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高中实用英语语法精粹 part 4 数词
一、英语中万的表达法
汉语中除了百、千这样的数词，还有万这个数量单位，而英语中则没有万。要说几万就要用几十个thousand来表示。
ten thousand 10, 000 一万
twenty thousand 20, 000 两万
a /one hundred thousand 100, 000 十万
英语中百万这一单位有对应的词million。例如：
a /one million 1, 000, 000 一百万
two million 2, 000, 000 两百万
千万和亿英文中没有相应的词汇，要用million来表达。
ten million 10, 000, 000 一千万
twenty million 20, 000, 000 两千万
a /one hundred million 一亿
two hundred million 两亿
注： ①英国英语中十亿是a/one thousand million，而美国英语中常用a billion来表示；英国英语中兆（万亿）是a billion，而美国英语中常用a trillion来表示。
②以上表示具体数字时，thousand, million等词后面不能用复数：
twenty thousand people（√）
twenty thousands people（×，）
two million people（√）
two millions people（×，）
③既可以说two million people，又可以说two million of them。
④one and a half millions和one million and a half都可以指1, 500, 000。
two and a quarter millions和two millions and a quarter也都可以指2, 250, 000。
在表达不确定数目时要用thousand, million等词的复数形式。
tens of thousands of people 数万人；成千上万的人
注： 数万人或成千上万的人也可用thousands upon（或on）thousands of people来表示。
hundreds of thousands of people 数十万人；成百万人
millions of people 数百万人
tens of millions of people 数千万人
hundreds of millions of people 数亿人
thousands of millions of people 数十亿人
（或billions of people）
注： ①当thousand of, million of等词前面有a few, some, several, many等表示不确定的词修饰时，单复数都可用：
several thousand（s）of peoplemany
million（s）of people
②thousand, million等词的意义根据上下文已清楚时，其后的of短语可以省略：
Hundreds of thousands（of people）are starving. 数十万人在挨饿。
Millions are homeless. 数百万人无家可归。
The dollar revenues each year were undoubtedly in the tens of thousands. 每年美元税收无疑要以万计。
二、表示“许多”的数词用法及一些常用量词短语的用法
dozen指“12”，score则表示“20”，通常用dozens of或scores of来表示“许多”。
He says he won't go there because he has been there dozens of times. 他说那里已去过很多次，所以这次就不去了。
I have been there scores of times. 我去过那里非常多次。
注： ①dozen和score表示精确数字时不能用复数形式
比较：several dozens of eggs
two dozen of eggs［表精确数目，dozen用单数］
some scores of visitors 一大批来访者
three score of visitors［确定为60位来访者，故用单数］
②用作前置定语时，均须单数，如：
many dozen bottles of coca-cola 许多瓶可口可乐
four score and ten years 90岁
③要表示“十多个……”及“二十多个……”时，可用“a dozen or more...”及“a score or more...”：
A dozen or more students attended the seminar（研讨班）.
A score or more（或Two dozen or more）scholars attended the symposium（研讨会）.
三、英语中倍数增减的表达法
1. 倍数增减的表示法
在日常生活中我们常常会遇到需要用倍数来表达的场合。如：A是B的……倍；A比B多/大……倍，等。同时在有些考试（如雅思考试的学术类部分）中，也会出现要求用数字来描述所给数据，涉及增加或减少多少倍的表达。
（1）用times表示倍数。
Your room is three times as large as mine. 你的房间是我的房间的三倍大。或：你的房间比我的房间大两倍。
Your room is three times the size of mine.［意思同上］
The output of chemical fibre was 3.5 times greater than that of last year. 化纤产量比去年增加了3.5倍。（或：化纤产量是去年的4.5倍。）
The total output value of industry last year was 23 times as high as that of 1978. 去年的工业总产值是1978年的23倍。（或：去年的工业总产值比1978年增加了22倍。）
注： 在汉译上述句式时，如要表示“比……大/多/增加……倍”，则需减一，如“你的……是我的……三倍大/你的……比我的……大两倍。”
这里作者请读者注意下面两个句式：
Your hall is four times as large as ours.
Your hall is four times larger than ours.
英国出版的著名英语教学刊物ELT（English Language Teaching） 曾对类似上列的两个句式在英语世界范围内展开广泛的讨论，作者跟踪不息；数月下来，结果仍各执一端，不了了之。但经数十年的反复验证，对上列两个句式的理解似已趋明朗，即：
Your hall is four times as large as ours.
你们的大厅是我们的四倍大。（或：你们的大厅比我们的大三倍。）
Your hall is four times larger than ours.
你们的大厅比我们的大四倍。（或：你们的大厅是我们的五倍大。）
葛传椝教授是我国英语惯用法领域中独步一帜的权威学者，名扬海内外，在英语世界中可谓是位家喻户晓的泰斗式人物。在其去世后，2002年6月由译文出版社出版的《英语惯用法词典》（新修订本）（A Dictionary of English Usage ）的第617页/10.项下有一段相关的论述，现全文摘录如下，供读者参考：
下面第一句和第二句意思相同，但第三句不同：
①Your house is three times the size of mine. 你的房子是我的房子的三倍大小。
②Your house is three times as large as mine.
