneself up by one's own boot-straps　adv. phr. To succeed without help; succeed by your own efforts. 靠自己的努力取得成功。◆ He had to pull himself up by the boot-straps. 他得靠自己的努力取得成功。

pull one's hair out over or tear one's hair out over　v. phr. To stay upset because of a frustrating event or situation. 为…而心烦意乱（或苦恼、沮丧）。◆ Mary was pulling her hair out over her husband's drinking, until she realized that the only solution was to send him to a doctor. 玛丽一直为丈夫的酗酒而焦虑不安，后来她才意识到，唯一的解决办法是送他去看医生。◆ Don't tear your hair out over the new boss. He is here to stay; it can't be helped. 不要为新来的老板而沮丧。他在这儿会待下去的，这是没办法的事情。

pull one's punches　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. Not to hit as hard as you can. 故意不用全力击。◆ Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing match. 吉米未用全力而让保罗赢了那场拳击比赛。2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. — Usually used in the negative. 故意不猛烈批评；掩饰不快之事。—通常用于否定句。◆ The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any punches. 市长说话很直率；他批评起来毫不留情。

pull one's weight　v. phr. To do your full share of work; do your part. 干好本分工作；做好自己分内的事。◆ When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each child must pull his own weight. 母亲生病住院时，父亲说每个孩子都要管好自己分内的事。

pullout　n. (stress on pull) （重读pull）An evacuation. （军队的）撤离。◆ The pullout of the American military proceeded on schedule. 美军的撤离正在按计划进行。

pull out　v. phr. (stress on out) （重读out）1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. 离开；撤离。◆ The defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories. 败军匆匆从被占领区撤走了。2. To leave (said about trains). （火车）离开（站台）；开出。◆ The train pulled out of Grand Central Station just as the foreign students got there. 当那些外国学生赶到中央车站时，火车刚刚开走。3. To remove by order; evacuate. 按命令撤退。◆ Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia. 拿破仑命令他的衰兵败将撤出俄国。

pull out of a hat　v. phr., informal To get as if by magic; invent; imagine. 〖非正式〗（像变魔术一样）变出；编造；想象。◆ Let's see you pull an excuse out of your hat. 让我们看看你能编出什么借口。

pull over　v. To drive to the side of the road and stop. 把（车）驶到路边停下。◆ The policeman told the speeder to pull over. 警察叫超速行驶的司机把车靠边停下。

pull rank　v. phr., slang, informal To assert one's superior position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a privilege or a favor.〖俚〗〖非正式〗用地位权势压服（某人）；仗势欺侮（某人）。◆ "How come you always get the night duty?" "The boss pulled rank on me."“你怎么总是值夜班？”“老板仗势欺侮我呗！”

pull sb.'s chestnuts out of the fire　To do someone else a great favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the process. 代某人火中取栗，代某人冒险。◆ Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for their more powerful neighbors. 一些小国家常常不得不为强大的邻国火中取栗。

pull sb.'s leg　v. phr., informal To get someone to accept a ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of something; trick. 〖非正式〗欺骗某人；取笑某人；戏弄某人。◆ For a moment, I actually believed that his wife had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg. 有那么一会儿，我真的相信他妻子有着王室血统，后来我才意识到他是在骗我。

pull something on someone　v. phr. To perpetrate something prejudicial; deceive. 以某事欺骗某人。◆ Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when, after going with her for three years, he suddenly married another girl. 拉里以非常卑鄙的手段欺骗了安妮，在与她谈了3年恋爱后，竟突然和另一个女孩结了婚。

pull strings or pull wires　v. phr., informal To secretly use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain your wishes.〖非正式〗暗中施加影响；幕后操纵；在幕后牵线。◆ If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull strings for you. 如果你想见州长，鲁特先生可以为你牵线。◆ Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the crowded hotel. 杰克走门路，给我们在拥挤的旅馆里弄到了一个房间。

pull the chestnuts out of the fire　v. phr. To perform a difficult, dangerous, or illicit work on behalf of someone else. 代别人火中取栗；替别人冒险。◆ The new boss is using his colleagues to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for him. 新老板正在利用他的同事们为他火中取栗。

pull the plug on　v. phr., slang To expose (someone's) secret activities. 〖俚〗揭露（某人的）秘密活动。◆ The citizens' committee pulled the plug on the mayor, and he lost his election. 市民委员会揭发了市长的秘密，使他在选举中遭到失败。

pull the rug out from under　v. phr., informal To withdraw support unexpectedly from; to spoil the plans of. 〖非正式〗突然停止支持；打乱某人的计划；拆（某人）的台。◆ Bill thought he would be elected, but his friends pulled the rug out from under him and voted for John. 比尔本以为自己能当选，但他的朋友们突然不再支持他而投了约翰的票。

pull the wool over sb.'s eyes　v. phr., informal To fool someone into thinking well of you; deceive. 〖非正式〗蒙骗某人。◆ The businessman had pulled the wool over his partner's eyes about their financial position. 那个商人在财务状况上欺骗了他的合伙人。

pull through　v. 1. To help through; bring safely through a difficulty of sudden trouble; save. 帮助（某人）渡过难关（或危机等）。◆ A generous loan showed the bank's faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble. 一笔巨额贷款表明了银行对父亲的信任，帮他渡过了难关。2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster; escape death or failure. （使）恢复健康；避免灾难（或失败）；死里逃生。◆ By a near-miracle, he pulled through after the smashup. 他撞车后奇迹般地死里逃生。

pull together　v. To join your efforts with those of others; work on a task together; cooperate. 齐心协力；并肩工作；通力合作。◆ Many men must pull together if a large business is to succeed. 一家大的企业要想成功必须很多人齐心协力才行。

pull up　v. 1. To check the forward motion of; halt; stop. （使）停下；（使）停止。◆ He pulled up his horse at the gate. 他在大门口把马勒住。2. To tell (someone) to stop doing something; say (someone) is doing wrong and must stop; scold. 制止；纠正；责骂。◆ Jim talked rudely to Mother, and Father pulled him up. 吉姆跟母亲讲话没礼貌，父亲责备了他。3. To stop moving forward; halt. 停止前进；停止。◆ The car slowed down and pulled up at the curb. 汽车减速在路边停了下来。4. To come even with; move up beside. 赶上，追上。◆ The other boat pulled up alongside us. 另外那条船追上了我们。

pull up one's socks　v. phr. To try to do better, either in terms of one's behavior or at a task one is performing. 加紧努力；努力改进。◆ I'll have to pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today. 如果我打算今天完成工作的话，我就得加紧努力了。

pull up short　v. phr. To suddenly stop. （使）突然停止。◆ He pulled up short in his red car at the corner when he saw a pregnant lady crossing. 当他看到一位怀孕的女士穿过马路时，他立即在街角处刹住了他那辆红车。

pull up stakes　v. phr., informal To leave the place where you have been living. 〖非正式〗搬离原住地；搬家。◆ We are going to pull up stakes and move to California. 我们打算搬到加州去。

pump iron　v. phr. To exercise in a gym by weight lifting or moving other metallic heavy-weight gym equipment. （在健身房）练举重。◆ Ever since Bob decided to become an athlete, he has been pumping iron in the gymnasium. 自鲍勃决定做一名运动员以来，他一直在健身房里练举重。

pump up or fire up　v. phr. To fill with enthusiasm; excite. 给…打气；激发。◆ The coach had to pump up the team at halftime by giving an intimidating speech. 中场休息时，教练只得把球队狠狠地训斥了一顿以激发他们的斗志。

punch-drunk　adj. 1. Dazed or become dulled in the mind from being hit in the head. （头部被击而）眩晕的，痴呆的。◆ He was a punch-drunk boxer who made his living shining shoes. 他曾是一名拳击手，被打伤头部变得痴呆后以擦皮鞋为生。2. In a foggy state of mind; groggy. 头脑昏乱的；迷糊的。◆ Mary was so thrilled at winning the contest she acted punch-drunk. 玛丽赢得了比赛，竟兴奋得不知身在何处了。

puppy love also calf love　n., informal The first love of very young people．〖非正式〗少男少女间短暂的恋情；早年初恋。◆ When John and Mary began going around together in junior high school, their parents said it was just puppy love. 当约翰和玛丽在初中就开始出双入对时，他们的父母说这只是短暂的恋情。

pure and simple　adj. Simply stated; basic. — Follows the noun it modifies and is used for emphasis. 只不过（是）；纯粹的；不折不扣的。——置于它所修饰的名词后表示强调。◆ The problem, pure and simple, is finding a baby-sitter. 问题很简单，就是要找一个照看小孩的人。

purse strings　n. Care or control of money. 金钱的支配；财权；经济权。◆ Dad holds the purse strings in our family. 我们家的钱由爸爸掌管。

push around　v., informal To be bossy with; bully. 〖非正式〗把…差来遣去；摆布；欺侮；烦扰。◆ Don't try to push me around！别想使唤我！

push comes to shove　v. phr. often heard when a bad situation, which is difficult to tolerate, suddenly comes to a head and steady, slow pressure is replaced by a sudden explosion of events. — A proverb. 〖谚〗在迫不得已时；在形势十分糟糕时。◆ I am afraid that when push comes to shove during the present economic slump, many of us will be fired. 在目前经济衰退期间，到了形势十分糟糕的时候，恐怕我们很多人都要被解雇。

push off or shove off　v. 1. To push a boat away from the shore. 把船撑离岸边；离岸。◆ Before Tom could reach the boat, Jake had shoved off. 汤姆还没到达船边，杰克已把船撑开了。2. slang To start; leave.〖俚〗开始；出发；离去。◆ We were ready to push off at ten o'clock, but had to wait for Jill. 我们准备在10点钟出发，可是还得等吉尔。◆ Jim was planning to stay at the beach all day, but when the crowds arrived he shoved off. 吉姆本打算在海滩待一整天，但大批人群涌入后他就离开了。

push on　v. phr. To press forward; proceed forward laboriously. 匆匆向前；继续奋力向前。◆ The exhausted mountain climbers pushed on, despite the rough weather, as the peak was already in sight. 尽管天气很恶劣，但因为看到了山顶，筋疲力尽的登山者又继续攀登了。

pushover　n. (stress on push)（重读push）1. Something easy to accomplish or overcome. 容易做的工作；易如反掌的事。◆ For Howard steering a boat is a pushover as he was raised on a tropical island. 对霍华德来说，驾驶汽船易如反掌，因为他是在热带岛屿上长大的。2. A person easily seduced. 易被劝服（或欺骗、引诱等）的人。◆ It is rumored that she is a pushover when she has a bit to drink. 有谣传说她喝一点酒就容易受骗上当。

push over　v. phr. (stress on over) （重读over）To upset; overthrow. 把…推倒；推翻。◆ She is standing on her feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won't push her over. 她立场很坚定，你的一番批评根本无法使她动摇。

push the envelope　v. phr. To strain a delicate situation to the utmost; engage in exaggerated demands. 挑战极限；把弦绷得过紧；提出过分的要求。◆ If you want to succeed with these difficult peace negotiations, you had better stop pushing the envelope. 如果你们想在这些棘手的和平谈判中取得成功，你们最好不要把斗争的弦绷得过紧。◆ "You're pushing the envelope!" John warned his colleague. "The boss will not listen to you if you won't stop."“你提出的要求太过分了！”约翰告诫他的同事说。“如果你还是这样，老板是不会听你的。”

push the panic button　v. phr., slang To become very much frightened; nervous or excited, especially at a time of danger or worry. 〖俚〗（尤指在危急关头）惊慌失措；非常紧张。◆ John thought he saw a ghost and pushed the panic button. 约翰以为看到了鬼而惊慌失措。

push-up　n. An exercise to build strong arms and shoulders, in which you lie on your stomach and push your body up on your hands and toes. 俯卧撑。◆ At the age of seventy, Grandpa still does twenty pushups every day. 祖父70岁高龄了，仍然每天做20个俯卧撑。

push up daisies　v. phr., slang To be dead and buried. 〖俚〗死后被埋葬；葬在地下。◆ I'll be around when you're pushing up daisies. 你死后入了土，我还会活着。

put a bee in one's bonnet　See见BEE IN ONE'S BONNET.

put about　v. phr. — Nautical usage. To turn in the opposite direction; turn around. 〖海〗（使）掉转航向。◆ When we saw the storm clouds thickening in the sky, we put about quickly and raced ashore. 我们看到天空中乌云越来越浓，于是很快掉转航向，迅速向岸边驶去。

put a bug in one's ear or put a flea in one's ear　See见BUG IN ONE'S EAR.

put across　v. 1. To explain clearly; make yourself understood; communicate. 解释清楚；使被人理解。◆ He knew how to put his ideas across. 他知道怎样表述自己的意见。2. informal To get (something) done successfully; bring to success; make real. 〖非正式〗（尤指用欺骗手段）做成功；完成；实现。◆ He put across a big sales campaign. 他成功地实现了一次大销售运动。

put a damper on　v. phr. To take away one's hopes of success; put an obstacle in one's way. 使…无希望；为…设置障碍；使扫兴。◆ Peter put a damper on my chances of getting a better position. 彼得设置了障碍，使我得到一个更好职位的希望落空。◆ Never put a damper on a young student's enthusiasm. 千万不要给年轻学生的热情泼冷水。

put a good face on　v. phr. To assume or maintain a brave attitude toward something bad in order to make it look better and act bravely. 以勇敢的态度面对；以随遇而安的态度对待。◆ When Claire learned that she had breast cancer, she tried to put a good face on it by comforting her family, saying that 95% of breast cancer cases are cured if caught in time. 当克莱尔得知自己患有乳腺癌时，她尽量装出若无其事的样子，安慰她的家人说，如发现及时，95％的乳腺癌患者是可以治愈的。

put a lid on it　v. phr. To keep quiet about something. 对某事保持沉默；隐瞒某事。◆ When we found out that the company treasurer embezzled six million dollars, the director became afraid and tried to put a lid on it. 当我们查明公司财务主管贪污了600万美元时，公司经理很害怕，想办法要隐瞒此事。Compare比较COVER UP, COVER ONE'S TRACKS.

put all one's eggs in one basket　v. phr. To place all your efforts, interests, or hopes in a single person or thing. 把所有希望寄托在一个人身上（或一件事上）；孤注一掷。◆ To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs in one basket. 只买一家公司的股票是孤注一掷。

put an end to or put a stop to　v. phr. 1. To make (something) end; stop; end. 结束；终止；中止；遏止。◆ The farmer built an electric fence around his field to put an end to trespassing. 农夫在他的田地周围装上了电篱笆以遏止非法侵入。2. To destroy or kill. 破坏；杀死。◆ The new highway took most of the traffic from the old road and put an end to Mr. Hanson's motel business. 新建的公路夺走了旧公路上的大多数车辆，毁掉了汉森先生的汽车旅馆生意。

put a new face on　v. phr. To alter the aspect of something; change. 使（某事物）改观；使面目一新。◆ Mr. Merryman's announcement of his candidacy for governor puts an entirely new face on the political scene in our state. 梅里曼先生宣布他要做州长候选人一事使我们州的政治面貌焕然一新。

put aside　v. phr. 1. To save; put something aside for a special purpose. 省下，储存。◆ Peter puts $100 aside every week. 彼得每周储蓄100 美元。2. To let go of; put away. 把…放在一边；（暂时）丢开；移开。◆ The teacher to the students, "Put your books aside and start writing your tests!" 老师对学生们说：“把书放在一边，开始考试！”

put a spoke in one's wheel　See见THROW A MONKEY WRENCH.

put away　v. 1. To put in the right place or out of sight. 把…收好，放好。◆ She put away the towels. 她把毛巾放好。2. To lay aside; stop thinking about. 搁置；不再想。◆ He put his worries away for the weekend. 周末时，他把烦恼抛在脑后。3. informal To eat or drink. 〖非正式〗（大量）吃喝。◆ He put away a big supper and three cups of coffee. 他晚饭饱餐一顿，又喝了3杯咖啡。4. informal To put in a mental hospital. 〖非正式〗把…关起来；把…关进精神病院。◆ He had to put his wife away when she became mentally ill. 他不得不将精神失常的妻子送入精神病院。5. To put to death for a reason; kill. 弄死；杀掉…以免除其痛苦。◆ He had his dog put away when it became too old and unhappy. 他叫人杀死了年迈多病的狗。

put back the clock or turn back the clock　v. phr. To go back in time; relive the past. 使时光倒退；重温过去。◆ If I could put back the clock, I'd give more thought to preparing for a career. 如果我能使时光倒流，我就会多考虑为创业作准备。◆ Richard wishes that he had lived in frontier days, but he can't turn back the clock. 理查德但愿能生活在边疆开拓时期就好了，但他不能使时光倒流。

put by　v. To save for the future; lay aside. 积蓄；储存。◆ He had put by a good sum during a working lifetime. 他在一生的工作期间存了一大笔钱。

putdown　n. (stress on put) （重读put）An insult. 贬低（或奚落）行为；贬低（或奚落）的话。◆ It was a nasty putdown when John called his sister a fat cow. 约翰称他姐姐是一头肥母牛，这真是恶意的奚落。

put down　v. phr. (stress on down) （重读down）1. To stop by force; crush. 镇压；取缔；制服。◆ In 24 hours the general had entirely put down the rebellion. 将军在24小时内完全平定了叛乱。2. To put a stop to; check. 遏止；抑制。◆ She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good life. 她以正派的生活遏止住了恶意的闲言碎语。3. To write a record of; write down. 写下；记录；登记。◆ He put down the story while it was fresh in his mind. 他趁清楚记得事情经过之时把它写了下来。4. To write a name in a list as agreeing to do something. 签名以示同意。◆ The banker put himself down for $1000. 那位银行家签名认可1000美元。5. To decide the kind or class of; characterize. 把…归类；描绘。◆ He put the man down as a bum. 他把此人归入游手好闲的醉鬼一类。6. To name as a cause; attribute. 把…归因于。◆ He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions. 他把天气奇怪归因于核爆炸。7. To dig; drill; sink. 挖；钻；挖掘。◆ He put down a new well. 他新挖了一口井。

put down roots　See见SETTLE DOWN

put forth　v. phr. To produce; issue; send out. 生出；长出；提出。◆ The chairman of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by mail. 董事长提出的革新方案通过邮件在传阅。

put heads together　v. phr. To cooperate with someone else in order to find the solution to a given problem. 聚在一起商量；集思广益。◆ "Come on, let's put our heads together and find a way out of the firm's financial chaos," the director suggested to his colleagues. 公司经理对他的同事们建议说：“来吧，让我们集思广益，为公司的财务混乱寻找一个解决办法。”

put ideas into sb.'s head　v. phr. To persuade someone to do something negative; put one up to something. 怂恿某人做坏事；使某人存奢望。◆ Bill would never have poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been putting ideas into his head. 要不是邻居的儿子怂恿他，比尔永远也不会把胶水倒进他父亲的鞋里。

put in　v. 1. To add to what has been said; say (something) in addition to what others say. 补充；插话；替人说话。◆ My father put in a word for me and I got the job. 我父亲为我说了好话，我才得到这份工作。2. To buy and keep in a store to sell. 售进（货）以备销售。◆ He put in a full stock of drugs. 他进了一大批药品。3. To spend (time). 花费（时间）。◆ He put in many years as a printer. 他做了多年的印刷工人。4. To plant. 种植。◆ He put in a row of radishes. 他种了一排萝卜。5. To stop at a port on a journey by water. 停靠码头（或港口）◆ After the fire, the ship put in for repairs. 失火后，船靠港修理。6. To apply; ask. — Used with for. 申请；请求。——与for连用。◆ When a better job was open, he put in for it. 有更好的工作招人时，他提出了申请。

put in an appearance also make an appearance　v. phr. To be present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear.（短时间的）出席；拜访；露面。◆ The president put in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in. 总统在宣誓就职的当晚在好几处舞会上露了面。

put in a word for　v. phr. To speak in favor of someone; recommend someone. 替（某人）说好话；推荐（某人）。◆ "Don't worry about your job application," Sam said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection committee."“别担心你申请工作的事，”萨姆对蒂姆说。“我会在选拔委员会里推荐你的。”

put in one's place　v. phr., informal To criticize someone for impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. 〖非正式〗指责（某人）无礼；使（某人）安分；煞（某人）的气焰。◆ She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker in his place with just a glance. 她是那种只需轻轻一瞥就能使捣蛋的学生规规矩矩的老师。

put in the way of or put in sb.'s way　v. phr. To set before (someone); give to (someone); show the way to; help toward. 放在（某人）面前；赠予（某人）；指导，帮助。◆ The librarian put me in the way of a lot of new material on the subject of my report. 图书管理员帮我找到了许多我的报告题目所需的新资料。

put off　v. 1. informal To cause confusion in; embarrass; displease. 〖非正式〗使心乱；使困窘；使不快。◆ I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his proposal. 他无耻的提议使我很反感。2. To wait and have (something) at a later time; postpone. 延期；推迟。◆ They put off the picnic because of the rain. 他们因为下雨将野餐延期了。3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside. 使（某人）等候；敷衍；搪塞。◆ When he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off. 他要她定一个结婚的日子，她却把他搪塞过去了。4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract. 使分心；使分散注意力。◆ Little Jeannie began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to put her off. 小珍妮开始向客人讲一些家里的秘密，她父亲及时分散了她的注意力。5. To move out to sea; leave shore. 离岸；出海。◆ They put off in small boats to meet the coming ship. 他们划小船出海去迎接开来的大船。

put on　v. phr. 1. To dress in. 穿上；戴上。◆ The boy took off his clothes and put on his pajamas. 男孩脱掉衣服穿上了睡衣。2a. To pretend; assume; show. 假装；装出。◆ The child was putting on airs. 那个孩子在装模作样。2b. To exaggerate; make too much of. 夸张；夸大。◆ That's rather putting it on. 那就太言过其实了。 3. To begin to have more (body weight); gain (weight). 增加（体重）。◆ Mary was thin from sickness, and the doctor said she must put on ten pounds. 玛丽因生病而瘦了，医生说她必须增加10磅体重。4a. To plan and prepare; produce; arrange; give; stage. 计划；准备；安排；演出。◆ The senior class put on a dance. 高年级学生举办了一场舞会。◆ The actor put on a fine performance. 那位演员的演出很成功。4b. To make (an effort). 努力。◆ The runner put on an extra burst of speed and won the race. 那位赛跑者奋力冲刺赢得了比赛。5. To choose to send; employ on a job. 选派；雇用。◆ The school put on extra men to get the new building ready. 学校为赶建新楼而额外雇了一些工人。

put-on　n. An act of teasing; the playing of a practical joke on someone. 戏弄；恶作剧。◆ Eric didn't realize that it was a put-on when his friends phoned him that he won the lottery. 当朋友们打电话告诉艾里克说他中了大奖时，他并没意识到这是在跟他开玩笑。

put on airs　v. phr. To show conceit; act in a superior or condescending manner. 摆架子；自以为了不起；装腔作势。◆ The fact that her parents own a villa in Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs 阿曼达毫无理由因为她父母在卡布里岛拥有一幢别墅就一直摆架子。

put on an act　v. phr. 1. To perform a play. 演戏。◆ The seventh grade put on a lovely act for Christmas for the parents. 圣诞节时，7年级的学生为家长们演出了一台好戏。2. To pretend. 装腔作势。◆ "If you always put on an act," her father said, "people will never know who you really are."“如果你总是装腔作势，”她父亲说，“人们永远都不会认识真正的你。”

put one in one's place　See见CUT DOWN TO SIZE.

put one's back to it　v. phr. To make a real effort; to try. 下工夫；努力。◆ You can finish the job by noon if you put your back to it. 你只要全力以赴，中午就可以把工作做完。

put one's best foot forward　v. phr., informal To try to make a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best. 〖非正式〗企图给人留下良好印象；表现良好；全力以赴。◆ During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward. 在求爱期间，人们自然会表现出最好的一面。

put oneself in another's place or put oneself in another's shoes　v. phr. To understand another person's feeling imaginatively; try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into his trouble. 设身处地地为他人着想；为别人设想；体谅别人。◆ If you will put yourself in the customer's place you may realize why the thing isn't selling. 你如果能站在顾客的立场上去想，就能了解为什么这种货卖不出去。

put one's finger on also lay one's finger on　v. phr. To find exactly. 确实找到；确切地指出。◆ We called in an electrician hoping he could put his a finger on the cause of the short circuit. 我们找来一位电工，希望他能找出短路的原因。

put one's foot down　v. phr., informal To take a decided stand; be stubborn in decision. 〖非正式〗采取坚定的立场；坚决反对的；果断行动；固执己见。◆ When it came to smoking pot at parties, out parents put their foot down. 说到聚会时吸大麻烟，我们的父母是坚决反对的。

put one's foot in it or put one's foot in one's mouth　v. phr., informal To speak carelessly and rudely; hurt another's feelings without intending to; make a rude mistake. 〖非正式〗说话很不得体；无意而伤害到别人的感情；犯错误。◆ He put his foot in it with his remark about self-made men because Jones was one of them. 他批评白手起家的人，一些话说得不得体，无意中冒犯了同样是白手起家的琼斯。

put one's hand to or set one's hand to or turn one's hand to　v. phr. To start working at; try to do. 着手做；试图做。◆ Hal does a good job at everything that he turns his hand to. 凡哈尔想做的事，他都做得很好。

put one's hand to the plow or set one's hand to the plow　v. phr. To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big job. 着手做重要之事；干大事。◆ We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't like it when he quit. 我们觉得他已着手在干这一重要的事情，我们不喜欢他半途而废。

put one's house in order or set one's house in order　v. phr. To arrange your affairs in good order. 把自己的事情安排妥当。◆ When Mr. Black died, his lawyer helped the widow put her house in order. 布莱克先生死后，他的律师帮助他的遗孀把后事安排得很妥当。

put one's life on the line　v. phr. To risk one's own life in the line of duty. 冒着生命的危险履行职责。◆ Firefighters and police officers frequently put their lives on the line while trying to save others. 消防队员和警察在试图营救他人时经常冒着生命的危险。

put one's money where one's mouth is　v. phr. To follow through with a stated intention. — A proverb. 〖谚〗说话兑现；说给钱就给钱。◆ The governor has been promising to clean up corruption in the motor vehicle department, but nothing has ever been done. Isn't it time to put his money where his mouth is? 州长一再许诺要清除机动车辆部门的腐败现象，但却一直未采取行动。难道现在不是他兑现诺言的时候吗？

put one's name on the line　v. phr. To risk one's reputation by standing up for a cause. 冒着失去名誉的危险（支持某一事业）。◆ Ted put his name on the line when he decided to stand up for gay liberation at the university. 泰德冒着名誉扫地的危险，决定支持大学里的同性恋解放运动。

put one's shoulder to the wheel　v. phr. To make a great effort yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. 全力以赴；努力工作；助一臂之力。◆The company was failing in business until a new manager put his shoulder to the wheel. 公司经营不善，经过新任经理的拼命努力才摆脱了困境。

put on one's thinking cap　v. phr. To think hard and long about some problem or question. 动脑筋认真思考。◆ Miss Stone told her pupils to put on their thinking caps before answering the question. 斯通小姐叫学生回答问题前要动脑筋认真思考。

put on the back burner　See见ON ICE.

put on the dog　v. phr. To behave ostentatiously in terms of dress and manner. 摆架子；摆阔气；装腔作势。◆ "Stop putting on the dog with me," Sue cried at Roy. "I knew the real you from way back!"“别跟我摆阔气了，”苏对罗伊叫道。“我早就知道你是什么人了！”

put on the map　v. phr. To make (a place) well known. 使出名；赋予…以重要性。◆ The first successful climb of Mount Matterhorn put Zermatt, Switzerland, on the map. 首次成功攀登马特洪恩山使瑞士的采尔马特成了遐迩闻名的地方。

put on weight　v. phr. To become fat, heavier, or obese. 发胖；体重增加。◆ Jack put on an awful lot of weight since he stopped exercising and started watching television all day. 杰克自从停止运动开始整天看电视以来，体重增加了很多很多。

put out　v. 1. To make a flame or light stop burning; extinguish; turn off. 熄灭；关掉。◆ Please put the light out when you leave the room. 离开房间时请把灯关掉。◆ The firemen put out the blaze. 消防队员把火扑灭了。 2. To prepare for the public; produce; make. 出版；公布；生产；制造。◆ For years he had put out a weekly newspaper. 多年来，他一直在出版周报。◆ It is a small restaurant, which puts out an excellent dinner. 这是家小餐馆，可做的饭菜却很棒。3. To invest or loan money. 投（资）；贷（款）。◆ He put out all his spare money at 4 percent or better. 他把自己所有的余款以4厘以上的利息放债。4. To make angry; irritate; annoy. 使生气；使恼怒；使烦恼。◆ It puts the teacher out to be lied to. 老师因有人对他撒谎而生气。5. informal To cause inconvenience to; bother. 〖非正式〗使不方便；麻烦，打扰。◆ He put himself out to make things pleasant for us. 他费了不少麻烦把事情做得让我们高兴。6. To retire from play in baseball. 把…杀出局。◆ The runner was put out at first base. 跑垒员在第一垒上就被杀出局。7. To go from shore; leave. 离岸；出航；离开。◆ A Coast Guard boat put out through the waves. 一艘海岸警卫队的船穿过波浪出海了。8. vulgar, avoidable Said of women easy and ready to engage in sexual intercourse. 〖粗〗〖忌〗（女子）主动献出肉体。◆ It is rumored that Hermione gets her promotions as fast as she does because she puts out. 谣传赫迈厄妮升职如此之快是因为她主动献身与人上床。

put out of the way　v. phr. To kill. 杀死。◆ The old dog was very sick, and Father had the animal doctor put him out of the way. 那只老狗病得很厉害，父亲请兽医把它杀死。

put over　v. 1. To wait to a later time; postpone. 推迟；延期。◆ They put over the meeting to the following Tuesday. 他们将会议延期至下周二。2. informal To make a success of; complete. 〖非正式〗完成；做成功。◆ He put over a complex and difficult business deal. 他办成了一笔复杂困难的交易。3. informal To practice deception; trick; fool. — Used with on. 〖非正式〗欺骗；愚弄。——与on连用。◆ George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick. 乔治说他昨天没来上课是因为母亲生病，他觉得自己是欺骗老师。

put sb.'s nose out of joint　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To make you jealous; leave you out of favor. 使某人嫉妒；使某人失宠。◆ When Jane accepted Tom's invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint. 简接受了汤姆的邀请，这使杰克嫉妒不已。2. To ruin your plans; cause you disappointment. 使某人的计划破产；使某人失望。◆ Joe's mother put his nose out of joint by not letting him go to the movie. 乔的母亲不让他去看电影，这使他很失望。

put someone in　v. phr., slang To be allowed to sleep at someone's house. 〖俚〗留某人在家中过夜。◆ "Put me in," Mary asked Jane, when she was beaten up by her husband. “让我在你家住一宿吧，”玛丽被丈夫痛打后恳求简说。

put someone in the picture　v. phr. To inform someone of all the facts about a given situation．使某人了解事情的内情。◆ Once you're back from your overseas trip, we'll put you in the picture about recent developments at home. 你一从海外归来，我们就会把家里的近况一五一十地告诉你。

put someone on　v. To play a joke on someone by saying or doing things that are only pretense; kid. 对某人开玩笑。◆ When the voice on the phone told Mrs. Jones she had won a $10,000 prize, she thought someone was putting her on. 当有人打电话告诉琼斯太太她得了一万美元奖金时，她认为这是有人跟她开玩笑。

put someone on a pedestal　v. phr. To exaggeratedly worship or admire a person. 崇拜某人；把某人当作偶像崇拜。◆ Daniel puts Elaine on a pedestal and caters to her every whim. 丹尼尔十分崇拜伊莱恩，对她的每一个怪念头都有求必应。

put someone through his paces　v. phr. To train and discipline someone; test someone's abilities. 训练某人；测试某人的能力。◆ The new recruits were certainly put through their paces by the drill sergeant. 新兵肯定要通过操练军士的测试。

put someone wise　v. phr. To bring someone up-to-date; inform someone; explain. 使某人了解；使某人知道；向某人解释。◆ Our old friend David put us wise as to where the best used cars could be found in Chicago. 我们的老朋友戴维告诉我们在芝加哥何处可以买到最好的二手车。

put (something) on the table or have (something) on the table　v. phr. To make something a subject of discussion or negotiation. 把（某事）提交讨论；就（某事）进行谈判。◆It is high time to put the question of a separate Palestinian state on the table. 是该立即就建立独立的巴勒斯坦国的问题进行谈判的时候了。◆ We cannot discuss the legalization of marijuana, because the subject is not on the table. 我们不能讨论大麻烟的合法化问题，因为这个问题还没有被提交讨论。

put that in your pipe and smoke it　v. phr., informal To understand something told you; accept something as fact or reality; not try to change it. — Usually used as a command, normally only in speech, and often considered rude. 〖非正式〗这事你好好考虑一下吧！你就接受这一事实吧！你就别想改变它了吧！——通常被认为不礼貌。常用于要求对方接受不同意或不喜欢的事物时。◆ I am not going to do what you ask of me and you can put that in your pipe and smoke it. 我不打算做这事，你考虑考虑，别再勉强我了吧。

put the bite on　v. phr., slang To ask (for money, favors, etc.) 〖俚〗敲（某人）竹杠；向（某人）要钱。◆ John put the bite on his friend for several tickets to the dance. 约翰敲朋友竹杠要他多买几张舞会票。

put the blame on　v. phr. To cause someone to become the scapegoat for a crime or some unpleasant event. 归咎于（某人）; 诿过于（某人）。◆ Mary put the blame on her mother-in-law for ruining her marriage by saying bad things about her to her husband. 玛丽怪罪婆婆在丈夫面前说她的坏话从而毁掉了她的婚姻。◆ Don't put the blame on others before you search your own soul. 在自己深刻反省以前先不要归咎于别人。

put the cart before the horse　See见CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

put their heads together or lay their heads together　v. phr., informal To plan or consider things together; discuss something as a group; talk it over. 〖非正式〗聚在一起商量（或计划、策划）。◆ They put/laid their heads together and decided on a gift. 他们聚在一起商量，决定了买一件礼物的事。

put the screws on　v. phr. To pressure someone to confess, to pay up a debt; do what is wanted. 对（某人）施加压力；逼迫（某人）（交代、还债等）。◆ The police detectives really put the screws on the suspect, in order to make him tell the truth. 警探们真的对嫌犯施加了压力，为的是让他讲出实情。◆ The loan shark put the screws on the small business owners to make them repay their debts with all the interest. 那个高利贷者对小业主们施加压力，让他们连同所有的利息偿还债款。

put the word out　v. phr. To disseminate information about an important matter, good or bad. 放出风声；散布消息。◆ The neighborhood watch group put out the word that a convicted rapist, who was recently released, had moved into their vicinity. 居民区治安小组散布消息说，一名最近获释的强奸犯已搬入附近地区。◆ I want you to put out the word that John's book of poetry is so good that he might just win the Pulitzer Prize. 我希望你放出风声，说约翰的诗集很好，他很可能赢得普利策奖。

put through　v. phr. 1. To carry out; arrange. 完成；安排。◆ If Jim can put through one more financial transaction like this one, we will be rich. 如果吉姆能再做成一笔这样的金融业务，我们就发财了。2. To connect. （said of telephone calls）为…接通电话；接通（电话）。◆ The telephone operator had to put me through to Zambia as there is no direct dialing there yet. 我不得不通过接线员接通赞比亚的电话，因为那里还没有直拨电话业务。

put through one's paces　v. phr., informal To test the different abilities and skills of a person or a thing; call for a show of what one can do. 〖非正式〗测试某人的技能；测试某物的性能。◆ He put his new car through its paces. 他测试了新车的各项性能。

put through the mill　See见PUT THROUGH ONE'S PACES.

put to it　adj. phr. Hard pressed; having trouble; in difficulty; puzzled. 为难的；有麻烦的；陷入困难的；迷惑的。◆ When he lost his job, he was rather put to it for a while to provide for his family. 他失业后有段时间很难养家糊口。

put to sea　v. phr. To start a voyage. 起航；出海。◆ The captain said the ship would put to sea at six in the morning. 船长说船将在早上6点起航。◆In the days of sailing ships, putting to sea depended on the tides. 在帆船时代，出海要依赖涨潮。

put to shame　v. phr. 1. To disgrace. 使蒙羞；使感到羞耻。◆ The cleanliness of European cities puts our cities to shame. 欧洲城市的干净使我们的城市蒙羞。2. To do much better than surpass. 大大胜过；使相形见绌。◆ Einstein put other physicists to shame when he proved his theory of relativity correct. 当爱因斯坦证实了他的相对论时，他远远胜过了其他物理学家。

put to sleep　v. phr. 1. To cause to fall asleep. 使入睡。◆ Mother used to put us to sleep by telling us a good-night story and giving us a kiss. 母亲过去常常给我们先讲一个故事，再给我们一个亲吻使我们入睡。2. To kill with an injection (said of animals). 注射处死（生病的动物等）。◆ Dr. Murphy, the veterinarian, put our sick, old dog to sleep. 兽医摩菲大夫注射了一针，让我们年迈多病的狗无痛苦地死去了。

put to the sword　v. phr., literary To kill (people) in war, especially with a sword. 〖文〗（战争中用剑）杀死。◆ The Romans put their enemies to the sword. 罗马人用剑把敌人杀死。

put to use　v. phr. To use. 使用；派上用场。◆ Henry decided to put his dictionary to use. 亨利决定使用他的字典。

put two and two together　v. phr. To make decisions based on available proofs; reason from the known facts; conclude; decide. 根据现有的事实推断；综合起来判断。◆ He had put two and two together and decided where they had probably gone. 他根据种种事实加以判断，得出了他们可能已去何处的结论。

put up　v. la. To make and pack (especially a lunch or medicine); get ready; prepare. 包装；准备就绪；准备。◆ Every morning Mother puts up lunches for the three children. 每天早晨母亲都为3个孩子装好午餐。1b. To put food into jars or cans to save; can. 把（食物）装罐。◆ Mother is putting up peaches in jars. 母亲把桃子贮藏在罐子中。1c. To store away for later use. 把…储存起来。◆The farmer put up three tons of hay for the winter. 农夫储存下3吨干草以备家畜过冬之用。2. To put in place; put (something) where it belongs. 放回原处。 ◆ After he unpacked the car, John put it up. 约翰卸下行李后，把汽车开进车库。3. To suggest that (someone) be chosen a member, officer, or official. 提名；推荐。◆ The club decided to take in another member, and Bill put up Charles. 俱乐部决定再吸收一名会员，比尔推荐了查理。— Often used with for. 常与for 连用。◆ The Republicans put Mr. Williams up for mayor. 共和党提名威廉斯先生竞选市长。4. To put (hair) a special way; arrange. 梳理（头发）。◆ Aunt May puts up her hair in curlers every night. 梅姑妈每晚用卷发夹做头发。5. To place on sale; offer for sale. 把…拿出来出售。◆ She put the house up for sale. 她将房子挂牌出售。6a. To provide lodging for; furnish a room to. 为…提供膳宿。◆ The visitor was put up in the home of Mr. Wilson. 客人被安排在威尔逊先生家里住宿。6b. To rent or get shelter; take lodging; stay in a place to sleep. 租房；投宿。◆ The traveler put up at a motel. 那位旅客在一家汽车旅馆寄宿。◆ We put up with friends on our trip to Canada. 我们在加拿大旅行时，住在朋友家中。7. To make; engage in. 进行；从事。◆ He put up a good fight against his sickness. 他与疾病进行了顽强斗争。8. To furnish (money) or something needed; pay or. 提供（资金）；支付。◆ He put up the money to build a hotel. 他出钱盖旅馆。

put-up　adj. Artificially arranged; plotted; phony; illegal. 预谋的；事先暗中策划的；虚伪的；非法的。◆ The FBI was sure that the bank robbers worked together with an insider and that the whole affair was a put-up job. 联邦调查局确信，银行抢劫者与银行内部一人员互相勾结，整个事件是预谋好的。

put up a (brave, good, etc.) fight　v. phr. To resist. （英勇地）战斗（或抵抗）。◆ He put up a good fight but he was bound to lose in the end to the older, more experienced chess player. 他顽强地抵挡了一阵了，但最终注定会输给那位更年长更有经验的棋手。

put up a (brave or good) front　v. phr. To act courageously, even though one is actually afraid. 勇敢地面对。◆ When Joe was taken in for his open heart surgery, he put up a brave front, although his hands were shaking. 当乔被推进手术室做心内直视外科手术时，他表现得很勇敢，尽管他的双手在发抖。

put upon　v. To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. — Used in the passive or in the past participle. 利用；占…的便宜。——用于被动语态或过去分词。◆ Martha was put upon by the bigger girls. 玛莎被大一些的女孩子们欺侮。

put up or shut up　v. phr. informal 〖非正式〗1. To bet your money on what you say or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude. 要么就拿出钱来打赌要么就闭嘴。——常用作命令，被认为粗鲁。◆ The man from out of town kept saying their team would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up." 城外来的人一直说他们的球队会打败我们的球队，最后约翰说：“有本事就打赌，否则就闭嘴。”2. To prove something or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude. 要么就用行动证明你的话要么就别饶舌——常用作命令，被认为粗鲁。◆ George told Al that he could run faster than the school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up. 乔治告诉艾尔说他跑得比学校的冠军还快，艾尔叫他跑跑看，否则少吹牛。

put up to　v. phr., informal To talk to and make do; persuade to; get to do. 〖非正式〗唆使（某人）做某事；要（某人）做某事。◆ Older boys put us up to painting the statue red. 年纪大些的男孩唆使我们把雕像漆成红色。

put up with　v. To accept patiently; bear. 忍受；容忍。◆ We had to put up with Jim's poor table manners because he refused to change. 我们不得不容忍吉姆在餐桌上的不良举止，因为他不肯改正。

put wise　v., slang To tell (someone) facts that will give him an advantage over others or make him alert to opportunity or danger. 〖俚〗使（某人）了解；使（某人）知道。◆ The new boy did not know that Jim was playing a trick on him, so I put him wise. 新来的男孩不知道吉姆在捉弄他，所以我把内情告诉了他。

put words into sb.'s mouth　v. phr. To say without proof that another person has certain feelings or opinions; claim a stand or an idea is another's without asking; speak for another without right. 硬说某人有某种想法（或看法）；硬说某人说过某些话；未经同意代某人说话。◆ When he said "John here is in favor of the idea." I told him not to put words in my mouth. 当他说“约翰赞成这个意见”时，我让他不要把这话强加在我身上。

◆Q◆

quality time　n. phr. A good leisure time spent with friends in conversation as during a major holiday; a serious time spent with one's children or other family members. （为增进感情与朋友或家人共度的）悠闲时间；优质时间；感情投资时间。◆ "Come over after dinner, and let's have some quality time together," Bob said to his friends. 鲍勃对他的朋友们说：“晚饭后请过来坐坐，让我们一起无拘无束地聊聊。”◆ Parents ought to spend some quality time with their children every day and not just send them to bed in a hurry．父母应每天跟孩子们在一起花些时间培养培养感情，而不应匆匆打发他们上床睡觉。

queer fish　n. A strange or unusual person who does odd things. 怪人。◆ Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a queer fish. 艾尔杰农叔叔夏天穿厚皮毛而冬天穿短袖衬衫，难怪大家都认为他是个怪人。

quick fix or stopgap　n. phr. A simple short-term solution to a problem. 应急解决办法，权宜之计。◆ Putting duct tape on a broken car bumper is just a quick fix that won't last very long. 在断裂的汽车保险杠上贴上防水密封胶带只是一种应急的解决办法，持续的时间不会很长。◆ To hire a substitute lecturer to teach English grammar instead of hiring a permanent faculty member is just a stopgap solution. 不雇用一位固定的教员而雇用一位代课教师来教英语语法只是一种权宜之计。

quick on the trigger or trigger happy　adj. phr. 1. Ready to shoot without warning; fast with a gun. 开枪出手快的。◆ He's a dangerous criminal quick on the trigger. 他是个出枪很快的危险犯人。2. informal Fast at answering questions or solving problems.〖非正式〗对答如流的；解决问题迅速的。◆ In class discussions John is always quick on the trigger. 约翰在课堂讨论中总是对答如流。

quick on the uptake　adj. phr. Smart; intelligent. 聪明的；理解力强的。◆ Eleanor is very witty and quick on the uptake. 埃利诺很聪明，理解力很强。

quick study　n. phr. One who acquires new skills and habits in record time. 学得快的人。◆Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in her because she is a quick study. 苏是个新手，但大家都信任她，因为她学东西学得快。

quite a bit also formal not a little　n. or adj. phr. Rather a large amount; rather much; more than a little. 相当数量（的）；相当多（的）。◆ Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming tonight. 今天白天下了6英寸的雪，今天晚上还会下得更多。— Sometimes used like an adverb. 有时用作副词。◆ Harry was sick quite a bit last winter. 哈里去年冬天经常生病。

quite a few or quite a number also formal not a few　n. or adj. phr. Rather a large number; more than a few．相当多（的）；不少（的）。◆ Quite a few went to the game. 很多人去看比赛。◆ The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it. 篮子里有不少烂苹果。— The phrase quite a number is used like an adjective only before less, more. 短语quite a number仅在less和more前用作形容词。◆ Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night. 第一天晚上看这出戏的人寥寥无几，但第二天晚上来看的人就相当多了。— Sometime used like an adverb. 有时用作副词。◆ We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York. 我们还有好几英里路才到纽约。

quite the thing　n. phr. The socially proper thing to do. 合乎社交礼仪的事。◆ In polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note to one's host or hostess after a dinner party. 在上流社会，参加宴会后给主人或女主人寄一封感谢信是合乎社交礼仪的。

◆R◆

rabbit food　n. phr., slang Vegetables; healthy food. 〖俚〗拌蔬菜色拉；健康食品。◆ Sally looks a lot better and lost a lot of weight ever since she stopped eating junk food and heavy meats and became a rabbit food fan. 自萨莉不再吃垃圾食品和大块肉而迷上蔬菜色拉以来，她的气色好多了，体重也减了不少。

race against time　v. phr. To be in a great hurry to finish a given project by a specified deadline. 和时间赛跑；抢时间；争分夺秒。◆ The workers were racing against time to finish the campus modernization project. 工人们为完成校园现代化工程而在抢时间。

race to stand still　v. phr. To be so far behind in one's work that one must exert an effort similar to that needed to win a race in order simply not to fall even further behind. 拼命赶上。◆ "Could you review this book for us, Professor Brown?" the editor asked. "Unfortunately, no," the professor answered. "I'm so behind in my work that I am racing to stand still."“布朗教授，你能帮我们评论一下这本书吗？”编辑问。“很遗憾，不行，”教授回答说。“我已经落下了工作，现在正在拼命赶呢。”

rack and ruin　n. phr. Complete decay; condition of decline. 坍塌；毁灭；破败。◆ The entire house had been so neglected that it had gone to rack and ruin. 整座房子因一直无人照管已破败不堪。

rack one's brain　v. phr. To try your best to think; make a great mental effort; especially: to try to remember something you have known. 绞尽脑汁；冥思苦想。◆ Bob racked his brain trying to remember where he left the book. 鲍勃绞尽脑汁拼命回想把书放在了哪儿。

radio ham　n. phr. Someone whose hobby is the operating of shortwave radio.（业余）无线电通讯爱好者。◆ The code letters C. Q. are used by radio hams to invite other radio hams to join in the conversation. 无线电通讯爱好者用字母C. Q. 来邀请其他爱好者加入空中对话。

rag doll　n. A doll made of cloth and filled with soft stuffing. 布娃娃。◆ My baby brother won't go to bed without his rag doll. 我的小弟弟没有他的布娃娃就不肯睡觉。

rag trade　n. phr. The clothing industry. 服装业。◆ My brother is working in the rag trade, manufacturing dresses. 我哥哥从事服装行业，专做女装。

railroad　v. To force through; push through by force. 强行通过。◆ The bill was railroaded through the state legislature due to the influence of some very wealthy sponsors. 由于一些富豪提案人的影响，该议案在州立法机关被强行通过。

rain cats and dogs or rain buckets or rain pitchforks　v. phr., informal To rain very hard; come down in torrents.〖非正式〗下倾盆大雨；下瓢泼大雨。◆ In the middle of the picnic it started to rain cats and dogs, and everybody got soaked. 野餐进行到一半时突然下起倾盆大雨，每个人都湿透了。◆ Terry looked out of the window and said, "It's raining pitchforks, so we can't go out to play right now." 特里看着窗外说：“雨太大了，我们现在不能出去玩。”

raincheck　n. 1. A special free ticket to another game or show that will be given in place of one canceled because of rain. （露天比赛或表演）因雨改期再举行时作为入场券的免费票。◆ When the drizzle turned into a heavy rain the manager announced that the baseball game would be replayed the next day. He told the crowd that they would be given rainchecks for tomorrow's game as they went out through the gates. 当毛毛雨变成大雨时，经理宣布棒球比赛将于次日重新举行。他让观众在出场时领取次日比赛的免费票。2. informal A promise to repeat an invitation at a later time. 〖非正式〗（邀请方在受邀请方不能应邀时的）下次再邀请的表示。◆ Bob said, "I'm sorry you can't come to dinner this evening, Dave. I'll give you a raincheck." 鲍勃说：“戴夫，很遗憾你今晚不能来吃饭。我当改日再补请你。”

rained out　adj. Stopped by rain. 因雨中断；因雨取消。◆ The ball game was rained out in the seventh inning. 球赛进行到第7局时因雨而中断。

rain on　v. phr., slang To bring misfortune to (someone); to complain to (someone) about one's bad luck. 〖俚〗给（某人）带来噩运；向（某人）诉苦。◆ Don't rain on me. 别对我诉苦。

rain or shine　adv. phr. 1. If the weather is stormy or if it is fair. 不论晴雨。 ◆ The parade will start promptly, rain or shine. 不论天晴还是下雨，游行将准时开始。2. No matter; if your luck is good or bad. 不论成败；不管怎样。◆ Sam knows he can depend on his family, rain or shine. 萨姆知道，无论成败，家人都会支持他。

rainproof　adj. Resistant to rain; something that will not soak in water; referring to a material that repels water. 防雨的；防水的。◆ "I don't need an umbrella," she said, "as my coat is rainproof."“我不需要伞，”她说，“我的上衣是防雨的。”

rainy day　n. A time of need; especially: a time when you really need money. 困难的日子；急需钱的时候。◆ Squirrels gather acorns for a rainy day. 松鼠收集橡实以备不时之需。◆ Each week Mrs. Carlson saved a little money for a rainy day. 卡尔森太太每周都省一点钱，以备急用。

raise a row　v. phr. To cause a disturbance, a fuss, or a scene. 大吵大闹。◆ He raised quite a row when he noticed that someone had scratched his brand new car. 当他注意到有人在他崭新的汽车上划了一条条痕迹时，他便大声嚷嚷起来。

raise a stink　v. phr. To cause a disturbance; complain; protest strongly. 大吵大嚷；抱怨；强烈抗议。◆ Quite a stink was raised in the office when the boss discovered that several employees had left early. 老板发现好几名雇员早退，便在办公室里大声嚷嚷起来。

raise Cain　v. phr., slang To be noisy; cause trouble. 〖俚〗大吵大闹；引起麻烦。◆ When John couldn't go on the basketball trip with the team he raised Cain. 当约翰不能跟队去参加篮球比赛时他就大吵大闹起来。

raise eyebrows　v. phr. To shock people; cause surprise or disapproval. 使震惊。◆ The news that the princess was engaged to a commoner raised eyebrows all over the kingdom. 公主与一个平民订婚的消息使整个王国的人们为之震惊。

raise funds or money　v. phr. To solicit donations for a charity or a specific project. （为慈善事业等）筹集资金，筹款。◆ Our church is trying to raise the funds for a new organ. 我们教堂正努力为买一架新的管风琴而筹款。

raise hackles or raise sb.'s hackles　v. phr. To make (someone) upset or annoyed; arouse hostility. 激怒某人。◆ Attempts to add new ingredients to the beer raised hackles among all the old brew masters. 有人试图给啤酒添加新成份，这激怒了老一辈啤酒酿造师。

raise one's sights　v. phr. To aim high; be ambitious. 提高目标；胸怀大志；心存野心。◆ Teenage boys sometimes think too much of themselves and have a tendency to raise their sights too high. 十几岁的少年有时对自己估价过高，往往野心勃勃。

raise one's voice　v. phr. To speak loudly, as if in anger or in protest. （因生气或抗议而）大声讲话；抬高嗓门。◆ "I'm sorry, Sir," Peter said. "I didn't mean to raise my voice." “对不起，先生，”彼得说：“我不是故意要大声讲话的。”

raise red flags　n. phr. signal that danger is approaching. 发出危险信号。◆ The World Health Organization has been raising red flags all over the world about the new disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. 世界卫生组织一直在就重症急性呼吸道综合征或称“非典”这种新的疾病向全世界发出危险信号。

raise the devil or raise heck or raise hob or raise ned　v. phr., informal To make trouble; start a fight or an argument. 〖非正式〗制造麻烦；大吵大闹。◆ Mr. Black raised heck when he saw the dented fender. He blamed the other driver. 布莱克先生看到被撞凹的挡泥板就大吵起来。他指责另一名司机。◆ Some teenage boys raised the devil in town on Halloween night and damaged a lot of property. 一些十几岁的男孩万圣节之夜在镇上胡闹，损坏了很多财物。

raise the roof　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To make a lot of noise; be happy and noisy. （欢呼庆祝时）喧闹；大叫大嚷；吵翻天。◆ The gang raised the roof with their singing. 那帮人大声唱歌，吵翻天了。2. To scold loudly. 大声责骂。◆ Mother raised the roof when she saw the dog's muddy footprints on her new bedspread. 母亲看到她的新床单上有狗的泥脚印时就大声责骂起来。

rake in　v. phr. To realize great profits; take in money. 大量敛集（钱财）。◆ Because of the heavy snowfall, ski lodge operators in the Rocky Mountains have been raking in the dough this winter season. 因雪下得很大，洛基山脉滑雪场的旅舍老板们今年冬季大赚了一笔。

rake off　v. phr. To illegally expropriate part of a sum paid. 非法收受，提取（佣金等）。◆ The secretarytreasurer of the association has been caught raking off some of the membership dues. 协会的财务主管因非法提取部分会费而被捉住了。

rake over the coals　See见HAUL OVER THE COALS.

rake up　v. phr. To expose; gather; bring to light. 揭露；重提（旧事等）；耙集，集拢。◆ Let's forget about the past; there's no need to rake up all those old memories. 让我们忘记过去吧。没必要重提那些记忆中的旧事。

ramble on about　v. phr. To chatter on idly and without a purpose. 不停地漫谈；（无特定目的地）聊天。◆ When Ted has too much to drink, he always rambles on about the good old days. 泰德喝多了酒就会没完没了地大谈过去的美好时光。

ram down one's throat　See见SHOVE DOWN ONE'S THROAT.

rank and file　n. phr. Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. 普通群众；（组织等的）普通成员；普通士兵。◆ The secretary of the association sends letters annually to the rank and file. 协会秘书每年都给一般会员发信。

rant and rave　v. phr. To quarrel almost violently with someone without any intention of stopping. 大叫大嚷；暴跳如雷。◆ "Stop ranting and raving," Sally begged her husband, who blamed his wife for his misfortune. “别再大叫大嚷了，”萨莉乞求她的丈夫说，因他正在为自己的不幸责怪她。

rap sb.'s knuckles　v. phr. To scold or punish. 责骂某人，惩罚某人。◆The principal rapped our knuckles for cheating on the test. 校长因我们考试作弊而训斥我们。◆ Why rap my knuckles? It wasn't my fault. 为什么惩罚我？这又不是我的错。

rate with someone　v. phr. To be esteemed highly by another. 受某人尊敬。◆ The professor really rates with both the graduate students and the undergraduates. 这位教授受到研究生和本科生的一致尊敬。

rat on　See见BLOW THE WHISTLE, RAT OUT.

rat out or rat out on　v. phr., slang To desert; to leave at a critical time. 〖俚〗遗弃，背弃；关键时刻离开。◆ Joe ratted out on Sue when she was seven months pregnant. 乔在苏怀孕7个月时遗弃了她。

rat race　n., slang A very confusing, crowded, or disorderly rush; a confusing scramble, struggle, or way of living that does not seem to have a purpose. 〖俚〗一团糟；你死我活的竞争；无休止的无谓奔忙。◆ This job is a rat race. The faster you work, the faster the boss wants you to work. 这份工作让人忙得团团转。你做得越快，老板就要你做得更快。

rattle off or reel off　v. To say quickly without having to stop to think; recite easily and rapidly. 不费力地飞快说出（或背诵）。◆ When Roger was seven he could rattle off the names of all the states in alphabetical order. 罗杰7岁时就能把各州州名按字母顺序背出来。◆ Joan memorized the "Gettysburg Address" so well that she could reel it off. 琼将“葛底斯堡演说”背得滚瓜烂熟，可以出口成诵。

rattle one's saber　v. phr. To threaten another government or country without subsequent acts of war. 用武力威胁（另一政府或国家）但随后并不采取战争行动。◆ It is considered an act of demagoguery on the part of politicians to rattle their sabers. 政治家们用武力进行威胁被认为是一种蛊惑人心的行动。

rave about　v. phr. To talk very enthusiastically about someone or something. 狂热赞扬；极力夸奖。◆ Hank praised the new TV show very highly but we didn't think it was anything to rave about. 汉克高度赞扬这一新的电视节目，但我们却认为它不值得大加赞扬。

raw deal　n. phr. Unfair treatment; inequity. 不公平的待遇；不公正的对待。◆ Barry got a raw deal when he was sent to teach the class on advanced nuclear physics; he's an inexperienced graduate student. 巴利被派去教高等核物理，可这不公平。因为他只是个毫无经验的研究生。

raze to the ground　v. phr. To flatten; completely destroy. 把…夷为平地；彻底摧毁。◆ The conquering Red Army razed many German cities to the ground. 一路战无不胜的红军将许多德国城市夷为平地。◆ Three Turkish towns were razed to the ground by the violent earthquake. 强烈的地震将三座土耳其城镇夷为平地。

razzle-dazzle　n., slang Fancy display; showing off. 〖俚〗炫耀；花哨的表演。◆ He is such a good player that he doesn't have to add razzledazzle to his game. 他是名极好的球员，用不着在打球时玩一些花里胡哨的动作。

reach for the sky　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To put your hands high above your head or be shot. — Usually used as a command. 举起手来。——通常用作命令。◆ A holdup man walked into a gas station last night and told the attendant "Reach for the sky!" 昨晚一名劫匪闯进一家加油站，对服务员说：“举起手来！”2. To set one's aims high. 立志高远。◆ "Why medical technician?" asked her father. "Reach for the sky! Become a physician!"“为什么是做医科技师？”父亲问。“要志向高远嘛！要成为一名内科医生！”

read between the lines　v. phr. To understand all of a writer's meaning by guessing at what he has left unsaid. 从字里行间体会隐含之意；领会言外之意。◆ A clever foreign correspondent can often avoid censorship by careful wording, leaving his audience to read between the lines. 聪明的外国记者常常能以谨慎的措词逃避新闻检查，让读者从字里行间去领会言外之意。

read into　v. phr. To attribute extra meaning to; deduce from; consider to be implicit in. 把额外的意思加入；无中生有地推断出；认为…中隐含。◆ Just because Fred's letters sounded so friendly Mary was wrong to read anything serious into them. 仅仅因为弗雷德的信似乎很友好，玛丽就从中错看出了严肃之意。

read my lips or make my words　v. phr. Often heard when one wants to make the point that what was said is to be taken very seriously; a promise that what was said will be kept. 仔细听我说；我这话当真；我说到做到；记住我的话好了。◆ "There will be no tax increase; read my lips!" former President George Herbert Walker Bush said, but unfortunately soon afterward there was a tax increase. “以后绝不会加税；我说到做到！”前总统乔治·赫伯特·沃克·布什说，但遗憾的是，之后不久，就加了一次税。◆ "Mark my words," the surgeon general said. "If you don't stop smoking, you could develop lung cancer!"“记住我的话，”卫生局局长说。“如果你不戒烟，你会患上肺癌的！”

read off　v. phr. To read in a speaking voice from a list. 迅速读出（或读完）。◆The secretary read off the names of those present in alphabetical order. 秘书按字母顺序一口气读出了出席者的名字。

read over　v. phr. To read hurriedly in a rather superficial manner. 从头至尾匆匆看一遍。◆ The professor said he had no time to read my essay thoroughly but that he had read it over and would comment later in detail. 教授说他没有时间细读我的文章，但他已大致看过一遍，以后再作详细评论。

read sb.'s mind　v. phr. To know what someone else is thinking. 知道某人在想什么。◆ I have known John so long that I can read his mind. 我已经认识约翰很久了，所以能看出他在想什么。—mind reader n. 能看透他人心思的人。◆ That's exactly what I was going to say. You must be a mind reader! 那正是我要说的。你真是能看透他人心思的高手！

read someone his rights　v. phr. To give to an arrested person the legally required statement regarding the rights of such a person. 向被捕者宣布他拥有的合法权利。◆ "Read him his rights, Sergeant," the captain said, "and book him for breaking and entering."“向他宣读他拥有的权利，小队长，”警察局副巡官说，“然后以非法闯入为他登记立案。”

read someone like a book　v. phr., informal To understand someone completely; know what he will think or do at any time. 〖非正式〗对某人了如指掌；对某人的心思洞若观火。◆ John's girlfriend could read him like a book. 约翰的女朋友对他了如指掌。

read the riot act　v. phr. To give someone a strong warning or scolding. （向某人）提出严重警告。◆ Three boys were late to class and the teacher read the riot act to them. 3名男生上课迟到，老师向他们提出了严重警告。

read up on　v. phr. To study carefully in preparation for an examination or other special purpose. 研究；用功研读。◆ Since Mr. and Mrs. Lee are going to take their American citizenship exams soon, they must read up on the Constitution and the three branches of government. 因为李先生和李太太不久将参加美国公民资格考试，所以他们必须用功研读宪法和政府的三大部门。

ready-made　adj. Mass-produced; machine made. 现成的；成品的。◆ I buy all my dresses ready-made because I can't afford to have them made to order. 我所有的衣服都是买现成的，因为我没有那么多钱定做。

ready money　n. phr. Cash on hand. 现金；现钞。◆ Frank refuses to buy things on credit, but, if he had the ready money, he would buy that lovely old house. 弗兰克不肯赊购东西，但如果手头有现金，他就会买下那座漂亮的老房子。

real sport　n. phr. A person who willingly cooperates or gladly does someone a favor. 乐于助人的人；重友情的人。◆ I love John for many reasons, but most of all, because he is a real sport: he always carries Mr. Brown, who is in a wheelchair, upstairs. 我爱约翰有许多原因，但最重要的是因为他是一个乐于助人的人：他总是把坐轮椅的布朗先生背上楼。

rear end　n. 1. The back part (usually of a vehicle)（通常指车辆的）后部；尾端。◆ The rear end of our car was smashed when we stopped suddenly and the car behind us hit us. 我们急车时，后面的车子把我们的汽车后部撞坏了。— Often used like an adjective, with a hyphen. 常加连词符用作形容词。◆ A head-on crash is more likely to kill the passengers than a rear-end crash. 正面相撞比追尾相撞更容易使乘客致死。2. Rump; backside. 屁股；臀部。◆ Bobby's mother was so annoyed with his teasing that she swatted his rear end. 鲍比的母亲被他不停的纠缠惹火了，于是狠狠打了他几下屁股。

rear its head　v. phr. To appear; emerge. 出现。◆ After decades of certainty that tuberculosis had been eradicated globally, it suddenly reared its ugly head right here in the United States. 肺结核在全世界确已消灭了几十年之后，现在又突然在美国出现了。

reckon with　v. To consider as one of the things which may change a situation; consider (something) that will make a difference in the results. 估计到；考虑到。◆ The coach said the opposing pitcher had a fast ball to be reckoned with．教练说要估计到对方的投手有可能投出快球。

reckon without　v. To fail to consider as one of the things which might change a situation; not think about. 没考虑到；没料到。◆ The committee for the class picnic party made careful plans for a beach party but they reckoned without a sudden change in the weather. 班级野餐委员会详细计划了一次海滩宴会，但却没料到天气的突然变化。

redcap　n. A porter at an airport or at a railroad station. （机场或火车站的）搬运工；红帽子。◆ Mr. Smith works as a redcap at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. 史密斯先生在芝加哥奥黑尔机场当搬运工。

red cent　n. phr. The one-cent coin; a copper coin; very little money. 一分钱；铜币；毫厘。◆ Poor Oscar is so broke he doesn't have a red cent to his name. 可怜的奥斯卡穷得叮当响，身上一分钱也没有。

red eye　adj. phr. Bloodshot eyes that are strained from too much reading. 充血的红眼睛。◆ Poor Tim has a red eye; he must have been studying too late again. 可怜的蒂姆双眼布满血丝，他一定又学习到很晚。

red eye　n. phr., informal A night flight. 〖非正式〗夜航航班。◆ The company refused to pay for him to take a more expensive daytime flight, so he had to come in on the red eye. 公司不肯付钱让他坐较贵的白天航班，因此他只得坐夜航航班前来。

red-faced　adj. phr. Visibly embarrassed. 脸红的，面红耳赤的。◆ "What on earth are you so red-faced about?" Sally asked her husband, Ted. "I managed to get myself fired from my job by badmouthing the boss while he was listening to our meeting, on closed circuit TV." Ted answered all embarrassed. “你这么面红耳赤的到底是为了什么？”萨莉问她的丈夫泰德。“我在开会时说老板的坏话，而他通过闭路电视看我们开会时听到了，结果我就被解雇了，”泰德一脸尴尬地回答说。

red flag to a bull or red rag to a bull, or red rug to a bull　n. phr. An extraordinarily powerful irritant that provokes violent reaction. 激怒公牛的红布；激起强烈反应的东西。◆ Anti-Semitism is a red flag to a bull for all Jewish people. 像激怒公牛的红布一样，排犹主义令所有的犹太人狂怒不已。

red-handed　adj. In the very act; while committing a crime or evil action. 当场的；正在作案的。◆ The criminal was caught red-handed while holding up the neighborhood bank at gunpoint. 罪犯在持枪抢劫附近银行时被当场抓获。

red herring　n. phr. A false scent laid down in order to deceive; a phony or misleading story designed to cause confusion. 转移注意力的故事（或话题）。◆ That story about the president having an affair was a red herring created by the opposition in order to discredit him. 关于总统与人私通的那则报道纯粹是反对派编造出来用诋毁他形象的胡扯。

red-letter day　n. phr. A holiday; memorable day (usually printed in red on calendars). 假日；纪念日（通常在日历中用红字标明）。◆ The Fourth of July is a red-letter day. 7月4日是法定假日。

red-light district　n. phr. A district of brothels or where prostitutes hang out. 红灯区；烟花巷。◆ Most unwisely, the young sailor decided to spend his leave on shore by haunting the red-light districts of the port of call. 最为不明智的是，那位年轻的水手竟决定在上岸休假时去逛停靠港的红灯区。

red tape　n. phr. Unnecessary bureaucratic routine; needless but official delays. 繁文缛节；繁琐手续。◆ If you want to get anything accomplished in a hurry, you have to find someone in power who can cut through all that red tape. 如果你想尽快办成任何事，就得找个有权的人帮你绕过那一套繁琐的手续。

refine on or refine upon　v. 1. To make better; improve. 改进；改良。◆ Mary was asked to refine on her first outline to make it clearer and more exact. 玛丽被要求修改她的第一份大纲，使它更清楚、更准确。2. To be better than; surpass. 优于；超过。◆ Modern medical techniques refine on those of the past. 现代医疗技术胜过以前的医疗技术。

regain one's feet　v. phr. To get back up again after falling down. （跌倒后）重新站起来。◆ Tom fell while he skied down the hill but he regained his feet quickly. 汤姆滑雪下山时摔倒了，但很快又站了起来。

regular guy or regular fellow　n., informal A friendly person who is easy to get along with; a good sport. 〖非正式〗容易相处的人；好人。◆ You'll like Tom. He's a regular guy. 你会喜欢汤姆的，他是个好人。

relative to　1. On the subject of; about. 关于；有关。◆ Relative to school athletics, the principal said the students should not allow athletics to interfere with homework. 关于学校的体育运动，校长说学生不应让体育运动妨碍功课。2. In comparison with; in proportion to. 与…相比；与…成比例。◆ Relative to the size of an ant, a blade of grass is as tall as a tree. 与蚂蚁的大小相比，一叶草就像一棵树那么高。

remains to be seen　adj. phr. Said when someone remains skeptical about a statement or promise made; I want proof of what was said. 尚待以后见分晓；仍需以后证明。◆ "John will surely have a brilliant career as a concert pianist," his mother proudly announced. "That remains to be seen," John's father replied, "I don't think he practices enough." 约翰的母亲自豪地宣称：“作为一名能在音乐会上演奏的钢琴家，约翰肯定会有一个辉煌的前程。”“这还要等以后才能见分晓，”约翰的父亲回答说，“我认为他练得还不够。”

remember the Alamo or remember Pearl Harbor　This is often heard when one wants to issue a warning in jest, meaning, "Don't forget history; we can climb out of any misery." — A proverb. 〖谚〗牢记阿拉莫，牢记珍珠港（常用来以开玩笑的形式对人提出警告，意谓“不要忘记历史；我们可以摆脱任何苦难。”）（阿拉莫为得克萨斯州圣东尼奥一传教区。1836年得克萨斯独立战争中被墨西哥军队占领。得克萨斯人在“牢记阿拉莫”的口号下团结一致，6周后击败墨西哥军队，取得了独立。珍珠港为美国海军重要基地。1941年年12月7日，日军向该港发动突然袭击，使美国太平洋舰队几乎全部覆灭。次日，美国正式对日宣战。“牢记珍珠港”成为全国的战斗口号。）◆ When John got fired from his job by the new boss, his old college roommate, a teacher of history, comforted him by saying, "Don't give up, John! Remember the Alamo!" 当约翰被新来的老板解雇后，他的大学时的室友，一位历史教员，安慰他说，“约翰，不要放弃！牢记阿拉莫！”

repeat oneself　v. phr. To say the same thing over again, often in the same words; repeat ideas because you forget what you said or because you want to stress their importance. 重复；重演。◆ Grandfather is forgetful and often repeats himself when he tells a story. 祖父记性不好，讲故事时经常重复。

resign oneself　v. phr. To stop arguing; accept something which cannot be changed. 停止争论，接受事实。◆ When Jane's father explained that he could not afford to buy her a new bicycle, she finally resigned herself to riding the old one. 当简的父亲解释说他买不起一辆新的自行车给她时，她终于接受了现实，仍骑旧车。

rest assured　v. phr. To be convinced; persuaded; certain and unworried. 确信无疑；放心；不担心。◆ "Please rest assured," he said seriously, "that I will keep all of my promises."“请放心，”他认真地说，“我会信守我所有的承诺。”

rest on one's laurels　v. phr. To be satisfied with the success you have already won; stop trying to win new honors. 满足于既得荣誉；故步自封。◆ Getting an A in chemistry almost caused Mike to rest on his laurels. 化学得了个优几乎就使迈克心满意足了。

rest on one's oars　v. phr. To stop trying; stop working for a while; rest. 不再努力；暂停工作；休息，◆ The man who wants to become a millionaire can never rest on his oars. 想成为百万富翁的人永远也不能停下来歇一会。

rest room　n. A room or series of rooms in a public building which has things for personal comfort and grooming, such as toilets, washbowls, mirrors, and often chairs or couches. （公共建筑物内的）公用厕所，盥洗室。◆ Sally went to the rest room topowder her nose. 萨莉到盥洗室去往鼻子上抹了些粉。

return the compliment　v. phr. To say or do the same to someone that he has said or done to you; pay someone back. 回敬别人的称赞；回报。◆ Mary said, "I love your new hairdo" and Suzy returned the compliment with "What a pretty dress you're wearing, Mary." 玛丽说：“我喜欢你的新发型。”苏茜回敬说：“玛丽，你的衣服真漂亮。”◆ John punched Jerry in the nose, and Jerry returned the compliment. 约翰对着杰里的鼻子猛击一拳，杰里也回敬了一拳。

return to the fold　v. phr. To regain membership in a given church denomination or political party, after having strayed from one's fellow believers or comrades. 重返教会；恢复信仰；重回原组织。◆ After several years spent as an atheist, John returned to the fold of the Catholic Church. 做了几年的无神论者以后，约翰又重新回到了天主教会。

rev up　v. phr., informal, slang〖非正式〗〖俚〗1. To press down sharply several times on the accelerator of an idling car in order to get maximum acceleration. 加快（车）速。◆ The race driver revved up his car by pumping his accelerator. 赛车手猛踩油门加快了车速。2. To get oneself ready in order to accomplish a demanding or difficult task. 刺激；激发。◆ The boys were getting all revved up for the football game. 男孩子们都摩拳擦掌为橄榄球比赛铆足了劲儿。

rhyme or reason　n. phr. A good plan or reason; a reasonable purpose or explanation. — Used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. 条理；理由；合理的目的（或解释）。——用于否定句、疑问句或条件句。◆ Don could see no rhyme or reason to the plot of the play. 唐看不出该剧情节有什么条理。

ride herd on　v. phr. 1. To patrol on horseback around a herd of animals to see that none of them wanders away. 骑着马看管（牛群等）。◆ Two cowboys rode herd on the cattle being driven to market. 两个牛仔骑着马将牛群赶往市场。2. informal To watch closely and control; take care of. 〖非正式〗密切注视；管束；严密控制；照顾。◆ A special legislative assistant rides herd on the bills the president is anxious to have congress pass. 立法机构的一名特别助理密切关注着总统急于让国会通过的那些议案。

ride on sb.'s coattails　v. phr. To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body. 沾某人的光；靠某人的提携。◆ "We will never get our Ph. D. program approved on our own," said the head of the modern dance department, "but we might succeed if we stay in the Division of Fine Arts, riding on their coattails, as it were." “我们光靠自己永远也不会使我们的博士生课程获得通过，”现代舞蹈系的主任说，“但如果我们留在艺术系，沾他们的光就有可能会成功。”

ride out　v. To survive safely; endure. 安然渡过；经受得住。◆ The captain ordered all sails lowered so the ship could ride out the storm. 船长命令把帆全部放下来以便船能安全地渡过风暴。

ride roughshod over　v. phr. To do as you wish without considering the wishes of (another person); treat with scorn or lack of courtesy; show no sympathy for. 对…为所欲为（或横行霸道，任意蹂躏）；轻蔑（或盛气凌人）地对待；对…毫无同情心。◆ The city officials rode roughshod over the people who did not want their homes torn down for a new school. 对那些反对拆他们的房子建新学校的人，市府官员们毫无同情心。

rideshare　v. phr. To share a car with a fellow commuter to save on gasoline and toll prices. 合伙用车；拼车。◆ The Smiths and the Kowalskis decided to rideshare, since both families were living and working in the same place. 史密斯夫妇和科瓦尔斯基夫妇决定合伙用车，因为两家住在同一个地方，也在同一个地方工作。

ride shotgun　v. phr. To ride next to the driver in a car, in the seat for the front passenger. 坐在司机旁边，坐在前排座位上。◆ I really dislike riding shotgun; in case of an accident it is considered the "death seat." 我真不喜欢坐在司机旁边；如果发生车祸，前排座位就成了“死亡座”。

ride the brake or ride the clutch　v. phr., informal To keep your foot on the pedal. 〖非正式〗把脚放在刹车踏板上。◆ Riding the brake is a bad habit for a driver to form. 司机一直踩着刹车踏板是一个坏习惯。

ride the gravy train　v. phr. To live a life of plenty and luxury. 过奢侈的生活。◆ Those who have a wealthy executive or heir to fortune for a spouse can ride the gravy train without doing any work. 那些配偶是有钱的主管或财产继承人的人可以什么工作也不干而过着奢侈豪华的生活。

ride up or crawl up　v. To slip gradually upward on the body. （衣服等）向上滑；往上缩。◆ Shorts that ride up can be very uncomfortable. 短裤往上缩会让人很不舒服。

riding for a fall　adj. phr. Behaving in an overconfident way that is likely to lead to trouble; being too sure of yourself; doing something dangerous. 自找麻烦；过于自信；冒险。◆ The student who does not study for exams is riding for a fall. 不为准备考试而努力学习的学生是在自找麻烦。

riding high　adj. Attracting attention; enjoying great popularity. 引人注目；出尽风头。◆ After scoring the winning touchdown, John is riding high with his classmates. 约翰因触地得分而赢得球赛后在同学中大出风头。

rid of　Free of; away from; without the care or trouble. 免于；摆脱掉。◆ I wish you'd get rid of that cat! 我希望你能处理掉那只猫！

right along　adv. phr., informal〖非正式〗1a. On your way satisfactorily or without trouble. 顺利地。◆ They fixed the engine and the train ran right along. 他们修好了火车头，火车就跑得顺利了。1b. On your way without delay. 不耽搁地。 ◆ Don't wait for me. Go right along. 别等我，你们继续走吧。

right and left　adv. phr. In or from every direction; all around; on all sides. 四面八方；四周；到处。◆ When the talk ended, questions were thrown at the speaker right and left. 演讲结束后，人们从四面八方向演讲者提问。

right around the corner　See见AROUND THE CORNER.

