【对于英语学习很有用的东西】Daily Sentence.doc

In many circumstances, failure is an asset, even a prerequisite to success in another direction.在许多情况下，失败是难能可贵的事，甚至是在另外方面成功的先决条件。食品论坛 - 关注食品安全，探讨食品技术，汇聚行业英才，推动行业发展。解释： 本句中的asset是“有利条件、财富”的意思，而prerequisite to （或for）sth是“的前提或先决条件”。“in (或under) circumstances”是“在情况下”的意思，例如，in most circumstances的意思是“在大多数情况下”，in all circumstances的意思是“在所有情况下”。例如： A valid passport is a prerequisite for travel abroad.有效的护照是出国旅行所必备的（条件）。Under the ordinary circumstances his friends would help him.在通常的情况下，他的朋友会帮助他的。In most circumstances having a well-knitted family is an asset, even a prerequisite to a successful career.在大多数情况下，一个关系紧密的家庭是难能可贵的，甚至是成功生涯的必备条件。The most stressful occurrence for many people today is the loss of a job.今日，最令人痛苦的事情就是失去工作。 解释： 本句中的stressful是“有压力的”、“”压力重的、“紧张的”的意思，相应的名词是stress。occurrence是与动词occur相对应的名词，意思是“发生”或“所发生的事情”，如：the occurrence of physical violence (暴力的发生)；an event of rare occurrence (不常发生的事情)。The most stressful occurrence is the 的意思是“所发生的最令人感到有压力的事情是”。又如：The most stressful occurrence is the death of a spouse.最令人痛苦的事情就是丧偶。Newspapers record the chief occurrences of the day.报纸刊载每天的大事。Caught in a stressful situation, some people turn on their children and strike them.有些人因为处境不顺心就向孩子们出气，动手打他们。For most Chinese people, one of the most stressful occurrences is thedeath of a close family member.对大部分中国人来说，一个最令人痛苦的事便是丧失亲人。Many factory workers today greatly fear the prospect of being laid off from their work.许多工厂工人现在都非常害怕下岗。 解释： prospect是 “前程”或“前景”，即“将要发生的或预期会发生的事”。相应的形容词是prospective，意思是“预期的”、“即将要发生的”，如“取得预期的结果”就是“achieve the prospective results”，而“a prospective client”就是“可能成为客户的人”。又如：She doesnt like the prospect of having to live alone.她将不得不过独身生活，这是她所不喜欢的。They have bad job prospects.他们就业的前景暗淡。Many Americans today greatly fear the prospect of being murdered.当今许多美国人非常害怕会被谋杀。Many young married women today greatly fear the prospect of being abandoned or fooled by their husbands.当今许多新婚妇女非常担心会被丈夫抛弃或愚弄。Many government officials today greatly fear the prospect of being charged or prosecuted.现今许多政府官员非常害怕被指控或告发。We hear a lot about the negative effects of television on the viewer.我们常常听说有关电视对看电视的人产生的不良影响。 解释： negative最常用的两种意义是“否定的”和“消极的或负面的”。作为“否定的”意义解时，其反义词是affirmative (肯定的)，而作为“消极的或负面的”解时，其反义词是positive( 积极的)。本句中的negative是“消极的”、“负面的”，与effect连用，就是“负面影响”或“不良影响”。例如：His answer was negative.他的回答是否定的。We cant learn anything with a negative attitude.态度消极什么也学不好。The new film has received but negative praise.这部新片子只不过没有人说不好而已。We hear a lot about the negative effects of smoking on the smoker.我们常常听说有关抽烟对抽烟者产生的不良影响。Disappointments are unwelcome, but regular visitors to everyones life.失望是不受欢迎的，但却是每个人生活中的常客。 解释： unwelcome是welcome 的反义词，意思是“不受欢迎的”、“不想要的”或“讨厌的”、“不得人心的”。