语块的整理（6）：Basic concepts

2018-08-28 本文已影响0人湖说英语

【英语学习】这个系列的文章，共99篇，这是第13篇！

第七篇我们介绍了语块，即英语学习过程中，不要孤立地背单词，而是有意识地积累常见搭配，比如介宾短语、动宾短语、主谓搭配、副词修饰形容词等。

上篇我们整理了English collocations in Use（Intermediate） 这本书中的第五个话题：Society and institutions，此篇为第六个话题：Basic concepts.

Time

in your free/ spare time

The doctor's very busy but he'll try to make time for you. 为你腾出时间

We got to the airport very early, so we had a meal in the restaurant to kill (some) time.

打发时间

The train left right on time. 刚好准时

Your attitude to work may change a bit as time goes by / as time passes.

I couldn't finish the exam because I ran out of time. 用完时间（时间不够）

They work from dawn till dusk(整天) and indeed sometimes they stay up until the small hours（凌晨）.

It's taking them ages to complete their work but Tina is sure it will eventually all be worth their while. (花的时间)

Sound

We heard the ear-splitting/deafening sound/noise of three huge military aircraft passing low over our heads. 震耳欲聋的声音

People who make excessive noise after 10 p.m. are very antisocial. 过高的噪音

We could hear the muffled sound of music from the flat above us. 模糊的声音

I could hear raucous laughter coming from the party next door. 喧闹的笑声

I couldn't sleep with the constant roar of the traffic outside my window. 交通噪音

Loud music was blaring out of the radio in the kitchen. 大声播放

As we talked to the factory owner, the machines hummed/whirred in the background.

机器轰隆隆

give a sigh(叹息), a laugh, a loud cry, a cry of pain/surprise/alarm, a gasp(喘气), a groan(呻吟)

make a scratching(刮擦) / clicking(咔嗒) / rustling(沙沙) / crackling(噼啪) sound

Distance and size

The hotel is a considerable distance from the beach. 很远的距离

We have to live within commuting distance of my husband's office. 上下班距离

On our cycling tour, we managed to cover (a distance of) about 40 kilometres a day.

I've never seen a member of the royal family at such close range before. 近亲

low prices, low wages, low levels

small quantities, small numbers, small amounts, a small increase

problems or objects being on a large scale or on a small scale

a great deal of time / a great deal of money / a great deal of energy / a great deal of enthusiasm

major/minor difference, major/minor change, major/minor effect, major/minor difficulty, major/minor point, major/minor issues, major/minor factor

Colour and light

I love bright colours. I have a bright yellow jacket and I think the colour goes well with(很配) my bright green trousers. But my best friend thinks the colours clash(冲突). She says I should get some yellow trousers to match the jacket. Who is right?

A ray of sunlight(一束阳光) fell on his face and woke him up. It was six a.m. Soon the glare of the sun(刺眼的强光) would make it difficult to see his way across the desert. He must get to the village at once.

The law about re-using pictures from the Internet seems to be a grey area.

The trip to Brazil certainly added colour to our rather boring lives. 给生活添色

My brother cares a lot about green issues and has volunteered to do conservation work. 环保话题

The government tried to blacken his name because he was critical of their policies. 抹黑他的名声

I'm hoping Hilary can shed/throw some light on what happened at work yesterday. 解释

My sister's illness cast a shadow over our New Year family reunion. 阴影

Jim has always been under the shadow of his super-intelligent sister. 失去关注

Texture

You need to wash greasy hair(油性头发) more often than you need to wash dry hair.

This cream is good for dry skin — that one would be better for oily skin(油性皮肤).

Use this cream and the rough skin(粗糙的皮肤) on your hands will soon become smooth.

The outward flight was very bumpy(颠簸). I hope the return flight is smoother.

I'd much rather sleep with a firm pillow than a very soft pillow.

As time goes by, fruit goes soft and bread goes hard.

If someone has a sharp tongue, they say unkind things.

Coarse jokes(粗俗的玩笑) are vulgar jokes, jokes in bad taste.

Velvety sky(柔和的夜空) is dark and deep with a beautiful soft smooth quality like the cloth velvet.

Taste and smell

The fragrant perfume of wild flowers follows you. 芳香味

The distinctive aroma(芳香) of the local dishes and the smell of fresh coffee wafting across(飘荡) the square from the small cafes is simply wonderful.

