王家栋

常州工程职业技术学院基础部，江苏 常州 213164



论英语中关于时间的一些习语

王家栋

常州工程职业技术学院基础部，江苏 常州 213164

This article deals with English idioms in general use，proverbs，formal idioms，colloquial idioms and slang idioms about time.It provides readers with good explanations both in Chinese and in English.All the idioms written here are easy to learn for students at colleges as well as in high schools. Key words：Idioms；Proverbs；Formal idioms；Colloquial idioms；Slang idioms

在英语学习中，读者对文章中关于时间的习语的意思可能会产生不精准的理解，通过阅读和学习，读者会有更加准确的理解，以便提高自身的英语水平。

1.Work against the clock(It means work fast，without cease)中文指不间断地加紧工作，赶工的意思

例句：We shall have to work against the clock to finish the job by next week.要在下周前完成这项任务，我们得加紧赶工。

2.Round the clock(It means go for 12 hours or 24 hours consecutively；all day；all night；all day and all night 中文指连续十二(或二十四)小时；一整天；一昼夜的意思

例句：After several sleepless nights，I took some pills and slept round the clock.由于几个晚上都失眠，我服了些药丸，睡了一整天。

3.Win(or carry)the day(It means be victorious，win the battle，game etc.)中文指获胜，战胜，赢的意思

例句：After two days of hard fighting，our army won the day.经过两天的艰苦奋战，我军取得了胜利。

4.Every dog has its day(It means everyone has good luck，success etc.at some time 中文指人人都有走运的时候；凡人都有得意日的意思

例句：Your chance will come soon.Every dog has its day.你的机会很快就会到来。每人都有走运的时候。

5.On the dot(It means promptly，punctually)中文指准时的，守时的意思

例句：I said I would be there at seven and I got there on the dot.我说我七点钟要到那里，而我准时赶到了。

6.At the eleventh hour(It means almost too late)中文指在最后时刻，危急之时的意思

例句：The patrol was almost surrounded and then，at the eleventh hour，reinforcements arrived.这支巡逻队几乎被包围了，而值此危急之时援军刚好到了。

7.Keep good(bad，regular)hours(It means get up，go to bed，start work etc early(late，regular)，中文指早睡早起(晚睡晚起，生活有规律)；早出早归(晚出晚归，按时作息的意思

例句：Shopkeepers are forced to keep regular hours by the nature of their job.店主因其工作性质非按时作息不可。

8.The small hours(of the morning)(It means between midnight and dawn中文指午夜至拂晓之间，下半夜的意思

例句：I was at a dance last night and didn’t get home till the small hours 我昨天参加了个舞会，直到下半夜才回到家里。

9.(Half)a minute(It means a short time)中文指片刻的意思

例句：I will only keep you waiting half a minute.我只要你稍等一会。

10.The minute(that)(It means as soon as ….)中文指一……就……的意思

例句：We will start dinner the minute they arrive.他们一到我们就开饭。

11.To the minute(It means exactly，punctually)中文指恰好，一分不差的意思

例句：The concert started at 8 o’clock to the minute.音乐会恰好八点钟开始。

12.At any moment(It means very soon)中文指随时的意思

例句：He said he would arrive today，and I expect him at any moment.他说他今天要来，我随时等他来。

13.On the spur of the moment(It means without hesitating or pausing to think 中文指不假思索地，一时冲动之下的意思

例句：As he was passing a travel agency，he decided on the spur of the moment to go away for a holiday.他经过旅行社时，凭一时的冲动决定外出度假。

14.A month of Sundays(It means long time)中文指很长的时间的意思

例句：It will take me a month of Sundays to get this garden tidy.把这个庭院收拾整洁将花费我很长的时间。

15.Night and day(It means always，continuously)中文指总是；日日夜夜地的意思

例句：The factory is in operation night and day.该厂日夜开工。

16.All night long(It means throughout the whole night 中文指通宵，彻夜的意思

例句：I didn’t have a minute’s sleep all night long.我整夜没有睡一分钟的觉。

17.(Every)now and then(It means occasionally，sometimes)中文指有时的意思

例句：I seldom go to the theatre，but I go to the cinema every now and then.我很少看戏，可是偶尔看看电影。

18.Time and again(It means repeatedly，on many occasions)中文指反复地；屡次的意思

例句：I have told you time and again not to be late for school.我屡次嘱咐你上学别迟到。

19.Behind time(It means late)中文指迟到，晚的意思

例句：The bus arrived five minutes behind time.公共汽车迟来了五分钟。

20.From time to time(It means occasionally，sometimes)中文指间或有时的意思

例句：We usually eat at home but from time to time we go out for lunch.我们通常在家吃饭，但有时也到外面去吃午饭。

21.In time(It means not late)中文指及时的意思

总而言之，英语中关于时间的习语看起来似乎简单，其实内涵很丰富，正确地理解和使用它们是至关重要的。

[1]《英语习语1500条》.

[2]《牛津高阶英汉双解字典》.

H319.4

A

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