right away or informal right off also informal right off the bat　adv. phr. Immediately; as the next thing in order; without delay. 〖非正式〗立刻；马上。◆ Phil's mother told him to do his homework right away so that he could enjoy the weekend. 菲尔的母亲叫他马上就做作业，这样他才能在周末时好好玩。◆ Jill knew the answer right off. 吉尔马上就知道了答案。◆ The teacher said he could not think of the title of the book right off the bat. 老师说他一下子想不起那本书的书名了。

right down or up sb.'s alley　adv. phr. In accordance with someone's specialty or predilection. 正好与某人的才能相称；正配某人的胃口。◆ This kind of preclassical music is right up Bill's alley; after all, he wrote his Ph. D. on Bach. 这种前古典派的音乐正是比尔的专长。毕竟，他的博士论文就是论述巴赫的。

right-hand man　v. phr. A valued and indispensable assistant. 不可或缺的得力助手。◆ The chancellor of the university never goes anywhere without the vice chancellor, his right-hand man, whose judgment he greatly trusts. 这位大学校长不管去哪儿都带着副校长，因为他非常信赖他这位得力助手的判断能力。

right on　adj., interj., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. Exclamation of animated approval "Yes," "That's correct," "You're telling the truth," "we believe you," etc. 好哇；对的；我们相信你。◆ Orator: And we shall see the promised land! Crowd: Right on! 演说家说：我们将看到期望中的乐土！听众说：对！2. Correct; to the point; accurate. 正确的；中肯的。◆ The reverend's remark was right on! 牧师的话说得对！

right out or straight out　adv. Plainly; in a way that hides nothing; without waiting or keeping back anything. 坦率地；毫无隐瞒地。◆ When Ann entered the beauty contest her little brother told her straight out that she was crazy. 当安报名参加选美比赛时，她的小弟弟坦率地对她说她疯了。

right-wing　adj. Being or belonging to a political group which opposes any important change in the way the country is run. 右翼的。◆ Some countries with right-wing governments have dictators. 一些右翼当政的国家都有独裁者。

rig out　v. phr. To overdecorate; doll up; dress up. 装束；打扮。◆ Ann arrived all rigged out in her newest Parisian summer outfit. 安穿着一身最时新的巴黎夏装来了。

ring a bell　v. phr. To make you remember something; sound familiar. 唤起记忆；听上去耳熟。◆ When Ann told Jim the name of the new teacher it rang a bell, and Jim said, "I went to school with John Smith." 当安把新老师的名字告诉吉姆时，吉姆听着很耳熟。他说：“我有个同学就叫约翰·史密斯。”

ring in　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To bring in (someone or something) from the outside dishonestly or without telling; often: hire and introduce under a false name. 偷偷带进；以假名雇用（或介绍）。◆ Bob offered to ring him in on the party by pretending he was a cousin from out of town. 鲍勃佯称他是外地来的表弟，要带他去参加聚会。2. To ring a special clock that records the time you work. 打卡上班。◆ We have to ring in at the shop before eight o'clock in the morning. 我们必须在上午8点以前到店打卡上班。

ring in the New Year　v. phr. To clink with glasses filled with champagne and wish one another a happy New Year at midnight on December 31.（除夕夜半）碰杯迎新年。◆ We rang in the New Year and wished one another peaceful and worry-free times. 我们碰杯迎新年，相互祝愿平平安安，无忧无虑。

ringleader　n. phr. The chief of an unsavory group; a higher-up.（违法活动的）头目；首恶。◆ The FBI finally caught up with the ringleader of the dope smugglers from South America. 联邦调查局终于逮捕了南美那些毒品走私犯的头目。

ring out　v. To ring a special clock that records the time you leave work. 打卡下班。◆ Charles can't leave early in his new job; he has to ring out. 查理的新工作令他无法早退，因为他必须打卡下班。

ring true　v. phr. To have a tone of genuineness; sound convincing. 听来像是真的；听来可信。◆ I believed his sob story about how he lost his fortune, because somehow it all rang true. 我相信他所说的他如何失去了财产的伤感故事，因为它听上去像是真的。

ring up　v. 1. To add and record on a cash register. 在收银机上结算。◆ The supermarket clerk rang up Mrs. Smith's purchases and told her she owed $33. 超市售货员在收银机上结算史密斯太太买的东西，告诉她一共应付33美元。◆ Business was bad Tuesday; we didn't ring up a sale all morning. 星期二的生意不好，整个上午收银机都没有动一下。2. informal To telephone.〖非正式〗打电话。◆ Sally rang up Sue and told her the news. 萨莉打电话给苏，告诉了她这个消息。

rip into or tear into　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To start a fight with; attack. 开始攻击；猛击。◆ The puppy is tearing into the big dog. 那只小狗正向大狗发起攻击。2. To quarrel with; scold. 与…争吵；责骂。◆ Mrs. Brown ripped into her daughter for coming home late. 布朗夫人责备女儿回家太晚。

rip off　v., slang (stress on off)（重读off）Steal.〖俚〗偷窃。◆ The hippies ripped off the grocery store. 嬉皮士们偷了杂货店的东西。

rip-off　n., slang (stress on rip)（重读rip）An act of stealing or burglary. 〖俚〗偷窃行为。◆ Those food prices are so high, it's almost a rip-off. 那些食物价格如此之高，简直就是敲诈。

rise and shine　v. phr. Said by parents to their sleeping children, who have to get up and go to school. — A proverb.〖谚〗快起床。◆ "Rise and shine!" Mother's voice rang out, as the boys pulled the covers over their heads, refusing to get up. “快起床！”母亲大声喊道，而男孩们则把被子拉过来盖住头，不肯起来。

rise as one man　v. phr. To stand up spontaneously and simultaneously, as if the crowd were one person, both in a theater or in real life in politics. 全体起立一起奋起（反抗）。◆ The audience rose as one man after Maestro Georg Solti put down his baton, having conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. 在指挥大师乔格·索尔蒂指挥完贝多芬的第九交响曲放下他的指挥棒以后，听众全体起立。◆The Hungarian nation rose as one man in 1956 against Soviet oppression. 1956年，匈牙利全体国民一致奋起反抗苏联的压迫。

rise from the ashes　v. phr. To rise from ruin; start anew. 从废墟中重建；东山再起；重新开始。◆ A year after flunking out of medical school, Don rose from the ashes and passed his qualifying exams for the M. D. with honors. 因考试不及格而从医学院退学一年后，唐重新来过，以优异成绩通过了医学博士的及格考试。

rise to　v. To succeed in doing what is expected by trying especially hard in or on; show that you are able to do or say what is needed or proper in or on. 奋起应付；证明能够应付。◆ Jane was surprised when the principal handed her the prize, but she rose to the occasion with a speech of thanks. 当校长向简授奖时，她感到十分意外，但她作了表示感谢的发言，得体地应付了过去。

rise up　v. phr. To stage a rebellion; revolt. 起义，反叛；反抗。◆ The people finally rose up and overthrew the military government. 人民终于奋起反抗，推翻了军政府。

rise with the lark or rise with the birds　v. phr. To get up early in the morning. 早起；黎明即起。◆ Farmers usually rise with the lark. 农民们通常一大早就起床。

risk life and limb　v. phr. To live dangerously. 冒着生命危险。◆ John has been risking life and limb ever since he became a race car driver. 自成为赛车手以来，约翰一直冒着生命危险。

risk one's neck　v. phr. To put oneself in a potentially dangerous situation. 冒着危险。◆ "I refuse to risk my neck for my new boss," John said.“我不肯为新老板去冒险，”约翰说。

road gang　n. A group of men who work at road construction. 筑路队。◆ Football players often work with road gangs during summer vacations. 橄榄球运动员在暑假期间常跟修路工人们一起干活。

road hog　n., informal A car driver who takes more than his share of the road. 〖非正式〗横冲直撞的汽车司机。◆ A road hog forced John's car into the ditch. 一个横冲直撞的司机把约翰的车逼进了沟里。

road show　n. A theatrical play that is performed for a few days in one town and then moves to other towns. （剧团的）巡回演出。◆ Many actors get their start in road shows. 很多演员是以巡回演出开始其演艺生涯的。

road sign　n. A sign on which there is information about a road or places; a sign with directions to drivers. 道路标志牌。◆ The road sign said Westwood was four miles away. 路标显示韦斯特伍德还有4英里远。

road test　n. 1. A test to see if you can drive a car.（汽车驾驶者的）实地行车考核；路考。◆ Jim took the road test and got his driver's license last week. 吉姆上周参加了路考，拿到了驾驶执照。2. A test to see if a car works all right on the road.（车辆的）道路试验。◆ Most new cars are given road tests before they are put on the market. 大部分新车在投放市场前都要进行道路试验。◆ After he repaired the car, the mechanic gave it a road test. 技师修好汽车后，把车开到路上试了一下。

road to perdition or road to ruin　n. phr. A lifestyle that will lead to illness, jail, and even death. 通向地狱（或毁灭）之路。◆ Many young gang members are unaware of the fact that they have chosen the road to perdition. 许多年轻的黑帮成员并未意识到他们已选择了通往地狱之路。◆ Doing drugs means having chosen the road to ruin. 吸毒意味着选择了通向毁灭之路。

roasting ear　n. An ear of corn young and tender enough to be cooked and eaten; also corn cooked on the cob. 可煮食的嫩玉米棒子；煮过的玉米棒子。◆ At the Fourth of July picnic we had fried chicken and roasting ears. 我们在7月4日的国庆野餐会上吃油炸鸡和煮熟的嫩玉米。

rob Peter to pay Paul　v. phr. To change one duty or need for another; take from one person or thing to pay another. 借债还债；挖肉补疮。◆ Trying to study a lesson for one class during another class is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. 想在一堂课上学习另一堂课的内容就像是挖肉补疮。

rob someone blind　v. phr. To take everything away from someone in a holdup or by dishonest court action. 从某人处骗得许多钱；向某人索高价；敲某人竹杠。◆ When John was divorced from Melanie, she robbed him blind. 约翰同梅兰妮离婚时，她狠敲了他一笔竹杠。

rob the cradle　v. phr., informal To have dates with or marry a person much younger than yourself.〖非正式〗与比自己年轻得多的人约会（或结婚）。◆ When the old woman married a young man, everyone said she was robbing the cradle. 当老妇人与一个年轻人结婚时，人人都说她是老妇配少夫。

rock-bottom　n. The lowest possible point. 最低点；最低限度。◆ The nation's morale hit rock bottom in the hours following the president's assassination. 总统遇刺后的几个小时内，举国上下的士气降到了最低点。— Often used like an adjective, with a hyphen.——常加连词符用作形容词。◆ The rock-bottom price of this radio is $25. 这台收音机的最低价是25美元。

rock hound　n., slang A person who studies and collects rocks for a hobby.〖俚〗岩石迷；矿石迷。◆ Many young rock hounds grow up to be geologists. 很多少年时期的岩石迷长大后都成了地质学家。

rock 'n' roll or rock and roll　n. A style of popular music with heavily accented rhythm. 摇滚乐。◆ Rock 'n' roll appeals mostly to youngsters nine to sixteen years old. 摇滚乐最受9至16岁的年轻人喜爱。

rock one's world　v. phr. To make a major impression in a given circle of friends or professional colleagues. 震撼自己的世界；在朋友或同行中引起震动。◆ Noam Chomsky's work has rocked the world of linguistics. 诺姆·乔姆斯基的著作在语言学界引起了震动。

rock the boat　v. phr., informal To make trouble and risk losing or upsetting something; cause a disturbance that may spoil a plan.〖非正式〗捣乱；惹是生非。◆ Politicians don't like to rock the boat around election time. 政治家们不喜欢在选举期前后惹是生非。

roll around　v., informal To return at a regular or usual time; come back 〖非正式〗定期或按时回来；（季节等）又来临。◆ When winter rolls around, out come the skis and skates. 当冬季又来临时，滑雪橇和溜冰鞋都出来了。

roll back out to sea　v. phr., nautical and meteorological This idiom is used when coastal fog recedes from the land.〖航海与气象学〗（海岸边的雾）退回到大海中。◆ The Coast Guard issued a warning to all small boats not to set out until the fog rolls back out to sea. 海岸警卫队向所有的小船发出警告，在雾退回到大海中以前不要出航。

roller coaster ride　n. phr. Extreme emotional upheaval, due to ups and down's in one's life. 感情上的急转突变。◆ Poor Mary has been on an emotional roller coaster ride. First her husband died; then she met a wonderful new man, who also died. She doesn't know what to do next. 可怜的玛丽经历了一场感情上的急转突变。先是她丈夫去世，后来她遇到了一个极好的男人，但他也去世了。她真不知道接下来该怎么办。

roll in　v. phr., nautical and meteorological Said when a thunderstorm or the fog is coming toward the coast from the sea.〖航海与气象学〗（雷暴或大雾从大海向陆地）涌来。◆ The small boats were not allowed to set out to sea because a thunderstorm was rolling in. 那些小船被禁止出海，因为一场雷暴正从海上涌来。◆ Small aircraft were not allowed to take off, because the fog was rolling in. 小飞机被禁止起飞，因为大雾正弥漫而来。

rolling stone gathers no moss　A person who changes jobs or where he lives often will not be able to save money or things of his own. — A proverb.〖谚〗滚石不生苔，转业（或频迁）不聚财。◆ Uncle Willie was a rolling stone that gathered no moss. He worked in different jobs all over the country. 威利叔叔真是个转业不聚财的人，他在全国各地干过各式各样的工作。

roll out the red carpet　v. phr. 1. To welcome an important guest by putting a red carpet down for him to walk on. 铺开红地毯隆重欢迎。◆ They rolled out the red carpet for the Queen when she arrived in Australia. 女王抵达澳大利亚时，他们给予了她隆重的欢迎。2. To greet a person with great respect and honor; give a hearty welcome. 隆重接待；热忱欢迎。◆ Margaret's family rolled out the red carpet for her teacher when she came to dinner. 玛格丽特的老师来吃饭时，她一家人隆重地接待了她。

roll up one's sleeves　To get ready for a hard job; prepare to work hard or seriously. 卷起袖子准备苦干。◆ When Paul took his science examination, he saw how little he knew about science. He rolled up his sleeves and went to work. 保罗参加自然科学考试时才知道自己对科学知之甚少。于是他下了决心，准备刻苦学习。

Roman collar　n. The high, plain, white collar worn by priests and clergymen. 教士领（天主教教士使用的白色硬立领）。◆ The man with the Roman collar is the new Episcopalian preacher. 戴教士领的这个人是圣公会的牧师。

Rome wasn't built in a day　Great things are not accomplished overnight; great deeds take a long time.— A proverb.〖谚〗罗马非一日建成；伟业非一日之功。◆ It takes a long time to write a successful novel, but don't worry: Rome wasn't built in a day, as the saying goes. 写一部成功的小说要花很长时间，但不用担心，俗话说得好，罗马非一日建成。

room and board　n. phr. A room for rent with meals included. 膳宿。◆ A room alone in that country costs only $10 a day, but room and board together run $22 a day. 在那个国家单单住宿一天只要10美元，但住宿加膳食却要22美元。

room clerk or desk clerk　n. A person who is responsible for assigning rooms and providing service to guests in hotels, motels, inns, etc. 客房调配员；服务台接待员（旅馆等中负责旅客登记、分派房间等事务的职员）。◆ At first-class hotels, room clerks are trained to be at the service of every guest. 在一流旅馆中，服务台接待员受训为每位旅客服务。

room service　n. Service provided to hotel guests in their rooms. Also: The hotel workers who give this service.（旅馆等处的）客房服务（部）。◆ We called for room service when we wanted ice. 我们要冰块时就打电话到客房服务部。

room with　v. phr. 1. To live in a furnished room with someone as a roommate without having an affair. 与（某人）同寝室居住。◆ I roomed with him in college for four years. 我在大学时与他同寝室住了4年。2. To live together as husband and wife without the benefit of marriage.（男女）同居。◆ Dan and Sue have been rooming together for quite a while. 丹和苏已同居了很长时间。

root and branch　adv. phr. Thoroughly, entirely, so as to prevent the destroyed item from coming back to life. 连根带枝地；彻底地，完全地。◆ Terrorism must be destroyed root and branch, if we want to live in safety. 如果我们想生活平安，就必须彻底摧毁恐怖主义。

root-bound　adj. 1. Having a limited amount of space for root growth. 根部生长空间有限的；根满盆的。◆ After seven or eight years day lilies become root-bound and will not bloom well unless they are divided. 栽种7、8年后，萱草的根部就会纠缠在一起，如不将它们分开就不会很好地开花。2. Liking the familiar place where you live and not wanting to go away from it; having a sentimental attachment to one place. 留恋某处不肯离开的；对某处依依不舍的。◆ Mr. Jones has lived in Connecticut all his life. He is too root-bound to consider moving to another state. 琼斯先生一生都住在康涅狄格州。他太依恋此地了，从不考虑搬到另一个州去。

root for　v. phr. To cheer for; applaud; support. （为参赛者）鼓气；欢呼，喝彩；支持。◆ During the Olympics one usually roots for the team of one's own country. 在奥运会期间，人们通常都为自己的国家队加油。

root of all evil　n. phr. The desire to enrich oneself financially. Money and greed, i. e., the desire to enrich oneself financially. 万恶之源。◆ The love of money is the root of all evil. 贪财是万恶之源。◆ Chasing the almighty dollar is the root of all evil. 追求万能的金钱是万恶之源。

rope in　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To use a trick to make (someone) do something; deceive; fool. 使中计；使入圈套；欺骗；愚弄。◆ The company ropes in high school students to sell magazine subscriptions by telling them big stories of how much money they can earn. 这家公司以能赚大钱的谎言欺骗中学生来推销订阅杂志。2. To get (someone to join or help); persuade to do something. 说服（某人参加或出力相助）；说服（某人做某事）。◆ Martha roped in Charles to help her decorate the gym for the party. 玛撒说服了查尔斯帮她把体育馆装饰成舞会场地。

rope into　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To trick into; persuade dishonestly.使上当；欺骗。◆ Jerry let the big boys rope him into stealing some apples. 杰瑞让那些大男孩骗去偷苹果。2. To get (someone) to join in; persuade to work at. 说服（某人）参加；说服（某人）做某事。◆ It was Sue's job to bathe the dog but she roped Sam into helping her. 给狗洗澡本来是苏的任务，但她却拉萨姆来帮她。

rope off　v. phr. To divide into sections by use of a rope. 用绳子隔开。◆ The police roped off the section of the street where the president was expected to jog. 警察把总统慢跑要经过的街区用绳子拦了开来。

rose-colored glasses　See见LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES.

rotten egg　n., informal A person whose character or way of acting is not good〖非正式〗坏蛋。◆ His friends have all learned that Stanley is a rotten egg. 他的朋友都已经知道斯坦利是个坏蛋。

rotten to the corn　adj. phr. Thoroughly decayed or spoiled. 烂透了的。◆ This apple is inedible; it is brown and soft and rotten to the core. 这只苹果不能吃了；它又黑又软，烂透了。

rough-and-ready　adj. 1. Not finished in detail; not perfected; rough but ready for use now. 粗略的；马马虎虎的；粗糙但尚能用的。◆ We asked Mr. Brown how long it would take to drive to Chicago and his rough-and-ready answer was two days. 我们问布朗先生开车到芝加哥要多久，他马马虎虎地回答说要两天。2. Not having nice manners but full of energy and ability. 粗犷而干练的。◆ Jim is a rough-and-ready character; he'd rather fight than talk things over. 吉姆是个粗犷而干练的人，他宁愿动手打架而不愿动口争辩。

rough-and-tumble　1. n. Very rough, hard fighting or arguing that does not follow any rules. 混战。◆ Many people don't like the rough-and-tumble of politics. 很多人不喜欢政治上的混战。2. adj. Fighting or arguing in a very rough and reckless way; struggling hard; not following rules or laws. 混战激烈的；杂乱的；不守规则（或法律）的。◆ It took strong men to stay alive in the rough-and-tumble life of the western frontier. 在西部拓荒时代混战激烈的生活中，人们必须强悍才能生存下去。

roughhouse　n. Riotous play or commotion. 打闹；玩闹；胡闹。◆ I told the boys they can play in the attic if there is no roughhouse. 我对男孩们说只要他们不打闹，就可以在阁楼上玩。

roughhouse　v. To play very wildly; be running around as young boys usually do. 玩闹；追逐打闹。◆ "Stop roughhousing this minute," Grandma cried. "Your father will be home soon."“现在马上停止打闹，”奶奶喊道，“你们的父亲很快就要回来了。”

rough idea　n. phr. A fairly accurate, but not final approximation of the status of a situation. 粗略的概念；大致的了解。◆ Can you give me a rough idea about next year's salaries？你可以就明年的薪金给我一个大致的说法吗？

rough it　v. phr. To live like primitive people; live with little of the comfort and equipment of civilization. 过原始的生活；因陋就简地生活。◆ Scouts like to rough it in the woods on weekend hikes. 童子军喜欢在周末远足时在树林里过原始的生活。

roughly speaking　adv. phr. Approximately; in general terms. 粗略地说；一般说来。◆ Roughly speaking, about 250 people attended the annual convention of the Dictionary Society of America. 粗略地说来，大约有250 人参加了美国辞书协会的年会。

roughneck　n. A low, coarse fellow. 流氓；粗鲁的家伙。◆ The only boys in the neighborhood are a bunch of roughnecks, and Mrs. Smith is unhappy about the fact that her son is rapidly becoming one of them. 周围仅有的一些男孩是一帮小流氓。史密斯太太发现儿子正很快成为他们中的一员，感到很不开心。

rough up　v. To attack or hurt physically; treat roughly; beat. 向…动粗；粗暴对待；殴打。◆ Three boys were sent home for a week because they roughed up a player on the visiting team. 3名男生被罚回家一个星期，因为他们殴打了客队的一名队员。

round-eyed or wide-eyed also large-eyed　adj. Very much surprised; astonished; awed. 睁大着眼睛的；惊讶的。◆ The people were roundeyed when they learned what the computer could do. 人们在获知计算机能做的事情后都大为惊讶。◆ The children were wide-eyed at the sight of the Christmas tree and didn't make a sound. 孩子们看到圣诞树时，都惊讶得睁大眼睛，话也说不出来了。

round off　v. 1. To make round or curved. 把…修圆磨光。◆ John decided to round off the corners of the table he was making so that no one would be hurt by bumping them. 约翰决定把他正在做的桌子四角磨圆以免有人撞伤。2. To change to the nearest whole number. 把…化为整数。◆ The teacher said to round off the averages. 老师说把平均分数化为整数。3. To end in a satisfactory way; put a finishing touch on; finish nicely. 圆满结束；圆满完成。◆ We rounded off the dinner with mixed nuts. 我们吃什锦坚果作为晚宴的收场。

round out　v. phr. To complete; make whole. 完成；结束。◆ He needs only one or two more rare compact discs to round out his collection of Vivaldi. 他只要再弄到一两张比较少见的激光唱片就能完成对维瓦尔迪作品的收藏了。

round robin　n. phr. A contest or games in which each player or team plays every other player or team in turn. — Often used like an adjective. 循环赛。——常用作形容词。◆ The tournament will be a round robin for all the high school teams in the city. 这次锦标赛将是全市各中学队参加的一次循环赛。

round the clock　See见AROUND THE CLOCK.

round trip　n. A return trip; passage to a place and back. 双程旅行；环程旅行。◆ The ticket agent explained that a ticket for a round trip to Hawaii at certain times of the year may cost less than a one-way ticket during the high season. 代理售票人解释说，淡季时去夏威夷的双程票可能比旺季时的单程票还要便宜。

roundup　n. (stress on round) （重读round）A muster; an inspection; a gathering together. 驱集，赶拢；聚拢。◆ The police roundup of all suspected drug dealers took place early in the morning. 警察对贩毒嫌疑分子的围捕发生在清晨。

round up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To bring together (cattle or horses). 驱集（牛马等）。◆ Cowboys round up their cattle in the springtime to brand the new calves. 牛仔们在春季把牛聚集在一起以便在新的小牛身上打烙印。2. informal To collect; gather.〖非正式〗收集；聚集。◆ Dave rounded up many names for his petition. 戴夫为他的请愿书收集到很多签名。

rubdown　n. A massage. 按摩。◆ The chiropractor gave his patient a powerful rubdown. 按摩师用力替病人按摩。

rub down　v., phr. 1. To dry the body of (an animal or person) by rubbing. 用力擦干。◆ Stablemen rub down a horse after a race. 每次比赛后马夫们都会把马全身擦干。2. To rub and press with the fingers on the body of (a person) to loosen muscles or prevent stiffness; massage. 按摩。◆ Trainers rub down an athlete after hard exercise. 剧烈运动后教练们都会为运动员进行按摩。

rub elbows also rub shoulders　v. phr. To be in the same place (with others); meet and mix. 摩肩接踵；遇到；接触到。◆ On a visit to the United Nations Building in New York, you may rub elbows with people from faraway lands. 在参观纽约联合国大厦时，你可能会遇到许多来自遥远国度的人。

rub it in　v. phr., slang To remind a person again and again of an error or shortcoming; tease; nag.〖俚〗一再提醒某人的错误（或缺点）；取笑；唠叨。◆ I know my black eye looks funny. You don't need to rub it in. 我知道我这鼻青眼肿的样子很好笑。但你没有必要一直取笑我。

rub off　v. To pass to someone near as if by touching. 传给；影响。◆ Jimmy is very lucky; I wish some of his luck would rub off on me. 吉米运气很好，我希望他的好运能传给我。

rub out　v. slang To destroy completely; kill; eliminate.〖俚〗杀掉；干掉。◆ The gangsters told the store-keeper that if he did not pay them to protect him, someone would rub him out. 匪徒们警告店主，如不付给他们保护费就会有人杀死他。

rub salt into sb.'s wounds　v. phr., informal To deliberately add pain when one feels shame, regret, or defeat.〖非正式〗在某人伤口上擦盐；使某人痛上加痛。◆ Must you rub salt into my wounds by telling me how much fun I missed by not going to the party？你一定要告诉我我没去参加聚会错过了很多乐趣，使我痛上加痛吗？

rub sb.'s nose in something　v. phr. To put someone to shame by reminding them of some past mistake. 就过去的错误刮某人的鼻子；揭某人的疮疤。◆ "I am sorry that I made a mistake in last year's accounting," John said to the director. "I have corrected that since, and it will never happen again. Why must you keep rubbing my nose in it?"“我很抱歉去年结账时出了差错，”约翰对经理说。“后来我己经改正了，而且以后再也不会重犯了。为什么你还要不断地揭我的疮疤呢？”

rub the wrong way　v. phr., informal To make (someone) a little angry; do something not liked by (someone); annoy; bother.〖非正式〗触犯（某人）；引起（某人）的反感。◆ John's bragging rubbed the other boys the wrong way. 约翰的吹嘘引起其他男孩的反感。

rub up against　v. phr. To come into contact with. 接触到。◆ In that business one naturally has to rub up against all kinds of people. 干那一行自然会接触到各种各样的人。

ruffle feathers or ruffle sb.'s feathers　v. phr. Insult or disturb slightly; offend. 侮辱；烦扰；冒犯。◆ The author ruffled some feathers by his portrait of his hometown. 作者对他家乡的描写冒犯了一些人。

rule of thumb　n. phr. A simple and practical method that has proven successful or useful in the past. 经验法则；简单实用的方法。◆ It is a very good rule of thumb to look up all unfamiliar words in a good dictionary. 用一本好词典查阅所有的生词是一个简单实用的方法。

rule out　v. 1. To say that (something) must not be done; not allow; also: decide against. 不准做；不允许；反对。◆ The principal ruled out dances on school nights. 校长不准学生在上课的晚上跳舞。2. To show that (someone or something) is not a possibility; make it unnecessary to think about; remove (a chance). 排除…的可能性；排除。◆ The doctor took X rays to rule out the chance of broken bones. 医生照了X光，排除了骨折的可能性。3. To make impossible; prevent. 使不可能；阻止。◆ Father's illness seems to rule out college for Jean. 父亲的生病看来要使琼又上不了大学了。

rule the roost　v. phr., informal To be leader or boss; be in charge.〖非正式〗当领导，当头；当家作主；主宰一切。◆ Jim is very bossy; he always wants to rule the roost. 吉姆很爱指挥别人，总是想当头。

rumor has it　adv. phr. According to gossip; as people say. 据谣传。◆ Rumor has it that Jane and Mike are not getting married after all. 谣传简和迈克最终还是不打算结婚了。

run a fever　See见RUN A TEMPERATURE.

run after or chase after　v. 1. To try to find; look for; hunt. 追寻；寻找；搜寻。◆ The Dramatic Club has to run all over town after things for setting the stage when it puts on a play. 话剧社在上演一出戏时不得不跑遍全城寻找充当舞台布景的材料。2. informal To seek the company of; chase.〖非正式〗追求。◆ Some boys spend a lot of time and money running after girls. 有些男孩花很多时间和金钱追求女孩子。

run along　v. To go away; leave. 走开；离开。◆ Joan said she had errands to do and must run along. 琼说她有些事要办，一定得走了。

run amok or run amuck　v. phr. To act wildly and strangely. 胡作非为；行为失去控制。◆ The entire company has been running amok after the unexpected resignation of our director. 在我们的经理出人意料地辞职后，整个公司便乱了套。

run a risk or take a risk　v. phr. To be open to danger or loss; put yourself in danger; be unprotected. 冒险。◆ I was afraid to run the risk of betting on the game. 我害怕冒险赌这场比赛。

run around or chase around　v., informal To go to different places for company and pleasure; be friends. 〖非正式〗四处交际；交友。◆ Tim hasn't been to a dance all year; with school work and his job, he hasn't time to run around. 蒂姆整年没参加过舞会，他半工半读，没时间与人交往。

run around in circles　v. phr. To waste time in repetitious movements; be confused. 瞎忙；空忙。◆ There was such a crowd in the lobby that I ran around in circles trying to find my group. 大堂里有一大群人，我瞎转着想找到我的那组人。

run around like a chicken with its head cut off　See见RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES.

run a temperature　v. phr. To have a body temperature that is above normal; have a fever. 发烧。◆ We took the baby to the doctor because he was running a temperature. 我们带宝宝去看医生，因为他在发烧。

run a tight ship　v. phr. To run an organization with a firm hand, with strict rules and regulations. 严格管理某个组织。◆ Our dean of the college runs a very tight ship; he tolerates no mistakes. 我们学院的院长管理得很严格，他不能容忍任何过失。

run away or run off　v. To leave and not plan to come back; go without permission; escape. 远走高飞；离家出走；私奔；逃走。◆ Many times Tommy said he would run away from home, but he never did. 汤米多次说过要离家出走，但他一直没走。

run away with　v. 1. To take hold of; seize. 抓住；（情绪）支配，控制。◆ The boys thought they saw a ghost in the old house last night; they let their imagination run away with them. 男孩们以为他们昨晚在老房子里看到了鬼；他们让想象力支配了自己。2. To be much better or more noticeable than others in; win easily. 在…中胜过他人；在…中显得出众；轻易获胜。◆ Our team ran away with the game in the last half. 我们队在下半场轻而易举地赢得了比赛。

run circles around also run rings around　v. phr. To show that you can do a task much better than; do better than (someone) very easily. 比…做得出色；轻而易举地超过（某人）。◆ Frank ran rings around the other boys on the basketball team. 弗兰克在篮球队里比其他男生强得多。

run down　v. (stress on down)（重读down）1. To crash against and knock down or sink. 撞倒，撞沉。◆ Jack rode his bicycle too fast and almost ran down his little brother. 杰克自行车骑得太快，差点撞倒他的小弟弟。2a. To chase until exhausted or caught. 把…追得筋疲力尽；追获。◆ The dogs ran down the wounded deer. 那些狗穷追受伤的鹿，把它抓住了。2b. To find by hard and thorough search; also: trace to its cause or beginning. 查找出；搜索到。◆ The policeman ran down proof that the burglar had robbed the store. 警察找到了窃贼盗窃商店的证据。3. informal To say bad things about; criticize.〖非正式〗说…的坏话；诽谤；批评。◆ Suzy ran down the club because the girls wouldn't let her join. 苏茜因俱乐部里的女生拒收她为会员而对其大肆诽谤。4. To stop working; not run or go. 停止运转；（电池等）没电。◆ The battery in Father's car ran down this morning. 父亲汽车上的电池今天早晨没电了。5. To get into poor condition; look bad. 衰败；破败。◆ A neighborhood runs down when the people don't take care of their houses. 如果居民不保养自己的房子，社区就会变得破败不堪。

run-down　adj. (stress on run)（重读run）In poor health or condition; weak or needing much work. 衰弱的；破败的。◆ Grandma caught a cold because she was very run-down from loss of sleep. 奶奶感冒了，因为她经常失眠身体很虚弱。

run dry　v. phr. To dry up; lose the water content. 干涸。◆ After many years of use, our well ran dry. 经过多年的使用，我们的井枯竭了。

run errands　v. phr. To carry messages or perform similar minor tasks. 办事；跑腿。◆ Peter runs errands for our entire neighborhood to make some extra money. 彼得为我们整个社区的人家跑腿，赚点外快。

run for it or make a run for it　v. phr. To dash for safety; make a speedy escape. 奔跑逃命；迅速逃跑。◆ The bridge the soldiers were on started to fall down and they had to run for it. 士兵们站立的那座桥开始坍塌，他们不得不赶紧逃离。

run for one's money　n. phr. 1. A good fight; a hard struggle. — Usually used with give or get. 激战；激烈的竞争；艰苦的斗争。——通常与give 或get连用。◆ Our team didn't win the game, but they gave the other team a run for their money. 我们队没有赢得比赛，但与对方也激战了一场。2. Satisfaction; interest; excitement. — Usually used with give or get. 满足；兴奋。——通常与give或get连用。◆ People like to watch the champion fight because they get a good run for their money from him. 大家喜欢看拳王比赛，因为看他比赛花的钱值。

run for the office of　v. phr. To enter a political race as a candidate of the Democratic or the Republican Party, or as an independent. 竞选…的职务。 ◆ John decided to run for the office of county treasurer. 约翰决定竞选县财政局长之职。◆ We have no idea who will run for the office of president of the United States in the year 2012. 我们不知道谁会在2012年参加美国总统竞选。

run in　v. phr. (stress on in)（重读in）1. informal To take to jail; arrest.〖非正式〗拘留；把…关进监狱。◆ The policeman ran the man in for peddling without a license. 警察因无照兜售而拘留了那个人。2. To make a brief visit. 作非正式探望；作短暂拜访。◆ The neighbor boy ran in for a minute to see Bob's newest model rocket. 邻家的男孩来待了一会，看了一下鲍勃的火箭模型。Syn.〖同义短语〗DROP IN. Compare比较STOP OFF.

run-in　n. (stress on run)（重读run）1. A traffic accident. 交通事故；碰撞。◆ My car was wrecked when I had a run-in with a small truck. 我的汽车被一辆小型卡车撞坏了。2. A violent quarrel. 激烈的争吵。◆ John had a nasty run-in with his boss and was fired. 约翰与老板大吵了一架，结果被开除了。

run in the blood or run in the family　v. phr. To be a common family characteristic; be learned or inherited from your family. 具有家族的共同特征；家传。◆ Red hair runs in the family. 红头发是这个家族的特征。

run into　v. 1. To mix with; join with. 与…混在一起；渗入；流入。◆ If the paint brush is too wet, the red paint will run into the white on the house. 如果刷子太湿，红漆就会渗入房子的白漆里。◆ This small brook runs into a big river in the valley below. 小溪流入下面山谷的大河里。2. To add up to; reach; total. 共计；合计为。◆ Car repairs can run into a lot of money. 修车可能会花很多钱。◆ A good dictionary may run into several editions. 一本好字典可以出好几版。3a. Bump; crash into; hit. 撞在…上；与…相撞。◆ Joe lost control of his bike and ran into a tree. 乔没有控制住自行车，撞到了一棵树上。3b. To meet by chance. 偶然碰到。◆ I ran into Joe yesterday on Main Street. 我昨天在大街上碰到了乔。3c. Be affected by; get into. 遭遇；陷入。◆ I ran into trouble on the last problem on the test. 我被试卷中的最后一道题难住了。

run into a brick wall or run into a stone wall　See 见 STONE WALL.

run into the ground　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To do or use (something) more than is wanted or needed. 做得过分；用得太多。◆ It's all right to borrow my hammer once in a while, but don't run it into the ground. 偶尔借用一下我的锤子没关系，但别太过分。2. To win over or defeat (someone) completely. 击溃；彻底打败。◆ We lost the game today, but tomorrow we'll run them into the ground. 我们输了今天的比赛，不过明天我们要把他们彻底打败。

run its course　v. phr. To fulfill a normal development; terminate a normal period. 自然地发展；（疾病、事态等）持续到自然结束。◆ Your flu will run its course; in a few days you'll be back on your feet. 你的流感要持续一段时间，几天后你就会康复下床了。

run late　v. phr. To be tardy, or habitually be late, often because of poor planning of one's day. 动作缓慢；老是迟到。◆ If Ted keeps running late at the firm, he may get into serious trouble with the director. 如果泰德在公司里老是迟到，他很可能会招致经理的严厉责罚。

run low on　v. phr. To face a shortage of something essential. 面临…的短缺；几乎耗尽。◆ "We are running low on drinking water and bathroom tissue," Jean said to her husband. "I am running low on gas," he replied, "so let's get going and take care of all of our needs at once."“我们的饮用水和卫生纸就要用光了，”琼对丈夫说。“我的汽油也快用光了，”他回答说，“所以咱们马上就去购买这些必需品吧。”

runner-up　n. The person who finishes second in a race or contest; the one next after the winner.（竞赛中的）第二名，亚军。◆ Sylvia was runner-up in the Miss Illinois contest. 西尔维亚是伊利诺伊小姐比赛中的亚军。

running commentary　n. phr. A continual series of remarks. 连续的评论。◆ My chiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health care debate while he is giving me a rubdown. 我的按摩师一边给我按摩一边就医疗保健对我侃侃而谈。

running start　n. phr. Good progress at the beginning. 良好的开端；成功的开始。◆ Contributions of $5000 before the drive began gave the charity fund a running start. 募捐活动开始前就有了5000美元的捐款，这给了慈善基金会一个良好的开端。

run off　v., phr. (stress on off)（重读off）1. To produce with a printing press or duplicating machine. 印刷；复印。◆ The punt shop ran off a thousand copies of the newspaper. 印刷厂印了一千份报纸。2. To drive away. 赶走。◆ The boys saw a dog digging in mother's flower bed, and they ran him off. 男孩子们看到狗在掘母亲的花圃，就把它赶走了。

run-off　n. (stress on run)（重读run）A second election held to determine the winner when the results of the first one were inconclusive.（同票数者之间的）决胜选举。◆ The senatorial race was so close that the candidates will have to hold a run-off. 参议员的竞选如此接近，候选人将不得不进行决胜选举。

run off at the mouth　v. phr. To talk too much; be unable to stop talking. 夸夸其谈；滔滔不绝地谈论。◆ "Shut up, John," our father cried. "You are always running off at the mouth." “闭嘴吧，约翰，”我们的父亲喊道，“你老是夸夸其谈。”

run of luck　n. phr. A period of good luck. 一连串的好运。◆ I had a run of luck last Saturday when I went fishing and caught seven big trout within one hour. 我上个星期六很走运，一小时就钓到7条大鳟鱼。

run-of-the-mill　adj. Of a common kind; ordinary; usual. 一般的；普通的。◆ It was just a run-of-the-mill movie. 这只是一部很普通的电影。

run one's head against a stone wall or bang one's head against a wall or hit one's head against a wall or run one's head against a wall　v. phr. To willfully ignore the facts and tempt fate by trying to do the impossible. 以头碰壁；试图做不可能成功的事；枉费心机，白费力气。◆ Ted is the most stubborn person I know; instead of coming to grips with reality, he is constantly running his head against a stone wall by proposing impossible schemes at his workplace. 泰德是我认识的最顽固的人；他不是认真面对现实，而是经常枉费心机，在工作场所提出一些不可能实现的计划。

run out　v. 1a. To come to an end; be used up. 终了，结束；被用完；被耗尽。◆ We'd better do our Christmas shopping; time is running out. 我们该去买过圣诞节的东西了，剩下的时间不多了。1b. To use all of the supply; be troubled by not having enough. 用完；耗尽。◆ The car ran out of gas three miles from town. 刚出城3英里汽车就没油了。2. informal To force to leave; expel. 〖非正式〗强迫离开；驱逐。◆ Federal agents ran the spies out of the country. 联邦执法官把那些间谍驱逐出境。

run out on　v. phr. To leave someone in the lurch; abandon another. 弃（某人）于危难之中；抛弃；遗弃。◆ When Ted ran out on Delores, she got so angry that she sued him for divorce. 当泰德遗弃了迪洛里丝时，她非常生气，向法院提出了离婚。

run over　v. 1. To be too full and flow over the edge; spill over. 漫出；溢出。◆ Billy forgot he had left the water on, and the tub ran over. 比利忘了关水，桶里的水都溢了出来。2.To try or go over (something)quickly; practice briefly. 浏览；复习；练习。◆ During the lunch hour, Mary ran over her history facts so she would remember them for the test. 玛丽在吃午饭的时候把历史事实迅速地过了一遍以准备考试。3. To drive on top of; ride over. 在…上驶过；辗过。◆ At night cars often run over small animals that are blinded by the headlights. 夜间，汽车经常辗过一些被车灯强光弄花眼的小动物。

run ragged　v. phr. To tire out; make nervous by too much worry or work. 使精疲力竭。◆ Trying to keep up with too many clubs, sports, and activities in addition to his homework ran Tom ragged. 汤姆除了做作业还要参加太多的俱乐部活动和体育活动等，这使得他精疲力竭。

run riot　v. phr. 1. To act freely or wildly; not control yourself. 胡作非为；（想象力等）自由驰骋；撒野；放纵自己。◆ John let his imagination run riot, thinking he was hunting lions in Africa. 约翰想入非非，想象自己正在非洲猎狮。2. To be or grow in great numbers or large amounts. 大量生长；蔓延滋长。◆ Daisies ran riot in the meadow. 草地上到处长满了雏菊。

run scared　v. phr. To expect defeat, as in a political campaign.（在竞选等中因害怕失败而）行动小心翼翼；战战兢兢。◆ The one-vote defeat caused him to run scared in every race thereafter. 那次一票之差的失败使他在以后的每次竞选中都谨小慎微，战战兢兢。

run short　v. phr. 1. To not have enough. 不够；不足。◆ We are running short of sugar. 我们的糖快没了。2. To be not enough in quantity. 数量不足。◆ We are out of potatoes and the flour is running short. 我们的马铃薯吃完了，面粉也已所剩无几。

runs in the blood　v. phr. Said when someone acts like his or her parents or other close relatives; when one's behavior seems to be hereditary.（性格等）具有家族特征的；世代遗传的。◆ John writes remarkable short stories, just like his father and grandfather. Literary talent for the Smiths apparently runs in the blood. 正像他父亲和祖父一样，约翰写的短篇小说很出色。对他们史密斯家族而言，文学天才显然是世代相传的。

run that by me again!　v. phr., informal command Repeat what you just said, as I couldn't understand you.〖非正式〗请把你刚才说的话再说一遍！◆ "Run that by me again," Ted cried. "This telephone connection is very bad." “请再说一遍，”泰德大声喊道，“这个电话线路很不清楚。”

run the gauntlet　v. phr. 1. To be made to run between two lines of people facing each other and be hit by them with clubs or other weapons. 在面对面站立两排人中间跑过并被他们用棍棒等殴打；受夹道鞭打。◆Joe had to run the gauntlet as part of his initiation into the club. 乔须受夹道殴打是正式加入俱乐部的条件之一。2. To face a hard test; bear a painful experience. 面临严峻考验；忍受痛苦经历。◆ Ginny had to run the gauntlet of her mother's questions about how the ink spot got on the dining room rug. 金妮必须面对母亲的盘问，问她怎么会把墨水洒到饭厅的地毯上。

run the show　v. phr. To direct the given activity; be in charge of what is being done. 掌管一切；操纵局势。◆ When the Cabinet meets in the White House, it is the president of the United States, who runs the show. 当总统的顾问班子在白宫开会时，掌控局面的是美国总统。

run through　v. 1. To make a hole through, especially with a sword; pierce.（尤指用剑）刺穿；穿透。◆The pirate was a good swordsman, but the hero finally ran him through. 那名海盗的剑术很好，但那位英雄最终还是用剑刺穿了他的身体。2. To spend recklessly; use up wastefully. 挥霍；很快花完。◆ The rich man's son quickly ran through his money. 那个富人的儿子很快就把他的钱挥霍光了。3. To read or practice from beginning to end without stopping. 从头到尾一口气读完（或排练完）。◆ The visiting singer ran through his numhers with the orchestra just before the program. 来访的歌手在演出前与乐队一起将他要演唱的歌曲逐个排练了一遍。

run to　v. phr. To approximate; reach. 接近；达到。◆ It has been estimated that the casualties will run to over 300,000 killed by cholera and starvation in the crowded refugee camps. 据估计，在那些拥挤的难民营中，因霍乱和饥饿而死亡的人数将达到30万。

run true to form　v. phr. To follow a usual way; act as expected; agree with how a person usually acts. 一如往常；不出所料。◆ Tim's actions ran true to form. He bothered his mother until she gave him his way. 蒂姆的行为一如往常。他一直缠着母亲不放，直到她同意让他去做他想做的事。

run up　v. phr. 1. To add to the amount of; increase. 积欠（账款等）；增加。◆ Karl ran up a big bill at the bookstore. 卡尔很快就在书店积欠下一大笔账款。2. To pull (something) upward on a rope; put (something) up quickly. 用绳子往上拉；升（旗等）。◆ The pirates ran up the black flag. 海盗们升起了黑旗。

run up against　See见UP AGAINST.

run wild　v. phr. To be or go out of control. 不受控制（或约束）；失去控制（或约束）；放纵。◆ The students ran wild during spring vacation. 学生们在春假期间放纵了一番。

run with the hare and hunt (ride) with the hounds　v. phr. To appear to support both parties in a conflict; to conduct things in ambiguous ways. 两面讨好。◆ Critics accused the king of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. 批评家指责国王两头讨好。

rush hour　n. phr. The time roughly from 7 to 9 A. M., and 3 to 6 P. M. in major American cities, when cars can only go slowly; the busiest commuting time.（大城市中上下班时）交通最拥挤的时间；高峰时间。◆ It's a bad idea to try driving during rush hour, when everyone is trying to get to work or home from work. 在每个人都要去上班或下班回家的高峰时间还想开车可不是什么好主意。

rush off　v. phr. To depart in great haste. 匆匆离去。◆ I have no time to eat breakfast this morning; there is a special meeting so I must rush off to work. 今天早晨我没有时间吃早饭了，有一个特别的会议，所以我必须赶快去上班。

Russian roulette　n. A game of chance in which one bullet is placed in a revolver, the cartridge cylinder is spun, and the player aims the gun at his own head and pulls the trigger.俄式轮盘赌（赌时在左轮手枪中仅装一发子弹，然后转动旋转弹膛，举枪对准自己的头并扳动扳机）；玩命游戏。◆Only a fool would risk playing Russian roulette. 只有傻子才会冒生命危险玩俄式轮盘赌。

rust away　v. phr. To disappear gradwally through the process of rust or corrosion. 因生锈而烂掉。◆ If you refuse to paint those metal bars on the window, they will soon rust away. 如果你不肯给窗子上的那些金属栅上油漆，它们很快就会生锈烂掉。

rustproof　adj. Free from rusting or corrosion; permeated with anti-rust chemical agents. 防锈的。◆ My new watch is rustproof and waterproof and I can wear it while swimming or taking a shower. 我的新手表既防锈又防水，我在游泳或淋浴时都可以戴着它。

◆S◆

saber rattling or sword rattling　n. A show of military strength usually to frighten; a threat of military force. 炫耀武力；武力威胁。◆ The dictator marched his troops and tanks along the border of our country and did some saber rattling. 那个独裁者在我国边界展示军队和坦克，炫耀武力威胁我们。

sack in/out　v., slang To go to sleep for a prolonged period (as in from night to morning). 〖俚〗上床睡觉。◆ Where are you guys going to sack in/sack out？你们打算在哪儿睡觉啊？

sack rat　n. phr., slang A person who sleeps too much. 〖俚〗懒汉，瞌睡虫。◆ My roommate John in a regular sack rat; it takes a major effort to wake him up for breakfast. 我的室友约翰是条不折不扣的懒虫，要花大力气才能叫醒他起来吃早饭。

sacred cow　n. A person or thing that is never criticized, laughed at, or insuited even if it deserves such treatment. 神圣不可侵犯的人（或事物）。◆ Motherhood is a sacred cow to most politicians. 母亲的尊严对大多数政治家来说是神圣不可侵犯的。

saddled with　adj. phr. Burdened with; handicapped. 承担着…的；负担着…的。◆ The business was so saddled with debt that the new owner had a hard time making a go of it for a couple of years. 这家企业负债累累，新的主人花了好几年的艰苦努力才使它转亏为盈。

safe and sound　adj. phr. Not harmed; not hurt; safe and not damaged. 完整无损的；安然无恙的。◆The children returned from their trip safe and sound. 孩子们旅行后平安归来。

safe haven　n. phr. A place where someone who is pursued by the enemy or by the police can hide.（躲避敌人或警察追踪的）安全藏身处。◆ Our troops found safe haven in a liberated part of the enemy's capital city. 我们的部队在敌人首都已被解放的地方找到了藏身之处。◆ The criminals found temporary safe haven in an abandoned factory, where they were eventually found and arrested by the police. 那些犯罪分子在一家被废弃的工厂里找到了临时藏身之处，但他们最后还是被警察发现而遭到逮捕。

safety glass　n. Two panes of glass with a sheet of plastic between them so that the glass will not break into pieces. 夹层安全玻璃。◆ Safety glass is used in cars because it does not break into pieces. 安全玻璃被用在汽车上，因为它不会破碎。

safety in numbers　n. phr. Protection against trouble by being in a group. 人多保险；人多势众。◆ Peter said, "Stay in a group; there is safety in numbers." 彼得说：“要待在一个群体中，人多了保险。”

safety island or safety zone　n. A raised area in a highway or road to be used only by people walking.（公路或道路上供行人驻足的）安全岛；安全区。◆ John was half-way across the street when the light changed. He stayed on the safety island until it changed again. 约翰穿越街道时，刚走了一半就变成了红灯。他站在安全岛上直至红灯变成了绿灯。

sail into　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To attack with great strength; begin hitting hard. 猛击；痛打。◆ George grabbed a stick and sailed into the dog. 乔治抓起一根棍子用力打那条狗。2. To scold or criticize very hard. 痛骂；严厉批评。◆ The coach really sailed into Bob for dropping the pass. 教练因鲍勃没接住传球而大声责骂他。

sailor collar　n. A large square collar like those worn by sailors. 水手领。◆ Mary's blouse has a sailor collar. 玛丽的衬衫有个水手领。

sailor's yarn　n. phr. An improbable or exaggerated story. 荒诞无稽的故事；海外奇谈。◆ John is a great conversationalist, but we think that most of his stories are sailor's yarns. 约翰很能侃，但我们认为他那些故事都是海外奇谈。

sail (right) through　v. phr. To conclude easily and rapidly; finish something. 顺利地通过；完成。◆The bright young man sailed through the bar exam in record time. 那个聪明的年轻人以创纪录的时间顺利完成了律师资格考试。

sail the seven seas　v. phr. To be traveling all over the world, mostly by boat. 航行世界七大洋；周游世界。◆ "What does Ted do, now that he is retired as a wealthy man?" Peter asked. "He is enjoying life and sailing the seven seas," Ted's son replied. “泰德作为一个有钱人退休后，现在做些什么呢？”彼得问。“他在享受生活，周游世界，”泰德的儿子回答说。

sail under false colors　v. phr. To pretend to be what you are not; masquerade. 冒充。◆ They found out that Smith was an escaped convict who had been sailing under false colors as a lawyer. 他们发现史密斯是个冒充律师的逃犯。

salad days　n. phr., informal The period of one's youth; a period of inexperience.〖非正式〗阅历尚浅且处事轻率的青少年时代。◆ He was silly and immature during his salad days in high school. 他在中学少不更事的时期又傻又幼稚。

sales check or sales slip　n. A paper which the clerk gives the person who bought something; a paper that shows what you bought in a store and how much you paid for it. 发票。◆Mary brought the sales check when she returned the dress so she could get her money back. 玛丽去退衣服时带着发票以便退款。

sales talk　n. A speech made to point out all the good reasons why the sale would help someone who might buy the product. 推销宣传。◆ The coach gave a sales talk on exercise in the school assembly. 教练在全校大会上大谈了一番运动的好处。

salt away　v., informal To save (money) for the future. 〖非正式〗存（钱）；储蓄。◆ Every week Joe salts away half of his pay. 乔每周都把一半的薪水存起来。

salt of the earth　n. phr., informal One who helps to make society good and wholesome; a basically good or valuable person. 〖非正式〗社会中坚；最优秀的人；最高尚的人。◆ Everyone here considers Syd and Susan the salt of the earth because they are so generous. 这里每个人都认为希德和苏珊是高尚的人，因为他们很慷慨。

same diff or same difference　n. phr. No difference at all; exactly the same thing. 毫无区别；一个样，一码事。◆ "Do you prefer working in the New York office, or in the Chicago office?" Ted asked John. "Same difference," John answered with a shrug of the shoulder. “你愿意在纽约办事处工作呢，还是在芝加哥办事处工作？”泰德问约翰。“都一样，”约翰耸耸肩回答说。

same here　informal And it is the same with me; and the same for me. —Used only in speech. 〖非正式〗我也一样。—仅用于口语。◆ Mary ordered an ice cream soda, and Jill said, "Same here." 玛丽点了一客冰淇淋苏打水，吉尔说：“我也一样。”

sandman is coming or dustman is coming　v. phr. Said by parents when sleepy children start to rub their eyes, and it is time for them to be put to bed. 瞌睡神来了（小孩子揉眼睛要睡觉了）。◆ "The sandman is coming, right?" his mother said to Tommy. "Time to go to bed!" “瞌睡神来了，对不对？”母亲对汤米说。“该上床睡觉了！”

sand trap　n. A low place on a golf course that is filled with sand to stop the ball. 高尔夫球场上的沙土障碍，沙坑。◆ The golfer lost four strokes trying to get the ball out of the sand trap. 高尔夫球手用了4杆才把球从沙坑里打出来。

sandwich board　n. Two advertising signs worn by a man, one on his chest and the other on his back. 三明治式广告牌；夹板广告。◆ The man walking along Main Street wore a sandwich board saying "Eat at Joe's." 在大街上走着的那个人胸前身后挂了一幅“请来乔氏餐馆就餐”的夹板广告。

saved by the bell　v. phr. Said when one is saved by a lucky accident or unexpected intervention, as when the bell rings, putting an end to a session.（拳击运动员）因铃声宣告“时间到！”而幸免于败；得以幸免；得以解围；绝处逢生。◆ The reporter began to ask embarrassing questions, when his cell phone rang, forcing him to stop. "Saved by the bell!" I exclaimed, and left the room. 那位记者开始问一些令人尴尬的问题，突然他的手机响了，迫使他停了下来。“解围了！”我一边说着一边离开了房间。

save face　v. phr. To save your good reputation, popularity, or dignity when something has happened or may happen to hurt you; hide something that may cause you shame. 保全面子。◆ The colonel who lost the battle saved face by showing his orders from the general. 战败的上校出示将军的命令从而保住了面子。

save for a rainy day　See见RAINY DAY.

save one's breath　v. phr., informal To keep silent because talking will not help; not talk because it will do no good.　〖非正式〗省点说话气力；不白费口舌。◆ Save your breath; the boss will never give you the day off. 他还是别费口舌了吧，老板绝不会准你假的。

save sb.'s neck or save sb.'s skin　v. phr., slang To save from danger or trouble. 〖俚〗保全某人，使某人免受危难。◆ Betty saved Tim's neck by typing his report for him; without her help he could not have finished on time. 贝蒂帮蒂姆打好报告，帮了他一个大忙；如果没有她的帮助，他是不会按时完成的。

save the day　v. phr. To bring about victory or success, especially when defeat is likely. 转危为安；反败为胜；扭转局面。◆ The forest fire was nearly out of control when suddenly it rained heavily and saved the day. 森林大火眼看就要控制不住时突然下起了大雨，这才化险为夷。

save up　v. phr. To put away for future use; keep as savings; save. 储存待用；储蓄。◆ John was saving up for a new bicycle. 约翰正在存钱准备买辆新自行车。

saving grace　n. phr. A single good attribute; a redeeming quality. 可资弥补的优点；可取之处。◆ Felicity is not very attractive but her intelligence and wit are her saving grace. 弗丽西蒂长得并不是很漂亮，但她天资聪颖、谈吐风趣却是可资弥补的优点。

savings account　n. An account in a bank, where people put money to save it, and the bank uses the money and pays interest every year. 储蓄账户。◆ If you leave your money in your savings account for six months or a year, the bank will pay interest on it. 如果你把钱放入储蓄账户6个月或1年，银行就会付利息。

sawed-off　adj., informal Shorter than usual; small of its kind.　〖非正式〗（人）矮的；小的；锯短的。◆ The riot police carried sawed-off shotguns. 防暴警察带着短管霰弹枪。◆ Jimmy was a sawed-off, skinny runt. 吉米是个又矮又瘦的孩子。

say a mouthful　1. v. phr., slang To say something of great importance or meaning; say more by a sentence than the words usually mean. —Usually in past tense. 〖俚〗说很重要的话；说得对；说到点子上。——通常用过去时。◆ Tom said a mouthful when he guessed that company was coming to visit. A dozen people came. 当汤姆猜想有一伙人要来拜访他时他还真说对了。果然就来了12个人。2. v. phr., informal To vent one's honest opinion, even in anger. 〖非正式〗说出真实的想法。◆ He sure said a mouthful when he told his boss what was wrong with our business. 当他告诉老板我们公司的问题出在哪里时，他确实是说出了自己的真实想法。

say it with flowers or say it with diamonds　v. phr. If you want to please your mother, wife, or girlfriend, don't talk too much, but rather give her a present. （为使母亲、妻子或女友高兴）除了嘴甜还要送花（或钻石首饰）。◆ "Mother's Day is coming," John said to his wife. "What shall I get for your and my mother?" "It doesn't really matter, as long as you say it with flowers," she replied. "As for me, you might as well say it with diamonds!" “母亲节就要到了，”约翰对妻子说。“我该为你母亲和我母亲买些什么礼物呢？”“这真的无关紧要，只要送些鲜花就可以了，”她回答说。“至于我嘛，你不妨买些钻石首饰！”

say one's piece or speak one's piece　v. phr. To say openly what you think; say, especially in public, what you usually say or are expected to say. 公开说出自己的想法；发表意见。◆ Every politician got up and said his piece about how good the mayor was and then sat down. 每一位政治家都站起来就市长有多么好发表了各自的意见，然后再坐下。

say-so　n. Approval; permission; word. 同意；允许。◆ Father got angry because I took his new car out without his say-so. 父亲很生气，因为我未经他允许就把他的新车开了出去。

says who or says you　v. phr., slang I don't believe or accept that. —An expression of rebuff often used to make fun of someone or oppose him. 〖俚〗你胡说；我才不信呢。——用以取笑或反驳某人。◆ "I am the strongest boy on the block." "Says you." “我是本街区最壮的男孩。”“吹吧你。”◆ "You can't take Mary to the party—she's my girl." "Says who?" “你不能带玛丽去参加舞会，她是我的女朋友。”“你胡扯。”

say the least (of it)　adv. phr. To put it in an understated way, temperately or mildly. 至少可以说。◆ Mr. Rockefeller doesn't have to worry where his next meal is coming from, to say the least. 至少可以说，洛克菲勒先生不必为他的下一顿饭来自什么地方而发愁。

say the word　v. phr., informal To say or show that you want something or agree to something; show a wish, willingness, or readiness; give a sign; say yes; say so. 〖非正式〗说一声；表示一下。◆ Just say the word and I will lend you the money. 你只要说一声，我就把钱借给你。

say uncle also cry uncle　v. phr., informal To say that you surrender; admit that you have lost; admit a defeat; give up. 〖非正式〗讨饶；认输；承认失败；放弃。◆ The bully twisted Jerry's arm and said, "Cry uncle." 那个流氓扭着杰里的手臂说：“快讨饶吧。”

say when　v. phr., informal Said while pouring one a drink, meaning "Tell me when you think have enough." 〖非正式〗（在给人斟酒或饮料时说）请到时关照一声；够了请说一声。◆ "Say when," John said to Ted at the party. "When!" Ted replied, but only when the glass was practically full of whiskey. 在宴会上斟酒时，约翰对泰德说：“够了请关照一声。”但一直到酒杯里斟满了威士忌，泰德才回答说：“停！”

scale　See见TO SCALE.

scale down　v. To make smaller or less; decrease. 按比例缩小；相应缩减。◆ Tom built a scaled down model of the plane. 汤姆做了一个小型的飞机模型。

scandal sheet　n. A newspaper that prints much shocking news and scandal. 花边报刊；黄色报刊。◆ The scandal sheet carried big headlines about the murder. 那家花边小报以大字标题刊登了这起凶杀案。

scare away or off　v. phr. To cause to flee; frighten away. 把…吓跑。◆Jake is a confirmed bachelor; the best way to scare him off is to start talking about marriage. 杰克是个坚定的独身主义者，把他吓跑的最好办法就是开始谈论婚姻。

scaredy-cat or scared-cat　See见FRAIDYCAT.

scare out of one's wits or scare stiff or scare the daylights out of　v. phr., informal To frighten very much. 〖非正式〗把某人吓得魂不附体；把某人吓得发呆；把某人吓懵。◆ The owl's hooting scared him out of his wits. 猫头鹰的叫声把他吓坏了。◆The child was scared stiff in the dentist's chair. 那个小孩坐在牙医的椅子上吓得直发呆。◆ Pete's ghost story scared the daylights out of the smaller boys. 皮特的鬼故事把那些小一点的男孩吓坏了。

scare up or scrape up　v., informal To find, collect, or get together with some effort when needed. 〖非正式〗设法找到；勉强凑齐◆ The boy scared up enough money to go to college. 那男孩勉强凑足了上大学的钱。◆ He managed to scrape up the money for his speeding fine. 他设法筹到了交超速罚款的钱。

school of hard knocks　n. phr. Life outside of school or college; life out in the world; the ordinary experience of learning from work and troubles. 艰苦生活的磨炼；社会生活；社会经历。◆ He never went to high school; he was educated in the school of hard knocks. 他从未上过中学；他是在艰苦奋斗的经历中受教育的。

scotch broth　n. A thick barley soup with vegetables and mutton or beef. （用大麦粒、蔬菜及牛肉或羊肉做的）苏格兰浓汤。◆ Mother cooked a hearty scotch broth for dinner. 母亲为晚饭煮了一锅富于营养的苏格兰浓汤。

scot-free　adj. phr. Without punishment; completely free. 免于受罚的；完全自由的。◆ In spite of his obvious guilt, the jury acquitted him and he got off scot-free. 尽管他的罪行很明显，但陪审团却宣告他无罪，使他得以逍遥法外。

scout around　v. phr. To search for; look around. 到处搜索；到处寻找。◆When we first came to town, we had to scout around for a suitable apartment. 我们初来城里时，不得不四处寻找一套合适的公寓。

scrape the bottom of the barrel　v. phr., informal To use or take whatever is left after the most or the best has been taken; accept the leftovers. 〖非正式〗动用最后一点财力（或物力）；退而求其次。◆ The garage owner had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find a qualified mechanic to work for him. 因找不到最好的机修工，汽车修理厂老板只得退而求其次找个合格的来替他工作。

scrape together　v. phr. To quickly assemble, usually from scanty ingredients. 勉强凑集。◆ We were so hungry we had to scrape together some lunch from all kinds of frozen leftovers. 我们饿坏了，只得把各种冷冻的残羹剩菜拼凑成一些午饭。

scrape up　See见SCARE UP.

scratch around for　v. phr. To search randomly for something. 到处搜寻。◆ If you scratch around for a more reliable used car, maybe you'll feel more confident on the road. 如果你四处寻找一辆更可靠的二手车，也许在路上开起来你会感到更自信。

scratch one's back　v. phr., informal To do something kind and helpful for someone or to flatter him in the hope that he will do something for you. —Usually used in the expression "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." 〖非正式〗给某人以方便；帮助某人；吹捧某人。——通常用于 "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" （你捧我我就捧你；你帮我我就帮你）。◆ Mary asked Jean to introduce her to her brother. Jean said, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." 玛丽要求琼把自己介绍给她哥哥。琼说：“你帮我，我就帮你。”

scratch the surface　v. phr. To learn or understand very little about something. —Usually used with a limiting adverb (as only, hardly). 触及表面；对…只学到一点皮毛；对…只了解一点皮毛。——通常与表示限制的副词连用（如only, hardly）。 ◆ We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found we had only scratched the surface. 我们原以为很了解非洲，但到了那儿实地旅行后才发现我们对非洲的了解只是一点皮毛。

scream bloody murder　v. phr., informal To yell or protest as strongly as one can. 〖非正式〗没命似的叫喊；大喊救命。◆ When the thief grabbed her purse, the woman screamed bloody murder. 当小偷抢夺她的钱包时，那位妇女没命似的大叫起来。

scream one's head off or yell one's head off　See见SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.

screen test　n. A short movie made to see if an actor or actress is good enough or the right one to play a part. 试镜头时拍的短片。◆ Ellen acted well on the stage, but she failed her screen test. 埃伦在舞台上演得很好，但试镜时却失败了。

screw around　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable To hang around idly without accomplishing anything, to loaf about, to beat or hack around. 〖粗〗〖忌〗游手好闲；鬼混；闲荡。◆ You guys are no longer welcome here; all you do is screw around all day. 这里不再欢迎你们这帮家伙了，你们整天只是鬼混。

screw up　v. phr., slang, semi-vul-gar, best avoided (stress on up) （重读up）〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion. 弄糟；搞乱；把…弄得一团糟。◆ The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he had to be fired. 会计把协会的账目弄得一团糟，只得被解雇。2. To cause someone to be neurotic or maladjusted. 使紧张；使神经不正常。◆ Her divorce screwed her up so badly that she had to go to a shrink. 离婚使她精神失常，以致不得不去找精神病医生。

screw-up　n. (stress on screw) （重读screw）A mistake; an error; a confusing mess. 错事；错误；混乱；一团糟。◆ "What a screw-up!" the manager cried, when he realized that the bills were sent to the wrong customers. 当经理意识到账单都寄错了顾客时不禁叫道：“真是一团糟！”

screw up one's courage or pluck up one's courage　v. phr. To force yourself to be brave. 鼓足勇气；壮起胆子。◆ The small boy screwed up his courage and went upstairs in the dark. 小男孩鼓足勇气摸着黑上了楼。

scrounge around　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To search for an object aimlessly without having one clearly in mind. 四处寻找。◆ I don't know what's the matter with him, he is just scrounging around all day long. 我不知道他是怎么回事，整天就在四处瞎找什么东西。2. To look around for a way to get a free drink or a free meal. 到处找白吃白喝的机会。◆ Sue and her husband are so broke they never eat properly; they just scrounge around from one place to the next until someone offers them something. 苏和她丈夫落魄不堪，从未吃过一顿像样的饭，他们只是四处乞讨，直到有人给他们一些东西吃。

scuttlebutt　n. phr, old naval expression Gossip. 〖老航海用语〗谣言；流言飞语。◆ "Did you hear the latest?" Ted asked his friend, Jim. "No, what's up?" "Well, they appointed Harvey Smith vice president of the company." "Are you sure?" "Not, not entirely; it may be just scuttlebutt." “听到最新消息了吗？”泰德问他的朋友吉姆。“没有啊，怎么啦？”“啊，他们任命哈维·史密斯为公司的副总裁。”“肯定吗？”“不，不能完全肯定，也许只是传言。”

sea legs　n. phr. 1. Adjustment to being in a boat that is rocking on the sea. 在颠簸的海船甲板上平稳行走的能力；不晕船的能力。◆ This is my first transatlantic trip so give me a day to get my sea legs before you make me dance. 这是我第一次坐船横渡大西洋，因此请给我一天时间适应船上的颠簸，然后再请我跳舞吧。2. Adjustment to a new job or situation. 适应新工作（或新环境）的能力。◆ "I have just been transferred here and I haven't found my sea legs yet," the new colleague joked. “我刚调到这儿来，还没有适应这儿的工作，”新来的同事开玩笑地说。

search me　informal I don't know; how should I know? —May be considered rude. 〖非正式〗我不知道；我怎么知道？——可能会被认为是粗鲁的说法。◆ When I asked her what time it was, she said, "Search me, I have no watch." 当我问她几点时，她说：“我怎么知道？我又没表。”

search one's heart or search one's soul　v. phr., formal To study your reasons and acts; try to discovery if you have been fair and honest. 〖正式〗反省；扪心自问。◆ The teacher searched his heart trying to decide if he had been unfair in failing Tom. 老师扪心自问，想判定自己不让汤姆及格是不是不公平。—heart-searching or soul-searching n. or adj. 深刻反省（的）。◆ The minister preached a soul-searching sermon about the thoughtless ways people hurt each other. 牧师就人们不为他人着想地相互伤害进行了一次令人反省的布道。

search out　v. To search for and discover; find or learn by hunting. 找出；查出；发现。◆ The police were trying to search out the real murderer. 警察正试图找出真正的凶手。

search with a fine-tooth comb　See 见FINE-TOOTH COMB.

seasonable weather　n. phr. Weather as one expects at the given season. 合时令的天气，正常的天气。◆We are having seasonable weather this spring in Chicago, which is unfortunately not always the case. 今年春天我们芝加哥的天气倒很正常，遗憾的是并非每年春天都是如此。

seat belt　n. A strong strap used to protect a person in a moving car or other vehicle by holding him in his seat. （汽车、飞机上的）安全带。◆Passengers in automobiles should wear seat belts for safety. 乘坐汽车的人应系好安全带以保安全。

second best　n. Something that is lower than or not quite as good as the best. 居第二位者；次于最好的东西。◆ There were ten boys in the race. Jack won and Fred was a close second best. 有10个男孩参加了赛跑。杰克名列第一，弗雷德相差不远，名列第二。

second best　adv. Second; in second place. 居第二位；次好地。◆ The team came off second best in the game. 该队在比赛中名列第二。

second-best　adj. Next to best; second in rank. 次于最好的；居第二位的。◆ Mary wore her second-best dress. 玛丽穿着她第二好的衣服。

second childhood　n. phr. Senility; dotage. 第二童年；老年昏聩状态。◆"Grandpa is in his second childhood; we must make allowances for him at the dinner table," my mother said, as Grandpa dropped food all over the place. 当爷爷把饭菜掉得满桌子都是时，母亲说：“爷爷老了，我们在饭桌上要体谅他。”

second class　n. 1. The second best or highest group; the class next after the first. 第二流；二级。◆ Joe was good enough in arithmetic to be put in the second class but was not good enough for the first. 乔的算术不错，可以列为第二流，但还没好到可以列为第一流。2. The place or quarters, especially on a ship, train, or airplane which people travel who pay the next to the highest fare. （火车车厢、轮船舱位、飞机座位的）二等。◆ Aunt May bought a ticket to travel in the second class on the boat trip. 梅阿姨买了一张二等舱的船票旅行。3. A class of mail that includes magazines and newspapers published at least four times a year. 第二类邮件。

second-class^1　adj. 1. Belonging in the class that is next to the highest or next best. 二级的；乙等的；第二流的；第二类的。◆ The periodical came as second-class mail. 这份期刊以第二类邮件寄出。2. Not so good as others; second-rate. 次的；第二等的；地位低下的。◆ They were never given full democratic rights but were always treated as second-class citizens. 他们从未得到过全部的民主权利，而一直被视为二等公民。

second-class^2　adv. By second class. 乘坐二等车（或舱等）。◆ We went second-class on the train to New York. 我们是乘坐二等火车去纽约的。

second cousin　n. A child of your father's or mother's first cousin. 第二代堂（或表）兄弟（或姐妹）（指父或母的堂表兄弟姐妹的子女）。◆ Mary and Jane are second cousins. 玛丽和简是第二代堂姐妹。

second-guess　v. phr. 1. To criticize another's decision with advantage of hindsight. 事后批评；事后评论。◆ The losing team's coach is always second-guessed. 败队的教练总是在事后受到批评。2. To guess what someone else intends or would think or do. 预测。◆ Television planners try to second-guess the public. 电视策划者总试图预测公众的想法。

secondhand　adj. Used; not new; pre-owned. 用过的；旧的；二手的。◆Sometimes a secondhand car is just as reliable as a brand new one. 有时候二手车与新车一样可靠。

second nature　n. Something done without any special effort, as if by natural instinct. 第二天性；习性。◆Cutting tall trees has become second nature to the experienced lumberjack. 对经验丰富的伐木工来说，砍伐高大的树木已成为第二天性。

second-rate　adj. Of mediocre or inferior quality. 第二流的；平庸的；质量差的。◆ The movie received a bad review; it was second-rate at best. 这部影片受到恶评，充其量不过是部二流片子。

second-run　adj. Of a movie: Shown in many movie theaters before, and allowed to be shown later in other movie theaters. （影片）第二轮放映的。◆ Tickets to second-run movies cost much less. 二轮影片的票价便宜很多。

second sight　n. phr. Intuition; prescience; clairvoyance. 直觉；预见力；洞察力。◆ Some police departments employ psychics to find missing persons or objects as they are said to have second sight. 一些警察部门雇用通灵人寻找失踪的人或物品，因为据说他们有超人的洞察力。

second thought　n. A change of ideas or opinions resulting from more thought or study. 进一步的考虑；重新的考虑。◆ Your second thoughts are very often wiser than your first ideas. 你再次考虑的结果常常比最初的想法更明智。

second to none　adj. phr. Excellent; first rate; peerless. 比谁都好的；首屈一指的；无与伦比的。 ◆ Our new State University campus is second to none. There is no need to pay all that high tuition at a private college. 我们新州立大学的校园不亚于任何大学。没有必要花费那么昂贵的学费进私立学院。

second wind also second breath　n. 1. The easier breathing that follows difficult breathing when one makes a severe physical effort, as in running or swimming.（激烈运动等力竭气急后的）恢复正常呼吸；换气。◆ We climbed with labored breathing for half an hour, but then got our second wind and went up more easily. 我们气喘吁吁地爬了半个小时，但随后换了口气就比较容易地爬了上去。2. in-formal The refreshed feeling you get after first becoming tired while doing something and then becoming used to it.〖非正式〗恢复精力；重振精神。◆ Tom became very tired of working at his algebra, but after a while he got his second wind and began to enjoy it. 汤姆做代数做厌了，但过了一会儿他振作起精神又开始兴致勃勃地做了起来。

section gang or section crew　n. A group of railroad workers who watch and repair a number of miles of track. （铁路）工段养路班。◆ The section crew was called out to fix the broken bridge. 工段养路班被召集起来去抢修断桥。

section hand　n. A worker who repairs railway track; one of the men in a section gang.（铁路）工段养路工。◆ The section hands moved off the track while the train went by. 火车驶过时，养路工离开铁轨站在一旁。

security blanket　n., slang, colloquial An idea, person, or object that one holds on to for psychological reassurance or comfort as infants usually hang on to the edge of a pillow, a towel, or a blanket. 〖俚〗〖口〗给人安全感的人（或物）。◆ Sue has gone to Aunt Mathilda for a chat; she is her security blanket. 苏去马蒂尔达姑妈那儿聊天了；姑妈是她最信赖的人。

see about　v. 1. To find out about; attend to. 注意；办理。◆ If you are too busy, I'll see about the train tickets. 如果你太忙，买火车票的事就由我负责。2. informal To consider; study. 〖非正式〗考虑；研究。◆ I cannot take time now but I'll see about your plan when I have time. 我现在抽不出时间，但一有时间我就会考虑你的计划的。

see a lot of　v. phr. To go out regularly with someone; have an affair with someone. 经常（与某人）一起外出；与（某人）有染。◆ They have been seeing a lot of each other lately. 他们最近经常见面。

see a man about a dog or see a man about a horse　v. phr. To go to the bathroom. 去洗手间，上厕所。◆ "Excuse me, but I have to go see a man about a dog," Peter said. "Go ahead. It's the second room on the left," his host replied. “请原谅，我要去一下洗手间，”彼得说。“去吧。左手第二个房间就是，”主人回答说。

see better days　v. phr. 1. To enjoy a better or happier life. 过更美好的生活。◆ Mr. Smith is poor now, but he will see better days. 史密斯先生现在很穷，但他会过上好日子的。2. To become old, damaged, or useless. —Used in the perfect tense. 变旧，变坏；变得无用。——用于完成时态。◆ Our car wasn't old, but it had seen better days. 我们的汽车并不旧，但因用得过多已快报废了。

see beyond one's nose or see beyond the end of one's nose　v. phr. To make wise judgments about questions of importance to yourself and others; act with farseeing understanding. —Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. 有先见之明；做事有远见。——用于否定句、条件句和疑问句。◆ He couldn't save money or make plans for the future; he just never saw beyond the end of his nose. 他从不会存钱，也不会为将来打算，他做事从来就没有远见。

see daylight　v. phr., informal To know that an end or success is near. 〖非正式〗看到成功的曙光；有希望。◆ We thought we would never finish building the house, but now we can see daylight. 我们原以为永远也盖不好这座房子了，但现在我们却看到了胜利的曙光。

seed money　n. phr. A small grant or donation for others to be able to start a new venture.（开办新企业的）种子基金。◆ All you need is some seed money and you can set up your own desk-top publishing firm. 你所需要的就是一些种子基金，然后你就可以建立起自己的桌面排版公司了。

see eye to eye　v. phr. To agree fully; hold exactly the same opinion. 看法完全一致；意见完全相同。◆ Though we did not usually agree, we saw eye to eye in the matter of reducing taxes. 虽然我们平时意见不一致，但在减税问题上却意见相同。

see fit or think fit　v. phr. To decide that an action is necessary, wise, or advisable; choose. 认为合适；选择。◆ Jim asked "Dad, what time should I come home after the dance?" His father answered, "You may do as you see fit." 吉姆问：“爸爸，舞会后我该什么时候回家？”父亲回答说：“在你认为合适的时候回来就行了。”

see how the cat jumps or see which way the cat jumps　v. phr. To see which way or how things will proceed; how matters will turn out. 看看形势如何变化（再作决定）；先观望一下形势（再行动）。◆ "What will happen when the new boss takes over?" Mike asked, worried. "We'll just have to see how the cat jumps." Peter tried to calm him down. “新老板接任后会发生什么情况呢？”迈克不无忧虑地问。“那只有先观望一下形势再说了，”彼得试图让他平静下来。

see how the land lies　v. phr., informal To reconnoiter; investigate. 〖非正式〗观察形势；调查。◆ Before going there in person to ask for a job, you had better see how the land lies and who does what. 在你亲自去那儿申请工作前，你最好先要弄清楚那儿的情况以及谁在做什么。

seeing is believing　Seeing something is good proof. 眼见为实。◆ Bill told Joe he had passed his test, but Joe said, "Seeing is believing." 比尔告诉乔说他考试及格了，但乔说：“我要看到了才相信。”

see into　v. To know or understand the real nature or meaning of. 了解；理解。◆ Suddenly the teacher saw into Linda's strange actions. 老师突然懂得了琳达为什么行为那么古怪。

see off　v. To go to say or wave goodbye to. 为（某人）送行。◆ When Marsha flew to Paris, Flo saw her off at the airport. 玛莎飞往巴黎时，弗洛去机场为她送行。

see one's way clear　v. phr. To know no reason for not doing something; feel that you are free. 觉得自己可以（做某事）；觉得自己有可能（做某事）。◆ John finally saw his way clear to help his friends. 约翰终于想出了帮助朋友们的办法。

see out　v. 1. To go with to an outer door. 送到门口。◆ A polite man sees his company out after a party. 一个有礼貌的人会在聚会后把朋友们送到门口。2. To stay with and finish; not quit. 坚持到结束；不放弃。◆ Pete's assignment was hard but he saw it out to the end. 要皮特做的事很难，但他坚持把它完成了。

see reason　v. phr. To think or act sensibly, especially after realizing what the facts are on a certain matter and accepting advice about it. 明白事理；接受劝告。◆ He finally saw reason and reshaped his sales strategy by lowering the prices. 他终于明白了事理重新制订了销售策略，降低了价格。

see red　v. phr., informal To become very angry. 〖非正式〗狂怒；怒不可遏。◆ Whenever anyone teased John about his weight, he saw red. 每当有人就约翰的体重取笑他时，他就会大发雷霆。

see service　v. phr. 1. To be used over a considerable period of time. 被用过很长时间。◆ This old camera of mine has already seen six years of service. 我的这个老相机已经用了6年了。 2. To serve in a military sense. 服役。◆ Colonel Hutchins has seen service in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. 哈钦斯上校曾在第二次世界大战、朝鲜战争、越南战争和波斯湾战争中服役。

see someone home　v. phr. To walk a person home. 步行送某人回家。◆ "Let me see you home, dear," Nick said to Jenny at the end of the party. 聚会结束时，尼克对珍妮说：“让我送你回家吧，亲爱的。”

see someone's point　v. phr. To agree with someone. 理解某人的意思；同意某人的意见。◆ "No matter how just, war is always costly," John said. "I see your point," Tom replied, nodding.“不管多么正义，战争总是代价惨重的，”约翰说。“我理解你的意思，”汤姆点着头回答说。

see stars　v. phr., informal To imagine you are seeing stars as a resuit of being hit on the head.〖非正式〗（头部受击后）眼冒金星。◆ When Ted was hit on the head by the ball, he saw stars. 当泰德的头被球击中时，他两眼直冒金星。

see the color of sb.'s money　v. phr., informal To know that you have money to spend.〖非正式〗看某人是否有钱。◆ Before I show you the diamond, let me see the color of your money. 先让我看看你是否有钱，我再把钻石拿给你看。

see the last of　v. phr. To say good-bye to someone or something; get rid of something. 对（某人或某物）说再见；摆脱。◆ We were glad to see the last of the winter. 我们很高兴冬天已经过去了。

see the light　v. phr., informal To understand or agree, often suddenly; accept another's explanation or decision.〖非正式〗（突然）明白过来；同意；接受别人的解释（或决定）。◆ Mary thought it was fun to date older boys but when they started drinking, she saw the light. 玛丽原以为和大一点的男孩们约会挺有意思，但当他们开始喝酒的时候，她才突然明白过来。

see the light at the end of the tunnel　v. phr., informal To anticipate the happy resolution of a prolonged period of problems. 〖非正式〗（历经艰辛之后）终于看到成功的希望。◆ We've been paying on our house mortgage for many years, but at long last we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 很多年来我们一直在偿还我们房子的按揭款，现在我们终于能看到成功的希望了。

see the light of day　v. phr. To be born or begun. 出生；问世。◆ The children visited the old house where their great-grandfather first saw the light of day. 孩子们参观了他们曾祖父出生时的老房子。

see things　v. phr., informal To imagine sights which are not real; think you see what is not there.〖非正式〗产生幻觉；以为看到了什么东西。◆ She woke her husband to tell him she had seen a face at the window, but he told her she was seeing things. 她喊醒丈夫对他说她看到窗口有一个人的脸，但丈夫对她说她是产生了幻觉。

see through　v. 1. To understand the real meaning of or reason for; realize the falseness of. 看穿；识破。◆ The teacher saw through the boy's story of having to help at home. 老师识破了那个男生说要在家里帮忙的谎言。2. To do (something) until finished; stay with until the end. 做完（某事）；把…干到底。◆ Once Charles started a job, he saw it through till it was finished. 查尔斯一旦开始一项工作总是把它干到底。3. To help and encourage (a person) through trouble or difficulty. 帮助或鼓励（某人）渡过难关。◆ Mrs. Miller saw Jane through her sickness. 简生病期间米勒太太一直帮忙照顾她。4. To be enough for; last. 足够；维持。◆ This money will see us through the week. 这笔钱够我们维持一周的生活。

see to also look to　v. To attend to; take care of; do whatever needs to be done about. 留意；照料；办理。 ◆ While Donna bought the theatre tickets, I saw to the parking of the car. 唐娜买电影票时，我去停车。

see to it　v. phr. To take care; take the responsibility; make sure. — Used with a noun clause. 照料；负责；保证。——与名词性从句连用。◆ We saw to it that the child was fed and bathed. 我们负责给孩子吃饭洗澡。

seize on　v. To make use of (a happening or idea.)利用。◆ Bob seized on the rain as an excuse for missing school. 鲍勃利用下雨作为不去上学的借口。

seize on or upon　v. phr. To latch onto. 抓住。◆ Whenever Herb is in a romantic mood, Irene seizes on it and starts talking about marriage, which is not what Herb had in mind. 每当赫布那股浪漫情调上来时，艾琳就抓住机会开始谈起结婚的事，但赫布并没想到要结婚。

seize the bull by the horns　See见TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

seize the opportunity　v. phr. To exploit a chance. 抓住机会。◆ His wealthy uncle offered to send him to Harvard and he wisely seized the opportunity. 他有钱的叔叔愿出钱送他去哈佛读书，而他则明智地抓住了这个机会。

self-conscious　adj. Embarrassed; shy. 尴尬的；害羞的。◆ Edith has a freckled face and sometimes she is very self-conscious about it. 伊迪丝脸上长了雀斑，这使她有时候觉得很难为情。

self-made　adj. Having achieved wealth, fame, and success on one's own without outside help. 白手起家的；靠自己奋斗成功的。◆ John D. Rockefeller is one of the most famous self-made men in America. 约翰·D 洛克菲勒是美国靠自己奋斗成功的最著名的人士之一。

self-possessed　adj. Confident; sure of oneself. 沉着的；自信的。◆ Before he made his first million, he used to be shy, but afterwards he became very self-possessed. 在赚到第一个百万之前他曾经很胆怯，但后来他就变得很自信了。

self-seeking　adj. Given to egotism and self-aggrandizement. 追逐私利的。◆ Al is the most self-seeking person I've ever met, he is not fun to be around. 艾尔是我见过的最追逐私利的人，跟他在一起一点意思也没有。

sell down the river　v. phr. To give harmful information about someone or something to one's enemies; betray. 出卖。◆The traitor sold his country down the river to the enemy army. 那个叛徒把自己国家的机密出卖给了敌军。

sell like hotcakes　v. phr. To be a bestseller, an extremely popular item. 销路好，卖得快。◆ John Grisham's mystery novels sell like hotcakes. 约翰·格里沙姆的疑案小说极为畅销。◆ After September 11, 2001, American flags sold like hotcakes. 2001年“9·11”之后，美国国旗极为畅销。

sell off　v. phr. To liquidate one's holdings of certain set items. 变卖；廉价出售。◆ The retired professor had to sell off his rare butterfly collection to meet his health expenses. 那位退休教授为了支付医疗费而不得不廉价出售他收藏的珍奇蝴蝶。

sellout　n. (stress on sell) （重读sell）A betrayal or act of treason. 出卖；背叛。◆ The spy's behavior during the Cold War was a classical sellout. 这名间谍在冷战期间的所作所为是典型的背叛行为。

sell out　v. (stress on out) （重读out）1a. To sell all of a certain thing which a store has in stock. 售完（某种货物）。◆ In the store's January white sale the sheets and pillowcases were sold out in two days. 在该店1 月份家用白色织物的削价销售中，两天就把床单与枕套全部卖光了。1b. To sell all the stock and close the store; go out of business. 停止营业；出盘。◆ The local hardware store sold out last month and was replaced by a cafe. 当地的五金商店上个月出盘，被一家咖啡馆取代。2. informal To be unfaithful to your country for money or other reward; be disloyal; sell a secret; accept a bribe. 〖非正式〗出卖；背叛；出售秘密；受贿。◆ In the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold sold out to the British. 独立战争时期，本尼迪克特·阿诺德叛变投降了英国人。

sell short　v. To think (a person or thing) less good or valuable than is true; underestimate. 轻视；低估。◆ Don't sell the team short; the players are better than you think. 不要低估这支球队，这些球员比你想象得要好。

sell snow to the Eskimos　v. phr. To sell something to people who already have a large quantity of the same or similar goods. 把雪卖给爱斯基摩人；把某物卖给最不需要的人。◆ My Alaskan friend said, "One of the hottest businesses in Alaska is refrigeration. You could say that I, as a refrigerator expert, am selling snow to the Eskimos." 我在阿拉斯加的朋友说：“阿拉斯加最热门的生意之一就是制冷。你可能会说，我作为一个冰箱专家是在向爱斯基摩人卖雪。”

sell someone a bill of goods　v. phr. To persuade another to acquire something useless; defraud. 说服某人买无用的东西；欺骗某人。◆ We were sure sold a bill of goods when Alfred persuaded us to buy his expensive custom-built car. 当艾尔弗雷德说服我们买下他那辆昂贵的定制汽车时，我们确实是受骗上当了。

sell someone on　v. phr. To persuade someone to do something. 说服某人（做某事）。◆ We were able to sell our wealthy uncle on the idea of having a joint family vacation in Hawaii. 我们得以说服我们有钱的叔叔接受了全家一起去夏威夷度假的想法。

send a message　v. phr. 1. To give off a signal, such as a scent or a call, notifying members of the opposite sex that the female of the species is in heat and is ready to mate.（发情的雌性动物）发出求偶信息；叫春。◆ The smell of the rutting does sent a strong message to the bucks throughout the entire forest. 发情时的气味给整个森林里的雄鹿发出了强烈的求偶信息。2. To make a geopolitical move or statement, which will be interpreted by the targeted foreign power or others about the originator's unspoken but clearly implied intentions and possibilities. 发出信息。◆ The United States sent a powerful message not only to the Middle East but the entire world by toppling the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in just one month. 美国只用一个月就推翻了伊拉克独裁者萨达姆·侯赛因的政权，从而不仅向中东而且向全世界发出了一个强有力的信息。

send C. O. D.　See见C. O. D.

