| 复合形式： |
| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (Don't risk what you have.) (谚语) | 一鸟在手胜于二鸟在林
yì niǎo zài shǒu shèng yú èr niǎo zài lín |
| | I'm told I can do better if I keep looking for opportunities, but I'll stay at this job for now; after all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| a chip off the old block nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | informal, figurative (person: like parent) (非正式用语) | 外表或性格酷似其父母中一个的人
wài biǎo huò xìng gé kù sì qí fù mǔ zhōng yí gè de rén |
| | He'll be a womanizer just like his father; he's a chip off the old block. |
| a drop in the bucket nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | US, informal, figurative (amount: trivial) (非正式用语) | 九牛一毛，沧海一栗
|
| | The U.S. needs to redevelop passenger rail; Amtrak funding is just a drop in the bucket. |
| a drop in the bucket nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | US, informal, figurative ([sth]: inconsequential) | 杯水车薪
bēi shuǐ chē xīn |
| a drop in the ocean nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | UK, informal, figurative (amount: trivial) | 沧海一栗
cāng hǎi yí lì |
| | The money I give to charity is a drop in the ocean compared to some people. |
| a night out on the town nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (evening at bar, party) | 夜间派对
|
| | After I got my promotion, my friends and I went for a night out on the town to celebrate. |
| a piece of the action nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | informal (involvement, participation) | 参与其中
|
| | | 从中获利
|
| | If I'm to help you, I want a piece of the action. |
| a thing of the past nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | informal ([sth] obsolete) | 过去的事情
guò qù de shì qíng |
| a word to the wise nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | colloquial (giving warning, advice) (口语) | 明白人用不着多说，聪明人一点就明白
|
| | A word to the wise: do not visit this neighborhood alone after dark. |
| the able-bodied nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | (not physically disabled) | 健全人
|
| | People with disabilities enjoy sports as much as the able-bodied do. |
| the above nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (preceding text) | 上文
shàng wén |
| above the law adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (not legally accountable) | 凌驾于法律之上的，不受法律约束的
|
| | Many politicians think that they are above the law, and should not be punished for any wrongdoing. |
| above-the-line adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | figurative (of current expenses) | 线上项目的，经常预算的
|
| above-the-line adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | figurative (advertising: in mass media) (广告业：大众传媒) | 线上的
|
| above the line exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | figurative (of current expenses) | 线上项目，经常预算
|
| above the line exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | figurative (advertising: in mass media) (广告业：大众传媒) | 线上
|
| absorb the shock v | literal (soften a physical impact) (本义) | 减缓…的冲击，减轻…造成的震动
|
| | Egg boxes absorb the shock of shipping so the eggs don't crack. |
| absorb the shock v | figurative (take in bad news) (比喻) | 减轻（坏消息等带来的）冲击
jiǎn qīng huài xiāo xī děng dài lái de chōng jī |
| | The telephone fell from her hand as she tried to absorb the shock of her father's death. |
| absorb the shock v | figurative (lessen a financial burden) (比喻) | 减轻经济负担，减轻经济上的冲击
|
| | My pension fund took a beating in the stock market crash, but at least I had bank certificates to absorb the shock. |
| accept the responsibility v | (be willing to take on duties) | 承担责任
chéng dān zé rèn |
| | She accepted the responsibility of planning the office Christmas party. |
| according to the agreement exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (by the terms of the agreement) | 根据协议
gēn jù xié yì |
| | According to the agreement, the buyer will purchase all the product that the seller can produce. |
| according to the contract exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (by the terms of the contract) | 根据合同
gēn jù hé tóng |
| | | 根据合同条款
gēn jù hé tóng tiáo kuǎn |
| | According to the contract you may take three days of bereavement leave for your uncle's funeral, but only one for your nephew's. |
| according to the letter advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (according to law) | 严格地根据法律
yán gé de gēn jù fǎ lǜ |
| | | 严格依法
yán gé yī fǎ |
| | These laws are no longer obeyed according to the letter. |
| according to the letter advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (to the letter, word for word, verbatim) | 根据字面意思
gēn jù zì miàn yì si |
| according to the rules exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (by the rules) | 根据规则
gēn jù guī zé |