③Your house is three times larger than mine. 你的房子比我的房子大三倍（或：你的房子是我的房子的四倍大小）。
在表示某数是另一个数的几倍时可用as much as ，如：
Sixteen is four times as much as four. 16是4的四倍。（或：16比4大三倍。）
（2）表两倍时用twice, double, twofold或as...again as来表示，不能用two times。
He is twice my age. 他的年龄比我大一倍。（或：他的年龄是我的两倍。）
The man charged me twice the usual price. 那人向我索要的价比平常多一倍。（或：那人索要的价是平常的两倍。）
注意区分下列两句：
This university is twice as large as that one. 这所大学是那所大学的两倍大。（或：这所大学比那所大学大一倍。）
This university is twice larger than that one. 这所大学是那所大学的三倍大。（或：这所大学比那所大学大两倍。）
Twenty is the double of ten. 20是10的两倍。
This leather jacket cost me as much again as the last one I bought. 这件皮夹克的价钱比我最近买的那件贵一倍。（或：这件皮夹克的价钱是我最近买的那件的两倍。）
注： 如去掉again, “...cost as much as...”，句意便变为“这件皮夹克的价钱同我最近买的那件一样。”
We have produced twofold as many bicycles as we did last year. 我们今年生产的自行车是去年的两倍。或：（我们今年生产的自行车比去年增加一倍。）
（3）用double表示倍数时的用法。
表示倍数时double可用作形容词、限定词、副词、名词或动词。请注意以下几点：
A. 用作形容词时后接单数名词。
an egg with a double yolk 双黄蛋
He did it with a double purpose . 他这样做有双重目的。
We must make a double check of this safety apparatus. 我们须对这一安全设备做两次仔细的检查。
He is playing double dealing . 他在搞两面派。［注意：double dealing前无a，如换用a double game，前须有a，意思相同］
Because he has published a few articles, he considers himself a real double dome . 他因为发表了几篇文章，就自以为是很有学问的人了。［dome原指“圆房顶”，后引申为人的头脑，double dome指“有双重头脑”］
It has the double advantage of being cheap and at the same time very good. 它具有价廉物又美的双重优点。
B. 作为限定词，double 用在定冠词、形容词性物主代词（my, your, his , our等）、名词性物主代词（mine, your, hers, theirs等）、名词所有格或从句前。
Mike's salary is double Mary's . 迈克的薪水是玛丽的两倍。［用在名词所有格前］
Your annual income is double mine. 你的年收入是我的两倍。［用在名词性物主代词前］
We need double the amount we already have. 我们需要有现有金额的两倍。［用在定冠词前］
He earns double what she earns . 他挣的钱是她挣的两倍。［用在从句前］
C. 作为副词，double通常用在动词后面。
Fold the blanket double and lay it on a chair. 把毯子对折起来放在椅子上。
The big boy had to bend double to hide under the table. 那个大男孩须弓着身子才能藏身于桌子底下。
You two little girls can sleep double tonight. 你们两个小女孩今晚可合睡一张床。
This room is double（=twice）as large as that one. 这个房间是那个房间的两倍大。（或：这个房间比那个房间大一倍。）
D. 作为名词，double用在定冠词后，接介词of。
I was paid the double of this amount（by them）. 他们付给我的报酬是这个数目的两倍。
注： 上列例句在现代英语中不如“I was paid double this amount.”来得普遍。［double用作限定词］
在当今流行的英语中，这一结构中的the 往往省略，of改用for，如：
He is paid double for doing the same job that I do. 他与我做同样的工作，但报酬却比我多一倍。
E. 作为动词，double既可及物又可不及物。
The population of the emerging city has doubled in the last few years. 几年来这一新兴城市的人口翻了一番。［用作不及物动词］
Double all/the quantities in the recipe to make enough for eight people. 把菜谱上的量都增加一倍以够八人用餐。［用作及物动词］
（4）词尾-fold表示倍数的用法。
The value of the house in Shanghai has increased tenfold since 1998. 上海房价自1998年以来增加了十倍。（或：上海房价自1998年以来已增至原来的十一倍。）
The factory has produced threefold as many TV sets as it did last year. 这家厂今年生产的电视机是去年的三倍。（或：这家厂今年生产的电视机比去年增加两倍。）
从以上两例可看出，基数词+times=基数词+fold，都表示A是B的多少基数倍，但如果表示“A比B增加多少倍时，则须减一，如以X为基数，则须X-1。”再比较如下：
These new modern machines have raised efficiency threefold （or: three times ）. 这几台现代化新机器使效率提高了两倍。（或：这几台现代化新机器使效率提高到三倍。）
（5）也可用triple（或：treble）, quadruple, quintuple and septuple 替代“基数词+times”表示倍数。
Your salary is treble /triple mine. 你的工资是我的三倍。（或：你的工资比我的多两倍。）［用作形容词］
Black unemployment rate runs triple /treble the figure for whites. 黑人失业率是白人失业率的三倍。［用作限定词］
Many children in the slums of New York City suffer from the treble /triple handicap of poverty, parental neglect and bad schooling. 纽约市贫民窟的许多孩童遭受着贫穷、疏于家教和教育不良的三重不利条件。［用作形容词；注意，handicap用单数］
Fifteen is the triple/treble of five. 15是5的三倍。［用作名词］
The enterprise tripled/trebled its profits last year. 该企业去年利润增至三倍。［用作及物动词］
Cases of food poisoning have trebled/tripled this year. 今年食物中毒事件已增加了两倍/增至三倍。［用作不及物动词］
Our company has an annual profit which is quadruple that of last year. 我们公司的年度利润是去年的四倍/比去年增加了三倍。［用作限定词］
a quadruple whisky 一份四倍的威士忌［用作形容词］
Our sales have quadrupled in the last three years. 三年来我们的销售额已增至四倍/已增加了三倍。［用作不及物动词］
The factory has quadrupled its output to one million tons or so. 该厂已把产量增至原来的四倍，已达100万吨左右。［用作及物动词］
Sixty is the quadruple of fifteen. 60是15的四倍。［用作名词］
◆quintuple（六倍），septuple（七倍），octuple（八倍），nonuple（九倍）等用法同上。
（6）用again来表示倍数的用法。
The coat cost me as much again as the last one I bought. 这件大衣的价钱比我上次买的那件贵了一倍。
The coat cost me half as much again as the last one I bought. 这件大衣的价钱比我上次买的那件贵了半倍。
注： again之前出现half，便减少一半，表示贵了半倍。
以下实例可以说明again表示倍数的常用句型的区别：
as many/much again as 是……的两倍/比……贵一倍
half as many/much again as 是……的一倍/比……贵半倍
He has as much money again as you.［注意，句中无half］
他的钱是你的两倍。（或：他的钱比你的多一倍。）
This building is half as tall again as that one.