send off　v. phr. (stress on off) （重读off） To say good-bye to someone ceremoniously. 举行仪式为（某人）送行。◆ They sent us off to the Mainland from our first visit to Hawaii with an elaborate champagne party at the pier. 我们第一次访问夏威夷要回美国大陆时，他们在码头上举行了一个精心准备的香槟酒会为我们送行。

send-off　n. phr. (stress on send)（重读send） A demonstration of affection or respect at someone's departure, as a retirement ceremony. 送别会；送行。◆ When our colleague retired after 35 years of teaching, we all got together at the Faculty Club and gave him a terrific send-off. 当我们的同事从教35年后要退休时，我们聚集在教员俱乐部为他举行了一次盛大的欢送会。

send someone packing　v. phr. To fire someone summarily. 突然解雇某人；叫某人卷铺盖走人。◆ When the boss caught Smith stealing from the cash register, he sent him packing.当老板撞见史密斯正在偷现金出纳机里的钱时，他立即解雇了他。

send to the minors　v. phr. To dismiss someone; tell them off; terminate a relationship. 把（某人）打发走；责备（某人）；结束关系。◆ "What did you do to your girlfriend?" Ernie asked Bert, when Bert started dating Jane. "I sent her to the minors," Bert answered with a sneer. 当伯特开始与简约会时，厄尼问他：“你对你原来的女朋友怎么啦？”“我和她分手了，”伯特嗤笑着回答说。

send up　v. phr., colloquial To sentence (someone) to prison.〖口〗判刑；把（某人）送进监狱。◆ Did you know that Milton Shaeffer was sent up for fifteen years? 你可知道米尔顿·谢弗被判了15年徒刑？

send word　v. phr. To send notification to; advise. 捎话；通知。◆ When his father fell seriously ill, we sent word to Mike to come home as quickly as possible. 当迈克的父亲病重时，我们带信让他尽快回家。

senior citizen　n. An older person, often one who has retired from active work or employment. 老年人；已退休的老人；已届退休年龄的老人。◆ Mrs. North, the history teacher, is a senior citizen. 历史教师诺思太太已届退休年龄。

separate the grain from the chaff　See见SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.

separate the men from the boys　v. phr., informal To show who has strength, courage and loyalty and find who do not. 〖非正式〗区分好汉与懦夫；找出真正的英雄好汉。◆ The mile run separates the men from the boys. 从一英里赛跑可以看出谁是真正的英雄好汉。

separate the sheep from the goats　See见SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.

serve a sentence　v. phr. To be in jail. 服刑；坐牢。◆ Charlie served four years of an eight-year sentence, after which he was paroled and released. 查理被判8年徒刑，服刑4年后获得假释被放了出来。

serve notice　v. phr. 1. To notify one's employer in a formal or legal manner that one is quitting the former's employment. 正式提出辞职。◆ She served notice to her boss that she was quitting because of marriage. 她因为结婚而向老板正式提出辞职。2. To notify an employee or a tenant that one no longer needs their services or wishes to have them as tenants. 通知解雇（某人）；通知（房客）搬走。◆ The new landlady served notice to several families in our building because they were late in paying their rent. 新房东太太正式通知我们楼里的几户人家搬走，因为他们迟迟未交房租。

serve someone right　v. phr. To be what (someone) really deserves as a punishment; be a fair exchange for what (someone) has done or said or failed to do or say. 给某人应得的惩罚。◆ He failed his exam; it served him right because he had not studied他考试没有及格；他这是活该，因为他不学习。

serve up　v. To prepare and serve (as a food). 端上（食物）。◆ Father caught a trout and Mother served it up at dinner. 父亲钓到一条鲑鱼，吃晚饭时母亲把它烧好端上了餐桌。

set ablaze　v. phr. To cause to bum by lighting with a match or other incendiary device.（用火柴或其他纵火工具）点燃。◆ The criminals poured gasoline on the house and set it ablaze with a small lighter. 那些罪犯把汽油浇在房子上，用一只小打火机点着了火。

set about　v. To begin; start. 开始。◆ Benjamin Franklin set about learning the printer's trade at an early age. 本杰明·富兰克林年纪很轻时候就开始学习印刷手艺了。

set aside　v. 1. To separate from the others in a group or collection. 分开。◆ She set aside the things in the old trunk which she wanted to keep. 她把旧箱子里想保存的东西分了开来。2.To select or choose from others for some purpose. 挑选。◆ The governor set aside a day for thanksgiving. 州长选定了一天作为感恩节。3. To pay no attention to (something); leave out. 不理会；忽视。◆ The complaint was set aside as of no importance. 这一抱怨被认为不重要而未予受理。4. formal To refuse to accept; annul; cancel as worthless or wrong. 〖正式〗驳回；撤销；宣布…无效。◆ The Supreme Court set aside the decision of the lower courts. 最高法院撤销了下级法院的判决。

setback　n. (stress onset) （重读set）A disadvantage; a delay. 挫折；失败；倒退。◆ We suffered a major setback when my wife lost her job. 我妻子失业时，我们遭到一次重大挫折。

set back　v. (stress on back) （重读back）1. To cause to put off or get behind schedule; slow up; check. 推迟；耽搁；阻碍。◆ The cold weather set back the planting by two weeks. 寒冷的天气使播种推迟了两周。2. informal To cause to pay out or to lose (a sum of money); cost. 〖非正式〗支付或损失（钱）；使花费。◆ His new car set him back over $3000. 他的新车花了他3000美元。

set back on sb.'s heels or knock back on sb.'s heels　v. phr., informal To give an unpleasant surprise; upset suddenly; stop or turn back (someone's) progress. 〖非正式〗使（某人）吃惊；突然惊扰（某人）；拖（某人）后腿。◆ Jean was doing very well in school until sickness knocked her back on her heels. 琼在校成绩一向很好，直到生病才使她有所退步。

set down　v. 1. To write; record. 写下；记下。◆ He set down all his important thoughts in his dairy. 他把自己所有重要的想法都记在日记里。2.To stop a bus or other vehicle and let (someone) get off. 让（某人）下车。◆ The bus driver set her down at the corner. 公共汽车司机让她在拐角处下了车。3. To put into some group; classify; consider. 归为；归类；认为。◆ When he heard the man speak, he set him down as a fool. 听完那人的演讲后，他认为他是个笨蛋。4. To explain; think a reason for. 解释；把…归因于。◆ The teacher set down the boy's poor English to his foreign birth. 老师把那个男孩的英语不好归因于他生在外国。

set fire to　v. phr. To cause to burn; start a fire in. 使燃烧；点燃。◆ The sparks set fire to the oily rags. 火花使浸了油的破布烧了起来。

set foot　v. phr. To step; walk; go. — Used with a negative. 跨步；走路。——通常与否定词连用。◆ She would not let him set foot across her threshold. 她不会让他踏进她的家门。

set forth　v., formal〖正式〗1. To explain exactly or clearly. 准确地解释；清楚地解释；阐明。◆ The President set forth his plans in a television talk. 总统在电视讲话中阐明了他的计划。2. To start to go somewhere; begin a trip. 出发；启程。◆ The troop set forth on their ten-mile hike early. 童子军中队一早就开始了他们的10英里远足。

set free　v. phr. To liberate. 释放；解放。◆ The trapper set all the small animals free before the snowstorm hit. 设陷阱捕兽者在暴风雪袭来前放走了所有小动物。

set in　v. To begin; start; develop. 开始；发展。◆ He did not keep the cut clean and infection set in. 他没有使伤口保持洁净，因而发生了感染。◆ The wind set in from the east. 风从东边吹过来。

set in one's ways　adj. phr. Stubborn; opinionated; unchangeable. 固执己见的；固定不变的。◆ My grand-father is so old and set in his ways that he'll eat nothing new. 我的祖父又老又固执，他不吃任何没吃过的东西。

set off　v. 1. To decorate through contrast; balance by difference. 衬托出。◆ A small gold pin set off her plain dark dress. 一枚小的金饰针使她那件平纹深色连衣裙更显眼。2. To balance; make somewhat equal. 平衡；抵消。◆Her great wealth, as he thought, set off her plain face. 他认为她的巨额财富足以弥补她平平的相貌。3a. To begin to go. 出发。◆ They set off for the West in a covered wagon. 他们乘着大篷车前往西部。3b. To cause to begin. 引起；引发。◆ An atomic explosion is created by setting off a chain reaction in the atom. 原子爆炸是在原子内部引发连锁反应产生的。3c. To cause to explode. 使爆炸；燃放。◆ On July 4 we set off firecrackers in many places. 7月4日我们在很多地方燃放鞭炮。

set of new threads　n. phr. New men's suit. 一套新男装。◆ "Nice set of new threads!" Ed said, when he saw Dave in his new tailor-made outfit. 埃德见戴夫穿着一套裁缝做的新服装便说：“好漂亮的一套新男装！”

set one's hand to the plow　See见PUT ONE'S HAND TO THE PLOW.

set one's heart on　v. phr. To want very much. 渴望；一心想。◆ He set his heart on that bike. 他很想得到那辆自行车。

set one's house in order　See见PUT ONE'S HOUSE IN ORDER.

set one's mind on　v. phr. To be determined to; decide to. 决心要；一心 想。◆ He has set his mind on buying an old chateau in France. 他一心想在法国买一座古城堡。

set one's sights　v. phr. 1. To want to reach; aim for. 想要达到；以…为目标。◆ John has set his sights higher than the job he has now. 约翰想获得比目前更好的工作。2. To wish to get or win. 想要得到（或赢得）。◆ Owen set his sights on the championship. 欧文想赢得冠军。

set out　v. 1. To leave on a journey or voyage. 动身；出发。◆ The Pilgrims set out for the New World. 清教徒们出发前往新大陆。2. To decide and begin to try; attempt. 决定尝试；试图。◆ George set out to improve his pitching. 乔治试图改进他的投球技术。3. To plant in the ground. 栽种。◆ The gardener set out some tomato seedlings. 园丁栽种了一些番茄幼苗。

set right　v. phr. To discipline; correct; indicate the correct procedure. 纠正。◆ "Your bookkeeping is all messed up," the accountant said. "Let me set it right for you, once and for all." “你记的账乱七八糟，”会计说。“让我替你整理一下吧，这样就一劳永逸了。”

set sail　v. phr. To begin a sea voyage; start sailing. 起航。◆ The ship set sail for Europe. 这艘船起航开往欧洲。

set sb.'s mind at rest　v. phr. To relieve someone's anxieties; reassure someone. 缓解某人的焦虑；使某人放心。◆ "Let me set your mind at rest about the operation," Dr. Vanek said. "You'll be back on your feet in a week." “让我来解除你对手术的疑虑吧，”范耐克医生说。“一周后你就能站来了。”

set sb.'s teeth on edge　v. phr. 1. To have a sharp sour taste that makes you rub your teeth together. 使某人的牙齿发酸。◆ The lemon juice set my teeth on edge. 柠檬汁使我的牙齿发酸。2. To make someone feel nervous or annoyed. 使某人感到紧张（或烦恼）。◆ She looks so mean that her face sets my teeth on edge. 她长得很难看，她那张脸让我很紧张。

set store by　v. phr., informal To like or value; want to keep. — Usedwith a qualifying word between set and store.〖非正式〗喜欢；重视；珍视。— set和store之间用一个修饰词。◆Pat doesn't set much store by Mike's advice. 帕特不怎么重视迈克的劝告。

set the pace　v. phr. To decide on a rate of speed of travel or rules that are followed by others. 定出速率；树立榜样。◆ Louise set the pace in selling tickets for the school play. 路易斯在销售学校戏剧演出的门票方面树立了榜样。

set the stage for　v. phr. To prepare the way or situation for (an event); to make a situation ready for something to happen. 为…作好准备；为…创造条件。◆ The country's economic problems set the stage for a depression. 该国的经济问题导致了经济萧条。

set the world on fire　v. phr., informal To do something outstanding; act in a way that attracts much attention or makes you famous.〖非正式〗做出惊天动地的事情；轰动一时。◆ John works hard, but he will never set the world on fire. 约翰工作很努力，但他永远也做不出惊天动地的事情来。

setting-up　adj. Done early in the morning to make you fresh and feel strong for the day. 徒手（体操）。◆ Tom jumped out of bed and did his setting-up exercises. 汤姆一跳下床便做徒手体操。

settle a score also wipe out an old score　v. phr. To hurt (someone) in return for a wrong or loss. 报宿怨；算旧账。◆ John settled an old score with Bob by beating him. 约翰打了鲍勃一顿以报宿怨。

settle down　v. 1. To live more quietly and sensibly; have a regular place to live and a regular job; stop acting wildly or carelessly, especially by growing up. 过安定的生活；定居下来；安顿下来。◆ John will settle down after he gets a job and gets married. 约翰在找到工作并结婚以后就将安顿下来。2. To become quiet, calm, or comfortable. 安静下来；舒舒服服地坐下来。◆ Father settled down with the newspaper. 父亲拿着报纸舒舒服服地坐了下来。

settle for　v. To be satisfied with (less); agree to; accept. 同意；接受。◆ Jim wanted $200 for his old car, but he settled for $100. 吉姆本想把他的旧车卖200美元，但100美元他也只好同意了。

settle on　v. phr. To decide which one to choose among various alternatives. 选定；决定。◆ My parents have been debating what kind of a car to get and have finally settled on a BMW from Germany. 我父母为买哪种汽车一直争论不休，最后才决定买一辆德国的宝马。

settle up　v. phr. To pay up; conclude monetary or other transactions. 付清；结清。◆ "Let's settle up," Carol's attorney said, when she sued Don for a hefty sum of money after their divorce. 当卡罗尔要求唐在他们离婚后付给她相当可观的一笔钱时，她的律师说：“咱们就一次结清吧。”

set to music　v. phr. To compose a musical accompaniment to verse. 为…谱曲；为…配乐。◆ Schubert and Beethoven both set to music many a famous poem by Goethe and Schiller. 舒伯特和贝多芬都曾为歌德和席勒的许多著名诗篇谱曲。

set up　v. 1. To provide the money for the necessities for. 资助…开业。◆ When he was twenty-one, his father set him up in the clothing business. 在他21岁时，父亲资助他经营服装业。2. To establish; start. 建立；开办。◆ The government has set up many hospitals for veterans of the armed forces. 政府已为退伍军人开办了很多医院。3. To make ready for use by putting the parts together or into their right place. 装配；安装。◆ The men set up the new printing press. 工人们将新的印刷机装配起来。4. To bring into being; cause. 使产生；引起。◆ Ocean tides are set up by the pull between earth and the moon. 海潮是由地球与月球之间的引力所引起的。5. To claim; pretend. 声称；自称。◆ He set himself up to be a graduate of a medical school, but he was not. 他自称是医学院的毕业生，但其实不是。6. To harm someone by entrapment or some other ruse. 设计陷害。◆ Joe was actually innocent of the robbery, but his "trusted friends" set him up, so the police found the gun in his car. 乔其实并没有参与抢劫，但他“可信的朋友们”设计陷害他，所以警察在他的汽车里找到了那支枪。

setup　n. phr. (stress on set) （重读set）1. Arrangement, management, circumstances. 安排；组织；环境。◆ Boy, you really have a wonderful setup in your office! 好家伙，你的办公室确实安排得井井有条啊！2. Financial arrangement. 财务安排。◆ It is a fairly generous setup sending your uncle $1,000 a month. 每月寄给你叔叔1000美元真是相当慷慨的资助。

set up shop　v. phr. To start a new business. 开店，开业。◆ Mary and Jane, who design and produce new women's clothing, decided to set up shop on Michigan Avenue. 设计并生产新式女性服装的玛丽和简决定在密歇根大街开店。

seventh heaven　n. phr., literary The pinnacle of happiness. 〖文〗七重天；极乐；极乐之地。◆ We were in seventh heaven when the helicopter flew us over the magnificent Grand Canyon. 当直升机载着我们飞越雄伟的大峡谷时，我们真是高兴极了。

seven twenty-four　adj. phr. A shop that stays open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.（每周7天、每天24小时营业的）7—24商店。◆ "When are you open?" Rose asked at the corner store. "We are a seven twenty-four place," the shop-keeper replied. 罗斯在街头小店问：“你们几点到几点开门营业？”店主回答说：“我们是一家7—24商店。”

sewed up　adj. phr., informal Won or arranged as you wish; decided. 〖非正式〗赢定了；如愿了；决定了。◆ Dick thought he had the job sewed up, but another boy got it. 迪克以为他一定会获得那份工作，但它却被另一个男孩得到了。

sexual harassment　n. phr. The act of constantly making unwanted advances of a sexual nature for which the offended party may seek legal redress. 性骚扰。◆ The court fined Wilbur Catwallender $750,000 for sexual harassment of two of his female employees. 威尔伯·凯特沃伦德因对他的两名女雇员进行性骚扰而被法院处以75万美元的罚款。

shack up with　v. phr., slang To move in with (someone) of the opposite sex without marrying the person. 〖俚〗与（异性）同居。◆ Did you know that Ollie and Sue aren't married? They just decided to shack up for a while. 你知道奥利和苏并未结婚吗？他们只是决定同居一段时间。

shadow of one's self or shadow of one's former self　n. phr. A person who has lost his or her former intellectual prowess, fame, or position, or a person who, due to illness, has become extremely thin and weak.（才气、名声、地位等）大不如前的人；（因疾病等）瘦弱得不成样子。◆ We were shocked when we saw poor Al when he came out of the hospital's cancer ward. He was but a shadow of his former self. 当我们看到可怜的艾尔从医院的癌症病房走出来时，我们都很震惊。他已经瘦得不成样子了。◆ The aged poet started to write again after twenty years of silence, but he is a shadow of himself. 沉默了20年后，老诗人又开始写诗了，但他的才气已大不如前。

shaggy dog (story)　n. phr. A special kind of joke whose long and often convoluted introduction and development delay the effect of the punch line. 冗长而不着边际的笑话。◆ Uncle Joe only seems to bore his audiences with his long shaggy dog jokes, for when he comes to the longawaited punch line, he gets very few laughs. 乔大叔不着边际的冗长笑话似乎只会使他的听众感到厌烦，因为当他讲到人们等候已久的妙句时，几乎无人发笑。

shake a leg　v. phr., slang To go fast; hurry. 〖俚〗快走；赶快。◆ Shake a leg！The bus won't wait. 快走！公共汽车是不等人的。

shakedown　n. (stress on shake)（重读shake）1. A test.（检查性的）试开（或试航）。◆ Let's take the new car out and give it a shakedown. 让我们把新车开出去试一下吧。2. An act of extorting money by threatening. 敲诈，勒索。◆ It was a nasty shakedown, to get $500 from the old man, promising to protect him. 以答应保护老人为名骗取500美元，真是卑鄙的敲诈。

shake down　v. phr.　(stress on down) （重读down）1. To cause to fall by shaking. 摇落。◆ He shook some pears down from the tree. 他从树上摇落了一些梨。2. informal To test, practice, get running smoothly (a ship or ship's crew). 〖非正式〗试航。◆ The captain shook down his new ship on a voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. 船长将他的新船开往地中海试航。3. slang To get money from by threats. 〖俚〗向…勒索◆ The gangsters shook the store owner down every month. 这帮歹徒每个月都勒索这家店主。

shake hands on　v. phr. To agree to a business transaction and seal it with a friendly handshake. 握手成（交）。◆ "All right," John said, "I accept your terms. Let's shake hands on it." “好，”约翰说，“我接受你的条件。让我们握手成交吧。”

shake in one's shoes or shake in one's boots　v. phr., informal To be very much afraid.〖非正式〗非常害怕；怕得发抖。◆ The robber shook in his boots when the police knocked on his door. 警察敲门时，那个盗贼吓得直哆嗦。

shake off　v., informal To get away from when followed; get rid of; escape from. 〖非正式〗摆脱…的跟踪；摆脱；逃脱。◆ Tom could not shake off his cold. 汤姆的感冒总是好不了。

shake the dust from one's feet　v. phr. To depart or leave with some measure of disgust or displeasure. 愤然离开；轻蔑地离开。◆ Jim was so unhappy in our small, provincial town that he was glad to shake the dust from his feet and move to New York. 吉姆在我们这个外地小镇过得很不开心，他很高兴离开了这里移居纽约。

shake up　v., informal (stress on up)（重读up）To bother; worry; disturb. 〖非正式〗打扰；使不安。◆ The notice about a cut in pay shook up everybody in the office. 关于降低薪水的通知使办公室的每个人深感不安。

shake-up　n. (stress on shake) (重读shake) A change; a reorganization. （政策等的）剧变；（人员的）大改组。◆ After the scandal there was a major shake-up in the Cabinet. 丑闻过后，内阁进行了一次大改组。

shape up　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. 开始表现好起来；开始好好工作；进展顺利。◆ "How is the building of the new gym coming along? " "Fine. It's shaping up very well." “新体育馆的建造进行得如何？”“很好。进展非常顺利。”2. To show promise. 有希望，有可能。◆ Plans for our picnic are shaping up very well. 我们的野餐计划大有实现的可能。

shape up or ship out　v. phr., informal To either improve one's disposition or behavior, or quit or leave. 〖非正式〗表现不好就调动（或解雇）◆ When Paul neglected to carry out his part of the research work that Professor Brown had assigned him with for the fifth time, the professor cried, "Shape up, or ship out, Paul. I have lost my patience with you!" 当保罗第5次忘记做好布朗教授布置给他的研究工作时，教授大声说道：“保罗，你再不好好工作就请你走人。我对你已失去了耐心！”

sharp as a tack　adj. phr. 1. Very neatly and stylishly dressed 穿着整洁时髦的。◆ That new boy always looks sharp as a tack in class. 那个新来的男生在班上总是穿得整洁时髦。2. Very intelligent; smart; quickwitted. 很聪明的；敏捷的。◆ Tom is sharp as a tack; he got 100 on every test. 汤姆很聪明，每次考试都得100 分。

shed light on or upon　See见CAST LIGHT ON; THROW LIGHT ON.

sheepskin　n. Diploma.（羊皮纸的）毕业文凭。◆ Dr. Miller has half a dozen different sheepskins hanging on the wall of his office. 米勒博士在他办公室的墙上挂着6张不同的毕业证书。

shell out　v., informal To pay or spend.〖非正式〗付（款）；花费。◆ Dick had to shell out a lot of money for his new car. 迪克得为他的新车花费一大笔钱。

she's joined the club　v. phr., slang To have become pregnant. 〖俚〗她已经怀孕了。◆ "Why does your sister Suzie look so pale?" Joan inquired. "She's joined the club," Mary, Sue's sister replied. "She's due in December." “你姐姐苏茜为什么面色那么苍白？”琼问。“她已经怀孕了，”苏茜的妹妹玛丽回答说。“她预计12月份生孩子。”

shift for oneself　v. phr. To live or act independently with no help, guidance or protection from others; take care of yourself. 自力更生；自谋生计；自己照顾自己。◆ Mrs. McCarthy was forced to shift for herself after her husband died. 在丈夫去世后，麦卡锡太太被迫自谋生计。

shine up to　v., slang To try to please; try to make friends with. 〖俚〗百般讨好。◆ Smedley shines up to all the pretty girls. 斯梅德利对所有漂亮的女孩都大献殷勤。

ship comes in　All the money a person has wished for is received; wealth comes to a person. — Used with a possessive. 发财；成为富人。——与物主代词连用。◆ Mr. Brown is just waiting for his ship to come in. 布朗先生整天都盼着成为富翁。

ship out　v. To begin a journey; leave. 启程；（乘船）离开。◆ The army group shipped out for the Far East today. 集团军群今天已启程前往远东。

shipshape　adj. In perfect condition; in good order. 整齐的；整洁的；井井有条的。◆ After we left the islands, we left the rented car shipshape for the next driver. 我们离开群岛时，将租来的汽车收拾得干干净净留给下一位驾驶者。

ships that pass in the night　n. phr. Casual acquaintances or one-time lovers, who will probably never see each other again. 萍水相逢的人；一夜情的恋人。◆ Tim and Lorraine were just ships that pass in the night. 蒂姆和洛兰只是一夜情的恋人。

shirk one's duty　v. phr. To be negligent or irresponsible. 逃避责任。◆ If you continue to shirk your duty, you can expect to be fired. 你如果继续逃避责任，就会被解雇。

shit-faced　adj. vulgar, avoidable Very drunk.〖粗〗〖忌〗醉醺醺的。◆ John was too drunk to talk to the guests, he just sat there, shit-faced. 约翰已醉得无法跟客人们交谈，他只是醉醺醺地坐在那儿。

shit hits the fan　v. phr. vulgar, avoidable Indicative of grave or exciting consequences. 〖粗〗〖忌〗灾难临头；后果严重；好戏还在后头。◆ Just wait until the governor hear what happened — then the shit will hit the fan. 那就等州长听到发生的事情以后再说吧——到时候就要灾难临头了。

shit——or get off the pot　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable Given as advice or command meaning, "Do or at least try to do the job, or let someone else do it." 〖粗〗〖忌〗要么拉屎要么让出马桶；要干就干，不干就让别人干。◆ "What are the working conditions around here? " John asked Tom. "They are all straight shooters around here; the general mood can be characterized as 'shit — or get off the pot!'" “这儿的工作条件怎么样？”约翰问汤姆。“他们这儿都是些说话直截了当的正派人，总的气氛可以描绘为‘要干就好好干，不想干就滚蛋！’”

shoe on the other foot　The opposite is true; places are changed. 情况完全相反；位置已经颠倒。◆ He was my captain in the army but now the shoe is on the other foot. 以前在陆军时他是我的上尉，但现在我却成了他的老板。

shoestring catch　n. A catch of a hit baseball just before it hits the ground.（棒）球即将落地前的接杀。◆ The left fielder made a shoestring catch of a line drive to end the inning. 左场手接住了一个即将落地的平直球从而结束了这一局。

shoo away　v. phr. To frighten orchase away. 用“嘘”声赶走；吓走。◆ When the children gathered around the new sports car, we shooed them away. 当孩子们聚集到新赛车周围时，我们把他们赶走了。

shoo-in　n., informal Someone or something that is expected to win; a favorite; sure winner. 〖非正式〗稳操胜券的人（或马）。◆ Chris is a shoo-in to win a scholarship. 克里斯肯定会赢得奖学金。◆ This horse is a shoo-in. He can't miss winning. 这匹马稳操胜券，绝不会输。

shoot ahead of or past or through or alongside of　v. phr. To move or drive ahead rapidly. 迅速超过。◆ As we had to slow down before the tunnel, a red sports car shot ahead of us. 当我们在隧道前不得不减速时，一辆红色赛车快速超越了我们。

shoot for the stars　v. phr. To set very high expectations for oneself; aim high. 有远大志向；胸怀大志。◆ My brother John wants to be president of the United States; he is a very ambitious fellow who's shooting for the stars. 我哥哥约翰想当美国总统，他是一个胸怀大志、雄心勃勃的家伙。

shoot from the hip　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To fire a gun held at the hip without aiming by aligning the barrel with one's eye. 拔枪就射。◆ In many Western movies the heroic sheriff defeats the villains by shooting from the hip. 在很多西部片中，英勇的治安官常常拔枪就射从而击败那些恶棍。2. To speak sincerely, frankly, and without subterfuge. 说话真诚；坦率直言。◆ "What kind of an administrator will Mr. Brown be?" the head of the search committee asked. "He shoots straight from the hip," he was assured.“布朗先生会是怎样一种行政官员呢？”调查委员会的主任问。“他是那种有话直说的人，”人们的回答让他放心了。

shoot off one's mouth or shoot off one's face　v. phr., slang To give opinions without knowing all the facts; talk as if you know every-thing. 〖俚〗胡扯；随便乱说。◆ I want to study the problem before I shoot off my face. 我要先研究一下这个问题，然后再发表我的看法。

shoot one's wad　v. phr. slang, colloquial〖俚〗〖口〗1. To spend all of one's money. 花光所有的钱。◆ We've shot our wad for the summer and can't buy any new garden furniture. 我们在夏天把钱都花光了，再也不能买任何新的花园设备了。2. To say everything that is on one's mind. 说出想说的话；畅所欲言。◆ Joe feels a lot better now that he's shot his wad at the meeting. 乔在会上把想说的话都说出来了，所以心里舒畅多了。

shoot out　v. To fight with guns until one person or side is wounded or killed; settle a fight by shooting. — Used with it. 开枪决斗；用枪解决（争端）。——与it连用。◆ The cornered bank robbers decided to shoot it out with the police. 被逼入困境的银行抢劫犯决定与警察决一死战。

shoot questions at　v. phr. To interrogate rapidly and vigorously. 连珠炮似的向…发问；向…提出一系列的问题。◆ The attorney for the prosecution shot one question after another at the nervous witness. 原告律师向那位紧张的证人连珠炮似的问了一个又一个问题。

shoot straight or shoot square　v., informal To act fairly; deal honestly. 〖非正式〗举止公正；办事诚实。◆ You can trust that salesman; he shoots straight with his customers. 你可以相信那位售货员，他对顾客童叟无欺。◆We get along well because we always shoot square with each other. 我们相处融洽，因为我们彼此一直坦诚相待。— straight shooter or square shooter n., informal 〖非正式〗正派人。◆ Bill is a square-shooter. 比尔是个正派人。— straight-shooting adj. 正派的；公正的。◆ The boys all liked the straight-shooting coach. 男孩子们都喜欢那位公正的教练。

shoot the breeze or bat the breeze or fan the breeze or shoot the bull　v. phr., slang To talk. 〖俚〗聊天。◆ Jim shot the breeze with his neighbor while the children were playing. 孩子们在玩耍时，吉姆与邻居在聊天。◆ The fishermen were shooting the bull about the school of sailfish they had seen. 渔民们在谈论他们看到的那一群旗鱼。

shoot the works　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To spare no expense or effort; get or give everything. 不惜代价；不遗余力；得到一切；倾其所有。◆ Billy shot the works when he bought his bicycle; he got a bell, a light, a basket, and chrome trimmings on it, too. 比利买自行车时把该买的都买了，包括车铃、车灯、篮子和镀铬装饰物。2. To go the limit; take a risk. 孤注一掷；冒险。◆ The motor of Tom's boat was dangerously hot, but he decided to shoot the works and try to win the race. 汤姆船上的马达已经热到很危险的程度，但他仍决定孤注一掷，力争赢得比赛。

shoot up　v. 1. To grow quickly. 快速成长；迅速长高。◆ Billy had always been a small boy, but when he was thirteen years old he began to shoot up. 比利一直是个矮小的男孩，但到了13岁时就开始一下子长高了。2. To arise suddenly. 突然升起。◆ As we watched, flames shot up from the roof of the barn. 我们正看着，火焰突然从谷仓顶上喷了出来。3. informal To shoot or shoot at recklessly; shoot and hurt badly.〖非正式〗开枪乱射；开枪打伤。◆ The cowboys got drunk and shot up the bar room. 牛仔们喝醉了，在酒吧里开枪乱射。◆ The soldier was shot up very badly. 那位士兵被严重射伤。4. To take drugs by injection. 注射毒品。◆ A heroin addict will shoot up as often as he can. 吸海洛因成瘾的人经常要注射毒品。

shop around for　v. phr. To make the rounds of various commercial establishments in order to find the most economical answer for one's needs. 逐店选购；搜寻；到处寻找。◆ We've been shopping around for a larger condominium that is affordable, and near the university. 我们一直在四处寻找离大学近且租金不太贵的大一点的公寓。

shoplifter　n. A thief who steals things from a store. 商店货物扒手。◆ The TV camera identified the shoplifter, who was then arrested and sentenced to jail. 电视摄像头确认了那个商店扒手，他随后被捕并被判入狱。

shopworn　adj. A piece of merchandise that is offered below the usual price because it is slightly damaged or soiled. 在商店中陈列旧了的（或坏了的）。◆ Although shopworn, the jacket was perfectly usable, so he eagerly bought it. 虽然有点旧了，但那件夹克衫还完全可以穿，所以他急切地买下了。

shore leave　n. Permission given to a man in the navy to leave his ship and go where he wants for a certain length of time.（海员的）登岸假。◆ The ship did not dock long enough for the sailors to get shore leave. 该船停泊的时间不长，海员们得不到登岸假。

shore patrol　n. The police of a navy. 岸上宪兵队。◆ The sailors who were fighting in town were arrested by the shore patrol. 在城内打架的水兵被岸上宪兵队逮捕了。

shore up　v. To add support to (something) where weakness is shown; make (something) stronger where support is needed; support. 支撑；加固；支持。◆ When the flood waters weakened the bridge, it was shored up with steel beams and sandbags until it could be rebuilt. 当洪水冲坏了桥梁时，人们用钢梁和沙袋予以加固以待重建。

short and sweet　adj. Brief and to the point. 简短扼要的。◆ Henry's note to his father was short and sweet. He wrote, "Dear Dad, please send me $50. Love, Henry." 亨利写给父亲的信简短扼要。他写道：“亲爱的爸爸，请寄我50美元。爱你的亨利。”

shortchange　v. phr. To return less money to a customer in a store than is coming to him or her; cheat. 少找零钱；欺骗。◆ I was short-changed by the cashier when I got seven dollars back instead of eight. 收银员少给了我找头，应该找我8美元，可我只拿到7美元。

shortcut　n. A road shorter than the one that people normally take. 近路；捷径。◆ We can save twenty minutes if we take this shortcut over the hill. 如果我们走山上这条近路就可以节省20分钟。

short end　n. The worst or most unpleasant part. 吃亏的事情。◆ The new boy got the short end of it because all the comfortable beds in the dormitory had been taken before he arrived. 新来的男孩吃亏了，因为在他到来之前宿舍里所有舒适的床位都已经被占了。

shorthanded　adj. Understaffed; short on workers. 人手不足的。◆ With several employees gone for the holiday weekend and two dozen people in line, the rent-a-car agency suddenly found itself terribly short-handed. 因有好几名雇员在周末休假，而却有20多人在排队等着租车，所以租车公司突然变得人手奇缺。

short haul　n. A short distance; a short trip. 短距离；短途旅行。◆ The Scoutmaster said that it was just a short haul to the lake. 童子军团长说这只是一次去湖边的短途旅行。

short list or short-listed　v. phr. To place on the list of select finalists for a job. 把…列入供最后选择的名单。◆ Only three of the twenty-seven applicants were short-listed for the assistant professorial vacancy in our department. 27名申请人中仅有3人被列入我们系一名助理教授空缺的候选名单。

short of^1　adj. phr. 1. Less or worse than. 少于；不及；未达到。◆ Don't do anything short of your best. 干任何事情都要竭尽全力。2. Not having enough. 不足；缺少。◆ We did not buy anything because we were short of money. 我们什么也没买，因为我们没有足够的钱。

short of^2　adv. phr. Away from; at a distance from. 距离；离开。◆The day's drive still left us a hundred miles short of the ocean. 开了一天车，我们离大海还有100英里。

short of breath　adj. Panting and wheezing. 喘不过气来；呼吸短促。◆ He ran up six flights of stairs so rapidly that he was short of breath for several minutes. 他飞快地往上跑了6段楼梯，结果有好几分钟喘不过气来。

short-order cook　n. A person who prepares food that cooks quickly. 快餐厨子。◆ Bruce found a summer job as a short-order cook in a drivein restaurant. 布鲁斯在一家“免下车”餐馆找到一份快餐厨子的暑期工作。

short shrift　n. Little or no attention. —Usually used with get or give淡的对待；冷遇；怠慢。——通常与get或give连用。◆ In books about jobs, women's work is consistently given short shrift. 在有关职业的书中，妇女的工作总是不受重视。

short-spoken　adj. Using so few words that you seem impatient or angry; speaking in a short impatient way; saying as little as possible in an unfriendly way. 说话简短的；简慢的；不耐烦的。◆ Jim is always short-spoken when he is tired. 吉姆疲倦的时候说话总是不耐烦。

shot across the bow　n. phr., naval expression A warning shot, physical or verbal, in which the enemy is put on notice that unless they surrender, they will be fired at. 〖海军用语〗警告。◆ The president's speech was a shot across the bow of Syria, when he demanded that escaped Iraqi leaders not be given asylum there. 当总统要求叙利亚不得让逃跑的伊拉克领导人在那里避难时，他的讲话对叙利亚是一种警告。

shot in the arm　n. phr., informal Something inspiring or encouraging. 〖非正式〗激励；鼓舞。◆ We were ready to quit, but the coach's talk was a shot in the arm. 我们已准备放弃，但教练的一席话激励了我们。hot in the dark　n. phr. An attempt without much hope or chance of succeeding; a wild guess. 瞎猜。◆ It was just a shot in the dark, but I got the right answer to the teacher's question. 我只是瞎猜，却猜对了老师所提问题的答案。

shot through with　Full of. 充满。◆ His speech was shot through with praise for the president. 他的演说充满了对总统的赞扬。

shoulder the burden or shoulder the task　v. phr. To undertake carrying out a duty, a task, or repaying a debt. 肩负重任，挑重担；承担任务。◆ John is shouldering the burden of his children's education even after his divorce from Sally. 即使在与萨莉离婚后，约翰仍在承担着子女教育的重担。◆ The vice president of the company should shoulder the task of running the place when the president is sick. 公司总裁生病时，副总裁应肩负起经营公司的重任。

shoulder to cry on or to lean on　n. phr. A sympathetic person who is willing to listen to one's complaints and troubles. 愿意倾听别人烦恼的有同情心的人。◆ When Ken left her, Donna needed a shoulder to lean on, and Bob was right there to fill the role. 在肯离开她后，唐娜需要一个可以倾诉的人，而鲍勃适时地扮演了这一角色。

shoulder to shoulder　adv. phr. 1. One beside the other; together. 并肩地；一起。◆ The three boys were shoulder to shoulder all during the working hours. 整个工作期间那3个男孩一直在一起。Compare比较SIDE BY SIDE. 2. Each helping the other; in agreement; together. — Often used with stand. 互相帮助；齐心协力地。——通常与stand连用。◆ We can win the fight if we all stand shoulder to shoulder. 如果我们齐心协力一定能打赢这一仗。

shout down　v. To object loudly to; defeat by shouting. 大声反对；用叫喊声压倒。◆ The crowd shouted down the Mayor's suggestions. 人群大声反对市长的建议。

shout from the housetops or shout from the rooftops　v. phr., informal To tell everyone; broadcast, especially one's own personal business.〖非正式〗告诉大家；高声宣布。◆ Mr. Clark was so happy when his son was born that he shouted the news from the housetops. 克拉克先生的儿子出生时，他高兴得逢人便宣布这一消息。

shove down sb.'s throat or ram down sb.'s throat　v. phr., informal To force you to do or agree to (something not wanted or liked.) 〖非正式〗强迫某人做或同意（某事）。◆ We didn't want Mr. Bly to speak at our banquet, but the planning committee shoved him down our throats. 我们不想让布莱先生在我们的宴会中讲话，但筹备委员会强迫我们同意他讲。

show around　v. phr. To act as a host or guide to someone; to show newly arrived people or strangers what's what and where. 带领…参观。◆ When Gordon and Rose arrived in Hawaii for the first time, their host showed them around the islands. 戈登和罗斯初次到夏威夷时，主人带领他们参观了群岛。

show cause　v. phr. To give a reason or explanation. 提出理由；作出解释。◆ The judge asked the defendants to show cause why they should not be held without bail. 法官让被告们提出要求保释的理由。

showdown　n. (stress on show) （重读show）A final challenge or confrontation during which both sides have to use all of their resources. 摊牌；最后的决战。◆ You cannot know a country's military strength until a final showdown occurs. 直到最后决战时才能知道一个国家的军事实力。

showgirl　n. One who works as an entertainer in a bar or nightclub, musical show, etc. 歌舞女演员。◆ Several famous Hollywood stars actually started their careers as showgirls. 有一些著名的好莱坞明星其实是做歌舞女郎开始其职业生涯的。

show in or out or up or to the door　v. phr. To usher; conduct; accompany. 领进；送出；领上楼；送到门口。◆ "My husband will show you in," Mary said to the guests when they arrived at the door. 当客人们来到门口时，玛丽对他们说：“我丈夫会领你们进去的。”

showoff　n. (stress on show) （重读show）A boastful person. 爱炫耀的人；爱卖弄的人。◆ Jim always has to be the center of attention; he is an insufferable showoff. 吉姆一直要成为众人注目的中心；他是个令人难以忍受的喜欢卖弄的人。

show off　v. phr. (stress on off) （重读off） 1. To put out nicely for people to see; display; exhibit. 炫耀；展示；展览。◆ The Science Fair gave Julia a chance to show off her shell collection. 科学展览会给了朱莉亚一个展示其贝壳藏品的机会。2. informal To try to attract attention; also, try to attract attention to.〖非正式〗炫耀；卖弄。◆ Joe hasn't missed a chance to show off his muscles since that pretty girl moved in next door. 自从那个漂亮的女孩搬入隔壁后，乔从未错过炫耀其肌肉的机会。

show of hands　n. phr. An open vote during a meeting when those who vote "yes" and those who vote "no" hold up their hands to be counted. 举手表决。◆ The chairman said, "I'd like to see a show of hands if we're ready for the vote." 主席说：“如果我们已准备好选举的话现在就请大家举手表决。”

show one's colors　v. phr. 1. To show what you are really like. 露出真面目。◆ We thought Toby was timid, but he showed his colors when he rescued the ponies from the burning barn. 我们原以为托比很胆小，但当他从失火的谷仓里救出那些小马时，他却显示出其本色。2. To make known what you think or plan to do. 宣布计划；表明立场。◆ Mr. Ryder is afraid that he will lose the election if he shows his colors on civil rights. 赖德先生担心，如果他表明自己对公民权利的立场，他就会在选举中失败。

show one's face　v. phr. To be seen; appear. 露脸；出现。◆ After cheating on the test, Chris was ashamed to show his face. 考试作弊后，克里斯便羞于露面了。

show one's hand　v. phr. To reveal or exhibit one's true and hitherto hidden purpose. 表明自己的真正目的；暴露自己隐蔽的意图。◆ Only after becoming Chancellor of Germany did Adolf Hitler really show his hand and reveal that he intended to take over other countries. 只是在当上德国总理后，阿道尔夫·希特勒才表明了自己的真实目的，暴露出他想接管其他国家的意图。

show one's teeth　v. phr. To show anger; show belligerence. 发怒；显示好斗性。◆ He is a very mild, private person, but during a tough business negotiation he knows how to show his teeth. 他是个非常温和而内向的人，但在激烈的生意谈判中他也懂得如何显示好斗的一面。

show one's true colors　See见SHOW ONE'S COLORS.

show the door　v. phr. To ask (someone) to go away. 请（某人）离开；对（某人）下逐客令。◆ Our neighbors invited themselves to the party and stayed until Harry showed them the door. 我们的邻居不请自来参加我们的聚会，直到哈里对他们下了逐客令才走。

show the white feather　v. phr. To show signs of cowardice. 显示懦弱，显示胆怯。◆ The gang beat up the new member because he showed the white feather when the police arrived. 那帮歹徒把那个新入伙的成员痛打了一顿，因为他在警察来时表现得很怯懦。

show up　v. (stress on up) （重读up）1. To make known the real truth about (someone). 暴露；揭露。◆The man said he was a mind reader, but he was shown up as a fake. 那人说他能看透别人的心思，但事实证明他是个骗子。2. To come or bring out; become or make easy to see. 显露；（使）显而易见。◆ This test shows up your weaknesses in arithmetic. 这次测验显示出你在算术上的不足。3. informal To come; appear. 〖非正式〗出现，来到；露面。◆ We had agreed to meet at the gym, but Larry didn't show up. 我们说好在体育馆见面的，但拉里却没有来。

shrug off　v. To act as if you are not interested and do not care about something; not mind; not let your-self be bothered or hurt by. 对…毫不介意；不在乎；对…不予理睬。◆ Alan shrugged off our questions; he would not tell us what had happened. 艾伦不理睬我们的问题，不肯告诉我们发生了什么事。

shudder to think　v. phr. To be afraid; hate to think about something. 怕得不敢想；不愿考虑（某事）；一想到…就不寒而栗。◆ The professor is so strict I shudder to think what his final exam questions will be like. 教授很严厉，一想到他期终考试会出什么题目我就不寒而栗。

shuffle off this mortal coil　v. phr., formal, chiefly British To die (from Shakespeare's Hamlet) 〖正式〗〖主英〗（源出莎士比亚《哈姆雷特》）摆脱尘世的烦恼；死。◆ "When will you leave me your estate, Father?" David inquired from his dad. "Not before I shuffle off this mortal coil," the father replied with a sour smile. “父亲，你什么时候把你的家产留给我呀？”戴维问他的爸爸。“要等我摆脱了尘世的烦恼死了以后吧，”父亲苦笑着回答说。

shut-eye　n., slang Sleep. 〖俚〗睡觉◆It's very late. We'd better get some shut-eye. 很晚了，我们最好还是睡一会儿吧。◆ I'm going to get some shuteye before the game. 比赛前我要睡一会儿。

shut off　v. 1. To make (something like water or electricity) stop coming. 关掉。◆ Please shut off the hose before the grass gets too wet. 请将水管关掉，不要把草地浇得太湿。2. To be apart; be separated from; also to separate from.（使）隔离；隔绝。◆ Our camp is so far from the highway we feel shut off from the world when we are there. 我们的营地离公路太远，我们在那里有与世隔绝之感。

shut out　v. 1. To prevent from coming in; block. 把…关在外面；不让…入内；阻挡。◆ During World War II, Malta managed to shut out most of the Italian and German bombers by throwing up an effective antiaircraft screen. 第二次世界大战期间，马耳他匆匆建成了一道有效的防空屏幕，阻挡住了意大利和德国的大部分轰炸机。2. To prevent (an opposing team) from scoring throughout an entire game.（在比赛中）使（对方）不能得分。◆ The Dodgers shut out the Reds, 5-0. 道奇队使红人队一分未得，以5比0获胜。

shut the door　See见CLOSE THE DOOR.

shut up　v. 1. informal To stop talking.〖非正式〗闭嘴。◆ Shut up and let Joe say something. 闭嘴，让乔讲几句吧。◆ If you'll shut up for a minute, I'll tell you our plan. 如果你能闭一会儿嘴，我就把我们的计划告诉你。2. To close the doors and windows of. 关上…的全部门窗。◆ We got the house shut up only minutes before the storm hit. 在暴风雨袭来前几分钟我们才把房内的全部门窗关好。3. To close and lock for a definite period of time. 关闭；锁住。◆ The Smiths always spend Labor Day shutting up their summer home for the year. 史密斯家总是在劳工节那天把他们的避暑别墅关好等下一年再来。4.To confine. 把…关起来；监禁；禁闭。◆ That dog bites. It should be shut up. 那只狗会咬人，应该把它关起来。

shut your trap　See见SHUT UP.

shy away or shy off　v. To avoid; seem frightened or nervous. 回避；惊退。◆ The boys shied away from our questions. 男孩子们回避了我们的问题。◆ The horse shied off when Johnny tried to mount it. 当约翰尼想骑上马时，马却惊慌地躲开了。

sick and tired　adj. Feeling strong dislike for something repeated or continued too long; exasperated; annoyed. 对…极为厌烦的；恼怒的。◆ John is sick and tired of having his studies interrupted. 约翰对学习时被人打断感到很恼火。◆ I've been studying all day, and I'm sick and tired of it. 我已学习了一整天，现在厌烦极了。

sick at heart　adj. phr. Very sad; regretful; longingly desirous. 非常伤心的；懊悔的；大为失望的。◆ Poor Mary was sick at heart for over a year after her husband left her for a younger woman. 在丈夫为了一个更年轻的女人而遗弃了她以后，可怜的玛丽伤心难过了一年多时间。

side against　v. To join or be on the side that is against; disagree with; oppose. 站在反对…的一边；不同意；反对。◆ Bill and Joe sided against me in the argument. 比尔和乔在辩论中联合起来反对我。◆ We sided against the plan to go by plane. 我们反对坐飞机去的计划。

side by side　adv. 1. One beside the other in a row. 肩并肩地；并排。◆ Charles and John are neighbors; they live side by side on Elm Street. 查尔斯和约翰是邻居，他们并排住在榆树街上。2. Close together. 一起。◆ The two boys played side by side all afternoon. 那两个男孩在一起玩了一个下午。

sidekick　n. A companion; a close friend of lesser status. 伙伴；密友；助手。◆ Wherever you see Dr. Howell, Dr. Percy, his youthful sidekick is sure to be present as well. 无论你在哪儿见到豪厄尔博士，他的年轻助手珀西博士也肯定会在现场。

side street　n. A street that runs into and ends at a main street. 小街。◆ The store is on a side street just off Main Street. 这家商店就在大街旁边的一条小街上。

side with　v. To agree with; help. 同意；帮助。◆ Alan always sides with Johnny in an argument. 艾伦在辩论中总是站在约翰尼一边。◆ Gerald sided with the plan to move the club. 杰拉尔德支持俱乐部移址的计划。

sight for sore eyes　n. phr., informal A welcome sight.〖非正式〗乐于看到的人（或物）；极受欢迎的人（或物）。◆ After our long, dusty hike, the pond was a sight for sore eyes. 我们经过一路尘土飞扬的长途跋涉，看到那个池塘真令人高兴。◆ "Jack! You're a sight for sore eyes!"“杰克，见到你真叫人高兴！”

sight-read　v. To be able to play music without memorization by reading the sheet music and immediately playing it. 无需事先练习看谱即可演奏（乐曲）。◆ Experienced, good musicians are expected to be able to sight-read. 经验丰富的优秀音乐家应能看到乐谱就可演奏。

sight unseen　adv. phr. Before seeing it; before seeing her, him, or them. 在未见过人或物的情况下。◆ Tom read an ad about a car and sent the money for it sight unseen. 汤姆看到了一则汽车广告，连车也没看到就把买车的钱寄去了。

signed, sealed, and delivered　adj. phr. Finished; completed; in a state of completion. 签名、盖章、交付了；完成了；一切手续都完备了。◆ "How is the campus renovation plan for the governor's office coming along?" the dean of the college asked. "Signed, sealed, and delivered," his assistant answered.“送交州长办公室的校园整修计划进行得怎么样了？”学院院长问。“一切都办妥了，”院长助理回答说。

sign in　v. To write your name on a special list or in a record book to show that you are present. 签到。◆ Every worker must sign in when coming back to work. 每个工人回来 上班时都必须签到。

sign off　v. To end a program on radio or television. 结束全天广播（或电视）。◆ That TV station always signs off after the late movie. 那家电视台总是在放完夜间电影后结束全天的播放。

sign of the times　n. phr. A characteristic of the times in which one lives. 时代的特征。◆ It is a sad sign of the times that all the major lakes and rivers are badly polluted and fish in them are poisoned. 这是一个可悲的时代特征——所有主要的湖泊和江河都已严重污染，而里面的鱼也被毒死了。

sign on　v. phr. 1. To sign an agreement to become an employee. 签约受雇。◆The new cowboys signed on with the wealthy rancher in Nevada. 新来的几个牛仔与内华达州那个富有的牧场主签了受雇合同。2. To start a radio or television broadcast. 开始广播。◆ Station WLAK signs on every morning at 6 A. M. WLAK电台每天早晨6点钟开始广播。

sign one's own death warrant　v. phr. To cause your own death or the loss of something you want very much. 自寻死路；自己毁灭自己；自己使自己失去心爱之物。◆ When Jim's fiancée saw him on a date with another girl, he signed his own death warrant. 当吉姆的未婚妻看到他和别的女孩约会时，那就等于他自绝于自己的未婚妻。

sign on the dotted line　v. phr. To attach one's signature on an important document, such as a contract, a bill of sales, etc. 在重要文件上签名。◆ The seller said to the buyer, "All you need to do is sign on the dotted line." 卖主对买主说：“你只要在销售契约上签个名就行了。”

sign out　v. To write your name on a special list or in a record book to show that you are leaving a place. 签名登记离开。◆ Most of the students sign out on Friday. 大多数学生在星期五登记离开。

sign over　v. To give legally by signing your name. 签字转让。 ◆ He signed his house over to his wife. 他签字把房子转让给了妻子。

sign up　v. 1. To promise to do something by signing your name; join; sign an agreement. 签名参加。◆ We will not have the picnic unless more people sign up. 除非有更多的人报名参加，否则我们就不举行野餐了。2. To write the name of (a person or thing) to be in an activity; also, to persuade (someone) to do something. 为…报名参加；劝…参加。◆ Betty decided to sign up her dog for obedience training. 贝蒂决定为她的狗报名参加服从训练。

silent majority　n., informal The large majority of people who, unlike the militants, do not make their political and social views known by marching and demonstrating and who, presumably, can swing an election one way or the other. 〖非正式〗沉默的大多数。（指在政治上不大发表意见而可能会以某种方式左右选举结果的大多数公众。）◆ Sidney Miltner is a member of the silent majority. 西德尼·米尔特纳是沉默的大多数中的一员。

silver anniversary or wedding　n. phr. The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of a couple; the twenty-fifth anniversary of a business or an association, etc. 银婚（结婚25周年纪念）；第25周年纪念日。◆ "The day after tomorrow is Mom and Dad's silver anniversary," Sue said to her brother. "I hope you have a nice present picked out."“后天是妈妈和爸爸的银婚纪念日，”苏对哥哥说。“我希望你能为他们挑选一件漂亮的礼物。”

simmer down　v., informal To become less angry or excited; become calmer.〖非正式〗息怒；冷静下来。◆ Tom got mad, but soon simmered down. 汤姆气疯了，但很快又冷静了下来。

sing a different tune or whistle a different tune also sing a new tune　v. phr., informal To talk or act in the opposite way; contradict something said before. 〖非正式〗改变调子；出尔反尔。◆ Charles said that all smokers should be expelled from the team but he sang a different tune after the coach caught him smoking. 查尔斯说所有吸烟的队员都应开除，但当教练撞见他在吸烟时，他又换了一套说法。

sing a sad song　v. phr., slang To tell a sad story. 〖俚〗讲伤心的故事。◆ Albert is an expert complainer; he always sings a sad song and gains the sympathy of people around him. 艾伯特是个诉苦的高手，他老是讲些伤心的故事以博得周围人的同情。

sing for one's supper　v. phr., informal To have to work for what one desires.〖非正式〗为渴望的东西而工作。◆ I realized a long time ago that I had to sing for my supper if I wanted to get ahead in my profession. 很久以前我就认识到，如果我想在我这一行获得成功，就必须为实现自己的目标而努力工作。

single out　v. phr. To select or choose one from among many.（从很多人中）挑出；选出。◆ There were a lot of pretty girls at the high school prom but Don immediately singled out Sally. 高中的班级舞会中有很多漂亮女孩，但唐立刻选出了萨莉为舞伴。

sing sb.'s praises　v. phr. To extol or praise continuously. 不停地颂扬（或赞美）某人。◆ The audience left the concert with everyone singing the praises of the young piano virtuoso. 观众听完音乐会离开时，人人都在称赞那位年轻的钢琴大师。

sink in or soak in　v., informal To be completely understood; be fully realized or felt.〖非正式〗被完全理解；被充分意识（或感受）到。◆ Everybody laughed at the joke but Joe; it took a moment for it to sink in before he laughed too. 除了乔，每个人听到那个笑话都笑了；过了一会儿他完全明白过来才也笑了起来。

sink or swim　v. phr. To succeed or fail by your own efforts, without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don't work hard to succeed. 靠自己在人世间沉浮；不努力则失败。◆ When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by himself to sink or swim. 乔14岁的时候父母就去世了，留下他一个人独自谋生。

sit back　v. 1. To be built a distance away; stand away (as from a street). 建于一定距离之外；离开（街道等）一段距离。◆ Our house sits back from the road. 我们的房子离马路还有一段距离。2. To relax; rest, often while others are working; take time out. 休息；坐视不管；抽出时间。◆ Sit back for a minute and think about what you have done. 坐下来休息一会儿，想想你做了些什么。

sit by　v. 1. To stay near; watch and care for. 坐在…旁边；守护；照料。◆Mother sat by her sick baby all night. 母亲整夜守护着生病的婴儿。2. To sit and watch or rest especially while others work袖手旁观。◆ Don't just sit idly by while the other children are all busy. 当其他孩子都在忙着时，不要光坐在那儿袖手旁观。

sit in　v. (stress on in) （重读in）1. To be a member; participate. 参加。◆ We're having a conference and we'd like you to sit in. 我们要举行一个讨论会，欢迎你来参加。also sit in on; To be a member of; participate in. 列席；旁听。◆We want you to sit in on the meeting. 我们希望你列席会议。2. To attend but not participate. — Often used with on. 列席。——常与on连用。◆Our teacher was invited to sit in on the conference. 我们的老师应邀列席了讨论会。

sit it out　v. phr. To wait until an unpleasant or taxing situation passes. 坐着等它结束。◆ The storm knocked out the power and we have no candles, I guess we'll just have to sit it out. 暴风雨造成了断电，而我们又没有蜡烛。我想我们只能坐等供电恢复了。

sit on　v. 1. To be a member of (a jury, board, commission), etc. 成为（陪审团、理事会、委员会等）的成员。◆ Mr. Brown sat on the jury at the trial. 在那次审判中，布朗先生担任陪审员。2. informal To prevent from starting or doing something; squelch.〖非正式〗阻止；制止。◆ The teacher sat on Joe as soon as he began showing off. 乔刚一开始卖弄，老师就制止了他。

sit on a bomb or bombshell　v. phr., informal To be in possession of anything that is potentially disastrous or dangerous.〖非正式〗拥有危险的东西。◆ The finance department will be sitting on a bomb unless it finds a way to cut overhead expenses. 除非财政部门找到办法削减其经常性开支，否则它就将面临危险。

sit on a volcano　v., informal〖非正式〗To be in a place where trouble may start or danger may come suddenly. 坐在火山口上；处境危险。◆ The policemen who patrolled the big city slum area that summer were sitting on a volcano. 那年夏天在大城市贫民区巡逻的警察如同坐在火山口上。

sit on one's hands　v. phr., informal To do nothing; fail or refuse to do anything. 〖非正式〗游手好闲；拒绝做任何事情。◆ We asked Bill for help with our project, but he sat on his hands. 我们请求比尔帮助我们实现我们的计划，但他却拒绝帮忙。

sit out　v. To not take part in. 不参加。◆ The next dance is a polka. Let's sit it out. 下一支舞曲是波尔卡。咱们就坐着不跳吧。

sit through　v. To watch or listen until (something) is finished. 看完；听完。◆ The show was so boring that we could hardly sit through the first act. 演出非常乏味，我们连第一幕都难以看完。

sit tight　v. phr., informal To make no move or change; stay where you are. — Often used as a command. 〖非正式〗待着不动；留在原地。——常用作命令。◆ The doctor said to sittight until he arrived. 医生说待着别动，等着他来。

sitting duck　n. phr. Someone in a vulnerable position, who doesn't know what danger he or she is facing. 容易击中的目标；容易上钩者。◆ Many a widow is a sitting duck for men seeking a quick adventure. 许多寡妇很容易被那些追求快速冒险的男人骗到手。◆ Unsuspecting tourists, who leave their car doors open in national parks, maybe sitting ducks for thieves and robbers. 毫无疑心的旅游者在国家公园里不锁汽车门，他们很容易成为小偷和盗贼行窃的目标。

sit up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To move into a sitting position. 坐起来。◆ Joe sat up when he heard the knock on his bedroom door. 乔听到有人敲他的卧室门就坐了起来。2. To stay awake instead of going to bed. 不睡觉；熬夜。◆ Mrs. Jones will sit up until both of her daughters get home from the dance. 琼斯太太要等她两个女儿跳舞回来才去睡觉。3. informal To be surprised.〖非正式〗大吃一惊。◆ Janice really sat up when I told her the gossip about Tom. 我把有关汤姆的传言告诉贾尼斯时，她确实大吃一惊。

sit-up　n. (stress on sit)（重读sit）A vigorous exercise in which the abdominal muscles are strengthened by locking one's feet in a fastening device and sitting up numerous times. 仰卧起坐。◆ Do a few sit-ups if you want to reduce your waist. 如果你想缩减腰围，那就做一些仰卧起坐吧。

sit up and take notice　v. phr., informal To be surprised into noticing something.〖非正式〗刮目相看。◆ George's sudden success made the town sit up and take notice. 乔治的突然成功使全镇的人对他刮目相看。

sit up for　v. phr. To wait until after the usual bedtime for someone's return. 熬夜等（某人）回来。◆ Mrs. Smith always sits up for her two daughters, no matter how late it is. 不论多晚，史密斯太太总要等她两个女儿回来才睡觉。

sit up with　v. phr. To be with; particularly to keep someone ill company. 陪伴；守护。◆ Mrs. Brown sat up with her sick husband all night in the hospital room. 布朗太太整夜在病房里守护生病的丈夫。

sit well (with)　v. Find favor with; please. 受…欢迎；使高兴。◆ The reduced school budget did not sit well with the teachers. 学校预算的缩减令老师们很不开心。

sit with　v., informal To be accepted by; affect. — Used in interrogative sentences and in negative sentences modified by well.〖非正式〗被…接受；对…产生影响。——用于疑问句和由well 修饰的否定句。◆ How did your story sit with your mother? 你编造的那一套假话你母亲相信吗？

six of one and half-a-dozen of the other　n., phr. Two things the same; not a real choice; no difference. 半斤八两；不相上下；没有区别。◆ "Which coat do you like better, the brown or the blue? " "It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other." “你更喜欢哪件外衣，棕色的还是蓝色的？”“两件差不多。”

sixth sense　n. phr. An extrasensory sense; the ability to foresee the future. 第六感；预见未来的能力。◆ My cat has a sixth sense; she sometimes looks around at something I cannot see. 我的猫有第六感，她有时候会四下里张望，看着某样我看不到的东西。◆ John knew that we should not go out on Main Street on Saturday when the scaffold fell; sometimes I feel he has a sixth sense. 星期六大街上的脚手架倒塌了，当时约翰就知道我们不该上那儿去，有时候我真觉得他有第六感。

size up　v., informal To decide what one thinks about (something); to form an opinion about (something). 〖非正式〗估量；估计；判断。◆ Give Joe an hour to size up the situation and he'll tell you what to do next. 给乔一个小时的时间来估计形势，他就会告诉你下一步该怎么办。

skate on thin ice　v. phr. To take a chance; risk danger, disapproval or anger. 履薄冰；冒风险；冒让…生气的危险。◆ You'll be skating on thin ice if you ask Dad to increase your allowance again. 你如果再要爸爸增加你的零用钱，那你就是在冒险了。

skating rink　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗Slippery road. 滑唧唧的路。◆ Attention all units — there's a skating rink ahead! 各单位注意——前面有一段路很滑！

skeleton at the feast　n. phr. A source or reminder of something sad or depressing in the midst of a celebration or a happy party. 扫兴的家伙；扫兴的事（或东西）。◆ Everyone was having a good time at Joan's wedding, except for poor Mary, whose memories of her recent divorce were a skeleton at the feast for her. 在琼的婚礼上人人都很开心，只有可怜的玛丽除外，回想起自己最近的离婚让她感到很扫兴。

skeleton in the closet　n. phr. A shameful secret; someone or something kept hidden, especially by a family. 家丑；隐情。◆ The skeleton in our family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he drank too much. 我们家的家丑是威利叔叔。因为他酗酒，没有人提起他。

skid lid　n., slang A crash helmet worn by motorcyclists and race drivers. 〖俚〗（摩托车手和赛车手戴的）防撞头盔。◆ How much did you pay for that handsome skid lid？你买那顶漂亮的头盔花了多少钱？

skid row　n. The poor part of a city where men live who have no jobs and drink too much liquor.（失业酗酒者居住的）贫民区。◆ That man was once rich, but he drank and gambled too much, and ended his life living on skid row. 那个人曾一度挺有钱，但他酗酒嗜赌，最后在贫民区终其一生。

skim the surface　v. phr. To do something very superficially. 触及表面；做事肤浅。◆ He seems knowledgeable in many different areas but his familiarity is very superficial, since he only skims the surface of everything he touches. 他似乎在很多不同的领域都所知甚多，但他的知识很肤浅，因为他对接触过的任何东西都只触及表面而不做深入研究。

skin alive　v. phr. 1. informal To scold angrily. 〖非正式〗严厉申斥；怒骂。◆ Mother will skin you alive when she sees your torn pants. 母亲看到你穿破的裤子准会狠狠地骂你一顿。2. informal To spank or beat. 〖非正式〗痛打。◆ Dad was ready to skin us alive when he found we had ruined his saw. 爸爸发现我们弄坏了他的锯子，气得简直要活剥我们的皮。3. slang To defeat. 〖俚〗打败。◆ We all did our best, but the visiting gymnastic team skinned us alive. 我们都尽了最大的努力，但来访的体操队还是击败了我们。

skin and bones　n. A person or animal that is very thin; someone very skinny. 皮包骨；骨瘦如柴（的人或动物）。◆ Have you been dieting? You're nothing but skin and bones! 你一直在节食吗？你简直是瘦得皮包骨了！

skin-deep　adj. Only on the surface; not having any deep or honest meaning; not really or closely connected with what it seems to belong to. 表面的；肤浅的。◆ Mary's friendliness with Joan is only skin-deep. 玛丽跟琼友好只是表面的。

skin off one's nose　n. phr., slang Matter of interest, concern, or trouble to you. Normally used in the negative. 〖俚〗令某人感兴趣（或关心）的事；给某人带来麻烦的事。通常用于否定句。◆ Go to Jake's party if you wish. It's no skin off my nose. 你想要参加杰克的晚会你就去吧。这跟我没关系。◆ Grace didn't pay any attention to our argument. It wasn't any skin off her nose. 格雷斯根本没注意我们的争论。她对此不感兴趣。◆You could at least say hello to our visitor. It's no skin off your nose. 你至少可以跟我们的客人打个招呼。这对你一点都不费事。

skip it　v. phr., informal To forget all about it. 〖非正式〗忘掉它吧；别提了；没关系；不要紧。◆ When Jack tried to reward him for returning his lost dog, the man said to skip it. 当杰克要酬谢那个人把他走失的狗送回来时，那人说这事就别提了。

skip out　v., informal To leave in a hurry; especially after cheating or taking money dishonestly; sneak away; leave without permission.〖非正式〗（尤指在骗人或骗钱后）匆匆离开；溜走。◆ The man skipped out of the hotel without paying his bill. 那个男人住旅馆没有付账就溜走了。

skirt around　v. phr. To avoid something. 回避。◆ "Let's not skirt around the facts," said the attorney to his client. "You must tell me the truth."“我们不要回避事实，”律师对他的委托人说。“你必须把事实真相告诉我。”

sky is the limit　There is no upper limit to something. 没有任何限制。◆ "Buy me the fastest racehorse in Hong Kong," Mr. Lee instructed his broker. "Spend whatever is necessary; the sky is the limit."“给我买香港最快的赛马，”李先生对他的经纪人说。“需要花多少就花多少，没有任何限制。”

slack off　v. phr. 1. To become less active; grow lazy. 变弛缓；变懈怠；变懒散。◆ Since construction work has been slacking off toward the end of the summer, many workers were dismissed. 由于夏季快结束时建筑活儿越来越少，许多工人都被解雇了。2. To gradually reduce; taper off. 逐渐减少；逐渐减弱。◆ The snowstorms tend to slack off over the Great Lakes by the first of April. 到4月1日，暴风雪往往就会在五大湖上空逐渐减弱。

slap in the face^1　n. An insult; a disappointment. 侮辱；失望。◆ We felt that it was a slap in the face when our gift was returned unopened. 我们的礼物被原封退回时，我们感到这是对我们的一种侮辱。

slap in the face^2　v. phr. To insult; embarrass; make feel bad. 侮辱；使难堪；使难受。◆ John slapped our club in the face by saying that everyone in it was stupid. 约翰侮辱我们俱乐部，说里面的成员个个是傻瓜。

slap on the wrist　n. A light punishment. 轻微的处罚。◆ She could have been fired for contradicting the company president in public, but all she got was a slap on the wrist. 她当众顶撞公司总裁本来可能会被解雇的，但她只受到轻微的处罚。

slap together　See见THROW TOGETHER 1.

slated for or slated to be　Going to be; planned or intended for. 将成为；定于；安排在。◆ People think the governor is slated to be president. 人们认为那位州长将成为总统。

slave driver　n. A cruel, merciless boss or employer who makes the poeple under him work extremely hard for little compensation. 苛刻的老板；逼迫手下人拼命干活的雇主。◆ Mr. Catwallender is such a slave driver that nobody cares to work for him anymore. 因为卡特沃伦德先生是个奴隶总监式的苛刻老板，所以谁也不想再为他干活了。

sleep around　v. phr., slang, vulgar, avoidable To be free with one's sexual favors; to behave promiscuously. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗到处跟人睡觉；到处乱搞男女关系。◆ Sue Catwallender is a nice girl but she sleeps around an awful lot with all sorts of guys. 苏·卡特沃伦德是个可爱的女孩，但她跟各种人都会上床睡觉。

sleep a wink　v. phr. To get a moment's sleep;　enjoy a bit of sleep. — Used in negative and conditional statement and in questions. 打个盹；合一下眼。——用于否定句、条件句和疑问句。◆ I didn't sleep a wink all night. 我整夜都没合一下眼。

sleep in　v. phr. To sleep much later than usual, such as on Saturday and Sunday when one doesn't have to go to work. 睡懒觉；很晚不起床。◆ "May I talk to John?" the caller asked, "I am sorry. He is sleeping in this morning, please call back in an hour or so," John's wife, an early riser, replied.“可以请约翰听电话吗？”打电话的人问。“对不起。今天早晨他还在睡懒觉，请在一小时左右以后再打来，”约翰起床早的妻子回答说。

sleep like a baby　See见SLEEP LIKE A LOG.

sleep like a log　v. phr. To sleep very deeply and soundly. 睡得死沉。◆ Although I am usually a light sleeper, I was so exhausted from the sixteen-hour transpacific flight that, once we got home, I slept like a log for twelve hours. 虽然我平常睡觉容易惊醒，但经过飞越太平洋的16小时飞行后我已筋疲力尽，所以一到家便死死地睡了12个小时。

sleep off　v. phr. To sleep until the effect of too much alcohol or drugs passes. 以睡眠消除。◆ George had too many beers last night and he is now sleeping off the effects. 乔治昨晚喝了太多的啤酒，现在正在睡觉以消除其影响。

sleep on　v. To postpone a decision about. 把…留到第二天再作决定。◆ We will have to sleep on your invitation until we know whether we will be free Monday night. 我们得先看看星期一晚上是否有空，然后才能决定是否接受你们的邀请。

sleep with　v. phr. To have a sexual affair with someone; have sex; copulate. 跟…睡觉；跟…有性关系。◆ It has been rumored in the office that the boss sleeps with all the girls he hires. 办公室里一直在谣传，说老板跟他雇用的所有女孩子有性关系。

slinging match　n. phr. A loud, angry quarrel. 相互谩骂；激烈的争吵。◆ The debate deteriorated into a most unseemly slinging match. 辩论演变成了极不得体的相互谩骂。

slip away　v. phr. To leave unnoticed. 溜走；悄悄离开。◆ The party was such a bore that we decided to quietly slip away. 聚会令人厌倦透了，于是我们决定悄悄离开。

slip me five　See见GIVE ME SOME SKIN.

slip off　v. phr. To slide off something. 从…滑落。◆ The children climbed up the hill but when it was time to come down, they didn't walk, but slipped off the smooth, old ledges. 孩子们爬上了山，但到下山时，他们却没有走，而是从平滑古老的岩脊上滑了下来。

slip of the pen　n. phr. The mistake of writing something different from what you should or what you planned. 笔误。◆ That was a slip of the pen. I meant to write September, not November. 那是一个笔误。我想要写的是9月，而不是11月。◆ I wish you would forget it. That was a slip of the pen. 我希望你不要介意。那是个笔误。

slip of the tongue also slip of the lip　n. phr. The mistake of saying something you had not wanted or planned to say; an error of speech. 口误；失言；说错。◆ She didn't mean to tell our secret; it was a slip of the lip. 她本无意说出我们的秘密；那是她说漏了嘴。

slip sb.'s mind　v. phr. To forget something. 被某人忘记。◆ I meant to mail those letters but it entirely slipped my mind. 我本打算把那些信寄掉的，可我把这事儿忘了个干干净净。

slip through sb.'s fingers　v. phr. To escape without someone's knowing how. 从某人的指缝间溜掉。◆ Policemen surrounded the building, but the thief managed to slip through their fingers. 警察包围了大楼，但那个小偷还是从他们指缝间溜掉了。

slipup　n. (stress on slip)（重读slip）A mistake. 差错。◆ "I'm sorry, sir. That was an unfortunate slipup," the barber said when he scratched the client's face.“对不起，先生。这是一个不幸的差错，”理发师把顾客的脸刮破时说。

slip up　v. phr. (stress on up)（重读up）To make a mistake. 出差错；犯错误。◆ Someone at the bank slipped up. There are only 48 pennies in this 50¢ roll of coins. 银行里有人搞错了。这一卷50美分的硬币里只有48枚1美分的铜币。

slow as molasses in January　adj. phr., informal Extremely slow.〖非正式〗慢得像蜗牛，极慢。◆ "Hurry up, for God's sake — you are as slow as molasses in January!" Joan cried at her sleepy husband.“看在上帝分上，快点好吗——你也真慢得出奇！”琼对着她懒洋洋的丈夫大声喊道。

slow burn　n., informal A slowly increasing feeling of anger.〖非正式〗怒气的逐渐发作。◆ Barbara's slow burn ended only when Mary explained the misunderstanding. 只是在玛丽解释了误会之后，芭芭拉才不再生气。

slowdown　n. (stress on slow) （重读slow）A period of lesser activity, usually in the economic sphere.（通常指经济领域的）放慢速度，减速。◆ We all hope the current slowdown in the economy will soon be over. 我们都希望目前的经济减速将很快结束。

slow down　v. phr. (stress on down)（重读down）To go more slowly than usual. （使）慢下来；（使）减速。◆ The road was slippery, so Mr. Jones slowed down the car. 路很滑，所以琼斯先生放慢了车速。◆ Pat once could run a mile in five minutes, but now that he's older he's slowing down. 帕特过去能在5分钟内跑完一英里，但现在年纪大了，跑得慢了。

slow on the draw　adj. phr. Not very smart; having difficulty figuring things out. 头脑迟钝的；理解很慢的。◆ Poor Eric doesn't get very good grades in physics; when it comes to problem-solving, he is rather slow on the draw. 可怜的埃里克物理成绩不太好；解起题来他的脑子相当迟钝。

slow up　v. 1. To go more slowly. （使）慢下来；（使）减速。◆ The truck slowed up as it approached the toll gate. 卡车驶近收费站时速度慢了下来。2. To become less busy. 变得不那么忙。◆ Business slows up at the stores after Christmas. 圣诞节后店里的生意不那么忙了。

slug it out　v. phr. To have a strong verbal or physical battle with someone; to contest something most vigorously. 决一雌雄；比出个上下；辩个输赢。◆ The two candidates for Congress were slugging it out on radio and on television. 两位国会议员候选人在电台和电视台唇枪舌剑地辩论不休。

smack one's lips　v. phr. To reveal an appetite for; show enjoyment of. 咂嘴唇；馋涎欲滴；满心欢喜。◆Eleanor smacked her lips over the dessert of strawberries and whipped cream. 埃莉诺对着草莓掼奶油这份甜食直咂嘴唇，馋涎欲滴。

small fry　n. 1. Young children. 小孩子。◆ In the park, a sankbox is provided for the small fry. 在公园里为小孩子们准备了一个沙池。2. Something or someone of little importance. 无足轻重的事物；小人物。◆Large dairies ignore the competition from the small fry who make only a few hundred pounds of cheese a year. 大的牛奶公司对来自这家小公司的竞争不屑一顾，因为小公司每年只生产几百磅奶酪。

small or wee hours　n. phr. The very early hours of the morning between 1 and 4 A. M. 下半夜；凌晨时分（1—4 点）。◆ My brother was in trouble for coming home in the small hours. 我弟弟因下半夜才回家而受到训斥。

small talk　n. phr. General idle conversation. 闲谈；聊天。◆ At the party there was the usual kind of small talk about the cost of living increase and the war in Africa. 在聚会上，人们像通常一样闲聊着生活费用的提高和非洲的战争。

small-time　adj., informal Unimportant; minor; with little power or importance.〖非正式〗无关紧要的；次要的；没有权力的。◆ He has a job as a drummer with a small-time band. 他在一支没什么名气的乐队里任鼓手。

smash hit　n., informal A very successful play, movie or opera.〖非正式〗轰动的演出；轰动一时的影片（或歌剧等）；巨大的成功。 ◆ The school play was a smash hit. 学校话剧团的演出非常成功。

smell a rat　v. phr., informal To be suspicious; feel that something is wrong.〖非正式〗感到有可疑之处；感到事情不妙。◆ Every time Tom visits me, one of my ashtrays disappears. I'm beginning to smell a rat. 汤姆每来我这儿一回，我就少掉一个烟灰缸，于是我开始起了疑心。

smell to heaven or smell to high heaven or stink to heaven or stink to high heaven　v. phr., informal To smell extremely foul; be very bad smelling.〖非正式〗臭气熏天。◆ "Don't you ever open the windows around here ? Man, the place stinks to high heaven!" John exclaimed, as he entered his friend's badly neglected apartment. 约翰一走进他朋友乱糟糟的公寓套房便大声叫嚷着说：“你是不是从来就不把这里的窗子打开呀？老兄，这地方真是臭气熏天！”

smell up　v., informal To make a bad smell. 〖非正式〗使充满臭气。◆ A skunk smelled up our yard last night. 昨晚一只臭鼬把我们的院子弄得臭气熏天。

smoke like a chimney　v. phr., informal To smoke very heavily and continuously.〖非正式〗烟抽得很多；不停地抽烟。◆ "If you continue smoking like a chimney," the doctor told my uncle, "you'll wind up in the hospital with lung cancer."“如果你继续这样不停地抽烟，”医生对我叔叔说，“你就会落个身患肺癌住进医院的下场。”

smoke out　v. phr. (stress on out) （重读out）1. To force out with smoke. 用烟熏出。◆ The boys smoked a squirrel out of a hollow tree. 男孩子们用烟熏出了树洞里的一只松鼠。◆ The farmer tried to smoke some gophers out of their burrows. 农夫想用烟把一些黄鼠从地洞里熏出来。2. informal To find out the facts about.〖非正式〗查出；揭露出。◆ It took the reporter three weeks to smoke out the whole story. 记者花了3 周时间才查明全部事实真相。

smoke-out　n. (stress on smoke) （重读 smoke）A successful conclusion of an act of investigative journalism revealing some long-kept secrets.（秘密的）揭露。◆ Journalist Bob Woodward was the hero of the Watergate smokeout. 新闻记者鲍勃·伍德沃德是揭露出水门丑闻的英雄。

smoke screen　n. phr. A camouflage; a veil; something used to cover or hide something. 烟幕；伪装；掩饰物。◆ June hides her commercial interests behind a smoke screen of religious piety. 琼以宗教虔诚为烟幕掩盖其商业利益。

smoke the pipe of peace　v. phr. To rekindle an old friendship after a period of fights and quarrels. 言归于好，和解。◆ John and David, who were old classmates, didn't talk to each other for a decade because of politics. Eventually they ran into each other in the street, went to a bar, and over some beers decided to smoke the pipe of peace. 约翰和戴维是老同学，但因为政治见解不同而有10年不讲话了。后来他们在街上偶然相遇，于是一起去了一家酒吧，几杯啤酒下肚便决定言归于好了。

