習(xí)語集錦【5】

字號:

(1) About average
    — no better or no worse than others.
    — 符合一般水平
    Example: Some staff's performance is about average. They have never proved better.
    (2) About time
    — the appropriate time.
    — 差不多到時候了
    Example: You have been working for quite a while. It's about time you had a new car.
    (3) About to
    — ready to
    — 即將;正要
    Example: We were about to go out when it suddenly rained.
    (4) Back to back
    — with the back facing the other.
    — 背靠背
    Example: Stand back to back, boys! Let me see who is the tallest.
    (5) Back to front
    — with the back placed where the front should be.
    — 前后顛倒
    Example: You got your pullover on back to front.
    — thoroughly
    — 透徹地
    Example: All the people here know the government's major policies back to front.
    (6) Back up someone/something
    — support someone/something.
    — 支持某人/某事
    Example: ① No matter how, we should back up our most respected representative.
    ② Some new evidence backed up the prosecutor's argument.
    (7) Call on/upon someone
    — visit someone
    — 訪問某人
    Example: When are we going to call on our new neighbours?
    (8) Call on/upon someone to do something
    — invite someone to speak, etc.
    — 邀請
    Example: Without further ado, let me call upon our distinguished guest to speak to us.
    — appeal to someone to act.
    — 懇求;促使
    Example: In times of difficulties, we will have to call on the public to make donations.
    (9) Call out someone
    — order officially.
    — 召喚
    Example: During the riot, the chief of police had to call out the riot police to restore law and order.
    (10) Damp(en) something down
    — make a fire burn less strongly.
    — 使火燃燒緩慢下來
    Example: It was a moonlit night, so the campers dampened down the fire.
    — control and reduce something; suppress something.
    — 抑制;減弱
    Example: ① Some boys were over-zealous and we had to damp down their enthusiasm.
    ② Lack of support has damped down political dissidents' activities.
    (11) Dance attendance on/upon someone
    — do what someone wants without asking.
    — 侍候某人,聽其差遣
    Example: The manageress sat still, expecting everyone to dance attendance on her.