在英语里,介词短语(prepositional phrases)数量之多,可以和片语动词(phrasal verbs)互相比拟,不与它们亲近也难。
. ^6 U' h, q! G6 `7 v 下面是些由“at”引导的介词短语,你都见过吗?
! k- _: b% n' D7 z6 C& ]4 N 1. At bay:(经常和keep或hold连用)使……不能接近/ z7 E$ z2 P) v# \7 \
One of the gangsters kept the police at bay until the rest escaped.& |1 ]9 ~) q9 q# p) s7 z3 q
' w c) }* Z! F8 m6 P7 @ 2. At bottom:实际上/ G' f& u; o: _ i
Judy said she was not jealous of her friends' success, but at bottom, she was.% ~$ }2 j. Y u
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3. At close quarters:逼近地
, f( U* }, U; Z+ w) e1 I* j& N& N4 ^ The two rivals grappled at close quarters.
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4. At cross purposes:互相误解
" n, q& B' Z- r3 j) E% D: b* p I think we are at cross purposes. When I said "J.C.", I meant "Jason Chen", not "John Chen".
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7 A" I! \6 r" i+ I- c 5. At daggers drawn:势不两立
: D; I8 F4 r+ a$ e5 v Dan and Bob have been at daggers drawn for years. There is no evidence that they will make up.( b" Z% u, l. @( n- o
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6. At every turn:处处9 L1 f- G) S5 h9 K+ A$ L
When you go downtown, you will see shops, big and small, at every turn.$ T5 I% X: C: C* l( ]
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7. At one fell swoop:一举
) W! s0 Y; B* H$ Z Which country can invade another country and conquer it at one fell swoop?" T/ f) f: n2 H8 y4 F3 f5 \6 ~: [
( ]. m& ~$ Q5 m, f 8. At issue:在讨论中的
( K# F o, N" @3 c. J$ p2 V The question asked was not relevant to the matter at issue .
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9. At large:一般的;逍遥法外的。9 k6 f# N' o* z3 j% f
a. The people at large support the government's various policies.
: A6 w$ i/ Y* X x2 r0 d b. Some illegal immigrants were caught, but some others are still at large.- F5 C3 ]# o9 B( |8 k8 U7 Y
) U, B6 M, j- j 10. At length:详细地 D2 r6 x( c4 _( V% `9 Z) o
Time did not allow the speaker to talk about the financial turmoil at length.
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11. At loggerheads with……:经常和……争吵
) O/ K: {: s( J9 w- f Mr and Mrs Thang are often at loggerheads with each other. Why can't they get along well? |