这幢大楼是那幢大楼高的1.5倍。
2. by和to表示倍数的用法
（1）表示增加多少或减少多少用by。
The number of students in our university has increased by 20 percent over the previous year. 我们大学的学生数量比上一年增加了百分之二十。
The output of coal went up by four times. 煤炭产量增加了四倍。
The production has multiplied by five times. 产量增加了五倍。
The sales of washing machines have increased by a factor of nine. 洗衣机的销量增加了9倍。
The production was reduced by thirty percent. 产量减少了百分之三十。
The cost of air-conditioners has decreased by 50 percent. 空调的成本下降了50%。
注： factor在数学中指系数，在日常应用中可指倍数。当前国内很流行的一部语法著作指明，factor表示增加的倍数时，意为增加x-1；表示减少时，意为 ，并举例：increase by a factor of 8（增加了7倍）。事实上，by是用来表示原来数目和增加或减少的数字之间的相差数，根本不存在x-1的问题，现举两例以佐证本书作者的观点：
例1：go up by an average factor of 50% 以50%的平均系数上涨［陆谷孙主编的《英汉大词典》］
例2：The real wage of the average worker has increased by a factor of over ten in the last 70 years. 近七十年来，工人的实际工资平均增长超过了十倍。［《牛津高级英汉双解词典》第6版 ］
（2）表示增加到/至……或减少到/下降到/至……用介词to。
The students in our university have increased to 12, 000. 我们大学的学生已增加到一万二千名。
The production was reduced to thirty percent. 产量减少到百分之三十。
注意区分下列句型：
a）increase by 30% 增加了30%
increase to 3, 000 增加到3，000
b）increase 3 times/threefold 增加至三倍或增加了两倍
increase by 3 times 增加了三倍
increase by a factor of 3 增加了三倍
multiply 3 times 增加至三倍或增加了两倍
c）3 times as long as 为……的三倍长或比……长两倍
3 times longer than 为……的四倍长或比……长三倍
d）decrease by 30% 减少了30%
decrease to 30% 减少至30%
decrease by a factor of 3 减少了三分之二或减少至三分之一
decrease 3 times 减少了三分之二或减少至三分之一
注： “decrease by a factor of +基数词/基数词+times”则可用 这一程式来计算，x表基数词。
四、英语中概数的表示法
1. about, some, nearly, or so, more or less
这些词都表示“大约”“左右”“上下”：
The road is more or less 2, 000 meters long. 这条路长两千米左右。
The baby weights 3.5 kilograms or so . 这个婴儿重3.5千克左右。
It is some ten feet tall. 它有十英尺左右高。
The boy is about nine years old. 那男孩约九岁。
2. more than, above, over, odd
这些词表示“多于”“以上”：
He has been in Shanghai for over two years. 他来上海两年多了。
The coat cost me $100 odd . 这件大衣花了我一百多美元。
The bag is over 70 pounds. 这个袋子重七十磅以上。
This is for people above 60. 这是为六十岁以上的人准备的。
3. less than, under, below
这些词表示“不足”“以内”“少于”：
The cost was below $10. 那费用在十美元以下。
He ran 5, 000 meters in under 15 minutes. 他在十五分钟之内跑完了五千米。
He earns less than $500 a month. 他每月赚钱不足五百美元。
五、“每”和“每隔”的表示法
用“every”来表示，如：
上面的含义也可以分别用下列短语表示：
另外，“每隔一天/行”除了用“every two days/lines”“every second day/line”的表示法以外，还可以用“every other day/line”来表示。
六、长度、宽度、高度、重量等的表示法
The bridge is 200 meters long（或in length）. 该桥有200米长。
This river is one li wide（或in width）. 这条河有1里宽。
The dam is 50 meters high（或in height）坝高50米。（或：The dam has an altitude of 50 meters.）
The heavy snow fell to a depth of two che . 这场大雪下了2尺厚。（或：The heavy snow was two chi deep.）
The cypress in our back garden is two feet thick（或in diameter）, six feet round（或in circumference）and fifteen feet high（或in height）. 我家后花园的那棵柏树直径2英尺、周长6英尺、高15英尺。
七、年代、年月、年龄等的表示法
1. 年代、年月的表示法
in 1990/in 2005等的表示方式中，不能用冠词，即不可以说in the 1990/in the 2005。
in the twentieth century, in the twenty-first century等表达法中必须有定冠词the。表示“……世纪的初期、中期或后期”时，可用early, mid或late，定冠词the 也不能省略，如in the early/mid/late twentieth century（在20世纪初期/中期/后期）。
在in May 2005/in August 1999等只有月份和年份的表达中，月份和年份之间不能用逗号加以分开，如in May, 2005/in August, 1999等常见错误中，宜把逗号去掉。
