慣用語第三集：日期和時間(date
& time)
慣用語往往短小精悍，富於哲理，具有較高的概括性和表達性，眾多學者、語言學家和文字工作者對其推崇備至。成語無處不在，其形式和意義的約定俗成和文字的風趣幽默大大增強了語言的生命力和表現力。
─摘自《英漢成語異同比較》作者肖芬(Xiao Fen)老師，中國，中南財經政法大學外語學院副教授。
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Time and tide wait for no man. 歲月不饒人
The months and years pass by like a stream.歲月如梭
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如有錯誤請告知：freak07291955@gmail.com
一、詢問時間(Inquire
time)：
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Box 1：今天幾號? 與今天星期幾? 如何表達？
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What is the date today?今天幾號?
＝What date is it today?
It's August thirteenth.(8月13號)
*表示日期的時候在數字後面加th。但是1號、2號、3號分別是first、second、third。
※date也是水果中的棗子。
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What is the day today?
＝What day is it today?今天星期幾?
It's Friday. (星期五。)
→用day表示問星期幾？
→用date表示問日期(幾號)？
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圖1. 今天幾號?
What is the date today?
＝What
date is it today?
＝Can you tell me the time, please?
圖2.今天星期幾? What day is it today?
＝What
is the day today?
Do
you have the time?”
＝Can you tell me the time, please? 是更好的說法。
真正的意思是 “請問現在幾點?”
這句話跟 “Do you have time?” （你有空嗎？） 很相似，意思卻有很大的分別。
真正的意思是 “請問現在幾點?”
這句話跟 “Do you have time?” （你有空嗎？） 很相似，意思卻有很大的分別。
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Can you tell me the
time, please? will be better.
This could be
misunderstood. The usual question would be: Can you tell me the time, please? You could also say: Do you have the time? but unless it
is clear that you are talking about what
time it is,
there is the
possibility of it meaning:
Do you have enough
time to do something?
e. g. Do you have enough time to finish the paper?
你有足夠的時間寫完論文嗎？
Do you
have the time？ 這句話的意思是"你知道現在幾點嗎?"
重點就在於有沒有"the"! [易混淆句] Do you have time? (你有時間嗎?) [說明] 1.當有the的時候,time指的是"一天時間中的某一個特定時點" 2. have在這裡則是可以指"知悉","知道" 3. 所以句子可以翻成"你知道現在幾點嗎?" [同義句] 1. What time is it? 2. What is the time?
『找一位土生土長道道地地的美國人，直接請教他「Do you have time?」他說，基本上跟我們認知的「你有時間嗎？」是一樣的。而想問人家「What time is it?」，是有人使用「Do you have the
time?」。他說這好像是比較委婉的說法，不好直接問人家時間覺得不禮貌時，是有人會這麼說。他說他自己很少這麼用，不過他知道有人這樣用，似乎是比較禮貌的說法。因此，我上網查了"Do you have the time?"，確實是有"What time is it?"的意思。感覺是多了the，似乎是合理了一些。』
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01. 今天星期幾?
01. What day is it? *What's today's date? 表示問幾號；What day is
it? 表示問星期幾。
01. What day is it? (今天星期幾?)
02. 星期四。
02. It's Thursday.
03. 現在幾點?
03. Do you have the time? *問時間時記住在time前加the。
＝What time have you
got?
＝May I ask the time? (我可以問您現在幾點嗎?)
04. 快到中午了。
04. It's almost noon. *夜裡零點是midnight。
05. 現在1點鐘了。
05. It's one o'clock.
06. 1點45分。
06. It's a quarter to two.
＝It's a quarter of two.
*a quarter 是四分之一的意思，在這兒是60分鐘的四分之一的意思，即15分鐘。另外，這裡的to是表示“～前”的意思，即“差15分2點”。
07. 1點5分。
07. It's five after one.
＝It's five past one.
＝It's five minutes
after one o'clock.
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Box 3： About date
1. up to date與to
date都有 “到目前為止，到現在為止”的意思。
2. Year-to-date今年到目前為止；年初至今截止
3. blind date不認識的兩個人經由第三者或網路牽線, 第一次約會就叫blind date.
