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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. V2 ~: W- R8 C4 o( G　　(1)Beside the point：与所讨论的问题无关。

　　“We are now discussing the staff development, so your question about international relationships is beside the point.”


' x/ S# `6 I5 L1 y5 ~; f　　(2)On the point of...：就要做...
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　　“Yesterday, when I was on the point of going out, an old friend came to see me.”


　　(3)A case in point: 一个恰当的例子。
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　　“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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　　(4)Get to the point：谈到问题要点。

　　“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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　　“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。

　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”


6 L/ L6 z/ v% h0 h　　(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.”
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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?”
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* }6 p7 b3 Z8 F- V" s　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...
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　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”


( y& S0 {. E. b1 T, {* s5 m　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。
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- r3 e$ V- ~; H: z6 Z( q% J　　“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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　　(11)A sore point with...：令人讨厌的事。
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+ ^: Q  x& ~6 J- X　　“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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2 x7 M/ T" ^* u( r; l　　(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.”


# w9 L' k  s, Y　　(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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　　(14)Stretch a point：破例作出让步。
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1 k! w  t# u3 e1 P( I- ~  w　　“When it came to special allowance, the manager stretched a point in Jason's favour.”


3 J' h2 |) U: M% ?0 @$ S* p6 v　　(15)The/A vantage point：优越的地位。

* Q9 x9 ?! b) R4 U　　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。）