on May 1, 2005/on August 8, 1999等月份、日期和年份一起使用时，日期和年份之间必须以逗号隔开；如写成on May 1 2005（无逗号）/on August 8 1999（无逗号）均属不妥，须在日期和年份间加上逗号。
表示“……世纪……年代”时，要注意以下两点：
（1）在世纪和年代前均须用the。
（2）表年代的基数须用复数。
在in the nineties of the nineteenth century（在19世纪90年代）中用阿拉伯数字表示时，仍须用the，并在最后的一个阿拉伯数字后加上's或s。在现代英语中往往把s前的“'”省略，如in the 1990s （在20世纪90年代）/in the 1880s （在19世纪80年代）
以下是些纯粹阿拉伯数字后加s或's的例子：
China has bought from the U.S.A. more than 20 Boeing 767's. 中国已向美国购买了20多架波音767客机。
I have got five As in the examinations. 我已在考试中得了5个A。
2. 年龄的各种表示法
注： 在上列第1、第2句式中，old和of age 可换用，口语中多用old。可以说He is 20. 但不能说He is 20 years. 也不能说He is 20 old。
* age 结合数字概念的一些常用表达法。
boys between the ages of twelve and twenty 12至20岁之间的男孩
He was rejected by the army because he was under age . 他因未成年 而被拒绝参军。
He died at the premature age of thirty. 他30岁英年早逝。
He was not eligible for the examination because he was over age . 他不够格参加考试，因为他已超龄 。
My parents are now advanced in years . 我父母如今年事已高 。
In respect of age , I am his senior . 论年纪 ，我比他大。
Time zips by, old age creeps on without being noticed. 时光荏苒，暮年不知不觉地到来。
May we all live to a green old age and be prosperous and happy. 祝我们大家长命百岁 、老当益壮、富裕康宁。
八、运用数词的一些常见习语
◆once
once again/once more 再一次
It once again proves that the trend of history cannot be stemmed. 这再一次地证明，历史的潮流是谁也阻挡不了的。
注： 不要把once again和once and again混淆，once and again作“再三；好几次”解，如：
Why did you make this kind of mistake once and again 你为什么再三犯这种错误？
once（and）for all 一次了结地；永远不再；一劳永逸地
This is not something that can be completed once for all. 这不是件可以一劳永逸的事情。
once bitten（或bit）, twice shy 一回上当，二回乖
A man once bitten by a snake will for three years shy at a rope. 一朝被蛇咬，三年怕井绳。［在此例中，shy用作动词］
注： ①once bitten, twice shy 也可译作“一朝被蛇咬，三年怕井绳。”②shy这里用作形容词，作“胆小的；害怕的”解，如Don't be shy of telling me what you think. 你有什么想法尽量告诉我，不要怕。/a book-shy child 怕读书的孩子
once in a blue moon 千年难得；极少
This sort of thing only happens once in a blue moon. 这种事情难得发生一次。
once in a lifetime 一生只能有一次地
People used to think that one fell in love and got married once in a lifetime. 人们过去总是认为，恋爱结婚在人的一生中只能有一次。
once too often 屡次三番 （含有侥幸难再之意）
You have tried this trick once too often. 你故伎重施，可这次再逃不脱了。
once upon a time （用于讲故事的开头）从前，很久以前
Once upon a time, there was a rich old man who had three sons. 从前，有一位富翁，他生了三个儿子。
give sth. a quick once-over 匆匆打扫
I gave the room a quick once-over before the guests arrived. 趁客人还没来，我匆匆把房子打扫了一下。
once seen, never forgotten 一次看到了，永远忘不了
When I was in the United States about eight years ago, I made a special trip to the magnificent Falls of Niagara. Once seen, never forgotten. 约8年前在美国时，我专程去景象宏伟的尼亚加拉瀑布那里，一次看到，终生难忘。
注： ①中国人有尊师重道的传统美德，至今仍流传“一日为师，终身为师”的讲法。汉英词典，把它译为“He who teaches me for one day is my teacher for ever.”这样的译文实际上是对原文的解释，体现不出原文的精炼神韵。作者认为还不如套用上列这一习语，译为“Once a teacher, never forgotten.”（or：Once a teacher, always a teacher.）更易为英美人所接受。②该习语模式还可用来表示讽刺等负面意思，如When she lost her temper, she used such foul language as to be once heard, never forgotten. 她发火时使用极为难听的污言秽语，听到一次就永远忘不了。
◆one
one and all 全部；大家
I would like to thank you, one and all. 谢谢大家。［常用于对一群人讲话的场合］
one by one/one after another/one after the other 一个接一个地；相继
Please get on the bus one by one. 请一个一个地上车。
The soldiers marched in line one after another（或the other）. 士兵们列队前进。
One and the same 同一个（的）；完全一样（的）
