Topic Sample: 找小伙伴共读 “Beyond the Dictionary” / 分类：英语学习

[Excalibur]

征小伙伴一起读、讨论 。

英文名： Beyond the Dictionary

中文名： 英语常用词疑难用法手册

作者： 陈用仪

推荐理由： 我们常常只了解常用单词的一两个意思，然而常用词往往有很多种用法，所谓熟词生意。然而正是这些熟词生意，却经常出现在口语表达、新闻报道之中，并且很大地丰富了语言地表现力。更深刻地理解和掌握常用词，可能比背诵生僻词（比如myxomatosis)更加实用。

本书内容sample:

https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/38117425

购买渠道：Amazon kindle书店有售

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interesting idea. I've read a few English language books in the past that helped build up my vocabulary. The one I keep going back to is Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms. Watching BBC TV shows and <House MD> also help.. For BBC shows, documentaries and shows like 'Top Gear' not not just fun to watch. 

[Excalibur]

Agreed. Webster series are valuable and helpful resources. I also read the Vocabulary Builder.

[Excalibur]

看到一个有意思的条目:

at..., we... 

许多公司企业刊登广告或启事，一开头提到本公司如何如何时，用公司名字作主语（第三人称而不是第一人称）听起来 有点置身事外，不大合适； 用“我们”作主语又不能放上公司名字；中文的“本公司” 或“敝公司”在英文又不易表达， 而且还是放不上公司名称。 所以通常就用“At + 公司 名称， we 如何 如何” 这种表达法。

【例如】 

At T. Rowe Price, we believe... 我们 T. Rowe Price 公司 深信… 

At Samsung, we realize that to succeed in business we must also succeed in life. 

At Toyota, we purchase more than $ 28 billion in US parts, materials, goods, and services every year.

回想很多公司的介绍好像确实是这么写的，想不到有这些考虑。

不过类似于"贵公司" "敝公司"好像还真没有合适的表达。

由此引申到一些自谦语，比如"鄙人"如何如何，我只能想到 I humbly do ...

Your honor 翻译成阁下不知是否妥当。

 

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我觉得English (particularly American English) 里没有很多亚洲文化里的 谦词 和类似的贵，贱 这种prefix. There are, though, more old-school and refined diction, especially in old British novels.. 

[Excalibur]

今天看到一条： bear 的动词用法，选两个有意思的。

1. 延续性“经得起” (to sustain without yielding or suffering injury; tolerate)

    This cloth bears washing. 布料耐洗。

    His argument doesn't bear close scrutiny. 论据经不起细察。

    I can't bear your nagging。 受不了你嚼舌头。

2. 综述、概括性的生育，give birth to 用于具体的某次：

    She gave birth to a boy yesterday.

    His wife bore him two daughters and a son.

注：这一点我没有在词典上找到support, 通常两个互相解释。可能并不是绝对的规律，而是较多情况下习惯、偏好。

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bear is a very useful multi-definition word. A very common use is "bear with me"

also, "bears on" or "has bearing on" means "apply , pertain to" <facts bearing on the question> 

another usage I find useful is "bear out" (confirm, verify as true) <a theory borne out by data>

[Excalibur]

Thanks! Very useful.

[Excalibur]

Share another one: "beggar" as a verb:

def: to exceed the resources or abilities of.

莎士比亚最早使用 beggar 作为动词（ beggars description“无法形容”）。 现代英语也有 Her beauty beggars description（“ 她的美貌无法形容”） 的用法。

1. Tolstoy' s powers of invention beggar easy description, much less summary.

    托尔斯泰的创造力，是无法轻易地形容的， 更是无法扼要说明的。 

2.That story the driver cooked up and told the state trooper beggars belief. 

    开车人那个杜撰出来 告诉交通警察的故事，全是胡扯。

看起来beggar belief/description 用于正面或负面的评价均可，根据语境而异。

[Excalibur]

Word of today: command

1. 得到，获得 to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.):

    He commands much respect for his attitude.

    His speech commands everyone's attention.

2. 俯视，居高临下 to dominate by reason of location; overlook:

    The house commands a beautiful view of the whole town.

3. (引申) 运用自如

  command six languages.