英語6

英語6


pretty much
very nearly.
"the case is pretty much over"

every single
each:
I don’t need to know every single detail of his life.

quite a bit
a lot:
They have quite a bit of money.
There was quite a bit of butter in the dish.

in the back of your mind
you intend to do it, but are not actively thinking about it:
It's been at the back of my mind to call José for several days now, but I haven't got round to it yet.

in my own right
got it by yourself and not because of anyone else:
She's a millionaire in her own right.



beyond/within the realms of possibility
impossible/possible:
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that some schools may have to cut sport altogether.
"Do you think he could step down?" "I think it's within the realms of possibility, yes."




while
despite the fact that; although:
While I accept that he's not perfect in many respects, I do actually like the man.
While I fully understand your point of view, I also have some sympathy with Michael's.



but for
without someone or something:
But for you, I would be completely alone in the world.

if it wasn't/weren't for
without:
If it wasn't for the life jacket, I would have drowned.
If it wasn't for their support, we wouldn't have been able to continue.
I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Bruce.

if I were you
putting myself in your situation:
If I were you, I’d accept his apology.


apart from
except for
Salary apart, it's not a bad job.
Apart from you, I don't think there was anyone there under 30.

far too little
inadequate or insufficient in comparison to what is desired
The government spends far too little on environmental protection.



as is the case with
in the same way that it happens:
As is often the case with children,

fair to say
introduce a statement which you believe to be true and reasonable.
I think it's fair to say that it didn't sound quite right.
I don't know if its fair to say



past
to a position that is further than a particular point:
I live on Station Road, just past the post office.
Three boys went past us on mountain bikes.
Was that Peter who just jogged past in those bright pink shorts?

past
above a particular age or further than a particular point:
She's past the age where she needs a babysitter.

all over
completely finished:
We had a difficult time but it's all over now.
It was all over in 10 or 15 minutes.

let's see
used when you want to think carefully about something or are trying to remember:
Next Saturday, let's see, that's when we're going to the theatre.


less often
indicate a smaller frequency of occurrence than usual
I go to the gym less often than my friend.".

inside
in someone's mind,
She couldn't cope with the grief she felt inside.

inside
in less than a particular amount of time
The new faster trains can do the journey inside two hours.
He finished it inside of two hours.

outside
not within part of something:
I'm afraid that would be outside my job description.

outside
not in a particular place:
Nobody outside this room must ever know what we have discussed.


outside of
except for:
Outside of us three, no one knows anything about the problem, yet.

from time to time
sometimes, but not often:
From time to time I still think of her.

whereby
by which way or method:
They’ve set up a plan whereby you can spread the cost over several months.

out here
We don't get as much traffic out here.

on hold
when using the phone, you are waiting to speak to someone:
Mr Briggs is on hold.a
I'm going to put you on hold for a moment.

on hold
it has been intentionally delayed:
Everything's on hold again because of the bad weather.
The celebration was put on hold until Lenny recovered.

judging from/by
express the reasons why you have a particular opinion:
Judging by what he said


also
in addition:
She's a photographer and also writes books.
I'm cold, and I'm also hungry and tired.

different from:
Dan's actually very nice, unlike his father.
Unlike you, I'm not a great dancer.

unlike
not typical
It's unlike you to be quiet - is something wrong?

on every corner
in many places along the streets
After the game, police were stationed on every corner.

from top to bottom
all parts of it:
They cleaned the house from top to bottom.




as soon as, or from the moment when:
Once I've found somewhere to live I'll send you my address.
Remember that you won't be able to cancel the contract once you've signed.

on or at a single time:
I went to Disney World once.
The book club meets once a month.

as soon as
at the same time or a very short time after:
As soon as I saw her, I knew there was something wrong.
As soon as I said it, I regretted it.
He registered to vote as soon as he turned eighteen.

as soon as
in the shortest possible time:
We’ll come as soon as we can.




at once
immediately:
I knew at once that I'd like it here.

again, as has happened before:
Once again, racist attacks are increasing across Europe.

once more
one more time:
I'd like to visit the campus once more before we leave.

again, as has happened before:
When my father came home, everything felt right once more.

once or twice
a few times:
I've seen him once or twice in town.