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were one and the same person. 吉基尔博士和海德先生是同一个人。
注： Dr. Jekyll 系19世纪英国小说家R.L.Stevenson 1866年所著小说The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 《化身博士》中的善良温厚的性格，因服用了自己发明的一种药物，一到晚上就变成另一个名叫Mr. Hyde的凶残的人；白天来临时，便又恢复成原来善良温厚的医生。该小说一经问世便脍炙人口，轰动一时，当时在民众中就出现一些与此有关的讲法，仍流传至今，如He is a Jekyll and Hyde.（他是个一会儿善良温厚、一会儿凶残无比的人。）；/a Jekyll-Hyde man（具有善恶两重性格的人）；/ I want you whole, not Jekyll and Hyde, half here, half there.（我要的是整个儿的你，不是一半这样善良、一半那样凶残的你。）
many a one 许多人 （接单数动词）
Many a one has said that he is a good guy. 许多人曾说他是个好人。
注： 这一习惯用语有个反义表达，即never a one（没有一个人），如Never a one has said that he is a good guy. 没有一个人说过他是个好人。
have had one too many 微醉，醉意朦胧
Don't urge him to drink any more. He has had one too many. 别劝他再喝了。他已醉意朦胧了。
A is one too many for B A非B所能敌，B不是A的对手
The robber attempted to escape from the policeman, but the policeman was one too many for him. 那抢劫者试图从警察手中逃脱，但他并非警察的对手。
I for one + 谓语 拿我来说……
I for one think it would be nice if we moved to Hawaii. 拿我来说，我觉得要是我们搬到夏威夷州去就好了。
One good turn deserves another. ［谚］以德报德。
If he does you a favor, you should do him a favor too. One good turn deserves another. 如果他帮你的忙，那你也应帮他的忙，以德报德。
One man's guess is as good as another's. 谁都拿不准/大家都心中无数。
The stock market quotations are so uncertain that one man's guess is as good as another's. 股票行情如此多变，谁都捉摸不准。
one of those things 不可避免的事
Don't take such a trifling matter to heart. It is just one of those things. 别为这样一件小事想不开，这种事在所难免。
one in a thousand 千里挑一的人或物；稀有的人或物
She is one in a thousand. She does her work quickly and conscientiously and can always be relied on. 她这个人极为难得，干活利索认真，又总是那么可靠。
one too many 多余的一个（尤其指在妨碍事的人或物）
I do wish he'd go away; he is one too many for the occasion. 我真希望他能走开，在这种场合他完全是多余的。
◆two
two bites of（或at）the cherry 两次尝试；两次机会
One is not given two bites at the cherry in the world of business. 在商界中机不可失，时不再来。
注： “机不可失，时不再来”国外还有另一种讲法，用once这一数词来表示，即Opportunity knocks but once.
two doors away（或off） 隔壁第二家
The Wangs are our neighbors. They live two doors off. 王家是我们的邻居，他们住在隔壁第二家。
注： “住在隔壁第三家”，可说“live three doors away（或off）”。
two hearts 有二心；不真诚
Take care. That woman is a person of two hearts. 当心。那女人表里不一。
be two 不投机，合不来
You and he are two, I hear. 听说你跟他合不来。
in two twos ［英口］立刻；一转眼
The job was done in two twos. 事情一下就办完了。
put two and two together 综合起来判断
If you put two and two together, there can be only one conclusion. 根据事实判断，只可能有一个结论。
Two of a trade never agree. ［谚］同行是冤家/文人相轻。
in two shakes 马上，很快
I'll be back in two shakes. 我马上就回来。
注： 原用in two shakes of a lamb's tail，但在现代口语中“of a lamb's tail”往往省略；现在也有人用in half a shake来替换in two shakes。shake作为名词在美语中用作待遇，I get a much better shake than she does. 我受到的待遇比她好得多。
when two Sundays meet（或come together） 决不会；永远不会有那一天
He'll pay you back when two Sundays come together. 等到太阳从西边升起，他才会还你钱。
注： 作者认为如改用till，句意会更铿锵有力，即He'll never pay you back till two Sundays meet. 国外还有人说He'll never pay you back till there are three Sundays in a week.
by ones and twos 三三两两地
People began to leave the Fuel Economy Exhibition by ones and twos. 人们三三两两地离开燃料节约展览会。
注： by ones and twos也可换用in twos and threes，意思不变，前者用介词by，后者用in，如People arrived in twos and threes.