| | | 根据规定
gēn jù guī dìng |
| | According to the rules, he had to be taken off the field. |
| ace in the hole nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | slang (asset, trump) (俚语) | 暗藏的王牌
àn cáng de wáng pái |
| | Gloria's ace in the hole is her fantastic singing voice. |
| ace in the hole nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (advantage hidden from opponents) (比喻) | （不让对手知道的）秘密武器，暗藏的王牌
|
| the acquitted nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (person pronounced not guilty) | 被宣判无罪的人
|
| | The acquitted left the courtroom. |
| across the board advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (globally, universally) | 全面
quán miàn |
| | | 整体
zhěng tǐ |
| across the world advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (all over the Earth) | 全世界
quán shì jiè |
| | | 世界各地
|
| | It sure would be nice if peace broke out across the world for a change. |
| across-the-board adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (global, universal) | 全面的
quán miàn de |
| | | 全盘的
quán pán de |
| | Across-the-board tax increases hurt the poor far more than the rich. |
| act in the interests of vtrtransitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat." | (act to protect or help) | 为了…的利益而采取行动
wèi le de lì yì ér cǎi qǔ xíng dòng |
| | An attorney will always act in the best interests of her client. |
| Acts of the Apostles nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | (Bible: New Testament book) | 使徒行传
shǐ tú xíng zhuàn |
| | For the second reading, the Lector read from the Acts of the Apostles. |
| add fuel to the fire v exprverbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." | figurative (exacerbate the issue) | 火上浇油
huǒ shàng jiāo yóu |
| | Shouting at angry pupils is only likely to add fuel to the fire. |
| the Adriatic nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (region) | 亚得里亚海地区
|
| the Adriatic nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (ocean) | 亚得里亚海
|
| the Adriatic Sea nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (body of water east of Italy) (意大利东部水域) | 亚得里亚海
|
the Aegean,
the Aegean Islands nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (Greek, Turkish islands) | 爱琴海群岛
|
| the Aegean Sea nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (part of Mediterranean Sea) (地中海的一部分) | 爱琴海
|
| affair of the heart nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (love affair, romantic involvement) | 恋爱事件
liàn ài shì jiàn |
| | | 风流韵事
fēng liú yùn shì |
| | Romance novels describe affairs of the heart. |
| afraid of the dark adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (scared of darkness) | 怕黑的
|
| | She kept a nightlight on because she was afraid of the dark. |
| after the fact exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (afterwards) | 事后
shì hòu |
| | He had no knowledge of the robbery until after the fact. |
| after the fact exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (added after concluded) | 事后的
shì hòu de |
| | Conditions added to a contract after the fact are invalid unless both parties agree to them. |
| against the clock advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (under pressure of time) | 抢时间
qiǎngshí jiān |
| | | 争分夺秒
zhēng fēn duó miǎo |
| | It's seems as though I am always working against the clock! These deadlines are ridiculous. |
| against the law adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (illegal) | 违法的
wéi fǎ de |
| | Smoking marijuana is against the law. |
| against the law advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (illegally) | 违法
wéi fǎ |
| | He was driving against the law as he had just guzzled down seven pints of beer. |
| the agentive nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (grammar: agentive case) (语法) | 施事格
|
| ahead of the game adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (at an advantage) | 领先的
lǐng xiān de |
| | | 占优势的
zhàn yōu shì de |
| | Bruce was ahead of the game because he repaired the roof before the rains came. |
| ahead of the game advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (at an advantage) | 处于领先地位
chǔ yú lǐng xiān dì wèi |
| | | 处于优势地位
chǔ yú yōu shì dì wèi |
| all over the map adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | informal (not focused) (非正式用语，讨论等) | 不集中于主题，跑题
|
| | After her father died, her emotions were all over the map. |
| all over the map advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (in many places) | 到处
dào chù |
| | | 各处
gè chù |
| | | 满地
mǎn dì |
| | When he looked up the nearest ATM, they came up all over the map. |
| all over the place adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | informal (not focused, incoherent) (非正式用语，讨论等) | 跑题
pǎo tí |
| | I have been very distracted lately; my thoughts are all over the place. |
