論英語(yǔ)中關(guān)于時(shí)間的一些習(xí)語(yǔ)

王家棟

常州工程職業(yè)技術(shù)學(xué)院基礎(chǔ)部，江蘇 常州 213164

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論英語(yǔ)中關(guān)于時(shí)間的一些習(xí)語(yǔ)

王家棟

常州工程職業(yè)技術(shù)學(xué)院基礎(chǔ)部，江蘇 常州 213164

This article deals with English idioms in general use，proverbs，formal idioms，colloquial idioms and slang idioms about time.It provides readers with good explanations both in Chinese and in English.All the idioms written here are easy to learn for students at colleges as well as in high schools. Key words：Idioms；Proverbs；Formal idioms；Colloquial idioms；Slang idioms

在英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)中，讀者對(duì)文章中關(guān)于時(shí)間的習(xí)語(yǔ)的意思可能會(huì)產(chǎn)生不精準(zhǔn)的理解，通過(guò)閱讀和學(xué)習(xí)，讀者會(huì)有更加準(zhǔn)確的理解，以便提高自身的英語(yǔ)水平。

1.Work against the clock(It means work fast，without cease)中文指不間斷地加緊工作，趕工的意思

例句：We shall have to work against the clock to finish the job by next week.要在下周前完成這項(xiàng)任務(wù)，我們得加緊趕工。

2.Round the clock(It means go for 12 hours or 24 hours consecutively；all day；all night；all day and all night 中文指連續(xù)十二(或二十四)小時(shí)；一整天；一晝夜的意思

例句：After several sleepless nights，I took some pills and slept round the clock.由于幾個(gè)晚上都失眠，我服了些藥丸，睡了一整天。

3.Win(or carry)the day(It means be victorious，win the battle，game etc.)中文指獲勝，戰(zhàn)勝，贏的意思

例句：After two days of hard fighting，our army won the day.經(jīng)過(guò)兩天的艱苦奮戰(zhàn)，我軍取得了勝利。

4.Every dog has its day(It means everyone has good luck，success etc.at some time 中文指人人都有走運(yùn)的時(shí)候；凡人都有得意日的意思

例句：Your chance will come soon.Every dog has its day.你的機(jī)會(huì)很快就會(huì)到來(lái)。每人都有走運(yùn)的時(shí)候。

5.On the dot(It means promptly，punctually)中文指準(zhǔn)時(shí)的，守時(shí)的意思

例句：I said I would be there at seven and I got there on the dot.我說(shuō)我七點(diǎn)鐘要到那里，而我準(zhǔn)時(shí)趕到了。

6.At the eleventh hour(It means almost too late)中文指在最后時(shí)刻，危急之時(shí)的意思

例句：The patrol was almost surrounded and then，at the eleventh hour，reinforcements arrived.這支巡邏隊(duì)幾乎被包圍了，而值此危急之時(shí)援軍剛好到了。

7.Keep good(bad，regular)hours(It means get up，go to bed，start work etc early(late，regular)，中文指早睡早起(晚睡晚起，生活有規(guī)律)；早出早歸(晚出晚歸，按時(shí)作息的意思

例句：Shopkeepers are forced to keep regular hours by the nature of their job.店主因其工作性質(zhì)非按時(shí)作息不可。

8.The small hours(of the morning)(It means between midnight and dawn中文指午夜至拂曉之間，下半夜的意思

例句：I was at a dance last night and didn’t get home till the small hours 我昨天參加了個(gè)舞會(huì)，直到下半夜才回到家里。

9.(Half)a minute(It means a short time)中文指片刻的意思

例句：I will only keep you waiting half a minute.我只要你稍等一會(huì)。

10.The minute(that)(It means as soon as ….)中文指一……就……的意思

例句：We will start dinner the minute they arrive.他們一到我們就開(kāi)飯。

11.To the minute(It means exactly，punctually)中文指恰好，一分不差的意思

例句：The concert started at 8 o’clock to the minute.音樂(lè)會(huì)恰好八點(diǎn)鐘開(kāi)始。

12.At any moment(It means very soon)中文指隨時(shí)的意思

例句：He said he would arrive today，and I expect him at any moment.他說(shuō)他今天要來(lái)，我隨時(shí)等他來(lái)。

13.On the spur of the moment(It means without hesitating or pausing to think 中文指不假思索地，一時(shí)沖動(dòng)之下的意思

例句：As he was passing a travel agency，he decided on the spur of the moment to go away for a holiday.他經(jīng)過(guò)旅行社時(shí)，憑一時(shí)的沖動(dòng)決定外出度假。

14.A month of Sundays(It means long time)中文指很長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間的意思

例句：It will take me a month of Sundays to get this garden tidy.把這個(gè)庭院收拾整潔將花費(fèi)我很長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間。

15.Night and day(It means always，continuously)中文指總是；日日夜夜地的意思

例句：The factory is in operation night and day.該廠日夜開(kāi)工。

16.All night long(It means throughout the whole night 中文指通宵，徹夜的意思

例句：I didn’t have a minute’s sleep all night long.我整夜沒(méi)有睡一分鐘的覺(jué)。

17.(Every)now and then(It means occasionally，sometimes)中文指有時(shí)的意思

例句：I seldom go to the theatre，but I go to the cinema every now and then.我很少看戲，可是偶爾看看電影。

18.Time and again(It means repeatedly，on many occasions)中文指反復(fù)地；屢次的意思

例句：I have told you time and again not to be late for school.我屢次囑咐你上學(xué)別遲到。

19.Behind time(It means late)中文指遲到，晚的意思

例句：The bus arrived five minutes behind time.公共汽車(chē)遲來(lái)了五分鐘。

20.From time to time(It means occasionally，sometimes)中文指間或有時(shí)的意思

例句：We usually eat at home but from time to time we go out for lunch.我們通常在家吃飯，但有時(shí)也到外面去吃午飯。

21.In time(It means not late)中文指及時(shí)的意思

總而言之，英語(yǔ)中關(guān)于時(shí)間的習(xí)語(yǔ)看起來(lái)似乎簡(jiǎn)單，其實(shí)內(nèi)涵很豐富，正確地理解和使用它們是至關(guān)重要的。

[1]《英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)1500條》.

[2]《牛津高階英漢雙解字典》.

H319.4

A

1006-0049-(2016)23-0175-01