例如，unwelcome guest（不受欢迎的客人），unwelcome publicity (违反本意抛头露面)，an unwelcome drop in research expenditure（研究经费不得人心的削减）。regular visitor是“经常性地来拜访的人”，即“常客”。又如：Colds are unwelcome, but regular visitors to everyones life.感冒是不受欢迎的，但却是每个人生活中的常客。Depression and loneliness are unwelcome, but regular visitors to everyones life.意志消沉与孤独是不受欢迎的，但却是每个人生活中的常客。Fatigue and illness are unwelcome, but regular visitors to everyones life.疲倦与疾病是不受欢迎的，但却是每个人生活中的常客。In many circumstances, failure is an asset, even a prerequisite to success in another direction.我译：在许多情况下，失败是一种财富，甚至可以说是通往成功的必备条件。原文：1）“失败是难能可贵的事”，含糊不清，不如“财富”明确。2）“.，甚至是在另外方面成功的先决条件”， 这是纯粹字面翻译。in another direction是指failure是不会直接导致success，需要将failure变成asset，这是一个过程，理解/学习/经验等等。所以，In many circumstances,“失败是成功之母”。只不过老外的表述更加精确罢了！Job loss can be a very disturbing experience.失业可谓是一种令人烦恼的经历。 解释： disturbing的意思是“令人不安的”、“令人恐慌的”，例如，disturbing developments（令人不安的事态发展）disturbing rumor（引起恐慌的谣言）。相应的动词形式是disturb（使焦虑不安），相应的名词形式是disturbance（不安、打扰）。又如：The news from the front is very disturbing.来自前线的消息令人极为不安。The change of a job can be a very disturbing experience for most people.工作的变换对大多数人来说都可能是一种令人烦恼的经历。Being on bad terms with ones neighbors can be a very disturbing experience.与邻居关系不好可能是一种非常烦人的经历。Not satisfied with the heavy load of regular classes for their children, many parents send their youngsters to after-hours programs.由于对孩子们正常课程的重大负荷仍不满足，很多家长把孩子送到校外补习班学习。 解释： 本句的前一部分是分词结构的否定式，作原因状语，通常翻译成“由于”。分词结构作状语（含现在分词和过去分词），其否定式的构成是直接在分词前加否定词。本句的“Not satisfied with”相当于“As they are not satisfied with ”，意思是“由于不满足，所以”。又如：Not satisfied with what he has achieved in literature, he began to study linguistics.由于不满足他在文学方面取得的成就，他就开始研究语言学。Not feeling well, he asked for a day off yesterday.由于身体不适，他请了一天假。When a family begins to prosper they are likely to hire a neighbor woman to do the wash.当一个家庭开始富裕起来时，他们很可能会雇一个附近的家庭妇女来给他们洗洗涮涮。 解释： 本句中的prosper（富裕起来）是个动词，相应的形容词是prosperous（富裕的），相应的名词是prosperity（富裕）。Do the wash这个词组，意思是“做洗涮工作”。又如：When a man began to prosper he was likely to think about things that he used to frown upon.当一个人开始富裕起来的时候，他很可能会想做以前他觉得不屑一顾的事情。When a girl became famous she was likely to be troubled with new pressure.当一个女孩成名之后，她很可能会受到新压力的困扰。She would find it no easier to find a good job in a country like that.她发现在那样一个国家找个好工作并非容易。 解释： 本句含有一个常用表达法：find it no easier to do sth，意思是“发现并非容易”；从语法上分析，其中的no easier是宾语补足语，即说明宾语it的，而it是形式宾语，真正的宾语是后面的不定式短语。又如：At that time the wife would have found it no easier to have her own career.那时，妻子发觉要拥有自己的职业并非容易。You would have found it no easier to make a comfortable living in that country without assistance.你也许已经发现，在那个国家如果没有人帮助，要生活舒适并非容易。The foreign food upset him (his stomach). 异国食品使他（他的胃）感到不适。 