以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语

Magrath

以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语
2 L+ H( I* L( U
3 g4 }' a9 O0 \6 h
# i1 J, @3 n3 d3 N
<
　　“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。
( i8 S5 O* u8 r' n" [

　　(1)Beside the point：与所讨论的问题无关。
5 W6 S1 k  g2 T9 R' q, Y. n1 U
　　“We are now discussing the staff development, so your question about international relationships is beside the point.”
. u7 w9 D8 U+ q9 _& ^. j, B

　　(2)On the point of...：就要做...
$ m4 _5 q  b/ d$ b
0 m" E, f; Z6 [; M　　“Yesterday, when I was on the point of going out, an old friend came to see me.”
; \: J+ N9 x9 [1 D! L2 y2 I6 ]
, }" k, u2 Z  h0 k4 V* K' s
　　(3)A case in point: 一个恰当的例子。

　　“Not many people would like to invest in the same enterprise. Mr Brown is a case in point; he has different businesses.”
; Z" k* c) h: ]
7 w" G& _1 ?2 y: t2 P3 I  \8 ]1 n
　　(4)Get to the point：谈到问题要点。
' ^8 D/ m( n" R! S. Z9 \* R
. U7 Z; w- x% B9 b) h. a( c3 B　　“All the jokes are interesting, but isn't it time to get to the point?”


　　(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.”
+ g3 k, L' s* ]- D

4 D& r2 p9 J2 |2 n　　(6)Get/Wander off the point：离开主题。
( V! M6 m2 I0 W% H
　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”


+ F" ^+ ]! z, u, H4 F' Q9 M　　(7)Have a point: 有可取之处。

　　Globalisation? You have a point there. From now on, we have to focus on human relationships.”
3 \" ~- m- D- D- D( B1 E

: a5 d/ ?+ K) ?) S$ L　　(8)Make one's point：表达了意思。

! l# i" X$ l; R- U　　“David, you have made your point well. How about Shirley? Can you tell us what you think about her?”
+ X6 q" O5 f1 p

　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...

　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”
1 B* U2 b& X+ m* _' E; `) F8 A
# \- j7 O8 @0 [) w2 C+ Y
! @* t- y1 U4 _8 D/ Z　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。

7 j1 O9 z2 z4 j9 L6 O+ Y3 L8 ~　　“The TV company has offered Lisa an unconditional 5-year contract. It has reached the point of no return and cannot change its decision.”


& v* j1 {2 Q' f  S6 y　　(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.”

- J5 S8 @' A1 |. K$ o: v
　　(12)The sticking point：（谈判、讨论时）不易达致协议之点。
  E" V; Z; R) {8 b& s9 ~7 U# f
　　“How the boundary is to be drawn seems to be the sticking point in the peace talk between the two neighbouring countries.”
5 J; f* g  Z. i  z/ d% R/ P! c

　　(13)That's the (whole)point：那就是问题的惩结了。
1 @' o/ d% H7 s6 P
5 N3 F& |; X# C) K# R  a. p1 R　　“- 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.”


　　(14)Stretch a point：破例作出让步。
. G( A- o; B( D: @% O
7 L& ]* g& Z+ ?& L- G　　“When it came to special allowance, the manager stretched a point in Jason's favour.”
3 x2 `( D6 N, m. _
3 |, T1 g- l8 V( r; o
　　(15)The/A vantage point：优越的地位。
6 f) c  Z# l" O, c+ j
* Q( M+ x! r2 r6 F. \/ l　　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。）