Smokey Bear or Smokey-the-Bear or the Smokies　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon A policeman; a patrol car; frequently abbreviated as Smokey. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗警察；巡逻车。——常缩略为Smokey。◆ Slow down, Smokey's ahead! 开慢点，前面有警察！

smoking gun　n. phr. Material proof or crucial testimony that some crime has been committed. 犯罪的确凿证据。◆ A DNA examination was the smoking gun that proved beyond any doubt that the accused rapist was indeed guilty. DNA 检查提供了确凿证据，无可置疑地证明了那个被控告的强奸犯确实有罪。

smooth away　v. To remove (unpleasant feelings); take away. 消除（不快）；排除。◆ Mr. Jones' new job smoothed away his worry about money. 琼斯先生找到了新工作，不必再为钱的事担心了。

smooth down　v. To make calm; calm down. 使平静；使心平气和。◆ Mrs. Smith's feelings were hurt and we couldn't smooth her down. 史密斯太太的感情受到了伤害，我们没法使她平静下来。

smooth over　v. To make something seem better or more pleasant; try to excuse. 平息；缓和；试图开脱。◆ Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary by making her laugh. 比尔试图逗玛丽发笑，以缓和他俩之间的争执。

S. N. A. F. U. or snafu　n. phrase, abbreviation slang, army slang, vulgar, avoidable Situation normal, all fucked up. 〖俚〗〖军俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗（为Situation normal, all fucked up的首字母缩合）极度混乱的局面；一团糟。◆ Even President Bill Clinton called some messy situations during his eight-year tenure in the White House "snafus" on national television. 连比尔·克林顿总统也在全国电视节目上称他在白宫8年任职期间的某些难以对付的局面为“极度混乱的局面”。

snail's pace　n. A very slow movement forward. 蜗牛爬行的速度。◆Time moved at a snail's pace before the holidays. 假日之前时间过得很慢。

snake in the grass　n. phr., informal A person who cannot be trusted; an unfaithful traitor; rascal. 〖非正式〗不可信赖的人；卑鄙小人；无赖。◆ Some snake in the grass told the teacher our plans. 某个卑鄙小人把我们的计划告诉了老师。

snap one's fingers at　v. phr. To show contempt for; show no respect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard. 对…表示轻蔑；对…毫不尊重；对…置之不理；蔑视；漠视。◆ John snapped his fingers at the sign that said "Do not enter, " and he went in the door. 约翰漠视“请勿入内”的牌子，径直进了门。

snap out of　v., informal To change quickly from a bad habit, mood, or feeling to a better one. — Often used with it. 〖非正式〗迅速改变（坏习惯等）；迅速摆脱（低落的情绪等）。——常与it连用。◆ The coach told the lazy player to snap out of it. 教练叫那个懒惰的队员迅速改变懒惰习性。

snapshot　n. A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait. 快照。◆ We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving around the island. 我们驾着车在岛上四处游览时拍了几张风景照。

snap up　v., informal To take or accept eagerly.〖非正式〗迅速抓住（或接受）；抢购。◆ Eggs were on sale cheap, and the shoppers snapped up the bargain. 鸡蛋在廉价销售，顾客们迅即抢购一空。

sneeze at　v., informal To think of as not important; not take seriously. — Used with negative or limiting words and in questions.〖非正式〗认为不重要；不认真对待；轻视。——用于否定句和疑问句。◆ Is a thousand dollars anything to sneeze at? 1000美元是可以等闲视之的吗？◆ John finished third in a race with twenty other runners. That is nothing to sneeze at. 约翰在21名选手中跑了第三。这成绩不可小视。

snow in　v. To block up or trap by much snow; keep inside. 用雪困住；用雪封住；用雪把…困在家中。◆ After the storm the farmer and his family were snowed in for three days. 暴风雪过后，那位农夫和他的家人被雪困了3天出不了门。

snow job　n., slang, informal 〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. Insincere or exaggerated talk designed to gain the favors of someone. 花言巧语；天花乱坠的吹嘘。◆ Joe gave Sue a snow job and she believed every word of it. 乔把苏天花乱坠地吹嘘了一番，而苏竟全部信以为真。2. The skillful display of technical vocabulary and prestige terminology in order to pass oneself off as an expert in a specialized field without really being a knowledgeable worker in that area. 冒充专家的大话。◆That talk by Nielsen on pharmaceuticals sounded very impressive, but I will not hire him because it was essentially a snow job. 尼尔森关于药物的那番谈话听上去很不错，但我不会雇用他，因为那基本上是些冒充内行的大话。

snow under　v. 1. To cover over with snow. 用雪覆盖。◆ The doghouse was snowed under during the blizzard. 暴风雪中，狗屋被雪覆盖了。2. informal To give so much of something that it cannot be taken care of; to weigh down by so much of something that you cannot do anything about it. — Usually used in the passive.〖非正式〗使忙得不可开交；把…压得喘不过气来。——通常用被动式。◆ The factory received so many orders that it was snowed under with work. 这家工厂收到了太多订单，已经忙得不可开交了。

snug as a bug in a rug　adj. phr. Comfortable; cozy. 非常舒适的；极其安逸的。◆ "Are you warm enough?" the boy's mother asked. "Yeah," he replied, "I'm snug as a bug in a rug." 男孩的母亲问：“你暖和吗？”“暖和，”男孩回答，“又暖和又舒服。”

soak up　v. 1. To take up water or other liquid as a sponge does. 吸收；吸干（水等）。◆ The rag soaked up the water that I spilled. 抹布把我泼的水吸干了。2. To use a sponge or something like a sponge to take up liquid. 用海绵等吸（水）。◆ John soaked up the water with the rag. 约翰用抹布把水擦干了。3. informal To take up into yourself in the way a sponge takes up water.〖非正式〗吸取（知识等）；摄取（养分等）。◆ Mary was lying on the beach soaking up the sun. 玛丽当时正躺在海滩上晒太阳。

so-and-so^1　pronoun, informal Someone whose name is not given. 〖非正式〗某某人。◆ Don't tell me what so-and-so thinks. Tell me what you think. 不要告诉我某某人怎么想。告诉我你怎么想。

so-and-so^2　n., informal A person of a special kind and usually of a very bad kind. 〖非正式〗讨厌的家伙；混蛋。◆ I wish that old so-and-so who thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now. 但愿那个以为挖沟是轻活的老混蛋现在也在这里挖。

soap opera　n. phr. Radio or television serialized stories of a sentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and social intrigue. These shows often advertise soap products, hence their name. 肥皂剧（伤感的广播或电视连续剧，常涉及性、暴力和社会阴谋。因最初由肥皂商赞助演播，故名）。◆ The two longest running soap operas in the United States were "Dallas" and "Knot's Landing." 美国最长的两部电视连续剧是《达拉斯》和《快速降落》。

so — as to —　Used with an adjective or adverb before an infinitive to show a result. 如此…以致。◆Who could be so mean as to do a thing like that? 是谁这么卑鄙做出这样的事来？◆ Ruth wouldn't be so careless as to forget her pen. 鲁丝不会粗心到忘掉带钢笔。

so be it also be it so　adv. phr., formal〖正式〗1 Let it be that way; may it be so. 就这样吧；好吧；但愿如此。◆ So be it. We shall smoke the pipe of peace. 好吧。咱们就言归于好吧。2. Very well; all right. 很好；好的。◆ "Will the company lose money by doing this?" "So be it, then." “公司这样做会赔钱吗？”“那赔就赔吧。”

sob story　n. A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a tale that makes you tearful. 伤感的故事；催人泪下的故事。◆ The beggar told us a long sob story before he asked for money. 那个乞丐先给我们讲了一个催人泪下的长故事，然后才向我们讨钱。

social butterfly or society butterfly　n. phr. A person, who spends an inordinate amount of time going to parties. 交际花；社交界的风流人物。◆ John will never amount to anything. He wastes his time dancing, drinking, and telling jokes, being the social butterfly that he is. 约翰必将一事无成。他把时间都浪费在跳舞、酗酒和讲笑话上，是个典型的花花公子。

social climber　n. A person who tries to mix with rich or well-known peopie and be accepted by them as friends and equals. 结交权贵向上爬的人；设法挤进上流社会的人。◆ People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social climber. 人们不喜欢布朗太太；她是个有名的结交权贵向上爬的人。

sock it　v. phr., also interj., slang, informal To give one's utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable of. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗竭尽全力；尽其所能；拿出全付本事。◆ Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em! 说得对，乔，尽力去说服他们吧！◆ I was watching the debate on television and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them. 我在看电视上的辩论，只见比尔·巴克利不止一次地把他们驳得体无完肤。

so far also thus far　adv. Until this time or to this place. 迄今为止；到这个地方。◆ The weather has been hot so far this summer. 到目前为止，今年夏天的天气一直很热。

so far, so good　informal Until now things have gone well. 〖非正式〗到目前为止一切顺利。◆ So far, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck. 到目前为止一切都很顺利；希望我们能保持这样的好运气。

soft drink　n. phr. A nonalcoholic beverage such as 7-Up, Coca-Cola, etc. 不含酒精的饮料；软饮料。◆She drinks no alcohol; she always orders a soft drink. 她不喝酒；她总是点软饮料。

softhearted　adj. Generous; sympathetic. 心肠软的；宽大的；同情的。 ◆ Street beggars tend to exploit the softhearted nature of passersby. 街头乞丐往往利用过路人的同情心。

soft in the head　adj. phr. Not very intelligent, stupid; dumb. 头脑迟钝的，昏头昏脑的，糊里糊涂的。◆ John is a brilliant fellow, but his younger brother, Jim, is rather soft in the head. 约翰是个才华横溢的家伙，可他的弟弟吉姆却相当迟钝。

soft touch　n. A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom it is easy to get help, primarily money. 有求必应的人；轻易送钱（或借钱）给人的人。◆ My Uncle Herb is a soft touch; whenever I'm in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks. 我的赫伯叔叔是个有求必应的人；我什么时候需要就马上问他借20块钱。

so help me　interj., informal I promise; I swear; may I be punished if I lie.〖非正式〗我保证；我发誓。◆ I've told you the truth, so help me. 我发誓我已经把真相告诉你们了。

so it goes　Akin to the French c'est la vie! This exclamation means "that's life." 这就是生活。◆ Too bad Jim has lost his job but there are lots of people who are better qualified; well, so it goes! 真遗憾，吉姆失业了，不过有很多人更能胜任他的工作；啊，这就是生活！

sold on　adj. Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced of the value of. 赞同的；对…有好感的；相信…的价值的。◆ When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andy was hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them. 当日本汽车最初在市场上出现时，安迪对于买一辆来开还犹豫不决，但现在他对日本汽车很有好感。

so long　interj., informal Good-bye. — Used when you are leaving someone or he is leaving you.〖非正式〗再见。——当你离开某人或某人离开你时用。◆ So long, I will be back tomorrow. 再见，我明天就回来。

so many^1　adj. 1. A limited number of; some这么多的；那么多的；一些。◆ Our school auditorium will hold only so many people. 我们学校的大礼堂只能容纳这么多人。2. A group of. — Often used for emphasis. 一群。——常用以表示强调。◆ The children were all sitting very quietly in their chairs, like so many dolls. 孩子们都很安静地坐在他们的椅子上，像一群玩具娃娃。

so many^2　pron. A limited number; some. 这么多；那么多；一些。◆ Many people want to come to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many. 很多人想来参加班级舞会；但体育馆只能容纳这么多人。

somebody up there loves/hates me　slang An expression intimating that an unseen power in heaven, such as God, has been favorable or unfavorable to the one making the exclamation. 〖俚〗老天爷保佑／惩罚我。◆ Look at all the money I won! I say somebody up there sure loves me! 看看我赢的这些钱吧！我说肯定是老天爷保佑我！◆ Look at all the money I've lost! I say somebody up there sure hates me! 看看我输的这些钱吧！我说肯定是老天爷在惩罚我！

something else　adj., slang, informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗So good as to be beyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. 极好的；最佳的；令人惊叹的。◆ Janet Hopper is really something else. 珍妮特·霍帕确实美极了。

something else again　n. prh. A different kind of thing; something different. 另一回事；不同的东西。◆ I don't care if you borrow my dictionary sometimes, but taking it without asking and keeping it is something else again. 你有时借我的词典我并不在乎，但问也不问就拿走，用后又不归还，那就另当别论了。

something in the wind　n. phr., informal There is something significant or important happening or about to happen that some people can sense. 〖非正式〗感觉到某事正在（或即将）发生。◆ I cannot prove this to you, but there is something in the wind, which tells me that the economy will soon get much stronger. 我虽然无法向你证实，但我已预感到经济将很快变得强劲很多。

so much^1　adj. 1. A limited amount of; some. 这么多的；一些。◆ Sometimes students wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do their lessons. 有时候学生们怀疑老师是否知道他们只有这么点时间做功课。2. Equally or amounting to; only amounting to. — Often used for emphasis. 等于；（只）相当于。——常用于强调。◆ Charley spends money as if it were so much paper. 查理花钱就像是用纸一样大手大脚。

so much^2　pron. A limited amount; some; a price or amount that is agreed or will be agreed on. 这么多；一些；已定（或将要定）的价格（或数量）。◆ You can do only so much in a day. 你一天只能做这么多。

so much^3　adv. By that much; by the amount shown; even. — Used with the comparative and usually followed by the. 那就更…。——与比较级连用，通常后跟the。◆ So much the worse for you if you break the rules. 你如果违反了规则那就更糟了。

so much as　adv. phr. Even. — Usually used in negative sentences and questions. 甚至。——通常用于否定句和疑问句。◆ He didn't so much as thank me for returning his money that I found. 我把他丢的钱找到并还给了他，他甚至都没有谢谢我。

so much for　Enough has been said or done about. — Used to point out that you have finished with one thing or are going to take up something else. 关于…就谈这么多；…到此为止。——用以表示已经完成一件事情或准备开始做另一件事情。◆ So much for the geography of Ireland. We will now talk about the people who live there. 关于爱尔兰的地理就讲到这里。现在我们要谈一下住在那里的人民。

song and dance　n., informal〖非正式〗1. Foolish or uninteresting talk; dull nonsense. Usually used with give. 愚蠢（或无聊）的谈话；唠叨；空话。——通常与give连用。◆ I met Nancy today and she gave me a long song and dance about her family. 我今天碰到南希，她唠里唠叨地给我讲了一大堆她家里的事。2. A long lie or excuse, often meant to get pity. — Usually used with give.（为骗取同情而编造的）一大套谎言（或借口）。——通常与give连用。◆ Billy gave the teacher a song and dance about his mother being sick as an excuse for being late. 比利对老师编了一套母亲生病的谎言作为迟到的借口。

sonic boom　n. A loud noise and vibration in the air, made when a jet plane passes the speed of sound (1087 feet per second).（超音速飞行器的）音爆，声震。◆ Fast jet planes sometimes cause a sonic boom, which can break windows and crack the plaster in houses below them. 速度快的喷气式飞机有时会引起声震，声震能把飞机底下房屋的窗子震破，把灰泥震裂。

son of a bitch or sunuvabitch also S. O. B.　n. phr., vulgar, avoidable (but becoming more and more acceptable, especially if said with a positive or loving intonation). Fellow, character, guy, individual. 〖粗〗〖忌〗（但正在变得越来越可以接受，尤其是以肯定或慈爱的语调说出时）狗娘养的；家伙；小伙子。Negatively（否定语气）：◆ Get out of here you filthy, miserable sunuvabitch! 滚开，你个卑鄙肮脏的混蛋！Positively（肯定语气）：◆ So you won ten million dollars at the lottery, you lucky son of a bitch (or sunuvabitch)! 这么说你中头彩赢了1000万美元了，你个福星高照的家伙！

son of a gun　n. phr., slang〖俚〗1. A bad person; a person not liked. 坏人；令人讨厌的人。◆ I don't like Charley; keep that son of a gun out of here. 我不喜欢查理；别让那个坏蛋到这里来。2. A mischievous rascal; a lively guy. — Often used in a joking way. 捣蛋鬼；淘气的家伙。——常用以开玩笑。◆ The farmer said he would catch the son of a gun who let the cows out of the barn. 农夫说他会抓住那个把牛放出牛棚的捣蛋鬼。3. Something troublesome; a hard job. 棘手的事；苦差事。◆ The test today was a son of a gun. 今天的考试难得不得了。

sooner or later　adv. phr. At some unknown time in the future; sometime. 迟早；早晚；总有一天。◆ Grandpa is very slow about fixing things around the house, but he always does it sooner or later. 爷爷修理家里的东西总是慢吞吞的，但他迟早总会修好。

sore spot or sore point　n. A weak or sensitive part; a subject or thing about which someone becomes angry or upset easily. 痛处；敏感处；容易惹人生气（或不快）的话题。◆ Don't ask Uncle John why his business failed; it's a sore spot with him. 别问约翰叔叔他的生意为什么失败；这是个令他不快的话题。

sort out　v. phr. 1. To alphabetize; arrange in numerical order. 按字母顺序排列；整理；把…分类。◆ The secretary helped Professor Brown sort out his numerous index cards. 秘书帮助布朗教授整理他那众多的索引卡。2. To clarify. 澄清；弄清楚。◆ "Help me sort out these bills," she begged her husband. 她恳求她的丈夫说：“请帮我弄清楚这些账单。”

so-so　adj. Fair; neither good nor bad. 一般的；不好不坏的。◆ The children's grades were just so-so on the test. 孩子们这次考试的成绩只不过一般。

so to speak　adv. phr. To say it in this way. 可以说。◆ John was, so to speak, the leader of the club, but he was officially only the club's secretary. 约翰可以说是俱乐部的头头，但职务上只是俱乐部的秘书。

sought after　adj. Wanted by many buyers; searched for. 很多人想买的；受欢迎的；很吃香的。◆ Antiques are much sought after nowadays. 现今古董很吃香。

soul-searching　See见SEARCH ONE'S HEART or SEARCH ONE'S SOUL.

sound bite　n. phr. A much-quoted statement made by a politician.（政治家常被引用的）讲话片断；言简意赅的引文。◆ President Bush's statement "We have an old saying in the West, 'dead or alive,'" referring to Osama Bin Laden, has become a famous sound bite. 布什总统在讲到奥萨马·本·拉登时说的那句“我们西方有句老话，不管是死是活都要抓住他！”已成为一句著名的语录。

sound effects　n. The noises made to imitate real sounds in a play, movie, or program.（戏剧、电影或节目中的）音响效果。◆ The movie was good but the sound effects were not very true to life. 这部电影很好，但音响效果不是很逼真。

sound off　v. 1. To say your name or count "One! Two! Three! Four!" as you march. — Used as orders in U. S. military service. 报姓名；呼行军齐步走口令（即“一！二！三！四！”）。——用作美军中的命令。◆ "Sound off!" said the sergeant, and the soldiers shouted, "One! Two! Three! Four!" with each step as they marched. 中士说：“呼行军口令！”于是士兵便随着行军的步伐喊道：“一！二！三！四！”2. informal To tell what you know or think in a loud clear voice, especially to brag or complain. 〖非正式〗高声直言；夸夸其谈；大声抱怨。◆ If you don't like the way we're doing the job, sound off! 如果你不喜欢我们的工作方式，那就直说好了！

sound out　v. To try to find out how a person feels about something usually by careful questions. 试探；探询。◆ Alfred sounded out his boss about a day off from his job. 阿尔弗雷德就休假一天的事试探老板的想法。

sound sheet　n., slang, informal A thin low-quality phonograph recording frequently bound into books and magazines for use as promotional or advertising material; it may have either a spoken or a musical message. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（装订在书内和杂志内用作推销产品或广告材料的）薄型胶料唱片。◆ Don't throw that away; Sue is collecting sound sheets for her market research course. 不要把那个丢掉；苏正在为她的市场研究课程收集薄型胶料唱片。

sound truck　n. phr. A truck equipped with loudspeakers.（带扬声器的）宣传车；广播车。◆ During the senatorial campaign, the streets of the big city were full of sound trucks blaring out messages. 在参议员竞选期间，大城市的街道上到处是高声播送竞选观点的宣传车。

souped-up　adj., informal More powerful or faster because of changes and additions. 〖非正式〗马力增强了的；加强的；更快的。◆ Many teenaged boys like to drive souped-up cars. 很多十几岁的男孩喜欢开马力大的汽车。

sour grapes　n. phr., originally from one of Aesop's fables A saying often heard when one belittles something he or she cannot get, but wants very much. 酸葡萄（源出《伊索寓言》，寓指因得不到而加以贬低的东西）。◆ "I didn't get the job I wanted, but it is a good thing, because it's not a very good company," Ted said. "Excuse me," John replied, "but it sounds to me like a case of 'sour grapes.'" “我没有得到那份工作，不过这也是一件好事，因为那并不是一家很好的公司，”泰德说。“对不起，”约翰回答说。“但我怎么听上去就像是吃不到葡萄就说葡萄酸呢。”

so what　informal Used as an impolite reply showing that you don't care about what another has said. 〖非正式〗那又怎么样？那又有什么关系？◆ Roy boasted that he was in the sixth grade, but Ted said, "So what? I am in Junior High." 罗伊吹嘘自己是6年级学生，但泰德说：“那又怎么样？我是初中生呢。”

sow one's wild oats　v. phr. To do bad or foolish things, especially while you are young.（尤指年轻时）过放荡生活；干蠢事。◆ Mr. Jones sowed his wild oats while he was in college, but now he is a wiser and better man. 琼斯先生读大学时干过不少荒唐事，但他现在明智多了。

sow the wind and reap the whirlwind　To cause trouble and thereby receive a great deal more than one has onginally bargained for. — A proverb. 〖谚〗种下一恶必遭十倍恶报；作恶有恶报，加倍受惩罚。◆ Joan seduced Mary's husband, and later married him. She didn't know that he had five children and three ex-wives to support. When she complained about her bad luck, her mother replied: "Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, remember?" 琼诱惑了玛丽的丈夫，随后嫁给了他。她却不知道他要供养5个孩子和3位前妻。当她向母亲抱怨自己的厄运时，母亲回答说：“作恶有恶报，加倍受惩罚，这话还记得吗？”

spaced out　adj., slang, informal Having gaps in one's train of thought, confused, incoherent; resembling the behavior of someone who is under the influence of drugs. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗疯疯癫癫的；昏昏沉沉的。◆ Joe's been acting funny lately — spaced out, you might say. 乔最近一直举止怪异——可以说是疯疯癫癫的。

space probe　n., Space English An unmanned spacecraft other than an Earth satellite fitted with instruments which gather and transmit information about other planets in the solar system (e. g., Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) on what are called fly-by missions, i. e., without the craft landing on any of these bodies. 〖航天〗航天探测器。◆ Both the U. S. A. and Russia have sent up many a space probe during the last several decades. 在过去几十年中，美国和俄国都发射了许多航天探测器。

spare me　See见GIVE ME A BREAK.

speakeasy　n. A bar during Prohibition where illegal alcoholic beverages were sold.（1920—1933年美国禁酒时期）非法经营的酒店。◆ Al Capone's associates met in a Chicago speakeasy to drink and discuss business. 艾尔·卡彭的那帮同伙在芝加哥一家地下酒店里聚会喝酒，讨论生意上的事情。

speak for　v. 1. To speak in favor of or in support of. 赞成；发言支持；为…说情。◆ At the meeting John spoke for the change in the rules. 在会上，约翰发言支持改变规则。2. To make a request for; to ask for. 要求；要求得到。◆ The teacher was giving away some books. Fred and Charlie spoke for the same one. 老师要送掉一些书。弗雷德和查理都要求得到同一本书。3. To give an impression of; be evidence that (something) is or will be said. — Used with the words well or ill. 表明；证明。——与well或ill连用。◆ It seems that it will rain today. That speaks ill for the picnic this afternoon. 看来今天要下雨。这显然不利于今天下午的野餐。◆ It speaks well for Mary that she always does her homework. 玛丽勤于做作业，说明她是个好学生。

speak of the devil (and he appears) or talk of the devil　A person comes just when you are talking about him. — A proverb. 〖谚〗说到某人，某人就到。◆ We were just talking about Bill when he came in the door. Speak of the devil (and he appears). 我们正谈到比尔，他就进了门。真是说到谁谁就到。

speak one's mind　v. phr. To say openly what you think; give advice that may not be liked. 坦率地说出自己的想法；直言不讳。◆ John thought it was wrong to keep George out of the club and he spoke his mind about it. 约翰认为拒乔治于俱乐部门之外是不对的，他坦率地说出了自己的想法。

speak out of turn　v. phr. To say something tactless; commit an indiscretion. 说话不策略；说话轻率。◆ You spoke out of turn in criticizing Aunt Hermione's old furniture; she considers herself quite a connoisseur on the subject. 你批评赫迈厄妮阿姨的老家具说话也太轻率了；她自认为是老家具鉴赏家呢。

speak out or speak up　v. 1. To speak in a loud or clear voice. 响亮地说；清楚地说。◆ The trucker told the shy boy to speak up. 卡车司机叫那个害羞的男孩说得响一些。2. To speak in support of or against someone or something. 发言（支持或反对某人或某事）。◆ Willie spoke up for Dan as club president. 威利发言支持丹担任俱乐部主席。

speak the same language　v. phr. To have similar feelings, thoughts, and tastes; have a mutual understanding with another person. 说同样的语言；有共同的感情、想法和情趣；相互理解。◆ We both love listening to Mozart. Obviously, we speak the same language. 我们俩都喜欢听莫扎特的音乐。我们显然有共同的情趣。

speak up　v. phr. 1. To speak louder. 大声说；响亮地说。◆ Would you please speak up? We can't hear you in the back row. 请您说得响一些好吗？我们在后排听不到您的话。2. To complain; voice one's opposition to something. 大胆地说；自由发表意见。◆ If you think you are not treated properly at work, don't be shy — speak up! 如果你认为你在工作中没有得到公平对待，不要胆怯——大胆地说出来！

speak volumes　v. phr. To tell or show much in a way other than speaking; be full of meaning. 足以表明；意味深长；极有意义。◆ The nice present she gave you spoke volumes for what she thinks of you. 她送给你的精美礼物足以表明她对你的心意。

speak well of　v. phr. To approve of; praise. 说…的好话；称赞。◆ Everyone always speaks well of my sister because she's so kind. 大家总是对我的姐姐赞许有加，因为她是那么善良。

speak with a forked tongue　v. phr., literary To lie; to say one thing while thinking of the opposite.〖文〗说谎；口是心非，言不由衷。◆ I have learned not to trust Peter's promises because he speaks with a forked tongue. 我已经认识到彼得的诺言是不能相信的，因为他总是说谎。

speed trap　n. A place where police hide and wait to catch drivers who are going even a little faster than the speed limit. 汽车超速监视区。◆ Mr. Jones was caught in a speed trap. 琼斯先生在经过某车速监视区时因超速而受罚。

speed up　v. To go faster than before; also, to make go faster.（使）加快速度。◆ The car speeded up when it reached the country. 汽车到了乡间便加快了速度。

spell out　v. 1. To say or read aloud the letters of a word, one by one; spell. 把（一个词）的字母一个一个地大声说（或读）出来；拼写出。◆ John could not understand the word the teacher was saying, so she spelled it out on the blackboard. 约翰不懂老师说的那个词，因此她把它拼写在黑板上。2. To read slowly, have trouble in understanding. 缓慢地读；理解有困难。◆ The little boy spelled out the printed words. 小男孩把那些印出来的词缓慢地读出来。3. informal To explain something in very simpie words; explain very clearly.〖非正式〗用非常简单的话解释；清楚地说明。◆ The class could not understand the problem, so the teacher spelled it out for them. 班上的同学不懂那个问题，所以老师用非常简单的语言对他们作了解释。

spell trouble　v. phr. To signify major difficulties ahead. 意味着要有麻烦。◆ The note we just received from the Chancellor seems to spell trouble. 我们刚收到校长的条子，这似乎意味着要有麻烦了。

spending money or pocket money　n. Money that is given to a person to spend. 零用钱。◆ When the seniors went to New York City on a trip, each was given $20 in spending money. 4年级的学生去纽约市旅游时，每个人都得到20美元的零用钱。

Spend the night　v. phr. To sleep somewhere. 过夜。◆ It was so late after the party that we decided to spend the night at our friends' house. 聚会之后时间已晚，于是我们便决定在朋友家里过夜。

spent rocket　n. phr. A previously brilliant and productive person, who, due to old age or illness, has been unproductive for some time.（因年迈或疾病而）才思衰竭的人。◆ Professor Riddle, who won the Pulitzer Prize twenty years ago, doesn't say or do very much these days. The poor man is a veritable spent rocket. 里德尔教授20年前曾获得过普利策奖，但近来却言论不多，事情也做得少了。可怜的老人确实才思枯竭了。

spick-and-span　adj. Sparkling clean; having a brand new look. 极干净的；崭新的。◆ She is such a good housekeeper that her kitchen is always spickand-span. 她是个出色的主妇，她家的厨房总是干干净净的。

spill one's guts　v. phr. To confess under interrogation; completely relate a story; name accomplices. 把自己知道的一切和盘托出；坦白招供；供出共犯。◆ After two hours of intensive interrogation the accused criminal spilled his guts, and led the police to the arrest of his fellow criminals. 经过两小时的突击审讯，被指控的犯人彻底招供，并带着警察去逮捕了同犯。

spill the beans　v. phr., informal To tell a secret to someone who is not supposed to know about it.〖非正式〗泄露秘密。◆ John's friends were going to have a surprise party for him, but Tom spilled the beans. 约翰的朋友们准备为他举行一个惊喜聚会，但汤姆却泄漏了这个秘密。

spin a yam　v. phr. To tell a story of adventure with some exaggeration mixed in; embellish and protract such a tale. 讲故事；侃大山。◆ Uncle Fred, who used to be a sailor, knows how to spin a fascinating yam, but don't always believe everything he says. 弗雷德叔叔过去是海员，知道怎样讲一些迷人的故事，但对他讲的东西可不要全信。

spine-chilling　adj. Terrifying; causing great fear. 可怕的；令人毛骨悚然的。◆ Many children find the movie, "Frankenstein," spine-chilling. 很多儿童发现《弗兰肯斯坦》那部电影很可怕。

spinoff　n. (stress on spin)（重读spin）A byproduct of something else. 副产品；派生作品。◆ The television soap opera "Knot's Landing" was considered a spinoff of "Dallas," with many of the same characters featured in both. 电视连续剧《快速降落》被认为是《达拉斯》的派生作品，两部剧中描绘了许多同样的人物。

spin off　v. phr. (stress on off)（重读off）To bring something into existence as a byproduct of something that already exists. 作为副产品生产出；派生出。◆ When Dr. Catwallender opened his medical practice, he also spun off a small dispensary beside it where patients could get their prescriptions filled. 卡特沃伦德大夫开业行医时，也在医院旁边开了一家小药房，供病人配药。

spin one's wheels　v. phr. 1. Said of cars stuck in snow or mud whose wheels are turning without the car moving forward. 使车轮（在雪中或泥泞中）空转。◆ There was so much snow on the driveway that my car's wheels were spinning in it and we couldn't get going. 车道上积雪很厚，我的汽车轮子在里面空转，而我们却无法启动。2. To exert effort in a job without making any progress. 停滞不前；消磨时间。◆ I've been working for the firm for two decades, but I feel I am merely spinning my wheels. 我已在这家公司工作了20年，但我觉得我只是在消磨时间。

spin out　v. phr. 1. To go out of control.（车辆）打滑失控。◆ The bus spun out on the icy road and fell into the ditch. 公共汽车在结冰的路上打滑失控，跌入沟里。2. To make something go out of control. 使（车辆等）打滑失控。◆ Tom stepped on the brakes so fast that he spun his car out of control and went off the road. 汤姆踩刹车踩得太快，结果使汽车打滑失控，冲出了马路。

spirit away　v. phr. To hide or smuggle something out; abduct. 偷偷地带走；拐走；绑架。◆ The famous actress was spirited away by her bodyguards as soon as she emerged from the door. 那位著名的女演员一从门里面出来，就被她的保镖偷偷地带走了。

spit or piss into the wedding cake　v. phr., vulgar, avoidable To spoil someone's pleasure or celebration by doing or saying something harsh or unseemly in an otherwise happy gathering; bring up depressing or unhappy subjects at a supposedly happy time. 〖粗〗〖忌〗往别人的结婚蛋糕上吐唾沫（或撒尿）；煞风景。◆ Stuart really spit into the wedding cake when he told Burt in a bragging fashion that Lucy, Burt's bride, used to be his girlfriend.期图尔特以一种夸耀的方式告诉伯特，说伯特的新娘露西过去曾是他的女朋友。斯图尔特这样做真是太缺德了。

spitting image　n. spit and image informal An exact likeness; a duplicate. 〖非正式〗酷似；完全一样的东西，复制品。◆ John is the spitting image of his grandfather. 约翰简直和他的祖父一模一样。

spit up　v. To vomit a little. 咯；吐；呕吐。◆ The baby always spits up when he is burped. 轻轻拍背让婴儿打嗝时，婴儿总会呕出一点点东西来。

split hairs　v. phr. To find and argue about small and unimportant differences as if the differences are important. 为小事争论不休；斤斤计较。◆ John is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something small and unimportant. 约翰老是为些琐事争论不休；他常就一些鸡毛蒜皮的小事挑起争论。

split second　n. A very short time; less than a second. 一刹那，一瞬间。◆ The lightning flash lasted a split second, and then disappeared. 闪电只闪了一下，然后就消失了。

split the difference　v. phr., informal To settle a money disagreement by dividing the difference, each person giving up half. 〖非正式〗折中；互相让步。◆ Bob offered $25 for Bill's bicycle and Bill wanted $35; they split the difference. 鲍勃出价25美元购买比尔的自行车，比尔要价35美元；最后他们折中成交（即30美元）。

split ticket　n. A vote for candidates from more than one party. 分裂票（投给不同党派候选人的选票）。◆ Mr. Jones voted a split ticket. 琼斯先生投了分裂票。

split up　v. phr. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To separate; get a divorce. 分离；离婚。◆ After three years of marriage, the unhappy couple finally split up. 结婚3年后，这一对不幸福的夫妻终于离婚了。2. To separate something; divide into portions. 使分开；把…划分。◆ The brothers split up their father's fortune among themselves after his death. 在他们的父亲死后，几个兄弟划分了他的财产。

split-up　n. (stress on split)（重读split）A separation or division into two or many smaller parts. 分裂；分离；划分；分割。◆ The split-up of our company was due to the founder's untimely death. 我们公司的分裂解体是由于公司创始人的夭折造成的。

spoil for　v. phr. To want something very badly; be belligerent or pugnacious about something. 渴望；一心想。◆ After a few drinks it became embarrassingly evident that Hal was spoiling for a fight. 几杯酒下肚，哈尔显然就想打架了，这真令人难堪。

spoken for　adj. Occupied; reserved; taken; already engaged or married. 被占的；预约的；预定的；已订婚的；已结婚的。◆ "Sorry, my boy," Mr. Jones said condescendingly, "but my daughter is already spoken for. She will marry Fred Wilcox next month."“对不起，小伙子，”琼斯先生居高临下地说，“我的女儿已经有主了。下个月她就和弗雷德·威尔科克斯结婚。”

sponge bath　n. A bath with a cloth or sponge and a little water. 海绵擦身浴。◆ During the drought the family had only sponge baths. 干旱期间，这家人只能用海绵擦身。

sponge on or off　v. phr. To exploit parasitically; depend upon for support. 过寄生虫般的生活；依赖…为生。◆ He is already forty years old, but he refuses to go to work and sponges off his retired parents. 他已经40岁了，但仍不肯去工作，而是依赖退休的父母为生。

spoon-feed　v. 1. To feed with a spoon. 用匙喂。◆ Mothers spoon-feed their babies. 母亲们用匙子喂她们的婴儿。2a. To make something too easy for (a person). 娇宠；溺爱。◆ Bill's mother spoon-fed him and never let him think for himself. 比尔的母亲过分溺爱他，从来不让他自己作决定。2b. To make (something) too easy for someone. 使（某事）对某人太容易；填鸭式灌输（知识等）。◆ Some students want the teacher to spoon-feed the lessons. 有些学生希望老师填鸭式地讲课。

sporting blood　n. Willingness to take risks; spirit of adventure. 甘冒风险；冒险精神。◆ The cowboy's sporting blood tempted him to try to ride the wild horse. 牛仔的冒险精神使他很想试着骑一骑那匹野马。

spot check　n. phr. A sample check or investigation. 抽样检查；抽样调查。◆ Internal Revenue Service employees often conduct a spot check of individual returns When the figures don't add up. 国内收入署的雇员们经常在数字加起来与总数不符时对个人收入进行抽样检查。

spread it on thick　See见LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK.

spread like wildfire　v. phr. To spread uncontrollably and rapidly. 像野火般迅速蔓延；迅速传开。◆ Bad news has a tendency to spread like wildfire. 坏消息往往像野火般蔓延似的迅速传开。

spread oneself too thin　v. phr. To try to do too many things at one time. 同时承担过多工作。◆ As the owner, chef, waiter, and dishwasher of his restaurant, Pierre was spreading himself too thin. 作为餐馆的老板、厨师、侍者和洗碟工，皮埃尔同时承担的工作太多了。

spring a leak　v. phr. 1. To develop a hole (said of boats) through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink.（船）开裂漏水。◆ When our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it. 当我们的小船开裂漏水时，我们迅速回到岸边把它修好。2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. 受到某种即将到来的危险的威胁。◆ Our firm sprang a leak when the vice president suddenly died of a heart attack. 当副总裁突然死于心力衰竭时，我们公司出现了危机。

spring chicken　n., slang A young person. — Usually used with no. 〖俚〗年轻人。——通常与no连用。◆ Mr. Brown is no spring chicken, but he can still play tennis well. 布朗先生已不年轻，但他网球仍打得很好。

spring on someone　v. phr. To approach someone unexpectedly with an unpleasant idea or project. 突然向某人提出；突然向某人宣布。◆ Our firm was merely six weeks old when they sprang the news on me that I had to go to Algiers to open a new branch there. 我们公司刚开业6星期，他们就突然向我宣布要我去阿尔及尔，在那里开一家分公司。

spring up　v. phr. To arise suddenly. 突然发生；突然出现。◆ Small purple flowers were springing up all over our backyard. 我们整个后院里突然开出了朵朵小紫花。

sprout wings　v. phr. 1. To enter the stage after a period of development when wings appear (said of larvae that turn into butterflies).（幼虫化为蝴蝶时）长出翅膀。◆ The dragonflies suddenly sprouted wings and are flying all about in the park. 那些蜻蜓突然长出了翅膀，正在公园里到处飞来飞去。2. To become good and virtuous (as if airborne). 变得正直高尚；变成天使。◆ Joe has helped many colleagues in need; he seems to have sprouted wings. 乔已帮助过许多有困难的同事，他似乎已经变成了天使。

spruce up　v., informal To make clean or neat.〖非正式〗把…弄整洁；把…打扮得漂漂亮亮。◆ Mary spruced up the house before her company came. 玛丽在客人来之前把房子打扫得干干净净。

square away　v. phr. 1. To arrange the sails of a ship so that the wind blows from behind. 迎风扬帆。◆ The captain ordered the crew to square away and sail before the wind. 船长命令船员迎风扬帆，乘风航行。2. informal To put right for use or action. — Used in the passive or participle. 〖非正式〗安排妥当；作好准备。——常用被动语态或分词形式。◆ The living room was squared away for the guests. 客厅已布置停妥，可以接待客人了。3. informal To stand ready to fight; put up your fists. 〖非正式〗（打斗等时）摆好架势。◆ Jack and Lee squared away. 杰克和李已摆好了打斗的架势。

squared away　adj. phr. Looked after properly; tucked away; arranged. 得到很好照料的；收拾好的；安排好的。◆ My first two daughters are happily married, but my third one, Jennifer, isn't squared away yet. 我的头两个女儿都已喜结良缘，但我的三女儿詹妮弗还待字闺中。

square deal　n. phr. Equitable or fair treatment. 公平对待；公正待遇。◆ We are proud to say that at this firm every employee gets a square deal. 我们自豪地说，在本公司，每位雇员都受到公正的待遇。

square meal　n. phr. A full, nourishing well-balanced meal. 美餐；丰盛的一餐。◆ The refugees looked as if they hadn't had a square meal in months. 难民们看上去好像有几个月没有好好吃顿饭了。

square off　v. phr., informal To stand ready for fighting with the fists. 〖非正式〗摆好架势。◆ The two boxers squared off when the bell rang. 铃一响，两位拳击手便摆好了架势。

square peg in a round hole　n., informal A person who does not fit into a job or position; someone who does not belong where he is. 〖非正式〗圆凿方枘；不称职的人；与环境格格不入的人。◆ Arthur is a square peg in a round hole when he is playing ball. 阿瑟打起球来总是笨手笨脚。

square up　v. phr. To liquidate debts and other obligations. 结清账目；了结恩怨。◆ I want to square up my medical bills before I accept my new teaching assignment in Africa. 在我接受在非洲的新教学任务之前，我想先结清我的医疗费账单。

squeak by　v. phr. 1. To barely succeed. 勉强成功。◆ He was so poorly prepared for his bar exam that he barely squeaked by. 他参加律师资格考试准备得很差，只是勉强及格。2. To clear with difficuly. 勉强通过。◆ The entrance to the corridor in the old Italian castle was so narrow that I barely managed to squeak by it. 那座意大利古城堡的走廊入口非常狭窄，我很勉强地才走了进去。

squeak through　v., informal To be successful but almost fail; win by a small score. 〖非正式〗勉强成功；险胜。◆ Susan squeaked through the history examination. 苏珊勉强通过了历史考试。◆ The football team squeaked through 7-6. 这支橄榄球队以7比6险胜。

squeeze out of　v. phr. To apply pressure to someone in order to obtain what one desires. 从…中挤出；榨取。◆ The police were interrogating the suspect to squeeze information out of him. 警察在审问那名嫌疑犯，想从他嘴中挤出一些情报来。

stab in the back^1　v. phr., slang To say or do something unfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). 〖俚〗背后伤害（某人）。◆ Owen stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him. 欧文编造他朋友马克斯的谎言，在背后中伤他。

stab in the back^2　n. phr., slang An act or a lie that hurts a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend. 〖俚〗伤人的暗箭，中伤；背信行为。◆ John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store. 约翰在朋友的店里偷东西，暗中伤害他。

stab in the dark　n. phr. A random attempt or guess at something without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. 胡乱尝试；瞎猜。◆ "You're asking me who could have hidden grandpa's will," Fred said. "I really have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark — I think my sister Hermione has it."“你问我谁有可能把祖父的遗嘱藏起来了，”弗雷德说。“我真的不知道，但如果让我随便猜一下，我想是我的姐姐赫迈厄妮藏起来了。”

stack the cards　v. phr. 1. To arrange cards secretly and dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. 洗牌作弊。◆ The gambler had stacked the cards against Bill. 那个赌徒洗牌作弊，使比尔上当失利。2. To arrange things unfairly for or against a person; have things so that a person has an unfair advantage or disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things will happen. — Used in the passive with "in one's favor" or "against one." 暗中进行不公正布局（对某人有利或不利）；预先安排使事情有利于或不利于某人。——通常用被动语态，并与in one's favor或against one连用。◆ A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor. 高个子篮球运动员有其有利条件。

stack up against or stack up to　v. phr. To measure up to something similar; be comparable to something of a kindred nature. 与…相比。◆ We want to know how small American cars stack up against the German and Japanese competition. 我们想知道美国的小型轿车跟德国和日本的竞争产品相比怎么样。

stage fright　n. phr. The fear one feels before appearing in front of an audience.（面对观众前的）怯场。◆ Many famous actors and actresses admit that they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up. 很多著名演员承认，他们经常在幕启前感到怯场。

stagestruck　adj. Desirous of becoming an actor or actress; enamored of the acting profession. 渴望当演员的；醉心于舞台生涯的。◆ Milly is so stagestruck that she waits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to get their signatures. 米利非常渴望当演员，所以每场演出后她都等在剧场后门，让女演员们签名。

stage whisper　n. phr. A loud whisper intended to reach other ears than those of the person (s) addressed. 有意让别人听到的低语。◆ Some jokes should be told in a stage whisper. 有些笑话应该说得让别人也听得到。

stake a claim　v. phr. 1. To claim ownership of land by driving stakes to show boundaries. 立桩标明土地所有权。◆ The gold hunters staked claims in the West. 淘金者当年在西部立桩标明土地所有权。2. informal To claim a person or thing as your own by some sign. Usually used with on. 〖非正式〗以某种记号标明某人或某物为自己所有。——通常与on连用。◆ George staked a claim on Dianne by giving her his class ring. 乔治把自己的班级戒指送给黛安娜以表示黛安娜是属于他的。

stamping ground　n., informal A place where a person spends much of his time. 〖非正式〗常去的地方。◆ Pete's soda fountain is an afterschool stamping ground. 皮特的冷饮店是学生们放学后常去的地方。

stamp out　v. To destroy completely and make disappear. 消灭；扑灭；镇压。◆ In the last few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using vaccine. 在过去几年中，我们用疫苗已经几乎完全消灭了小儿麻痹症。

stand a chance or stand a show　n. phr. To have a possibility or opportunity; be likely to do or get something. 有可能；有机会；有可能做某事；有可能得到某物。◆ Fred doesn't stand a chance of being elected. 弗雷德没有当选的可能。

standard time also slow time　n. Clock time that is set by law or agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in the United States: the clock time used between fall and spring, which is an hour slower than the time used in the summer. — Abbreviation ST. 标准时。——缩略式ST。◆ When we go to bed Saturday night, we will set our clocks back an hour, because Sunday we will be on standard time again. 我们星期六晚上睡觉时将把钟回拨一小时，因为星期天我们又要实行标准时了。

stand behind someone or something　v. phr. To firmly support morally or financially. 支持（或拥护）某人或某物。◆ It is generally believed that corporate America stands behind the Republican Party. 一般人都认为美国的大公司是支持共和党的。◆ I stand behind what I said in court yesterday, no matter how strange it may sound. 我坚信我昨天在法庭上讲的话是正确的，不管它听上去可能有多么奇怪。

stand by　v. 1. To be close beside or near. 站在旁边；袖手旁观。◆ Mary could not tell Jane the secret with her little brother standing by. 因为她小弟弟站在旁边，玛丽不能把秘密告诉简。2. To be near, waiting to do something when needed. 作好准备；处于待命状态。◆ The policeman in the patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, and then stood by for orders. 巡逻车上的警察用无线电向警察局报告了抢劫的消息，然后便留在那儿待命。3. To follow or keep (one's promise). 遵守（诺言）。He is a boy who always stands by his promises. 他是个一贯遵守诺言的男孩。4. To be loyal to; support; help. 忠于；支持；帮助。◆ When three big boys attacked Bill, Ed stood by him. 当3个大男孩攻击比尔时，埃德帮助了他。◆ Some people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joe stood by him. 哈利陷入困难时，有些人指摘他，但乔却站在他一边。

stand down　v. phr. To stop being in a state of emergency. 解除戒备。◆ After the danger had passed, the commanding general ordered the troops to stand down. 危险过去后，将军命令部队解除戒备。

stand for　v. 1. To be a sign of; make you think of; mean. 代表；象征；意味着。◆ The letters "U. S. A." stand for "United States of America." 字母“U. S. A.”代表“美利坚合众国”。◆ The written sign "=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals." 算术题中的书面记号“＝”代表“等于”。2. To speak in favor of something, or show that you support it. 主张；赞成；支持。◆ The new president stood for honest government. 新总统提倡诚实执政。3. Chiefly British To try to be elected for. 〖主英〗竞选；争取被选为。◆ Three men from London are standing for Parliament. 来自伦敦的3个人在竞选议员。4. informal To allow to happen or to be done; permit. — Usually used in the negative. 〖非正式〗容忍；允许。——通常用于否定句。◆ The teacher will not stand for fooling in the classroom. 老师不会容忍学生在教室里胡闹。

stand in awe of　v. phr. To look upon with wonder; feel very respectful to. 敬畏；对…很崇敬。◆ The soldier stood in awe to his officers. 那位士兵很崇敬他的长官。

stand in for　v. phr. To substitute for someone. 代替（某人）；作（某人）的替身。◆ The famous brain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand in for him during the operation. 那位著名的脑外科医生被请出去就诊，不在城里，所以他的助手只得代他做手术。

standing ovation　n. phr. Loud and prolonged applause given to a performer in a theater or concert hall, during which the audience stands up out of respect and admiration.（长时间的）起立欢呼，起立鼓掌。◆ The world-famous violinist got a standing ovation in Chicago's Symphony Center after she played all of Beethoven's violin sonatas. 那位世界著名的小提琴家在芝加哥交响乐中心演奏完贝多芬的全部小提琴奏鸣曲后，赢得了全场观众长时间的起立欢呼。

stand in with　v. phr., informal To be liked by or friendly with. — Usually used with well. 〖非正式〗受…的喜爱；与…友好。——通常与well连用。◆ John stands in well with the teacher. 约翰深得那位老师的喜爱。

stand off　v. (stress on off)（重读off）1. To stay at a distance; stay apart. 保持距离；与人疏远。◆ At parties, Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones is shy and stands off. 在社交聚会上，琼斯先生总是四处走动，和每个人都交谈，而琼斯太太却羞羞答答不与人们接近。2. To keep (someone or something) from coming near or winning. 阻挡；挡住。◆ The other schools wanted to beat our team and win the championship, but our boys stood them all off. 别的学校都想击败我们队获得冠军，但我们的小伙子们把它们通通打败了。

standoffish　adj. Stiff; aloof; reserved in manner. 生硬的；冷漠的；冷淡的；矜持寡言的。◆ The famous chess player is hard to get to know because he is so standoffish. 那位著名棋手很难结识，因为他为人矜持寡言。

stand on ceremony　v. phr. To follow strict rules of politeness; be very formal with other people. Used with a helping verb in the negative. 讲究礼节；拘礼。——通常与助动词连用，用于否定句。◆ Grandmother does not stand on ceremony when her grandchildren call. 孙子孙女们来看她时，祖母并不讲究礼节。

stand one's ground also hold one's ground　v. phr. 1. To stay and fight instead of running away. 坚守阵地。◆ The enemy attacked in great numbers but our men stood their ground. 虽有大批敌人进攻，但我们的战士仍坚守住了阵地。2. To defend a belief or statement; refuse to weaken when opposed; insist you are right. 坚持自己的信念；坚持立场；不让步。◆ John's friends said he was mistaken but he stood his ground. 约翰的朋友们说他错了，但他坚持自己的看法。

stand on one's own feet or stand on one's own two feet　v. phr. To depend on yourself; do things yourself; earn your own living; be independent. 依靠自己；自立；独立自主。◆ You should learn to stand on you own two feet. 你应当学会依靠自己。

stand out　v. 1. To go farther out than a nearby surface; project. 突出；凸出。◆ A mole stood out on her cheek. 她的面颊上长着一颗痣。2. To be more noticeable in some way than those around you; be higher, bigger, or better. 杰出；突出；出色；显眼。◆ Fred was very tall and stood out in the crowd. 弗雷德个子很高，在人群中很显眼。

stand pat　v., informal To be satisfied with things and be against a change. 〖非正式〗坚持不变。◆ Bill had made up his mind on the question and when his friends tried to change his mind, he stood pat. 比尔在这个问题上已经打定主意，所以在朋友们试图让他改变主意时，他坚持不变。

stand someone in good stead　v. phr. To be helpful or useful to. 对某人有帮助；对某人有用。◆ Julia knew how to typewrite, and that stood her in good stead when she looked for a job. 朱莉娅会打字，这一点在她找工作时帮了她大忙。

stand someone up　v. phr. To fail to show up at a specific place and time agreed upon for a date. 对某人失约，未如约与某人见面。◆ Poor Ted was stood up by his fickle girlfriend, Suzie, so he had a drink and went to the movies by himself. 三心二意的女友苏茜失约，让可怜的泰德空等一场，于是他便喝了杯酒，一个人去了电影院。

stand the gaff　v. phr., informal To stand rough treatment; do well in spite of great physical or mental hardship. 〖非正式〗忍受得住折磨；经得起磨炼；吃得起苦。◆ An athlete must learn to stand the gaff. 一个运动员必须学会吃苦。

stand the pace or stay the pace or stand the course　v. phr. To be able to endure difficult work, tiring living conditions, etc. 能跟上别人；能忍受艰苦的工作（或生活条件等）。◆ We will hire John but we are a little concerned about whether he will be able to stand the pace at this factory, because we must work harder than the competition. 我们将雇用约翰，但我们有点担心，不知道他能否在厂里跟得上别人，因为我们必须比竞争对手更加努力地工作才行。◆ Many young army recruits can't stay the pace during basic training, and decide to quit. 许多年轻的陆军新兵在基本训练期间吃不起苦，于是决定放弃。

stand to reason　v. phr. To seem very likely from the known facts. 合乎情理；理所当然。◆ Joe is intelligent and studies hard; it stands to reason that he will pass the examination. 乔既聪明又用功；他理所当然会通过考试的。

stand trial　v. phr. To submit to a trial by court. 受审判。◆ The case has been postponed and he may not have to stand trial until next April. 这个案子的审理已经延期，他可能要到明年4月才会受审。

stand up　v. 1. To be strong enough to use hard or for a long time. 经久耐用。◆ A rocket must be built strongly to stand up under the blast-off. 火箭必须建造得很牢固以便发射时不致爆裂。2. informal To make a date and then fail to keep it. 〖非正式〗对…失约；失约使…空等。◆ June cried when Bill stood her up on their first date. 比尔第一次与琼约会就失约，把琼给气哭了。

stand up and be counted　v. phr. To be willing to say what you think in public; let people know that you are for or against something. 公开表明立场；公开表明态度。◆ The equal rights movement needs people who are willing to stand up and be counted. 争取平等权利的运动需要乐于公开表明立场的人们来参加。

stand-up comic　n. phr. A performer, male or female, who entertains the audience with funny stories and jokes often making fun of recent events and politics, whether in a theater or on television. 滑稽说笑演员；单口相声演员。◆ Jay Leno is one of America's best-known stand-up comics. 杰伊·伦诺是美国最著名的滑稽说笑演员之一。

stand up for or informal stick up for　v. To defend against attack; fight for. 维护，捍卫；为…辩护。◆ John always stands up for his rights. 约翰始终维护自己的权利。

stand up to　v. To meet with courage. 勇敢地面对。◆ Mary stood up to the snarling dog that leaped toward her. 玛丽勇敢地面对狂吠着向她扑来的狗。

stand up with　v., informal To be best man or maid of honor at a wedding. 〖非正式〗在婚礼中做…的傧相。◆ A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him. 新郎经常选自己的兄弟做傧相。

stare in the face　n. phr. 1. To be about to meet or to happen to (you.)迫在眉睫。◆ Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in the face. 祖母病得很厉害，面临着死亡的威胁。2. To be easy to see; be plain. 就在眼前；显而易见。◆ Are you looking for your pencil? It's on your desk, staring you in the face. 你在找你的铅笔吗？它就在书桌上，就在你眼前。

starry-eyed　adj. phr. Naïve; credulous; idealistic. 天真的；轻信的；理想主义的，空想的。◆ "I am worried about Mary's going to New York alone," her mother said to her father. "She is just a starry-eyed romantic who may be in for a rude awakening when she confronts the realities of life in the big city."“我很担心玛丽一个人去纽约，”玛丽的母亲对父亲说。“她完全是一个天真的充满幻想的人，在遭遇大城市的生活现实时，她注定会猛然意识到事情不妙。”

Stars and Stripes　n. phr. The flag of the United States; a symbol of America; America herself. 星条旗（美国国旗）；美国的象征；美国。◆ John is extremely patriotic; he is ready to do anything for the Stars and Stripes. 约翰极为爱国，他愿意为星条旗做任何事情。

stars in one's eyes　n. phr. 1. An appearance or feeling of very great happiness or expectation of happiness. 极快乐的表情；幸福感。◆ Mary gets stars in her eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend. 玛丽一想到她的男朋友，眼里就闪烁着幸福的光芒。2. A belief in the possibility of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and an eagerness to make such changes. 过分乐观的想法；不切实际的幻想。◆ Some inexperienced people get stars in their eyes when they think of improving the world. 有些没有经验的人在想到改进世界时，脑子里充满了不切实际的幻想。— starry-eyed adj. Very happy and excited, perhaps with little reason; eager and self-con-fident about improving human nature and general conditions of life. 过分乐观的；不切实际的。◆ Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to improve the world; they do not know how hard it is. 年轻人往往不切实际，过于乐观，急于改造世界；他们不知道这有多难。

start from scratch　See见FROM SCRATCH.

start in　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To begin to do something; start. 开始（做某事）；着手。◆ Fred started in weeding the garden. 弗雷德开始在花园里除草。◆ The family started in eating supper. 这家人开始吃晚饭。2. To begin a career. 开始某一生涯。◆ Bob started in as an office boy and became president. 鲍勃开始时是办公室里的勤杂员，后来成了董事长。3. To give a first job to. 开始雇用；启用。◆ The bank started him in as a clerk. 这家银行一开始先让他当办事员。

start off on the right foot　v. phr. To have a good start; be well liked; make a positive impression. 一开始就很顺利；有良好的开端；给人留下好印象。◆ Jack started off on the right foot in the hospital as an intern by volunteering to help in the Emergency Room. 杰克在医院里做实习医生时，主动在急诊室帮忙，一开始就给人们留下了很好的印象。

start off on the wrong foot　v. phr. To have a bad start to a relationship.一开始就做错了；一开始就不顺利。◆ "I know we started off on the wrong foot, because I wanted to take you to bed right away," Jack said to Suzie, "but I really love you a lot. Could you please give me another chance?" “我知道我们一开始就没处理好关系，因为我想马上就带你上床，”杰克对苏茜说，“但我真的非常爱你。请你再给我一次机会可以吗？”

start out　v. 1. To begin to go somewhere. 出发；动身；启程。◆ Bill started out for school on his bicycle. 比尔骑上自行车去上学。◆ Art started out on a voyage around the world. 阿尔特开始了他的环球航行。2. To begin a career or life. 开始某一生涯；开始人生。◆ Harry started out as an errand boy in a business office. 哈里开始时在一家营业所当听差。3. informal To give one a first job. 〖非正式〗开始雇用。◆ The garage man started Pete out as a grease rack man. 汽车修理厂工人一开始先让皮特做给汽车加润滑油的工作。

start something　v. phr., informal To make trouble; cause a quarrel or fight. 〖非正式〗惹麻烦；引起争吵。◆ Jack likes to play tricks on the other boys to start something. 杰克喜欢捉弄别的男孩，引起争吵。。

start the ball rolling　See见GET THE BALL ROLLING.

start up　v. 1. To begin operating. 开动，发动，启动。◆ The driver started up the motor of the car. 司机发动了汽车马达。2. To begin to play (music). 开始演奏（音乐）。◆ The conductor waved his baton, and the band started up. 指挥挥动了一下指挥棒，乐队便开始演奏起来。3. To rise or stand suddenly. 突然起立。◆ When he heard the bell, he started up from his chair. 一听到铃声他便突然从椅子上站了起来。

stash bag or stuff bag　n., slang, informal〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. A small bag containing marijuana cigarettes or the ingredients for making them. 装大麻烟的小袋；毒品袋。◆ The police are holding John because they found a stash bag full of the stuff on him. 警察拘留了约翰，因为他们在他身上发现了一个装满毒品的袋子。2. Any small bag resembling a stash bag used for small personal items such as lipstick, driver's license, etc. 装私人物件的小包。◆ Do you have any room for my keys in your stash bag? 你的包里还有地方放我的钥匙吗？

state-of-the-art　adj. phr. The best and the latest any field of research can offer; modern; the latest; the most advanced. 最好的；最新型的；现代的；最先进的。◆ State-of-the-art personal computers may cost a little more than older models, but may be worth the cost for those who need them. 最新型的个人电脑可能会比老的型号贵一点，但对需要它们的人来说这点费用还是值的。

status symbol　n. phr. Signs of wealth and prestige. 社会地位象征。◆ A new yacht or airplane might be a status symbol to a bank manager. 对一位银行经理来说，一艘新的游艇或一架新的飞机可能是一种社会地位的象征。

stave off　v., literary To keep from touching or hurting you. 〖文〗挡开，避开；防止。◆ They staved off starvation by eating two of the sled dogs. 他们吃了两只拉雪橇的狗才没有饿死。

stay in　v. phr. To remain at home. 待在家里，不出门。◆ The weather was so bad that we decided to stay in all day. 天气很糟糕，我们决定整天待在家里。

stay in touch　See见IN TOUCH. Contrast对照OUT OF TOUCH.

stay out　v. phr. To stay away from home. 呆在外头，不在家。◆ Her father was very upset because Mary stayed out until 3 A. M. last night. 玛丽的父亲很生气，因为她昨晚在外面呆到凌晨3点才回家。

stay put　v. phr. To stay in place; not leave. 留在原地；不离开。◆ Harry's father told him to stay put until he came back. 哈里的父亲叫他不要离开，等他回来以后再走。

stay the course or stay the pace　See见STAND THE PACE.

stay up late　v. phr. To not go to bed until very late. 熬夜，深夜不睡。◆ Peter has to stay up late these days as he is preparing for his comprehensive exams. 这些天彼得不得不开夜车，因为他正在为专业综合考试作准备。

steal a march on　v. phr. To get ahead of someone by doing a thing unnoticed; get an advantage over. 偷偷地抢在（某人）前头；对（某人）取得优势。◆ The army stole a march on the enemy by marching at night and attacking them in the morning. 部队夜里行军，并在清晨向敌人发动进攻，从而占了他们的上风。

steal away　See见SLIP AWAY.

steal sb.'s thunder　v. phr. To do or say something, intentionally or not, that another person has planned to say or do. 抢先做（或说）某人打算做（或说）的事。◆ Fred intended to nominate Bill for president, but John got up first and stole Fred's thunder. 弗雷德打算提名比尔当董事长，但约翰第一个站起来，抢在弗雷德前面提了比尔的名。

steal the show　v. phr. To act or do so well in a performance that you get most of the attention and the other performers are unnoticed. 抢戏；抢镜头；集观众注意力于己身。◆ Mary was in only one scene of the play, but she stole the show from the stars. 玛丽只在全剧的一场中出现，但她却把观众的注意力从众明星那儿全吸引到自己身上。

steal the spotlight　v. phr. To attract attention away from a person or thing that people should be watching. 把人们的注意力转移到自己身上。◆ When the maid walked on the stage and tripped over a rug, she stole the spotlight from the leading players. 当扮女仆的演员在舞台上行走被小地毯绊倒时，她把观众的注意力从那些主角身上吸引到自己身上。

steal up on　v. phr. To stealthily approach one; sneak up on someone. 偷偷地走近；悄悄地靠近。◆ The thief stole up on his victim, snatched her purse, and ran away. 小偷悄悄地靠近他的偷窃对象，猛地夺过她的钱包便逃之夭夭。

steamed up　adj., informal Excited or angry about or eager to do something. 〖非正式〗激动的；发怒的；急切的。◆ The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game, and he got them all steamed up to win the game. 教练在比赛前给队员们打气，使他们个个都想赢得这场比赛。

steer clear of　v. 1. To steer a safe distance from; go around without touching. 驶离；绕开。◆ A ship steers clear of a rocky shore in stormy weather. 碰上暴风雨的天气，船在行驶时都要离多岩石的海岸远点。2. informal To stay away from; keep from going near. 〖非正式〗避开；保持距离。◆ Fred was angry at Bill, and Bill was steering clear of him. 弗雷德在生比尔的气，所以比尔便躲着他。

steer someone straight　v. phr. To give someone sensible advice, helping him or her to make the right choices. 给某人以正确的指导。◆ The local minister steered many gang members straight by persuading them not to do drugs and to return to school. 当地的牧师给犯罪团伙的许多成员以正确的引导，劝他们不要吸毒并回到学校去。

stem the tide　v. phr. To resist; hold back something of great pressure or strength. 反抗；阻止；挡住潮流。◆ The way to stem the tide of juvenile delinquency is to strengthen education and to pass a stiff gun control law. 抑制少年犯罪的办法，一是加强教育，一是通过一项严厉的枪支管制法律。

step all over　See见WALK OVER.

step by step　adv. phr. Gradually; little by little. 逐步地；一步一步地。◆ Step by step everyone can learn how to use a computer, no matter how old they are. 不管年纪多大，任何人都能一步一步地学会使用电脑。

step down　v. 1. To come down in one move from a higher position to a lower. 走下来。◆ As soon as the train stopped, the conductor stepped down to help the passengers off. 火车一停，列车长就走下来帮助乘客下车。2. To make go slower little by little.使逐步减速。◆ The train was approaching the station, so the engineer stepped it down. 火车正在进站，所以司机把速度逐渐减了下来。3. To leave a job as an official or some other important position. 辞职；下台。◆ When the judge became ill, he had to step down. 法官病了，只好辞职。

step in　v. 1. To go inside for a quick visit. 走进，进入。◆ It was a cold night, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for a cup of coffee. 那是个寒冷的夜晚，当警察经过时，我们邀请他进来喝杯咖啡。2. To begin to take part in a continuing action or discussion, especially without being asked. 开始参与，介入。◆ When the dogs began to fight, John stepped in to stop it before they were hurt. 当那些狗开始打架时，约翰便插进去阻止，以免它们被咬伤。

step inside　v. To come or go inside.走进，进入。◆ Mother invited the callers to step inside. 母亲邀请来访者进屋。

step into　v. 1. To come or go into. 进入。◆ The taxi stopped, and we stepped into it. 出租汽车停下来，我们坐了进去。2. To begin to do, undertake. 开始做；从事。When the star became sick, his understudy stepped into his part. 那位明星生病时，他的替角扮演了他的角色。

step into sb.'s shoes　v. phr. To do what someone else usually does after he has stopped doing it. 接替某人的职位；步某人后尘。◆ When Bill's father died, Bill had to step into his father's shoes to support his mother. 比尔的父亲死后，比尔只得接替他的工作以供养母亲。

step off　v. 1. To walk or march quickly. 齐步前进；齐步走。◆ The drum major lowered his baton and the band stepped off. 军乐队指挥一按下指挥棒，乐队就齐步前进了。2. or pace off. To measure by taking a series of steps in a line. 用步子测量。◆ The farmer stepped off the edge of the field to see how much fencing he would need. 那农夫用步子测量田地的边长，看看要用多少篱笆把它围起来。

step on it or step on the gas　v. phr. 1. To push down on the gas pedal to make a car go faster.（踩油门）加快车速。◆ Be very careful when you step on the gas. Don't go too fast. 踩油门时要非常小心。不要开得太快。2. informal To go faster; hurry. 〖非正式〗加快；赶快。◆ Step on it, or we'll be late for school. 快点，不然我们上学就要迟到了。

step on sb.'s toes or tread on sb.'s toes　v. phr. To do something that embarrasses or offends someone else. 使某人难堪；触犯某人。◆ If you break in when other people are talking, you may step on their toes. 别人在谈话时，如果你插嘴，就可能会冒犯他们。◆ Mary is pretty, and she often treads on the toes of the girls by stealing their boyfriend. 玛丽很漂亮，但她经常抢夺别的女孩的男朋友，使她们很生气。

step out　v. phr. 1. To go out, particularly socially, as on a date. 外出娱乐；外出赴约；外出参加社交活动。◆ Paul said to Sylvia, "You look so dressed up tonight — you must be stepping out, eh?" 保罗对西尔维亚说：“你今天晚上打扮得这么漂亮，一定是去约会，对不对？”2. To leave for a short period during the work day to go to the lavatory or to get a cup of coffee. 暂时离开。◆ "May I speak to Mr. Kotz?" Roy asked. "I'm sorry, sir. He just stepped out for a minute," the secretary answered.“我想请科茨先生听电话，”罗伊说。“对不起，先生，他刚出去一会儿，”秘书说。

step out on　v. phr. To be unfaithful to one's marriage partner or steady lover.（在爱情上）不忠于（某人）。◆ It is rumored that he has been stepping out on his wife. That's why she's so upset. 谣传他一直对妻子不忠。这也就是她如此烦恼的原因。

stepped up　adj. Carried on at a faster or more active rate; increased. 加快的；加速的；增加的。◆ To fill the increase in orders, the factory had to operate at a stepped-up rate. 为应付订货的增加，这家工厂只得加速生产。

step up　v. 1. To go from a lower to a higher place. 向上走；登上。◆ John stepped up onto the platform and began to speak. 约翰走上讲台开始讲话。2. To come towards or near; approach. 走近；走上前。◆ The sergeant called for volunteers and Private Jones stepped up to volunteer. 中士需要志愿者，二等兵琼斯走上前去报名。3. To go or to make (something) go faster or more actively. 加快；加紧。◆ When John found he was going to be late, he stepped up his pace. 约翰发现自己要迟到时便加快了步伐。4. To rise to a higher or more important position; be promoted. 提升，晋升；获得提升。◆ This year Mary is secretary of the club, but I am sure she will step up to president next year. 今年玛丽是俱乐部的秘书，但我确信明年她将被提升为主席。

step up to the plate　v. phr. from baseball To face a challenge, to shoulder a responsibility.（源自棒球）勇敢地面对挑战；承担责任。◆ Eventually both the Palestinians and the Israelis will have to step up to the plate and start working in earnest on a viable peace plan. 最终，巴勒斯坦人和以色列人都必须勇敢地面对挑战，开始认真地制订一份切实可行的和平计划。

sterling character　n. phr. A person of irreproachable character; one of the highest professional standards. 品格高尚的人；优秀的品格。◆ The nominee for the Supreme Court must be a sterling character in every possible way. 被提名担任联邦最高法院法官的候选人必须是各方面品格高尚的人。

stew in one's own juice　v. phr., informal To suffer from something that you have caused to happen yourself. 〖非正式〗自作自受；自食其果。◆ I warned you not to steal those apples. You got caught, and you can stew in your own juice. 我警告过你不要偷那些苹果。现在被抓住了，你就自作自受吧。

stick around　v., informal To stay or wait nearby. 〖非正式〗呆在附近；等在旁边。◆ John's father told him to stick around and they would go fishing. 约翰的父亲叫他等在旁边，他们将去钓鱼。

stick by someone　v. phr. To support; remain loyal to. 支持某人；忠于某人。◆ All of Peter's friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite of what has been said about him in the press. 尽管报上对彼得说了不少坏话，但他所有的朋友都忠心耿耿地支持他。

stick in sb.'s throat　v. phr. To be something you do not want to say; be hard to say. 使某人不愿说出口；使某人难以说出口。◆ Jean wanted to ask the teacher's pardon, but the words stuck in her throat. 琼想请老师原谅，但又难以说出口。

stick-in-the-mud　n., informal An overcareful person; someone who is old-fashioned and fights change. 〖非正式〗过分小心的人；墨守成规者，顽固守旧者。◆ Mabel said her mother was a real stick-in-the-mud to make a rule that she must be home by 10 o'clock on weeknights and 11:30 Saturdays. 梅布尔说她的母亲是个老顽固，竟然规定她平时晚上必须10点前回到家，周六晚必须11点半以前回到家。

stick one's neck out or stick one's chin out　v. phr., informal To do something dangerous or risky. 〖非正式〗不顾一切地硬来；冒风险。◆ When I was in trouble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck out to help me. 在我处境困难时，保罗是唯一不顾一切帮助我的人。◆ John is always sticking his chin out by saying something he shouldn't. 约翰总是说一些他不该说的话，自找麻烦。

stick one's nose into　See见NOSE INTO.

stick out　v. 1a. To stand out from a wall or other surface; project; extend. 突出；伸出。◆ The limb stuck out from the trunk of the tree. 这根大枝从树干上突了出来。1b. To be seen or noticed more easily or quickly than others; be noticeable. 醒目；显眼。◆ My house is the only brick one on the street. It sticks out and you can't miss it. 我的房子是街上唯一的砖房。它很显眼，你不会看不到的。1c. Often used in the informal phrase stick out like a sore thumb. 常用于非正式短语stick out like a sore thumb（显得很不自然；显得很不合适；惹人注目）中。◆ John is so shy and awkward that he sticks out like a sore thumb. 约翰非常腼腆，加之笨手笨脚，所以特别引人注目。2. informal To keep on doing something until it is done no matter how long, hard, or unpleasant. 〖非正式〗把…坚持到底。◆ Mathematics is hard, but if you stick it out you will understand it. 数学是挺难，但如果你坚持刻苦学习，你还是能学会的。

stick out like a sore thumb　v. phr. To be conspicuous; be different from the rest. 惹人注目；与众不同。◆ When the foreign student was placed in an advanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no wonder that he stuck out like a sore thumb. 当那位外国留学生被错误地安插在一个高级英语语法班里时，难怪他那么惹人注目。

stick to　v. phr. To adhere to; obey; follow. 坚持；坚守；遵守。◆ John stuck to his original decision to become a doctor. 约翰坚持了他原先要做医生的决定。◆ If you make a promise, stick to your word, and don't let your friends down. 如果你作出承诺，那就应该守信，不要让你的朋友们失望。

stick together　v. To remain close together in a situation. 聚在一起；团结一致；抱成一团。◆ Stick together in the cave so that no one gets lost. 大家在山洞里要聚在一起，免得有人走失。

stick to one's guns or stand by one's guns　v. phr. To hold to an aim or an opinion even though people try to stop you or say you are wrong. 坚持自己的立场（或观点）。◆ People laughed at Columbus when he said the world was round. He stuck to his guns and proved he was right. 当哥伦布说地球是圆的时，人们都嘲笑他。他坚持自己的观点，终于证明了自己是对的。

stick to one's ribs or stick to the ribs　v. phr., informal To keep you from getting hungry again too quickly. 〖非正式〗吃得饱饱的；耐饿。◆ Doctors say you should eat a good breakfast that sticks to your ribs. 医生说你应该吃丰盛耐饥的早餐。

stick to the point　v. phr. To stay on course during a discussion; adhere to the topic; not talk about extraneous matters. 紧扣主题；紧扣要点；不谈不相干的事。◆ Stick to the point and stop telling us your life history! 请紧扣主题，不要再给我们讲你的个人经历了。

stick up　v., informal (stress on up)（重读up）To rob with a gun. 〖非正式〗持枪抢劫。◆ In the old West, outlaws sometimes stuck up the stagecoaches. 过去在西部，亡命之徒有时候会抢劫驿站马车。

stick-up　n., informal (stress on stick)（重读stick）A robbery by a man with a gun. 〖非正式〗持枪抢劫。◆ Mr. Smith was the victim of a stick-up last night. 史密斯先生昨晚遭到了抢劫。

stick with　v., informal〖非正式〗1. or stay with To continue doing; not quit. 继续做；不放弃。◆ Fred stayed with his homework until it was done. 弗雷德继续做作业，一直到做完为止。2. To stay with; not leave. 跟…在一起；不离开。◆ Stick with me until we get out of the crowd. 在我们走出人群前不要离开我。3. To sell (someone) something poor or worthless; cheat. 向（某人）兜售（次货）；用…欺骗（某人）。◆ Father said that the man in the store tried to stick him with a bad TV set. 父亲说，店里的那个人试图向他兜售一台劣质电视机。4. To leave (someone) with (something unpleasant); force to do or keep something because others cannot or will not. — Used in the passive. 用（不快之事）缠住（某人）；迫使（某人）做某事；迫使（某人）保留某物。——通常用于被动语态。◆ Mr. Jones bought a house that is too big and expensive, but now he's stuck with it. 琼斯先生买了一幢又大又贵的房子，现在已无法脱手了。

stick with　v. phr. To unfairly thrust upon; encumber someone with. 把…强加给（某人）；把…硬塞给（某人）；用…拖累（某人）。◆ In the restaurant my friends stuck me with the bill although it was supposed to be Dutch treat. 本以为是各自付费的聚餐，但在餐馆里朋友们却把账单硬塞给了我。

sticky fingers　n. phr., slang The habit of stealing things you see and want. 〖俚〗偷东西的习惯。◆ Don't leave money in your locker; some of the boys have sticky fingers. 不要把钱放在衣物柜里，有些男生手脚不干净。

still life　n. phr. A term used by artists to describe a motionless picture of a bowl of fruit, flowers, etc. 静物写生，静物画。◆ One of van Gogh's most famous still lifts is a vase of yellow flowers. 凡·高最著名的静物画之一是一只开满黄花的花瓶。

still waters run deep　Quiet people probably are profound thinkers. — A proverb. 〖谚〗静水流深；沉默者深谋。◆ He doesn't say much, but he sure looks smart. Well, still waters run deep, isn't that true? 他话不多，但看上去确实聪明。嗯，沉默者深谋，这话有道理。

stir up　v. 1. To bring (something) into being, often by great exertion or activity; cause. 引起；挑动。◆ It was a quiet afternoon, and John tried to stir up some excitement. 那是一个平静的下午，所以约翰想弄出些令人刺激的事来。2. To cause (someone) to act; incite to action or movement; rouse. 激起；激励。◆ The coach's pep talk stirred up the team to win. 教练的鼓动性讲话激励着球队去获胜。

stir up a hornet's nest　v. phr. To make many people angry; do something that many people don't like. 捅马蜂窝；引起公愤。◆ The principal stirred up a hornet's nest by changing the rules at school. 校长修改校规，引起了师生的公愤。

stock-in-trade　n. phr. The materials which one customarily deals, sells, or offers.（一贯销售的）商品；（一贯使用的）手段，办法。◆ Imported silk blouses from the Orient are the stockin-trade of their small shop. 来自东方的进口丝绸女衬衫是他们这家小店的传统商品。

stone-blind　adj. phr. Completely blind. 完全瞎的。◆ Poor Al is stoneblind and needs help to get across the street carefully. 可怜的艾尔眼睛完全瞎了，要小心地过马路需要有人帮忙才行。

stone-broke or dead broke or flat broke　adj., informal having no money; penniless. 〖非正式〗一个子儿也没有的，身无分文的。◆ Jill wanted to go to the movies but she was stone-broke. 吉尔想去看电影，但她一个子儿也没有。◆ The man gambled and was soon flat broke. 那男子赌博，很快就输了个精光。

stone-cold　adj. Having no warmth; completely cold. — Used to describe things that are better when warm. 冰冷的；完全冷了的。——用以形容热时较好的东西。◆ The boys who got up late found their breakfast stone-cold. 起床晚的男孩们发现他们的早餐全都冰凉了。

stone-dead　adj., informal Showing no signs of life; completely dead. 〖非正式〗毫无生命迹象的；完全死了的。◆ Barry tried to revive the frozen robin but it was stone-dead. 巴里试图救活冻僵的知更鸟，但它已完全断了气。

stone-deaf　adj. phr. Completely deaf. 完全聋的。◆ Sam is stone-deaf so let him read your lips if you know no sign language. 萨姆完全聋了，所以如果你不懂手势语就让他看你的唇形了解意思吧。

stone's throw or within a stone's throw　adv. phr. Within a very short distance. 一箭之遥，近距离。◆ They live across the street from us, just within a stone's throw. 他们住在我们马路对面，与我们仅一箭之遥。

stone wall or brick wall　n. prh. Something hard to overcome; an idea or belief that is hard to change. 难以逾越的障碍；难以克服的困难；难以改变的观点（或信念）。◆ The students ran into a brick wall when they asked the principal to put off the examination. 学生们要求校长推迟考试，结果碰了钉子。

stool pigeon　n. A criminal who informs on his associates. 告发同伙的罪犯；（警察的）眼线。◆ The detective was able to solve the crime mainly through information obtained from a stool pigeon. 那位警探之所以能破此案，主要是凭借从某个眼线那儿得来的情报。

stop and go　adj. phr. Congested; almost standing still. 时行时止的；走走停停的；拥堵的。◆ Traffic on the Kennedy Expressway can be stop and go on weekends; if you want to get to O'Hare Airport on time, you had better leave an hour early. 周末肯尼迪高速公路上的交通有时会非常拥堵，如果你想准时赶到奥黑尔机场，你最好早一个小时出发。

stop at nothing　v. phr. To be unscrupulous. 无所顾忌；不择手段。◆ Al will stop at nothing to get Nancy to go out with him. 为了使南希跟他相恋，艾尔是什么事都会干出来的。

stop cold or stop dead or stop in one's tracks　v. phr., informal To stop very quickly or with great force. 〖非正式〗（使）突然停住；（使）迅速停住。◆ The hunter pulled the trigger and stopped the deer cold. 猎手一扣扳机，鹿即应声倒地。◆ When I saw Mary on the street, I was so surprised I stopped dead. 我在街上看到玛丽时非常惊讶，一下子就待在那儿了。◆ The deer heard a noise and he stopped in his tracks. 鹿一听到声响就在原地停了下来。

stop-gap　See见QUICK FIX.