(every) once in a while
sometimes but not often:
We meet for lunch once in a while.

once in a lifetime
only likely to happen once in a person's life:
An opportunity as good as this arises once in a lifetime.

on
something is in a position above something else and touching it
Your suitcase is on top of the wardrobe.
I got on my bike and left.

on
show where something has been written,
Which page is that curry recipe on?

on
showing some methods of travelling:
I love travelling on trains.
She's coming in on the 5.30 bus.
We went to France on the ferry.

on
to or towards:
Our house is the first on the left after the post office.
The attack on the village lasted all night.
I wish you wouldn't sneak up on me like that!

on
relating to:
a book on pregnancy
Her talk is on Italian women's literature.

the once
on a single occasion:
I've only played rugby the once, and I never want to play it again.

next to
used to mean `after' when making a choice or a comparison:
Cheese is my favourite food and, next to that, chocolate.



knowing about or considering a particular thing:
Given his age, he's a remarkably fast runner.
given (the fact) that Given (the fact) that he's had six months to do this, he hasn't made much progress.



used to refer to a time in the future that is not yet decided:
Why don't we meet for lunch one day next week?
I'd like to go skiing one Christmas.

used to refer to a particular occasion while avoiding stating the exact moment:
One night we stayed up talking till dawn.
He was attacked as he was walking home from work late one afternoon.
One moment he says he loves me, the next moment he's asking for a divorce.
She never seems to know what she's doing from one minute to the next.

(all) in one
combined in a single person or object:
With this model you get a radio, CD player, and MP3 dock all in one.

used when saying there is no other person or thing:
He's the one person you can rely on in an emergency.
This may be your one and only (= only ever) opportunity to meet her.

used to emphasize an adjective:
His mother is one (= a very) generous woman.
That's one (= a very) big ice cream cone you have there.
It was one hell of a (= a very great) shock to find out I'd lost my job.

not be one to do something
to never do something:
I'm not one to criticize other people, as you know.



used, especially in business, to mean "in the future":
This could become a problem going forward.
Going forward, businesses will have to make savings where they can.
This is going to be a major factor going forward.

be one for something informal
to like something very much:
I've never been one for staying out late.
He's a great one for the ladies.

used to talk about one person or thing compared with other similar or related people or things:
They look so similar it's often difficult to distinguish one from the other.
You may have one or the other, but not both.
Crime and freedom are inseparable. You can't have one without the other.

any person, but not a particular person:
One has an obligation to one's friends.
One ought to make the effort to vote.






used to show that you feel sorry about something that cannot happen when explaining why it cannot happen:
I'd love to go to Australia. I only wish I could afford to.

I only hope/wish (that)
used to emphasize what you are hoping or wishing for:
I only hope you know what you're doing.
I only wish that they would keep in touch more regularly.

used to show that you think someone has done something silly:
She's only locked herself out of her flat again!



have only (got) to
If you say you have only (got) to do something, you mean that it is all you need to do in order to achieve something else:
If you want any help, you have only to ask.
You only have to look at her face to see that she's not well.


used to say that two related things are true or happened, especially when this is surprising or shocking:
Not only did he turn up late, he also forgot his books.
If this project fails, it will affect not only our department, but also the whole organization.


"Which do you think is better, hiking or swimming?"
"Which do you think tastes better, chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream?"

following
after:
The weeks following the riots were extremely tense.
Following the dinner, there will be a dance.



apart from
except for:
Apart from the low salary, it’s not a  bad job.

except
not including; but not:
The museum is open daily except Monday(s).
The government has few options except to keep interest rates high.
It's cool and quiet everywhere except in the kitchen.
There is nothing to indicate the building's past, except (for) the fireplace.

except
difference or in this case only:
The twins look exactly alike except (that) one is slightly taller.
The deserted town is silent, except when wind rustles the weeds or bangs a door.

in addition (to):
Invite Emily - and Scott as well.
I want to visit Andrew as well as Martin.
We need to think about the timing as well as the cost.

in addition; and also:
We have a responsibility to our community as well as to our families.

as if:
You look as though you've been running a marathon!
It sounds as though she's had enough of the whole situation.
It looks as though everyone has pretty much left.
She felt as though she had no other option.
It seems as though no one within the party agrees with him.

about:
He was uncertain as to which road to take.
There's no decision as to when the work might start.

in the direction of, or closer to someone or something:
She stood up and walked towards him.
He leaned towards his wife and whispered, "Can we go home soon?"
She kept glancing towards the phone.
The country seems to be drifting towards war.


in relation to something or someone:
They've always been very friendly towards me.
There has been a change in government policy towards energy efficiency.
He feels a lot of anger/hostility/antagonism/animosity towards his father.

near to, just before, or around a time or place:
Our seats were towards the back of the theatre.
I often get hungry towards the middle of the morning.
We're getting towards winter and it's getting dark earlier.

for the purpose of buying or achieving something:
I'm saving up to buy a car, and Dad has given me some money towards it.
Would you like to make a contribution (= give some money) towards a present for Linda?
The work that students do during the term counts towards their final grade.