解释： Upset的本义是“弄翻、打翻” （overturn）；转义主要有：“打乱、搅乱（计划等）”（disturb the normal state, course, or stability of）；“在身体、精神或情感上搅乱某人”（disturb physically, mentally or emotionally），通常翻译成“使（身体、肠胃）不适”、“使心烦意乱”或“使苦恼”。本句也可以说成是：The foreign food upset his stomach. 异国食品使他的胃感到不适。又如：I upset a cup of coffee all over my shirt. 我打翻了咖啡杯，咖啡溅在衬衣上，满身都是。The heavy waves upset the boat and the fishermen had to swim to the bank.巨浪打翻了船只，船上的渔民只得游回到岸上。The rain upset our plans for a picnic.因为下雨，我们原定的野餐计划被打乱了。The news quite upset him.那消息使他心烦意乱。It upset me to learn of their attitude. 听说他们的态度后我很不高兴。There are more birds in this area than anywhere else.这个地区的鸟比其他任何地方都多。 解释：else通常用于疑问代词或不定代词之后，表示“其他的”、“别的”或“另外的”等意思。用在疑问副词后，就表示“其他”或“另外”的意思。本句中“more than anywhere else”，意思是“要比其他任何地方的都多”。又如：There is no one else to compare with him in this respect.在这方面没有人能够比得上他。How else could I have acted?我不那么做还能有别的办法吗？It must have been somebody else.肯定是其他什么人。There are more universities and colleges in this city than anywhere else.这个城市的大专院校比其他任何地方都多。As economy is declining, jobs available to the laid-off workers continued to be scarce.随着经济的衰退，下岗工人可以得到的工作（岗位）依然不多。 解释： “available”是个形容词，意思是“在手边的”、“现成可以使用的”、“可以利用的”和“可以获得的”。作为“可以获得的”意思的时候，available除了做前置定语外，还通常用于词组“be available to sb.”，意思是“对于某人来说是可以得到的”，但通常有比较灵活的译法。又如：We took the first available plane.我们乘上了第一架能乘上的飞机。The manager is not available now.现在经理不能接见你。There are more and more jobs available to those who can speak good English.现在能说一口流利英语的人找工作越来越方便。The growing trend for many people to buy old-fashioned furniture is in part of a reflection of their nostalgic attitudes.越来越多的人购买旧家具，这种趋势反映出他们怀旧的情愫（态度）。 解释： 本句涉及一个十分常用的词组的用法：The growing trend for is ，意思是“这种日益增长的趋势是”。其中的trend的意思是“趋势”、“倾向”、“趋向”、“动向”或“动态”。“a reflection of the need”的意思是“反映出某人对的需要”。又如：The trend towards accelerated government expenditure has got out of hand.政府开支加速的趋势已经无法控制。Can anything be done to reverse the trend?有什么办法扭转这种趋向吗？The growing trend for wives to work outside the home is in part a sharing of the financial burden with the husband.有越来越多的妻子走出家门去工作，这种趋势部分是为了与丈夫分担经济负担。He produced a very controversial film last year but it has since attracted a large audience.去年他制作了一部很有争议的电影，但放映以来吸引了大量的观众。 注意：beyond controversy: 无可争辩的(地)，无疑的(地); in controversy: 争论中的，有争议的 解释： 本句中的词语“controversial”的意思是“引起争论的”、“有争议的”。其相应的名词形式是“controversy”，相应的动词形式是“controvert”。又如：He is a highly controversial figure.他是一个颇有争议的人物。Her promotion to the director of the institution is bound to be controversial.把她提升为研究所所长必然有争议。This sparked (或kindled) a controversy over human rights.这在人权问题上引起的一场大辩论。May it turn out as I forecasted.但愿事情的结果正如我所预料的那样。 解释：动词 “forecast”的意思是“预测”、“预报”(estimate in advance)，相当于英语的“predict”、“foretell”、“forebode”。但forecast指对未来事件的预报、推测或设想，强调最终可能产生的结果，尤指天气预报。Foretell强调预告即将发生的事情，而不暗示这种预告是否有依据或消息来源是否可靠。Predict根据事实或自然规律进行推测后作出预告，暗示有科学的准确性。