stop off　v. To stop at a place for a short time while going somewhere. 中途停留。◆ We stopped off after school at the soda fountain before going home. 放学后，我们先在冷饮店里小坐了一会才回家。

stop over　v. To stay at a place overnight or for some other short time while on a trip elsewhere. 中途停留（过夜）；短期逗留。◆ When we came back from California, we stopped over one night near the Grand Canyon. 我们从加州回来时，中途在大峡谷附近住了一夜。

stop short　v. phr. To suddenly stop. 突然停住。◆ Jake stopped short when he heard somebody yell out his name loud but there was no one in sight. 杰克听到有人大声喊他的名字便戛然止步，但是一个人也没看到。

stop street　n. A street where cars must come to a full stop before crossing another street. 十字路口设有停车标志的街道；停车街道。◆ Johnny was late because he traveled on a stop street. 约翰尼迟到了，因为他走的是一条碰到路口必须停车的街道。

stop the show　v. phr. To elicit such a strong applause from the audience that the show is interrupted.（演出等）被热烈的掌声打断。◆ Pavarotti's rendition of "O sole mio" always stops the show. 帕瓦罗蒂演唱的《我的太阳》总是被热烈的掌声打断。

stop up　v. phr. To block; close. 堵塞；塞住。◆ If you want to get rid of the leak, you must stop up the two holes you have in the ceiling. 如果你要去掉那条裂缝，就必须堵住天花板上的那两个洞。

storm in a teacup or storm in a spittoon　n. phr. An insignificant, trifling, local affair that isn't worth noticing, let alone getting involved in. 茶杯（或痰盂）里的风暴；小事引起的轩然大波；小题大作。◆ The Winnetka Ladies' Poetry Club Contest turned into a storm in a teacup. 温尼特卡妇女诗社举办的诗歌比赛到后来变得冷冷清清，只得草草收场。◆ The armwrestling match in the local bar became a storm in a spittoon. 在当地酒吧举行的扳腕子比赛倒也引起了一点小小的轰动。

storm off or storm out of　v. phr. To leave suddenly and in anger as if demonstrating one's anger and dissatisfaction. 怒气冲冲地猛冲出去；怒气冲冲地离开。◆ Suzie stormed out of the room when Tom finally confessed that he wasn't seriously interested in marriage and starting a family. 当汤姆最后承认他对结婚成家并不是很感兴趣时，苏茜怒气冲冲地冲出了房间。

stow away　v. 1. informal To pack or store away. 〖非正式〗收藏起；贮藏。◆ After New Year's Day the Christmas decorations were stowed away until another season. 元旦过后，人们就把圣诞节用的装饰品收藏起来，留待下年再用。2. To hide on a ship or another kind of transportation to get a free ride.（藏在车、船、飞机里）无票偷乘。◆ John ran away from home and stowed away on a freighter going to Jamaica. 约翰离家出走，偷偷乘上了一条开往牙买加的货船。

straighten out　v. To correct a mistake; make you realize you are wrong. 改正错误；使改邪归正。◆ The teacher saw Jim's awkward sentence on the board and asked for volunteers to straighten it out. 老师看到吉姆在黑板上写的句子很拗口，便问有谁愿意把它改通顺。

straighten up　v. To put in order; make neat. 整理；使整洁。◆ Vic had to straighten up his room before he could go swimming. 威克必须把他的房间整理好才能去游泳。

straight face　n. A face that is not laughing or smiling. 没有笑容的脸；一本正经的面孔。◆ It is hard to tell when Jim is teasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face. 吉姆什么时候是在取笑你很难判断，他能一脸严肃地说瞎话。

straight from the horse's mouth　slang Directly from the person or place where it began; from a reliable source or a person that cannot be doubted. 〖俚〗（消息）直接来自当事人（或权威人士）的；从可靠方面来的。◆ They are going to be married. I got the news straight from the horse's mouth — their minister. 他们就要结婚了。这消息我是从可靠方面——他们的牧师那里听来的。

straight from the shoulder　adv. phr., informal In an open and honest way of speaking; without holding back anything because of fear or politeness or respect for someone's feelings; frankly. 〖非正式〗直截了当地；老实不客气地；坦率地。◆ John asked what he had done wrong. Bob told him straight from the shoulder. 约翰问他做错了什么事。鲍勃直截了当地告诉了他。

straightlaced　adj. Of very strict morals and manners.（道德举止方面）极严谨的。◆ She is so straightlaced that she won't even go out with a man unless she senses that he is serious about her. 她举止很严谨，除非她感到某男士对她态度认真，她决不会与他一起外出。

straight off　adv. phr. At once; immediately. 马上；立即。◆ After school is over, you come home straight off, and don't waste time. 一放学你就要马上回家，不要浪费时间。

straight off the reel　adv. phr. Uninterruptedly; without stopping. 连续不断地；不停顿地；一连，一口气。◆ To play sixteen sets of tennis in one weekend straight off the reel can be too much of a good thing, leading to exhaustion. 一个周末不停顿地连打16盘网球可能会太多了，这会导致精疲力竭。

straight shooters　See见SHOOT STRAIGHT.

straight ticket　n. A vote for all the candidates of a single party. 投同一政党所有候选人票的选票。◆ Uncle Fred was a loyal member of his party. He always voted the straight ticket. 弗雷德叔叔是他那个党的忠实党员。他投票总是投同党的所有候选人。

strain at a gnat　v. phr. To make a big deal of facing a relatively minor challenge, especially after having dealt with bigger, more difficult issues. 谨小慎微；（尤指处理过大而难的问题后）面对小的挑战也极为重视。◆ "Man, you have climbed Mount Everest, and you're huffing and puffing because we're climbing a little hill?" the tour guide said to the famous explorer. "Your attitude is a classical case of straining at a gnat!"“老兄，你埃佛勒斯峰都爬过了，怎么我们爬这座小山你也呼哧呼哧地喘粗气呀？”向导对那位著名的探险家说。“你这种态度可真是典型的大事做得好，小事也认真！”

strange to say　adv. phr. Not what you might think; surprisingly. — Used for emphasis. 说来也怪；奇怪的是。——用以表示强调。◆ Strange to say, Jerry doesn't like candy. 说来也怪，杰里不喜欢糖果。

strapped for　adj. Broke; out of funds. 身无分文的；银根很紧的。◆ My brother is so extravagant that he is always strapped for cash. 我兄弟非常奢侈，总是缺乏现金。

straw in the wind　n. phr. A small sign of what may happen.（某事即将发生的）迹象，预兆，苗头。◆ The doctor's worried face was a straw in the wind. 医生忧虑的表情预示着病人情况不妙。

straw poll　n. phr. An informal survey taken in order to get an opinion.（测验民意的）非正式投票。◆ The results of our straw poll show that most faculty members prefer to teach between 9 and 11 A. M. 我们非正式投票的结果表明，大多数教师喜欢在上午9点至11点上课。

straw that breaks the camel's back　See见LAST STRAW.

stretch a point or strain a point　v. phr. To permit something different or more than usual; not tell the exact truth or make an exception. 破例通融，变通处理；夸张失实。◆ It's straining a point to call Joe a hero just because he saved the kitten from drowning in the bathtub. 仅仅因为乔从浴缸中救出了溺水的小猫就称他为英雄，未免言过其实。

stretched too thin　See见SPREAD ONESELF TOO THIN.

stretch of the imagination　n. phr. Imaginative attempt or effort. 想入非非；异想天开。◆ By no stretch of the imagination can I see Al as a successful lawyer. 我无论怎样异想天开都没法把艾尔看作一位成功的律师。

stretch one's legs　v. phr. To go for a walk. 散步。◆ After having sat all day at the computer, I decided to go and stretch my legs in the park. 在电脑前坐了整整一天后，我决定去公园散散步。

strike a bargain　v. phr. To arrive at a price satisfactory to both the buyer and the seller. 成交。◆ After a great deal of haggling, they managed to strike a bargain. 经过很长时间的讨价还价，他们终于成交。

strike a chord　v. phr. To find oneself in agreement with someone else's feelings and ideas. 打动（某人的）心弦；引起（某人）共鸣。◆ John's proposal to expand the firm's foreign trade struck a chord with the vice president, who had been thinking along similar lines on his own. 约翰关于扩展公司对外贸易的建议引起了副总裁的共鸣，因为他也一直沿着同样的思路在考虑。

strike a happy medium　v. phr. To find an answer to a problem that is half-way between two unsatisfactory answers. 采取折中办法；采取中庸之道。◆ Two teaspoons of sugar made the cup of coffee too sweet, and one not sweet enough. One heaping teaspoon struck a happy medium. 这杯咖啡放两茶匙糖太甜，放一茶匙糖则不够甜。折中的办法是放满满的一茶匙。

strike or hit a sour note　v. phr. To spoil the mood at a gathering by hearing some bad news. 弹出刺耳的音调；（坏消息等）败坏聚会的气氛。◆ The news of Mr. Brown's sudden illness struck a sour note during our New Year's Eve party. 布朗先生突然生病的消息给我们的除夕晚会蒙上了一层阴影。

strikebreaker　n. One who takes the place of workers on strike or one who recruits such people. 破坏罢工者。◆ The striking workers threw rotten eggs at the strike-breakers. 罢工的工人们向破坏罢工者投掷臭鸡蛋。

strike gold　v. phr. 1. To find gold.发现金子。◆ Ted struck gold near an abandoned mine in California. 泰德在加州一座废矿井附近发现了金子。2. To find suddenly the answer to an old puzzle. 突然找到老难题的答案。◆ Professor Brown's assistant struck gold when he came up with an equation that explained the irregular motions of a double star. 布朗教授的助教解决了一道老难题，因为他提出了一个方程式，说明了物理双星不规则运行的原因。

strike it rich　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To discover oil, or a large vein of minerals to be mined, or a buried treasure. 发现富矿；发现宝藏。◆ The old prospector panned gold for years before he struck it rich. 那位老的探矿者淘金淘了多年才找到了丰富的金矿。2. To become rich or successful suddenly or without expecting to. 暴富，发横财；突然（或意外）地成功。◆ John did not know that he had a rich Uncle John in Australia. John struck it rich when his uncle left his money to John. 约翰并不知道他在澳大利亚有个有钱的约翰叔叔。在叔叔把钱留给他后，他一下子成了巨富。

strike out　v. 1. To destroy something that has been written or drawn by drawing a line or cross through it or by erasing it. 划掉；删去。◆ John misspelled "corollary." He struck it out and wrote it correctly. 约翰拼错了corollary这个词。他把它划掉，把正确的拼写了出来。2. To begin to follow a new path or a course of action that you have never tried. 开始行动；开创（新路或行动路线）；闯新路。◆ The boy scouts struck out at daybreak over the mountain pass. 童子军们天一亮就翻过山隘出发了。3. To put (a batter) out of play by making him miss the ball three times; also: To be put out of play by missing the ball three times. 使（击球手）三击不中出局；（击球手）三击不中出局。◆ The pitcher struck out three men in the game. 投手在那一局中使3位击球手三击不中出局。

strike out at　v. phr. To attack someone verbally or physically. 打击；攻击；抨击。◆ She was so angry that she struck out at him every occasion she got. 她非常生气，一找到机会就攻击他。

strike sb.'s fancy　v. phr. To please sb.'s predilections; appeal to someone. 使某人中意；吸引某人。◆ The red tie with the yellow dragon on it happened to strike my fancy, so I bought it. 这条绣有黄龙的红领带碰巧引起了我的兴趣，于是我便买了下来。

strike someone funny　v. phr. To appear or seem laughable, curious, ironic, or entertaining. 使某人觉得好笑（或奇怪、令人啼笑皆非、有趣）。◆ "It strikes me funny," he said, "that you should refuse my invitation to visit my chateau in France. After all, you love both red wine and old castles."“我觉得很奇怪，”他说，“你居然拒绝了我的邀请，不来访问我在法国的葡萄种植园。因为你毕竟是既喜欢红葡萄酒也喜欢古城堡的。”

strike the hour　v. phr. To mark or toll the hour (said of clocks or bells).（钟）打点。◆ We heard the church clock strike the hour of two. 我们听到教堂的时钟打了两点。

strike up　v. 1a. To start to sing or play. 开始歌唱；开始演奏。◆ The President took his place on the platform, and the band struck up the national anthem. 总统在讲台上就坐，乐队奏起了国歌。1b. To give a signal to start (a band) playing. 发信号使（乐队）开始演奏。◆ When the team ran on the field, the band director struck up the band. 当球队跑进球场时，乐队指挥示意乐队开始演奏。2. To bring about; begin; start. 引起；开始。◆ It did not take Mary long to strike up acquaintances in her new school. 玛丽没花很多时间就在新学校里结识了不少同学。

strike up a conversation　v. phr. To start talking to someone for the first time, as on a train, a bus, an airplane, etc. 开始交谈，攀谈。◆ "How did you two meet?" Aunt Matilda asked the happy couple on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. "You won't believe this," they said, "but we struck up a conversation on a flight from New York to Chicago." “你们俩是怎么相识的？”玛蒂尔达姑妈在那一对幸福的夫妇25周年结婚纪念日时问他们。“说来你可能不会相信，”他们说，“我们是在从纽约飞往芝加哥的航班上开始交谈的。”

strike while the iron is hot　See见MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.

string along　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To deceive; fool; lead on dishonestly. 欺骗；愚弄；吊…胃口。◆ Mary was stringing John along for years but she didn't mean to marry him. 玛丽多年来一直在吊约翰的胃口却无意嫁给他。2. To follow someone's leadership; join his group. 听从某人的领导；加入某人一伙。◆ Those of you who want to learn about wild flowers, string along with Jake. 你们谁想了解野花的，跟杰克一起走吧。

string out　v. To make (something) extend over a great distance or a long stretch of time. 延伸；延长。◆ The city and county needed to string out the telephone poles for several miles. 这个城市和这个县需要把电话线杆延长几英里。

strings attached　adv. phr. With some special proviso or condition that is a handicap. 附加条件。◆ John inherited a large fortune but with the string attached that he could not touch a penny of it before his 28th birthday. 约翰继承了一大笔财产，但却有这样的附加条件：在他28岁以前，他一分钱也不能碰。

stroke of luck　See见RUN OF LUCK.

strong language　n. phr. Cursing; swearing. 骂人的话；激烈的言词。◆ When Ned learned that he had been fired, he used some very strong language about his boss. 在内德得知自己被解雇时，他用了一些非常激烈的言词骂他的老板。

strung out　adj., slang, colloquial 〖俚〗〖口〗1. Nervous, jittery, jumpy; generally ill because of drug use or withdrawal symptoms. 情绪不安的；神经紧张的，神经质的；（因吸毒或戒毒过程中的症状而）感到难受的。◆ The only explanation I can think of for Max's behavior is that he must be strung out. 对于马克斯的行为我能想到的唯一解释是他肯定是毒瘾又发了。2. To suffer because of a lack of something previously accustomed to, such as the love and affection of someone.（因失恋等）感到痛苦的。◆ Sue is all strung out for Jim; they've just split up. 苏为了吉姆而痛苦不堪；他们刚刚分手。

stubborn as a mule　See见PIGHEADED.

stuck on　slang Very much in love with; crazy about. 〖俚〗深深爱上；迷恋。◆ Judy thinks she is very pretty and very smart. She is stuck on herself. 朱迪自以为很漂亮、很聪明。她是个自恋狂。◆ Lucy is stuck on the football captain. 露西爱上了那个橄榄球队的队长。

stuck-up　adj., informal Acting as if other people are not as good as you are; conceited; snobbish. 〖非正式〗高傲自大的；自命不凡的；势利的。◆ Mary is very stuck-up, and will not speak to the poor children in her class. 玛丽很高傲，不愿意跟班上成绩差的孩子讲话。

stuck with　adj. phr. Left in a predicament; left having to take care of a problem caused by another. 陷于困境的；被…缠住的；摆脱不了的。◆ Our neighbors vanished without a trace and we got stuck with their cat and dog. 我们的邻居消失得无影无踪，我们只好照料他们的猫和狗了。

stuff and nonsense　n. Foolish or empty writing or talk; nonsense. 胡说八道；废话。◆ When Jane said she was too sick to go to school, her mother answered, "Stuff and nonsense! I know there's a test today. 当简说她病得不能上学时，她母亲回答说：“胡说！我知道今天有一门考试。”

stuffed shirt　n. phr. A pretentious bore; a pompous, empty person. 自命不凡的家伙；妄自尊大的草包。◆ I think that Howard is a terrible stuffed shirt with no sense of humor. 我认为霍华德是个令人讨厌的自命不凡而毫无幽默感的草包。

stuffed up　adj. phr. Impeded; blocked. 堵住的；塞住的。◆ Our kitchen sink is all stuffed up so I have to call the plumber. 我们厨房的洗涤漕完全堵住了，所以我只得叫管子工来疏通。

stuff one's face　v. phr. To eat an inordinate amount of food with great vigor and speed. 狼吞虎咽地大吃一顿；吃得过饱。◆ Tim will never be less obese if he keeps stuffing his face like this every time he sees food on the table. 如果蒂姆每次看到餐桌上的食物都这样狼吞虎咽地大吃一顿，他永远也不会瘦下来。

stuff the ballot box　v. phr. To give more votes to a candidate in an election than there are people who actually voted for him. 把伪票投入票箱；虚报票数。◆ It is a crime to stuff the ballot box. 虚报票数是犯罪行为。— ballot-stuffing adj. phr.

stumble across　v. phr. To encounter a person or thing, mostly by accident. 偶然遇到；碰巧发现。◆ I gave up looking for my old hat when I accidentally stumbled across it in a dark corner of the closet. 正当我对寻找旧帽子感到无望时，却意外地在壁橱里的一个暗角发现了它。

subject to　adj. phr. 1. Under the government or control of; in the power of. 臣服于，隶属于；受制于；在…的控制下。◆ The English colonies in America were subject to the English king. 美洲的英国殖民地受英国国王的统治。2. Likely to get or have; liable. 易患…的；易受…袭击的。◆ John is in rather poor health and is subject to colds. 约翰身体欠佳，动不动就感冒。3. Depending on some change, happening, or need. 由…决定的；取决于…的。◆ Agreements made by the President with other countries are subject to the approval of the Senate. 总统与其他国家签订的协议须经参议院批准。

such as　conj. 1. Of a kind or amount shown or named; of a kind like. 像…那样的；诸如…之类的；例如。◆ Many different pies were in the bakery such as apple, cherry, and blueberry pies. 面包店里有很多不同种类的馅饼，如苹果馅饼、樱桃馅饼和蓝莓馅饼。2. Of the average or ordinary kind; poor; humble. 一般的，普通的；简陋的。◆ Such as the food was, there was plenty of it. 食物虽质量一般，但数量却充足。

such as it is　Just as it appears or is presented, not being any better or worse than most others of its kind; being average or mediocre. 虽然质量不过如此；尽管水平一般。◆ Jane told her parents her grades, such as they were. 简的成绩虽然不怎么理想，但她还是告诉了父母。

such that　conj. Of a kind or amount that; so great or so little that; enough that. 如此…以致…。◆ Jimmy made such noise that his sister told him to be quiet. 吉米吵得太厉害，他姐姐叫他安静些。

sucker list　n., slang A list of easily fooled people, especially people who are easily persuaded to buy things or give money. 〖俚〗易上钩者名单（尤指轻信对方而购物或出钱的人）。◆ The crook got hold of a sucker list and started out to sell his worthless stock. 那个骗子拿到了一份易上钩者名单便开始销售他那些毫无价值的存货了。

suck in　v. 1. informal To pull in by taking a deep breath and tightening the muscles; flatten. 〖非正式〗深呼吸把…的肌肉收紧；把…弄平。◆ "Suck in those abdominal muscles," the gym teacher said. 体育老师说：“深呼吸收腹。”2. slang To make a fool of; cheat. 〖俚〗作弄；欺骗。◆ The uneducated farmer was sucked in by a clever crook. 那个没受过教育的农民被一个狡猾的骗子骗了。

suck up to　See见SHINE UP TO.

sugarcoat the pill　See见GILD THE PILL.

sugar daddy　n., slang, semi-vulgar, avoidable An older, well-to-do man, who gives money and gifts to a younger woman or girls usually in exchange for sexual favors. 〖俚〗〖粗〗〖忌〗甜老爸（给年轻女子滥送钱物以博取其欢心的阔老头）。◆ Betty Morgan got a mink coat from her sugar daddy. 贝蒂·摩根从她的甜老爸那儿得到了一件貂皮上衣。

suit up　v. phr. To don a uniform or sports outfit. 穿上制服（或运动装）。◆ The veterans like to suit up for the Fourth of July parade. 退伍军人喜欢穿上军装参加7月4日独立纪念日的游行。

suit yourself　v. phr., informal To do what one likes or prefers. 〖非正式〗随你自己的意愿行事；悉听尊便。◆ "I don't care where you want to sleep," he said. "Suit yourself!"“你想睡在哪里我都不在乎，”他说。“你自便吧！”

sum total　n. The final amount; everything taken together; total. 总数；总计；总和。◆ The sum total of expenses for the trip was $450. 这次旅行的花费总额为450美元。

sum up　v. To put something into a few words; shorten into a brief summary; summarize. 概括；总结。◆ The teacher summed up the lesson in three rules. 老师把这节课总结为3条规律。

sunbelt　n., informal A portion of the southern United States where the winter is very mild in comparison to other states. 〖非正式〗阳光地带（美国南部冬天比较温暖的一些地方）。◆ The Simpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff's rheumatism. 因杰夫患有风湿病，辛普森一家离开芝加哥去了阳光地带。

sunny-side up　adj. Fried on one side only. 单煎一面的。◆ Barbara likes her eggs sunnyside up. 芭芭拉喜欢吃单面煎的蛋。

sure enough　adv. As expected. 果然；果真。◆ Charles was afraid he had done badly on the test, and sure enough, his grade was failing. 查尔斯担心自己没有考好，果然，他的分数不及格。

surefire　adj. Without fail; effective; bringing actual results. 一定能成功的；有效的；带来实效的。◆ During a campaign the only surefire way to get the sympathy of the voters is to mingle with them in person. 在竞选期间，赢得选民同情的唯一有效的办法就是亲自跟他们交往。

sure thing　1. n., informal Something sure to happen; something about which there is no doubt. 〖非正式〗肯定会发生的事；毫无疑问的事。◆ It's no fun betting on a sure thing. 对肯定无疑的事打赌毫无意义。2. adv. Of course; certainly. 当然；肯定。◆ Sure thing, I'll be glad to do it for you. 我当然高兴为你做这件事情。

surf the Web　v. phr. To look through information on the Internet. 上因特网（查找资料）；浏览因特网。◆ John can find answers for most of your questions; he can surf the Web like a professional. 约翰能找到你的大多数问题的答案，他可以像个专业人士一样上网查找资料。

survival of the fittest　n. phr. The staying alive or in action of the best prepared; often: idea that those living things best able to adjust to life survive and those unable to adjust die out. 适者生存。◆ With changes in the world's climate, dinosaurs died but many smaller animals lived on. It was survival of the fittest. 随着世界气候的变化，恐龙消失了，但很多小动物却活了下来。这就是适者生存。

swallow one's pride　v. phr. To bring your pride under control; humble yourself. 抑制自尊心；低声下气。◆ After Bill lost the race, he swallowed his pride and shook hands with the winner. 比赛失利后，比尔克制自尊心，与获胜者握了手。

swallow one's words　1. To speak unclearly; fail to put enough breath into your words. 口齿不清；发音含糊。◆ Phyllis was hard to understand because she swallowed her words. 菲利斯的话很难懂，因为她口齿不清。2. See见EAT ONE'S WORDS.

swallow up　v. phr. To do away with; absorb; engulf. 耗尽；吸收；吞没。◆ My expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary. 我开支很大，把我不太高的薪水都耗尽了。

swan song　n. phr., literary A farewell or last appearance. 〖文〗告别演出；最后的作品。◆ The famous soprano gave her swan song in La Traviata before she retired. 那位著名的女高音歌唱家退休前在《茶花女》中作了告别演出。

swat team　n., informal Police unit trained for especially hazardous or sensitive law-enforcement assignments; short for Special Weapons and Tactics. 〖非正式〗（警察部队中的）特种武器和战术队。◆ Joe made the SWAT team of the NYPD due to his athletic skills. 由于他的运动技能，约翰成了纽约警察局特种武器和战术队的一员。

swear by　v. 1. To use as the support or authority that what you are saying is truthful; take an oath upon. 以…发誓。◆ A witness swears by the Bible that he will tell the truth. 证人要以《圣经》的名义起誓保证说真话。2. To have complete confidence in; be sure of; trust completely. 极其信赖；确信；完全信任。◆ We can be sure that Fred will come on time, since his friend Tom swears by him. 我们可以确信弗雷德会准时来，因为他的朋友汤姆确信他会准时来。

swear in or swear into　v. To have a person swear or promise to do his duty as a member or an officer of an organization, government department, or similar group. — Swear into is used when the name of the group is given. 使宣誓就职；使宣誓参加。◆ At the inauguration, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swears in the new president. 在就职典礼上，最高法院首席法官使新总统宣誓就职。

swear off　v., informal To give up something you like or you have got in the habit of using by making a promise. 〖非正式〗发誓放弃；保证减掉。◆ Mary swore off candy until she lost ten pounds. 玛丽发誓要减轻体重10磅后再吃糖。

swear out　v. To get (a written order to do something) by swearing that a person has broken the law. 宣誓所控属实而得到（对某人的逮捕证或搜查证）。◆ The police swore out a warrant for the suspect's arrest. 那位警察宣誓所控属实后得到了对该嫌犯的逮捕证。

sweat blood　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To be very much worried. 焦急万分。◆ The engine of the airplane stopped, and the pilot sweated blood as he glided to a safe landing. 飞机的引擎不转了，飞行员滑翔着安全着陆时急出了一身冷汗。2. To work very hard. 拼命工作。◆ Jim sweated blood to finish his composition on time. 吉姆拼死拼活地按时写好了作文。

sweat out　v., informal To wait anxiously; worry while waiting. 〖非正式〗焦急地等待。◆ Karl was sweating out the results of the college exams. 卡尔正焦急地等待着大学考试的结果。

sweep off sb.'s feet　v. phr. To make (someone) have feelings (as love or happiness) too strong to control; overcome with strong feeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by (someone) through the feelings. 使（某人）被某种强烈的感情所控制（或压倒）；使（某人）倾心。◆ The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feet when he said so many things to her at the dance. 英俊的橄榄球队队长在舞会上对琼讲了很多事情，令她倾心不已。

sweep the city or country or nation or world　v. phr. To gain great attention or popularity throughout the city, country, etc. 席卷（或风行）全市（或全国、全世界）。◆ Pavarotti's unmatched tenor voice swept the world in an unprecedented manner. 帕瓦罗蒂无与伦比的男高音歌喉以一种前所未闻的方式在全世界迅速传播。

sweep under the rug　v. phr. To hide or dismiss casually (something one is ashamed of or does not know what to do about). 隐瞒（或掩盖）（某事）；忽略（某事）。◆ In many places, drug abuse by school children is swept under the rug. 在许多地方，中小学生嗜用麻醉毒品的事都被掩盖着。

sweetie pie　n., informal A person who is loved; darling; sweetheart. 〖非正式〗心爱的人；心上人；亲爱的；恋人；情人。◆ Arnold blushed with pleasure when Annie called him her sweetie pie. 当安妮把阿诺德称作她的心上人时，他高兴得满脸通红。

sweet on　adj. phr., informal In love with; very fond of. 〖非正式〗爱上；非常喜欢。◆ John is sweet on Alice. 约翰爱上了爱丽丝。

sweet talk　1. n., informal Too much praise; flattery. 〖非正式〗甜言蜜语；花言巧语。◆ Sometimes a girl's better judgment is overcome by sweet talk. 有时候女孩子的判断力会被甜言蜜语所征服。2. v., informal To get what you want by great praise; flatter. 〖非正式〗用甜言蜜语哄骗；奉承。◆ Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything. 波莉能用甜言蜜语哄骗丈夫做任何事情。

sweet tooth　n. phr. A great weakness or predilection for sweets. 对糖果（或甜食）的嗜好。◆ Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything else but cake. 苏特喜欢吃甜食，她除了蛋糕几乎什么都不吃。

swelled head　n., informal A feeling that you are very important or more important than you really are. 〖非正式〗自命不凡；妄自尊大。◆ When John won the race, he got a swelled head. 约翰赢得比赛后，得意得昏了头。◆ Pretty girls shouldn't get a swelled head about it. 漂亮的女孩子不应因为漂亮而自命不凡。— swell-headed adj. phr. 自命不凡的；妄自尊大的。◆ After he was elected captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed. 鲍勃当选队长后就狂妄自大起来了。

swim against the current or swim against the stream　v. phr. To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. 反潮流；逆潮流而动，艰苦奋斗。◆ The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream. 今天，未受教育而想获得成功的年轻人必须艰苦奋斗。

switched on　adj. , slang〖俚〗1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. 新潮的；时新的；时髦的。◆ I dig Sarah, she is really switched on. 我喜欢萨拉，她真的很新潮。2. Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 兴奋的；在酒精（或毒品）作用下的。◆ How come you're talking so fast? Are you switched on or something? 你怎么说话这么快？是吸了大麻还是怎么的？

sword of Damocles　n. phr., from Greek mythology A constant threat or imminent danger.（源出希腊神话）达摩克利斯剑；迫在眉睫的危险；临头的灾难。◆ Nuclear war hangs over modern humanity's head like the sword of Damocles. 核战争像悬在达摩克利斯头上的利剑一样，严重威胁着当代人的安全。

sworn enemies　n. phr. People or groups or nations that have a longstanding dislike for each other. 不共戴天的仇敌。◆ The Israelis and the Arabs have been sworn enemies for a long time but hopefully they will eventually sign a lasting peace accord. 以色列人和阿拉伯人长期以来一直是不共戴天的仇敌，但他们最终有望签署一份持久的和平协议。

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tack on　v. phr. To append; add. 附加；加上。◆ We were about to sign the contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil that was not acceptable to us. 我们正要签合同时突然发现律师加上了一份我们无法接受的附录。

tag along with　v. phr. To accompany someone to a social activity. 尾随，跟随；陪（某人参加社交活动）。◆ Don's kid brother tags along with him everywhere Don goes in spite of his young age. 不管唐去哪儿，他的小弟弟都跟着他去，尽管他年纪很小。

tag end or tail end　n., informal The end, farthest to the rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. 〖非正式〗末尾，末端；最后部分；最不重要者。◆ John was at the tail end of his class. 约翰的成绩居全班之末。◆ Mary's part in the play came at the tag end, and she got bored waiting. 玛丽在剧中的角色到最后才出场，她都等得厌倦了。

tail between one's legs　n. phr. State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. 夹着尾巴；灰溜溜；狼狈不堪。◆ The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs. 军队把敌人打得夹着尾巴逃回了家。

taillight　n. The rear red light of a car. （汽车的）后灯，尾灯。◆ My father was fined $15 for driving without a taillight. 我父亲因驾驶没有尾灯的汽车而被罚款15美元。

tail wags the dog　Said of situations in which a minor part is in control of the whole. 尾巴摇狗（指局部控制全局等本末倒置的情况）。◆ He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog. 他只是公司里的一个小雇员，然而他却对每个人都发号施令，这真是本末倒置小人物在掌大权。

take a back seat　v. phr., informal To accept a poorer or lower position; be second to something or someone else. 〖非正式〗处于次要地位；次于某物（或某人）。◆ During the war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs. 在战争期间，所有的制造业都得给军事需要让路。

take a bath　v. phr., informal To come to financial ruin. 〖非正式〗遭受重大经济损失；破产。◆ Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown ＆ Brown, Inc.? 老弟，我们那次跟布朗父子公司合并是不是吃了大亏？

take a blast　v. phr. To become inebriated; to become intoxicated. 喝醉。◆ I saw you taking a blast from drinking too much beer last night. 昨晚我看到你喝了太多的啤酒喝醉了。

take a bow　v. phr. To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped for or praised for success. 起立（或登台）接受鼓掌（或赞扬）。◆ The audience shouted for the author of the play to take a bow. 观众大声要求剧作者登台接受大家的鼓掌。

take a break　v. phr. To have a brief rest period during the course of one's work. 休息一会儿。◆ "You've worked hard. It's time to take a break," the boss said. 老板说：“你们干得很辛苦。现在该休息一下了。”

take a breather　See见TAKE A BREAK.

take a chance　v. phr. To accept the risk of failure or loss 冒险；碰运气。◆ We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors. 我们将冒着天气变糟的危险在户外举行聚会。

take a crack at　v. phr. To try doing something. 尝试做（某事）。◆ It was a difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the resident architect decided to take a crack at it. 把我们校园陈旧的建筑重整一番是一项艰巨的工作，但住校建筑师决定试一试。

take a different tack　v. phr. To approach a problem differently from the mainstream or the majority of one's colleagues. 采用不同的方法；另辟蹊径。◆ Albert Einstein took a different tack to the question of space and time from that of his contemporaries, and thereby produced the Theory of Relativity. 阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦在研究空间和时间的问题时另辟蹊径，采用了与同时代人不同的方法，从而提出了相对论。

take a dig at　v. phr. To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. 挖苦；辱骂；冒犯；诋毁。◆ If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be a short one. 如果你一直不停地控告我，我们的关系就长不了。

take a dim view of　v. phr. 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure or anxious about. 对…表示怀疑；对…感到没有把握；对…感到忧虑。◆ Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the exam. 汤姆对自己能否通过考试没有把握。2. To be against; disapprove. 反对；不赞成。◆ The teacher took a dim view of the class's behavior. 老师不喜欢班上学生的行为。

take a drop　v. phr. 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. 喝点酒。◆ Aunt Liz doesn't really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then. 莉兹阿姨并非真的喜欢喝酒，她只是偶尔喝一点。2. To lose value; decrease in price. 失去价值；跌价。◆ Stocks took a big drop yesterday due to the international crisis. 由于这一国际危机，昨天股市行情大跌。

take advantage of　v. phr. 1. To make good use of. 利用。◆ The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird. 那猫利用高高的草作掩护悄悄地向那只鸟逼近。◆ Jim took advantage of Tracy's innocence, got her drunk, and raped her. 吉姆利用特蕾西的无知把她灌醉后强奸了她。2. To treat (someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. 占（某人）的便宜；不公平地利用。◆ He took advantage of his friend's kindness. 他利用朋友的仁慈占便宜。◆ The little children did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage of them. 小孩子们不知道这糖要付多少钱，于是拉尔夫就占他们的便宜。

take a fancy to　v. phr. To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. 爱上；喜欢上。◆ Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture. 赫迈厄妮阿姨喜欢上了古式家具。

take a flop　v. phr. To fall heavily. 重重跌倒。◆ I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk. 我在结冰的人行道上重重地摔了一跤。

take after　v. To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor).（在外貌、性格等方面）与（父、母等）相像。◆ She takes after her father's side of the family in looks. 她的外貌像她父亲家的人。

take a hand in　v. phr. To assist in the direction of; participate. 参与，参加。◆ The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees. 大学教师俱乐部决定参与对新难民的帮助。

take a hint　v. phr. To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. 领会暗示。◆ "I don't like people who smoke," she said. "Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"“我不喜欢抽烟的人，”她说。“难道你就不能心领神会，或者把烟戒掉或者不再见我？”

take aim　v. phr. To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. 瞄准。◆ Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight. 猎人还没来得及瞄准，那头鹿就跳着跑掉了。

take a joke　v. phr. Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. 经得起开玩笑。◆ My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself. 我兄弟在取笑别人时很有幽默感，却经不起别人跟他开玩笑。

take a load off one's feet　v. phr. To alleviate one's fatigue by sitting down during some taxing work. 坐下休息；歇歇脚。◆ "You've been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your feet?"“你已经在那儿站了几个小时了，杰克，”约翰说。“为什么不坐下来歇会儿呢？”

take amiss or the wrong way　v. phr. To become offended due to a misunderstanding. 因误解而生气。◆ "I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive." 老板对简说：“我觉得你有着不可抗拒的魅力，希望我这样说你不会生气。”

take a nap or take a snooze　v. phr. To sleep for a short while. 打个盹；小睡一会儿。◆ If you can take a nap even for just half an hour when working hard, you will be able to continue better than before. 工作辛苦时，哪怕小睡半个小时，也能更好地继续工作。

take a new turn　v. phr. To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. 开始新做法；选定新方向。◆ The company took a new turn under Jack's directorship. 在经理杰克的领导下，公司出现了新的转机。

take a nose dive　v. phr. To plummet; fall sharply. 骤然下跌；急剧下跌。◆ The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart attack. 总统心脏病发作的消息传出后，股市行情暴跌。

take apart　v. phr. To dismantle; disassemble. 拆开；拆卸。◆ Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again. 男孩子喜欢把收音机和手表拆开，但他们往往不知道怎样再把它们装配起来。

take a pot shot at　See见POTSHOT.

take a powder　v. phr., slang To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. 〖俚〗匆忙离去；逃跑。◆ All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived. 警察赶到时，除一人外，那帮歹徒都已逃之夭夭。

take a punch at　v. phr. To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. 向（某人）挥拳；挥拳打击；以拳攻击。◆ Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred. 鲍勃很生气，突然挥拳向弗雷德打去。

take a shine to　v. phr., slang To have or show a quick liking for. 〖俚〗喜欢，喜爱。◆ He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day. 他从第一天起就喜欢上了他的新老师。

take a shot at　v. phr. To try casually; attempt to do. 随便试一试；试着去做。◆ "Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."“所有这些新的购书订单你应付得了吗？”汤姆问。“这事我以前没干过，”萨莉回答说，“但我肯定可以试一试。”

take a snooze　See见TAKE A NAP.

take a spill　v. phr. To fall down; tip over. 跌下；翻倒。◆ During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill. 寒冬期间，人行道上结了冰时，很多人会摔跤。

take a spin　v. phr. To go for a ride in a car, especially for pleasure. 开（或乘）车兜一圈；开（或乘）车兜风。◆ "How about taking a spin in my new sports car?" John asked his girlfriend. 约翰问他的女朋友：“开我的新跑车去兜一圈怎么样？”

take a stand　v. phr. To assert one's point of view; declare one's position. 表明观点；表明立场。◆ It is time for American society to take a stand against crime. 该是美国社会对犯罪表明反对立场的时候了。

take at sb.'s word　v. phr. To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. 完全相信（某人）的话；照（某人）说的办。◆ If you say you don't want this coat, I'll take you at your word and throw it away. 如果你说你不想要这件外套，我会相信你说的是真话而把它扔掉。

take a turn　v. phr. To become different; change. 转变；改变。◆ Mary's fever suddenly took a bad turn. 玛丽的发烧突然恶化了。— Used with for the better or for the worse. 常与for the better或for the worse连用。◆ In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better. 下午天气转好了。

take a turn for the better　v. phr. To start improving; start to get better. 好转；变好。◆ Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better. 赫迈厄妮阿姨病重了很长时间，但上周她突然有所好转。

take a turn for the worse　See见FOR THE WORSE.

take-away restaurant or take-out restaurant　n. phr. A special kind of restaurant where the customers don't sit at tables, but must purchase the food and take it away in special plastic containers. 外卖餐馆。◆ The best Chinese duck in our neighborhood is sold in the local take-away restaurant. 我们街区最好的烤鸭可在那家当地的外卖餐馆买到。

take away sb.'s breath　v. phr. To impress someone immensely either positively or negatively. 使某人惊讶（或惊羡）得透不过气来；使某人大为惊讶；使某人叹为观止。◆ The beauty of Chicago's skyline at night took the tourist's breath away. 芝加哥夜空轮廓线的景色之美令那位旅游者叹为观止。◆ The sight of the dead bodies lying in the ditch took away the breath of the peacekeeping force. 看到横卧在壕沟里的众多尸体，维和部队大为惊讶。

take back　v. 1. To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated. 取消（诺言）；收回，撤回（声明）。◆ I take back my offer to buy the house now that I've had a good look at it. 在我仔细看过房子后，我要收回购买的意向了。2. admit to making a wrong statement. 收回（说过的话）；承认说错了话。◆ I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth. 我要你收回你说的关于肯尼思的那些坏话。

take by storm　v. phr. 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. 攻占；强夺。◆ The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm. 军队没有迟疑。他们攻克了那座城镇。2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. 赢得…的欢心（或喜爱）；完全征服。◆ John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him. 约翰对简关怀备至，一下子就赢得了她的芳心，她说她要嫁给他。

take by surprise　v. phr. 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. 突然出现在（某人）面前；使措手不及；出其不意地抓住。◆ The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window. 正当窃贼打开窗子时，警察冷不防抓住了他。2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. 使吃惊；使诧异；使惊讶。◆ When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise. 当我们的老师在学年中期辞职去政府就任公职时，我们大家都颇感意外。

take care　v. phr. To be careful; use wisdom or caution. 当心；注意；留神。◆ Take care that you don't spill that coffee! 当心别把咖啡泼出来！

take care of　v. phr. 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. 照顾；照料。◆ She stayed home to take care of the baby. 她留在家里照看婴儿。2. informal To deal with; do what is needed with. 〖非正式〗处理；负责；对付。◆ I will take care of that letter. 那封信由我来处理作复。

take center stage　v. phr. To be the focus of attention; be the main attraction at a social event. 成为注意的中心；引人注目。◆ The president of the United States usually takes center stage at international meetings and conferences. 美国总统通常都是国际会议上人们注意的中心。

take charge　v. phr. To begin to lead or control; take control or responsibility; undertake the care or management (of persons or things). 开始管理；接管；负责。◆ When Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital, her sister took charge of the Jackson children until Mrs. Jackson could care for them. 杰克逊太太住院时，她妹妹为她照看孩子，直到杰克逊太太能自己照看他们为止。

take cover　v. phr. To seek shelter or protection. 隐蔽；躲避；寻求保护。◆ The rain began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway. 雨来得很突然，我们只得在一家门口避雨。

take down　v. 1. To write or record (what is said). 记下；录下。◆ I will tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down. 我来告诉你怎么去那个地方，你最好记一下。2. To pull to pieces; take apart. 把…撕成碎片；拆卸。◆ It will be a big job to take that tree down. 要砍倒那棵树可不是件容易的事。◆ In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next morning they took it down. 晚上，野营者搭起帐篷，第二天早晨再拆掉。3. informal To reduce the pride or spirit of; humble. 〖非正式〗挫…的傲气；压下…的气焰。◆ Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry took him down. 鲍勃自以为是个摔跤好手，但亨利却挫了他的傲气。

take down a notch or take down a peg　v. phr., informal To make (someone) less proud or sure of himself. 〖非正式〗压低（某人）的气焰；煞（某人）的威风。◆ The team was feeling proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a bad defeat. 该队一向为其战绩感到自豪，但上周他们遭到惨败，锐气大减。

take effect　v. phr. 1. To have an unexpected or intended result; cause a change. 见效，奏效；引起变化。◆ It was nearly an hour before the sleeping pill took effect. 差不多过了一小时安眠药才起作用。2. To become lawfully right, or operative. 法律上生效；实施。◆ The new tax law will not take effect until January. 新税法要到明年1月才实施。

take exception to　v. phr. To speak against; find fault with; be displeased or angered by; criticize. 反对；挑剔；对…不悦（或生气）；批评。◆ There was nothing in the speech that you could take exception to. 这篇演说里没有什么你可以批评的。

take five　v. phr. To take a fiveminute break during some work or theatrical rehearsal. 休息5分钟，休息一下。◆ "All right, everyone," the director cried. "Let's take five."“好了，各位，”导演喊道。“咱们休息5分钟。”

take flak or draw flak　v. phr., from military To draw criticism of all sorts, in random shots. 受到人们抨击；遭到严厉批评。◆ The proponent of the new theory took a lot of flak from jealous, disgruntled colleagues. 新理论的提出者遭到一些妒忌不满的同事的猛烈抨击。◆ The new sales strategy drew flak from the administration, until it was proved to be successful. 新的销售策略遭到管理部门的严厉批评，直到它被证明是成功的才作罢。

take for　v. To suppose to be; mistake for. 认为…是；把…误以为。◆ Do you take me for a fool? 你认为我是个傻瓜啊？

take for a ride　v. phr. , slang〖俚〗1. To take out in a car intending to murder. 开车绑架（某人）去杀害。◆ The gang leader decided that the informer must be taken for a ride. 黑帮头目决定把告密者架上汽车拉出去杀掉。2. To play a trick on; fool. 欺骗；愚弄。◆ The girls told Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride. 姑娘们告诉琳达，说有位电影明星要来学校访问，但琳达不相信她们，认为她们是在骗她。3. To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain. 占…的便宜；使…吃亏上当。◆ His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating her. 在他和女友停止约会之前，她已占了他的便宜。

take for granted　v. phr. 1. To suppose or understand to be true. 认为属实；认为…是理所当然。◆ A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do their homework. 老师不能想当然，以为学生总会做作业。2. To accept or become used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything.（因视作当然）对…不予重视；对…习以为常。◆ No girl likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should always try to make her like him better. 没有哪个女孩喜欢她的男朋友不把自己当回事；相反，他应该一直设法让她更喜欢自己。

take French leave　v. phr. To leave secretly; abscond. 不辞而别；溜走；潜逃。◆ The party was so boring that we decided to take French leave. 晚会很乏味，所以我们决定偷偷溜走。

take heart　v. phr. To be encouraged; feel braver and want to try. 受到鼓励；鼓起勇气；振作精神。◆ The men took heart from their leader's words and went on to win the battle.士兵们从指挥官的话中受到鼓舞，继续作战去赢得胜利。

take heed　v. phr., literary To pay attention; watch or listen carefully; notice. 〖文〗注意；当心；留心听。◆ Take heed not to offend the dean. 当心不要冒犯院长。

take hold of　v. phr. To grasp. 抓住；掌握。◆ The old man tried to keep himself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take hold of. 老人竭力不让自己从楼梯上摔下去，但是没有栏杆可以抓住。

take ill or take sick　v. To become sick. 生病。◆ Father took sick just before his birthday. 父亲正好在生日之前病了。— Used in the passive with the same meaning. 用于被动语态意思相同。◆ The man was taken ill on the train. 那人在火车上病了。

take in　v. 1. To include. 包括。◆ The country's boundaries were changed to take in a piece of land beyond the river. 该国的边界有所改变，把河对岸的一块地包括了进来。2. To go and see; visit. 去看；参观。◆ We planned to take in Niagara Falls and Yellowstone Park on our trip. 我们计划在旅程中去参观尼亚加拉瀑布和黄石公园。3. To make smaller. 改小。◆ This waistband is too big; it must be taken in about an inch. 这根腰带太大，必须缩小1英寸左右。4. To grasp with the mind; understand. 领会；理解。◆ He didn't take in what he read because his mind was on something else. 他没有理解他读的东西，因为他心不在焉。5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. 欺骗；愚弄。◆ The teacher was taken in by the boy's innocent manner. 老师被男孩那副无辜的样子所欺骗了。5b. To accept without question; believe. 毫不怀疑地接受；相信。◆ The magician did many tricks, and the children took it all in. 魔术师变了许多戏法，孩子们都信以为真。6a. To receive; get. 收到；得到。◆ The senior class held a dance to make money and took in over a hundred dollars. 毕业班的同学举办舞会赚钱，收入超过了100美元。6b. Let come in; admit. 让…进入；接纳，接受。◆ When her husband died, Mrs. Smith took in boarders. 丈夫去世后，史密斯太太接受了一些寄膳者。7. To see or hear with interest; pay close attention to. 感兴趣地看或听；全神贯注。◆ When Bill told about his adventures, the other boys took it all in. 当比尔讲述他的冒险经历时，别的男孩都津津有味地听着。

take in stride　v. phr. To meet happenings without too much surprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. 从容对付；平静处理；泰然接受。◆ He learned to take disappointments in stride. 他学会了泰然接受令人失望之事。

take into account　v. phr. To remember and understand while judging someone or something; consider. 顾及；考虑。◆ How much time will we need to get to the lake? You have to take the bad road into account. 我们需要多少时间才能到湖边？你必须考虑到路况很糟。

take in tow　v. phr. To take charge of; lead; conduct. 照管；带领；引导。◆ Brian and Kate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the circus. 布赖恩和凯特带领着一群孩子去看马戏。

take issue with　v. phr. To be openly against; speak against; disagree with. 公开反对；发言反对；不同意。◆ He thought his boss was wrong but was afraid to take issue with him on the matter. 他认为他的老板不对，但不敢就此事公开反对他。

take it　v. phr. 1. To get an idea or impression; understand from what is said or done. — Usually used with I.认为；理解。——通常与I连用。◆ I take it from your silence that you don't want to go. 我从你的沉默猜想你是不想去的。2. informal To bear trouble, hard work, criticism; not give up or weaken. 〖非正式〗忍受麻烦、艰苦、批评等；不放弃；不畏缩。◆ Bob lost his job and his girl in the same week, and we all admired the way he took it. 鲍勃在一周内既失去了工作又失去了女友，对他承受打击的能力我们都很佩服。

take it all in　v. phr. To absorb completely; listen attentively. 完全吸收；注意倾听。◆ Bill's piano music filled the room and we took it all in with admiration. 比尔弹奏的钢琴音乐充满了整个房间，我们钦佩地注意倾听。

take it away　v. phr., informal Theatrical expression You're on; it's your turn; you're next. 〖非正式〗（戏剧用语）该你上场了；该你了；下一个是你。◆ And here comes that wonderful comedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, "Take it away, Bob." 接下来由杰出的喜剧演员鲍勃·霍普演出。报幕员说：“该你上场了，鲍勃。”

take it easy　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. or go easy or take things easy To go or act slowly, carefully, and gently. — Used with on. 别急；慢慢来；小心点；温柔点。——常与on 连用。◆ Take it easy. The roads are icy. 开慢点。路面上有冰。◆ "Go easy," said Billy to the other boys carrying the table down the stairs. 比利对抬着桌子下楼的其他男孩说：“当心点。”2. or take things easy To avoid hard work or worry; have an easy time; live in comfort. 不拼命工作；不发愁；轻轻松松；过舒服日子。◆ The doctor said that Bob would have to take things easy for awhile after he had his tonsils out. 医生说，鲍勃摘除扁桃体后必须休息一段时间。

take it from me　v. phr., informal Believe me, I know what I am talking about. 〖非正式〗相信我，我知道我在讲什么。◆ "The criminal will revisit the scene of his crime — take it from me," said the chief of detectives to the journalists. 警长对记者们说：“这名罪犯还会回到犯罪现场的——相信我。”

take it from the top　v. phr., informal Musical and theatrical expression To start again from the beginning. 〖非正式〗（音乐、戏剧用语）从头重新开始。◆ The conductor said, "We must try it once again. Take it from the top and watch my baton." 指挥说：“我们必须再试一次。从头重新开始，看好我的指挥棒。”

take it into one's head　v. phr. To get a sudden idea; decide without thinking. 突然想到；未假思索地决定。◆ The boy suddenly took it into his head to leave school and get a job.那男孩突然决定退学去找份工作。

take it on the chin　v. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. To be badly beaten or hurt. 遭到痛击；受到伤害。◆ Our football team really took it on the chin today. They are all bumps and bruises. 我们的橄榄球队今天可真吃了苦头，个个都被打得鼻青脸肿。2. To accept without complaint something bad that happens to you; accept trouble or defeat calmly. 泰然（或平静）地接受挫折（或失败等）。◆ A good chess player can take it on the chin when he loses. 一名优秀的棋手能在输掉比赛时也泰然处之。

take it or leave it　v. phr., informal To accept something without change or refuse it; decide yes or no. — Often used like a command. 〖非正式〗要就要，不要拉倒；要不要随便。——常用作命令。◆ He said the price of the house was $10,000, take it or leave it. 他说房价是一万美元，不容讨价还价。

take it out on　v. phr., informal To be unpleasant or unkind to (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings by being mean to. 〖非正式〗把气出在（某人）身上；拿（某人）出气。◆ The teacher was angry and took it out on the class. 老师生气竟拿全班同学出气。

take its toll　v. phr. To cause loss or damage. 造成损失；造成伤亡。◆ The bombs had taken their toll on the town. 那些炸弹给城镇造成了严重伤亡。

take kindly to　v. To be pleased by; like. — Usually used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. 对…有好感；喜欢。——通常用于否定句、疑问句和条件句。◆ He doesn't take kindly to any suggestions about running his business. 对于经营他的企业，他不喜欢别人的任何建议。

take leave of one's senses　v. phr. To go mad; become crazy. 发疯；发狂。◆ "Have you taken leave of your senses?" Jack cried, when he saw Andy swallow a live goldfish. 杰克看到安迪吞下一条活的金鱼时大声喊道：“你疯了吗？”

take liberties　v. phr. To act toward in too close or friendly a manner; use as you would use a close friend or something of your own. 过分亲昵；过于随便；随便动用。◆ Mary would not let any boy take liberties with her. 玛丽不许任何男孩对她过分亲昵。

take lying down　v. phr. To accept something without defense or protest. 屈从于；甘心忍受。◆ If you take such insults lying down, you will only encourage more of the same. 如果你对这种侮辱忍气吞声，你只会鼓励更多同样的侮辱。

taken aback also taken back　adj. Unpleasantly surprised; suddenly puzzled or shocked. 大吃一惊；吓了一跳。◆ When he came to pay for his dinner he was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home. 他付饭钱时，发现钱包忘在了家里，不禁大吃一惊。

taken by or with　v. phr. To be impressed by; intrigued by. 对…留下深刻印象；被…迷住。◆ Ned was much taken by the elegance of Sophie's manners. 内德被索菲优雅的风度深深迷住了。

take note of or take notice of　v. phr. 1. To look carefully at; pay close attention to; observe well. 留意；密切注意；仔细观察。◆ A detective is trained to take note of people and things. 警探接受训练，对人和事物仔细进行观察。2. To notice and act in response; pay attention. 注意到并作出反应；注意。◆ Two boys were talking together in the back of the room but the teacher took no notice of them. 两个男孩在教室后面讲话，但老师并未理睬他们。

take oath　v. phr. To promise to tell the truth or to do some task honestly, calling on God or some person or thing as a witness. 宣誓；发誓。◆ Mary took an oath that she did not murder her husband. 玛丽发誓说她没有谋杀她的丈夫。◆ John took oath that he would fill the office of president faithfully. 约翰宣誓将忠实履行校长职责。

takeoff　n. (stress on take)（重读take）1. Departure of an airplane; the act of becoming airborne.（飞机的）起飞；升空。◆ The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a wonderfully smooth takeoff. 那位紧张的乘客松了一口气，因为我们飞机的起飞极为平稳。2. Imitation; a parody. 模仿；（嘲弄性的）模仿。◆ Vaughn Meader used to do a wonderful takeoff on President Kennedy's speech. 沃恩·米德过去经常惟妙惟肖地模仿肯尼迪总统的讲话。

take off　v. phr. (stress on off)（重读off）1a. To leave fast; depart suddenly; run away. 迅速离开；突然离去；逃跑。◆ The dog took off after a rabbit. 那狗突然动身去追一只兔子。1b. informal To go away; leave. 〖非正式〗走开；离去。◆ The six boys got into the car and took off for the movies. 那6个男孩上了汽车，向电影院开去。2. To leave on a flight, begin going up. 起飞。◆ A helicopter is able to take off and land straight up or down. 直升机能直上直下地起飞和降落。3. informal To imitate amusingly; copy another person's habitual actions or speech. 〖非正式〗开玩笑地模仿；学…的样。◆ He made a career of taking off famous people for nightclub audiences. 他以在夜总会为观众模仿名人为生。4. To take (time) to be absent from work. 休假，休息；不工作。◆ When his wife was sick he took off from work. 他妻子生病时他没去工作。

take offense at　v. phr. To become indignant; become angry. 对…发怒；对…生气。◆ Why do you always take offense at everything I say? 为什么你一直对我说的每句话都生气呢？

take off one's hands　v. phr. 1. To abdicate one's responsibility of a person or matter. 放弃对（某人或某事）的责任。◆ "I am herewith taking my hand off your affairs," Lou's father said. "See how you succeed on your own."“从今以后我就不管你的事了，”卢的父亲说。“就看你自己如何成功了。”2. To buy; relieve someone of something. 购买；使某人摆脱（某物）。◆ He offered to take my old car off my hands for $350. 他提出以350美元买我的旧车。

take off one's hat to　v. phr. To give honor, praise, and respect to. 向…脱帽致敬；向…表示赞赏（或钦佩）。◆ He is my enemy, but I take off my hat to him for his courage. 他是我的敌人，但我还是钦佩他的勇气。

take on　v. 1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with. 接纳（乘客）；装载。◆ A big ship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas for sale. 一艘巨轮停靠在码头上，正在装载一箱箱的汽车运往海外销售。2. To begin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of). 开始具有；呈现。◆ Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of a riot. 其他人也加入了殴斗直到显出骚乱的样子。3a. To give a job to; hire; employ. 雇用。◆ The factory has opened and is beginning to take on new workers. 工厂已开工，正开始招收新工人。3b. To accept in business or a contest. 承担；接受…的挑战。◆ The big man took on two opponents at once. 那个身材高大的男人同时对付两个对手。

take one's leave or take leave of　v. phr., formal To say good-bye and leave. 〖正式〗（向…）告别，（向…）告辞。◆ He stayed on after most of the guests had taken their leave. 在大多数客人告辞后，他却留了下来。— leave-taking n. 告别。The end of school in June is a time of leave-taking. 6月份学期结束时是大家互相道别的时间。

take one's life in one's hands　v. phr. To face great danger or take great risk. 面临巨大危险；冒生命危险。◆ Driving that car with those worn tires would be taking your life in your hands. 开那辆轮胎已严重磨损的汽车简直就是玩命。

take one's medicine　v. phr. To accept punishment without complaining. 甘愿受罚。◆ The boy said he was sorry he broke the window and was ready to take his medicine. 男孩说他很抱歉打碎了窗子，并甘愿接受应得的惩罚。

take one's own sweet time　See见TAKE ONE'S TIME.

take one's pick　v. phr. To choose freely from a variety of available choices. 自己挑选。◆ "Seymour is either a genius or a very clever liar," his neighbor said. "Take your pick!"“西摩要么是个天才，要么就是个非常聪明的说谎大王，”他的邻居说。“随你怎么说都行！”

take one's time　v. phr. To avoid haste; act in an unhurried way. 不着急；不慌忙；慢慢来。◆ It is better to take your time at this job than to hurry and make mistakes. 干这个工作还是慢慢来，这比急匆匆地出错要好。

take on faith　v. phr. To lend credence to something due to one's confidence in the source, rather than based on evidence. 不加怀疑地相信；无须证明地相信。◆ One should never take on faith what one hears about Washington politics. 关于华盛顿的政治事务，绝不可听到什么就盲目地相信。

take on oneself or take upon oneself　v. phr. 1. To accept as a duty or responsibility. 把…作为责任（或义务）担当起来，承担。◆ He took it on himself to see that the packages were delivered. 他主动承担了确保包裹送到的责任。2. To assume wrongfully or without permission as a right or privilege. 擅自；越权承担。◆ You should not have taken it upon yourself to accept the invitation for the whole family. 你不该代表全家擅自接受邀请。

take on the chin　v. phr. To gracefully accept criticism. 有风度地接受批评。◆ It's good to be able to tell people what they do wrong, but it is equally important to be able to take it on the chin when they tell you what you have done wrong. 能告诉人们他们做错了什么是好的，但同样重要的是在他们告诉你你做错了什么时能有风度地接受批评。

take out　v. phr. 1. To ask for and fill in. 取得，领到。◆ Mary and John took out a marriage license. 玛丽和约翰领到了结婚证书。2. To aim at and shoot to kill. 瞄准射杀，杀死。◆ The police sharpshooters took out the wanted kidnapper with a telescopic rifle. 警方的神枪手用装有望远镜瞄准具的步枪打死了那个被通缉的劫持犯。

take out after　v. phr. To start pursuing one. 追赶，追捕。◆ The watchdog took out after the burglars. 那只看门狗在追夜盗。

take out on　v. phr. To vent one's sadness, frustration, or anger on someone who is usually innocent of the problem at hand. 向…发泄；把…发泄在…身上。◆ "Why are you always taking out your frustrations on me?" Jane asked Tom, when he slammed the door. 当汤姆砰的一声关上门时，简问他：“你为什么老是把你的失望情绪发泄在我身上呢？”

take-out order　n. phr. An order in a restaurant that one does not eat on the premises, but takes home.（餐馆的）外卖订单；外卖饭菜。◆ The new Chinese restaurant on the corner sells nice take-out orders. 街角处那家新开的中国餐馆出售很好的外卖饭菜。

take over　v. 1a. To take control or possession of. 接管，接收。◆ He expects to take over the business when his father retires. 他盼着在他父亲退休后接管这家企业。1b. To take charge or responsibility. 接任，接办。◆ The airplane pilot fainted and his copilot had to take over. 飞机驾驶员昏了过去，他的副驾驶只得接手顶上去。2. To borrow, imitate, or adopt. 借用；模仿；采用。◆ The Japanese have taken over many European ways of life. 日本人已采用了欧洲人的许多生活方式。

take pains　v. phr. To do something very carefully and thoroughly. 努力，尽力，煞费苦心，下苦功。◆ She always takes pains with her appearance. 她一直很注重自己的外表。

take part　v. phr. To have a part or share; join. 参与；参加。◆ The Swiss did not take part in the two World Wars. 瑞士人两次世界大战都没有参加。

take pity on also take pity upon　v. phr. To feel sympathy or pity and do something for. 同情；怜悯。◆ The farmer took pity upon the campers, and let them stay in his barn during the rain. 农夫同情那些露营者，让他们在谷仓里避雨。

take place　v. phr. To happen; occur. 发生；举行。◆ The accident took place only a block from his home. 事故发生在离他家只有一条马路的地方。

take potluck　v. phr. To share as a guest an everyday meal without special preparation. 吃便饭；有什么吃什么。◆ You are welcome to stay for dinner if you will take potluck. 欢迎你留下来吃晚饭，如果你愿意有什么就吃什么的话。

take root　v. phr. 1. To form roots so as to be able to live and grow. 生根成长。◆ We hope the transplanted apple trees will take root. 我们希望这些移植的苹果树能生根成长。2. To be accepted; to be adopted; to live and succeed in a new place. 生根；扎根；被接受；安身。◆ The immigrants to our country took root and began to think of themselves as Native Americans. 迁居我国的移民生了根，开始认为自己是美国本地人了。

take sb.'s breath away　v. phr. To surprise greatly; impress very much; leave speechless with surprise or wonder or delight; astonish. 使某人大吃一惊；给某人留下深刻印象；使某人惊喜得说不出话；使某人惊讶。◆ The sunset is so beautiful it takes our breath away. 日落的景色非常美，令我们叹为观止。

take sb.'s name in vain　v. phr. 1. To call upon (God) as a witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God) untruthfully. 滥用某人的名义；指着上帝发假誓。◆ You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 你不可指着上帝发假誓。2. informal To talk about a person or mention his name. 〖非正式〗谈论某人；提及某人的名字。◆ "Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?" asked Bill as he joined his friends.“我是不是听到有人在议论我？”比尔一边走到朋友们身边一边问。

take sb.'s word　v. phr. To believe someone's promise. 相信某人的话。◆ Herb took Eric's word when he promised to pay up his debt. 当埃里克答应还清债款时，赫布相信了他的话。

take shape　v. phr. To grow or develop into a certain fixed form. 成形；逐渐形成。◆ Plans for our vacation are beginning to take shape. 我们的休假计划正开始成形。◆ Their new home took shape as the weeks went by. 几个星期过后，他们的新居已初具模样。

take sides　v. phr. To join one group against another in a debate or quarrel.（在辩论或争吵中）支持一方。◆ Switzerland refused to take sides in the two World Wars. 瑞士在两次世界大战中拒绝支持任何一方。

take someone at his word　v. phr. To naively lend credence to what someone tells you. 轻信某人的话。◆ It's a bad idea to take street vendors at their word in large, crowded cities. 在拥挤的大城市里轻信街上小贩的话可不是好主意。

take someone for a nde　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To cheat or swindle someone. 欺骗某人；诈骗某人。◆ Poor Joe Catwallender was taken for a ride. 可怜的乔·卡特沃伦德被骗了。2. To kill someone after kidnapping. 绑架后杀害某人。◆ The criminals took the man for a ride. 那些罪犯绑架并杀害了那个男人。

take someone out　v. phr. To invite someone, to go out, and pay for the food and entertainment. 带某人出去；邀请某人外出（进餐、游玩等）。◆ "My husband never takes me out anymore," Mrs. Smith complained to her psychiatrist. "How about your taking him out?" the psychiatrist replied with a smile.“我丈夫再也不带我出去了，”史密斯夫人对她的精神病医生说。“那你带他出去怎么样？”精神病医生微笑着回答说。

take someone up on something　v. phr. To make someone keep a promise. 要求某人兑现诺言。◆ I will take you up on your promise to take me to Hawaii next winter. 我到时会要你兑现你明年冬天带我去夏威夷的诺言。

take steps　v. phr. To begin to make plans or arrangements; make preparations; give orders. — Usually used with to and an infinitive. 采取步骤；采取措施。——通常与带to的不定式连用。◆ The city is taking steps to replace its streetcars with busses. 这个城市正在采取措施以公共汽车代替有轨电车。

take stock　v. phr. 1. To count exactly the items of merchandise or supplies in stock; take inventory. 清点存货；盘货。◆ The grocery store took stock every week on Monday mornings. 那家食品杂货店每星期在星期一上午盘点存货。2. To study carefully a situation, or a number of possibilities or opportunities. 仔细审度（形势、可能性、机会等）。◆ During the battle the commander paused to take stock of the situation. 在战斗期间，指挥官停下来仔细研究战况。

take stock in　v. phr., informal To have faith in; trust; believe. — Usually used in the negative. 〖非正式〗信任；相信。——通常用于否定句。◆ He took no stock in the idea that women were worse politicians. 他不相信女人不适于从政的说法。

take the bread out of sb.'s mouth　v. phr. To take away or not give your rightful support, especially through selfish pleasure.（尤指为了追求自私的享乐而）不供养某人，不养育某人。◆ She accused her husband of drinking and gambling — taking bread out of his children's mouths. 她指责丈夫酗酒嗜赌——不供养自己的孩子。

take the bull by the horns　v. phr., informal To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. 〖非正式〗不顾危险毅然采取行动；勇敢地对付困难。◆ He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job. 他决定采取果敢的行动要求加薪，即使这可能使他失去工作也在所不惜。

take the cake　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To take the first prize; be the best; rank first. 得头奖；成为最佳者；名列第一。◆ Mr. Jones takes the cake as a storyteller. 琼斯先生讲故事讲得最好。2. To be the limit; to be the worst; have a lot of nerve; be a very rude, bold, or surprising action. 令人无法容忍；坏到极点；脸皮特厚；鲁莽至极；胆大包天。◆ I let Jack borrow my baseball and he never gave it back. Doesn't that take the cake? 我让杰克借去了我的棒球，但他却一直不还回来。这是不是脸皮太厚了点？

take the day off　See见DAY OFF.

take the edge off also take off the edge　v. phr. To lessen, weaken, soften or make dull. 减少；削弱；缓和；使变钝。◆ Eating a candy bar before dinner has taken the edge off Becky's appetite. 饭前吃了一块糖，降低了贝基的食欲。

take the Fifth　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Taking refuge behind the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial.（援引《美国宪法修正案第五条》）拒绝作于己不利的证词。◆ Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked whether he was a member of the Communist Party. 当被问及是否是共产党员时，阿尔杰·希斯援引《宪法修正案》第五条拒绝回答。2. Not to answer any question in an informal setting. 拒绝回答。◆ Have you been married before? — I take the Fifth. 你过去结过婚吗？——我拒绝回答。

take the floor　v. phr. To get up and make a speech in a meeting. 在会上发言。◆ The audience became very attentive the moment the president took the floor. 校长一开始在会上发言，听众立即变得非常专注。

take the hair of the dog that bit you　quasi-proverbial phrase idiom Frequently offered as advice to someone with a hangover suggesting that the best way to get rid of a hangover is to have another drink. 〖谚〗以毒攻毒；用酒解酒。◆ "I feel awful," Jack complained to his wife. "What's the matter?" she asked. "I had too much to drink last night," he confessed. "In that case you should take the hair of the dog that bit you, and pour yourself a whiskey on the rocks," she replied, laughing.“我感到很不舒服，”杰克对妻子诉说。“怎么啦？”她问。“昨晚我喝得太多了，”他坦白说。“既然如此，你就应该用酒解酒，给自己倒一杯加冰块的威士忌。”她大笑着回答说。

take the heat　v. phr. 1. To overcome pressure in a trying situation. 承受压力；战胜压力。◆ John makes an ideal boss. He can take the heat like nobody else. 约翰可以成为一个理想的老板。他比任何人都能承受巨大的压力。2. To be held responsible for errors or mistakes committed. 承担责任；受到批评。◆ Although Ted had nothing to do with the problems at the factory, he had to take the heat, as no one else came forth to tell the true story of what had happened. 虽然泰德跟厂里出现的问题毫无关系，他却不得不承担责任，因为没有人站出来说出事情的真相。

take the law into one's own hands　v. phr. To protect one's supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. — An overused expression.（不经法院）擅自处理；私自治罪。——使用过多的短语。◆ His farm was going to be sold for taxes, but he took the law into his own hands and drove the sheriff away with a shotgun. 他的农场将被出售以交税，但他却擅自处理，用一杆猎枪赶走了县治安官。

take the lid off　v. phr. 1. To let out in the open; divulge. 揭开…的盖子；揭露…的真相。◆ It's about time to take the lid off the question of how many prisoners of war are still in enemy hands. 还有多少战俘仍在敌人手里，现在差不多该是揭开这一问题的盖子的时候了。2. To start to face an issue. 开始正视（问题）。◆ "The best way to deal with your divorce," the doctor said to Fran, "is to take the lid off of it."“对待你的离婚最好的办法，”医生对弗兰说，“就是开始正视它。”

take the offensive　v. phr. To make oneself the attacking party. 采取攻势。◆ After many months of preparation, the freedom fighters were ready to take the offensive. 经过多月的准备之后，自由战士们已准备好采取攻势。

take the pledge　v. phr. To swear to give up drinking, smoking, or using drugs. 发誓戒酒（或戒烟、戒毒）。◆ Gary finally took the pledge and he has kept it thus far. 加里终于发誓戒酒而且迄今一直信守誓言。

take the plunge　v. phr. To take a fatal or decisive step; venture. 采取断然行动；采取决定性步骤；冒险。◆ When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get married, he answered that they'll take the plunge in September. 当我问唐他和梅利莎准备什么时候结婚时，他回答说他们将在9月结婚。

take the rap　v. phr., slang To receive punishment; to be accused and punished. 〖俚〗受惩罚；受责备。◆ Joe took the burglary rap for his brother and went to prison for two years. 乔为他的兄弟承担了盗窃罪而入狱两年。

take the rough with the smooth　v. phr. Often heard as advice or an admonition given to a complainer. To accept bad news and difficulties as calmly and cheerfully as one accepts good news and good luck. 既能享乐也能吃苦；好事坏事都接受；顺境逆境都能承受。◆ Jim, an eternal complainer, said to his wife, "I don't understand why they make me work at night, after I just got a promotion to shop manager." The wife replied, "You were lucky to get promoted while so young, so now you must take the rough with the smooth." 老爱抱怨的吉姆对妻子说：“我真不懂为什么在我刚被提升为专业零售部经理后就要我晚上上班。”妻子回答说：“你够幸运了，这么年轻就得到了提升，所以现在你必须好事坏事都能接受。”

take the stand　v. phr. To assume one's position in the witness box during a trial. 在证人席上作证，出庭作证。◆ The judge asked the defendant to take the stand. 法官要求被告在证人席上作证。

take the stump or take to the stump　v. phr. To travel around to different places making political speeches. 作巡回政治演说。◆ The men running for president took to the stump to attract votes. 竞选总统的人们到处演说拉选票。

take the wind out of sb.'s sails　v. phr. To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error. 冷不防使某人处于劣势；使某人狼狈不堪。◆ John came home boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one. 约翰回到家吹嘘自己捕到的鱼有多大，但当他发现他的小妹妹捕到一条更大的鱼时，他感到颇为狼狈。

take the words out of sb.'s mouth　v. phr. To say what another is just going to say; to put another's thought into words. 先说出某人要说的话；说出别人的想法。◆ "Let's go to the beach tomorrow." "You took the words right out of my mouth; I was thinking of that."“我们明天去海滨吧。”“你说出了我要说的话；我正这么想呢。”

take things easy　See见AKE IT EASY 2.

take time off　See见TIME OFF; Compare比较DAY OFF.

take time out　See见TIME OUT.

take to　v. 1. To go to or into; get yourself quickly to. Used in the imperative. 去；走进；快去。——常用于祈使句。◆ Take to the hills! The bandits are coming! 快躲进山里去！土匪要来了！2. To begin the work or job of; make a habit of. 开始从事；形成…的习惯。◆ He took to repairing watches in his spare time. 他开始在业余时间修表了。3. To learn easily; do well at. 容易学会；在…方面做得好。◆ Father tried to teach John to swim, but John didn't take to it. 父亲想教约翰游泳，但约翰就是学不会。4. To like at first meeting; be pleased by or attracted to; accept quickly. 喜欢上；对…产生好感；迅速接受。◆ Our dog always takes to children quickly. 我们的狗总是很快就喜欢上孩子。

take to heart also lay to heart　v. phr. To be seriously affected by; to feel deeply. 深受…影响；对…深感悲痛。◆ He took his brother's death very much to heart. 他对他兄弟的死悲痛不已。

take to one's heels also show a clean pair of heels　v. phr. To begin to run or run away. 逃走；溜之大吉。◆ When he heard the police coming, the thief took to his heels. 小偷听说警察来了，拔腿便跑。

take to task　v. phr. To reprove or scold for a fault or error. 责备；申斥。◆ The principal took Bill to task for cheating on his test. 校长训斥比尔考试作弊。

take to the cleaners　v. phr., slang 〖俚〗1. To win all the money another person has (as in poker). 使输光。◆ Watch out if you play poker with Joe; he'll take you to the cleaners. 你和乔打扑克可要当心；他会让你输得精光。2. To cheat a person out of his money and possessions by means of a crooked business transaction or other means of dishonest conduct.（通常用诈骗等手法）骗取（某人）的钱财。◆ I'll never forgive myself for becoming associated with Joe; he took me to the cleaners. 我永远不会原谅自己跟乔合伙；他骗走了我的全部钱财。

take turns　v. phr. To do something one after another instead of doing it all at the same time. 依次，轮流。◆ In class we should not talk all at the same time; we should take turns. 上课时我们不应同时发言；我们应该依次发言。

take up　v. 1. To remove by taking in. 吸收，吸除。◆ When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will not take up dirt from the rug. 吸尘器的脏物袋装满后，它就不能吸掉地毯上的灰尘了。2. To fill or to occupy. 占去。◆ The oceans take up the greater part of the earth's surface. 海洋占了地球表面的大部分。3. To gather together; collect. 收集。◆ We are taking up a collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital. 我们正在凑钱为约翰买花，因为他住院了。4. To begin; start. 开始。◆ The teacher took up the lesson where she left off yesterday. 老师从她昨天停下的地方开始上课。5. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby. 开始做；开始学；从事。◆ He recently took up gardening. 他最近开始学起了园艺。6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten. 收紧；收短。◆ The tailor took up the legs of the trousers. 裁缝把裤腿改短了。7. To take or accept something that is offered. 接受。◆ I took John up on his bet. 我接受了约翰提出的打赌。

take up arms　v. phr., literary. To get ready to fight; fight or make war. 〖文〗准备战斗；拿起武器。◆ The people were quick to take up arms to defend their freedom. 人民迅速拿起武器捍卫他们的自由。

take up with　v. To begin to go around with (someone); see a lot of. 开始与…交往；与…常见面。◆ Frank has taken up with Lucy lately. 弗兰克近来跟露西过从甚密。

take with a grain of salt also take with a pinch of salt　v. phr. To accept or believe only in part; not accept too much. 不全相信；对…半信半疑。◆ We took Uncle George's stories of the war with a pinch of salt. 我们对乔治叔叔讲的战争故事半信半疑。

taking pictures　v. phr., slang, citizen's band radio jargon To use a radar-operated speed indicator in order to enforce the 55 m. p. h. speed limit.〖俚〗〖民用波段〗用雷达测车速。◆ The Smokeys are taking pictures! 州警察正在用雷达测车速！

talent scout　n. phr. A person employed by a large organization to seek out promising and gifted individuals. 人才发掘者；星探。◆ Gordon has been working as a talent scout for a television program. 戈登一直在为一个电视节目担任星探。

talent show　n. An entertainment in which new entertainers try to win a prize. 新秀演出比赛；新秀演唱会。◆ Mary won the talent show by her dancing. 玛丽的舞蹈在新秀演出比赛中得了第一名。

talk a blue streak　v. phr., informal To talk on and on, usually very fast. 〖非正式〗连珠炮似的谈话；滔滔不绝地谈话。◆ Sue is a nice girl but after one drink she talks a blue streak and won't stop. 苏是个举止端庄的姑娘，但一杯酒下肚她也会滔滔不绝地讲个不停。

talk a mile a minute　See见TALK A BLUE STREAK.

talk back also answer back　v., informal To answer rudely; reply in a disrespectful way; be fresh. 〖非正式〗回嘴；顶嘴；反驳。◆ When the teacher told the boy to stop smoking, he talked back to her and said she couldn't make him. 当老师叫那个男生戒烟时，他却回嘴说她不能强迫他。

talk big　v., informal To talk boastfully; brag. 〖非正式〗吹牛，说大话。◆ He talks big about his pitching, but he hasn't won a game. 他常吹嘘自己的投球有多棒，但却从来没有赢过一场球。

talk double Dutch　v. phr. To talk in a way that cannot be understood by the listener. 讲莫名其妙的话；讲话让人听不懂。◆ I don't get a word of what you're saying, my friend; you're talking double Dutch. 你的话我一句也听不懂，我的朋友；你讲的话让人无法理解。

talk down　v. 1. To make (someone) silent by talking louder or longer. 高声压倒。◆ Sue tried to give her ideas, but the other girls talked her down. 苏想谈谈自己的想法，但别的女孩却压过了她的声音。2. To use words or ideas that are too easy. 以居高临下的口气说话；用词过于简单。◆ The speaker talked down to the students, and they were bored. 演讲者以居高临下的口气对学生讲话，使他们感到厌烦。

talk in circles　v. phr. To waste time by saying words that don't mean very much. 谈来谈去兜圈子；毫无进展地谈。◆ After three hours at the negotiating table, the parties decided to call it quits because they realized that they had been talking in circles. 在谈判桌边谈了3个小时后，双方决定停止谈判，因为他们认识到，他们一直在兜圈子，谈判毫无进展。

talking book　n. A book recorded by voice on phonograph records for blind people.（供盲人用的）有声读物。◆ Billy, who was blind, learned history from a talking book. 比利双目失明，他借助有声读物学习了历史。

talking point　n. Something good about a person or thing that can be talked about in selling it. 值得称道的优点。◆ The streamlined shape of the car was one of its talking points. 这种汽车的流线型外形是其值得称道的优点之一。

talk into　v. 1. To get (someone) to agree to; make (someone) decide on (doing something) by talking; persuade to. — Used with a verbal noun. 说服（某人）做（某事）。——与动名词连用。◆ Bob talked us into walking home with him. 鲍勃说服了我们和他一起走回家。2. To cause to be in or to get into by talking. 说得使（某人）陷入。◆ You talked us into this mess. Now get us out! 你说的话让我们陷入了这一狼狈的境地。现在把我们解脱出来吧！

talk of the town　n. phr. Something that has become so popular or prominent that everyone is discussing it. 街谈巷议的话题；满城风雨的谈资。◆ Even after three decades，Picasso's famous metal statue is still the talk of the town in Chicago. 即使经过了30年，毕加索著名的金属雕像在芝加哥仍是街谈巷议的话题。

talk one's head off　v. phr. To talk at length trying to put a point across without any success. 喋喋不休，说个不停。◆ I was talking my head off this morning in the office to convince the boss that we must expand our business, but it was no use, as he turned a deaf ear to everything I had to say. 为了说服老板我们必须扩展业务，今天上午我在办公室里一直说个不停，但一点用也没有，因为他对我说的话根本就不愿听。

talk out　v. To talk all about and leave nothing out; discuss until everything is agreed on; settle. 把…谈透；充分讨论；通过讨论解决。◆ After their quarrel, Jill and John talked things out and reached full agreement. 吉尔和约翰在争吵后把事情谈了个透，取得了完全的一致。

talk out of　v. 1. To persuade not to; make agree or decide not to. — Used with a verbal noun. 说服（某人）不做（某事）——与动名词连用。◆ Mary's mother talked her out of quitting school. 玛丽的母亲说服了她不要辍学。2. To allow to go or get out by talking; let escape by talking. 凭口才使（某人）摆脱；通过谈话让（某人）逃脱。◆ Johnny is good at talking his way out of trouble. 约翰尼善于凭三寸不烂之舌摆脱麻烦。

talk out of turn　See见SPEAK OUT OF TURN.