a two-way process 一种相互的关系
Friendship is a two-way process. 友谊是一种有来有往的关系。
two-time （用作vt.）对（情人或爱人）怀有二心
She is two-timing her boyfriend. 她对男朋友不忠。
Are you sure he's not two-timing you 你肯定他没有背着你另有所爱？
注： two-time A with B瞒着自己的男/女友和另一个男/女生约会，即在谈恋爱时持脚踏两条船的不严肃态度；two-time系动词，two-time A with B意指“瞒着A（自己的男/女友）和B约会”，如Larry is two-timing Mary with Amy. 拉里瞒着自己的女友玛丽和埃米约会。
◆second
get a second 得第二名
He got a second in the race. 他在赛跑中得了第二名。
注： 在 get a second中second是名词，前须有a，如换用come（finish）second 也可，意思不变，但second前不能有a，因这时second的词性已由名词转化为副词，但如在second 前加上形容词便又须再加上a，因second已变回名词。比较：
The young runner finished（came）second.［无 a］
The young runner finished（came）a creditable second. 这名年轻的赛跑选手获得了当之无愧的第二名。［有a］
settle for second best 退而求其次
The department store did not have exactly what I wanted, so I had to settle for second best. 百货公司没有完全合乎我需要的东西，所以我只好退而求其次。
second nature 第二天性
Habit is second nature. 习惯成自然。
second-degree burns 二度烧伤
注： burns须用复数，其余依此类推，如first-degree/third-degree burns
minor burns 轻度烧伤
severe burns 重度烧伤
first-degree burns 一级烧伤
third-degree burns 三级烧伤
second-guess
①预测
It is impossible for our competitor to second-guess what we'll do next, 我们的竞争对手不可能预测我们下一步要干什么。
It was impossible to second-guess the decision of the jury. 陪审团的决定不可预测。
②事后批评
There is no point in second-guessing the event. 事后说长道短（或：事后评头品足）已毫无意义。
second opinion
①因有争议而请人复议的意见；正式专家的意见或鉴定
If in doubt, get a second opinion. 如有怀疑，就再请人复议一次或请专家鉴定一次。
②［法律］（作为判案依据的）专家意见或理由
Before making a final decision, we'd better call for an experienced barrister's second opinion on the merits of the case. 在做出最后决定之前，我们最好请一位有经验的律师来说说关于此案是非曲直的意见或理由。
second sight 先见之明；预见力；超人的洞察力
the second sight of a seer 先知者的先见之明
How was I to know that the car would break down midway I haven't got second sight, you know. 我怎么能预先知道汽车会中途抛锚？我又没有先见之明。
The girl's second sight enabled her to see through the alluring fraud at once. 该姑娘超人的洞察力使她马上识破了那诱人的骗局。
second string ［美；运动］后备队员；替补队员
He is only a second string on the Shanghai basketball team. 他仅是上海市篮球队的后备队员。
have a second string to one's bow 有后备方案，有第二手准备
If that won't do, I have a second string to my bow. 如果那样不行，我还有后备方案。
on second thoughts 经过重新考虑
On second thoughts, maybe I won't apply for the job after all. 转念一想，也许我根本不会申请这份工作。［on second thoughts（复数）是英国英语，on second thought（单数）是美国英语，在实际应用中on second thoughts 更为常见］
without a second thought 毫不犹豫
He dismissed the rumor without a second thought. 他毫不犹豫地不屑理会那谣言。［在这一习惯用语中须有a, thought 也须是单数］
have second thoughts about ... 关于……有新的想法 ［在此习惯用语中，thoughts用复数］
We're beginning to have second thoughts about buying another house. 关于再买一幢房子，我们开始有新的想法了。
be second to none 不比任何人差，首屈一指
As a violin soloist, Perlman is second to none. 帕儿曼作为小提琴独奏家是无与伦比的。
Second thoughts are best. 做事要三思而后行才是最好。［thoughts宜用复数］
◆three
get a good grounding in the three R's 在读、写、算三方面打下良好的基础
It is essential that the primary students get a good grounding in the three R's. 至关重要的是，小学生应在读、写、算三方面打下良好的基础。
注： the three R's指“reading, writing and arithmetic”。
three-dimensional 三维的，立体的；真实的
a three-dimensional portrayal of heroic characters 对英雄人物形象的刻画入木三分
three sheets in（或to）the wind 酩酊大醉；醉得东倒西歪
I saw a middle-aged man coming down the street, three sheets in the wind. 我看见一个中年男子喝醉了酒，沿着街跌跌撞撞走来。
a three-bottle man 善饮酒的人，酒量大的人
I didn't see that you were a three-bottle man. 看不出你竟是个酒量很大的人。
When three know it, all know it. ［谚］三人知，众人晓。
when there are three Sundays in a week 决不会，永远不会有那一天
Your man is a womanizer. He will marry you when there are three Sundays in a week. 你那个男的是情场老手，他决不会同你结婚的。
◆four
on all fours 用手和脚在地上爬；匍匐着
The baby crawled around the floor on all fours. 那个婴孩在地板上到处乱爬。
on all fours with （常用于否定句）与……完全相等/完全一致
This simile is not on all fours with the thing that it is supposed to illustrate. 这个比喻同那个要说明的事物不大贴切。
the four corners of the country/world 全国/全世界各地
He has been to the four corners of the earth to widen his experience of life. 他曾走遍天涯海角来扩大他的人生阅历。
the fourth dimension（宽、长、厚之外的）第四维（在相对论中指时间）；日常经验之外的境界；虚无之境
It seems to me he is living in the fourth dimension. 我感觉他生活在第四度空间中［即生活在幻想中］。
four freedoms 四大自由
指the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, and the freedom from fear and want 言论自由、信仰自由、免于恐惧、免于匮乏［系美国总统罗斯福于1941年1月6日提出，成为美国外交政策的目标］
four-eyes 四眼佬（指戴眼镜的人）
Hey, four-eyes, get over here. 嗨，四眼佬，到这边来。
Four eyes see more than two. ［谚］两人总比一人想得周到。
You'd better ask your brother what he thinks of the new car. Four eyes see more than two. 你最好问问你兄弟他对这台新车的看法如何，两人总比一人想得周到。
◆five
five and ten/five -and-ten store 廉价杂货店
He said he bought those things at a five and ten（或or at a five-and-ten store）. 他说他是在家廉价杂货店买到那些东西的。
注： five and ten 原指出售5分及1角美元廉价物品的商店，现在则泛指出售各种廉价物品的商店，a five-and-ten 也可换用a five-and-ten-cent store或a five-and-dime store。
a five -finger discount 商店行窃，商店顺手牵羊
Nowadays there are still people who commit a five-finger discount while pretending to be customers. 如今依然有人在商店内装作顾客买东西时搞顺手牵羊的行窃活动。
a five -finger exercise 原指钢琴上很容易的五指练习，现已引申为容易做的事情
That's a five-finger exercise. 那事容易干。
five senses 五官感觉（指视、听、触、嗅、味五种感觉）
注： 要表示中国人所讲面貌的五官时不能用senses，需用feature，如“该男孩生得五官端正”英译时便应说“The boy has regular（或good）features.”