forebode指不祥的预感。又如：They forecast good weather for tomorrow.他们预测明天天气晴朗。Such events may forecast peace.这类事件可能是和平的先兆。John forecasts that the Asian market is going to pick up in a couple of months.约翰预测再过几个月亚洲市场将开始繁荣。We think the accident is the inevitable consequence of his habitual drunken driving.我们认为这事故是他经常酒后驾车的必然后果。 解释： “inevitable”的意思是“不可避免的”、“无法规避的”、“必然发生的”，(that can not be avoided; certain to happen)。例如：the inevitable course of history（历史的必然之路），an inevitable conclusion（必然的结论）。又如： Death is inevitable; it comes to everyone. 死亡无可避免，它要降临到每个人头上。If he is not found guilty at the trial, it is inevitable that many other physicians will follow his example.如果不判他有罪，许多其他物理学家必然地会步他的后尘。I am not in the business of listening to your complaint.我没有兴趣听你抱怨。 注意：词组“be in business”（business之前没有定冠词the），意思是“经商”、“从事商业”，要注意区别。 解释： 词组“not in the business of”（通常用否定形式）的意思是“对不感兴趣” （not interested in）、“通常与没有联系”（not normally concerned with）、 “对不特别在行”（not particularly skilled at）或“没有职责”（not having the purpose or aim of）。具体意义要根据语境而定。又如：Im not in the business of telling people what to doif you dont like what he is doing, tell him yourself!我不习惯要别人做这做那如果你不喜欢他现在的所作所为，你自己同他说去。Im not in the business of predicting the future, but I wouldnt mind betting that shell be a great success one day.对预测未来我不在行，但我敢肯定她有朝一日会获得巨大成功的。 Im in the business of keeping a secret.我的职责在于保守秘密。They are the joint owner of the hotel.这家旅馆他们共有。（他们共同拥有这家旅馆。）解释： “joint”既可以做名词、动词，也可以做形容词。本句的joint是形容词，意思是“共同的”、“联合的”、“同时的”，相当于英语“belonging to （或shared by） two or more people”。由joint组成的词组很多，例如：a joint declaration（联合声明）、joint efforts（共同努力）、joint manoeuvres（联合演习）、joint property （共有财产）、joint exploitation（共同开发），以及joint authors（合著者）。又如： By our joint efforts we managed to push the car back on the road.我们大家一起用力终于将汽车推回到道路上。They made a joint request to the manager.他们一起向经理提出要求。The two committees are conducting a joint investigation into the big increase in juvenile crime in town in the last few years.两个委员会对最近几年来镇上青少年犯罪率急剧上升进行了联合调查。I have a joint account in a savings bank with my daughter.我与女儿在银行里开立了个联合帐户。He always declined invitations on the grounds that he was too busy.他总是以太忙为理由拒绝所有邀请。 注意：on the ground = on the spot当场、在现场， 在实际情况下；on ones own ground在自己熟悉的领域内；on firm (solid) ground 处于安全的境地；根据确凿的事实或证据；on delicate ground处境微妙 解释： “ground”在本句中的意思是“根据”、“理由”，而词组“on the grounds that”就是“以为根据”或“以为理由”的意思，相当于because，后接从句。如果后接名词或名词词组，则用“on (the) ground(s) of”。又如：They refused to accept the proposal on the ground that it would do more harm than good.他们以害大于利为理由拒绝了这个建议。He refused to attend the meeting on the grounds of ill-health.他以健康不佳为理由而拒绝参加会议。 They have reasonable grounds for suspicion.他们有充分的根据产生怀疑。He has good grounds for what he thinks.他的想法很有根据。He holds his reputation dear.他珍视自己的名声。