4. due date的中文意思：(借據等的)到期日，應付款日期。
5. Expiration
Date 簽證有效期，即可入境的最後日期。食品藥物過期或失效日期。
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圖3. Blind Date是兩個陌生人的首次約會，有人譯成「盲約」。
二、有關時間：
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Box 4：有關時間的慣用語（Idioms about the Time）：
1.) Better
Late Than Never：亡羊補牢為時未晚
This idiom is simple but effective.
It implies that a belated achievement is better than not reaching a goal at
all.
1. The achievement
is long overdue, but it’s better late
than never.
2.) On the Spur of the Moment：心血來潮，一時興起
This popular saying
denotes a spontaneous or sudden undertaking.
It's just on a whim 跟 Just a spur of
the moment 差不多, 都是說你突然想到什麼事就去做了.
1. Linda and Louis
drove to the beach on the spur of the
moment.
2. If the cardinal virtue of poetry is love, the
cardinal virtue of prose is justice; and, whereas love makes you act and
speak on the spur of the moment (一時衝動), justice needs inquiry, patience, and a control
even of the noblest passions.
如果說詩歌的主要優點是愛，那麽，散文的主要優點就是合理和公正。愛使人熱情奔放，瞬間爆發，而合理公正需要的是質疑、耐心和控制情感，即便是最崇高的激情。
例2. 摘自英國散文家克勒登‧布洛克(Arthur Clutton-Brock,1868-1924）寫的散文The Cardinal Virtue of Prose之第二句。
3.) Once in a Blue Moon：千載難逢、可遇不可求
在天文學裡，藍月是指：當一個月中出現兩次月圓之夜時，第二個滿月就被稱為「藍色月亮(Blue Moon)」，而並非月亮真正呈現藍色，機率大約每2.7年會有一次。（在許多天文曆法和年鑒記載中，當一個月中出現兩次月圓之夜時，第二個滿月就被賦予了一個充滿詩意的名字：「藍色月亮(Blue Moon)」。）
Once in a life, When
the moon is blue. Once in a blue moon, you will find the right one.
A blue moon is a
colloquial term applied to the second full moon in one month. This idiom
means something is rare or infrequent.
1. Homebodies Mary
and James only go out once in a blue
moon.
2. If he ever says thank
you there'll be a blue moon in the sky!
3. My sister lives
in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon (once in a very long
time).
4. They only go out for dinner once in a blue moon.
4.) Living on
Borrowed Time：意外延長的時間或比預期較長的時間。
Following an illness
or near-death experience, many people believe they have cheated death.
1. After Jim was
struck by lightning, he felt like he was living
on borrowed time.
2. He was
already living on borrowed time
for three times shells had freakishly
left him untouched.
他僥倖活了下來，3次都神奇地沒有被炮彈炸到。
3. The 90-year-old man feels that he is living on borrowed time.
90歲的男子覺得他的壽命是向天借來的。
4. His 20-year-old automobile lives on borrowed time.
他開了20年的舊車，比預料使用得久。
5. Mr. A, believing that he has lived on borrowed time for the last
ten years, wants to make some contributions to our community.
A先生認為他過去10年是意外之福，想為社區做些貢獻。
6. Mr. B is living
on borrowed time since he escaped from the plane crash.
B先生逃過空難，僥倖地活下來。
5.) In the
Interim：中間時期,過渡時期
This frequently used
phrase is interchangeable with “in the meantime,” which is another
time-related saying. It denotes a period of time between something that ended
and something that happened afterwards.
1. The boss will be
back next week. In the interim,
the workers will be stocking shelves and cleaning.
2. Little seems to have happened in the interim.
從那時到現在其間似乎沒有發生過什麼事情。
3. interim period. 過渡時期.
6.) In Broad
Daylight：光天化日之下
When something
occurs in broad daylight, it means the event is clearly visible.
1. Two coyotes
brazenly walked across the lawn in
broad daylight.
2. How can a person
vanish in broad daylight?
一人怎能大白天憑空消失？
3. The robbers struck the bank in broad daylight!”
盜匪在光天化日之下，洗劫銀行。
7.) Against
the Clock：與時間賽跑,分秒必爭
This common idiom
means time is working against a project or plan instigated by a group or an
individual.
