以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语

Magrath

以名词“Point”为中心的惯用语

# w. X$ x$ w3 u* l+ p) e" g5 `$ p! _
( I5 g8 d7 }, ^" S. G
<
0 f5 z$ m. |$ j! i9 h　　“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。
8 ^, u9 O+ R% b8 l, c4 x
1 \7 D$ O0 z9 m1 `- 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.”
" A4 S6 y( U5 i( ^4 g8 t2 Z, g
( W( t' D7 s9 H& ]- ~* S
  G* v- E* X3 B3 f　　(2)On the point of...：就要做...
; ^' U4 G( |# E' n! _. k
- Y& L" q  _! X/ o　　“Yesterday, when I was on the point of going out, an old friend came to see me.”
1 T. Y9 F" C& `+ O3 V

" T, X/ g: Y/ i: W8 v; Z; b　　(3)A case in point: 一个恰当的例子。

　　“Not many people would like to invest in the same enterprise. Mr Brown is a case in point; he has different businesses.”
  k! K0 y+ N9 d- ~9 i# m& ?3 _

8 ?& y' k- ]( F　　(4)Get to the point：谈到问题要点。
* d  Z9 }8 q: o' M
　　“All the jokes are interesting, but isn't it time to get to the point?”
+ p5 L( n8 B6 g' C0 G1 b: }$ n

　　(5)Get/take someone's point：了解某人的意思。
3 F" a& e; d/ V9 c1 [
; F) \0 N8 G; ~　　“What did you say just now? I didn't quite get your point.”

' E0 R  A; ?% {; @! `
　　(6)Get/Wander off the point：离开主题。

. W! V, J" ?3 w0 ~$ _- G" u5 r　　“James spoke quite well at first, but later, he wandered off the point.”


$ c3 O7 V3 t0 V: v8 n% A　　(7)Have a point: 有可取之处。
  Z/ Q5 h5 L" M5 _( ]0 _) b& d$ {
　　Globalisation? You have a point there. From now on, we have to focus on human relationships.”
0 |. [' d" p% |5 B
4 Z0 z& X8 X8 y* W7 j1 Q
! T6 M! f8 H' Y* P7 \　　(8)Make one's point：表达了意思。
/ P! ^* k8 b& f& ?$ P$ A8 [
　　“David, you have made your point well. How about Shirley? Can you tell us what you think about her?”

9 I: f) n2 W2 r& A; v
　　(9)Make a point of...：确定要...
/ ]4 \; g) Y+ _) T$ `5 x" f
　　“I often make a point of completing the day's work without undue procrastination.”
  V3 M: ]) v$ o

　　(10)Reach the point of no return：不可走回头路；不可反悔。

- D2 C0 d- X2 a+ D$ I　　“The TV company has offered Lisa an unconditional 5-year contract. It has reached the point of no return and cannot change its decision.”


　　(11)A sore point with...：令人讨厌的事。
8 u9 a/ g9 a7 s# B8 N4 O$ @$ @8 b5 Q
& `1 i( k" L. i1 a" k, J　　“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.”

4 q/ K5 A* ^- v4 \; j1 n: A
2 K6 u8 r, ?, G- m　　(12)The sticking point：（谈判、讨论时）不易达致协议之点。

: o  H9 S% y4 R3 j0 ]　　“How the boundary is to be drawn seems to be the sticking point in the peace talk between the two neighbouring countries.”
, {# m7 I/ ~5 k! E9 g, n8 J

; [+ X3 G+ M- N9 ~# |　　(13)That's the (whole)point：那就是问题的惩结了。
& O  E/ K( I9 z. ~) x' _
　　“- 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.”

  @) p# L3 C9 U4 _/ g  \
　　(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.”
. y  z# U( L" h9 G3 {
: h" R9 M2 \+ t/ a
2 M7 j# ~- E, o　　(15)The/A vantage point：优越的地位。
( j' [. G6 V0 a' p9 ?$ R2 u
2 I1 u, `6 n/ E/ ]  f+ z　　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。）