解释： “hold”在本句中相当于“regard”，意思是“认为”、“怀有(见解、感情、信念等)”。“Hold sth. dear”是“珍视”，反义词组是“hold sth. cheap”，意思是“看轻”、“不看重”。例如：hold a good opinion of sb. (sth.) 对某人(物)有很高的评价；hold sb. in contempt / in great respect蔑视 / 非常崇敬某人。又如：They have destroyed everything I hold dear.我珍视的一切他们都给毁了。He held them in contempt for behaving in such a cowardly way.他看不起他们，因为他们这样胆小怕事。Today most people hold scientists in awe.今天大多数人对科学家仍然怀着敬畏之情The shop is tucked away down a quiet alley.这家商店在一个安静的小巷内。 解释： “tucked away”这个词组主要有“隐藏”、“收藏”、“储蓄”的意思。有时可以省略away。例如：The small village is tucked (away) in the hills. 这座小村庄隐藏在群山之中。The town is tucked in (或into) the pine-covered mountains.这小镇隐没在长满松树的群山之中。They have a lot of money tucked away.他们储蓄了很多钱。My English is a little rusty.我的英语有点生疏了。 解释： “rusty”的本义是“生锈的”或“破旧的”，转义是指知识、技术等（由于长久不练习或不复习而）“衰退的”、“生疏的”或“荒废的”。例如“rusty translation”意思是“生硬的翻译”。又如：This car is rather rusty.这辆车有点破旧。Im a bit rusty on Greek history.我对希腊历史有点生疏了。My technique is a little rusty. 我的技术有点荒废了。My typing was better than it is now. Ive gotten rusty in it. 我的打字技术过去比现在好，因为荒疏而不熟练了Short skirts are the vogue this year. 今年短裙很时髦。解释： “vogue” 的意思是“流行”、“时尚”。通常指“一段时间里盛行的穿着、装饰或风尚”，尤其指“风行一时、合乎时令或流传很广的事物”。与不定冠词连用，表示“风尚”、“流行”；与定冠词连用，表示“时兴的东西”；通常后接介词“for”。常用的固定搭配有“come into vogue”（开始流行、流行起来）、“in vogue”（正在流行中）、“go out of vogue”（过时、已经不流行了）、“be all the vogue”（大为风行）。所以本句也可以表达为：Short skirts are in vogue this year.（今年短裙很时髦）。又如：In the 1990s, short hair for women became the vogue.20世纪90年代，女人留短发成为时尚。There is a vogue for sailing small boats at present.现在似乎时兴航行小船。There is a vogue for high heels on womens shoes.= High heels on womens shoes are in vogue.妇女的鞋子正时兴高跟。They submerged their differences and produced agreements.他们消除了相互之间的分歧并达成了协议。 解释： 本句中的词语“submerge”，本义是“把沉入手中” (cause to go under the surface of water)，但比喻义较多，例如“使沉浸”、“消除”、“湮没”等。注意区别。试看下列例子：The submarine submerged to avoid enemy ships.潜水艇下沉以避开敌船。The stream overflowed and submerged the farmland.河水泛滥，淹没了农田。I submerged my hand to test the heat of the water. 我把手探入水中试试水温。His talent was submerged by his shyness.他的腼腆湮没了他的才华。He was submerged in sleep.他已经入睡。She was eager to submerge herself in the feminist movement.她迫切希望献身女权运动。Remember, once you signed the contract, there is no turning back. 记住：一旦你签署了合约，就无可翻悔。 解释： 词组“turn back”的意思是“（使）停止前进”、“（使）往回走”、“重新翻到”、“翻起”、“折起”或“改变做法”，在句子中有比较灵活的译法。例如：The travelers were turned back at the frontier.旅游者在边境被挡了回来。Our car was turned back at the border.我们的车到了边境被挡了回来。He turned back from the crossroad and went home.他从十字路口折了回来，回家去了。Turn back to page ten please.请翻回到第10页。The collar turns back in the latest fashion. 最新款式的衣领是翻领。The project must go ahead; there can be no turning back. 这个项目必须继续；不能停止了。From the husbands point of view, the burden of support may seem heavy.