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)Beside the point：与所讨论的问题无关。

7 V9 B3 h6 F3 ]4 m( r4 \4 y& F　　“We are now discussing the staff development, so your question about international relationships is beside the point.”
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! \- F' d5 A1 x, o5 b. R6 L9 e　　(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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; @1 h4 e1 f* ^3 S/ l0 G1 Z" z4 X; m! l　　(3)A case in point: 一个恰当的例子。

9 `( y2 v. j+ U  R6 m. G0 ~) f  W, x6 s　　“Not many people would like to invest in the same enterprise. Mr Brown is a case in point; he has different businesses.”
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" U* {0 B1 ^3 c2 \　　(4)Get to the point：谈到问题要点。
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　　“All the jokes are interesting, but isn't it time to get to the point?”
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　　(5)Get/take someone's point：了解某人的意思。
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4 F7 r- {1 R2 k8 _! s　　“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。

$ J. H% k4 N1 E/ O/ ~　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”
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$ v& O- q4 _  Z* d# K　　(7)Have a point: 有可取之处。

4 m' [5 ^( h1 y& z. U; q* X　　Globalisation? You have a point there. From now on, we have to focus on human relationships.”

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　　(8)Make one's point：表达了意思。
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　　“David, you have made your point well. How about Shirley? Can you tell us what you think about her?”


% P* K* ]' N7 b) [　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...
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" i" F, R/ v3 N) |　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”

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: [! f8 i9 j8 |! h8 H　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。
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- s3 W' t; P, a9 T9 u& V　　“The TV company has offered Lisa an unconditional 5-year contract. It has reached the point of no return and cannot change its decision.”


6 l  d  A. }; w+ L: ~& Z' t　　(11)A sore point with...：令人讨厌的事。

　　“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.”


$ i- [" `6 _/ n% a　　(12)The sticking point：（谈判、讨论时）不易达致协议之点。

　　“How the boundary is to be drawn seems to be the sticking point in the peace talk between the two neighbouring countries.”
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5 S& U: ]6 n8 E  L0 g. U8 K　　(13)That's the (whole)point：那就是问题的惩结了。
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　　“- 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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+ P7 V0 I( R& q) T1 k+ ^, g, k　　(14)Stretch a point：破例作出让步。

, H' A" ?# _' F　　“When it came to special allowance, the manager stretched a point in Jason's favour.”
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7 \/ x& x! i! y  O- \& j$ C+ J　　(15)The/A vantage point：优越的地位。
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　　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。）