talk over　v. 1. To talk together about; try to agree about or decide by talking; discuss. 一起谈论；商量；讨论。◆ Tom talked his plan over with his father before he bought the car. 汤姆在买汽车前跟他父亲讨论过他的计划。2. To persuade; make agree or willing; talk and change the mind of. 说服；使同意，使愿意；说服（某人）改变主意。◆ Fred is trying to talk Bill over to our side. 弗雷德正试图说服比尔站到我们一边来。

talk shop　v. phr., informal To talk about things in your work or trade. 〖非正式〗谈论自己的工作（或行业）；说行话。◆ Two chemists were talking shop, and I hardly understood a word they said. 两位化学家在谈他们专业的事，我简直一句也不懂。

talk through one's hat　v. phr., informal To say something without knowing or understanding the facts; talk foolishly or ignorantly. 〖非正式〗信口开河；胡说八道。◆ John said that the earth is nearer the sun in summer, but the teacher said he was talking through his hat. 约翰说夏天的时候地球离太阳较近，但老师说他是在胡扯。

talk turkey　v. phr., informal To talk about something in a really businesslike way; talk with the aim of getting things done. 〖非正式〗一本正经地谈；认真地谈。◆ Charles said, "Now, let's talk turkey about the trip to Paris. The fact is, it will cost each student $850." 查尔斯说：“现在让我们认真谈一下去巴黎旅行的事吧。事实是，每个学生要花850美元。”

talk up　v. To speak in favor or support of. 赞扬；吹捧；宣扬。◆ Let's talk up the game and get a big crowd. 让我们把这场比赛大肆宣扬一下，多吸引点观众。

tall story or tale　n. phr. See见FISH STORY.

tamper with　v. 1. To meddle with (something); handle ignorantly or foolishly. 瞎摸弄；胡乱摆弄。◆ He tampered with the insides of his computer and ruined it. 他瞎摆弄电脑里面的东西，把它弄坏了。2. To secretly get someone to do or say wrong things, especially by giving him money, or by threatening to hurt him. 以行贿或威胁手段使（某人）做坏事（或说谎）；贿赂收买。◆ A friend of the man being tried in court tampered with a witness. 受审人的一个朋友收买证人在法庭上作伪证。

tan sb.'s hide　v. phr., informal To give a beating to; spank hard. 〖非正式〗把某人打一顿；痛打某人。◆ Bob's father tanned his hide for staying out too late. 鲍勃的父亲因他外出晚归而狠狠地揍了他一顿。

taper down　adj. phr. To decrease; reduce. 减少；削减。◆ He has tapered down his drinking from three martinis to one beer a day. 他已从每天喝3杯马提尼酒减少到每天喝1杯啤酒。

taper off　v. 1. To come to an end little by little; become smaller toward the end. 逐渐停止；逐渐变小。◆ The river tapers off here and becomes a brook. 这条河流到这儿逐渐变窄，成为一条小溪。2. To stop a habit gradually; do something less and less often. 逐渐改掉习惯；逐渐减少做某事的次数。◆ Robert gave up smoking all at once instead of tapering off. 罗伯特一下子就把烟戒掉了，而没有采取逐日减少的办法。

tar and feather　v. To pour heated tar on and cover with feathers as a punishment.（作为惩罚）在（某人）身上涂满柏油并粘上羽毛；严惩。◆ In the Old West bad men were sometimes tarred and feathered and driven out of town. 在“老西部”，人们有时候在歹徒身上涂上柏油、粘上羽毛，然后把他们逐出城外。

tax trap　n., informal Predicament in which taxpayers in middle-income brackets are required to pay steeply progressive rates of taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but their personal exemptions remain fixed, resulting in a loss of real disposable income. 〖非正式〗纳税陷阱（指中等收入等级段的纳税人在收入随通货膨胀增加时需按急剧上升的累进税率纳税，而他们的免税额却固定不变，结果导致其实际可支配收入下降。）◆ Everybody in my neighborhood has been caught in a tax trap. 我所在的居民区里每个人都曾落入纳税陷阱。

teach a lesson　v. phr. To show that bad behavior can be harmful. 给（某人）一个教训。◆ The burns Tommy got from playing with matches taught him a lesson. 汤米玩火柴而多处烧伤，这给了他一个教训。

team up with　v. phr. To join with; enter into companionship with. 与…结成一队；与…合作。◆ My brother prefers to do business by himself rather than to team up with anybody else. 我兄弟情愿独自一个人做生意，而不愿与任何人合伙。

tear around　v. phr. To be constantly on the go; dash around. 忙个不停；到处乱跑。◆ No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one social event to another and yet be a good mother to her children. 没有人弄得明白她怎么能从一项社交活动赶到另一项社交活动，忙个不停，而同时又是她孩子的好母亲。

tear down　v. 1. To take all down in pieces; destroy. 拆毁；拆除。◆ The workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place. 工人们拆除了那座老房子，在原地建造了一幢新房子。2. To take to pieces or parts. 拆卸。◆ The mechanics had to tear down the engine, and fix it, and put it together again. 机修工只得把发动机拆开，修好，然后再把它装上。3. To say bad things about; criticize. 说…的坏话；批评。◆ "Why do you always tear people down? Why don't you try to say nice things about them?"“你为什么老是说人们的坏话？为什么不说说人家的好话呢？”

tear into　v. phr. To attack vigorously, physically or verbally. 猛烈攻击；向…猛扑；猛烈抨击。◆ The anxious school children tore into the new Harry Potter book on sale at the bookstore. 急切的小学生们冲向书店，购买刚上市的《哈利·波特》系列的新书。

tearjerker　n. A sentimental novel or movie that makes one cry. 使人流泪的小说（或电影）。◆ Love Story, both in its novel form and as a movie, was a famous tearjerker. 不论是小说还是电影，《爱情故事》都是催人泪下的著名作品。

tear oneself away　v. phr. To force oneself to leave; leave reluctantly. 强迫自己离开；勉强离开。◆ The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago. 夏威夷的海滩秀美无比，令人流连忘返，但为了回芝加哥工作，我不得不强迫自己离开。

tear one's hair　v. phr. To show sorrow, anger, or defeat. 扯自己的头发（表示悲伤、愤怒或失败）。◆ Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car. 本看到被撞毁的汽车，气得直扯头发。

tear one's hair out over　See见PULL ONE'S HAIR OUT OVER

tear up　v. 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove from the surface. 在…挖洞；掀开；移开。◆ The city tore up the street to lay a new water pipe. 该市挖开路面以安装新的水管。2. To tear into pieces. 撕成碎片。◆ John tore up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade. 约翰把考卷撕碎，这样他母亲就看不到他的低分了。

tee off　v. 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or tee to begin play for each hole.（从高尔夫球球座）发球，开球。◆ We got to the golf course just in time to see the champion tee off. 我们到达高尔夫球场时正好赶上那位冠军在开球。2. slang To hit a ball, especially a baseball very hard or far. 〖俚〗（棒球）猛力击球；将球击远。◆ He teed off on the first pitch. 他将投来的第一球猛力击出。3. slang To attack vigorously. 〖俚〗猛烈攻击。◆ The governor teed off on his opponent's speech. 州长猛烈抨击对手的讲话。4. slang To make (someone) angry or disgusted. 〖俚〗使（某人）生气；使（某人）讨厌。◆ It teed me off when Bill stole my candy. 比利偷了我的糖，使我很生气。

teetotaller　n. phr. A person who won't drink alcohol either for religious or other reasons. 绝对戒酒者。◆ The Millers, who are teatotallers, have an "I am holier than you" attitude. They turn their wineglasses upside down even at elegant parties in demonstration of their antialcoholic stance. 米勒夫妇是滴酒不沾的人，他们有一种“我比你们更圣洁的”态度。为了显示他们反对饮酒的立场，他们甚至在文雅的宴会上也把他们的酒杯倒扣过来。

tee up　v. To set the golf ball on the tee in preparation for hitting it toward the green. 把（高尔夫球）放在球座上准备击球。◆ Tiger Woods teed the ball up for the final hole. 泰格·伍兹把球放在球座上，准备打最后一洞。

tell apart　v. phr. To see the difference between; know each of. 区分；辨别。◆ The teacher could not tell the twins apart. 老师分辨不出那对双胞胎。

tell a thing or two　v. phr., informal To tell in plain or angry words; scold. 〖非正式〗对（某人）坦诚相告；教训；责备。◆ When John complained about the hard work, his father told him a thing or two. 当约翰抱怨工作太辛苦时，他父亲训斥了他一顿。

tell it like it is　v. phr., slang, infor mal To be honest, sincere; to tell the truth. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗如实地说，实事求是地说；说实话。◆ Joe is the leader of our commune; he tells it like it is. 乔是我们群居村的头头；他这人很实在，实话实说。

tell it to the marines or tell it to Sweeney　slang I don't believe you; stop trying to fool me. 〖俚〗我才不信你那一套呢！别想愚弄我。◆ John said, "My father knows the president of the United States." Dick answered, "Tell it to the marines." 约翰说：“我父亲认识美国总统。”迪克回答说：“我才不信呢。”

tell off　v. informal To speak to angrily or sharply; attack with words; scold. 〖非正式〗申斥；责备。◆ Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss. 布莱克先生很生气，责骂起老板来。

tell on　v. To tell someone about another's wrong or naughty acts. — Used mainly by children. 〖非正式〗向…告发；向…告…的状。——主要用于孩童间。◆ Andy cheated on the test and John told the teacher on Andy. 安迪考试作弊，约翰向老师告发了他。

tempest in a teapot　n. phr. Great excitement about something not important. 茶壶里的风暴，大惊小怪，小题大做。◆ Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a teapot. 贝斯把裙子扯破了一点就大惊小怪地闹了一通。

tempt fate or tempt the fates　v. phr. To take a chance; run a risk; gamble. 碰运气；冒险；赌博。◆ You're tempting fate every time you drive that old wreck of a car. 你每次开那辆破车都是在冒险。

ten-four?　v. phr., interrog., slang, citizen's band radio jargon 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗Do you understand? 明白了吗？懂吗？◆ Is that a ten four? 这事明白了吗？

ten gallon hat　n., informal A tall felt hat with a wide, rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the United States. 〖非正式〗（美国西部牛仔戴的）高顶宽边呢帽。◆ Men from the southwest often wear ten gallon hats. 西南部的男人常戴高顶宽边帽。

ten roger　v. phr., slang, citizen's band radio jargon〖俚〗〖民用波段〗I acknowledge. 已收到；明白。◆ That's a ten roger. 这已收到。

ten to one or two to one　adv. or adj. phr., informal Almost certainly , nearly sure to be true; very likely to happen. 〖非正式〗十之八九；很可能。◆ Ten to one it will rain tomorrow. 明天十之八九会下雨。

T. G. I. F.　v. phr., informal, abbreviation "Thank God it's Friday." Said by people working a five-day week in anticipation of a free weekend. 〖非正式〗感谢上帝今天已是星期五（Thank God it's Friday的缩略）。◆ "What are you so happy about?" John asked his grinning colleague in the teachers' lounge at Central High. "T. G. I. F.," John's senior colleague replied, "or didn't you notice it was Friday?"“你为什么这么高兴啊？”在中心中学教员休息室里，约翰问他那位咧着嘴笑的同事。“感谢上帝今天已是星期五了，”年资较深的同事回答说，“你难道没注意到今天已经是星期五了吗？”

thank one's lucky stars　v. phr., informal To be thankful for good luck; think oneself lucky. 〖非正式〗感谢自己的好运气；庆幸。◆ You can thank your lucky stars you didn't fall in the hole. 你没有掉入洞中真是幸运。

thanks to　prep. 1. With the help of. 幸亏，多亏；在…的帮助下。◆ Thanks to a good teacher, John passed the examination. 幸亏有位好老师，约翰通过了考试。2. Owing to; because of. 由于；因为。◆ Thanks to a sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes. 由于一场突如其来的雨，孩子们回到家时衣服都湿透了。

that is that or that's that　informal The matter is decided; there is nothing more to be said; it is done. 〖非正式〗就这样决定了；再没有什么可说的了；就是这样。◆ Jim, you will go to school this morning, and that is that. 吉姆，今天早晨你要去上学，不必多讲了。

that'll be the day　informal That will never happen. 〖非正式〗那永远不会发生。◆ Joe wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That'll be the day! 乔要带我的女朋友去看电影却要我借钱给他。哪有这样的事！

That makes two of us!　Informal way to say, "I am in agreement with what you are saying or doing." 〖非正式〗我同意你的说法（或做法）。◆ So you voted for senator Aldridge? so did I — that makes two of us. 这么说你投了阿尔德里奇参议员的票？我也投了他的票——真是无独有偶。

That's about the size of it!　Informal way to say, "What you said is true; the rumor or the news is true." 〖非正式〗大致情况就是如此；大体上就是这么回事。◆ "I am told you're leaving our firm for Japan," Fred said to Tom. "That's about the size of it." Tom replied with a grin.“听说你要离开我们公司去日本？”弗雷德问汤姆。“大体上就是这么回事，”汤姆咧嘴笑着回答说。

that's a laugh or that's a scream　v. phr., informal Said as a remark of disbelief or scorn upon hearing something outlandish. 〖非正式〗简直是笑话！简直可笑！◆ "Did you know," John asked, "how much the new department head is making, together with his wife?" "No, I don't," his colleague Tim replied. "Well, it is just about three times more than you and I make together. How about that?" "That's a scream!" Tim answered. 约翰问：“你可知道咱们的新系主任和他的夫人挣多少钱吗？”“不，我不知道，”他的同事蒂姆回答说。“差不多是你我加起来的3倍。你觉得怎么样？”“简直可笑！”蒂姆回答说。

that's more like it　adj. phr., informal That is more acceptable, more reasonable, more what is expected. 〖非正式〗这才像话！这还差不多！◆ "Are you going to help me with this extra work?" Tim's boss asked at 5 P. M. "If you mean tonight, I won't be able to, because I have a date," Tim replied. "Well, Tim," his boss continued, "this is an emergency." "In that case I can move my date," Tim replied with a sigh. "Splendid!" the boss exclaimed. "That's more like it!" 老板在下午5点钟的时候问蒂姆：“你能帮我把这点额外的工作干完吗？”蒂姆回答说：“如果你的意思是说今晚，我恐怕不能，因为我有个约会。”“是这样，蒂姆，”老板继续说：“这是件急活。”“既然是这样，我可以改变约会的日期，”蒂姆叹息着回答说。“好极了！”老板大声喊道。“这才像话！”

that's my boy　See见ATTA BOY!

That's the story of my life…　Usually spoken when something goes wrong. 这就是我生活的缩影（通常事情不顺利时说的话）。◆ I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher wants to accept it. That's the story of my life. 我花7年时间写了一部长篇小说，却没有一家出版社想接受它。这就是我生活的缩影。

That's the ticket!　Informal way to say, "excellent; correct." 〖非正式〗正合要求！好主意！这才对路！◆ "First we'll go up the Sears Tower, and then we'll take a night sightseeing tour on the lake," Fran said. "That's the ticket!" Stan, an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied.“咱们先上西尔斯大厦，然后做湖上夜景观光游，”弗兰说。“好主意！”芝加哥的老居民斯坦回答说。

That's the way the ball bounces or the cookie crumbles!　Nothing unusual about that. Said of unpleasant things.（用以指令人不快之事）这很正常；事情就是这样子。◆ "Susan left me for a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and wrecked my car," Bob bitterly complained. "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles," Pam answered philosophically.“苏珊离开了我跟一个重量级拳手去同居了，随后我喝醉了便出了车祸，”鲍勃怨恨地说。“啊，事情就是这样子的，”帕姆富有哲理地回答说。

that's where it's at　adj. phr., informal Often heard as a comment concerning the relevance and currency of a state of affairs, meaning that the situation stands at its optimum. 〖非正式〗这就是问题的核心所在；这就是现在的热门（或时髦的东西）。◆ "Young, talented, and black, that's where it's at" was a popular expression during the early days of the civil rights movement, offering encouragement to young African-Americans.“年轻、有才华，而且是黑人，这才是最时髦的东西。”在民权运动的初期，这句话很流行，给了许多年轻的非洲裔美国人以鼓励。◆ "I want to go into the computer business," Jack's fourteen-year-old son declared. "OK," came the father's reply, "you're right. That's where it's at." 杰克14岁的儿子断然说：“我想投身电脑行业。”父亲回答说：“好的，你的选择不错。那可是热门。”

That takes care of that!　Informal way to say, "That concludes our business." 〖非正式〗我们的事就此了结！◆ I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takes care of that! 我付给前妻最后一张贍养费支 票，我们之间的事就此了结！

That will do!　Informal expression of impatience meaning "stop," "no more." 〖非正式〗行了！够了! "That will do, Tom," his mother cried. "I've had just about enough of your sleeping under the table."“够了，汤姆，”他的母亲喊道。“你睡在桌子下面我已经受够了。”

the bigger they are, the harder they fall　Often heard when someone in a high position is caught doing something illegal and falls from his or her position, indicating defiance of one's disliked superiors. — A proverb. 〖谚〗个儿越大，摔得越重；官做得越大，摔得越重。◆ When President Nixon was facing impe X~ac~X chment because of the Watergate scandal, and resigned the presidency of the United States, the journalist remarked, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." 当尼克松总统因“水门丑闻”面临弹劾而辞去美国总统之职时，那位记者说：“官做得越大，摔得也越重。”

the brand of Cain or the mark of Cain　n. phr., biblical The stigma of murder, especially fratricide, patricide, or matricide. 该隐的标记；谋杀罪（源出基督教《圣经》）。◆ When the Menendez brothers killed their parents, our minister at church said, "Behold the brand of Cain haunting us to this day." 在梅南德兹兄弟杀害了他们的父母后，我们教会的牧师说：“看哪，时至今日，该隐杀害胞弟的罪孽仍像幽灵般地缠绕着我们。”

the business　n., slang — Usually used with give or get〖俚〗通常与give 或get连用。1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. 最大的努力。◆ Johnny gave the tryouts the business but he failed to make the team. 约翰尼在选拔赛时尽了最大努力，但还是没能选上。2. The most harm possible; the greatest damage or hurt. 最大的伤害。◆ Fred got the business when Tom caught him with his bicycle. 汤姆发现弗雷德偷了他的自行车时，把他狠狠地揍了一顿。3. A harsh scolding. 申斥，严厉责骂。◆ The teacher gave Walter the business when he came to school late again. 沃尔特上学再一次迟到时，老师把他训斥了一顿。

the creeps　n., informal〖非正式〗1. An uncomfortable tightening of the skin caused by fear or shock. 毛骨悚然，不寒而栗。◆ Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe the creeps. 读鬼故事令乔不寒而栗。2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. 强烈的恐惧（或厌恶）感。◆ The cold, damp, lonely swamp gave John the creeps. 寒冷、潮湿、荒凉的沼泽令约翰极为恐惧。

the Dark Continent　n. phr. Africa was referred to by this expression, especially throughout the nineteenth century. 黑暗大陆（过去，尤其是19世纪，对非洲的称呼）。◆ Many great explorers, such as Dr. Livingstone, went to the Dark Continent. 许多伟大的探险家都曾去过黑暗大陆，例如利文斯通博士。

the devil to pay　n. phr. A severe penalty. 严厉的处罚。◆ If we don't finish the work by next Monday, there will be the devil to pay. 如果我们下周一不能完成这一工作，就会遭到严厉的处罚。

the edge　n., informal The advantage. — Usually used in the phrases get the edge on, have the edge on. 〖非正式〗优势。——通常用于短语get the edge on, have the edge on中。◆ Mary has the edge on Jane in the beauty contest. 玛丽在选美比赛中比简有优势。

the idea or the very idea　n. phr. — Used in exclamations to show that you do not like something.（用于感叹，表示对某事不喜欢）多么奇怪（或可笑）的想法！真荒唐！◆ The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty dog into my clean house! 真不像话！汤姆竟把那只脏狗带进我干干净净的房子里！

the lid　n., slang Something that holds back or holds out of sight. 〖俚〗盖子；内幕。◆ The police blew the lid off the gambling operations. 警察揭露了赌博活动的内幕。

the likes of　informal Something like or similar to; something of the same kind as. 〖非正式〗像…这样的人（或东西）。◆ I have never seen the likes of John. 我从未见过像约翰这样的人。

the long and the short or the long and short　n. phr. All that needs to be said; the basic fact; point. 总而言之；基本事实；要点。◆ The money isn't there, and that's the long and short of it. 钱不在那儿，情况就是这样。

the lower forty-eight　n. phr. The contiguous continental United States of America as seen from the state of Alaska.（除阿拉斯加州以外）美国本土48州（阿拉斯加州用语）。◆ "We Alaskans have a state that takes up a full fourth of the lower forty-eight," my Alaskan friend said proudly. 我的阿拉斯加朋友自豪地说：“我们阿拉斯加人拥有一个很大的州，其面积足有美国本土48州的四分之一。”

the matter　adj. Not as it should be; wrong. — Used in questions or with negatives or if. 麻烦事；毛病。——用于问句或否定句，或与if连用。◆ Why don't you answer me? What's the matter? 你为什么不回答我？怎么啦？

then again　adv. As an opposite possibility; another thing. 反之；要不；再者，此外。◆ He may be here tomorrow. Then again, he may not come until next week. 他可能明天会在这儿。要不然就要等到下周才会来。◆ I thought you told me about the fire, but then again it could have been Bill. 我想那场火灾是你告诉我的，但也可能是比尔。

then and there　adv. phr. At that very time and place in the past; right then. 在当时当地；当场；立即。◆ He said he wanted his dime back then and there, so I had to give it to him.他说他要当即讨回他的1角钱，因此我只得给了他。

the other day　adv. phr. In the recent past. 几天前；前些日子。◆ I saw an incredible parade of elephants along Michigan Avenue the other day on my way to work. 几天前在去上班的路上，我在密歇根大街上看到了不可思议的一排大象。

the picture　n. The way things are or were; the facts about something; the situation; what happened or happens. 事态；事实；情况；局面。◆ Old Mr. Brown is out of the picture now and his son runs the store. 布朗老先生已退休，现在是他的儿子在经营商店。

the pits　n., slang〖俚〗1. A low class, blighted and ill-maintained place, motel room or apartment. 乱糟糟的低级场所（或汽车旅馆房间、公寓房间）。◆ Max, this motel is the pits; I will not sleep here! 马克斯，这家汽车旅馆像个猪圈，我才不睡在这里呢！2. The end of the road, the point of no return, the point of total ruin of one's health (from the drug anticulture referring to the arm-pits as the only place that had veins for injections). 穷途末路；有进无退的处境；绝境；身体的崩溃（源自吸毒反文化，指腋窝为唯一可以注射毒品的地方）。◆ John flunked high school this year for the third time; he will never get to college; it's the pits for him. 约翰今年已是第三次中学考试不及格了；他永远也进不了大学；大学对他来说是个跨不过去的坎。3. A very depressed state of mind. 绝望。◆ Poor Marcy is down in the pits over her recent divorce. 可怜的马西因最近的离婚而深感绝望。

the powers that be　n. phr. Constituted authority; those in power. 当局；掌权者们。◆ I have done all I can; the rest is up to the powers that be. 我已竭尽全力；剩下的就要看当局了。

the proof of the pudding is in the eating　Whether a new invention or idea works or not must be judged from observing it in action and not in theory. — A proverb. 〖谚〗布丁好不好，吃了才知道；只有实践才是真正的检验。◆ When Ted presented his new gasoline-conserving sports car model to the director of the factory, the director replied, "Looks nice, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Let's see how this will perform on the road." 当泰德把他新型节油跑车的模型拿给工厂的厂长时，厂长回答说：“看上去不错，但布丁好不好，吃了才知道。咱们还是看看这车在公路上跑起来怎么样吧。”

there is more than one way to get a pig to market or flay a fox or skin a cat　There are always new and different ways to accomplish a difficult task. — A proverb. 〖谚〗达到目的的办法多得很。◆ "How did you get Tom to study so hard?" Eleanor asked. "I simply disconnected the television set," Tom's mother answered. "There's more than one way to get a pig to market."“你是怎么让汤姆这样用功的？”埃利诺问。“我只是切断了电视机的电源，”汤米的母亲回答说。“管他的办法多得很。”

there is nothing to it　Informal way to say, "It is easy."〖非正式〗这很容易。◆ Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult at all; in fact, there's nothing to it. 用旺火煸炒中国菜其实并不难；实际上很容易。

There or here you are!　1. Informal way to say, "Here is what you wanted."〖非正式〗这就是你要的；拿去吧。◆ The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and said, "There you are, sir!" 看门人礼貌地打开出租汽车的车门，说：“您要的车，先生！”2. You have found the correct answer; you are correct. 你找到了正确答案；你是正确的。◆ "The reason for the violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of handguns," he said. "Yeah, there you are!" Officer Maloney replied.“暴力犯罪率高，原因就在于手枪太容易弄到了，”他说。“对，你说的一点不错！”马隆尼警官回答说。

There you go!　Informal way to say, "You are doing it already and you are doing it well."〖非正式〗干得好！◆ "Is roller skating hard?" Freddie asked. "No," Beth replied, "let me show you how to do it. There you go!"“滑旱冰难吗？”弗雷迪问。“不难，”贝思回答说，“让我滑给你看。好哇，你滑得不错！”

the road to hell is paved with good intentions　Often heard when one comments on good intentions having gone bad, meaning that thinking positively should be complemented by positive action. — A proverb. 〖谚〗空言不如力行，空谈不如实干；徒有良好的愿望无补于事；光有良好的意图也可能走向地狱。◆ "Socialism was meant to eliminate poverty in the world, yet people never suffered more than in Soviet Russia," Ivan remarked. "Indeed," Boris replied, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." 伊万说：“社会主义的本意是要消灭世界上的贫困，但苏俄统治下的人民却受苦最深。”“确实如此，”鲍里斯回答说，“光有良好的意图也可能通向地狱。”

the ropes　n. plural, informal Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. 〖非正式〗专门知识；诀窍；做事的方法；人情世故。◆ When you go to a new school it takes a while to learn the ropes. 到一所新学校你要花一段时间了解各方面的情况。

the score　n., slang The truth; the real story or information; what is really happening; the way people and the world really are. 〖俚〗真相；真实情况；实际发生的事情；人情世故。◆ Very few people know the score in politics. 很少人了解政治的真相。

the three R's　n. phr. (W) riting, reading, and (a) rithmetic, the three basic skills of an elementary education. 初等教育三要素，读、写、算。◆ Barry has completed the three R's, but otherwise he has had little formal education. 巴里已读完了读、写、算三门基本课程，但在其他方面他并未受过多少正规教育。

the ticket　n. Exactly what is needed. — Often used with just. 所需的东西。——常与just连用。◆ This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winter clothes. 这个密封的锁柜正是你贮藏冬衣所需的东西。

the tracks　n. The line between the rich or fashionable part of town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. 贫富区的分界线。◆ The poor children knew they would not be welcome on the other side of the tracks. 穷人家的孩子知道，富人区是不欢迎他们的。

the wiser　adj. Knowing about something which might be embarrassing of knowing. — Usually used with nobody or no one. 知道某件令人难堪之事。——通常与nobody或no one连用。◆ Mary took the teacher's book home by mistake, but early the next morning she returned it with nobody the wiser. 玛丽错把老师的书带回了家，但第二天一早她就在无人知晓的情况下还了回去。

the works　n., plural, slang〖非正式〗1. Everything that can be had or that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. 所有的一切；相关的所有事物，全套事物。◆ When the homeless man found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the works with a steak dinner. 当那个流浪汉捡到100美元时，他便去了一家高级饭店，点了一份配菜齐全的牛排大餐。2. Rough handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. — Usually used with get or give. 粗暴处理（或对待）；痛揍（或痛骂）；杀害；谋杀。——通常与get或give连用。◆ The gangster told his accomplice he would give him the works if he double-crossed him. 匪徒告诉他的共犯说，如果他背叛他，他就杀死他。

thing or two　n. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. Facts not generally known, or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or important information. 真相；秘闻；内幕。◆ Mary told Joan a thing or two about Betty's real feelings. 玛丽把贝蒂秘而不宣的真实感情告诉了琼。2. A lot; much. 很多；许多。◆ Bob knows a thing or two about sailing. 鲍勃对航海知道得很多。

Things are looking up!　Informal way to say that conditions are improving. 〖非正式〗形势正在好转！◆ Things are looking up at our university as the governor promised a 5% salary raise. 我们大学的情况正在好转，因为州长已答应提高5％的年薪。

think a great deal of or think a lot of also think much of　v. phr. To consider to be very worthy, valuable, or important; to esteem highly. 对…评价很高；认为…很有价值（或重要）；非常尊重。◆ Mary thinks a great deal of Tim. 玛丽对蒂姆评价很高。◆ Father didn't think much of Paul's idea of buying a goat to save lawn mowing. 父亲对保罗买头山羊以省去给草坪刈草之劳的想法不以为然。

think aloud or think out loud　v. To say what you are thinking. 自言自语，边想边说出声。◆ "I wish I had more money for Christmas presents," Father thought aloud. "What did you say?" said Mother. Father answered, "I'm sorry. I wasn't talking to you. I was thinking out loud." “我要有更多的钱买圣诞礼物就好啦，”父亲自言自语地说。“你在说什么呀？”母亲问。父亲回答说：“对不起，我不是对你说话。我在自言自语。”

think better of　v. To change your mind about; to consider again and make a better decision about. 对…改变主意；重新考虑后对…作出更好的决定。◆ John told his mother he wanted to leave school, but later he thought better of it. 约翰告诉母亲说他想退学，但后来他又改变了注意。

Think big!　v. phr., informal To believe in one's ability, purpose, or power to perform or succeed. 〖非正式〗要有雄心壮志。◆ Be confident; be positive; tell yourself you are the greatest; above all, think big! 要充满信心；要满怀希望；要告诉自己你是最棒的；最重要的是，要有雄心壮志！

think city　n. phr. School, college, the university. 学校；学院；大学。◆ I wish tuition cost less these days. One gets broke by having to go to think city for so many years. 我真希望现在的学费能少一点。一个人进学校读这么多年的书往往就会破产。

think little of　v. phr. Think that (something or someone) is not important or valuable. 认为…不重要（或没有价值）；不重视；认为…算不了什么。◆ Joan thought little of walking two miles to school. 琼认为步行两英里去上学算不了什么。

think nothing of　v. phr. To think or consider easy, simple, or usual. 认为…容易（或简单），认为…不足为奇。◆ Jim thinks nothing of hiking ten miles in one day. 吉姆认为一天步行10英里没什么了不起。

think nothing of it　v. phr., informal — Used as a courteous phrase in replying to thanks. 〖非正式〗（用于回答他人的感谢）不用谢，不用客气，没什么。◆ "Thank you very much for your help." "Think nothing of it." “多谢你的帮助。”“不用客气。”

think on one's feet　v. phr. To think quickly; answer or act without waiting; know what to do or say right away. 思维敏捷；反应迅速。◆ Our teacher can think on his feet; he always has an answer ready when we ask him questions. 我们的老师思维敏捷；我们问他问题时，他总能对答如流。

think out　v. 1. To find out or discover by thinking; study and understand. 想出。◆ Andy thought out a way of climbing to the top of the pole. 安迪想出了一个爬上杆顶的方法。2. To think through to the end; to understand what would come at last. 仔细考虑，想透。◆ Bill wanted to quit school, but he thought out the matter and decided not to. 比尔想要退学，但仔细考虑过这事之后决定不退了。

think out loud　See见THINK ALOUD.

think over　v. To think carefully about; consider; study. 仔细考虑；认真思考；研究。◆ When Charles asked Betty to marry him, she asked him for time to think it over. 当查尔斯要求贝蒂嫁给他时，她请他给她一些时间仔细考虑一下。

think piece　n., slang〖俚〗1. The human brain. 头脑。◆ Lou's got one powerful think piece, man. 老兄，卢的脑子灵得很呢。2. Any provocative essay or article that, by stating a strong opinion, arouses the reader to think about it and react to it by agreeing or disagreeing. 发人深省的文章。◆ That article by Charles Fenyvesi on Vietnamese refugees in the Washington Post sure was a think piece! 查尔斯·范内维西在《华盛顿邮报》上那篇有关越南难民的文章确实发人深思！

think tank　n. A company of researchers who spend their time developing ideas and concepts. 智囊团，思想库。◆ The government hired a think tank to study the country's need for coins, and was advised to stop making penHies. 政府雇用了一个智囊团研究国家对硬币的需要，结果他们建议停止制作1分面额的硬币。

think twice　v. To think again carefully; reconsider; hesitate. 仔细考虑；重新考虑；犹豫。◆ The teacher advised Lou to think twice before deciding to quit school. 老师劝卢在决定退学前再仔细考虑一下。

think up　v. To invent or discover by thinking; have a new idea of. 想出；发明；设计出。◆ Mary thought up a funny game for the children to play. 玛丽想出了一种孩子们玩的有趣游戏。

third class　n. 1. The third best or highest group; the class next after the second class. 第三级；初级。◆ Mary won the pie-making contest in the third class, for the youngest girls. 玛丽获得了初级组——即小女孩组做馅饼比赛的胜利。2. Mail that is printed, other than magazines and newspapers that are published regularly, and packages that are not sealed and weigh less than a pound. 三类邮件（指报刊除外的印刷品和不足一磅的未加封包裹）。◆ The company uses third class to mail free samples of soap. 该公司以三类邮件寄出免费的肥皂样品。3. The least expensive class of travel.（车厢、舱位等收费最低廉的）三等。◆ I couldn't afford anything better than the third class on the ship coming home from France. 我从法国乘船回国只坐得起三等舱。

third degree　n. phr. A method of severe grilling used to extract information from an arrested suspect. 逼供，刑讯，疲劳讯问。◆ "Why give me the third degree?" he asked indignantly. "All I did was come home late because I had a drink with my friends."“为什么要对我进行逼供？”他愤怒地问道。“我只不过跟朋友们喝了几杯酒回家晚了点。”

third sex　n., informal Homosexual individuals who are either men or women. 〖非正式〗同性恋者。◆ Bill is rumored to belong to the third sex. 谣传比尔是个同性恋者。

third world　n. 1. The countries not aligned with either the former U. S. S. R. -dominated Communist bloc or the U. S. A. -dominated capitalist countries. 第三世界（指不与以前苏联为首的共产主义集团也不与以美国为首的资本主义国家结盟的国家）。◆ New Zealand made a move toward third country status when it disallowed American nuclear submarines in its harbors. 当新西兰禁止美国核潜艇进入其港湾时，它便向第三世界国家地位迈出了一步。2. The developing nations of the world where the industrial revolution has not yet been completed. 第三世界（指发展中国家）。◆ Africa and the rest of the third world must be freed from starvation and illiteracy. 非洲及第三世界的其他国家必须从饥饿和文盲的状态中解放出来。

this and that also this, that, and the other　n. phr. Various things; different things; miscellaneous things. 各种事情；各种各样的东西。◆ When the old friends met they would talk about this and that. 老朋友见面总要谈到各种各样的事情。

this is how the cookie crumbles or that's how the cookie crumbles　v. phr., informal That's how things are; that's life. 〖非正式〗事情就是这样；这就是人生。◆ It's too bad about John and Mary getting divorced, but then that's how the cookie crumbles. 真不幸，约翰和玛丽离婚了，但这就是人生。

thorn in the flesh or thorn in sb.'s side　n. phr. Something that causes stubborn trouble; a constant bother; a vexation. 使某人经常苦恼之事；令某人伤脑筋之事。◆ The new voter organization soon became the biggest thorn in the senator's side. 那个新的选民组织很快就成了那位参议员最大的苦恼根源。◆ The guerrilla band was a thorn in the flesh of the invaders. 游击队让入侵者不得安生。

thrash out　v. phr. To discuss fully; confer about something until a decision is reached. 充分讨论；通过讨论解决（或消除）；通过讨论达成（一致等）。◆ They met to thrash out their differences concerning how to run the office. 他们开会以便通过讨论消除在经营公司方面的分歧。

three-ring circus　n. A scene of much confusion or activity. 有3个场子同时演出的大马戏团；喧闹嘈杂的场面；多种多样的活动。◆ It is a three-ring circus to watch that silly dog play. 看那只笨狗表演就像看大马戏团一样热闹。

three sheets in the wind or three sheets to the wind　adj. phr., informal Unsteady from too much liquor; drunk. 〖非正式〗醉得东倒西歪的，醉醺醺的。◆ The sailor came down the street, three sheets in the wind. 那水手醉醺醺的沿街走来。

thrill someone to death or pieces　See见TICKLE PINK.

through and through　adv. Completely; entirely; whole-heartedly. 完全地；全部地；全心全意地。◆ Bob was a ball player through and through. 鲍勃是个全身心投入的球员。◆ Mary was hurt through and through by Betty's remarks. 贝蒂的话伤透了玛丽的心。

through hell and high water　See见HELL AND HIGH WATER.

through street　n. 1. A street on which cars can move without stopping at intersections, but cars on streets crossing it have to stop at the intersection. 直通街道；干道。◆ You have to be especially careful crossing a through street. 你在穿过干道时要格外小心。2. A street that is open to other streets at both ends; a street that has a passage through it, so that it is not necessary to come back to get out of it. 两端均通行的街道。◆ We thought we could get through to Main St. by going up a side street but there was a sign that said "Not a through street." 我们以为走一条小路可以到达主街，但有一个标牌上写着“此路不通。”

through the grapevine　adv. phr. As a matter of gossip from colleagues, acquaintances, etc. 通过暗中传播的途径；通过小道。◆ "I heard through the grapevine that we will be downsizing our inventory next year," Ted said. "I hope it isn't true," Fred replied. 泰德说：“我听小道消息说我们明年要削减我们的库存。”弗雷德回答说：“我希望这话不是真的。”

through the mill　adv. phr. 1. Experienced. 有经验的。◆ You could tell immediately that the new employee had been through the mill. 你马上就能判断出，那位新雇员是很有经验的。2. Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life. 经受磨炼；饱尝辛酸。◆ Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he's back in the hospital. He's really gone through the mill. 可怜的杰里一年内做了3次手术，现在又回到了医院。他真是历经磨难啊！

through thick and thin　adv. phr. Through all difficulties and troubles; through good times and bad times. 历尽艰难；同甘共苦。◆ George stayed in college through thick and thin, because he wanted an education. 乔治在大学里历尽艰难而没有退学，因为他想受教育。

through train　n. phr. A direct train that doesn't necessitate any changes.直达列车。◆ We'll take the through train from Chicago to New York because it's the most convenient. 我们将乘芝加哥到纽约的直达列车，因为这趟车最方便。

throw a curve　v. phr., slang, informall〖俚〗〖非正式〗1. To mislead or deceive someone; to lie. 欺骗（某人）；对…说谎。◆ John threw me a curve about the hiring. 在雇用的问题上，约翰欺骗了我。2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. 使惊讶不快。◆ Mr. Weiner's announcement threw the whole company a curve. 韦纳先生的通告使整个公司大吃一惊。

throw a monkey wrench or throw a wrench　v. phr., informal To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. 〖非正式〗阻挠；破坏。◆ The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules. 游戏本来进行得很顺利，都是你对规则唠叨个没完败了大家的兴致。

throw a party　v. phr., informal To hold a party; have a party. 〖非正式〗举行社交聚会。◆ The club is throwing a party in the high school gym Saturday night. 该俱乐部将于周六晚在中学体育馆举行舞会。

throw a punch　v. phr. To strike at someone with your fist; hit; punch.挥拳击打；挥拳猛击。◆ Bob became so mad at Fred that he threw a punch at him. 鲍勃对弗雷德极为愤怒，挥拳向他猛击过去。

throw a veil over something　v. phr. To conceal; hide; no longer talk about something unpleasant. 隐瞒某事；对某事避而不谈。◆ "Look, we've been divorced for more than ten years now. Why bring up such unpleasant matters?" Eugene said to Irene. "OK, I agree," she replied. "Let's throw a veil over our past differences." “听我说，我们已经离婚十几年了。为什么还要重提这些不愉快的事呢？”尤金对艾琳说。“好的，我同意，”她回答说。“那我们就避而不谈过去的分歧吧。”

throw away　v. 1. To get rid of as unwanted or not needed; junk. 扔掉；丢弃。◆ Before they moved they threw away everything they didn't want to take with them. 他们搬家前把不想带走的东西全都扔掉了。2. To waste. 浪费。◆ The senator criticized the government for throwing away billions on the space program.那位参议员批评政府在太空计划上浪费了几十亿美元。3. To fail to make use of. 错过。◆ She threw away a good chance for a better job. 她错过了一个得到一份更好工作的好机会。

throw caution to the winds also throw discretion to the winds　v. phr. To be daring; make a bold or risky move. 不顾一切；鲁莽行事。◆ Fearing that the Iraqis were planning to start a war, the Americans decided to throw caution to the winds and attack the Iraqis first. 因担心伊拉克人在计划开战，美国人决定不顾一切先发制人。

throw cold water on also dash cold water on or pour cold water on　v. phr. To discourage; say or do something to discourage. 对…泼冷水；使泄气。◆ Henry's father threw cold water on his plans to go to college by saying he could not afford it.亨利的父亲对他上大学的计划泼冷水，说他供不起他。

throw down the gauntlet　v. phr. To challenge, especially to a fight. 挑战。◆ Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the gauntlet. 另一位总统候选人也已提出了挑战。

throw dust into sb.'s eye　v. phr. To mislead someone; give false information; delude or deceive. 迷惑某人；蒙蔽某人；欺骗某人。◆ There is a danger that our new business partners will try to throw dust into our eyes. 有一种危险，即我们的新商业合伙人会设法欺骗我们。

throw for a loss　v. phr. To surprise or shock (someone); upset; make worry greatly; cause trouble. 使震惊；使苦恼；使担忧；引起麻烦。◆ Mr. Simpson was thrown for a loss when he lost his job. 辛普森先生失业了，这使他十分担忧。

throw in　v. 1. To give or put in as an addition; to give to or with something else. 外加；额外奉送；插入（话语）。◆ John threw in a couple of tires when he sold Bill his bicycle. 约翰把自行车卖给比尔时，另外送了两只轮胎。2. To push into operating position. 把…推到运转位置。◆ Mr. Jones threw in the clutch and shifted the gears. 琼斯先生踩下离合器踏板，然后换挡。

throw in one's lot with or literary cast in one's lot with　v. phr. To decide to share or take part in anything that happens to; join. 与…共命运；与…合伙。◆ When Carl was old enough to vote, he threw in his lot with the Democrats. 当卡尔达到了选举年龄时，他投票支持民主党人，以示与其共命运。

throw in the sponge or throw up the sponge or throw in the towel　v. phr., informal To admit defeat; accept loss. 〖非正式〗认输。◆ When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, he threw in the towel and left. 当哈罗德看到自己的论点不被接受时，他便认输离开了。

throw off　v. 1. To get free from. 摆脱。◆ He was healthy enough to throw off his cold easily. 他很健康，感冒后很容易就好了。2. To mislead; confuse; fool. 误导；使迷惑；愚弄。◆ They went by a different route to throw the hostile bandits off their track. 他们走了另一条路以迷惑怀有敌意的歹徒们。

throw off the scent　v. phr. To mislead; confuse. 使迷失方向；使失去线索；迷惑。◆ The robbers went different ways hoping to throw the sheriff's men off the scent. 强盗四处逃散，想甩掉追捕的警察。

throw off the track　v. phr. To divert; mislead; confuse. 转移…的注意力；使迷失方向；使失去线索；迷惑。◆ The clever criminals threw the detective off the track by changing their names and faces. 那些聪明的罪犯改姓换名、改头换面，从而使那位警探失去了追踪的线索。

throw oneself at someone's feet　v. phr. To make a public display of serving, loving, or worshipping someone. 拜倒在某人脚下；崇拜某人。◆ When the new girl entered school, several boys threw themselves at her feet. 那位新来的女生进校时，好几个男生拜倒在她的石榴裙下。

throw one's hat in the ring or toss one's hat in the ring　v. phr., informal To announce that you are going to try to be elected to an official position; become a candidate for office. 〖非正式〗宣布参加竞选；参加竞选。◆ The senator threw his hat in the ring for president. 那位参议员宣布竞选总统。

throw one's weight around　v. phr., informal To use one's influence or position in a showy or noisy manner. 〖非正式〗滥用权势；仗势欺人；盛气凌人；耀武扬威。◆ Bob was stronger than the other boys, and he threw his weight around. 鲍勃仗着自己身强力壮，老是欺侮别的男孩。

throw open　1. To open wide with a sudden or strong movement. 突然打开；猛力打开。◆ He dashed in and threw open the windows. 他冲进去，猛地把窗打开。2. To remove limits from. 使对外开放。◆ The Homestead Act threw open the West. 《宅地法案》使西部得以开放。◆ When a hurricane and flood left many people homeless, public buildings were thrown open to shelter them. 当飓风和洪水使许多人无家可归时，公共建筑立即开放让他们避难。

throw out or toss out　v. 1. To put somewhere to be destroyed because not wanted. 扔掉，丢掉。◆ He didn't need the brush anymore so he threw it out. 他不再需要那把刷子，所以就把它扔掉了。2. To refuse to accept. 拒绝接受。◆ The inspector tossed out all the parts that didn't work. 检查员把所有不行的部件都扔了出来。3. To force to leave; dismiss. 撵走；解雇。◆ When the employees complained too loudly, the owner threw them out. 当雇员们抱怨的声音太响时，雇主便解雇了他们。4. To cause to be out in baseball by throwing the ball.（棒球赛中）把…传杀出局。◆ The shortstop tossed the runner out. 游击手将对方跑垒员传杀出局。

throw out of gear　v. phr. 1. To separate the gears of (a car or some other machine) when you want to stop it. 使齿轮脱开（以停车或其他机器）。◆ When John wanted to stop, he threw the car out of gear and braked sharply. 约翰要停车时，将车换成空档并紧急刹车。2. To stop or bother (what someone is doing or planning); confuse; upset. 中止（或干扰）（某人的工作或计划）；使混乱；打乱。◆ The whole country was thrown out of gear by the assassination of the President. 总统的遇刺使整个国家陷入一片混乱。

throw over　v. To give up for another; break your loyalty or attachment to. 抛弃；遗弃；背弃。◆ Bob threw Mary over for a new girlfriend. 鲍勃为了一个新的女友而抛弃了玛丽。

throw or feed someone to the wolves　v. phr. To turn someone into a scapegoat. 把某人当作替罪羊。◆ In order to explain the situation to the media, the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves.为了向媒体说明情况，州长指责了市长，把他当成了替罪羊。

throw something in sb.'s face or throw something in sb.'s teeth　v. phr. To blame a person for (something wrong); not allow someone to forget (a mistake or failure). — Used with back. 以某事当面责备某人。——常与back连用。◆ Bob came home late for dinner last week, and his mother keeps throwing it back in his face. 鲍勃上周回家吃饭晚了，他母亲一直就这事指责他。

throw the baby out with the bath (bathwater)　v. phr. To reject all of something because part is faulty 把婴儿连同洗澡水一起倒掉；把好东西连同坏东西一块儿扔掉。◆ God knows that there are weaknesses in the program, but if we act too hastily we may throw the baby out with the bathwater. 谁都知道这一方案有缺点，但如果我们行事过于轻率就可能犯良莠不分、全盘否定的错误。

throw the book at　v. phr., informal To give the most severe penalty to (someone) for breaking the law or rules. 〖非正式〗对…课以最重罚款；严厉惩罚。◆ Because it was the third time he had been caught speeding that month, the judge threw the book at him. 因为这是他在那个月中第三次超速行驶被抓，所以法官对他课以最重的罚款。

throw together　v. 1. also slap together To make in a hurry and without care. 匆匆做成，匆匆拼凑成。◆ Bill and Bob threw together a cabin out of old lumber. 比尔和鲍勃用一些旧木料匆匆搭建了一个小木屋。2. To put in with other people by chance.使偶然相聚在一起。◆ Bill and Tom became friends when they were thrown together in the same cabin at camp. 比尔和汤姆在野营时因同住一屋而成为朋友。

throw up　v. 1. informal or slang To vomit. 〖非正式〗〖俚〗呕出，呕吐。◆ The heat made him feel sick and he thought he would throw up. 炎热使他感到恶心，他觉得自己要呕吐了。2. To build in a hurry. 匆匆建造。◆ The contractor threw up some temporary sheds to hold the new equipment. 承包商匆匆搭起一些临时性的货棚存放那些新设备。

throw up one's hands　v. phr. To give up trying; admit that you cannot succeed. 放弃努力；认输。◆ Mrs. Jones threw up her hands when the children messed up the living room for the third time. 当孩子们第三次把起居室弄得乱七八糟时，琼斯夫人因绝望而举起了双手。

throw up one's hands in horror　v. phr. To be horrified; feel alarmed; give up hope of straightening things out; be shocked by something terrible. 惊恐绝望；惊慌失措；束手无策；吃惊。◆ Everybody threw up their hands in horror at the destruction caused by the hurricane. 每个人都对飓风造成的破坏感到惊慌失措。

thrust down sb.'s throat or push down sb.'s throat　v. phr. To force one's own ideas on someone else. 强迫某人接受（自己的意见、观点等）。◆ It never pays in the long run to thrust one's own ideas down the throat of another. 从长远的观点看，强迫别人接受自己的想法决不会有什么好结果。◆ If you keep pushing your weird ideas about business down my throat, I will stop talking to you. 如果你继续向我灌输你那些做生意的怪念头，我就不再跟你谈了。

thumb a ride　v. phr., informal To get a ride by hitchhiking; hitchhike. 〖非正式〗搭便车。◆ Not having much money, Carl decided to thumb a ride to New York. 卡尔没有多少钱，所以决定搭便车去纽约。

thumb one's nose　v. phr. To look with disfavor or dislike; regard with scorn; refuse to obey. 不喜欢；（对…）嗤之以鼻，蔑视；违抗。◆ Betty thumbed her nose at her mother's command to stay home. 贝蒂对母亲让她待在家里的命令嗤之以鼻。

thumb through　v. phr. To examine superficially; read cursorily. 翻阅；浏览。◆ I have read War and Peace but Fran has only thumbed through it. 我读过《战争与和平》，而弗兰只是翻阅过一遍。

thus and so also thus and thus　adv. phr. In a particular way; according to directions that have been given. 以某种方式；根据指示；如此这般。◆ The teacher is very fussy about the way you write your report. If you don't do it thus and so, she gives you a lower mark. 老师对写报告的方式非常挑剔。如果你不根据她的指示去做，她就给你低分。

tickle pink　v. phr., informal To please very much; thrill; delight. — Usually used in the passive participle. 〖非正式〗使（某人）非常高兴；使激动；使开心。——通常用于被动语态。◆ Agnes was tickled pink with the great reviews about her first book of short stories. 对她第一部短篇小说集的诸多好评令艾格尼丝激动不已。

tickle sb.'s funny bone　v. phr. To amuse someone; make someone laugh. 把某人逗乐；逗某人发笑。◆ It tickles my funny bone listening to Sam; he is full of the most amazing humorous anecdotes. 听萨姆讲话常逗得我发笑；他满肚子都是最最匪夷所思、引人发噱的逸闻趣事。

tick off　v. 1. To mention one after the other; list. 一一报出；列举。◆ The teacher ticked off the assignments that Jane had to do. 老师把简要做的作业一一报出。2. To scold; rebuke. 责骂；指责。◆ The boss ticked off the waitress for dropping her tray. 老板训斥女侍者失手把托盘掉在了地上。3. To anger or upset. — Usually used as ticked off. 使生气；使心烦意乱。——通常用作ticked off。◆ She was ticked off at him for breaking their dinner date again. 她对他再次失约未与她共进晚餐很生气。

tide over　v. To carry past a difficulty or danger; help in bad times or in trouble. 使渡过难关；使克服困难；帮助…渡过难关。◆ An ice cream cone in the afternoon tided her over until supper. 下午吃的一个蛋卷冰淇淋帮她支撑到晚饭时。

tidy sum　n. phr. A large amount of money. 一大笔钱。◆ The Smiths' big new home cost them a tidy sum. 史密斯家新买的大房子花了他们一大笔钱。

tie down　v. To keep (someone) from going somewhere or doing something; prevent from leaving; keep in. 束缚；限制；控制；牵制。◆ The navy tied the enemy down with big gunfire while the marines landed on the beach. 海军陆战队在海滩登陆时，海军用猛烈的炮火牵制住了敌人。

tied to one's mother's apron strings　Not independent of your mother; not able to do anything without asking your mother. 依赖母亲；受母亲的支配。◆ Even after he grew up he was still tied to his mother's apron strings. 即使在长大成人后，他仍处处听他母亲的。

tie in　v. To connect with something else; make a connection for. — Used with with. 使有联系；与…有联系。——与with连用。◆ The teacher tied in what she said with last week's lesson. 老师把她讲的内容与上星期的课联系起来。◆ The detectives tied in the fingerprints on the man's gun with those found on the safe, so they knew that he was the thief. 警探们把此人枪上的指纹与保险箱上发现的指纹联系起来，从而知道他就是窃贼。

tie-in　n. A connection; a point of meeting. 关联；关系。◆ John's essay on World War II provides a perfect tie-in with his earlier work on World War I. 约翰论述第二次世界大战的论文与他早些时候论述第一次世界大战的著作关系密切。

tie in knots　v. phr. To make (someone) very nervous or worried. 使（某人）非常紧张；使（某人）不安。◆ The thought of having her tooth pulled tied Joan in knots. 想到要拔牙，琼紧张得要命。

tie one on someone　v. phr. To invice someone for a drink; pay for someone's drink in a bar. 请某人喝一杯。◆ If you help me with my homework, we can go to a bar of your choice and I'll tie one on you. 如果你帮我做作业，我们就去你选的一家酒吧，由我请你喝一杯。

tie sb.'s hands　v. phr. To make (a person) unable to do anything. — Usually used in the passive. 束缚某人的手脚，使某人无能为力。——通常用于被动语态。◆ Father hoped Jim would not quit school, but his hands were tied; Jim was old enough to quit if he wanted to. 父亲希望吉姆不要辍学，但吉姆已经成年，如果他想辍学，父亲也无可奈何。

tie someone up in knots　v. phr. To laugh so hard that it actually hurts. 使某人笑得肚子都痛了。◆ We were tied up in knots for a whole hour while listening to Bob's incredible adventures in the Sahara. 我们听鲍勃讲他在撒哈拉大沙漠的惊人奇遇，整整一个小时笑得肚子都痛了。

tie the knot　v. phr., informal To get married; also to perform a wedding ceremony. 〖非正式〗结婚；主持婚礼。◆ Diane and Bill tied the knot yesterday. 黛安和比尔昨天喜结连理。

tie up　v. phr. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To show or stop the movement or action of; hinder; tangle. 使停顿；阻碍；使混乱。◆ The crash of the two trucks tied up all traffic in the center of town. 两辆卡车相撞，使市中心的交通全部陷入瘫痪。2. To take all the time of. 占去（某人）所有的时间；使无空闲。◆ The meeting will tie the President up until noon.会议将占去总统整个上午的时间。3. To limit or prevent the use of. 限制使用；阻止使用。◆ His money is tied up in a trust fund and he can't take it out. 他的钱全都搁死在一种信托基金上，现在无法提取。4. To enter into an association or partnership; join. 联合；合并。◆ Our company has tied up with another firm to support the show. 我们公司已与另一家公司联合起来赞助这次演出。5. To dock. 靠码头；停泊。◆ The ships tied up at New York. 船停泊在纽约。6. To finish; complete. 结束；完成。◆ We've talked long enough; let's tie up these plans and start doing things. 我们已经谈得够久了；让我们结束计划的制订，开始做些实事吧。

tie-up　n. (stress on tie)（重读tie）A congestion; a stoppage of the normal flow of traffic, business or correspondence. 阻塞；（交通、生意或通信的）停顿。◆ There was a two-hour traffic tie-up on the highway. 公路上交通阻塞了两个小时。

tighten one's belt　v. phr. To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things. 束紧裤带；节衣缩食。◆ When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts. 父亲失业后，我们只得节衣缩食。◆ When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had to tighten their belts another notch. 丈夫失业后，史密斯一家不得不舍弃许多东西，而当他们的储蓄花光后，他们只得进一步勒紧裤带了。

tighten the screws　v. phr. To try to make someone do something by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. 施加压力。◆ When many students still missed class after he began giving daily quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent four times. 老师开始每天进行小测验后仍有许多学生缺课，于是他便施加压力，凡缺课4次者一律不及格。

tight-lipped　adj. A taciturn person; one who doesn't say much. 沉默寡言的；话不多的。◆ The witness was tight-lipped about what she saw for fear of physical retaliation by the mob. 证人因担心那伙流氓粗野的报复而闭口不谈她看到的情况。

tight money　n. phr. The opposite of inflation, when money is hard to borrow from the banks. 银根紧。◆ The government decided that tight money is the way to bring down inflation. 政府认定收紧银根是降低通货膨胀的好办法。

tight squeeze　n. phr. A difficult situation; financial troubles. 困难处境；银根紧缩。◆ The Browns aren't going out to dinner these days; they are in a tight squeeze. 布朗一家目前不会外出就餐；他们手头有些拮据。

tightwad　n. phr. A stingy person. 吝啬鬼，守财奴。◆ My father is such a tightwad that he won't give me an allowance. 我父亲很吝啬，连零用钱也不给我。

Tijuana taxi　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon A police car. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗警车。◆ I've got a Tijuana taxi in sight. 我看到了一辆警车。

till the cows come home　adv. phr. Until sunset; until the last. 直到日落；直到最后。◆ The women in the country used to sit in the spinning room making yarn out of skeins of wool, usually till the cows came home. 农村妇女过去常坐在纺纱间里将一绞绞的羊毛纺成纱，通常一直要干到天黑为止。

till the last gun is fired or until the last gun is fired　adv. phr. Until the end; until everything is finished or decided. 直到最后；直到全部完成（或决定）。◆ The candidate didn't give up hope of being elected until the last gun was fired. 那位候选人直到大局已定才放弃了当选的希望。

tilt at windmills　v. phr., literary To do battle with an imaginary foe. 〖文〗同假想的敌人战斗（像塞万提斯笔下的堂吉诃德骑马持矛向风车冲刺那样）。◆ John is a nice guy but when it comes to departmental meetings he wastes everybody's time by constantly tilting at windmills. 约翰是个好人，但在系里开会时，他却经常同假想的敌人战斗，浪费大家的时间。

time after time　See见TIME AND AGAIN.

time and again or time and time again　adv. Many times; repeatedly; very often. 多次；反复地；经常。◆ Children are forgetful and must be told time and time again how to behave. 孩子们健忘，所以必须经常告诫他们守规矩。

time and a half　n. phr. Pay given to a worker at a rate half again as much as he usually gets. 相当于原工资一倍半的加班费。◆ Tom gets one dollar for regular pay and a dollar and a half for time and a half. 汤姆的固定工资为每小时1美元，加班费为每小时1.5美元。

time and tide wait for no man　The law of nature cannot be changed on behalf of anyone, so it is a good idea to make a decision when the time is right, otherwise you may lose your chance. — A proverb. 〖谚〗岁月不待人；时不我待；机不可失，时不再来。◆ "Let's buy that house we always wanted now," Ted's wife suggested. "The interest rate will never be lower." "I guess you're right," Ted agreed. "It's as the saying goes, 'Time and tide wait for no man.'"“让我们现在就把我们一直想买的那座房子买下来吧，”泰德的妻子建议说。“利率永远也不会降低了。”“我想你是对的，”泰德同意说。“正像俗话说的，‘机不可失，时不再来’呀。”

time is ripe　The best time has come for doing something. 时机已经成熟。◆ The prime minister will hold elections when the time is ripe. 首相将在时机成熟时举行选举。

time off　n. phr. A period of release from work. 休息时间；空闲时间。◆ If I had some time off this afternoon, I would finish writing the letters I promised. 如果今天下午有空，我就把答应要写的信写完。

time of one's life　n. phr. A very happy or wonderful time. 一生中特别愉快的一段时间。◆ John had the time of his life at the party. 约翰在晚会上非常愉快。

time out　n. phr. Time during which a game, a lecture, a discussion or other activity is stopped for a while for some extra questions or informal discussion, or some other reason.（比赛等的）暂停；（其他活动的）暂停时间。◆ "Time out!" — The students said, "Could you explain that again?"“停一下，停一下！”——学生们喊道。“你能把这个再解释一遍吗？”

tin ear　n. phr. 1. A lack of sensitivity to noise. 听觉不灵的耳朵；聋耳朵。◆ The construction noise doesn't bother Fred; he's got a tin ear. 建筑工地上的嘈杂声不会烦扰弗雷德，他的耳朵聋。2. A lack of musical ability; state of being tone deaf. 乐感缺乏；缺乏乐感的人。◆ People with a tin ear make poor choir members. 缺乏乐感的人不宜参加合唱团。

tip off　v., informal To tell something not generally known; tell secret facts to; warn. 〖非正式〗向…透露消息；向…告密；警告。◆ The thieves did not rob the bank as planned because someone tipped them off that it was being watched by the police. 那些窃贼没有按计划抢劫银行，因为有人警告他们说银行正由警察守护着。

tip one's hat to someone　v. phr. To recognize someone's success and contributions by complimenting the person. 以手触帽檐向某人致敬（或祝贺）；祝贺某人；对某人表示尊重。◆ "I tip my hat to you," the Nobel Laureate for Literature said to the young man, whose first book of poetry just appeared, bringing him the Pulitzer Prize. “我祝贺你，”那位诺贝尔文学奖得主对年轻人说，因为后者的第一部诗集刚出版就获得了普利策奖。

tip the scales　v. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. To weigh. 称重量。◆ Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds. 马丁体重为180磅。2. or tip the balance To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide. 有重要（或决定性）影响，起决定性作用。◆ John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the election. 约翰的投票使局势有利于我们，我们因此赢得了选举。

tit for tat　n. phr. Equal treatment in return; a fair exchange. 以牙还牙；针锋相对。◆ I told him if he did me any harm I would return tit for tat. 我告诉他，如果他伤害我，我就以牙还牙予以回击。◆ They had a warm debate and the two boys gave each other tit for tat. 他们进行了一场激烈的辩论，两个男孩针锋相对。

to a degree　adv. phr. 1. Chiefly British Very; to a large extent. 〖主英〗非常；在很大程度上。◆ In some things I am ignorant to a degree. 在有些事情上，我很无知。2. Somewhat; slightly; in a small way; rather. 有点；稍微；在一定程度上；多多少少。◆ His anger was, to a degree, a confession of defeat. 他的生气在一定程度上是承认了自己的失败。

to advantage　adv. phr. So as to bring out the good qualities of; favorably; in a flattering way. 使优点突出；有利地。◆ The jeweler's window showed the diamonds to advantage. 珠宝商店的橱窗使那些钻石显得更加漂亮。◆ The green dress showed up to advantage with her red hair. 那件绿套裙与她的红头发相互映衬，显得格外漂亮。

to a fault　adv. phr. So very well that it is in a way bad; to the point of being rather foolish; too well; too much. 过分地；过度地。◆ John carries generosity to a fault; he spends his money making scholarship grants to anyone who asks. 约翰慷慨得过了头，他用他的钱提供奖学金，谁要就给谁。

to a large extent　See见IN GREAT MEASURE.

to all intents and purposes　adv. phr. In most ways; in fact. 几乎在一切方面；实际上。◆ The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to all intents and purposes, is the chief executive. 总统被称作国家元首，而实际上首相才是国家的最高行政长官。

to a man　adv. phr. Without exception; with all agreeing. 无例外地；一致地。◆ The workers voted to a man to go on strike. 工人们投票一致赞成罢工。

to and fro　adv. phr. Forward and back again and again. 来回地；往返地。◆ Busses go to and fro between the center of the city and the city limits. 公共汽车往返行驶在市中心和市区边缘之间。

to a T or to a turn　adv. phr. Just right; to perfection; exactly. 恰好；完美地；精确地。◆ The roast was done to a turn. 烤肉烤得恰到好处。◆ His nickname, Tiny, suited him to a T. 他的绰号“小不点”对他正合适。

to-be　adj. That is going to be; about to become. — Used after the noun it modifies. 未来的。——用在其所修饰的名词之后。◆ Bob kissed his bride-to-be. 鲍勃亲吻了他未来的新娘。

to be on the safe side　adv. phr. To take extra precautions; reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even danger. 为安全起见，为保险起见，为稳妥起见。◆ Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank's safe deposit box, just to be on the safe side. 为安全起见，爸爸总是把他的贵重物品存放在银行的保险箱里。

to be sure　adv. phr. Without a doubt; certainly; surely. 毫无疑问；肯定；确实。◆ "Didn't you say Mr. Smith would take us home?" "Oh, yes. To be sure, I did." “你不是说史密斯先生要送我们回家吗？”“哦，是的。我确实说过。”

to blame　adj. phr. Having done something wrong; to be blamed; responsible. 有过错的；该受责备的；应负责任的。◆ The teacher tried to find out who was to blame in the fight. 老师想要查明打架一事是谁的过错。

to boot　adv. phr. In addition; besides; as something extra. 此外；而且；加之。◆ He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot. 他不仅得到了50美元，而且他们还给他买了晚饭。

to date　adv. or adj. phr. Up to the present time; until now. 迄今为止，到目前为止。◆ To date twenty students have been accepted into the school.到目前为止已有20名学生被接受入学。

to death　adv. phr., informal To the limit; to the greatest degree possible. — Used for emphasis with verbs such as scare, frighten, bore. 〖非正式〗到极点；极度。——与scare, frighten, bore等动词连用表示强调。◆ Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I like mysteries. 牛仔故事让我烦透了，不过我却喜欢推理小说。

toe the line or toe the mark　v. phr. To be very careful to do just what you are supposed to do; obey the rules and do your duties. 循规蹈矩；严守规则，履行职责。◆ The new teacher will make Joe toe the line. 新来的老师会让乔遵守纪律的。

to eyeball　v. phr. 1. To stare at someone or something as if wishing to get to know one or acquire the item viewed; ogle. 目不转睛地注视；贪婪地盯着看。◆ "Stop eyeballing that waitress," Tom warned his friend, Ted. "Do you want to be thrown out of the bar?" “别一直盯着那位女侍者看，”汤姆警告他的朋友泰德。“难道你想被人逐出酒吧吗？”2. To look over sb.'s shoulder; control sb.'s behavior. 监视（某人）；监督（某人）。◆ I really hate it when my mom eyeballs me while I'm doing homework. 我真的很讨厌我妈妈在我做作业的时候监视我。

together with　prep. In addition to; in the company of; along with. 同…一起；连同；和。◆ The police found a knife, together with the stolen money, hidden in a hollow tree. 警察在一棵中空的树里找到了藏匿的匕首和赃款。

to go　v. phr. To take away food one doesn't want to consume on the premises of a restaurant. 把食物带出餐馆外去吃；外卖。◆ "Is this for here, or to go?" the girl at the counter asked. "To go," I replied.柜台边的女服务员问：“这个是在这里吃呢还是带走？”我回答说：“带走。”

to heel　adj. phr. 1. Close behind. 紧跟在后，紧随。◆ The dog ran after a rabbit, but Jack brought him to heel.狗在追兔子，但杰克却把它叫到了身后。2. Under control; to obedience. 受控制；顺从。◆ When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, but his father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel. 彼得16岁时以为自己可以为所欲为了，但他父亲断绝了他的零用钱后，他很快又听话了。

to hell with or the hell with　prep. phr., informal — Used to express disgusted rejection of something. 〖非正式〗让…见鬼去吧！——用以表示对某物的厌弃。◆ It's slop; the hell with what the cook calls it. 这菜真难吃；不管厨师把它叫做什么都让它见鬼去吧！

toll call　n. phr. A long distance telephone call for which one has to pay.（自己付费的）长途电话。◆ We had several toll calls on last month's telephone bill. 我们上个月的电话费账单上有好几个是长途电话。

toll free　adv. phr. Calling an (800) telephone number with the call paid by the business whose number one has dialed.（打800开头、由商家付费的电话）免费地。◆ You can call us day and night, seven days a week, toll free. 你可以每周7天、每天24小时随时免费给我们打电话。

Tom, Dick, and Harry　n. phr. People in general; anyone; everyone. — Usually preceded by every and used to show scorn or disrespect. 普通人；任何人；每个人。——通常与every连用，表示轻蔑或藐视。◆ The drunk told his troubles to every Tom, Dick and Harry who passed by. 那个醉汉向每个过路的人诉说自己的苦恼。

tone down　v. To make softer or quieter; make less harsh or strong; moderate. 使柔和；使缓和；使降低；使减弱。◆ She wanted the bright colors in her house toned down. 她想使房内明亮的色彩变得柔和一些。

tongue-in-cheek　adj. phr. In an ironic or insincere manner. 挖苦的；无诚意的。◆ When the faculty complained about the poor salary increments, the university's president said that he was not a psychiatrist, thus making an inappropriate tongue-in-check remark. 当教员们抱怨薪金增额不高时，大学校长说他并非精神病医生，从而说了一句不合时宜的挖苦话。

tongue-lashing　n. A sharp scolding or criticism. 严斥；严厉的批评。◆ Jim's mother gave him a tonguelashing for telling family secrets. 吉姆把家中的秘密告诉了别人，被母亲狠狠地训斥了一顿。

tongues wag　informal People speak in an excited or gossipy manner; people spread rumors. 〖非正式〗议论纷纷；人们说闲话；人们散布谣言。◆ When the bank clerk showed up in an expensive new car, tongues wagged.当那位银行职员开着一辆名贵的新车露面时，人们便纷纷议论起来。

tongue twister　n. A word or group of words difficult to pronounce whose meaning is irrelevant compared to the difficulty of enunciation.绕口令。◆ "She sells sea shells by the seashore" is a popular American tongue twister. "She sells sea shells by the seashore"（她在海滨卖海贝壳）是一句美国家喻户晓的绕口令。

to no avail or of no avail^1　adj. phr., formal Having no effect; useless, unsuccessful. 〖正式〗毫无效果的；无用的，不成功的。◆ Tom's practicing was of no avail. He was sick on the day of the game. 汤姆白练了一场。比赛那天他病了。

to no avail^2　adv. phr., formal Without result; unsuccessfully. 〖正式〗毫无结果；不成功地。◆ John tried to pull the heavy cart, but to no avail.约翰拼命拖那辆沉重的大车，却怎么也拖不动。

too bad　adj. To be regretted; worthy of sorrow or regret; regrettable. — Used as a predicate. 可惜；遗憾；不幸。——用作表语。◆ It was too bad Bill had measles when the circus came to town. 马戏团来到镇上时，比尔正在出麻疹，真太可惜了。

too big for one's breeches or too big for one's boots　adj. phr. Too sure of your own importance; feeling more important than you really are.太自负；自以为了不起。◆ That boy had grown too big for his breeches. I'll have to put him back in his place. 那男孩变得太自以为是了。我得杀一杀他的威风。

too —— by half　adj. (princ. British)〖主英〗Much too; excessively. 〖主英〗太…；过于…。◆ The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not believable. 故事的女主人公过于完美，完美得令人难以置信了。

too close for comfort　adj. phr. Perilously near (said of bad things).（指坏事情）近得令人害怕；迫在眉睫令人不安。◆ When the sniper's bullet hit the road the journalist exclaimed, "Gosh, that was too close for comfort!" 当狙击手的子弹击中路面时，那位记者惊叫道：“天哪，差一点就没命了！”

too many cooks spoil the broth or stew　A project is likely to go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. — A proverb. 〖谚〗厨子多了烧坏汤；木匠多了盖歪房；人多手杂反坏事。◆ When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the company's investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by myself! Don't you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?" 当几个人一起行动，试图重新制定公司的投资政策时，汤姆大声说道：“这事让我一个人来做吧！难道你们不知道，厨子多了烧不出好汤吗？”

too many irons in the fire　See见IRONS IN THE FIRE.

to oneself^1　adv. phr. 1. Silently; in the thoughts; without making a sign that others can see; secretly. 默默地；暗自地；不露声色地；秘密地。◆ Bill laughed to himself when John fell down. 约翰摔倒时比尔在暗笑。2. Without telling others; in private; as a secret. — Used after keep. 不告诉别人；私下地；秘密地。——与keep连用。◆ John knew the answer to the problem, but he kept it to himself. 约翰知道问题的答案，却不告诉别人。

to oneself^2　adj. phr. 1. Without company; away from others; alone; deserted. 无伴的；远离他人的；单独的；被遗弃的。◆ The boys went home and John was left to himself. 男孩子们都回家了，只剩下约翰孤零零的一个人。2. Following one's own beliefs or wishes; not stopped by others. 自行其是的；不听别人劝阻的。◆ The teacher left Mary to herself to solve the problem. 老师任由玛丽自己去解那道题。

to one's feet　adv. phr. To a standing position; up. 站起来；起来。◆ When Sally saw the bus coming, she jumped to her feet and ran out. 萨莉看到公共汽车开来，便一跃而起跑了出去。

to one's heart's content　adv. phr. To the extent of one's wishes; one's complete satisfaction. 尽情地；心满意足地。◆ There is a wonderful small restaurant nearby where you can eat to your heart's content. 附近有一家很好的小餐馆，在那里你可以尽情地吃个痛快。

to one's name　adv. phr. In your ownership; of your own; as part of your belongings. 属于自己所有；在自己名下。◆ Ed had only one suit to his name. 埃德只有一套衣服。

to order　adv. phr. According to directions given in an order in the way and size wanted. 按照吩咐，按照要求。◆ A very big man often has his suits made to order. 身材高大的人通常要定做衣服。

tooth and nail　adv. phr. Very forcefully; vehemently; at almost any cost. 强烈地；猛烈地；不惜一切代价地。◆ John stuck to his decision to become a pianist tooth and nail, but he would have been better off choosing some other profession. 约翰不惜一切代价，坚守自己成为一名钢琴家的决定，但如果他选择别的职业也许境况会更好。

tooth and nail　adv. phr. With all weapons or ways of fighting as hard as possible; fiercely. — Used after fight or a similar word. 竭尽全力地；拼命地。——与fight或类似的词连用。◆ The farmers fought tooth and nail to save their crops from the grasshoppers. 农夫们竭尽全力，拼命保护他们的庄稼免受蝗虫之灾。

toot one's own horn　See见BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN.

top banana or top dog　n., slang, informal The head of any business or organization; the most influential or most prestigious person in an establishment. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗领导人；头头；老板；最有影响的人物；最有威望的人物。◆ Who's the top banana/dog in this outfit? 谁是这家公司的老板？

top-drawer　adj., informal Of the best; or most important kind. 〖非正式〗最好的；最重要的。◆ Mr. Rogers is a top-drawer executive and gets a very high salary. 罗杰斯先生是位一流的经理，他的薪金很高。

to pieces　adv. phr. 1. Into broken pieces or fragments; destroyed. 成碎片地；毁坏。◆ The cannon shot the town to pieces. 大炮把那座城镇炸毁了。2. informal So as not to work; into a state of not operating. 〖非正式〗崩溃；不能再用。◆ After 100,000 miles the car went to pieces. 这辆汽车跑了10万英里后就报废了。3. informal Very much; greatly; exceedingly. 〖非正式〗非常；极度。◆ John was thrilled to pieces to see Mary. 琼看到玛丽时非常激动。◆ The shooting scared Bob to pieces. 枪击声把鲍勃吓得要死。

top off　v. To come or bring to a special or unexpected ending; climax.（以特定或意外方式）结束，完成；（使）达到高潮。◆ George had steak for dinner and topped it off with a fudge sundae. 乔治正餐吃了牛排，最后又吃了一客乳脂软糖圣代冰淇淋。

top-of-the-line　adj. phr. Of the best quality; the most expensive. 质量最好的；最昂贵的。◆ The Buick is a top-of-the line American automobile, comparable to the Cadillac. 别克是美国最好的一种汽车，可以与凯迪拉克轿车媲美。

to put it mildly　See见TO SAY THE LEAST.

to say nothing of　See见NOT TO MENTION.

to say the least　v. phr. To understate; express as mildly as possible.至少可以说；退一步说；说得轻一些。◆ After all we did for him, his behavior toward us, to say the least, was a poor way to show his appreciation. 在我们为他做了这一切之后，他对我们表示感谢的做法，说得最客气，也是很差劲的。

to sb.'s face　adv. phr. Directly to you; in your presence. 直率地；当着某人的面。◆ I called him a coward to his face. 我当面骂他是胆小鬼。

to scale　adv. phr. In the same proportions as in the true size; in the same shape, but not the same size.按比例。◆ He drew the map to scale, making one inch represent fifty miles. 他以1英寸代表50英里的比例绘制了这张地图。

to speak of　adj. phr., informal Important; worth talking about; worth noticing. — Usually used in negative sentences. 〖非正式〗重要的；值得一提的；值得注意的。——通常用于否定句。◆ Judy's injuries were nothing to speak of; just a few scratches. 朱迪的伤势没什么要紧，只是几处擦伤。

toss off　v. phr. 1. To drink rapidly; drain. 把…一饮而尽；喝光。◆ He tossed off two drinks and left. 他一口气喝完两杯饮料，然后就离开了。2. To make or say easily without trying or thinking hard. 轻而易举地做（或说）。◆ She tossed off smart remarks all during dinner. 整个晚宴期间她出口成章说了不少妙趣横生的话。

toss someone to the sharks　See见THROW ONE TO THE WOLVES.