five-star 五星级的；一流的
a five-star general 五星上将
a five-star restaurant 五星级饭店
a five-star opera 一流的歌剧
Thank you, you have done a five-star job of it. 谢谢你。你这件事干得真漂亮。
take five ［美口］休息五分钟；休息一会儿
◆six
It is six of one and half a dozen of the other. 原意为“一方是六个，另一方是半打”，即汉语中的“半斤八两”“不相上下”“没有什么分别”“都一样”或“差不多”
A: Which do you think is the better of the two houses 这两幢房子你看哪一幢更好些？
B: Each has its own merits. It is six of one and half a dozen of the other. 各有千秋，两者差不多。（或半斤八两，不相上下）
注： 这一习语已有些陈旧，在现代英语中已产生一个变体，即six of one and two threes，如It is difficult to decide which of the two sides started the group scuffle. It seems to be a case of six of one and two threes. 双方谁先动手很难断定。看情况双方是半斤八两。
be at sixes and sevens 乱七八糟，杂乱无章；七嘴八舌，众说纷纭
Things in his room were at sixes and sevens when his wife returned after two days' absence, but she soon put them in order. 他妻子离开两天回家时，他房间里的东西乱七八糟的，但她很快就收拾整齐了。
The family members are still at sixes and sevens about this matter. 在这件事情上家里所有的人仍然意见不一致。
sixth sense 第六感，直觉
My sixth sense told me that he was probably a man with treachery behind his smiles. 我的直觉告诉我他可能是个笑里藏刀的人。
◆seven
seven/nine days' wonder 轰动一时便很快就被遗忘的事物或人
That pop star is merely a seven days' wonder. I doubt whether anyone will remember her in half a year's time. 那个流行歌手仅仅现在轰动一时，我不知道半年后还会不会有谁记得她。
in the seventh heaven ［宗教］七重天，天外天（指上帝和天使居住的天国最高层）；极乐之地
The child was in the seventh heaven with his new toy bricks. 那小孩在搭新玩具积木，真是快乐极了。
注： 在现代英语里，in the seventh heaven这一习语中的the也可换用所有格人称代词，或都可省略。如：
The little boy was in his seventh heaven, playing with the other children in the park. 那个男孩在公园里和别的孩子一起玩，快乐极了。［the改用所有格人称代词］
Now that he has been promoted, he is in the seventh heaven. 他得到晋升，简直乐上天了。［省略了the或his］
◆eight
have had one over the eight 微醉
It seems that he has had one over the eight. 看来他已微醉。
weed out（或remove）the eight balls 剔除不称职的人
The factory leadership has decided to remove all the eight balls from office. 厂方领导已决定把所有不称职的人统统革职。
behind the eight ball ［注意，ball用单数］ 处于不利地位
Our volleyball team got behind the eight ball in the first game. 我们排球队在第一场比赛中大为失利。
an eighteen carat lie 厚颜无耻的谎言，弥天大谎
He had the audacity to tell an eighteen carat lie in the presence of all. 他竟敢放肆当着大家的面撒了个厚颜无耻的大谎言。
◆nine
nine days' wonder 昙花一现的事物或人
Your success will be nothing more than a nine days' wonder if you don't keep up with your training. 你要是不坚持锻炼，那你这次所取得的成功不过是昙花一现而已。
nine times out of ten 十有八九；几乎总是
Nine times out of ten their prospect of success will vanish like soap bubbles. 十有八九，他们成功的希望将化为泡影。
注： 比这一习语更为强调的是ninety-nine times out of a hundred，意指“十有九成九，差不多总是”。
talk nineteen to the dozen 说个不停；喋喋不休
Once he is on the subject, he just talks nineteen to the dozen. 一旦说到这个问题，他就会喋喋不休。
on cloud nine ［原指吸毒上了瘾，处于飘飘然状态］得意扬扬
He was on cloud nine after his wife had the baby. 他因太太生了个小宝宝而喜气洋洋。
be dressed to the nines （为某种场合）穿上最好或最漂亮的衣服
The whole family were dressed to the nines when they left for the wedding. 去参加婚礼时，全家都穿上了各自最好的衣服。
◆ten
ten to one 十有八九，很可能
It is ten to one that he will be late. 十之八九他会迟到。
Ten to one it will snow tomorrow. 十之八九明天会下雪。
take ten 休息10分钟；小憩
Shall we take ten 休息10分钟好吗？
ten feet tall （对自己）很满意，很自豪
When he was given a high position with a large income, he felt ten feet tall and was overwhelmingly arrogant. 他获高官厚禄后，春风得意、不可一世。
注： 这一习语多与be, feel, look, seem等系动词搭配使用。
a ten-minute man ［褒］为了成功而努力的人； ［贬］外貌帅但内心不诚的男人
You'd better take care, Irene. For all I know, he is a ten-minute man. 艾琳，你得当心；就我所知，他是个外表帅但花心的男人。