1. In movies,
writers love to create countdowns where the main characters are working against the clock.
2. We are working against the clock to rescue people
buried under rubble.
3. Everyone in that company is working
against the clock.
那家公司每個人都在分秒必爭地工作。
8.) All in
Good Time：在適當的時候(儘早)；勸人家不要急, 等時候到了它自然會發生
Patience is an
uncommon virtue. When individuals are inpatient, friends often assure them
that things will happen eventually.
all in good time 這句話是用在別人很心急, 希望某件事快些發生而等得不耐煩時，勸人家不要急, 等時候到了它自然會發生的意思。
good 在這裡不能解釋為 「好的」, 而是「恰當的」。
A: I'm the only girl in my class who doesn't have a
boyfriend.
B: All in
good time, sweetie.
A: Why hasn't Julie called me yet? It's been three
days.
B: All in
good time. I'm sure she will.
1. Rachel thought she was going to become an old maid, but her mother
assured her she would find the right person and get married all in good time.
4. All in good
time , you will know . be patient with yourself
待會兒你就知道了，耐心點兒。
5. All in good
time the party will be over
很快,這個這次聚會即將結束
9.) Big Time：
This versatile,
informal idiom is used to denote something of extreme severity.
Johnnie knew he was
going to be in big-time trouble.
It can also mean to reach the top of one’s
profession.
「big time」這兩個字在口語中常出現在句尾。
其實 big time 是 "真的", "很..." 的意思, 指在程度上很嚴重。
Jack screwed things up big time. = Jack really screwed things up.
Jack 真的把事情搞砸得很嚴重。
He pissed his boss off big time. = He really pissed off his boss.
他真的把他的老板惹火了。
不過這兩個字偶爾也有別的意思：
像 hit the big time 是指功成名就
She is the first Asian singer to hit the big time in the U.S.
有時這兩個字用一槓連起來當形容詞
big-time 指很成功的, 大牌的
比如 a big-time lawyer 就是知名的大牌律師
也可以說是個 hot-shot lawyer 搶手的律師
1. When he landed
the position as vice president, he knew he had reached the big time.
10.) The Time
is Ripe：是時候了
When the time is
ripe, it’s advantageous to undertake plans that have been waiting for awhile.
1. Raphael was
planning a trip overseas, and the time
was finally ripe.
The time is ripe for great sociological changes
The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.
I believe that the time is ripe for significantly better documentation of
programs, and that we can best achieve this by considering programs to be
works of literature. Hence, my title: "Literate Programming."
我相信是時候了，讓程式的文件能夠更好。讓我們開始改變傳統建構程式的習慣吧！我們的主要任務不是去指示電腦做什麼、而是專注於向人類解釋了解我們想要電腦做什麼。
11.) Have the
Time of Your Life：畢生難忘
The 1980s movie 《Dirty Dancing》 turned this idiom into a song
that became one of the film’s most iconic tracks. The time of your life means
you’re enjoying an unforgettable, exhilarating experience that cannot be
recreated.
1. Genevieve had the time of her life touring Italy.
2. You’re going to have the time of your life.
你們將會玩得非常愉快。
12.) Time is
Money：時間就是金錢
If time is going to
waste, money isn’t being made. This popular idiom attributed to Ben Franklin
is frequently used in relation to business or employment.
1. It’s wise to use
every minute productively because time
is money.
2. The saying 「Time is money」 emphasize on
the significance of time, which modern people rarely bears in mind, such as
being late for work. We can know how prudent one is from trivia. Thus, it's important to cultivate the virtue of
timekeeping.
Time is money意思是表達時間的重要性，現代人沒有時間觀念，例如上班遲到，從小地方可以看出一個人的細心，因此養成時間的觀念是很重要的。
 
圖5.
有關12個Times慣用語之海報。
Box 5：有關 Hours minutes and
seconds的慣用語：
一、有關Hours的慣用語：
1. After hours:下班後,在規定時間後，營業時間後
1. The
landlord was fined for allowing people to drink after hours.
