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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; V9 z& `" z4 |- T8 \# G# Z　　(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.”


* D% g8 X7 q7 Q" A6 \6 E　　(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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7 c1 y5 g' O+ d: O; ]# C% t+ I　　“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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) ^+ G& J$ P* g9 a' G　　(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。

2 }" o- N, I7 l/ h# `+ d　　“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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( `" L. S! B+ d　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”


　　(7)Have a point: 有可取之处。

7 x4 v$ X- S* `' N　　Globalisation? You have a point there. From now on, we have to focus on human relationships.”
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/ L" e" N3 b" H　　(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?”


: F9 ~0 t2 X- Z% C; c0 C5 V. F　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...
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* n" F$ a1 \8 k6 m　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”

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　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。
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　　“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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　　“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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0 O7 c, F: R2 \8 {  m# ]6 h; A2 _( a　　(12)The sticking point：（谈判、讨论时）不易达致协议之点。
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　　“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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( H  C* j( F3 S5 S　　(13)That's the (whole)point：那就是问题的惩结了。

& b4 s' X! P. 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.”


　　(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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　　(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。）