以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语

Magrath

以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语
; h) \+ W. @! |
7 ]5 `4 s6 v+ y5 {' W; W9 r
- U' M3 @  Z* i) f% n9 p6 e9 V7 M
<
　　“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。


+ {5 Y: U. ?% J3 \6 \) P8 `4 I! Z　　(1)Beside the point：与所讨论的问题无关。

& A' F3 {+ b5 E6 r! L　　“We are now discussing the staff development, so your question about international relationships is beside the point.”
  x! D/ \, p4 w" l+ Y

　　(2)On the point of...：就要做...
& Y( K$ _# |: J3 {
$ ^3 m& A$ z# J$ H　　“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。
3 Q! s# ^& u# D6 Q1 L# ^. G6 P
7 c" o8 {2 Y& `　　“Not many people would like to invest in the same enterprise. Mr Brown is a case in point; he has different businesses.”

/ R; Q0 I5 q( \1 [
　　(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?”

% K. P( w# Y* t* F' A
　　(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.”
4 K! n- a* ^' I7 f
5 g, t! b/ Y. ~
　　(6)Get/Wander off the point：离开主题。

　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”
* j" n" N0 n: ?7 w: s0 G& w
, m# j1 c1 j' m1 Z
　　(7)Have a point: 有可取之处。
& Q: E! c( B- Q- `) M8 ~
% }7 j: Q, C) y0 m% M　　Globalisation? You have a point there. From now on, we have to focus on human relationships.”
/ ~3 [2 A  x1 Y& A& v: t3 |
2 y) J7 }% j3 W9 D
' Q! j* e# k! R1 F( H& B2 Y5 s; e　　(8)Make one's point：表达了意思。

' f2 \0 Q/ {- h8 k0 F' m; M　　“David, you have made your point well. How about Shirley? Can you tell us what you think about her?”

+ z8 a, r* y2 I" |, w/ s4 R
　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...

$ Q/ d$ n$ I; ?+ Z　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”
- A. }6 {) O- c3 y0 @( Y
& t" o& D* h1 R. k, c/ Y9 X. c) |
　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。
1 q7 r" E9 p! ]8 Y* F) _9 \
) \& G1 \: o, J8 T2 m7 ^　　“The TV company has offered Lisa an unconditional 5-year contract. It has reached the point of no return and cannot change its decision.”
! m1 s9 p7 S! |9 C, U, m
7 r" i/ _. v! \+ Z0 }; V7 @9 O
( N4 h# J6 b0 h$ k, j　　(11)A sore point with...：令人讨厌的事。
+ q3 ~7 g7 o; E9 q5 `0 L
　　“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.”
2 N* s- x" N$ j% B

8 D2 C2 C0 a$ J7 ^' c! g　　(12)The sticking point：（谈判、讨论时）不易达致协议之点。
7 I* r* b& Z$ N% L1 }/ e
　　“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。
: h( Q. t5 d- @: B
　　“- 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.”
8 H2 }: a4 T. B

  H9 u5 H" B* \　　(14)Stretch a point：破例作出让步。
1 u* d( J$ m1 q( B
" j% e, z. }" O+ M8 \2 i　　“When it came to special allowance, the manager stretched a point in Jason's favour.”
; z7 }( t5 @, x* Z. c. c

　　(15)The/A vantage point：优越的地位。
7 M% T5 k7 N* Z8 x4 ]
　　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。）