从丈夫的观点看，这种养家糊口的负担似乎是很重的。 解释： 本句中的词组“From ones point of view”的意思是“从（某人）的观点看”，相当于另一个词组“in ones view”(据某人看来)。另外，“burden”的意思是“负担”。又如：From the teachers point of view, the burden of correcting the students homework may seem heavy.从教师的观点看，批改学生的家庭作业的负担似乎是很重的。From the companys point of view, the burden of taxes may seem heavy.从公司的观点看，税收的负担似乎是很重的。In his view, too, that was the best poem that he had ever written.他也认为，那是他所写的最好的诗歌。The Internet has made it possible to us to get more information from other countries in much less time.因特网使我们有可能用很短的时间从其他国家获得更多的信息。 解释： “sth. has made it possible to sb. to do sth.”是英语中很常用的表达法，意思上“ 使某事成为可能”或“使某人有可能做某事”。又如：The gradual reduction of the work week from six days to five days has made it possible to men to participate more in the household.每周的工作日从一周六天逐渐减少到每周五天使男人们有可能参与更多的家务活动。The fact that many household chores are done by robots has finally made it possible to women to participate in their recreational activities.许多家务活由机器人来完成，这最终使得妇女有可能参加娱乐活动。Even if the career was seen as a poor second to a good marriage for women, it came to be viewed as preferable to a poor marriage.对于女人来说，即使把幸福的婚姻看得比事业更为重要的话，那么，与不幸福的婚姻相比，事业则是更为重要的选择。 解释： 本句涉及几个常用的词组。首先是“even if”，意思是“即使”，引导让步状语从句；其次是“be seen as a poor second to ”，意思是“远不如”、“远次于”、“远不及重要”；最后是“be viewed as preferable to ”，意思是“把视为是更好的选择”。其实，“be seen as”与“be viewed as ”的基本意义几乎一样。又如：Even if the chance is seen as not an important one, it may come to be viewed as referable to none.即使是被认为是不很重要的机会，但到后来可能会被视为是至关重要的。Even if her help was of no avail to the case, it still came to be viewed as a gesture of good will.即使她的帮助对解决这个问题没有什么效果，但也被视为是一种友好的表示。Most girls in China found it safer to court a promising young man of their own social class.以前，大多数中国女孩子认为还是向属于与自己同一社会地位的有发展前途的男子求婚更加稳妥些。 解释： 本句中的表达法“find it safer to do sth.”的意思是“发现（或认为）还是更为稳妥”，是属于宾补结构，其中的it是形式宾语，而真正宾语却是后面的动词不定式“to do sth.”。另外，promising的意思是“有出息的”、“有希望的”、“大有可为的”，可以修饰人，也可以修饰物。例如，a promising beginning（有希望的开端）。又如：The weather is promising.天气可望好转。Most people in China still find it safer to work in a state-run enterprise than in a joint venture.大多数中国人依然认为，在国有企业工作要比在合资企业工作要稳妥些。Most women find it safer to marry a man of knowledge than to marry a man of money.大多数妇女认为，嫁给有钱的男人不如嫁给有知识的男人来得稳妥No career is completely closed to people of great talents and determination, whatever their sex.任何职业都不会将富有才能和意志坚强的人拒之门外，无论他们是男是女。 解释： 本句中的close是及物动词，意思是“关闭”、“封闭”、“封锁”等。“be completely closed to + 名词”的意思就是“对关闭或封闭”，转义为“把完全拒之门外”。当然，用作上述意义的动词“close”也可以用主动语态，例如：Because of drought the government closed the woodlands. (政府因干旱而封闭了林区)。又如：This road is closed to heavy motor traffic.这条路禁止重型机动车辆通行。No society is completely closed to men of great learning, whatever their social backgrounds.无论他们的社会背景如何，任何社会都不会把学识渊博的人拒之门