totally awesome　adj. slang Very good; excellent; outstanding. Having originated as "valley girl talk" in California, this affectation has become as common as "cool."〖俚〗非常好的；极好的；绝妙的；杰出的。（原为加州“山谷少女语”，现已像“cool”一样常用。）◆ Have you seen Shakespeare in Love with Gwyneth Paltrow? It is totally awesome. 格温妮丝·帕特洛主演的《莎翁情史》你看过了吗？真是棒极了！

total terrorist　n. phr. since 9/11/01, slang A stern or harsh person, such as a teacher or a parent. 〖俚〗绝对的恐怖分子；严厉的人。◆ My Dad is a total terrorist! He insists on my doing my homework before he allows me to watch television. 我爸爸是个绝对的恐怖分子！他坚持要我先做作业，然后才让我看电视。

to that effect　adj. or adv. phr. With that meaning. 表示那个意思。◆ She said she hated spinach, or words to that effect. 她说她讨厌菠菜或表示那个意思的话。

to the best of sb.'s knowledge　As far as you know; to the extent of your knowledge. 就某人所知。◆ To the best of my knowledge she is a college graduate, but I may be mistaken. 就我所知，他是个大学毕业生，但我也可能错了。

to the bitter end　adv. phr. To the point of completion or conclusion. 直到最后；坚持到底。◆ They knew the war would be lost, but the men fought to the bitter end. 战士们知道这场战争将会输掉，但他们仍坚持战斗到底。

to the bone　adv., slang, informal Thoroughly, entirely, to the core, through all layers. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗彻骨；透骨；深入骨髓地；彻底地。◆ I am dreadfully tired; I've worked my fingers to the bone. 我累坏了；我一直在拼命干活，连手指的骨头都累得酸痛了。

to the contrary　adv. or adj. phr. With an opposite result or effect; just the opposite; in disagreement; saying the opposite. 相反地（的）；正好相反；不一致；说相反的话。◆ We will expect you for dinner unless we get word to the contrary. 我们将等你来吃晚饭，除非我们得到你不来的消息。

to the effect that　adj. phr. With the meaning or purpose; to say that. 大意是；意思是。◆ He made a speech to the effect that we would all keep our jobs even if the factory were sold. 他发表演说，大意是即使卖掉工厂我们大家仍会保住我们的工作。

to the eye　adv. phr. As it is seen; as a person or thing first seems; apparently. 看上去；从表面上看；初看上去。◆ That suit appears to the eye to be a good buy, but it may not be. 那套衣服看上去似乎物美价廉，其实不一定。

to the fore　adv. or adj. phr. Into leadership; out into notice or view; forward. 进入领导层；引人注目；进入显著地位；向前。◆ In the progress of the war some new leaders came to the fore. 在战争进行期间涌现出一些新的领导人。

to the full　adv. phr. Very much; fully. 非常；充分地。◆ We appreciated to the full the teacher's help. 我们非常感谢老师的帮助。

to the hilt or up to the hilt　adv. phr. To the limit; as far as possible; completely. 到最大限度；到极度；完全地。◆ The Smiths' house is mortgaged up to the hilt. 史密斯家的房子已完全抵押出去了。

to the letter　adv. phr. With nothing done wrong or left undone; exactly; precisely. 不折不扣地；精确地。◆ When writing a test you should follow the instructions to the letter. 参加考试时，你应该严格按照指示行事。

to the manner born　adj. phr. At ease with something because of lifelong familiarity with it. 从小就习惯；天生就适合。◆ She says her English is the best because she is to the manner born. 她说她的英语最好，因为她从小就习惯讲英语。

to the nth degree　adv. phr. To the greatest degree possible; extremely; very much so. 极度地；极端地；非常地。◆ His choice of words was exactly to the nth degree. 他对词的选用极为精确。

to the tune of　adv. phr., informal To the amount or extent of; in the amount of. 〖非正式〗达…之多；共计。◆ When she left the race track she had profited to the tune of ten dollars. 她离开赛马场时一共赢了10美元。

to the wall　adv. phr. Into a place from which there is no escape; into a trap or corner. — Used after drive or a similar word. 进入绝境；进入陷阱；走投无路。——通常与drive或类似的词连用。◆ John's failing the last test drove him to the wall. 约翰最后一次考试不及格使他陷入了绝境。

to this day　adv. phr. Up till the present; until now. 直到今天；直到现在。◆ Although I have traveled all over the world, to this day I can't think of a nicer place to be than Hawaii. 虽然我已游遍了全世界，但直到今天我还想不出一个比夏威夷更可爱的地方。

touch and go　adj. phr. Very dangerous or uncertain in situation.（形势）危急的；不确定的；一触即发的。◆ Our team won the game, all right, but it was touch and go for a while.我们队确实赢得了比赛，但曾有一度情况却很危险。

touch base with　v. phr. To confer or consult with someone. 与（某人）商谈；与（某人）交换意见。◆ Before we make a decision, I'd like to touch base with our financial department.在我们做出决定之前，我想先与我们的财务部门商议一下。

touch down　v. phr. (stress on down)（重读down）To alight; land on the ground. 降落；着陆。◆ Everyone felt relieved when the 747 jumbo jet finally touched down at Kennedy International Airport after a bumpy ride due to strong wind. 当那架747巨型喷气式飞机因强风而颠簸飞行了一阵后终于降落在肯尼迪国际机场时，每个人都松了一口气。

touchdown　n. phr. (stress on touch)（重读touch）A goal scored during the game of American football.（美式橄榄球比赛中的）攻方持球触地得分；达阵。◆ Yale won easily over Harvard at the annual Ivy League sports contest, by scoring several unexpected touchdowns. 在一年一度的常春藤联盟体育比赛中，耶鲁大学橄榄球队以几次意外的达阵轻松地战胜了哈佛大学队。

touch off　v. To start something as if by lighting a fuse. 使爆炸；燃放；引起。◆ The president's resignation touched off a national panic. 总统的辞职在全国引起一片惊慌。

touch on or touch upon　v. To speak of or write of briefly. 简略谈及；简略写到。◆ The speaker touched on several other subjects in the course of his talk. 演讲者在演讲过程中涉及到一些别的问题。

touch to the quick　v. phr. To hurt someone's feelings very deeply; offend. 触到某人的痛处；深深伤害某人的感情。◆ His remark about her lack of education touched her to the quick. 他说她缺乏教育，这话触到了她的痛处。

touchup　n. (stress on touch)（重读touch）1. A small repair; a small amount of paint. 小修小补；修饰；润色。◆ Just a small touchup here and there and your novel may be publishable. 只需在几处稍加修改，你的小说就可以出版了。2. Redoing the color of one's hair. 重新染发。◆ My roots are showing; I need a touchup. 我的发根又显出白来了；我需要重新染发了。

touch up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To paint over (small imperfections.) 涂饰；修饰；修补。◆ I want to touch up that scratch on the fender.我要把挡泥板上的油漆刮痕修补一下。2. To improve with small additions or changes. 修改；润色。◆ He touched up the photographic negative to make a sharper print. 他修整了照相底片，使印出的照片更为清晰。3. slang To talk into lending; wheedle from. 〖俚〗花言巧语说服（某人）借钱；用甜言蜜语骗取。◆ He touched George up for five bucks. 他用花言巧语从乔治那里借到了5美元。

tough act to follow　n. phr. A speech, performance, or activity of such superior quality that the person next in line feels and thinks that it would be very difficult to match it in quality. 难以匹敌的精彩演说（或表演、活动等）。◆ Sir Laurence Olivier's performance of Hamlet was a tough act to follow in every sense. 劳伦斯·奥利维尔爵士饰演的哈姆雷特不管从什么意义上都是难以匹敌的精彩表演。

tough as nails　adj. phr. To be extremely unyielding in one's opinion; to be stingy. 固执己见的；吝啬的。◆ "Could we get a loan from your uncle for the house?" Ted asked his wife Jean. "He is a millionaire, all right, but he is as tough as nails when it comes to finances. I'll see what I can do," she replied.“我们能向你叔父借笔钱买房吗？”泰德问妻子琼。“不错，他是个百万富翁，但涉及钱的事，他却吝啬得很。我看看我能做些什么吧，”她回答说。

tough cat　n., slang A man who is very individualistic and, as a result, highly successful with women. 〖俚〗因个性独特而讨女人喜欢的男人。◆ Joe is a real tough cat. 乔可是个很有个性极有女人缘的人。

tough cookie　n. phr. An extremely determined, hardheaded person, or someone with whom it is unusually difficult to deal. 意志坚定的精明人；难打交道的人。◆ Marjorie is a very pretty girl, but when it comes to business she sure is one tough cookie. 玛乔丽是个非常漂亮的姑娘，但做起生意来却是个难打交道的精明人。

tough it out　v. phr. To live through and endure a trying situation. 硬撑到底；熬过难关。◆ The tourists got lost in the desert without a compass, and they had to tough it out for three days on a single bottle of water. 那些旅游者没带指南针而在沙漠里迷了路，硬是只靠着一瓶水熬过了3天。

tough luck　n. phr. An informal way to say that one had that coming; it serves one right. 〖非正式〗运气不好；倒霉；活该。◆ So your date didn't show up, eh? Tough luck, fellow.这么说你的约会对象没露面，嗯？运气不好呀，老弟。

tower of strength　n. phr. Someone who is strong, helpful, and sympathetic, and can always be relied on in times of trouble.（危难时）可依靠的人，可依赖的人；中流砥柱。◆ John was a veritable tower of strength to our family while my father was in the war and my mother lay ill in the hospital. 在我父亲去打仗，母亲生病躺在医院期间，约翰成了我们家名副其实的中流砥柱。

town and gown　n. The residents of a college town and the students and teachers of the college. 大学城的居民和大学师生。◆ The senator made a speech attended by both town and gown. 出席参议员演讲会的既有镇上的居民也有大学里的师生。

toy with an or the idea　v. phr. To consider an idea or an offer periodically without coming to a decision.不太认真地考虑过某个（或这个）想法。◆ He was toying with the idea of accepting the company's offer of the vice presidency in Tokyo, but he was unable to decide. 公司提议他去东京担任副总裁，他在考虑是不是接受，但却一直不能决定。

track down　v. To find by or as if by following tracks or a trail. 跟踪找到；查到。◆ The hunters tracked down game in the forest. 猎人们在森林中跟踪找到了猎物。

trade in　v. To give something to a seller as part payment for another thing of greater value. 以（旧物）折价贴换同类新物。◆ The Browns traded their old car in on a new one. 布朗家以他们的旧车折价贴换了一辆新车。

trade-in　n. Something given as part payment on something better. 折价物。◆ The dealer took our old car as a trade-in. 汽车商同意我们用旧车折价贴换新车。

trade on　v. To use as a way of helping yourself. 利用。◆ The senator's son traded on his father's name when he ran for mayor. 参议员的儿子在竞选市长时利用了他父亲的名望。

trading stamp　n. One of the stamps that you get (as from a store or gas station) because you buy something there; a stamp you get with a purchase and save in special books until you have enough to take to a special store and trade for something you want.（商店、加油站等送给顾客用以换取商品等的）赠券。◆ Mother always buys things in stores where they give trading stamps. 母亲总是在附送赠券的商店里买东西。

travel light　v. phr. To travel with very little luggage or with very little to carry. 轻装旅行。◆ Plane passengers must travel light. 飞机乘客必须轻装旅行。

tread water　v. phr. To keep the head above water with the body in an upright position by moving the feet as if walking.（游泳时）踩水。◆ He kept afloat by treading water. 他不停地踩水，使身体不致下沉。

trial and error　n. A way of solving problems by trying different possible solutions until you find one that works. 尝试错误法（解决问题的一种方法，即尝试各种不同的办法直到发现有效的那个办法）；反复试验。◆ John found the short circuit by trial and error. 约翰经过反复试验终于找到了短路。

trial balloon　n. A hint about a plan of action that is given out to find out what people will say. 为试探人们的反应所放出的风声，试探气球。◆ John mentioned the presidency to Bill as a trial balloon to see if Bill might be interested in running. 约翰向比尔提到主席一职以试探他是否有兴趣参与竞选。

trick of the trade　n. phr., usually in plural, informal〖非正式〗1. A piece of expert knowledge; a smart, quick, or skillful way of working at a trade or job. 干某一行的诀窍。◆ Mr. Olson spent years learning the tricks of the trade as a carpenter. 奥尔森先生花了数年时间才学会了做木匠的诀窍。2. A smart and sometimes tricky or dishonest way of doing something in order to succeed or win. 投机取巧的手段。◆ The champion knows all the tricks of the boxing trade; he knows many ways to hurt his opponent and to get him mixed up. 那位冠军谙熟拳击比赛中各种投机取胜的伎俩；他知道很多伤害对手、迷惑对手的招数。

trick or treat　n. The custom of going from house to house on Halloween asking for small gifts and playing tricks on people who refuse to give.不给糖果就捣蛋（万圣节前夕孩子们挨家挨户要糖果等礼物，如不遂愿便恶作剧一番的习俗）。◆ When Mrs. Jones answered the doorbell, the children yelled "Trick or treat." Mrs. Jones gave them all some candy. 琼斯太太应铃声去开门时，孩子们高声喊着“不给糖果就捣蛋。”于是，琼斯太太便给了他们每个人一些糖果。

triple threat　n. A football player who is able to pass, kick, and run all very well（能传、能踢、能跑的）橄榄球全能运动员。◆ The triple threat halfback was the star of the team. 那位能传、能踢、能跑的全能型前卫是队里的明星。

tripped out　adj., slang, informal Incoherent, confused, faulty of speech, illogical; as if under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗语无伦次的；前言不搭后语的；说话颠三倒四的；不合逻辑的。◆ It was hard to make sense of anything Fred said yesterday, he sounded so tripped out. 弗雷德昨天说的话让人摸不着头脑，他前言不搭后语，颠三倒四的。

trip up　v. 1. To make (someone) unsteady on the feet; cause to miss a step, stumble, or fall. 使（某人）站不稳；使绊倒；使摔倒。◆ A root tripped Billy up while he was running in the woods, and he fell and hurt his ankle. 比利在树林里奔跑时，被树根绊了一下摔倒，扭伤了脚踝。2. To cause (someone) to make a mistake. 使（某人）犯错误。◆ The teacher asked tricky questions in the test to trip up students who were not alert. 老师在测验时出了一些诱人上当的题目，让那些不注意的学生出差错。

trot out　v. phr. To bring out for inspection; display. 把…拿出来给人看；展示；炫耀。◆ Don't mention compact disks to Joe, or he'll trot out his entire collection and we'll be stuck here all night. 不要跟乔提激光唱片的事，不然他准会把他全部的收藏拿出来炫耀，让我们整个晚上都脱不了身。

true to one's colors　adj. phr. Loyal to an aim, a cause, goal, or ambition. 忠于自己的目标（或事业、抱负等）。◆ The soldiers of George Washington were true to their colors in the American War of Independence against the British. 在抗击英国人的美国独立战争中，乔治·华盛顿的士兵们都忠于他们的事业。

trump card　n. Something kept back to be used to win success if nothing else works. 王牌；最后的有效手段。◆ Mary had several ways to get Joan to come to her party. Her trump card was that the football captain would be there. 玛丽有好几种办法可以让琼来参加她的聚会。她的王牌则是橄榄球队队长会来参加。

trump up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）To make up (something untrue); invent in the mind. 编造，捏造。◆ Every time Tom is late getting home he trumps up some new excuse. 汤姆每次晚回家都会编个新借口。◆ The Russians were afraid he was a spy, so they arrested him on a trumped-up charge and made him leave the country. 俄国人担心他是间谍，于是便捏造了一个罪名将其拘捕并把他驱逐出境。

try on　v. To put (clothing) on to see if it fits. 试穿。◆ The clerk told him to try the coat on. 店员叫他试穿那件上衣。

try one's hand　v. phr. To make an inexperienced attempt (at something unfamiliar.) 尝试；试做。◆ I thought I would try my hand at bowling, although I had never bowled before. 虽然我从来没有打过保龄球，我想我会尝试一下的。

try one's wings　v. phr. To try out a recently acquired ability. 试一下刚获得的能力；施展才能。◆ Marjorie just had her twelfth French lesson and wants to try her wings by speaking with our visitors from Paris. 玛乔丽刚学完12课法语就想跟我们的巴黎来客交谈以试一下自己的能力。

tryout　n. (stress on try)（重读try）An audience at a theater or opera for would-be actors and singers.（剧院、歌剧院选拔演员的）选拔表演。◆ The Civic Opera is holding tryouts throughout all of next week. Maybe I'll go and see if I can sing in the chorus. 人民歌剧院整个下星期将举行选拔表演。也许我会去看看自己能否在合唱队里演唱。

try out　v. phr. (stress on out)（重读out）1. To test by trial or by experimenting. 试；试用；试验；考验。◆ The scientists tried out thousands of chemicals before they found the right one. 科学家们试验了几千种化学品才找到了合适的那一种。2. To try for a place on a team or in a group. 参加选拔。◆ Shirley will try out for the lead in the play. 雪莉将参加剧中主角的选拔表演。

try sb.'s patience　v. phr. To irritate someone; annoy someone; cause someone to become impatient. 激怒某人；惹恼某人；使某人忍无可忍。◆ little Tommy's constant bombarding me with "why?" "why?" "why?" and more "whys," really tried my patience. 小汤米连续不断地问我“为什么？”“为什么？”真的让我不胜其烦。◆ The constant construction noise in our high-rise apartment building is trying the patience of all the tenants. 在我们高层公寓楼内持续不断的建筑噪声令所有的房客忍无可忍。

tuck in　v. phr. To place the covers carefully around the person (usually a child) in bed. 给（孩子等）盖好被子使其安睡。◆ When I was a child, my mother used to tuck me into bed every night. 我小的时候每晚总是母亲给我在床上盖好被子让我安睡。

tug-of-war　n. 1. A game in which two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, trying to pull the other team over a line marked on the ground. 拔河比赛。◆ The tug-of-war ended when both teams tumbled in a heap.拔河比赛结束了，双方队员都跌成一堆。2. A contest in which two sides try to defeat each other; struggle. 激烈的争夺；斗争。◆ The tug of war between the union men and management ended in a long strike. 工会与资方之间的斗争最终导致了长期罢工。

tune in　To adjust a radio or television set to pick up a certain station. 对（收音机、电视机等）作调谐；收听；收看。◆ Tom tuned in to Channel 11 to hear the news. 汤姆调到11频道收听新闻。

tune out　v. phr. To not listen to something. 不听；不理。◆ "How can you work in such a noisy environment?" Jane asked Sue. "Well, I simply tune it out," she answered.“在这样嘈杂的环境里你怎么能工作呢？”简问苏。“这个，我干脆不理它就是了，”她回答说。

tune up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1a. To adjust (a musical instrument) to make the right sound. 为（乐器）调音。◆ Before he began to play, Harry tuned up his banjo. 开始演奏前，哈里为他的班卓琴调好音。1b. To adjust a musical instrument or a group of musical instruments to the right sound. 调音。◆ The orchestra came in and began to tune up for the concert. 管弦乐队上场后开始调音准备演奏。2. To adjust many parts of (car engine) which must work together so that it will run properly. 调整，调节（机器等）。◆ He took his car to the garage to have the engine tuned up. 他把汽车开至汽修厂，把发动机检修调试一下。

tune-up　n. (stress on tune)（重读tune）1. The adjusting or fixing of something (as a motor) to make it work safely and well.（机器等的）调整，调节。◆ Father says the car needs a tune-up before winter begins. 父亲说汽车需要在入冬前调试一下。2. Exercise or practicing for the purpose of getting ready; a trial before something. 准备活动；热身练习。◆ The team went to the practice field for their last tune-up before the game tomorrow. 球队去训练场作明天比赛前的最后一次训练。

turn a blind eye　v. phr. To pretend not to see; not pay attention. 假装没看见；不理睬。◆ The corrupt police chief turned a blind eye to the open gambling in the town. 那个贪赃枉法的警长对镇上公开的聚赌熟视无睹。

turn a cold shoulder　See见COLD SHOULDER.

turn a deaf ear to　v. phr. To pretend not to hear; refuse to hear; not pay attention. 假装没听见；不愿听；不理睬。◆ The teacher turned a deaf ear to Bob's excuse. 老师不愿听鲍勃的借口。

turn a hand　v. phr. To do anything to help. — Usually used in the negative. 帮助。——通常用于否定式。◆ When we were all hurrying to get the house ready for company, Mary sat reading and wouldn't turn a hand. 当我们都在为聚会忙着布置房子时，玛丽却坐在那里看书，不肯帮忙。

turn an honest penny　v. phr. To realize a good profit. 用正当手段挣钱；老老实实赚钱。◆ Tom turned an honest penny in the soybean trading business. 汤姆做大豆贸易，老老实实赚钱。

turn away　v. phr. To bar someone from entering a place. 不准（某人）入内；把（某人）拒之门外。◆ A huge number of people were turned away from Orchestra Hall because all tickets had been sold out. 因所有的票都已售完，大批的人在音乐厅被拒之门外。

turncoat　n. prh. A treacherous person, who abandons one party, faith, or cause for another the moment the former side loses. 变节者，叛徒。◆ Many former Nazi Party members sought refuge in the Communist Party in East Germany and elsewhere; these were the turncoats of the postWorld War II era. 许多原纳粹党党员在东德和其他地方的共产党内寻求庇护。这些人是第二次世界大战战后时期的变节者。

turn color　v. phr. To become a different color. 变色。◆ In the fall the leaves turn color. 树叶在秋天变色。

turn down　v. 1. To reduce the loudness, brightness, or force of. 关小；调低。◆ The theater lights were turned down. 剧院里的灯光调暗了。2. To refuse to accept; reject. 拒绝；驳回。◆ His request for a raise was turned down. 他加薪的要求被驳回了。

turn for the worse　See见FOR THE WORSE.

turn in　v. 1. or hand in To give to someone; deliver to someone. 交，上交；送交。◆ I want you to turn in a good history paper. 我希望你交一篇像样的历史论文。2. To inform on; report. 检举；告发。◆ She turned them in to the police for breaking the street light. 她向警方告发，说他们弄坏了路灯。3. To give in return for something. 调换；折价贴换。◆ We turned our car in on a new model. 我们将旧车贴换了一辆新型号的车。4. informal To go to bed. 〖非正式〗上床睡觉。◆ We were tired, so we turned in about nine o'clock. 我们累了，所以9点钟左右就上床睡了。

turn in one's grave or turn over in one's grave　v. phr. To be so grieved or angry that you would not rest quietly in your grave. 九泉之下不得安宁；死不瞑目。◆ If your grandfather could see what you're doing now, he would turn over in his grave. 如果你祖父看到你现在的所作所为，他在九泉之下也不会安宁的。

turn it up a notch　See见STEP UP. 3.

turn off　v. (stress on off)（重读Off）1. To stop by turning a knob or handie or by working a switch; to cause to be off. 关掉，关上，关断。◆ He turned the water Off. 他把自来水关了。2. To leave by turning right or left onto another way. 转弯离开；拐入另一条路。◆ Turn off the highway at exit 5. 在5号出口处转弯离开高速公路。3. To disgust, bore, or repel (someone) by being intellectually, emotionally, socially, or sexually unattractive. 〖俚〗使（某人）厌恶，使厌烦，使反感。◆ I won't date Linda Bell anymore — she just turns me off. 我不会再跟琳达·贝尔约会了——她令我厌恶。

turn of the screw　n. phr. An unexpected and sudden turn of events, affecting the fates of the participants.意想不到的事态变化。◆ It was quite a turn of the screw when it was found out that the murder victim faked his own death to be able to collect on his life insurance. 当人们发现被杀害者原来是自己装死以骗取人寿保险费时，案情突然发生了逆转。

turn of the tide　n. phr. from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar A change in fortunes of war, politics, etc. 战局、政局等的转变（源出莎士比亚的《尤利乌斯·恺撒》）。◆ The Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes toward the end of World War II was a decisive turn of the tide in the favor of the Allies against Nazi Germany. 第二次世界大战后期，在阿登地区的楔入战役是一次有利于盟国战胜纳粹德国的决定性的战局转变。

turn on　v. 1. To start by turning a knob or handle or working a switch; cause to be on. 打开，拧开。◆ Who turned the lights on? 这些灯是谁打开的？2. informal To put forth or succeed with as easily as turning on water. 〖非正式〗施展，发挥；突然显出。◆ She really turns on the charm when that new boy is around. 当那个新来的小伙子在场时，她确实显得很有魅力。3. To attack. 攻击。◆ The lion tamer was afraid the lions would turn on him. 驯狮员担心狮子会攻击他。4. slang The opposite of turning someone off; to become greatly interested in an idea, person, or undertaking; to arouse the senses pleasantly. 〖俚〗（使）兴奋；（使）产生浓厚兴趣；（使）变得欣快。◆ Mozart's music always turns me on. 莫扎特的音乐总能使我身心愉快。5. Introducing someone to a new experience, or set of values. 给（某人）介绍一种新体验；使（某人）了解新的价值观。◆ Syd turned me on to transcendental meditation, and ever since I've been feeling great! 自西德介绍我练习超脱静坐以来，我感觉好极了！

turn on a dime　v. phr. To be able to turn in a very narrow spot comparable to a small coin. 在极小的地方转弯。◆ This new sports car can turn on a dime. 这种新的跑车能在极小的地方转弯。

turn one's back on　v. phr. To refuse to help (someone in trouble or need.) 拒绝帮助。◆ He turned his back on his own family when they needed help. 当他自己的家人需要帮助时，他却不予理睬。

turn one's nose up at　v. phr. To scorn; snub; look down at somebody or something. 对…嗤之以鼻；蔑视；冷落；轻视。◆ I don't understand why Sue has to turn her nose up at everyone who didn't go to an Ivy League college. 我不理解为什么对没读过常春藤联合会名牌大学的人苏就一概瞧不起。

turn on one's heel　v. phr. To turn around suddenly. 突然转身；转身离去。◆ When John saw Fred approaching him, he turned on his heel. 约翰看见弗雷德向他走近时，突然转身走开了。

turnout　n. (stress on turn)（重读turn）The number of people in attendance at a gathering. 参加聚会的人数。◆ This is a terrific turnout for Tim's poetry reading. 参加蒂姆诗歌朗诵会的人极多。

turn out　v. (stress on out)（重读out）1. To make leave or go away.使离开；赶走。◆ His father turned him out of the house. 他父亲把他逐出了家门。2. To turn inside out; empty. 翻出；倒空。◆ He turned out his pockets looking for the money. 他把口袋都翻出来找钱。3. To make; produce. 制造；生产。◆ The printing press turns out a thousand books an hour. 这台印刷机每小时能印1000册书。4. informal To get out of bed. 〖非正式〗起床。◆ At camp the boys had to turn out early and go to bed early too. 野营时男孩子们必须早睡早起。5. informal To come or go out to see or do something. 〖非正式〗出来，出去；出动。◆ Everybody turned out for the big parade. 每个人都出来观看大游行。6. To prove to be; be in the end; be found to be. 证明是；结果是；原来是。◆ The noise turned out to be just the dog scratching at the door. 那声音原来是狗在用爪子抓门。7. To make (a light) go out. 关（灯）。◆ Please turn out the lights.请把灯关掉。

turnover　n. (stress on turn)（重读turn）1. The proportion of expenditure and income realized in a business; the volume of traffic in a business. 营业额；成交量。◆ Our turnover is so great that in two short years we tripled our original investment and are expanding at a great rate. 我们的营业额非常大，短短两年我们就把原来的投资增至3倍，现仍在快速增长。2. Triangular baked pastry filled with some fruit. 三角形水果酥饼。◆ John's favorite dessert is apple turnovers. 约翰最喜欢吃的甜食是苹果酥饼。3. The number of employees coming and going in a company. 人员更替数。◆ The boss is so strict in our office that the turnover in personnel is very large. 我们事务所的老板非常严厉，所以人员经常大更替。

turn over　v. (stress on over)（重读over）1. To roll, tip, or turn from one side to the other; overturn; upset.（把…）翻过来；（使）翻倒；（使）翻滚；（使）翻身；（使）倾覆。◆ The bike hit a rock and turned over. 自行车撞上一块石头翻倒了。2. To think about carefully; to consider. 仔细考虑。◆ He turned the problem over in his mind for three days before he did anything about it. 他把这个问题仔细考虑了3天才有所行动。3. To give to someone for use or care. 交；移交；交托。◆ I turned my library books over to the librarian. 我把图书馆的书交还给管理员。4. Of an engine or motor; to start.（使）（引擎或马达）转动；启动；发动。◆ The battery is dead and the motor won't turn over. 蓄电池没电了，电动机发动不起来。5a. To buy and then sell to customers. 买进随后卖出；经销。◆ The store turned over $5,000 worth of skiing equipment in January. 这家商店1月份经销了价值5000美元的滑雪器材。5b. To be bought in large enough amounts; sell. 大量卖出；卖出。◆ In a shoe store, shoes of medium width turn over quickly, because many people wear that size. 鞋店里中号宽度的鞋卖得很快，因为很多人都穿这个尺码的鞋。

turn over a new leaf　v. phr. To start afresh; to have a new beginning. 重新开始；改过自新；从头开始。◆ "Don't be sad, Jane," Sue said. "A divorce is not the end of the world. Just turn over a new leaf and you will soon be happy again."“不要伤心，简，”苏说。“离婚并不是世界末日。重新开始，很快你又会幸福的。”

turn over in one's grave　See见TURN IN ONE'S GRAVE.

turn over in one's mind　v. phr. To carefully consider. 仔细考虑。◆ I will have to turn it over in my mind whether to accept the new job offer from Japan. 我必须仔细考虑是否接受日本提供的这份新工作。

turn sb.'s head　v. phr., informal To make you lose your good judgment. 〖非正式〗使某人晕头转向，使某人神魂颠倒。◆ The first pretty girl he saw turned his head. 他看到的第一位漂亮姑娘就让他神魂颠倒了。

turn sb.'s stomach　v. phr., informal To make you feel sick. 〖非正式〗使某人翻胃；使某人恶心。◆ The smell of that cigar was enough to turn your stomach. 那种雪茄的气味足以令人翻胃。

turn tail　v. phr., informal To run away from trouble or danger. 〖非正式〗（遇到麻烦或危险）转身逃跑。◆ When the bully saw my big brother, he turned tail and ran. 那恶汉一看到我哥哥就转身逃掉了。

turn the clock back　v. phr. To return to an earlier period. 使时光倒流；回到从前。◆ Mother wished she could turn the clock back to the days before the children grew up and left home. 母亲希望她能使时光倒流，回到孩子们长大离家以前的日子。

turn the corner　v. phr. To pass an important juncture in a complicated, difficult, or dangerous situation, such as war or serious illness, with improvement in sight. 渡过难关；转危为安；脱离危险。◆ "We have turned the corner on Mr. Smith's condition," the heart transplant surgeon said with a happy smile. "He is off the 'dangerous' list and is now in 'serious condition' only."“在史密斯先生的病情上我们已经渡过难关，”心脏移植外科医生带着幸福的微笑说。“他已被从‘病危的’名单上划去，现在只是在‘病情严重的’名单上。”

turn the other cheek　v. phr. To let someone do something to you and not to do it in return; not hit back when hit; be patient when injured or insulted by someone; not try to get even.（挨打后）把另一边脸凑上去让人打；被打后不回击；甘受侮辱；不报复。◆ Joe turned the other cheek when he was hit with a snowball. 乔被人用雪球击中时，竟还准备再挨一下。

turn the scales　v. phr. To affect the balance in favor of one party or group against the other. 起决定性作用；使占优势；扭转局面（使之有利于某一方）。◆ It could well be that the speech he made turned the scales in their favor. 很可能是他的演说使形势转为对他们有利的。

turn the tables　v. phr. To make something happen just the opposite of how it is supposed to happen. 扭转局面（使之不利于某人）。◆ The boys turned the tables on John when they took his squirt gun away and squirted him. 约翰本想用玩具水枪喷那些男孩，却被他们夺过水枪反过来喷他。

turn the tide　v. phr. To change what looks like defeat into victory. 扭转潮流；扭转局面；反败为胜。◆ We were losing the game until Jack got there. His coming turned the tide for us, and we won. 杰克到达那儿之前，我们正节节败退。他的到来使形势急转直下，我们胜了。

turn the trick　v. phr., informal To bring about the result you want; succeed in what you plan to do. 〖非正式〗如愿以偿；取得成功。◆ Jerry wanted to win both the swimming and diving contests, but he couldn't quite turn the trick. 杰里想在游泳比赛和跳水比赛中同时获胜，但未能如愿以偿。

turn thumbs down　v. phr. To disapprove or reject; say no. 不赞成，不同意；拒绝。◆ The company turned thumbs down on Mr. Smith's sales plan. 公司否决了史密斯先生的销售计划。

turn turtle　v. phr. To turn upside down. 倾覆；翻身。◆ The car skidded on the ice and turned turtle. 汽车在冰上打滑，翻了个底朝天。

turn up　v. 1. To find; discover. 找到；发现。◆ The police searched the house hoping to turn up more clues.警察搜查了房子，希望发现更多的线索。2. To appear or be found suddenly or unexpectedly. 突然出现；无意中被发现。◆ The missing boy turned up an hour later. 失踪的男孩一小时后被无意中发现了。

turn up like a bad penny　v. phr. To keep coming back; periodically recur. 反复出现；一再出现。◆ The man, who claims that he is a homeless veteran, actually owns two cars and a home; he makes more in a month than a fully employed teacher. Wherever we look, he keeps turning up like a bad penny. 那人声称自己是个无家可归的退伍军人，其实却拥有两辆汽车和一个家。他每月挣的钱比一位全职教师还多。不管我们朝哪里看，他都会一再出现。

turn up one's nose at　v. phr. To refuse as not being good enough for you. 对…嗤之以鼻；看不起；轻视。◆ He thinks he should only get steak, and he turns up his nose at hamburger. 他认为自己只该吃牛排，所以对汉堡包便不屑一顾。

turn up one's toes　v. phr., slang To die. 〖俚〗死；翘辫子。◆ One morning the children found that their pet mouse had turned up his toes, so they had a funeral for him. 一天早晨，孩子们发现他们的宠物鼠死了，于是便为它举行了葬礼。

twiddle one's thumbs　v. phr. To do nothing; be idle. 无所事事；懒散。◆ I'd rather work than stand around here twiddling my thumbs. 我宁愿工作而不愿站在这儿无所事事。

twist sb.'s arm　v. phr., informal To force someone; threaten someone to make him do something. 〖非正式〗强迫某人；胁迫某人做某事。◆ I had to twist Tom's arm to make him accept our dinner invitation. 我只好强迫汤姆接受我们的宴请了！

twist someone around one's little finger also turn someone around one's little finger or wrap someone around one's finger　v. phr. To have complete control over; to be able to make (someone) do anything you want. 完全控制某人；任意摆布某人。◆ Sue can twist any of the boys around her little finger. 苏能任意摆布这些男孩中的任何一个。

two bits　n., slang Twenty-five cents; a quarter of a dollar. 〖俚〗25美分，两毛五。◆ A haircut only cost two bits when Grandfather was young. 祖父年轻的时候，理一次发只需要两毛五。

two-by-four　n. phr. A wood post measuring 2×4 inches cut to order in length, commonly used in frame house constructions to prop up the wall. 截面为2英寸×4英寸的木板。◆ When Tim noticed the burglar in his backyard, he hit him on the head with a two-by-four. 当蒂姆发现后院里的窃贼时，他抡起一块木板击中了他的头。

two cents　n. informal〖非正式〗1. Something not important or very small; almost nothing. 微不足道的小事；微不足道的人。◆ When John saw that the girl he was scolding was lame, he felt like two cents. 当约翰看到他所责骂的女孩是个跛子时，他感到很羞愧。2. or two cents worth Something you want to say; opinion. — Used with a possessive. 要说的话；意见。——与物主代词连用。◆ If we want your two cents, we'll ask for it.如果我们要听你的意见，我们会问你的。

two-faced　adj. Insincere; disloyal; deceitful. 两面派的；虚伪的；不忠实的；骗人的。◆ Don't confide too much in him as he has the reputation of being two-faced. 不要太信赖他，他是个有名的两面派。

Two's company; three's a crowd　An informal way to express a situation when two people desire privacy and a third one is present. — A proverb. 〖谚〗两人结伴，三人不欢。◆ Beth and Carl wanted to be alone so when Maggie joined them they said, "Two's company; three's a crowd."贝思和卡尔想单独在一起，所以当玛吉加入时，他们便说：“两人结伴，三人不欢。”

two strikes against one　n. phr. Two opportunities wasted in some undertaking, so that only one chance is left.（源自棒球比赛）两击不中仅剩一次机会；处于非常不利的地位；成功的机会不大。◆ Poor John has two strikes against him when it comes to his love for Frances: first, he is too fat, and, second, he is bald. 说到对弗朗西丝的爱，可怜的约翰处于非常不利的地位：第一，他太胖；第二，他是个秃头。

two-time　v., slang To go out with a second boy or girlfriend and keep it a secret from the first. 〖俚〗瞒着（第一个男友或女友）与另一个女友或男友约会。◆ Joan was two-timing Jim with Fred. 琼瞒着男友吉姆和弗雷德约会。◆ Mary cried when she found that Joe was two-timing her. 当玛丽发现她的男朋友瞒着她和另一个女孩约会时，她哭了。

◆U◆

U. F. O.　n. phr. Unidentified Flying Object. 不明飞行物；飞碟。◆ Some people think that the U. F. O. s are extraterrestrial beings of higher than human development who pay periodic visits to Earth to warn us of our self-destructive tendencies. 有些人认为，不明飞行物是一些进化程度高于人类的外星人，他们定期访问地球，就我们的自毁倾向向我们提出警告。

ugly duckling　n. An ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive. 丑小鸭；小时难看长大后才貌出众的人。◆ Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grew up. 玛丽曾是家中的丑小鸭，长大后却出落得亭亭玉立。

uh-huh or um-hum　adv., informal Yes. — Used only in speech or when recording dialogue. 〖非正式〗（表示同意等）嗯嗯；是的。——仅用于谈话或记录对话时。◆ When I asked for an appointment, the nurse said, "Um-hum, I have an opening at four o'clock on Friday." 当我要求预约就诊时，护士说：“好的，我们星期五下午4点还有个名额。”

Uncle Sam　n. phr. The nickname of the United States of America. 山姆大叔（美国的戏称）。◆ "Uncle Sam wants you!" is a common poster, encouraging young men and women to join the U. S. armed forces.“山姆大叔需要你！”是一种常见的海报，意在鼓励年轻人加入美国武装部队。◆ "I work for Uncle Sam," said John, "so every time I move, the government moves my entire household from one country to the next. I am in the diplomatic service, you see."“我是为山姆大叔工作的，”约翰说，“所以每次调动，政府都把我全家从一个国家迁至另一个国家。要知道，我是在外交部门供职的。”

under a cloud　adj. phr. 1. Under suspicion; not trusted. 被怀疑；不被信任。◆ The butcher is under a cloud because the inspectors found his scales were not honest. 人们不再相信那个肉店老板，因为检查人员发现他的秤短斤缺两。2. Depressed, sad, discouraged. 抑郁；悲伤；沮丧。◆ Joe has been under a cloud since his dog died. 自从乔的狗死后，他一直很伤心。

under age　adj. phr. Too young; not old enough; below legal age. 年龄太小的；未到适当年龄的；未到法定年龄的。◆ He could not enlist in the army because he was under age. 他年龄太小，不能参军。

under arrest　adj. phr. Held by the police. 被捕的；在押的。◆ The three boys were seen breaking into the school building and soon found themselves under arrest. 那3个男孩闯入校舍时被人看见，不久就被捕了。

under construction　adv. phr. In the process of being built or repaired. 在建造中，在建设中。◆ It is a good idea to take the train to work while the expressway is under construction. 高速公路在建期间，乘火车去上班不失为一个好主意。

under cover　adv. or adj. phr. Hidden; concealed. 隐藏；隐蔽。◆ The prisoners escaped under cover of darkness. 囚犯们在夜幕的掩护下逃走了。

under fire　adv. phr. Being shot at or being attacked; hit by attacks or accusations; under attack. 遭到炮火袭击；受到攻击（或指责）。◆ The principal was under fire for not sending the boys home who stole the car. 校长因没有开除那几个偷汽车的男生而受到指责。

under lock and key　adv. phr. Secured; locked up; well protected. 妥善保存着；锁起来；安全锁藏着。◆ Dad keeps all his valuables under lock and key. 爸爸把他的贵重物品统统锁了起来。

under one's belt　adv. phr., informal 〖非正式〗1. In your stomach; eaten; or absorbed. 吃进肚子里；吃掉；吸收。◆ Jones is talkative when he has a few drinks under his belt. 几杯酒下肚后，琼斯话就多了 。2. In your experience, memory or possession; learned or gotten successfully; gained by effort and skill. 被自己经历过（或记住、掌握）；成功学会（或取得）；通过努力取得。◆ Jim has to get a lot of algebra under his belt before the examination. 考试之前，吉姆必须努力学习很多代数。

under one's breath　adv. phr. In a whisper; with a low voice. 悄悄地；低声地。◆ The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud. 老师听到那个男孩低声说了些什么，就让他大声重复一遍。

under one's own steam　adv. phr., informal By one's own efforts; without help. 〖非正式〗靠自己的努力；无人帮助地。◆ We didn't think he could do it, but Bobby finished his homework under his own steam. 我们本以为鲍比做不到的，但他却独立完成了作业。

under orders　adv. phr. Not out of one's own desire or one's own free will; obligatorily; not freely. 奉命；非自愿地。◆ "So you were a Nazi prison guard?" the judge asked. "Yes, your Honor," the man answered, "but I was acting under orders and not because I wished to harm anyone."“这么说你做过纳粹的监狱看守啰？”法官问。“是的，法官大人，”那人回答说，“不过我当时是奉命行事，并非因为我自己想要伤害任何人。”

under protest　adv. phr. Against one's wish; unwillingly. 违背自己意愿地；不情愿地。◆ "I'll go with you all right," she said to the kidnapper, "but I want it clearly understood that I do so under protest."“我可以跟你走，”她对绑架者说，“但有一点你要清楚：我这样做是被迫的。”

under sb.'s heel　adv. phr. In sb.'s power or control. 在某人的控制下。◆ If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce. 如果婚姻的一方总想置对方于自己的控制之下，这就不是一种幸福的或民主的安排，且有可能导致离婚。

under sb.'s nose or under the nose of　adv. phr., informal In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place. 〖非正式〗就在某人眼皮底下；当着某人的面；就在某人面前。◆ The thief walked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose of the guards. 小偷就在警卫人员的眼皮底下拿着那幅画走出了博物馆。

under sb.'s spell　adv. phr. Unable to resist one's influence. 在某人的魔力之下；被某人所迷住。◆ From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy's spell. 从两人相见的第一刻起，彼得就被南希迷住了。

under sb.'s thumb or under the thumb　adj. or adv. phr. Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power. 顺从某人；在某人的控制下；受某人支配。◆ The mayor is so popular that he has the whole town under his thumb. 镇长深得人心，全镇的人都听他的。

under Sb.'s wing　adv. phr. Under the care or protection of. 在某人的照顾（或保护）下。◆ The boys stopped teasing the new student when Bill took him under his wing. 新生得到比尔的保护后，男孩子们就不再取笑他了。

under the circumstances　adv. phr. In the existing situation; in the present condition; as things are. 在这种情况下。◆ Under the circumstances, the pedestrian had to give the robbers his money. 在这种情况下，那个行人只得把钱交给那些强盗。

under the counter　adv. phr., informal Secretly (bought or sold). 〖非正式〗（买卖等）私下地；偷偷地。◆ The liquor dealer was arrested for selling beer under the counter to teenagers.那位酒商因私下向未成年人出售啤酒而被捕。◆ During World War II, some stores kept scarce things hidden for under-the-counter-sales to good customers. 第二次世界大战期间，一些商店将一些紧缺商品藏起来，只偷偷地卖给一些可靠的顾客。

under the gun　adv, phr. In a precarious position; under extraordinary pressure. 处境岌岌可危；面对威胁；面临巨大压力。◆ John feels really exhausted these days; he has been under the gun at his workplace for weeks now, due to the new director's unreasonable demands on his time and energy. 目前，约翰真的感到精疲力竭了；在他工作的地方，他已有几个星期处在巨大的压力之下，因为新主任对他提出的不合理要求花费了他过多的时间和精力。

under the hammer　adv. phr. Up for sale at auction被拍卖。◆ The picture I wanted to bid on came under the hammer soon after I arrived. 我想出价竞买的那幅画在我到场不久后就被拍卖掉了。

under the sun　adj. or adv. phr. On earth; in the world. — Used for emphasis. 天下，世界上；到底，究竟。——用以加强语气。◆ The president's assassination shocked everyone under the sun. 总统遇刺的消息震惊了全世界。

under the weather　adv. phr. In bad health or low spirits. 身体不适；精神不佳。◆ Mary called in today asking for a sick day as she is under the weather. 玛丽今天打电话来请病假一天，因为她身体不舒服。

under the wire　adv. phr. With a narrow time limit; in the last minute. 在最后期限之前；在最后一分钟。◆ The journalist's new lead article on Russia was due in press at 5 P. M., and he got it in at 4:57, just under the wire. 那位记者关于俄国的那篇新的重要报道定在下午5点排印，他发稿进来是4点57分，刚好赶在截止时间之前。

underway　adv. phr. In progress; in motion. 在进行中；在运转。◆ The yearly fund-raising campaign for the renovation of our university campus is already underway. 每年一度为整修我们大学校园募集资金的运动已在进行。

under wraps　adv. or adj. phr. Not allowed to be seen until the right time; not allowed to act or speak freely; in secrecy; hidden. 不到时候不公开；受限制；保密；被隐藏。◆ What the President is planning will be kept under wraps until tomorrow.总统的计划要到明天才会公布于众。

unknown quantity　n. Someone or something whose value and importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or place; a new and untested person or thing. 未知数；难以预测的人（或事）；尚待证实的人（或事）◆ What we would find if we could fly to Mars is an unknown quantity. 如果我们能飞到火星上去，我们会在那里发现什么尚不得而知。

until all hours　adv. phr. Until very late at night. 直到深更半夜。◆ He is so anxious to pass his exams with flying colors that he stays up studying until all hours. 他非常渴望以优异的成绩通过考试，所以经常熬夜学习直到深更半夜。

until hell freezes over　adv. phr., slang Forever, for an eternity. 〖俚〗永远。◆ He can argue until hell freezes over; nobody will believe him. 他可以永远不停地争论下去，但没有人会相信他。

untimely end　n. phr. Premature death. 夭折，过早去世。◆ Many a young American soldier came to an untimely end during both world wars. 在两次世界大战中，许多年轻的美国士兵都过早地去世了。

unwritten law　n. phr. Common rules of decency; common sense and right reason, which are not codified in writing. 不成文法。◆ When a house is on fire, one first rescues the children and the helpless, according to the unwritten law. 根据不成文法，房子着火时，应首先救孩子和无自理能力者。

up against　prep. phr. Blocked or threatened by. 面临（阻碍或威胁）。◆ When she applied to medical school, the black woman wondered whether she was up against barriers of sex and race prejudice. 当那位黑人妇女向医学院提出申请时，她不知道自己是否面临性别歧视和种族偏见的障碍。

up against it　adj. phr., informal Faced with a great difficulty or problem; badly in need. 〖非正式〗面临极大困难（或问题）的；经济拮据的。◆ You will be up against it if you don't pass the test. You will probably fail arithmetic. 这次测验你如果通不过，你的麻烦就大了。你的算术很可能不及格。

up and about or around　adv. phr. Recovered and able to move about; once again in good health after an illness.（病后）能起床走动的。◆ My sister was ill for several weeks, but is now up and about again. 我姐姐病了好几个星期，现在又能起床走动了。

up and at them　1. adv. phr. Actively engaged in a task as if doing combat. 干活积极卖力；拼命工作。◆ "You want to know whether he will make a diligent worker?" Dick asked. "Well, I can tell you that most of the time he is up and at them like no one else I know."“你想知道他会不会成为干活勤快的人？”迪克问。“那我可以告诉你，在我认识的人中，他是大部分时间干活最卖力的人。”2. v. phr. To become aggressively engaged in doing something. 拼命干活。◆ Come on, up and at them, you guys. We still have a lot of work to get done. 来吧，伙计们，拼命干活吧。我们还有很多活儿要完成呢。

up-and-coming　adj. phr. Bound toward success; upwardly mobile; progressive; ambitious. 积极进取的；很有前途的；崭露头角的；有抱负的。◆ The newly elected state senator is an upand-coming young politician. 那位新当选的州参议员是个年轻有为的政治家。

up and doing　adj. phr. Recovered; well; active. 已痊愈的；已康复的；积极的；活跃的。◆ Mary was bedridden with a serious illness, but she is totally cured now, up and doing. 玛丽曾一度患重病卧床不起，但现在已完全治愈，可以起来干活了。

up a tree　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Hunted or chased into a tree; treed. 被赶上树。◆ The dog drove the coon up a tree so the hunter could shoot him. 猎犬把浣熊赶到了树上，这样猎人就能向它射击了。2. informal in trouble; having problems; in a difficulty that it is hard to escape or think of a way out of. 〖非正式〗处于困境；进退两难。◆ John's father has him up a tree in the checker game. 约翰的父亲在下跳棋时把约翰逼得走投无路了。

up for grabs　adj. phr., informal Available for anyone to try to get; ready to be competed for; there for the taking. 〖非正式〗任何人都可得到的；供争夺的；供人获取的。◆ When the captain of the football team moved out of town, his place was up for grabs. 当橄榄球队队长迁出城后，他的职位谁都可以争取。

up front^1　n., slang, informal The managerial section of a corporation or firm. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗公司（或商行的）管理部门。◆ Joe Catwallender finally made it (with the) up front.乔·卡特沃伦德终于进入了公司的管理层。

up front^2　adj., slang, informal Open, sincere, hiding nothing. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗公开的，坦率的。◆ Sue was completely up front about why she didn't want to see him anymore. 苏很坦率地说出了她不想再见他的原因。

uphill battle　n. phr. A heavy task fraught with difficulty and constantly recurring obstacles. 艰苦的战斗；艰巨的任务。◆ Retired lower middleclass people must fight a constant uphill battle to make ends meet on a fixed pension. 退休的中产阶级下层人士靠一份固定的退休金想要维持生计必须经常进行艰苦的打拼。◆ The medical profession is fighting an uphill battle in trying to wipe out the AIDS epidemic worldwide. 医务界正在进行一场艰苦的战斗以设法在全世界消灭艾滋病。

up in arms　adj. phr. 1. Equipped with guns or weapons and ready to fight. 武装起来准备战斗。◆ All of the American colonies were up in arms against the British. 所有的美洲殖民地都武装起来反抗英国人。2. Very angry and wanting to fight. 非常愤怒想打架。◆ The students were up in arms over the new rule against food in the dormitory. 学生们愤怒抗议宿舍里不准吃东西的新规定。

up in the air　adj. or adv. phr. 1. informal In great anger or excitement. 〖非正式〗十分恼火；非常激动；异常兴奋。◆ My father went straight up in the air when he heard I damaged the car. 我父亲听说我弄坏了汽车，立即火冒三丈。2. also in midair Not settled; uncertain; undecided. 悬而未决（的）；不确定（的）；未决定（的）。◆ Plans for the next meeting have been left up in the air until Jane gets better. 下次会议的计划一直悬而未决，要等简身体好些以后才定。

up one's alley　See见DOWN ONE'S ALLEY.

up one's sleeve or in one's sleeve　adv. phr. 1. Hidden in the sleeve of one's shirt or coat and ready for secret or wrongful use. 藏在衣袖里（备作秘密或不正当之用）。◆ The crooked gambler hid aces up his sleeve during the card game so that he would win. 那个刁滑的赌徒在打牌时把几张“A”藏在衣袖里以便取胜。2. informal Kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when needed. 〖非正式〗偷偷藏着以待时机；暗中藏着一手。◆ Jimmy knew that his father had some trick up his sleeve because he was smiling to himself during the checker game. 吉米知道父亲已有妙计在胸，因为在下跳棋时他一直在暗笑。

upper crust　n., informal The richest, most famous, or important people in a certain place; the highest class. 〖非正式〗上流社会；上层阶级；最高阶层。◆ It is a school that only the children of the upper crust can afford. 这是一所只有上流社会的子女才上得起的学校。

upper hand or whip hand　n. Controlling power; advantage. 优势；上风；有利地位。◆ The cowboy trained the wild horse so that he finally got the whip hand and tamed the horse.那牛仔训练野马很得法，最后终于占了上风把马驯服了。

upper story　n. 1. A floor or level of a building above the first floor. 楼上。◆ The apartment house where Gene lives is five stories high and he lives in one of the upper stories. 吉恩住的公寓楼高5层，他住在楼上的某一层。2. slang A person's head or brain. 〖俚〗头脑，脑袋瓜儿。◆ Lulu has nobody home in the upper story. 露露的脑袋空空如也。

Upsadaisy! or Upsee-daisy! or Upsydaisy!　adv. phr. — A popular exclamation used when just about anything is lifted, particularly a small child raised to his or her highchair or bed.（举起东西或抱起小孩时常说的感叹语）举起来了！起来没事啦！◆ "Upsee-daisy!" the nurse said with a smile on her face, as she lifted the baby from its bed. 护士把婴儿从床上抱起来时，面带微笑地说：“抱起来了！”

ups and downs　n. phr. Vicissitudes; alternating periods between good and bad times; changes in fortune. 沉浮；兴衰，盛衰；命运的变化。◆ He is now a wealthy stock trader, but at the beginning of his career he, too，had many ups and downs. 他现在是个有钱的证券商，但在职业生涯开始时，他也有过许多起伏。

upset the applecart or upset sb.'s applecart　v. phr., informal To ruin a plan or what is being done, often by surprise or accident; change how things are or are being done, often unexpectedly; ruin or mix up another person's success or plan for success. 〖非正式〗破坏某人的计划；打乱某人的步骤。◆ We are planning a surprise party for Bill, so don't let Mary upset the applecart by telling him before the party. 我们准备为比尔举办一个惊喜晚会，所以不要让玛丽事先告诉他而破坏了我们的计划。

upside down　adv. phr. Overturned so that the bottom is up and the top is down. 颠倒着；倒置地。◆ The problem with this company is that everything is upside down; we need a new C.E.O. 这家公司的问题在于一切都乱了套；我们需要一个新的首席执行官。

up the creek or up the creek without a paddle　adj. phr., informal In trouble or difficulty and unable to do anything about it; stuck. 〖非正式〗遇到麻烦；处于困境；一筹莫展。◆ Father said that if the car ran out of gas in the middle of the desert, we would be up the creek without a paddle. 父亲说如果汽车开到沙漠中间汽油用完，我们将一筹莫展。

up tight or uptight　adj., slang, informal Worried, irritated, excessively eager or anxious. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗忧虑的，紧张不安的；易怒的，生气的；万分焦急的。◆ Why are you so uptight about getting that job? The more you worry, the less you'll succeed. 你为什么那么急于要得到那份工作呢？你越担心越不可能成功。

up to　prep. 1. As far, as deep, or as high as. 一直到…（那么远或那么深、那么高）。◆ The water in the pond was only up to John's knees. 池塘里的水只有约翰的膝盖那么深。2. Close to; approaching. 接近；达到。◆ The team did not play up to its best today. 球队今天没有发挥出最佳水平。3. As high as; not more than; as much or as many as. 高达；不多于；多达。◆ Pick any number up to ten. 挑一个不超过10的数。4. or up till or up until — Until; till.（时间上）一直到。◆ Up to her fourth birthday, the baby slept in a crib. 这孩子4岁前一直睡有围栏的童床。5. Capable of; fit for; equal to; strong or well enough for. 胜任…的；适于…的；足以对付…的。◆ We chose Harry to be captain because we thought he was up to the job. 我们选哈利为队长，因为我们认为他能胜任这一工作。6. Doing or planning secretly; ready for mischief. 偷偷干…的；密谋…的；准备好捣蛋的。◆ What are you up to with the matches, John? 约翰，你拿着火柴想干什么？7. Facing as a duty; to be chosen or decided by; depending on. 是…的职责的；须由…决定的；取决于…的。◆ It's up to you to get to school on time. 你们理应准时到校。

up-to-date　adj. Modern; contemporary; the latest that technology can offer. 现代化的；新潮的；利用最新技术的。◆ "I want an up-to-date dictionary of American idioms," Mr. Lee said, "that has all the latest Americanisms in it."“我要一本最新的美国习语词典，”李先生说，“里面要有所有最新的美语用法。”

up to no good　adv. phr. Intending to do something bad; perpetrating an illicit act. 想干坏事；干违法的勾当。◆ We could tell from the look on Dennis the Menace's face that he was once again up to no good. 我们从丹尼斯这个坏蛋的面部表情就能判断，他又要干坏事了。

up to one's ears　adv. phr. Immersed in; covered with. 深陷于；埋头于；忙于。◆ "Around final examination time," Professor Brown explained, "I am always up to my ears in work." 布朗教授解释说：“期终考试前后这段时间，我总是忙得不可开交。”

up to one's neck　adv. phr. Overwhelmed with; submerged in. 不知所措；深深陷入。◆ "During the summer season in our cottage by the lake," the Aliens complained, "we are usually up to our necks in uninvited guests."“夏季在我们的湖畔别墅里，”艾伦夫妇抱怨说，“我们通常因接待那些不速之客而忙得不可开交。”

up to par　or informal〖非正式〗up to scratch or informal〖非正式〗up to snuff 1. In good or normal health or physical condition.（身体等）情况良好的；健康状况良好的。◆ I have a cold and don't feel up to par. 我感冒了，感觉不太舒服。◆ The boxer is training for the fight but he isn't up to scratch yet. 那位拳击手正加紧训练迎接比赛，但身体状况还不是太好。2. or up to the mark As good as usual; up to the usual level or quality. 和平常一样好；达到平常水平（或标准）。◆ John will have to work hard to bring his grades up to snuff. 约翰必须努力学习才能使他的分数达到标准。

up to someone　adj. phr. Left to someone else's discretion or decision. 取决于某人，须由某人决定。◆ "I am afraid it is not up to me to decide whether you will get a salary raise next year or not," John said to a junior colleague.“明年你会不会加薪恐怕并不取决于我，”约翰对一位年资较浅的同事说。

up to speed　adv. phr. Back to the normal routine; back to normal speed. 恢复到正常程序；恢复到正常速度。◆ After the economic slowdown in the wake of 9/11/01, business is up to speed again in New York City.在“9·11”带来的经济衰退之后，纽约市的商业活动又恢复到了正常速度。

up to the chin in or in — up to the chin　adj. phr., informal Used also with ears, elbows, eyes or knees instead of chin, and with a possessive instead of the. 〖非正式〗亦可用ears, elbows, eyes或knees替代chin，用物主代词替代the。1. Having a big or important part in; guilty of; not innocent of; deeply in. 在…中有重要作用；有罪于；深陷于。◆ Was Tom mixed up in that trouble last night? He was up to his ears in it. 汤姆是否跟昨晚的那档子麻烦事有牵连？他卷入得很深。2. Very busy with; working hard at. 忙于；埋头于。◆ Bob is up to his neck in homework. 鲍勃在埋头做作业。3. Having very much or many of; flooded with. 有许多；淹没在。◆ Mary was up to her knees in invitations to go to parties. 玛丽收到许多参加社交聚会的请帖。

up to the last minute　adv. phr. Until the last possible moment; until the very end. 直到最后一刻；直到结束。◆ When I try to send in an important eyewitness report from the scene of a major accident, I must keep working up to the last minute. 当我试图提供一份重大事故现场的重要目击者的报告时，我必须一直工作到最后一刻。

up to the mark　See见UP TO PAR 2.

up-to-the-minute　See见UP-TO-DATE.

urban homesteading　n., informal Renovation and occupation through cooperative ownership by tenants of previously abandoned city apartment buildings. 〖非正式〗城市房产计划（租户若住进并整修被遗弃的房屋便可取得该房屋的产权）。◆ Urban homesteading is on the rise in many big American cities these days. 目前在许多美国大城市，依靠城市房产计划取得房产权的人数正在增加。

used to^1　adj. phr. In the habit of or familiar with. 习惯于…的；熟悉…的。◆ People get used to smoking and it is hard for them to stop. 人们容易染上吸烟的习惯，而要戒掉却很困难。

used to^2 or did use to　v. phr. Did formerly; did in the past. — Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past. 过去做过；过去惯常。——通常后接不定式，讲述过去的事。◆ Uncle Henry used to have a beard, but he shaved it off. 亨利叔叔过去留胡子，但后来剃掉了。◆ I don't go to that school any more, but I used to. 我不再去那所学校上学了，但我过去在那儿上学。◆ We don't visit Helen as much as we used to. 我们现在不像以前那样常去看海伦了。

used to be or did use to be　v. phr. Formerly or once was. 从前是；一度是。◆ Dick used to be the best student in our class last year; now two other students are better than he is. 迪克去年曾是我们班里最好的学生；现在有两个学生超过了他。

use every trick in the book　v. phr., informal To avail oneself of any means at all in order to achieve one's goal, not exclusive of possibly immoral or illegal acts. 〖非正式〗使用一切现有的手段；用尽各种办法。◆ Algernon used every trick in the book to get Maxine to go out with him, but she kept refusing. 阿尔杰农用尽各种办法想让玛克辛跟他外出约会，但均遭到她的拒绝。

use one's head or slang〖俚〗use one's bean or slang〖俚〗use one's noodle or slang〖俚〗use one's noggin　v. phr. To use your brain or mind; think; have common sense. — Often used as a command. 动脑筋；用脑子想一想；有头脑。——常用作命令。◆ If you used your bean you wouldn't be in trouble now. 如果当时你用脑子想一想，现在也不会惹上麻烦了。◆ Never point a gun at anybody, John. Use your head! 千万不要把枪对着任何人，约翰。你应该有这点头脑！

user-friendly　adj. phr., computer jargon A machine, such as a personal computer, a video recorder, a cell phone, etc., which is easy to run even by non-experts. 〖计〗（电脑、录像机、手机等）容易使用的，（设计时）为用户的需要着想的。◆ Word 2000 is quite a user-friendly program; anyone can learn it in less than a week. Word 2000是一种非常容易使用的程序；任何人都能在不到一周的时间里学会。◆ Some video recorders are not very user-friendly, so people often need to ask for help in programming them. 有一些录像机不是很容易使用，所以人们在按预计步骤使用它们时经常需要寻求帮助。

use up　v. phr. To use until nothing is left; spend or consume completely. 用完，用光；耗尽。◆ Don't use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with. 不要把肥皂用光。留一些给我洗衣服用。

usher in　v. phr. To function as the start of a period of time or an age different from the period that preceded it. 开创；迎来。◆ The 1960s ushered in the age of civil rights in the United States, whereas September 11, 2001 ushered in the age of the war on terrorism. 1960年代迎来了美国的民权时代，而2001年9月11日则迎来了向恐怖主义开战的时代。

utility room　n. A room in a house or building for machinery and other things important in the daily use of the building and the work of the people in it.（住宅等的）杂物存储间；（放置洗衣机等日常用物的）附属生活设施间。◆ There is a utility room upstairs where Mother does the laundry. 楼上有一个杂物间，母亲在那儿洗衣服。

U-turn　n. phr. A 180 degree turn made on a road in a car; a road sign allowing or disallowing such a trun.（车、船等的）U形转弯，180度转弯，掉头。◆ "Officer," Tim asked the policeman sitting in his car, "May I make a U-turn here?" "No," the policeman answered. "Didn't you see the 'No U-turn' sign on the corner?"“警官，”蒂姆问坐在汽车里的警察。“我可以在这里掉头吗？”“不可以，”警察回答说。“你难道没看见街角那个‘不可掉头’的标志吗？”

◆V◆

vanishing cream　n. A cosmetic cream for the skin that is used chiefly before face powder. 面霜，粉底霜。◆ Mrs. Jones spread vanishing cream on her face before applying her face powder. 琼斯夫人在施粉之前先涂上了面霜。

variety show　n. A program that includes several different kinds of entertainment (as songs, dances, comic skits and little dramas).（包括歌、舞、滑稽小品和短剧的）综艺节目。◆ Jane's father was the master of ceremonies of a variety show on TV. 简的父亲曾担任过电视综艺节目的主持人。

variety store　n. A store that sells many different kinds of things, especially items that are fairly small and in everyday use. 杂货店。◆ I went into a variety store and bought some paint. 我去一家杂货店买了一些油漆。

verbal diarrhea　n. phr. The inability to keep silent; overtalkativeness. 喋喋不休；说话太多。◆ Archibald is a nice guy but he's got verbal diarrhea and he can't shut up for a single minute. 阿切博尔德是个好小伙，就是话太多，嘴巴一分钟也闲不住。

very well　interj., formal Agreed; all right. — Used to show agreement or approval. 〖正式〗好吧。——用以表示同意或赞成。◆ Very well. You may go. 好吧。你可以走了。◆ Very well, I will do as you say. 好吧，我会照你说的去做。

vibrations or vibes　n. Psychic emanations radiating from an object, situation, or person.（心灵的）感应，共鸣。◆ I don't think this relationship will work out — this guy has given me bad vibes. 我认为这一关系不会有什么结果——这人给我的心灵感应很不好。

vicious circle　n. phr. A kind of circular or chain reaction in which one negative thing leads to another. 恶性循环。◆ Some people take so many different kinds of medicine to cure an illness that they develop other illnesses from the medicine and are thus caught in a vicious circle. 有些人为治某种病而服用多种不同的药，结果却因这些药而患上别的病，从而陷入一种恶性循环。

Vietnam syndrome　n., informal An attitude in government circles that diplomacy may be more effective in solving local political problems in other countries than the use of military force, stemming from the failure of the U. S. military intervention in Vietnam. 〖非正式〗越战综合征（因美国在越南军事干预的失败而在政府圈子内形成的一种看法：解决其他国家的地区政治问题，外交途径也许比运用武力更有效）。◆ The pundits of Foggy Bottom display the Vietnam syndrome these days when it comes to Iran. 雾谷（美国国务院）的专家们近日谈到伊朗时显示出越战综合征。

virgin page　n. phr. An empty page with no writing on it. 白页。◆ In the middle of the new book there were a couple of virgin pages, probably due to a printing error. 也许是由于印刷时出了差错，那本新书中间竟有一些白页。

visible to the naked eye　adj. phr. 1. Perceivable without glasses, binoculars, microscope, or telescope.肉眼看得见的。◆ The stars are distant objects, but on a clear summer night they are visible to the naked eye. 星星是些遥远的天体，但在晴朗的夏夜，肉眼也可以看到它们。2. Obvious, clear-cut. 显而易见的；清晰可见的。◆ After the books were audited, it became visible to the naked eye that Carwallender embezzled the company's retirement fund. 经过查账，卡瓦兰德盗用公司退休基金的事实已昭然若揭。

visiting nurse　n. A nurse who goes from home to home taking care of sick people or giving help with other health problems. 上门服务护士，家庭巡回护士。◆ After John returned home from the hospital, the visiting nurse came each day to change his bandages. 约翰出院回家后，家庭巡回护士每天来替他换绷带。

voice an opinion　v. phr. To go on record by uttering an opinion in speech, especially in public, or by writing an article in a newspaper or giving a radio or television interview. 发表意见。◆ Ms. Bevilaqua keeps voicing the opinion, both verbally and in writing, that it was a mistake to repeal Prohibition. 贝维拉夸女士通过口头和书面形式一直在发表意见，认为废止禁酒令是错误的。◆ Antiabortion advocates voice the opinion that a woman has no choice whether to give birth or not. 反对堕胎的鼓吹者发表意见，认为妇女无权选择生孩子还是不生。

voice box　n. The part of the throat where the sound of your voice is made; the larynx. 喉。◆ Mr. Smith's voice box was taken out in an operation, and he could not talk after that. 史密斯先生作了喉切除手术后就不能说话了。

voiceprint　n., technological, colloquial The graphic pattern derived from converting an individual's voice into a visible graph used by the police for identification purposes, much as fingerprints. 〖口〗〖技术〗声纹，声印（用仪器对人的说话声所作的等高线状记录，声纹因人而异，犹如指纹）。◆ They have succeeded in identifying the murderer by using a voiceprint. 他们利用声纹成功地确定了凶手。

vote a straight ticket　v. phr. To not differentiate one's ballot according to individual names and posts, but to vote for all candidates for all positions of the same party. 投同一政党所有候选人一票。◆ "I never have time to study the ballot in detail," Marie said, "and so I tend to vote a straight Democratic ticket."“我从来没有时间仔细研究选票，”玛丽说，“所以我往往投支持民主党全部候选人一票。”

vote in　v. phr. To elevate to the status of "Law of the Land" by special or general ballot. 投票通过（使成为国内法）。◆ Congress has finally voted in the Brady Law that requires that prospective gun owners wait a special period of time before making their purchase. 国会通过了《布雷迪手枪控制法》，规定未来的枪主在取货前需等待一段时间。

vote somèone out　v. phr. To terminate someone's elected office by casting a negative vote about that person (judge, congressman, etc.), mostly so that someone else might occupy the same position. 投票使某人落选。◆ Congressman Smith was voted out last November in favor of Congresswoman Bradley. 去年11月国会议员史密斯落选，由布拉德利接任为国会女议员。

◆W◆

wade in or wade into　v., informal 〖非正式〗1. To go busily to work. 忙碌地工作。◆ The house was a mess after the party, but Mother waded in and soon had it clean again. 社交聚会结束后房子里乱得一塌糊涂，但母亲忙乎了一阵子，很快又把它弄干净了。2. To attack. 攻击。◆ Jack waded into the boys with his fists flying. 杰克挥舞着双拳攻击那些男孩。

wade through　v. phr. To read through something long and laborious. 缓慢（或费力）地读完。◆ It took John six months to wade through Tolstoy's War and Peace in the original Russian. 约翰花了6个月才读完托尔斯泰俄文原版的《战争与和平》。

wait-and-see　adj. phr. Caution; patient; circumspect. 等着瞧的。◆ The city council decided to take a wait-and-see attitude, before deciding to invest more money in a new airport.在决定是否对新机场投入更多钱以前，市议会决定采取一种“等着瞧”的态度。

wait at table or wait on table or wait table　v. phr. To serve food. 伺候进餐；在餐厅服务。◆ Mrs. Lake had to teach her new maid to wait on table properly. 莱克夫人只得教新来的女仆如何伺候进餐。◆ The girls earn spending money by waiting at table in the school dining rooms. 女孩子们在学校餐厅当服务员赚一些零用钱。

waiting list　n. A list of persons waiting to get into something (as a school). 等候者名单。◆ The landlord said there were no vacant apartments available, but that he would put the Rogers' name on the waiting list. 房东说公寓已全部住满，但他会把罗杰斯夫妇的名字列入等候者名单。

waiting room　n. phr. The sitting area in a doctor's, lawyer's, accountant's, etc. office, or in a hospital, or other workplace, where people wait their turn. 候诊室；等候室。◆ Some doctor's offices have elegantly furnished waiting rooms with magazines, newspapers, and coffee for the patients. 有些诊所的候诊室布置得很优雅，里面有报纸、杂志，还有供病人饮用的咖啡。

wait on or wait upon　v. 1. To serve. 服侍；接待。◆ The clerk in the store asked if we had been waited upon. 店里的店员问是否有人接待过我们了。2. formal To visit as a courtesy or for business. 〖正式〗礼节性拜访；拜会。◆ John waited upon the President with a letter of introduction. 约翰带着一封介绍信拜见了总裁。3. To follow. 伴随…而来；来自；是…的必然结果。◆ Success waits on hard work. 成功来自勤奋。

wait on hand and foot　v. phr. To serve in every possible way; do everything for (someone). 无微不至地服侍；为（某人）做一切事情。◆ Sally is spoiled because her mother waits on her hand and foot. 萨莉被宠坏了，因为她母亲对她照顾得无微不至。

wait out　v. phr. To exercise patience and refrain from acting prematurely.耐心等待；等待…结束。◆ "The stock market is down," John said to his broker, "What should we do?" "I suggest you do nothing right now," the broker advised. "This is a time to wait it out and see which way things turn out."“股市在下跌，”约翰对他的经纪人说，“我们应该怎么办？”“我建议你现在什么也别做，”经纪人告诫说。“这时候应耐心等待，静观行情如何变化。”

wait up　v. phr. To not go to bed until a person one is worried about comes home (said by parents and marriage partners). 等着（某人）而不睡觉；熬夜等候。◆ She always waits up for her husband when he's out late. 每当丈夫外出晚归时，她总是不睡觉等着他。

wake-up call　n. phr. A stark and shocking reminder that things are not as they ought to be. 警钟。◆ September 11, 2001 was a powerful wake-up call that airline security in the United States needed immediate and drastic overhauling. “9·11”敲响了警钟，说明美国的航空安全需要立即进行全面的重大改革。

walk all over　See见WALK OVER.

walk a tightrope　v. phr. To be in a dangerous or awkward situation where one cannot afford to make a single mistake. 走钢丝；处境危险，处境棘手。◆ "When we landed on the moon in 1969," Armstrong explained, "we were walking a tightrope till the very end."“当我们1969年登陆月球时，”阿姆斯特朗解释说，“我们一直如履薄冰，危险重重，直到最后。”

walk away with or walk off with　v. 1. To take and go away with; take away; often: steal. 顺手带走；拿走；偷走。◆ When Father went to work, he accidentally walked off with Mother's umbrella. 父亲去上班时，无意中拿走了母亲的伞。2. To take, get, or win easily. 轻易获得；轻易赢得。◆ Jim walked away with all the honors on Class Night. 在班级晚会上吉姆轻松赢得了所有的荣誉。◆ Out team walked off with the championship. 我们的球队轻而易举地赢得了冠军。

walking catastrophe　n. phr. A terribly clumsy, awkward, or untoward person, who ruins everything he or she touches. 灾星，祸根；成事不足败事有余的人。◆ Poor Uncle Joe keeps getting fired from every job he ever tries; moreover, he wrecks one car after another, and is always broke. Women are avoiding him like the plague because he is a walking catastrophe. 可怜的乔叔叔不管干什么工作最后总是被解雇；此外，他还毁掉了一辆又一辆汽车，而且总是一个子儿也没有。女人像躲瘟疫似的避开他，因为他是一颗灾星。

walking dictionary　n. phr. A person highly knowledgeable in matters of language use. 活字典。◆ If you want to know what "serendipity" means, ask my Uncle Fred. He is a professor of English and is also a walking dictionary. 如果你想知道serendipity是什么意思，就问我的弗雷德叔叔吧。他是位英语教授，也是一部活字典。

walking encyclopedia　n. phr. A polymath; a person very well versed in a number of different disciplines.活百科全书，万宝全书；知识渊博的人。◆ My uncle is a veritable walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of World War II. 在第二次世界大战史方面，我叔叔是个名副其实的万宝全书。

walking papers or walking orders also walking ticket　n., informal A statement that you are fired from your job; dismissal. 〖非正式〗解雇书，辞退书。◆ The boss was not satisfied with Paul's work and gave him his walking papers. 老板对保罗的工作很不满意，向他发出了解雇通知。

walk in the park　n. phr. Something very easy to do or to accomplish.（像在公园散步一样）容易的事情。◆ "is it difficult to surf the net?" six-year-old Tommy asked of his twelve-year-old brother. "No, not at all, it's a walk in the park."“上网难不难？”6岁的汤米问他12岁的哥哥。“不难，一点都不难，就像在公园里散步一样容易。”

walk off the job　v. phr. To go on strike. 罢工。◆ The Canadian postal workers walked off the job in protest. People who want to send a letter to the United States have to rent a mailbox in Buffalo, New York, and drive to it periodically. 加拿大的邮电工人举行了抗议罢工。需要寄信到美国去的人只得到纽约州的水牛城租个信箱，定期开车去那儿。

walk of life　n. phr. Way of living; manner in which people live. 生活方式；职业，行业；社会阶层，社会地位。◆ People from every walk of life enjoy television. 社会各阶层的人都喜欢电视。

walk on air　v. phr., informal To feel happy and excited. 〖非正式〗得意洋洋；兴高采烈。◆ Sue has been walking on air since she won the prize. 自获奖以来，苏一直兴奋不已。

walk on eggs　v. phr. To act with utmost caution due to being in a precarious position. 小心翼翼地行事，谨慎小心地行事。◆ Tom has been walking on eggs ever since he started working for a new boss in Cincinnati. 自开始为辛辛那提的一位新老板工作以来，汤姆一直小心翼翼地行事。

walk out　v. 1. To go on strike. 罢工。◆ When the company would not give them higher pay, the workers walked out. 当公司不肯为他们加薪时，工人们就罢工了。2. To leave suddenly; especially to desert. 突然离去；抛弃，遗弃。◆ He didn't say he wasn't coming back; he just walked out. 他没说不回来，他只是突然出走了。Used informally with on. 非正式用法中与on连用。◆ The man walked out on his wife and children. 那个男人扔下妻子和孩子出走了。

walk over or walk all over or step all over　v. phr, informal To make (someone) do whatever you wish; make selfish use of; treat like a slave; impose upon. 〖非正式〗驾驭（某人）；利用；盛气凌人地对待；欺骗。◆ Jill is so friendly and helpful that people walk all over her. 吉尔待人友善，乐于助人，结果人人都利用她。

walk the floor　v. phr. To walk one direction and then the other across the floor, again and again; pace. 在房间里走来走去；踱来踱去。◆ Mrs. Black's toothache hurt so much that she got up and walked the floor. 布莱克夫人的牙痛得厉害，她只得起来在房间里走来走去。

walk the plank　v. phr. 1. To walk off a board extended over the side of a ship and be drowned. 走跳板（指旧时海盗等缚住受害者并蒙住其眼，然后强使其在突出舷外的跳板上行走落水致死的一种做法）。◆ The pirates captured the ship and forced the crew to walk the plank. 海盗们俘获了那条船，然后强迫所有海员在突出舷外的跳板上跳下去淹死。2. informal To resign from a job because someone makes you do it. 〖非正式〗被迫辞职；被解雇。◆ When a new owner bought the store, the manager had to walk the plank. 新老板买下了这家店后，原经理被迫辞职。

wallflower　n. A girl who has to sit out dances because nobody is asking her to dance. 舞会上因无人邀请而坐在一旁的女孩。◆ "I used to be a wallflower during my high school days," Valerie complained, "but my luck changed for better once I got into college."“高中期间没有人在舞会上邀请我跳舞，”瓦莱丽抱怨说，“但一进大学我就时来运转了。”

wallow in misery　v. phr. To be a professional victim; incessantly complain about one's troubles, taking masochistic pleasure from one's bad fate. 沉浸在痛苦中；不停地抱怨自己的烦恼。◆ "You must stop wallowing in your misery, Max," his psychiatrist said, "and get your act together. I am prescribing for you a mild antidepressant and 45 minutes of daily exercise."“你决不可再沉浸在自己的痛苦之中了，马克斯，”他的精神病医生对他说，“要有更有效地控制自己的工作。我要给你开的处方是一种平和的抗抑郁药和每天45分钟的锻炼。”

wallow in the mire　v. phr. To indulge oneself entirely to sensual pleasures, such as drinking, sex, and drugs. 沉溺于感官享受。◆ Felix inherited a lot of money from his wealthy father, so instead of working or studying, he spends all of his time wallowing in the mire. 费利克斯从他富有的父亲那里继承了很多钱，所以他既不工作也不学习，而是终日沉溺于声色犬马之中。

walls have ears　Someone may be listening even if it is not apparent. — A proverb. 〖谚〗隔墙有耳。◆ "Not so loud, please! This is confidential!" the director said to his news assistant. "Walls have ears, you know!"“请你声音不要这么响！这是绝密的！”局长对他的新闻助理说。“你要知道，隔墙有耳！”

want ad　n. A small advertisement on a special page in a newspaper that offers employment opportunities and merchandise.（报纸上的）招聘广告。◆ "You want a temporary job?" he asked the recent arrival in town. "Go and look at the want ads!"“你想找份临时工作？”他问那个新近来到城里的人。“那就去看招聘广告吧！”

want to bet on it? or wanna bet?　v. phr., informal Often used when one wants to be sure that the other person means what he or she said, meaning, "Are you sure?" 〖非正式〗你敢打赌吗？你敢肯定吗？◆ "I am certain we will find some form of primitive life on Mars or on Europa, Jupiter's biggest moon," the science director of NASA said. "You want to bet on it?" a skeptical journalist asked, when a major probe was getting ready to be launched.“我确信我们会在火星上或者木星最大的卫星木卫二上发现某种原始生物，”当一枚重要的探空航天器正在准备发射时，美国国家航空航天局的科学部主任说。“你敢为此打赌吗？”一位持怀疑态度的记者问。

want to make something of it?　V. phr., informal A threatening response to some criticism or an insult, meaning "so what?" 〖非正式〗想怎么样？想找碴儿？想打架吗？◆ "So you wear a fur coat, crocodile leather shoes, and have several gold rings in your nose. Are you a pimp or something?" Fred asked his long-lost roommate from college. "Hold it, buddy, do you want to make something of it?" Ted replied defiantly.“所以你穿毛皮外套、鳄鱼皮鞋，鼻子上还有几枚金鼻环。你是男妓什么的吗？”弗雷德问他长久不见的大学室友。“别说了，老兄，你想找碴儿是吗？”泰德不服地回答说。

war baby　n., informal A person born during a war. 〖非正式〗战时诞生的孩子。◆ War babies began to increase college enrollments early in the 1960s. 1960年代初，战争时期出生的孩子开始增加了大学的入学人数。

ward off　v. phr. To deflect; avert. 转移，引开；挡开；防止，避免。◆ Vitamin C is known to ward off the common cold. 人所共知，维生素C可以预防感冒。

warm sb.'s blood　v. phr. To make you feel warm or excited. 使某人暖和（或兴奋）。◆ When the Bakers came to visit on a cold night, Mr. Harmon offered them a drink to warm their blood. 当贝克夫妇在一个寒冷的夜晚来访时，哈蒙先生拿给他们一杯酒，让他们暖暖身子。

warm up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To reheat cooked food. 将（已冷的饭、菜）重新加热。◆ Mr. Jones was so late that his dinner got cold; his wife had to warm it up. 琼斯先生回家太晚，饭菜都冷了；他太太不得不拿去再热一下。2. To become friendly or interested. 友好起来；感起兴趣来。◆ It takes an hour or so for some children to warm up to strangers. 有些孩子需要1小时左右的时间才能和陌生人热乎起来。3. To get ready for a game or other event by exercising or practicing. 作准备活动；热身。◆ The coach told us to warm up before entering the pool. 教练叫我们在入池前先要作准备活动。

warm-up　n. (stress on warm)（重读warm）A period of exercise or practice in preparation for a game or other event. 准备活动；热身活动。◆ Before the television quiz program, there was a warm-up to prepare the contestants. 在电视智力竞赛节目开始之前，有一段练习时间让竞赛者作好准备。

wash and wear　adj. Not needing to be ironed. — Refers especially to synthetic and synthetic blend fabrics.洗后不烫即平的，免烫的。——特指合成纤维织物和混纺织物。◆ Sally's dress is made of a wash and wear fabric. 萨莉的衣服是用免烫的织物做的。

washed out　adj. Listless in appearance; pale, wan. 没精打采的；面色苍白的；倦怠的。◆ Small wonder Harry looks so washed out; he has just recovered from major surgery. 难怪哈里看上去这么没精打采的；他刚从大手术中恢复过来。

washed up　adj. Ruined; finished; a failure. 破产的；完蛋了的；失败的。◆ Harry is looking awfully sad. I hear his business has collapsed and he is all washed up. 哈里看上去伤心透了。我听说他的生意失败了，他破产了。

wash one's hands of　v. phr. To withdraw from or refuse to be responsible for. 洗手不干（某事）；退出；拒绝为…承担责任。◆ We washed our hands of politics long ago. 我们很久以前就不再过问政治了。

washout　n. (stress on wash)（重读wash）A dismal failure. 令人沮丧的失败。◆ As far as investments were concerned, Dick and his precious advice turned out to be a total washout. 就投资而言，迪克和他的宝贵建议结果都完全失败了。

wash out　v. phr. (stress on out)（重读out）To disappear; vanish. 消失；被洗去。◆ Do you think this stain will wash out? 你认为这块污斑洗得掉吗？

waste away　v. To become more thin and weak every day. 日见消瘦；日见衰弱。◆ Jane is wasting away with tuberculosis. 简因患肺结核而日见消瘦。

waste one's breath　v. phr. To speak or to argue with no result; do nothing by talking. 徒费唇舌，白说。◆ I know what I want. You're wasting your breath. 我知道我要什么。你是在枉费唇舌。

watched pot never boils　If you watch or wait for something to get done or to happen, it seems to take forever. — A proverb. 〖谚〗心急水难开（指凡事越焦急等待越觉得慢）。◆ Jane was nine months pregnant and Tom hovered over her anxiously. She said, "You might as well go away and play some golf. A watched pot never boils, you know!" 简已怀孕9个月，汤姆焦急地守候在她身边。她说：“你尽可以出去打会儿高尔夫球。你要知道，守着壶儿水不开，越急越没用！”

watch every penny　See见PINCH PENNIES.