Earlier is used to refer to a point or period in time before the present or before the one you are talking about.
As mentioned earlier, the University supplements this information with an interview.
Earlier, it had been hoped to use the indoor track.

because of:
A lot of her unhappiness is due to boredom.
The bus was delayed due to heavy snow.
Regrettably, the service has been dropped due to lack of funding.

without taking any notice of or being influenced by; not prevented by:
I still enjoyed the week despite the weather.
Despite repeated assurances that the product is safe, many people have stopped buying it.
[ + -ing verb ] He managed to eat a big lunch despite having eaten an enormous breakfast.

despite yourself
If you do something despite yourself, you do it although you do not want to or although you know you should not:
He laughed despite himself.
She took the money from her mother's purse, despite herself.
He was attracted to Rachel despite himself

without being influenced or prevented by:
The game continued despite the rain.
Despite her illness, she came to work.

as far as someone is concerned
in a particular person's opinion:
As far as I'm concerned, feng shui doesn't work.
As far as I'm concerned, education is education whether it happens inside or outside the classroom.
As far as she was concerned, learning English was the most important thing.
As far as Louise was concerned, Will wasn't paying her enough attention.

if we are discussing or thinking about a particular thing:
As far as unemployment's concerned, a change of policy on job creation would be a good idea.
We've done very badly as far as planning is concerned.
Allowing people to bring in large bags is a risk as far as safety is concerned.

according to
as stated by:
According to our records you owe us $130.

according to plan
Something that happens according to plan happens in the way it was intended to:
Did it all go according to plan?

at, to, or from a great distance in space or time:
far from How far is it from Australia to New Zealand?
far away Is the station far away?
She doesn't live far from here.
He felt lonely and far from home.

as/so far as I know
used to say what you think is true, although you do not know all the facts:
He isn't coming today, as far as I know.

as/so far as someone is aware
used to say what you or someone else thinks is true, although you do not know all the facts:
As far as I am aware there has never been any problem with it before.
As far as we are aware, there are no other families with this surname.

 as/so far as I can tell
used to say what you have noticed or understood:
There's been no change, as far as I can tell.

far from something
certainly not something:
The situation is far from clear.

far from being/doing something
used to describe something that is almost the opposite of something else:
She insisted that, far from being easy, it would be a difficult period for all concerned.

far from it
certainly not:
He's not handsome - far from it.

go so far as to do something
to be willing to do something that is extreme:
It's good, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's great.

very much:
far better This car is far better than our old one.
far more It cost far more (money) than I could afford.
far too He loses his temper far too often.
far rather/sooner UK I'd far rather/sooner go to the theatre than watch a DVD.

by far
by a great amount:
by far the best They are by far the best students in the class.


be in A's shoes
to be in the situation, usually a bad or difficult situation, that another person is in:
I wouldn't like to be in Mike's shoes when the boss hears what he's done!

a statement, often written, that an arrangement or meeting is certain:
a letter of confirmation
We've only received five confirmations for the conference so far.
We will send you written confirmation of our offer shortly.

proof
a fact or piece of information that something exists or is true
Do they have any proof that it was Hampson who stole the goods?


belief
something that you believe:
All religious and political beliefs should be respected equally.
It is my (firm) belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.


beyond belief
too bad, good, difficult, etc. to be imagined:
The brutality of the murders was beyond belief.

the philosophy of something
a group of theories and ideas related to the understanding of a particular subject:
the philosophy of education/religion/science

philosophy
the way that someone thinks about life and deals with it:
Live now, pay later - that's my philosophy of life!

by product
something that is produced as a result of making something else,
Buttermilk is a by-product of making butter.


a hole or crack through which a liquid or gas can flow out of a container, or the liquid or gas that comes out:
There's water on the floor - we must have a leak.
If you suspect a gas leak, phone the emergency number.

the beginning or cause of something:
It's a book about the origin of the universe.
Her unhappy childhood was the origin of her problems later in life.
What's the origin of this saying? (= Where did it come from?)



at worst
in the most serious case.
"at worst the injury could mean months in hospital"
under the most unfavourable interpretation.
"the cabinet's reaction to the crisis was at best ineffective and at worst irresponsible"

at your worst
less active or intelligent than you are at other times:
I'm at my worst first thing in the morning.

as such
in the true or exact meaning of the word or phrase:
There wasn't much vegetarian food as such, although there were several different types of cheese.


as it were
sometimes said after a figurative (= not meaning exactly what it appears to mean) or unusual expression:
If he still refuses we could always apply a little pressure, as it were.

as is often the case
in the same way that it happens:
As is the case with many similar medications, you may need to increase your dosage

as though
used to describe how a situation seems to be:
She looked as if she'd had some bad news.
I felt as though I'd been lying in the sun for hours.
They stared at me as if I was crazy.

as much
it means that something bad that you expected would happen has happened:
I knew he'd fail - I said as much at the time.

as much
the same:
Go on, lend me the money - you know I'd do as much for you.

as much as
almost:
He as much as admitted that it was his fault.


as likely as not
probably:
As likely as not, she'll end up in court over this problem.
In those days, a woman would as likely as not be widowed by 50.

as it is
already:
I'm not buying the children anything else today - I've spent far too much money as it is.