大學(xué)英語相似詞辨析(20):at(the)least,not(in)theleast

字號:

at(the)least,not(in)the least  
    這一對短語的涵義有很大的差異。
    At least的意思是“至少”(指數(shù)量或程度上)也可解作“反正就是…”。它與 at the least,at the very least同義,可互換使用,但后兩者有強(qiáng)調(diào)意味,遠(yuǎn)不及前者用得普遍。
    下面請看例句:
    The total enrolment of the university in the academic year 1991-1992 was at least 10,000,including undergraduate and postgraduate students.
    在1991-1992學(xué)年期間,該大學(xué)至少有一萬名大學(xué)生,包括本科大學(xué)生和研究主。
    Even if you cannot help him,you can give him encouragement at least.
    就算你未能幫助他,至少你可以鼓勵他。
    Whether you like it or not,at the very least,this is reality.
    不管你是否喜歡,反正這是個現(xiàn)實(shí)??荚嚧?BR>    Not the least 的意思是“毫不”、“一點(diǎn)也不”(by no means),也可寫作 not in the least。但后者一般不用作定語?,F(xiàn)今,后者更常見。
    Are you cold?—Not(in)the least.
    你冷嗎?—一點(diǎn)也不冷??荚嚧?BR>    Spanish has not the least interest for them.(作定語,沒有in)
    他們劉西班牙語毫不感興趣。
    (此句亦可改寫為:They do not take the least interest in Spanish)
    You shouldn't relax your vigilance(in)the least.
    你們不能絲毫放松警惕。
    另一方面,not least義為“尤其是,特別是”:
    That film caused public revulsion,not least among the education circles.
    該電影引起公憤,特別是教育界的深惡。
    短語 least of all的涵義是“最不”。例:That's the thing I like least of all.(這是我最不喜歡的東西)。