| all over the place advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (in many places) | 到处
dào chù |
| | | 各处
gè chù |
| | | 满地
mǎn dì |
| | There is dust all over the place; I really need to clean house! |
| all over the world exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (in many countries) | 全世界
quán shì jiè |
| | | 世界各地
|
| | Santa Claus is known all over the world. |
| all over the world advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | figurative (everywhere) | 到处
dào chù |
| | | 四处
sì chù |
| | Luke had searched all over the world, but there was no sign of Naomi. |
| all the best advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (regards, best wishes) | 万事顺心如意
wàn shì shùn xīn rú yì |
| | I wish you all the best in your new career. |
All the best,
exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | written (closing: letter or email) (信件或电子邮件结尾) | 祝一切顺利，
|
| 备注: Followed by the writer's name or signature, usually on a separate line. |
| all the better exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (enhances [sth]) | 更好，更加
|
| | "Big eyes? All the better to see you with, my dear!" said the wolf to Little Red Riding Hood. |
| all the comforts of home nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | (amenities, facilities) | 各种舒适的设施
gè zhǒng shū shì de shè shī |
| | The hotel room has all the comforts of home. |
| all the days of your life nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | (for the rest of your life) | 余生
yú shēng |
| all the more exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (even more) | 更加
gèng jiā |
| | | 更为
gèng wéi |
| | Crying in front of her embarrassed him, but it made her love him all the more. |
| all the more so exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (even more so) | 更是如此
gèng shì rú cǐ |
| | | 更加如此
gèng jiā rú cǐ |
| | You need a strong pair of boots if you go hiking, all the more so now that it's winter. |
| all the rage exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (very popular, in fashion) | 风行一时
fēng xíng yì shí |
| | Polka dots are all the rage this season. |
| all the same exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (even so) | 尽管如此…（仍然）
jǐn guǎn rú cǐ réng rán |
| | Max promised to change, but all the same I decided to end the relationship. |
| all the time exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (always) | 一直
yì zhí |
| | | 始终
shǐ zhōng |
| | I help people all the time. |
| all the time in the world nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | figurative (as much time as needed) | 充裕的时间，足够的时间
|
| all the way exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | figurative, slang (completely) | 完全地
wán quán de |
| | | 彻底地
chè dǐ de |
| | "Which football team do you support?" "Manchester United all the way!" |
| all the way advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | literal (the full distance) (本义) | 走到底，整个一路上，从头到尾
|
| all the way in advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (completely in) | 全进去
|
| | | 全插进去
|
| | To get the card to work, you have to put it all the way in. |
| all the way to advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (during the entire journey to) | 在…的整个行程中
zài de zhěng gè xíng chéng zhōng |
| | | 自始自终
zì shǐ zì zhōng |
| | | 一直
yì zhí |
| | We had to listen to him snore all the way from New York to Rome. |
| all the way to advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (the full distance to) | 到…的一路上
dào de yí lù shàng |
| | | 整个一路中
zhěng gè yí lù zhōng |
| | He sang and danced all the way to school. |
| all the way to advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (emphatic: a long way) | 不远万里（来到）
bù yuǎn wàn lǐ lái dào |
| | | 千里迢迢（来到）
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo lái dào |
| | You want me to carry this all the way back to the house? |
| all the while advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (at the same time, meanwhile) | 同时
tóng shí |
| | He said he was working hard at the university but all the while he was going to the race track. |
| all through the night exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (throughout the night) | 整个晚上
zhěng gè wǎn shàng |
| | | 整夜
zhěng yè |
| | All through the night we could hear the loud music from the floor above. |
all year round,
all the year round advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (throughout the year) | 全年，整年，一年四季
|
| | (口语) | 一年到头
yì nián dào tóu |
| | I'd love to live in a climate where I could garden all year round. |
| the Allies nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | (World War II: anti-German alliance) (二战时) | 同盟国，反法西斯同盟
|
| | The Allies coordinated a large-scale invasion in Normandy. |