◆eleventh
at the eleventh hour 在最后时刻，在危急之时
The two explorers were rescued at the eleventh hour. 两个探险家在最后一刻被营救了。
注： the eleventh hour 也可用作定语，中间宜加连字符“-”，如：His eleventh-hour victory in the election campaign was described as a miracle. 他在最后一刻的竞选运动中获胜被称为是个奇迹。
before the eleventh hour 趁还来得及的时候
Now is the time for you to pull back before the eleventh hour. 现在是你悬崖勒马的时候了。
◆sixteen
sweet sixteen 妙龄，二八年华
When I went abroad, you were just a ting dot; now you have grown into a girl of sweet sixteen. 我出国时你只是个小不点儿；现在你已出落成一个亭亭玉立的花季少女了。
◆twenty
twenty and twenty 许多;无数
We have made twenty and twenty suggestions concerning the clearing of air pollution, hoping they will draw serious attention from the municipal authorities. 我们已提了很多关于清除空气污染的建议，希望这些建议会引起市领导的重视。
twenty to one 非常可能，十之八九
The boy has drunk plenty of dirty water, and twenty to one he will have loose bowels. 这孩子喝了很多脏水，他极可能会拉肚子。
twenty-four hours a day 每时每刻；一天24小时
He is a staunch Christian, living in accordance with the Bible 24 hours a day. 他是个虔诚的基督徒，一生中无时无刻不在遵循《圣经》的教导行事。
◆forty
forty winks 小睡，打个盹
In the United States, when a car driver feels sleepy, he stops by the side of the road to catch forty winks. 在美国，汽车驾驶员觉得困倦时，就把车停在路边，借以小睡片刻。
◆fifty
fifty-fifty 各半，平分
It is fifty-fifty that the delivery woman survives her difficult labor. 该产妇难产，幸存的可能性只有一半。
注： delivery woman: 产妇，又叫lying-in woman; difficult labor：难产；顺产则叫natural labor或normal childbirth
My partner refused to go fifty-fifty with me in the loss. 我的合伙人拒绝和我平摊损失。
a fifty-fifty chance 机会均等，各占一半
It's a doubtful match between Team A and our Team. The two teams are well-matched. Whether we win or lose, it's a fifty-fifty chance. A队和我们队之间的比赛胜负令人难料。两队势均力敌，我们是赢是输各有一半可能。
◆seventy
seventy times seven 无数次
Seventy times seven I had warned you to be on guard against him, but you did not listen. Now he has got you involved in trouble. 我多少次告诫你要防备他，但你不听。现在他把你拖下水了。
◆hundred
a hundred and one 大量的，许许多多的
I have a hundred and one things to do these days. 这些天我有许许多多的事情要做。
We must raise the per unit yield in a hundred and one ways. 我们要千方百计地提高单位面积的产量。
注： 在这一习语之前通常用a，不用one。
hundred percent 百分之百；完全
He is a hundred percent hypocrite. 他是个百分之百的伪君子。
注： 这一习语前可用a或one。
hundred to one 一百比一；可能性极大
count a hundred 静默几分钟
When angry, count a hundred. 生气时，应该静默几分钟。
come down like a hundred of bricks 来势凶猛地，势不可挡地
Before I could defend myself, two hired thugs came down on（或upon）me like a hundred of bricks. 我还来不及防卫，两个打手就以泰山压顶之势向我扑来。
注： a hundred of bricks 也可换用 a thousand of/a load of bricks，语气变得更重。
◆thousand
a thousand and one 无数的，不计其数的
The government official made a thousand and one excuses to explain away his serious dereliction of duty. 该政府官员找了无数的借口来为他严重的失职申辩。
a thousand to one chance 极渺茫的机会；极少的可能性
There is a thousand to one chance of success. 成功的可能性微乎其微。
注： 这一习语，如再欲加强，可用 a million to one chance。
◆million
the million / the millions 大众，群众
I like music for the million. 我喜爱大众音乐。
Most great writers write for the millions. 大多数伟大的作家都为大众而写作。
A good government attaches importance to education for the million. 好的政府重视大众教育。
feel like a million dollars 觉得精力十分充沛；感觉非常好/愉快
When he won a big prize in a lottery, he felt like a million dollars. 他的彩票中了大奖，他感到春风得意、非常愉快。
以下是些实用的million搭配词语：
the awakening millions 觉醒中的大众
countless millions 无数的民众
the toiling millions 千千万万的劳苦大众
education for the million 大众教育

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