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。7 L0 I3 u& o3 M: c( f% v) i P+ [
下面是些由“at”引导的介词短语,你都见过吗?4 u1 I( S' F3 D4 u: g h
1. At bay:(经常和keep或hold连用)使……不能接近
4 `$ \ \+ t% T; ~7 b- s One of the gangsters kept the police at bay until the rest escaped.
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2. At bottom:实际上
* w/ f8 g4 h# B Judy said she was not jealous of her friends' success, but at bottom, she was.
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3. At close quarters:逼近地
! o- C* G% ^9 `1 P: {; B/ ^ The two rivals grappled at close quarters.
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# j( p& W6 Z' b+ r7 `3 T4 W& a 4. At cross purposes:互相误解1 [* q: `7 B# v7 J
I think we are at cross purposes. When I said "J.C.", I meant "Jason Chen", not "John Chen".& R+ z& B' c( U" v" w* ~
# u( N" _ L' j1 M2 S2 j 5. At daggers drawn:势不两立9 O0 C: |1 ]7 ?) b, x9 d+ v4 A6 ?
Dan and Bob have been at daggers drawn for years. There is no evidence that they will make up.
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6. At every turn:处处- _8 L5 w; U' [
When you go downtown, you will see shops, big and small, at every turn.4 a, n* N, {4 A& [& e3 ^4 b5 |
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7. At one fell swoop:一举$ U! Z7 N0 M* o
Which country can invade another country and conquer it at one fell swoop?2 U) j, i: E- {% [. E. f
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8. At issue:在讨论中的. Q9 l' z. A+ D3 Y/ B3 p/ m4 K& s
The question asked was not relevant to the matter at issue .3 N% Q/ i' ^1 _' s1 A
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9. At large:一般的;逍遥法外的。
5 j$ i- m: _4 a( d: l7 y) n a. The people at large support the government's various policies.
7 W/ q0 ?# u/ e2 h, q, I b. Some illegal immigrants were caught, but some others are still at large.
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10. At length:详细地; @$ k( c) s; @! }( w. u- x
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
$ V, E3 o4 |" {0 G4 @ Mr and Mrs Thang are often at loggerheads with each other. Why can't they get along well? |