watch it　v. phr. informal To be careful. — Usually used as a command. 〖非正式〗当心，留神。——通常用作命令。◆ Watch it — the bottom stair is loose! 当心——最下面的一级楼梯松了！

watch one's language　v. phr. To be careful of how one speaks; avoid saying impolite or vulgar things. 说话注意；避免讲不文雅（或粗俗）的话。◆ "You boys watch your language," Mother said, "or you won't be watching television for a whole week!"“你们男孩子不要讲脏话，”母亲说，“不然就罚你们一周不准看电视！”

watch one's step　v. phr. To mend one's ways; exercise prudence, tact, and care. 谨慎小心。◆ I have to watch my step with the new boss as he is a very proud and sensitive individual. 对新老板我必须谨言慎行，因为他是一个很傲慢、很敏感的人。

water down　v. To change and make weaker; weaken. 搀水冲淡；减弱，削弱。◆ The teacher had to water down the course for a slow-learning class. 教师不得不降低课程要求以适应慢班的学生。

watered down　adj. Weakened; diluted. 减弱了的，削弱了的；淡化了的。◆ The play was a disappointing, watered down version of Shakespeare's Othello. 这场演出令人失望，它把莎士比亚的《奥赛罗》处理得淡而无味。

watering hole or place　n. phr. A bar, pub, or nightclub where people gather to drink and socialize. 酒吧；酒店；夜总会。◆ I like "The Silver Dollar" — it is my favorite watering hole in all of Sidney, Nebraska. 我喜欢“银币”——在整个内布拉斯加州的锡德尼市，这是我最喜欢的一家夜总会。

water over the dam or water under the bridge　n. phr. Something that happened in the past and cannot be changed. 不可改变的既成事实；无法挽回的过去。◆ Since the sweater is too small already, don't worry about its shrinking; that's water over the dam.既然套衫已经太小，那就不要担心它会缩水了；太小已是不可改变的事实。

way off　adj. phr. At a great distance from a particular point (said of a discrepancy).（指差异）相差很远；有很大距离。◆ We were way off on our calculations; the house cost us twice as much as we had thought. 我们在计算上差得很远；建这幢房子花的钱比我们原来想得多了一倍。

ways and means　n. plural Methods of getting something done or getting money; how something can be done and paid for.（复数）（完成某事的）方法；（筹款）办法；手段。◆ The boys were trying to think of ways and means to go camping for the weekend. 男孩子们正在想办法周末去野营。

way the wind blows or how the wind blows　n. phr. The direction or course something may go; how things are; what may happen. 事物发展的方向；局势；可能发生的事情；风向。◆ Most senators find out which way the wind blows in their home state before voting on bills in Congress. 大多数参议员在国会投票表决议案前先要了解本州的民意。

way to go　adj. phr., informal An exclamation of praise given to one who has done or achieved something out of the ordinary. 〖非正式〗干得好！真棒！◆ "Way to go, Charlie," his friends exclaimed, when, after beating an apparently terminal case of cancer, he not only graduated with honors, but also won the gold medal for diving in the Olympics. 在战胜了明显的晚期癌症后，查理不仅作为优等生毕了业，还在奥运会上赢得了跳水金牌。他的朋友们都大声对他说：“干得好，查理！”

wear and tear　n. phr. Deterioration through use. 磨损，耗损。◆ After 75,000 miles there is usually a lot of wear and tear on any car. 行驶过75000英里之后，任何一辆汽车通常都会被严重磨损。

wear blinders or blinkers　v. phr. To refuse or be unable to consider alternative ways of thinking or acting. 戴眼罩；不愿（或不能）换一种思维（或行动）方式；一条路走到底。◆ Anybody who disputes the importance of learning languages is wearing blinders. 谁怀疑学习语言的重要性，谁就是死脑筋。

wear down, wear off or wear away　v. 1. To remove or disappear little by little through use, time, or the action of weather. 磨损；磨去；逐渐消失。◆ Time and weather have worn off the name on the gravestone. 时光流逝，风雨侵蚀，墓碑上的名字被慢慢磨掉了。2. To lessen; become less little by little. 逐渐减弱，逐渐减少。◆ John could feel the pain again as the dentist's medicine wore away. 随着药性慢慢过去，约翰又感到牙痛了。3. To exhaust; tire out, win over or persuade by making tired. 使精疲力竭；使厌烦；用疲劳轰炸的办法赢得（或说服）。◆ Mary wore her mother down by begging so that she let Mary go to the movies. 玛丽苦苦哀求令母亲不胜厌烦，于是便同意她去看电影了。

wear on　v. 1. To anger or annoy; tire. 使生气；使恼怒；使疲倦。◆ Having to stay indoors all day long is tiresome for the children and wears on their mother's nerves. 整天待在家里让孩子们感到厌倦，也让他们的母亲感到烦恼不已。2. To drag on; pass gradually or slowly; continue in the same old way. 拖延；慢慢地过去；以同样的老方式继续。◆ As the years wore on, the man in prison grew old. 随着岁月慢慢流逝，那个男囚徒也老了。

wear one's heart on one's sleeve also pin one's heart on one's sleeve　v. phr. To show your feelings openly; show everyone how you feel; not hide your feelings. 公开表露自己的感情；不隐瞒自己的感情。◆ Sometimes it is better not to pin your heart on your sleeve. 有时候还是不表露自己的感情为好。

wear out　v. 1a. To use or wear until useless. 用坏；穿破。◆ The stockings are so worn out that they can't be mended any more. 那双长袜破得厉害，已经无法再补了。1b. To become useless from use or wear. 用坏；穿破。◆ One shoe wore out before the other. 一只鞋比另一只鞋先穿破了。2. or tire out To make very tired; weaken. 使精疲力竭；使虚弱。◆ When Dick got home from the long walk, he was all worn out. 迪克散步走了很多路，回到家里已精疲力竭。◆ Don't wear yourself out by playing too hard. 不要玩得太累。3. To make by rubbing, scraping, or washing. 磨出；刮出；冲出。◆ The waterfall has worn out a hole in the stone beneath it. 瀑布把它下面的石头冲蚀出一个洞。

wear out one's welcome　v. phr., informal To visit somewhere too long or come back too often so that you are not welcome any more. 〖非正式〗因呆得太久（或来访过频）而不再受欢迎。◆ The Smith children have worn out their welcome at our house because they are so loud. 史密斯家的孩子们在我们家已不受欢迎，因为他们太闹。

wear the trousers or wear the pants　v. phr., informal To have a man's authority; be the boss of a family or household. 〖非正式〗掌权当家。◆ Mr. Wilson is henpecked by his wife; she wears the trousers in that family. 威尔逊先生怕老婆；他们家里是她说了算。

wear thin　v. 1. To become thin from use, wearing, or the passing of time. 用薄；穿薄。◆ My old pair of pants has worn thin at the knees. 我那条旧裤子的膝盖处已经磨薄了。2. To grow less, or less interesting; decrease. 变少，减少；变得乏味。◆ The joke began to wear thin when you heard it too many times. 这个笑话听得遍数太多就变得乏味了。

wear well　v. 1. To continue to be satisfactory, useful, or liked for a long time. 持续令人满意；经久耐用。◆ Their marriage has worn well. 他们的婚姻一直很美满。2. To carry, accept, or treat properly or well. 不见老；正确对待；处理得当。◆ Grandfather wears his years well. 祖父年纪大了，但却不见老。

weasel out　v. phr. To renege on a previous promise; not keep an obligation for some not always straight reason. 背弃诺言；逃避责任。◆ I'm so tired I think I am going to weasel my way out of going to that meeting this afternoon. 我太累了，我想我要逃避一下，不去参加今天下午的那个会了。

weasel word　n., informal A word which has more than one meaning and may be used to deceive others. 〖非正式〗滑头话；模棱两可的话。◆ When the thief was being questioned by the police, he tried to fool them with weasel words. 在警察询问时，小偷企图用模棱两可的话骗他们。

weather　See见FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND.

weather eye　n. 1. Eyes that can tell what the weather will be. 善于观察天气变化的眼睛。◆ Grandfather's weather eye always tells him when it will rain. 祖父那双善观气象的眼睛一看就知道什么时候会下雨。2. Eyes ready or quick to see; careful watch. — Usually used in phrases like keep a weather eye on, open, or out for.警惕；密切注视。——通常用于keep a weather eye on, open或out for等短语中。◆ Mrs. Brown kept a weather eye on the children so they wouldn't hurt each other. 布朗夫人密切注视着孩子们，使他们不会相互伤害。◆ Keep a weather eye out for Uncle George at the store. 请密切注意店里的乔治大叔。◆ Keep a weather eye open for deer. 密切注意有没有鹿出现。◆ The police have a weather eye out for the robbers. 警察随时注视着那些盗贼。Compare比较LOOK OUT.

weather the storm　v. phr. To survive some disaster. 安然度过暴风雨；安然渡过难关。◆ When Peter and Sue started their business they had very little money, but in a year they weathered the storm. 彼得和苏开始经商时钱很少，但一年后就渡过了难关。

weed out　v. 1. To remove what is unwanted, harmful, or not good enough from. 清理。◆ Mother weeded out the library because there were too many books. 书房里的书太多了，母亲进行了一番清理。2. To take (what is not wanted) from a collection or group; remove (a part) for the purpose of improving a collection or group; get rid of. 清除；剔除；淘汰；处理。◆ The coach is weeding out the weak players this week.教练本周要淘汰一些比较差的球员。

wee folk or little folk or little people　n. pl. Fairy people; brownies; elves; fairies; or goblins. 仙人们；小精灵；小仙人；小妖精。◆ There are many stories about little people dancing in the moonlight. 有许多关于小仙人在月光下跳舞的故事。

wee hours　The crack of dawn, or just before it, usually between 1 A.M. and 4 A.M. or 2 A.M. and 5 A.M. 后半夜；凌晨1—4点（或2—5点）。◆ He stayed up all night when they were expecting their first child; finally, a boy was born in the wee hours of the morning. 在等候他们第一个孩子出生时，他一夜未睡。终于在凌晨两三点钟时，一个男孩降生了。

week of Sundays　n. phr. A long time; seven weeks. 很长的时间；7个星期的时间。◆ I haven't seen them in a week of Sundays. 我已很久没看到他们了。

weigh anchor　v. phr. To set sail; get going. 起锚；起航。◆ After a week in Hawaii, we weighed anchor and sailed south toward Tahiti. 在夏威夷停了一周之后，我们起锚向南驶往塔希提岛。

weigh down also weight down　1. To make heavy; cause to go down or bend with weight; overload. 压下；压弯；使负重担。◆ The evergreens are weighed down by the deep snow. 常青树被积雪压弯了。2a. To overload with care or worry; make sad or low in spirits. — Used in the passive. 使过度忧虑；使心情沉重；使沮丧。——通常用于被动语态。◆ The company is weighed down by debt. 这家公司被债务压得喘不过气来。2b. To make heavy, hard, or slow; make dull or uninteresting. — Often in the passive used with by or with. 使沉重；使困难；使缓慢；使枯燥乏味。——常用于被动语态，与by或with连用。◆ The book is weighted down with footnotes. 这本书脚注太多，读起来很吃力。

weigh in　v. 1a. To take the weight of; weigh. 称…的重量；称。◆ The man at the airport counter weighed in our bags and took our plane tickets. 机场服务台的工作人员为我们的行李过磅并检查我们的机票。1b. To have yourself or something that you own weighed. — Often used with at. 称体重；过磅。——常与at连用。◆ We took our bags to the airport counter to weigh in. 我们把行李拿到机场服务台过磅。1c. To have yourself weighed as a boxer or wrestler by a doctor before a match. — Used with at.（拳击手或摔跤运动员在比赛前）称体重。——常与at连用。◆ The champion weighed in at 160 pounds. 那位冠军的体重称下来为160磅。2. slang To join or interfere in a fight, argument, or discussion. 〖俚〗参加；介入（打架、争论或讨论）。◆ We told Jack that if we wanted him to weigh in with his opinion we would ask him. 我们告诉杰克，如果我们需要他参加讨论发表意见的话，我们就会请他。

weigh on or weigh upon　v. 1. To be a weight or pressure on; be heavy on. 压在…上。◆ The pack weighed heavily on the soldier's back. 背包沉重地压在士兵的背上。2. To make sad or worried; trouble; disturb; upset. 使悲伤；使担优；使烦恼。◆ John's wrongdoing weighed upon his conscience. 约翰干的坏事使他的良心深感不安。3. To be a burden to. 成为…的负担。◆ His guilt weighed heavily upon him. 他的罪行成了他的沉重负担。

weigh one's words　v. phr. To choose your words carefully; be careful to use the right words. 斟酌字句。◆ In a debate, a political candidate has little time to weigh his words, and may say something foolish. 在辩论的时候，一个政党候选人没有多少时间字斟句酌，可能会说一些蠢话。

weigh on one's mind　See见WEIGH ON 2.

weight of the world on one's shoulders or world on one's shoulders or world on one's back　n. phr. A very heavy load of worry or responsibility; very tired or worried behavior, as if carrying the world; behavior as if you are very important. 思想上的沉重负担；肩上的重任；以为重任在肩；自以为了不起。◆ John acts as if he were carrying the world on his back because he has a paper route.约翰因为有一条固定的送报路线而自以为了不起。

welcome mat　n. 1. A mat for wiping your shoes on, often with the word welcome on it, that is placed in front of a door.（常织有welcome字样的）门毡；门前的擦鞋垫。◆ Mother bought a welcome mat for our new house. 母亲为我们的新房子买了一块放在门前的擦鞋垫。2. informal A warm welcome; a friendly greeting. — Used in such phrases as the welcome mat is out and put out the welcome mat. 〖非正式〗热烈的欢迎；盛情的接待。——用于短语the welcome mat is out和Put out the welcome mat 中。◆ Our welcome mat is always out to our friends. 对我们的朋友我们随时都热烈欢迎。

welcome with open arms　See见WITH OPEN ARMS.

well and good　adj. phr. Good; satisfactory. 好的；令人满意的。◆ If my daughter finishes high school, I will call that well and good. 如果我女儿能高中毕业，我就心满意足了。— Used without a verb to show agreement or understanding. 常不跟动词而单独使用表示同意或理解。◆ Well and good; I will come to your house tomorrow. 好吧，我明天到你家来。

well-heeled　adj., slang Wealthy; having plenty of money. 〖俚〗富有的；有钱的。◆ Bob's father, who is well-heeled, gave him a sports car.鲍勃的父亲很有钱，送了他一辆跑车。

well, I never!　See见YOU DON'T SAY.

well-off　adj. phr. 1. Rich. 富裕的。◆ They may not be millionaires, but they are sufficiently well-off. 他们也许不是百万富翁，却也非常富裕。2. In good condition; free of problems or difficulties. 境况好的；没有问题（或困难）的。◆ He is pleased that his business is well-off. 他很高兴自己的生意很兴隆。

well put　adj. phr. Well expressed or defined. 说得好。◆ His remarks about too much violence on television were extremely well put. 他那番电视上暴力镜头太多的评论说得好极了。

well-to-do　adj. Having or making enough money to live comfortably; prosperous. 小康的；富有的；富足的。◆ John's father owns a company and his family is well-to-do. 约翰的父亲拥有一家公司，他们家很富裕。◆ This is the part of town where the well-to-do live. 这一地区住的全是城里的有钱人家。

wend one's way　v. phr. To head in a certain direction, mostly by foot.动身（到某处去）；前往。◆ The tired pilgrims wended their way toward Lourdes in hopes of getting cured at the holy site. 那些疲惫不堪的朝圣者向卢尔德走去，希望在那个圣地得到治愈。◆ The drunken mayor of the small provincial town didn't know how to wend his way home in the dark at 4.A.M. 那个外省小镇的镇长喝醉了，在凌晨4点的黑暗中连回家的路也找不到了。

we're in business or now we're in business　v. phr. We have reached the state where things are in order and we can continue our negotiations, seal our agreement, etc. 现在我们就可以开始工作了；现在我们就可以继续谈判（或签署协议）了。◆ Once the smaller states that wanted to build a nuclear arsenal decided to quit, the American secretary of state, who has been trying to prevent such proliferation, sighed with relief, "Now we're in business!" 一旦那些原想建立核武器库的小国决定放弃，一直试图防止核武器扩散的美国国务卿就会宽慰地松一口气，说：“现在我们就可以继续谈判了！”

wet behind the ears　adj. phr., informal Not experienced; not knowing how to do something; new in a job or place. 〖非正式〗没有经验的；乳臭未干的；少不更事的；初出茅庐的；人生地不熟的。◆ The new student is still wet behind the ears; he has not yet learned the tricks that the boys play on each other. 这个新来的学生现在还人生地不熟，还没有了解同学们之间相互玩的恶作剧。

wet blanket　n. informal A person or thing that keeps others from enjoying life. 〖非正式〗扫兴的人（或事物）。◆ The weatherman throws a wet blanket on picnic plans when he forecasts rain. 气象报告员预报有雨，给野餐计划泼了一瓢冷水。

wet one's whistle　v. phr., slang To have a drink, especially of liquor. 〖俚〗润润嗓子；喝一杯酒。◆ Uncle Willie told John to wait outside for a minute while he went in to the cafe to wet his whistle. 威利叔叔叫约翰在外面等一会儿，他要进酒吧去喝一杯。

what about　interrog. About or concerning what; in connection with what. 关于什么。——常单独用作问题。◆ "I want to talk to you." "What about?"“我要和你谈谈。”“谈什么？”

what a drag　adj. phr., used as an exclamation To be extremely boring, dull, uninteresting, and tiring. 真讨厌！真乏味！真令人厌倦。◆ "What a drag! Let's get out of this lecture!" Bob poked his friend Ted in the arm, whereupon they got up and left.“这讲座真乏味！咱们走吧！”鲍勃捅了捅他朋友泰德的手臂，于是两个人便站起来走了。

what a pity!　How unfortunate! What a shame! 真遗憾！多可惜！◆ What a pity that he couldn't join us on our Hawaiian trip. 真遗憾，他不能和我们一起去夏威夷旅游。

what a shame　See见WHAT A PITY.

what do you take me for?　v. phr., informal, asked in indignation What sort of an idiot do you think I am? What sort of a person do you think I am? 〖非正式〗你以为我是傻瓜吗？你把我看作什么人了？◆ When the comptroller at the firm found that there was a missing sum of $250,000, he confronted Ted: "Did you have anything to do with this loss?" "What do you take me for?" Ted replied indignantly." 当公司财务总管发现少了一笔25万美元的款项时，他当面问泰德：“你跟这笔钱的缺失有关系吗？”“你把我看作什么人了？”泰德愤怒地回答说。

whatever turns you on　n. phr., slang It's OK with me; we can do what you want. 〖俚〗只要你喜欢就行；只要你感兴趣就行。◆ "Do you want to listen to jazz or to Mozart?" Oliver asked his girlfriend. "It's all the same to me," she replied. "Whatever turns you on."“你是想听爵士乐还是想听莫扎特？”奥利弗问他的女朋友。“对我都一样，”她回答说。“只要你喜欢就行。”

what for　interrog. For what reason; why? 为何原因；为什么？◆ What are you running for? 你跑什么跑？◆ Billy's mother told him to wear his hat. "What for?" he asked. 比利的母亲让他戴上帽子。“为什么要戴？”他问。

what gives? or what's going on?　n. phr., informal What is happening? What's up? What is the situation? 〖非正式〗出什么事啦？怎么啦？情况怎么样？◆ "What gives?" Ben asked his friend Ted, after being away from the firm for a month. 本有一个月不在公司，回来后他就问他的朋友泰德：“情况怎么样？”

what have you or what not　n. phr., informal Whatever you like or want; anything else like that. 〖非正式〗等等；诸如此类。◆ We found suits, coats, hats and what not in the closet. 我们在壁橱里发现了套装、上衣、帽子和各式各样的服装。

what if　What would, or will, happen if; what is the difference if; suppose that. 如果…将会怎样；即使…又有什么关系；假定。◆ What if we paint it red. How will it look? 如果我们把它漆成红色，看上去会怎么样？

what of it or what about it　interj., informal What is wrong with it; what do you care. 〖非正式〗那又怎么样；那又有什么关系。◆ "John missed the bus." "What of it?"“约翰没赶上公共汽车。”“那又怎么样？”

what's in it for me?　v. phr. informal How does this deal or activity benefit me? Why should I become involved in it? 〖非正式〗这对我有什么好处？◆ "Let's buy a dinner boat and run it on Lake Michigan," the investment banker suggested to Edward, the classical concert pianist. "What's in it for me?" Edward asked. "That sort of clientele doesn't go for Mozart or Beethoven. I'd like to skip this one, if you don't mind."“那咱们就买条游艇，在密歇根湖上开餐馆吧，”投资银行家向演奏古典乐曲的钢琴家爱德华建议说。“这对我有什么好处呢？”爱德华问。“那类食客既不喜欢莫扎特也不喜欢贝多芬。如果你不介意的话，我想这一投资建议我就不考虑了。”

what's sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander　What goes for the one, also goes for the other. — A proverb. 〖谚〗适用于甲者也适用于乙。◆ If Herb gets a speeding ticket, so should Erica, who was right behind him; after all, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.如果赫布得到一张超速行驶的罚单，那么紧跟其后的埃里卡也应得到一张；毕竟同样的情况要同样对待才是。

what's the big idea or what's the idea informal What is the purpose; what do you have in mind; why did you do that; what are you doing; how dare you. 〖非正式〗是什么目的；你是怎么想的；你为什么这么干；你这是干什么；你怎么敢。◆ I heard you are spreading false rumors about me, what's the big idea? 我听说你在到处散布有关我的谣言，你用意何在？

what's the damage?　n. phr., informal, mostly asked as a question How much do I owe you? How much does the total bill come to? 〖非正式〗要付多少钱？一共是多少钱？◆ "What's the damage?" the tourist asked at the shop where he picked up a lot of presents for his children. 那位旅游者在商店里为他的孩子们选购了很多礼物，最后问营业员：“一共是多少钱？”

what's the scoop?　n. phr., informal, mostly used as a question What is the latest news? What is happening? 〖非正式〗有什么新闻？◆ "What's the scoop?" Joe asked his friend Tim. "Are we getting the new contract or not?"“有什么新闻吗？”乔问他的朋友蒂姆。“我们会拿到那份新合同吗？”

what's up or what's cooking also what's doing　slang What is happening or planned; what is wrong. 〖俚〗发生了什么事；准备干什么；怎么啦；出什么问题啦。◆ "What's up?" asked Bob as he joined his friends. "Are you going to the movies?"“怎么样？”鲍勃与朋友们会合时问。“打算去看电影吗？”◆ What's cooking? Why is the crowd in the street? 出什么事啦？为什么街上这么多人？◆ What's doing tonight at the club? 俱乐部今晚有什么活动？

what's what or what is what　n. phr., informal〖非正式〗1. What each thing is in a group; one thing from another. 哪个是哪个；什么是什么。◆ The weeds and the flowers are coming up together, and we can't tell what is what. 杂草和花正在一起生长，我们分不清哪个是哪个。2. All that needs to be known about something ; the important facts or skills. 事情的真相；重要的事实（或技能）。◆ When Bob started his new job, it took him several weeks to learn what was what. 鲍勃开始新的工作时，花了好几个星期才熟悉了情况。

what's with or what's up with also what's by　slang What is happening to; what is wrong; how is everything; what can you tell me about. 〖俚〗…怎么啦；…出什么事啦；情况怎么样；…好吗。◆ Mary looks worried. What's with her? 玛丽看上去忧心忡忡。她怎么啦？

what's yours?　n. phr., informal, interrogative What can I offer you to drink? 〖非正式〗你要喝什么？◆ "What's yours?" Ernest asked his guests. "Nothing alcoholic for me," Alan answered. "Booze gives me a headache."“你们要喝什么？”欧内斯特问他的客人们。“含酒精的饮料我不要，”艾伦回答说。“我一喝酒就头痛。”

what with　prep. Because; as a result of. 因为；由于。◆ I couldn't visit you, what with the snowstorm and the cold I had. 我不能去拜访你，一是因为下大雪，二是因为我感冒了。

wheel and deal　v. phr., slang To make many big plans or schemes; especially with important people in government and business; in matters of money and influence; handle money or power for your own advantage; plan important matters in a smart or skillful way and sometimes in a tricky, or not strictly honest way. 〖俚〗（在政界、生意场所等）纵横捭阖；（运用金钱或权势）谋取私利；投机取巧；为所欲为。◆ Mr. Smith made a fortune by wheeling and dealing on the stock market. 史密斯先生在股票市场上投机取巧，发了大财。— wheeler-dealer n. phr., slang A person with power and control. 〖俚〗有权势的人。◆ The biggest wheelerdealer in the state has many friends in high places in business and government. 州里这位最有权势的人物在商界和政界都有很多身居要职的朋友。

wheelhorse　n. phr. A reliable and industrious worker on whom one may depend. 办事刻苦踏实的人；实干家。◆ Jake is such a good worker that he is the wheelhorse of our tiny firm. 杰克工作很认真，是我们这家小公司的实干家。

when hell freezes over　adv. phr., slang Never. 〖俚〗决不；永远不会。◆ I'll believe you when hell freezes over. 我永远也不会相信你。

when in Rome, do as the Romans do　When one is in a strange or new place, it is a good idea to imitate the customs of the natives. — A proverb. 〖谚〗入国问禁，入乡随俗。◆ "I cannot get used to eating with chopsticks," Sam complained to his wife. "Well, you'd better learn to use them, since we are in China," Mary replied. "Remember the old saying 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'"“我真不习惯用筷子进餐，”萨姆对妻子抱怨说。“啊，你还是学会用筷子为好，因为我们是在中国。”玛丽回答说。“俗话说得好‘入国问禁，入乡随俗’。”

when it rains it pours　Things we wish for and that are not coming often start to come in huge quantities, much more than we needed or wanted. — A proverb. 〖谚〗不雨则已，雨则倾盆；不来则已，一来便接蹱而至。◆ When Ted opened his new business, hardly anyone called or sent him e-mails. After a couple of months the calls and e-mails came so fast and so many that he had to hire two secretaries to handle the traffic. He remarked, "When it rains it pours." 泰德刚开始营业的时候，几乎没什么人给他打电话或发电子邮件。但几个月下来，电话和电子邮件却来得既多又快，他只好雇用两名秘书来处理通信。他感慨地说：“真是不来则已，一来便应接不睱。”

when one's ship comes home or in　v. phr., a proverb When one's labor and projects bear fruit; when one finally succeeds. 〖谚〗等到有钱（或发财）的时候；当最终得以成功时。◆ "I know you have been frustrated for a long time," John said to Ted, "but don't worry. You have done a lot of good work and sooner or later your ship will come home."“我知道你长时间以来一直很沮丧，”约翰对泰德说。“但不要担心。你已经做了大量很好的工作，迟早你会取得成功的。”

when one's ship comes in　See见SHIP COME IN.

when push comes to shove　adv. phr. A time when a touchy situation becomes actively hostile or a quarrel turns into a fight. 当危险的局势变为真刀真枪的对抗时；当争吵变为搏斗时。◆ Can we count on the boss' goodwill, when push comes to shove? 老板要对我们下手了，我们还能相信他的善意吗？

when the cat's away, the mice will play　When one's supervisor at work is gone, things loosen up and the employees feel freer; when the parents are gone, children take liberties that they would not if the parents were home. — A proverb. 〖谚〗猫儿不在，老鼠玩得自在；大王外出，小鬼跳梁。◆ When the chief of police left town for a vacation, all the officers had a great party. The sergeant remarked: "When the cat's away, the mice will play." 当警察局局长离城外出度假时，所有的警察举行了一次盛大的聚会。警察小队长感慨地说：“大王不在，小鬼们可以玩个自在。”

when the chips are down　adv. cl., informal When the winner and loser of a bet or a game are decided; at the most important or dangerous time. 〖非正式〗在决定输赢之时；在危急关头；在关键时刻。◆ When the chips were down, the two countries decided not to have war. 在危急关头，两国决定不开战。

where it's at　adv. phr., informal That which is important; that which is at the forefront of on-going social, personal, or scientific undertakings. 〖非正式〗重要的东西；问题的核心所在。◆ We send sophisticated machines to Mars instead of people, that's where it's at. 我们不是把人而是把精密的机器送往火星，这才是问题的核心所在。

where the action is　n. phr., informal Where the prostitutes hang out in bars, where there is gambling, legal or illegal. 〖非正式〗最富刺激性的地方；有妓女出没的酒吧；可以赌博的地方。◆ "Show us where the action is," the tourists asked the taxi driver when they got into Reno, Nevada. 那些旅游者到了内华达州的雷诺便要求出租车司机：“带我们到赌场去。”

where there is muck, there is money　Dirt and industrial pollution are closely associated with money. — A proverb. 〖谚〗要挣钱就别怕脏；发财别怕脏；怕脏不发财。◆ "I hate to live in Gary, Indiana," Jane complained to her husband. "There is so much air pollution here." "That's true, darling," her husband, an oil engineer, replied, "but you mustn't forget that where there is muck, there is money."“我不喜欢住在印第安纳州的加里市，”简对她的丈夫抱怨说。“这里的空气污染太严重了。”“你说得很对，亲爱的，”她那当石油工程师的丈夫回答说，“但你别忘了，要发财就别怕脏。”

where there's smoke, there's fire　Where you see the effect of something, you are likely to discover its cause as well. — A proverb. 〖谚〗有烟必有火；无风不起浪；事出有因。◆ Tim has been speaking about the advantages of being single and the fact that divorce can be a blessing. Also, he has been showing up alone at parties. Maybe his marriage to Sue is on the rocks; after all, where there is smoke, there is fire. 蒂姆一直在讲单身有很多好处，离婚也可以是件喜事。此外，他参加社交聚会也一向是独来独往。也许，他与苏的婚姻已经濒临破裂；毕竟是无风不起浪啊。

where the shoe pinches　n. phr., informal Where or what the discomfort or trouble is. 〖非正式〗症结所在；困难（或麻烦）之处。◆ Johnny thinks the job is easy, but he will find out where the shoe pinches when he tries it. 约翰尼认为这工作很容易，但他试过之后就会发现困难之所在了。

which is which　n. phr. Which is one person or thing and which is the other; one from another; what the difference is between different ones; what the name of each one is. 哪个是哪个；两者的区别是什么。◆ Joe's coat and mine are so nearly alike that I can't tell which is which. 乔的上衣和我的上衣几乎一模一样，我简直分不清哪件是哪件。

while ago　adv. At a time several minutes in the past; a few minutes ago; a short time ago. — Used with a. 刚才；几分钟以前；一会儿以前。——与a连用。◆ I laid my glasses on this table a while ago; and now they're gone. 我几分钟之前才把眼镜放在桌子上，现在就不见了。

while away　v. To make time go by pleasantly or without being bored; pass or spend. 轻松地度过；消磨；度过。◆ We whiled away the summer swimming and fishing. 我们游泳、钓鱼，轻松愉快地度过了夏天。

while back　adv. At a time several weeks or months in the past. — Used with a. 几个星期（或几个月）以前。——与a连用。◆ We had a good rain a while back, but we need more now. 几个星期前我们这儿下过一场好雨，但现在我们需要更多的雨。

whipping boy　n. phr. The person who gets punished for someone else's mistake. 代人受过者；替罪羊。◆ "I used to be the whipping boy during my early days at the company," he musingly remembered.“我初进公司的一段时间一直是代人受过的替罪羊，”他回忆说。

whip up　v., informal〖非正式〗1. To make or do quickly or easily. 迅速（或轻松地）做成（或写出）◆ The reporter whipped up a story about the fire for his paper. 记者很快就为报纸写好一篇有关那场火灾的报道。2. To make active; stir to action; excite. 刺激；激起；挑起。◆ The girls are trying to whip up interest for a dance Saturday night. 姑娘们正在努力激起对周六晚举办舞会的兴趣。

whispering campaign　n. The spreading of false rumors, or saying bad things, about a person or group, especially in politics or public life.（为中伤个人或团体而进行的）散布流言飞语的活动；造谣活动。◆ A bad man has started a whispering campaign against the mayor, saying that he isn't honest. 已有坏人开始了诽谤市长的造谣活动，说他不诚实。

whistle a different tune　See见SING A DIFFERENT TUNE.

whistle-blower　n. phr. A person who betrays his or her accomplices by talking to the police.（向警方揭发同伙的）告发者，告密者。◆ The gang wants to kill Joe, because they found out that he is a whistle-blower and turned them in. 那帮歹徒想杀死乔，因为他们发现他是个告密者，出卖了他们。

whistle for　v., informal To try to get (something) but fail; look for (something) that will not come. 〖非正式〗想得到而未得到；空指望。◆ Mary didn't even thank us for helping her, so the next time she needs help she can whistle for it. 玛丽对我们的帮助连谢谢也没说一声，所以下次她需要帮助时她就休想再得到我们的帮助了。

whistle in the dark　v. phr., informal To try to stay brave and forget your fear. 〖非正式〗吹口哨壮胆。◆ Tom said he could fight the bully with one hand, but we knew that he was just whistling in the dark. 汤姆说他只用一只手就能对付那个恶棍，但我们知道他只是虚张声势罢了。

whistle-stop　n. A small town where the trains only stop on a special signal.（铁路沿线火车见信号才停的）小站，小镇。◆ President Truman made excellent use of the whistle-stop during his 1948 campaign for the presidency. 杜鲁门总统在1948年的总统竞选期间非常好地利用了在小城镇的短暂停留。

white-collar workers　n. phr. Workers employed in offices and at desks as opposed to those who work as manual workers; the middle class. 白领员工（与体力劳动者相对）；中产阶级。◆ It is a well-known fact that white-collar workers are less well organized than unionized manual workers. 众所周知，白领员工不像组织成工会的体力劳动者那样有良好的组织。

white elephant　n. phr. Unwanted property, such as real estate, that is hard to sell. 耗费巨大而又累赘无用的东西；沉重的负担。◆ That big house of theirs on the corner sure is a white elephant. 他们那幢位于街角的大房子确实是个累赘。

white lie　n. phr. An innocent social excuse. 无恶意的谎言。◆ I am too busy to go to their house for dinner tonight. I will call them and tell a little white lie about having the flu. 我很忙，今晚没有时间去他们家赴宴。我会给他们打电话，撤个小谎，说自己患了流感。

white sale　n. The selling, especially at lower prices, of goods or clothing usually made of white cloth.（床单、衣物等）家用白色织物的（削价）销售。◆ Mother always buys many things at the January white sale to save money. 为了省钱，母亲总在1月份家用白色织物削价销售时买很多东西。

whitewash　n., informal A soothing official report that attempts to tranquilize the public. 〖非正式〗粉饰（或掩盖）性的官方报告。◆ Some people believe that the Warren Commission's report on the Kennedy assassination was a whitewash. 一些人认为，沃伦委员会关于肯尼迪被刺案的调查报告是一份掩盖事实真相的报告。

whitewash something　v., informal To explain a major, national scandal in soothing official terms so as to assure the public that things are under control and there is no need to panic. 〖非正式〗掩盖某事的真相；粉饰某事。◆ Many people in the United States believe that President Kennedy's assassination was whitewashed by the Warren Commission. 很多美国人认为，沃伦委员会掩盖了肯尼迪被刺案的真相。

whodunit　n. A detective story; a murder story; a thriller. 侦探故事；凶杀故事；恐怖小说。◆ Agatha Christie was a true master of the whodunit. 阿加莎·克里斯蒂是一位真正的侦探小说大师。

whole cheese slang or informal whole show　n., informal The only important person; big boss. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗最重要的人；大亨；主宰人物。◆ Joe thought he was the whole cheese in the game because he owned the ball.乔因为球是他的就自以为是比赛中的老大。◆ You're not the whole show just because you got all A's. 仅凭门门功课都得优，你还不是学校里的顶尖人物。

who pays the piper calls the tune　Whoever has the means to pay for something has the power to decide what will be done and how. — A proverb. 〖谚〗谁出钱，谁点唱；谁出钱，谁有支配权；谁出钱，谁说了算。◆ Mr. Willoughby bought two hundred acres of undeveloped land to be converted into lots for private homes. Many people don't like his plans, but as the saying goes, "Who pays the piper calls the tune." 威洛比先生买了200英亩未开发的土地，要把它变成建造私人住宅的地块。许多人不喜欢他的计划，但俗话说得好，谁出钱谁就有了支配权。

who's who or who is who　informal 〖非正式〗1. Who this one is and who that one is; who the different ones in a group of people are or what their names or positions are. 谁是谁；各人的身份（或姓名）。◆ It is hard too tell who is who in the Parade because everyone in the band looks alike. 在游行队伍中很难分辨出谁是谁，因为管乐队里的每个人看上去都差不多。2. Who the important people are. 哪些是要人；重要人物。◆ John didn't recognize the champion on television. He doesn't know who is who in boxing. 约翰没认出电视上的那位拳击冠军。他不认识拳击界的那些名人。◆ After about a year, Mr. Thompson had lived in this town long enough to know who was who. 汤普森先生在这个镇上住了大约一年后，才认识了这里的一些重要人物。

why and wherefore　n. The answer to a question or problem. — Usually used in the plural. 原因，理由。——通常用复数形式。◆ Father told him not to always ask the whys and wherefores when he was told to do something. 父亲叫他不要在让他做事情的时候老是问理由。

wide of the mark　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Far from the target or the thing aimed at. 远离目标。◆ James threw a stone at the cat but it went wide of the mark. 詹姆斯朝猫扔了块石头，但偏得太远没有击中。2. Far from the truth; incorrect. 离谱；远非事实；不正确。◆ You were wide of the mark when you said I did it, because Bill did it. 你说这是我干的，这话也太离谱了，因为这是比尔干的。

wiener roast or hot dog roast　n. A party where frankfurters are cooked and eaten over an outdoor fire. 烤香肠野餐会；烤热狗野餐会。◆ Mary's Girl Scout troop had a hot dog roast on their overnight hike. 玛丽的女童子军中队在过夜远足中举行了一次烤热狗野餐会。

wild card in the deck　n. phr. An unknown item or force that one must reckon with. 未知因素；未知数；难以预测的事物。◆ "The whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are the wild cards in the deck," said Mr. Rumsfeld, secretary of defense. 国防部长拉姆斯菲尔德说：“奥萨玛·本·拉登和萨达姆·侯赛因都是行踪诡秘的家伙。”

wildcat strike　n. informal A strike not ordered by a labor union; a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers. 〖非正式〗（未经工会批准或自发举行的）“野猫”式罢工。◆ The garbage collectors have gone on a wildcat strike, but the union is going to stop it. 清洁工人们自发举行了罢工，但工会将要阻止它。

wild goose chase　n. phr. An absurd and completely futile errand. 白费力气的差事；徒劳无益的寻找；徒劳之举。◆ I was on a wild goose chase when I was sent to find a man who never really existed. 我被派出去干一件白费力气的差事，因为要我寻找的人根本就不存在。

wild horses would not drag it from me　No power on earth can make me give away the secret, or to divulge it. — A proverb. 〖谚〗休想从我我这里探得口风；我决不会泄露秘密。◆ "Do you know where grandpa buried the sixteen gold bullions after the bank robbery?" Fred asked his older brother. "I do," came the answer, "but wild horses would not drag it from me." 弗雷德问他哥哥：“你知道在银行抢劫案之后爷爷把那16根金条埋藏在哪里了吗？”哥哥回答说：“我知道，但谁也休想从我这里探得口风。”

will a duck swim?　v. phr., rhetorical question Of course; naturally; certainly. 〖修辞性疑问句〗当然啰！那还用问吗？◆ "Will Bush run again for president?" Jack asked. "Will a duck swim?" Peter replied.“布什会再次竞选总统吗？”杰克问。“那还用问吗？”彼得回答说。

will not hear of　v. phr. Will not allow or consider, refuse attention to or permission for. 不允许；不予考虑；不听从；不同意。◆ John's father told him he would not hear of his having a car. 约翰的父亲告诉他，他不会允许他买汽车。

windbag　n. Someone who talks too much; a boring person. 唠唠叨叨的人；夸夸其谈的人；令人厌烦的人。◆ Uncle Joe goes on and on; he is a boring windbag. 乔大叔一直不停地讲啊讲啊；他真是个令人讨厌的话包子。

windfall　n. An unexpected gift or gain of sizeable proportion. 意外之财；意外获得的东西。◆ The unexpected retroactive pay raise was a most welcome windfall. 没想到这次提薪还要追溯补发，这真是大受欢迎的意外收获。

window dressing　n. phr. An elaborate exterior, sometimes designed to conceal one's real motives. 装饰门面；（掩饰真实动机的）虚饰的言词（或行动）。◆ All those fancy invitations turned out to be nothing but window dressing. 所有那些花里胡哨的请帖都只不过是些虚应故事而已。

window of opportunity　n. phr. A favorable time to do something, e. g., launch a satellite, take diplomatic or military action, etc. 做某事（如发射卫星、采取外交或军事行动等）的有利时机；不可错失的良机。◆ Our next window of opportunity to send a probe to Mars will occur when Earth and Mars will be the nearest to each other. 我们下一次向火星发射探空卫星的有利时机将出现在地球和火星相距最近的时候。

window-shop　v. phr. To walk from store to store and look at the merchandise without buying it. 浏览商店橱窗。◆ When I have no money, I like to window-shop and plan on what I might get when I will be able to afford it. 在我没钱的时候，我喜欢看看商店的橱窗，计划着以后有了钱时可以买些什么东西。

wind up　v. 1. To tighten the spring of a machine; to make it work or run. 给（机器）上紧发条；使发动。◆ He doesn't have to wind up his watch because it is run by a battery. 他不需要给他的手表上发条因为它是用电池驱动的。2. To make very excited, nervous, upset. 使激动；使紧张；使心烦意乱。◆ The excitement of her birthday party got Jane all wound up so she could not sleep. 生日聚会带来的激动使简兴奋得无法入眠。3. informal To bring or come to an end; finish; stop. 〖非正式〗（使）结束；完成；停止。◆ Before Jim knew it, he had spent all his money and he wound up broke. 吉姆很快就花光了所有的钱，最后连一个子儿也没了。4. To put (your business or personal affairs) in order; arrange; settle. 把（生意或个人事务）料理停当；安排；料理。◆ Fred wound up his business and personal affairs before joining the Navy. 弗雷德把公私事务料理妥当后才去参加海军。

win hands down　v. phr. To win conclusively and without external help. 轻而易举地获胜。◆ The opposition was so weak that Dan won the election hands down. 对手非常虚弱，丹轻而易举地就赢得了选举的胜利。

win in a walk or win in a breeze　v. phr., informal To win very easily; win without having to try hard. 〖非正式〗轻而易举地获胜；毫不费力地获胜。◆ Joe ran for class president and won in a walk. 乔竞选班长并轻而易举地获胜。◆ Our team won the game in a breeze. 我们队毫不费力就赢得了比赛。

winning streak　n. A series of several wins one after the other. 连胜，一连串的胜利。◆ The team extended their winning streak to ten. 该队将其连胜扩大到了10场。

win out　v. phr. To win after a rather protracted struggle.（历经艰辛）终于获胜。◆ The lawsuit lasted a long time, but we finally won out. 诉讼持续了很长时间，但最后我们终于获胜了。

win over　v. phr. To convert to one's position or point of view. 说服；把…争取过来。◆ The Democrats offered him a high-level executive position and thus way won him over to their side. 民主党人为他提供了一个高级行政长官的职位，从而把他争取到他们一边去了。

wipeout　n. (stress on wipe)（重读wipe）A total failure. 彻底的失败（者）。◆ The guy is so bad at his job that he is a total wipeout. 那家伙工作很差劲，是个彻底的失败者。

wipe out　v. (stress on out)（重读out）1. To remove or erase by wiping or rubbing. 擦掉。◆ The teacher wiped out with an eraser what she had written on the board. 老师用黑板擦把她在黑板上写的东西全擦掉了。2. informal To remove, kill, or destroy completely. 〖非正式〗消除；消灭；彻底摧毁。◆ Doctors are searching for a cure that will wipe out cancer. 医生们正在寻找消灭癌症的特效药物。

wisecrack　n. A joke or witty remark usually made at someone else's expense. 挖苦人的笑话；俏皮话。◆ The comedians kept up a steady stream of wisecracks. 那些滑稽演员连续不停地说出了一连串俏皮话。

wise guy　n. phr., informal A person who acts as if he were smarter than other people; a person who jokes or shows off too much〖非正式〗自作聪明的人；自命不凡的人；喜欢卖弄的人。◆ Bill is a wise guy and displeases others by what he says. 比尔是个自命不凡的家伙，他说的话令人讨厌。

wise up to　v. phr., slang To finally understand what is really going on after a period of ignorance. 〖俚〗终于了解到；恍然大悟。◆ Joe immediately quit his job when he wised up to what was really going on. 乔在得知事实真相后，立刻就辞职不干了。

wishful thinking　n. phr. A human tendency to anticipate a favorable outcome of something planned or wished for. 一厢情愿的想法；如意算盘；痴心妄想。◆ "If only I could afford to buy that new sports car I saw yesterday," John said, "I could leave everyone behind on the highway in complete safety." "That's a lot of wishful thinking," his wife cut him short.“我要是有钱买下昨天看到的那辆新跑车该有多好，”约翰说。“那样我就能在公路上非常安全地把所有人甩在后面了。”“你这真是痴心妄想，”他的妻子打断了他的话。

wish on　v. To use as a lucky charm while making a wish. 对着…祈祷。◆ Mary wished on a star that she could go to the dance. 玛丽对着一颗星星祈祷，希望能去参加舞会。

witch-hunt　n. phr. A hysterical movement during which people are persecuted for having views (political or religious) considered different or unpopular. 对行巫者的搜捕；（对持不同政见者的）政治迫害。◆ During the McCarthy era many innocent Americans were accused of being Communists, as Republican patriotism deteriorated into a witch-hunt. 在麦卡锡时代，随着共和党的爱国主义堕落为一场政治迫害，很多无辜的美国人被指控为共产党员。

with a vengeance　adv. phr. To an extreme extent; very severely. 极度地；猛烈地。◆ When tuberculosis was wiped out, people thought they were safe from this disease, but in certain parts of the world it came back with a vengeance. 当肺结核被消灭以后，人们以为可以免受这种疾病之害了，但在世界的某些地方它又凶猛地回来了。

with a whole skin also in a whole skin　adv. phr. With no injury; unhurt; safely. 毫无损伤地；未受伤地；安然无恙地。◆ The horse threw him off, but he got away in a whole skin. 马把他摔了下来，但他却侥幸没有受伤。

with bated breath　adv. phr. With great excitement; with eager anticipation. 屏息以待地；焦急地；急切地。◆ All day long I have been waiting with bated breath for the arrival of the express package that was promised to me yesterday. 昨天他们答应给我特快发送个包裹来，所以今天一整天我都在急切地等着它的到来。

with bells on　adv. phr., informal With enthusiasm; eager or ready and in the best of spirits for an event. 〖非正式〗热情地；热切地；有准备地；兴致勃勃地。◆ "Will you come to the farewell party I'm giving for Billy?" asked Jerry. "I'll be there with bells on," replied Ed.“你愿意来参加我为比利举行的欢送会吗？”杰里问。“我非常乐意参加，”埃德回答说。

with child　adv. phr., literary Going to have a baby; pregnant. 〖文〗怀孕的。◆ The angel told Mary she was with child. 天使告诉马利亚说她怀孕了。

with flying colors　adv. phr. With great or total success; victoriously.成功地；出色地；胜利地。◆ Tom finished the race with flying colors. 汤姆在比赛中大获全胜。

with good grace　adv. phr. With pleasant and courteous behavior; politely; willingly; without complaining. 有风度地；礼貌地；心甘情愿地；欣然地。◆ The boys had been wellcoached; they took the loss of the game with good grace. 男孩子们受过良好的训练；他们很有风度地接受了比赛的失败。

within an ace of　informal or within an inch of adv. phr. Almost but not quite; very close to; nearly. 〖非正式〗几乎；差一点儿。◆ Tim came within an ace of losing the election.蒂姆几乎输掉了选举。◆ John was within an inch of drowning before he was pulled out of the water. 约翰差一点就要淹死时被人从水中拉了出来。

within an inch of one's life　adv. phr. Until you are almost dead; near to dying. 差一点儿丧命。◆ The bear clawed the hunter within an inch of his life. 那头熊把猎人抓得差一点儿死去。

within bounds　adv. or adj. phr. 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. 在球场边线之内。◆ You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds. 你必须把球打在网球场的界线之内，否则就出界了。◆ If you kick the football over a sideline, it will not be in bounds. 如果你把足球踢出边线，它就出界了。2. Inside of a place where one is allowed to go or be. 在允许活动的范围内。◆ The soldiers are within bounds on one side of the city, but are out of bounds on the other side. 士兵们可以自由进入城市的一边，而不允许进入另一边。3. Inside of safe or proper limits; allowable. 在安全（或适当）的范围内；在允许的范围内。◆ He succeeded in keeping his temper within bounds. 他控制住了自己的脾气。

within call or within hail　adv. phr. 1. Near enough to hear each other's voices. 在能听到彼此声音的地方；在附近。◆ When the two ships were within hail, their officers exchanged messages. 当两艘船靠得够近时，两位船长交流了信息。2. Ina place where you can be reached by phone, radio, or TV and be called.（可通过电话、无线电或电视）随时联系上；随叫随到。◆ The soldiers were allowed to leave the base by day, but had to stay within call. 准许士兵们在白天离开基地，但必须随叫随到。

within reason　adv. or adj. phr. Within the limits of good sense; in reasonable control or check; moderate. 合情合理（地）；正当（地）；有节制（地）；适度（地）。◆ I want you to have a good time tonight, within reason. 我希望你今晚玩得开心，但要有节制。

with might and main　adv. phr. With full strength or complete effort. 竭尽全力地；全力以赴地。◆ John tried with all his might and main to solve the problem. 约翰想尽了各种办法要解开这道难题。

with open arms　adv. phr. With words or actions showing that you are glad to see someone; gladly, warmly, eagerly. 高兴地；热烈地；热切地。◆ After his pioneering flight in the Friendship VII, Col. John Glenn was welcomed with open arms by the people of his hometown. 在完成了“友谊7号”宇宙飞船首次轨道飞行后，约翰·格伦上校受到家乡人民的热烈欢迎。

without a hitch　adv. phr. Without any trouble or obstacle; successfully. 未遇到麻烦（或障碍）地；顺利地；成功地。◆ Our trip to Europe and back went off without a hitch, except for the waiting in lines at the airports. 除了在机场排队等候外，我们的欧洲之行来去都很顺利。

without batting an eye or without batting an eyelash　See见BAT AN EYE.

without fail　adv. phr. Without failing to do it or failing in the doing of it; certainly, surely. 不得有误；一定；务必。◆ Be here at 8 o'clock sharp, without fail. 务必在8点整到这儿。

without further ado or without much ado　adv. phr. Simply. 没再费周折地；干脆痛快地；立即。◆ Once Sam was shown how to run his personal computer, he sat down and started sending and receiving e-mail messages without further ado. 一旦有人示范教会他如何操作个人电脑，萨姆便立即坐下来开始发送并接收电子邮件了。

with reference to　See见IN REFERENCE TO.

with regard to　See见IN REFERENCE TO.

with relation to　See见IN RELATION TO.

with respect to　See见IN RESPECT TO.

with the best or with the best of them　adv. phr. As well as anyone. 跟（他们中的）任何人一样好。◆ John can bowl with the best of them. 约翰打保龄球不比他们中的任何人差。

wolf down　v. phr. To eat or dunk in a great hurry, mostly standing up in the kitchen. 狼吞虎咽地吃。◆ Ted was so hungry and had so little time, that he grabbed two cold frankfurters out of his refrigerator and just wolfed them down. 泰德很饿，但却没有时间吃饭，于是便从冰箱里抓了两根法兰克福香肠，狼吞虎咽地吃了下去。

wolf in sheep's clothing　n. phr. A person who pretends to be good but really is bad. 披着羊皮的狼；伪装友善的恶人。◆ Mrs. Martin trusted the lawyer until she realized that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. 马丁夫人一直很信任那位律师，直到后来才认识到他是一只披着羊皮的狼。

word for word　adv. phr. In exactly the same words. 逐字地；一字不变地。◆ Mary copied Sally's composition word for word. 玛丽一字未改地抄袭了萨莉的作文。

word of mouth　n. phr. Communication by oral rather than written means. 口头交流；口传。◆ The merchant told us that the best customers he had were recommended to him by word of mouth. 那位商人告诉我们，他最好的顾客都是通过口头交流介绍给他的。

words of one syllable　n. phr. Language that makes the meaning very clear; simple, or frank language. 意思明白的语言；简单的语言；坦率的语言。◆ Mary explained the job to Ann in words of one syllable so that she would be sure to understand. 玛丽用简单明了的语言给安解释这件工作，使她确实能理解。

word to the wise　n. phr. A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow. — A proverb. 〖谚〗对明白人不用细说；智者一言足矣。◆ I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough. 我过去曾对他讲过他一直迟到的事，本以为对明白人是不必多说的。

work cut out　See见CUT OUT 2 adj. 1.

worked up　adj. Feeling strongly; excited; angry; worried. 感情强烈的；激动的；兴奋的；愤怒的；焦躁不安的。◆ Mary was all worked up about the exam. 玛丽对考试感到非常紧张。

work in　v. 1. To rub in. 把（搽剂等）擦进皮层；揉进。◆ The nurse told Mary to put some cream on her skin and to work it in gently with her fingers. 护士告诉玛丽在皮肤上涂一些乳霜，然后用手指把它轻轻地揉进皮层。2. To slip in; mix in; put in. 偷偷塞进；搀进；放进。◆ When Mary was planning the show, she worked a part in for her friend Susan. 玛丽筹备节目时，把她的朋友苏珊也塞进去担任了一个角色。

working girl　n., slang〖俚〗1. (vulgar, avoid!) A prostitute. 〖粗〗〖忌〗妓女。◆ I didn't know Roxanne was a working girl. 我当时并不知道罗克珊是个妓女。2. A girl, usually single, who supports herself by working in an honest job, such as in an office, etc. 女工。◆ The average working girl can't afford such a fancy car. 一般的女工买不起这样的高档汽车。

work into　v. 1. Force into little by little. 一点一点地挤入；慢慢进入。◆ John worked his foot into the boot by pushing and pulling. 约翰又推又拉地才把脚伸进了靴子。2. Put into; mix into. 放进；搀入。◆ Mary worked some blue into the rug she was weaving. 玛丽在她编织的地毯里搀入了些蓝线。

work off　v. To make (something) go away, especially by working.（尤指通过工作）消除。◆ John worked off the fat around his waist by doing exercise every morning. 约翰每天早晨锻炼，消除了腰部的脂肪。

work on also work upon　v. 1. Have an effect on; influence. 对…有作用；对…有影响。◆ Some pills work on the nerves and make people feel more relaxed. 有些药片对神经有作用，可以使人感觉轻松些。2. To try to influence or convince. 试图影响；努力说服。◆ Senator Smith worked on the other committee members to vote for the bill. 史密斯参议员游说其他委员会成员投票赞成这项议案。

work one's fingers to the bone　v. phr. To work very hard. 拼命地干；不停手地干。◆ "I have to work my fingers to the bone for a measly pittance of a salary," Fred complained. 弗雷德抱怨说：“为了那份少得可怜的薪金，我不得不拼着命地干活。”

workout　n. (stress on work)（重读work）A physical exercise session. 锻炼；训练。◆ My morning workout consists of sit-ups and pushups. 我早晨的锻炼包括仰卧起坐和俯卧撑。

work out　v. phr. (stress on out)（重读out）1. To find an answer to. 解决，找到…的答案。◆ John worked out his math problems all by himself.约翰全靠自己解出了他那些数学题。2. To plan; develop. 设计；发展。◆ Mary worked out a beautiful design for a sweater. 玛丽为羊毛衫设计出一个漂亮的图案。3. To accomplish; arrange. 完成；安排。◆ The engineers worked out a system for getting electricity to the factory. 工程师们完成了工厂的供电系统。4. To be efficient; get results. 有效；产生结果。◆ If the traffic plan works out, it will be used in other cities too. 如果这一交通计划有效，其他城市也会采用。5. To exercise. 锻炼，训练。◆ John works out in the gym two hours every day. 约翰每天在健身房锻炼两小时。

work over　v. phr., slang To beat someone up very roughly in order to intimidate him or extort payment, etc. 〖俚〗（为了恫吓或勒索钱财等而）毒打；殴打。◆ Matthew was worked over by the hoodlums in the park right after midnight. 午夜刚过，马修就在公园里遭到一帮恶棍的毒打。

work through channels　v. phr. To go through the proper procedures and officials. 通过正式程序；通过官方渠道。◆ At a state university everybody must work through channels to get things done. 在一所州立大学，每个人都必须通过正式程序才能办成事情。

work up　v. 1. To stir up; arouse; excite. 激发；激起；使激动。◆ I can't work up any interest in this book. 我对这本书提不起任何兴趣。◆ He worked up a sweat weeding the garden. 他在花园里除草出了一身汗。2. To develop; originate. 发展；创作；构思。◆ He worked up an interesting plot for a play. 他为剧本构思出一个有趣的情节。

world is sb.'s oyster　Everything is possible for you; the world belongs to you; you can get anything you want. 世上的一切都在某人掌握之中；世界属于某人；某人可以得到想要的一切。◆ When John won the scholarship, he felt as though the world was his oyster. 获得奖学金后，约翰觉得好像整个世界都是他的。

worlds apart　adj. phr. Completely different; in total disagreement. 天差地远的；完全不同的。◆ Jack and Al never agree on anything; they are worlds apart in their thinking. 杰克和艾尔从未对任何事情取得一致意见；他们的想法完全不同。

world without end　adv. phr., literary Endlessly; forever; eternally. 〖文〗永无止境地；永远；永久。◆ Each human being has to die, but mankind goes on world without end. 每个人都会死，但人类的延续却是永无止境的。

worm in　v. phr. To insinuate oneself; penetrate gradually. 潜入，钻入；逐步进入。◆ By cultivating the friendship of a few of the prominent merchants, Peter hoped to worm his way into that exclusive elite of export magnates. 通过结交几位商界要人，彼得希望慢慢挤进出口巨头们那个排外的实力集团。

worm may turn　Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated.再温顺的人也会反抗。◆ Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn. 萨姆也许认为他可以继续虐待他的妻子，但我了解他的妻子，我认为总有一天温顺的她也会起来反抗的。

worm out　v. phr. To learn through persistent questioning; draw out from. 刺探出；套问出。◆ I finally wormed out of her the reason she broke off her engagement to Larry. 我终于从她那儿探问出她与拉里解除婚约的原因。

worn threadbare or worn to a shred or worn to shreds　adj. phr. Thin; used; torn; said of clothes or ideas.（衣服等）穿旧的，穿破的，破烂不堪的；（思想等）老一套的，陈腐的。◆ Jack never buys any new trousers; he likes his old ones worn to shreds.杰克从来不买新裤子；他喜欢他那些穿破的旧裤子。◆ Professor Catwallender's ideas are outdated and worn threadbare. 卡特沃伦德教授的思想已经陈旧过时了。

worn to a frazzle　adj. phr. To be fatigued; be exhausted. 疲惫不堪的；精疲力竭的。◆ I'm worn to a frazzle cooking for all these guests. 我为所有这些客人烧饭已疲惫不堪。

worrywart　n. phr. A person who always worries. 老是担心的人；老爱发愁的人。◆ "Stop being such a worrywart," Bob said to Alice, who was constantly weighing herself on the bathroom scale.“别这么忧心忡忡的，”鲍勃对艾丽斯说，因为她经常在盥洗室的秤上称体重。

worse for wear　adj. phr. Not as good as new; worn out; damaged by use. — Used with the. 穿坏的；用旧的；破旧不堪的。——与the连用。◆ Her favorite tablecloth was beginning to look the worse for wear. 她最喜爱的桌布看上去开始破旧了。— Often used with none to mean: as good as new. 常与none连用，意为：像新的一样；依然如故。◆ The doll was Mary's favorite toy but it was none the worse for wear. 那个布娃娃是玛丽最喜爱的玩具，但它依然像新的一样。

worth a cent　adj. phr. Worth anything; of any value. — Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. 值钱；有价值。——用于否定句、疑问句和条件句中。◆ The book was old and it was not worth a cent. 这本书旧了，一文不值了。

worth one's salt　adj. phr. Being a good worker, or a productive person; worth what you cost. 称职的；胜任的；值得雇用的。◆ Mr. Brown showed that he was worth his salt as a salesman when he got the highest sales record for the year. 布朗先生取得了年度最高销售成绩，表明他是一位称职的推销员。— Used with not orhardly. 常与not或hardly连用。◆ When the basketball team did so poorly, people felt that the coach was hardly worth his salt. 当篮球队的成绩这么差时，人们觉得那位教练是不称职的。

worth one's weight in gold　adj. phr. Extremely useful or valuable. 极为有用的；非常有价值的。◆ Dr. Jonas Salk saved so many lives by inventing the antidote to polio that he is worth his weight in gold. 乔纳斯·索尔克医生发明了治疗小儿麻痹症的解药，挽救了很多人的生命，厥功至伟。◆ Real Russian red caviar from the Caspian Sea is so expensive that it's almost worth its weight in gold. 正宗的俄罗斯里海红鱼子酱非常昂贵，几乎价比黄金。

would-be　adj. Aspiring. 想要成为…的；未来的。◆ The Broadway casting offices are always full of would-be actors. 百老汇大街上挑选演员的办公室里总是挤满了想当演员的人。

wouldn't put it past someone　v. phr. To think that someone is quite capable or likely to have done something undesirable or illegal. 认为某人（很有可）能（做了某坏事或非法的事）。◆ The congressman is insisting that he didn't violate congressional ethics, but knowing both his expensive habits and his amorous escapades, many of us wouldn't put it past him that he might have helped himself to funds illegally. 那位国会议员坚持说他没有违反国会的行为准则，但因为了解他花钱大手大脚的习惯和他性爱方面的越轨行为，我们很多人都认为他很可能已非法窃取了那些基金。

would that or I would that or would God or would heaven　literary I wish that. — Used at the beginning of a sentence expressing a wish; followed by a verb in the subjunctive; found mostly in poetry and older literature. 〖文〗我希望；但愿。——用在句首表示一种愿望，后接动词用虚拟语气；主要见于诗歌和古代文学作品中。◆ Would that my mother were alive to see me married. 但愿母亲还活着来参加我的婚礼。Syn. 同义短语IF ONLY.

wrack one's brains or beat one's brains　v. phr. To think very hard about a problem. 绞尽脑汁；苦苦思索。◆ Ted has been wracking his brains on how to get the company out of debt. 泰德一直在苦苦思索如何使公司摆脱债务。◆ I have been beating my brains trying to do my income tax. 我一直在苦苦动脑筋，想办法申报所得税。

wrap one's brain or wrap one's mind around something　v. phr., slang To understand something; gain a sympathetic insight into how something works. 〖俚〗理解某事物；弄懂某事物。◆ I am sorry, but I just can't wrap my brain around what Stanley Fish says about Milton. 对不起，我确实理解不了斯坦利·菲有什于弥尔顿的论述。◆ Joe just can't wrap his mind around transformational grammar. 乔完全弄不懂转换语法是怎么回事。

wrapped up in　adj. phr. Thinking only of; interested only in. 专心致志于；对…有浓厚的兴趣。◆ John has no time for sports because he is all wrapped up in his work. 约翰因专心致志于工作而没有时间运动。

wrap someone around one's finger　See见TWIST SOMEONE AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER.

wrap up or bundle up　v. phr. 1. To put on warm clothes; dress warmly.穿上暖和的衣服；穿得暖和。◆ Mother told Mary to wrap up before going out into the cold. 母亲告诉玛丽外面天冷，出门前要穿得暖和些。2. informal To finish (a job). 〖非正式〗完成；结束。◆ Let's wrap up the job and go home. 让我们收工回家吧。3. informal To win a game. 〖非正式〗赢得比赛。◆ The Mets wrapped up the baseball game in the seventh inning.纽约大都会队在第7局赢得了这场棒球比赛的胜利。

wreak havoc　v. phr. To cause damage; ruin something. 造成严重破坏。◆ His rebellious attitude is bound to wreak havoc at the company. 他那种桀骜不驯的态度注定要对公司造成严重破坏。

wringing wet　adj. Wet through and through; soaked; dripping. 湿得可以绞出水来的；湿透的。◆ He was wringing wet because he was caught in the rain without an umbrella. 他遇到雨时没带伞，被淋得浑身上下都湿透了。

write home about　v. phr. To become especially enthusiastic or excited about; boast about. 对…变得格外热情（或兴奋）；夸耀；值得大书特书。◆ Joe did a good enough job of painting but it was nothing to write home about. 乔的油漆活儿干得还不错，但还不值得大肆吹嘘。

write off　v. phr. (stress on off)（重读off）1. To remove (an amount) from a business record; cancel (a debt); accept as a loss. 注销；勾销。◆ If a customer dies when he owes the store money, the store must often write it off. 如果一名欠债的顾客死了，商店必须把这笔债务勾销。2. To accept (a loss or trouble) and not worry anymore about it; forget. 自认倒霉；忘记；不再把…放在心上。◆ Jim's mistake cost him time and money, but he wrote it off to experience.吉姆的错误使他付出了时间和金钱的代价，但他却把它看作是经验。3. To say that (something) will fail or not be good; believe worthless. 认为…会失败；认为…不行；认为…无价值。◆ Just because the boys on the team are young, don't write the team off.不要仅仅因为队员们年轻就认为这个球队不行。

write-off　n. (stress on write)（重读write）A loss. 失败。◆ This last unfortunate business venture of ours is an obvious write-off. 我们最近的这次倒霉的商业冒险显然是一次失败。

writers block　n. phr. A condition of being unable to write; a period when the words just won't come.（使作者不能写作的）作者心理阻滞；作家写不出作品的一段时期。◆ They say that the reason for Ernest Hemingway's suicide was a severe and seemingly endless writer's block. 他们说欧内斯特·海明威自杀的原因是一种严重的而且似乎永无止境的写不出作品的心理阻滞。

writer's cramp　n. Pain in the fingers or hand caused by too much writing.书写痉挛；（书写太久引起的）手指发麻。◆ Holding your pencil too tightly for too long often gives you writer's cramp. 铅笔握得太紧太久常会引起手指发麻。

write-up　n. (stress on write)（重读write）A report or story in a newspaper or magazine.（报刊上的）报道。◆ I read an interesting write-up about the President in a new magazine. 我在一本新杂志上读到一篇有关总统的有趣报道。

write up　v. (stress on up)（重读up）1. To write the story of; describe in writing; give a full account of. 报道；描写；详细记叙。◆ Reporters from many newspapers are here to write up the game. 多家报纸的记者已来这里报道比赛。◆ The magazine is writing up the life of the President. 这家杂志正在详细报道总统的生活。2. To put something thought or talked about into writing; finish writing (something). 把…写成文；写完。◆ The author had an idea for a story when he saw the old house, and he wrote it up later. 作家看到那座老宅时就有了写篇故事的想法，后来就把它写出来了。

writing or handwriting on the wall　n. phr., literary A warning; a message of some urgency. 〖文〗厄运临头的预兆；凶兆。◆ "This nuclear plant is about to explode, I think," the chief engineer said. "We'd better get out of here in a hurry, the handwriting is on the wall."“我认为这家核电站马上就要爆炸，”总工程师说。“我们最好赶快离开这儿，不祥之兆已显而易见。”

◆X◆

x-double minus　adj., slang, informal Extremely poorly done, bad, inferior (said mostly about theatrical or musical performances). 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（主要指戏剧或音乐演出）极差的；糟糕的。◆ Patsy gave an x-double minus performance at the audition and lost her chance for the lead role.帕齐在试演时表现极差，从而失去了扮演主角的机会。

xing something out　v. phr. To delete words or entire sentencs from a manuscript by typing the letter xxxxxxxx many times. 在词（或句）上打上x以示删除；用“x”号划掉。◆ I can't make out the rest of this letter; all the words have been xed out from the last paragraph. 这封信的其余部分我就辨认不出了；最后一段的文字全用“x”号划掉了。

X marks the spot.　An indication made on maps or documents of importance to call attention to a place or a feature of some importance.（在地图或重要文件上以X标出某处的精确位置）就在此处；这就是确切地点。◆ The treasure hunter said to his companion, "Here it is; X marks the spot." 寻宝者对他的伙伴说：“就在这里；这就是确切地点。”

Xmas　n. abbreviation for Christmas.圣诞节（Christmas的缩略）。◆ "Merry Xmas to you" John scribbled on a card in haste.“祝你圣诞快乐，”约翰在贺卡上匆匆地写了一句。

x-rated　adj., slang, informal Pertaining to movies, magazines, and literature judged pornographic and therefore off limits for minors. 〖俚〗〖非正式〗（电影、杂志和文学作品）X级的；色情的；淫秽的；青少年禁看的。◆ My son celebrated his 21st birthday by going to an x-rated movie. 我儿子去看了一部X级的电影，以此庆祝自己的21岁生日。

x-raying machine　n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Speed detection device by radar used by the police. 〖俚〗〖民用波段〗警察用的雷达测速装置；X光机。◆ The smokies are using the x-raying machine under the bridge! 州警察在桥下装有雷达测速装置！

X. y. or X. Y.　n. phr. An unnamed person. 无名氏，匿名者。◆ I got a letter from an unknown person, who signed the letter as "x. y." The person said that he or she wanted to make a donation to our church, but wishes to remain nameless. 我收到一位陌生人的来信，信末署名为“无名氏”。此人说想向我们教会捐赠一笔钱，但希望匿名。

◆Y◆

yak-yak or yakety-yak or yakib-yak　n., slang Much talk about little things; talking all the time about unimportant things. 〖俚〗喋喋不休；连篇废话。◆ Tom sat behind two girls on the bus and he got tired of their silly yak-yak. 汤姆在公共汽车上坐在两个女孩子后面，对她们喋喋不休的蠢话听厌了。

yard sale　See见GARAGE SALE.

year-round or year-around　adj. Usable, effective, or operating all the year. 全年可用的；全年有效的；全年经营的。◆ Colorado is a year-round resort; there is fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter. 科罗拉多是个一年四季可去的旅游胜地，夏天可以钓鱼，冬天可以滑雪。

yellow-bellied　adj., slang Extremely timid, cowardly. 〖俚〗胆小的；怯懦的。◆ Joe Bennett is a yellow-bellied guy, don't send him on such a tough assignment! 乔·贝内特是个胆小鬼；这样艰巨的任务不要派他去！

yellow journalism　n. phr. Cheap and sensational newspaper writing; inflammatory language designed to stir up popular sentiment against another country.（以低级趣味的文字和耸人听闻的报道吸引读者的）黄色办报作风；黄色新闻报道；激发排外情绪的煽动性语言。◆ Yellow journalism is hardly ever truly informative. 黄色办报作风难以提供真实的信息。

yellow-livered　adj. Cowardly. 胆小的；怯懦的。◆ The young boy greatly resented being called yellow-livered and started to fight right away. 小男孩因别人说他胆小而极为愤怒，马上就开始打了起来。

yeoman service　n. phr. Help in time of need; serviceable and good assistance. 需要时的有效帮助；有用的帮助；极佳的服务。◆ Sam was pressed into yeoman service in organizing our annual fundraiser for cerebral palsy victims. 萨姆因急需而被拉来帮忙，组织我们每年一度为大脑性麻痹患者举行的募捐会。

yes-man　n., informal A person who tries to be liked by agreeing with everything said; especially, someone who always agrees with a boss or the one in charge. 〖非正式〗唯唯诺诺的人；对上级唯命是从的人。◆ John tries to get ahead on his job by being a yes-man. 约翰对任何人都唯唯诺诺，想以此在工作中取得进展。

yoo-hoo　interj. — Used as an informal call or shout to a person to attract his attention.（用以引起注意的喊叫）喂。◆ Louise opened the door and called "Yoo-hoo, Mother — are you home?" 路易斯拉开门喊道：“喂，妈妈——你在家吗？”

you bet or you bet your boots or you bet your life　informal Most certainly; yes, indeed; without any doubt. — Used to declare with emphases that a thing is really so. 〖非正式〗千真万确；的确；毫无疑问。——用以强调所言之事的确如此。◆ Do I like to ski? You bet your life I do. 我是不是喜欢滑雪？我的确很喜欢。◆ You bet I will be at the party. 我肯定去参加这次聚会。◆ You can bet your boots that Johnny will come home when his money is gone. 约翰尼花光了钱后肯定会回家。

you bet your bottom dollar　See见GAMBLE ON THAT.

you can say that again　See见YOU SAID IT.

you can take (lead) a horse to water, but you can't make him drink　One can do one's best to arrange a meeting, a conference, or bring one or several individuals to a common ground, but there is no guarantee that they will use the opportunity so afforded. — A proverb. 〖谚〗牵马就水易，逼马饮水难；你可以把马牵到水边，但你无法强迫它饮水。◆ The president of the United States invited the two leaders of the neighboring countries at war to the White House hoping that they would sign the proposed peace agreement. When they refused to do so, the secretary of state wryly commented, "This goes to show that you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." 美国总统把两个交战邻国的领导人邀请到白宫，希望他们能签署拟议中的和平协议。当他们拒绝签署协议时，美国国务卿挖苦地评论说：“这说明，牵马就水易，逼马饮水难。”

you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear　One cannot make something delicate out of something coarse or inferior. — A proverb. 〖谚〗猪耳朵做不成丝钱包；粗丝难织细绢；劣质材料做不出好东西；朽木不可雕。◆ Alan was asked to edit Frank's poetry, but no matter how hard he tried, the material remained unpublishable. When his wife saw his struggle, she said: "Why bother, honey? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." 艾伦应邀为弗兰克写的诗进行编辑加工，但不管他怎么努力，那些诗还是达不到出版要求。妻子看他在苦苦挣扎便说：“何必这么费心呢，亲爱的？劣材难成器，朽木不可雕也。”

you can't teach an old dog new tricks　It is very hard or almost impossible to train an older person to acquire some new skill. — A proverb. 〖谚〗老狗学不了新把戏（指很难或不可能让年纪大的人学会某种新技能）。◆ You'll never teach your grandfather how to do his income tax on a personal computer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. 你永远也教不会你的祖父用个人电脑来算他要交的所得税。老狗学不了新玩意。

you don't say or well, I never　adj. phr., informal Said in surprise or in astonishment, or disbelief; you're kidding; this sounds nonsensical. 〖非正式〗（表示惊讶或不相信）真的吗？不会吧！你是在开玩笑吧！我真没想到过！◆ "I almost beat Steffi Graff in tennis," John's daughter declared, after a visit to Germany, where she had a chance to play the famous champion for ten minutes. "You don't say!" her father replied, laughing.“我打网球差一点击败斯蒂菲·格拉芙，”约翰的女儿访问德国时曾有机会与那位著名的网球冠军打过10分钟球，回来后便如此宣称。“不会吧！”她的父亲笑着说。◆ "I am a shoo-in for the Pulitzer Prize," Ted's son, a senior in high school said, when his first poem was published in the school paper. The father laughed and replied, "Well, I never…" 泰德的儿子是名高中毕业班的学生，他的第一首诗在校刊上刊登出来时，他说：“我肯定要得普利策奖了。”父亲笑着回答说：“啊，我可没想到……”

you're on　v. phr., informal An acceptance to an offer or an invitation. 〖非正式〗接受你的提议（或邀请）。◆ "So you are willing to take both of us to dinner and to the opera?" John asked his friend, Ted. "Yes, of course. I said so, didn't I?" "All right, my friend, you're on!" John replied.“这么说，你愿意带我们俩去吃饭，然后去看歌剧了？”约翰问他的朋友泰德。“当然，我已经说过了，不是吗？”“好吧，我的朋友，我们接受你的邀请！”约翰回答说。

you're telling me　interj., informal — Used to show that a thing is so clear that it need not be said, or just to show strong agreement. 〖非正式〗这还要你告诉我！我早就知道了。◆ "You're late." "You're telling me!"“你迟到了。”“我自己知道！”

your guess is as good as mine　We are both just guessing; neither one of us is really sure what the truth is. — A proverb. 〖谚〗我和你一样都是在猜想；我和你一样不知道（或心中无数）。◆ "Who will be the next president of the United States? George W. Bush, or a Democrat?" "I know whom I would prefer, but your guess is as good as mine."“谁会是下一任美国总统，是乔治·W·布什还是一位民主党人？”“我知道我情愿谁当选，但我和你一样心中无数。”

yours truly　adv. phr. 1. Signing off at the end of letters.（用于信末署名前，作客套语）你忠实的。◆ Yours truly, Tom Smith. 你忠实的汤姆·史密斯。2. I, the first person singular pronoun, frequently abbreviated as t. y. 本人，鄙人（常缩略为t. y.）◆ As t. y. has often pointed out…正如鄙人经常指出的… ◆ T. y. is not really interested in the offer. 本人对此提议其实并不感兴趣。

you said it or you can say that again　interj., slang — Used to show strong agreement with what another person has said. 〖俚〗你说得对！我完全同意！◆ "That sure was a good show" "You said it!"“那的确是一场精彩的演出。”“你说得对！”◆ "It sure is hot!" "You can say that again!"“这天真热！”“对！”

you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours　When two people do reciprocal favors for one another, this saying is often used, meaning, "If you do me the favor I ask of you, I will do you the favor you ask of me." — A proverb. 〖谚〗你捧我，我就捧你；你帮我，我也帮你。◆ "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours," Professor Jones said to his colleague Professor Smith, when they agreed to write letters of recommendation for one another. 当他们同意互为对方写推荐信时，琼斯教授对他的同事史密斯教授说：“你捧我，我就捧你。”

you tell'em　interj., slang — Used to agree with or encourage someone in what he is saying. 〖俚〗（用以表示同意或鼓励某人说下去）你说得对；说得好。◆ The drunk was arguing with the bartenders and a man cried, "You tell'em!" 那醉汉正和酒吧间侍者在争吵，忽听一个人喊道：“说得好！”

yum-yum　interj., informal — Used usually by or to children, to express great delight, especially in the taste of food. 〖非正式〗（儿童用语，用以表示高兴，尤指对美味食品的赞叹）好吃；真棒。◆ "Yum-Yum! That pie is good!"“好吃，好吃！这馅饼真好吃！”

◆Z◆

zero hour　n. 1. The exact time when an attack or other military action is supposed to start. 进攻发动时刻；军事行动开始的时刻。◆ Zero hour for the bombers to take off was midnight. 轰炸机起飞的时刻是午夜。2. The time when an important decision or change is supposed to come; the time for a dangerous action. 决定性时刻；危险行动开始的时刻。◆ It was zero hour and the doctor began the operation on the man. 决定性的时刻到了，医生们开始给那个人做手术。

zero in on　v. 1. To adjust a gun so that it will exactly hit (a target); aim at. 使（枪、炮）瞄准（目标）。◆ Big guns were zeroed in on the enemy fort. 大炮瞄准了敌人的堡垒。◆ American missiles have been zeroed in on certain targets, to be fired if necessary. 美国的导弹已瞄准了某些目标，必要的时候就可发射。2. slang To give your full attention to. 〖俚〗向…集中注意力；把注意力集中在。◆ The Senate zeroed in on the LatinAmerican problems. 参议院把注意力集中在拉丁美洲的问题上。◆ Let's zero in on grammar tonight. 今晚我们就专门学习语法吧。

zero time flat　n. phr. An extremely short duration; fractions of a second; often said as an exaggeration. 极短的时间；片刻。——常用作夸张。◆ "How soon can you get that letter typed up, Suzie?" Dean Doolittle asked his secretary. "I'll do it in zero time flat just for you," Suzie answered flirtatiously.“你什么时候能把那封信打出来呀，苏茜？”杜利特尔院长问他的秘书。“我马上就能为你打出来，”苏茜卖弄风情地回答说。

zip one's lip　See见BUTTON ONE'S LIP.

zone defense　n. A defense in a sport (as basketball or football) in which each player has to defend a certain area.（篮球、橄榄球等运动中的）区域防守。◆ The coach taught his team a zone defense because he thought his players weren't fast enough to defend against individual opponents. 教练指示球队进行区域防守，因为他认为球员们的速度太慢，不能进行人盯人防守。

zonk out　v. phr., slang〖俚〗1. To fall asleep very quickly. 迅速入睡。◆ Can I talk to Joe? — Call back tomorrow, he zonked out. 我可以跟乔通话吗？——明天再打来吧，他已经睡着了。2. To pass out from fatigue, or alcohol.（因疲劳或饮酒过量而）失去知觉。◆ You won't get a coherent word out of Joe, he has zonked out.你从乔嘴里不会听到一句连贯的话了，他已经醉得不省人事了。

zoom in　v. phr. 1. To rapidly close in on (said of airplanes and birds of prey).（飞机、猛禽）迅速迫近。◆ The fighter planes zoomed in on the enemy target. 战斗机迅速迫近了敌军目标。2. To make a closeup of someone or something with a camera. 把（摄影机）迅速向…推近；拍特写镜头。◆ The photographer zoomed in on the tiny colibri as it hovered over a lovely tropical flower. 当小蜂鸟盘旋在一朵可爱的热带花卉上时，摄影师迅速把相机向它推近。

本词典为畅销全美的《美国习语词典》（A Dictionary of American Idioms）全新第4版的英汉对照版，共收录了8000多条美式英语中特有的单词短语条目，并以双语形式给每一词条提供定义和例句。本词典讲解分析了美式英语中的各种习语及其应用，并收入了大量的最新习语，充分展现了不断变化中的美式英语的语言文化。本词典汉语部分由国内外语界知名学者翟象俊教授主译，文笔严谨、语言地道，准确再现了原版的精神风貌。本词典非常适合中国的英语学习者，能帮助他们解疑释惑，轻松习得地道的美式英语，也有助于他们提高参加TOEFL等考试的应试能力。

全新升级版的美国习语词典！

8000多条英语单词、短语、方言条目！

通过准确定义和交叉对照令非正式英语词句更易习得！

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Table of Contents

目录

复旦版工具书

插图

扉页

版权页

Acknowledgements

鸣谢

The Most Useful Dictionary of American Idioms

最有用的美国习语词典

Introduction

What Is an Idiom?

How to Use This Dictionary

序言

一、什么是习语

二、如何使用这本词典

Preface to the Fourth Edition

第4版前言

A Dictionary of American Idioms

美国习语词典

内容简介