以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语

Magrath

以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语
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　　“Point”是个实质名词，甚易感受；与它连用的惯用语也令人有深切的体会。

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1 n+ Z' ?% y3 F% E$ Q& S　　(1)Beside the point：与所讨论的问题无关。
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　　“We are now discussing the staff development, so your question about international relationships is beside the point.”
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  P; a* W5 ^' {, i+ ]1 ^. W　　(2)On the point of...：就要做...

　　“Yesterday, when I was on the point of going out, an old friend came to see me.”

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　　(3)A case in point: 一个恰当的例子。

% y& N2 i0 t. G) u, s/ z1 E+ u, n　　“Not many people would like to invest in the same enterprise. Mr Brown is a case in point; he has different businesses.”


　　(4)Get to the point：谈到问题要点。
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7 _3 p3 A: W% w% W8 V9 ?$ f# j' N: v　　“All the jokes are interesting, but isn't it time to get to the point?”
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) c' N0 z( C; H7 z/ J  w　　(5)Get/take someone's point：了解某人的意思。

　　“What did you say just now? I didn't quite get your point.”
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　　(6)Get/Wander off the point：离开主题。
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　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”
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1 B& [9 F- v, e8 F3 |* a　　(7)Have a point: 有可取之处。
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: f) }% D( @* W, R　　Globalisation? You have a point there. From now on, we have to focus on human relationships.”
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/ t/ v* `: c% r+ C( o' i3 G4 |　　(8)Make one's point：表达了意思。

　　“David, you have made your point well. How about Shirley? Can you tell us what you think about her?”

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　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...

　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”

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! X+ o4 z. r1 D; q　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。

　　“The TV company has offered Lisa an unconditional 5-year contract. It has reached the point of no return and cannot change its decision.”
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3 f& N# O# {4 u" R　　(11)A sore point with...：令人讨厌的事。
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　　“Sally's boy friend, Samuel, went to dinner without inviting her. This is a sore point with her and whenever she thinks of this, she becomes unhappy.”

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　　(12)The sticking point：（谈判、讨论时）不易达致协议之点。
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: F) i( D  R. P2 ]　　“How the boundary is to be drawn seems to be the sticking point in the peace talk between the two neighbouring countries.”


　　(13)That's the (whole)point：那就是问题的惩结了。
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2 i9 U7 F8 B. S! Q　　“- If I cancel the trip, will the deposit be forfeited? -yes! That's the whole point; no one can cancel the trip at short notice.”

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　　(14)Stretch a point：破例作出让步。

　　“When it came to special allowance, the manager stretched a point in Jason's favour.”
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; V6 k* z  Y/ k5 v8 b( `　　(15)The/A vantage point：优越的地位。
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2 e3 U& t5 p6 B5 x: W　　From the vantage point on the raised platform, one can see the military parade very clearly./why don't you stand on a vantage point to have a far-sighted view？（站得高，看得远。）