For many people, octopus is an acquired taste(something you dislike at first but start to like after trying it several times), but it's a must on the south coast, and the subtle flavour(微妙的味道) of the local vegetable provides a perfect accompaniment.

bitter coffee 苦咖啡

an old carton of milk which had gone sour 发酸

body odour 体味

Bob and I share the same taste in music; we often buy the same CDs. 品味

We smelt danger and decided not to enter the city. It was a wise choice. 嗅到危险

Number and frequency

51 is an odd number奇数 - 50 is an even number 偶数

There's been a recent decline in the number of boys joining the army.

If we add up all the figures, it comes to a total of 794.

The standard unit of currency(货币单位) in most EU countries is the euro.

unit of electricity 电单位

unit of length 长度单位

widespread interest, widespread support 广泛的

widespread damage, widespread poverty

rare disease, rare bird, rare species 罕见的

I couldn't get on with my work today because of constant interruptions - the phone kept ringing every five minutes.

It was a mistake to go on holiday with them. Their continual complaining drove us mad.

Describing graphs and charts

Profits rose sharply/steeply in July, but fell sharply/steeply in September.

There was a dramatic rise/fall in the number of students applying to university this year.

Numbers of mature students have increased steadily/gradually since the 1960s.

The number of crimes committed in the city has remained constant/stablesince 2001.

Movement and speed

We had a quick glance at the menu and went in. 迅速瞥一眼

The builders made rapid progress with the new stadium.

She made a speedy recovery after her operation.

The government took swift action to change the law.

Prompt payment of bills is a good idea. 快速支付

a prompt reply立即回复

We had a brisk walk before lunch. 快走

We should not make a hasty decision; we may regret it later. 仓促决定

He drove at breakneck speed along the motorway and was soon stopped by the police. 超速

in slow motion 慢动作

We were stuck in slow-moving traffic for an hour on our way to the airport.

After the accident the traffic slowed to a crawl(爬) and then finally came to a standstill(停).

He always does everything in an unhurried manner. 不慌不忙

As it left the city, the train gathered/picked up speed and headed north. 加速

Several roads were closed, so we had to make/take a detour. 绕行

I tried to steer the conversation away from my terrible exam results. 转移话题

One of the packages I posted went astray and never arrived. 走失

change

I made a few adjustments to the gears and my bike works much better now.

We've had to make a slight alteration to our plans for the evening.

We've made a few modifications to the software so that it suits our systems better.

We've decided to adopt a new approach to the parking problem.

It is often much more difficult than you'd expect to break a habit.

The Internet has revolutionised the way people do research.

Yoga has the power to transform the way we feel.

Would you like to change places/seats with me — then you can sit next to your friend.

exchange money兑换货币

exchange ideas 交流想法

The standard of living is rising steadily / is improving. (NOT increasing or growing)

There's been a big improvement in your performance this year. (NOT increase)

A number of problems arose during the journey. (NOT appeared)

（Something rises, for example, prices rise, profits rise, the sun rises. ）

Ways of speaking

Whenever I make a speech I always try to get to the point as quickly as possible.

I wonder if I could have a brief chat with you about our new secretary?

I had a quick word with Lorna about it yesterday; she said there have been problems.

I know it's a delicate subject but I don't think we need to make it a lengthy discussion with everyone involved.

In fact I was going to ask you a favour.请你帮忙

I find it difficult to get into conversation with new people, or to join in a conversation that's already started.

I was at a party recently and I heard my friend Margie strike up a conversationwith a handsome man sitting next to her. Then, after a while, during a lull in the conversation, I heard her whisper softly to him that she was not married. She is. Why did she tell a lie? Should I have told him?

Ways of walking

Some were taking a stroll(遛) with their dogs, while more energetic people chose to go jogging.

We can go for a leisurely stroll around the park later.

The nurse walked briskly(麻利地) over to the bed.

She picked her way cautiously(谨慎地) along the icy pavement.

I didn't know what to do so I just wandered aimlessly around town all morning. 漫无目的地闲逛

The president strode confidently across the room. 自信地大踏步走

a walking encyclopedia 行走的百科全书

run into problems 遇到问题

Many different walks of life appealed to him. 不同行业

After only a month or two he had made great strides and was ready to take his book to a publishing house. (made great progress)

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