英语学习日积月累

genetics
遗传学    

例句：
William Bateson coined the word genetics and several other useful terms.
William Bateson 创立了“遗传学”这个名词和其他一些有用的术语。
 
to no purpose
无结果；无效
 
例句：
He tried to find out the cause, but all to no purpose.
他试图找出原因，但是全无结果。

It’s a once in a lifetime chance.
这是一生难得的机会。 

对话：
A: Jack, shall I take the job in the US?
B: If I were you I would take it.
A: Would you?
B: Sure. It’s a once in a lifetime chance.
　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　 　　
A：杰克，我该不该接受美国的那份工作呢？
B：我要是你就接受它。
A：你会吗？
B：当然会。这是一生难得的机会。

inheritance
遗产  

例句：
The son received a large inheritance in his father’s will.
根据他父亲的遗嘱，那个儿子得到了一大笔遗产。
 

knock off
迅速办理，匆匆写出
 
例句：
He says he can knock off a sonnet on any occasion.
他说他能在任何场合马上写出一首十四行诗。

Let’s hope for the best.
让我们往好处想吧。 

对话：
A: Darling, I’m fond of the skirt I saw in the store yesterday. I want to buy it, but I’m afraid it may be sold out.
B: Let’s hope for the best. Maybe it’s still there.

A：亲爱的，我很喜欢昨天在一个小店里看到的一条裙子。我很想买，可是我担心已经卖完了。
B：往好处想吧。也许它还在那儿。

suffer
受损害，受到不良影响  

例句：
Your studies will suffer if you play too much football.
如果你总是踢足球，你的学业就会受到影响。

under the cover of…
在……的掩护下；以……为借口
 
例句：
The troop withdrew safely under the cover of darkness.
军队在夜幕的掩护下安全撤离了。
 

I’ll pick up the tab.
我来付帐。

对话：
A: Do we have to pay the transportation fee?
B: No. This trip is on me. You don’t have to spend a penny. I’ll pick up the tab.
A: How generous you are.

A：我们得付交通费吗？
B：不，这次旅行我请客。你们不用花一分钱。我来付费。
A：你真慷慨。

blitz
突击，闪电式行动  

例句：
Every summer we usually see a new beer advertising blitz.
每年夏天我们都会看到新的啤酒广告突击行动。
 

nothing to speak of
不足挂齿；微不足道

例句：
He said that what he had done was nothing to speak of.
他说他所做的事情微不足道。
 

Make your dream come true.
让你的梦想成真。

对话：
A: Jane, do you have any ambition?
B: Sure I have. I want to be a translator.
A: It’s good to have that idea. But you have to get well prepared to make your dream come true.
　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　
A：简，你有什么打算吗？
B：当然有了。我想当一名翻译。
A：有那样的想法是好事。可是要让你的梦想成真，你得做好充分的准备呀。

credit
称颂   

例句：
His behavior is much to his credit.
他的行为很值得称颂。

sweep something under the carpet
掩盖某事；无视某事
 
例句：
I would put it above the table instead of shoving my objection under the carpet.
我愿意把我的反对意见摆在桌面上来而不愿意把它压在心里。
 

What is it like there?
那儿怎么样？ 

对话：
A: I heard you have just come back from San Francisco. What is it like there?
B: Oh, it’s a charming city.
　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　 　　　
A：我听说你刚从旧金山回来。那儿怎么样？
B：哦，那是个充满魅力的城市。　

floppy disk
软盘 

例句：
Floppy disks have always been cheap to make and relatively easy to copy.
软盘制作成本比较低，而且拷贝起来也相对容易些。
 

swim against the current (stream)
逆潮流行事；背道而驰
 
例句：
The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream.
现在，没有受过教育的青年想要获得成功，其难度就好比逆水行舟。
 

I can’t believe it.
我简直不敢相信。
　
对话：
A: She beat two world records.
B: That’s amazing.
A: It sure is. I couldn’t believe it.

A：她打破了两项世界记录。
B：那太令人惊奇了。
A：当然。我简直不敢相信。

transplant
移植 
　　
例句：
It is now possible to transplant organs from animals into people.
现在将动物身上的器官移植入人体内已经成为了可能。
 

paddle one’s own canoe
自力更生；自食其力
 
例句：
He’s eighteen now and I believe he can paddle his own canoe.
他已经十八岁了，所以我相信他完全可以自食其力了。
 

It’s up to date.
这很时兴。

对话：
A: John, I’m taking my exam for my postgraduate study.
B: Really? It’s quite up to date to get a higher degree, isn’t it?
A: Yes, and I’m trying to keep up with the times.

A：约翰，我正准备参加研究生考试。
B：真的吗？获得更高的学位很时兴，是吗？
A：是呀，我正试图赶上时代。