| the Allies nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | historical (World War I: anti-German nations) (一次世界大战) | 协约国
|
| | In World War I, the Allies fought against the Central Powers. |
| the Almighty nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (God) | 上帝
shàng dì |
| | The Almighty brought plagues to the people of Egypt. |
| | 上帝给埃及人民带来了灾难。 |
| along the length of preppreposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours." | (all along, alongside) | 沿着
yán zhe |
| | She had strung miniature lights along the length of the patio for the party. |
| along the lines of preppreposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours." | (of the same sort as) | 类似
lèi sì |
| | You want purple wallpaper? I was thinking more along the lines of beige. |
| along the side of preppreposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours." | (along the length of, beside) | 在…旁边
|
| | We built a retaining wall along the side of the terrace. |
| along the way advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | literal (over the course of a route) (本义) | 一路上，沿路
|
| along the way advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | figurative (in the course of events) (比喻) | 一直以来，一路上
|
| | We're driving to the mountains, but will stop for coffee along the way. |
| always on the move adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | informal (never still) | 一直走来走去
|
| | Sheila is always on the move and never has the time to sit down for a chat. |
| always on the move adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | informal (travelling a lot) | 走南闯北
|
| | | 南来北往
|
| | Barry is always on move because he has to go on a lot of business trips. |
| the Amazon nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (river) | 亚马孙河
yà mǎ sūn hé |
| | The Amazon is a river in South America. |
| | 亚马孙河是南美洲的一条河流。 |
| the Amazon nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | colloquial (rainforest in South America) (南非) | 亚马逊热带雨林
|
| Ambassador to the United Nations nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (international diplomat) | 驻联合国大使
|
| | The agressive stance shown during his term as Ambassador to the United Nations hurt his country. |
| the Americas nplplural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors." | (North and South America) | 美洲
měi zhōu |
| and all the rest of it advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | informal (et cetera, etc.) (非正式用语) | 诸如此类，等等
|
| and the like nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (and similar) | 之类
zhī lèi |
| | There are a lot of waterfowl out on the lake -- mergansers, geese, coots, and the like. |
| and the rest nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (et cetera, etc.) | 诸如此类
zhū rú cǐ lèi |
| | | 等等
děng děng |
| and the rest is history exprexpression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." | (what happened is well known) (习语) | 余下的就众所周知了
yú xià de jiù zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī le |
| | I met your mum in a bar, and the rest is history! |
| answer the door v exprverbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." | (open front door to a caller) | 应门，去开门
|
| | When the sales lady rang the bell, I didn't answer the door. |
| answer the phone v exprverbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." | informal, abbreviation (respond to a telephone call) | 接电话
jiē diàn huà |
| | Would you answer the phone for me, please? My hands are all greasy. |
| answer the telephone v exprverbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." | (respond to a telephone call) | 接电话
jiē diàn huà |
| | I hoped he would answer the telephone, since he was only 3 feet away from it. |
ark,
the ark nnoun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. | (Noah's Ark: biblical boat) (通常写为"Ark"，指《圣经》中挪亚及其家人和动物为避洪水而乘的大船) | 诺亚方舟
nuò yà fāng zhōu |
| | According to the Bible story, Noah built the ark to save human and animal life from a great flood. |
| armed to the teeth adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (having many weapons) | 武装到了牙齿
wǔ zhuāng dào le yá chǐ |
| | | 全副武装
quán fù wǔ zhuāng |
| | Switzerland is a neutral nation, but is also armed to the teeth to preserve its neutrality. |
| around the clock advadverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down." | (all the time) | 不分日夜
bù fēn rì yè |
| | | 日以继夜
rì yǐ jì yè |
| 备注: A hyphen is used when the term is an adjective |
| | The engineers are working around the clock to get the project finished on time. |
| around-the-clock adjadjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." | (constant) | 连续不停地
lián xù bù tíng de |
| | | 日夜不断地
rì yè bú duàn de |
| | His mother is very sick and needs around-the-clock care. |