店主因為允許人們在營業時間以後喝酒而被罰款。
2. Staff must
stay behind after hours to catch
up on their work.
下班後工作人員需要留下來把工作趕完。
3. An
enlisted man who handles his unit's administrative matters
after
hours.
一個下班後負責處理單位行政事務的士兵。
4. Provide after hours technical service nights
weekends and holidays through a rotating on-call basis as directed by the
supervisor.
按照主管的指示在工作時間以外的夜間、週末、節假日通過電話向客戶提供技術支援。
2. On the hour: 準點地
I have to take this medicine every hour on the hour.
I expect to see you there on the
hour, not one minute before and not one minute after.
The bus runs from 9
a.m. to 11 p.m., every hour on the hour.
公車從早上九點到晚上十一點，每小時整點發車。
3. the small
hours (of the night) ＝the wee hours (of the night)：淩晨＝the hours
immediately after midnight.
1. They
launched their attack in the small
hours of April 3.
他們在4月3日淩晨發起進攻。
2. He was so
engrossed in his work that he frequently stayed up until
the
small hours.
他全神貫注地工作，經常工作到下半夜。
3. We used to
talk into the small hours.
我們過去經常長談到淩晨。
4. There we
were bopping away till the small hours.
我們在那兒，一直跳舞跳到下半夜。
5. The dance went on into the
small hours of the night.
6. Jim goes to bed in the wee
hours and gets up at lunchtime.
4. At the Eleventh
hour: 最後時刻；zero hour：關鍵性或者決定性時刻。
1. I thought
I had lost out because I didn't hear from the company after my interview. But
at the eleventh hour, when I was
packing to go back home, they called and said they wanted to hire me.
1. 起先我以為我已經失去機會了，因為我在面談之後一直沒聽到公司方面的回音。但是直到我在整理行裝準備回家的最後一刻，他們才打電話來說想要雇用我。
2. Look, it's the
eleventh hour for getting this contract signed! If we don't deliver it to
the customer by ten am tomorrow, we lose the whole deal, so we'll work all
night if we have to.
2. 看，現在已經到了簽訂這份合同的最後時刻了。如果我們不能在明天早上十點以前把合同發送給顧客的話，那這筆生意就全丟了，所以必要的話我們開夜車也得把合同趕寫出來。
3. All the waiting is over ─ it's zero
hour for the game we're all waiting for, the players are out on the court
and the referee is ready to throw the ball up and start the game.
3. 一切等待終於結束。我們盼到了久久等候的這場關鍵性的比賽。球員們都已經在場上，裁判正要拋起球來準備開場。
5. at the top of the hour.
at the bottom of the hour.
Fig. on the half
hour; the opposite of at the top of
the hour. (Alludes to the big hand of a clock pointing to the 6.
Typically heard on television or the radio.)
Top of the hour 整點時。Bottom of the
hour半點時。指鐘錶上分針走到最上端 (top) 及最下端 (bottom) 的時候。
1. Hear the news headlines at
the bottom of the hour.
2. We will have an interview with Harry Kravitz at the bottom of the hour.
6. Witching hour: 午夜時分
11. Don't let
your daughter go out the witching hour for her safety sake.
為了她的安全起見，不要讓你的女兒半夜出去。
2. The party began at11 o'clock hour the witching hour the old year ended the new began.
晚會在11點鐘開始，1小時後就到了舊歲結束新年來臨的午夜時分。
3. Drive extra defensively around the
witching hour , after midnight when some people are leaving bars ,
parties or sports arenas
午夜時分駕車要特別警惕，很多人這個時候離開酒吧、舞廳和體育場館。
7. banker's hours指特別安逸舒適的工作
Fig. short work hours: 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
1. When did you start keeping banker's
hours?
2. There aren't many bankers who keep banker's hours these days.
3. Joe, come on and get out of bed! You won't be working banker's hours, you know - you've got
to be there bright and early at seven am ready to pump gas for the customers.
他說：Joe， 快快起床！ 要知道你幹的活兒可沒那麼輕鬆自在。每天一早七點你就得精神飽滿地在那兒給顧客加油了。
8. happy hour特指飲食店為了招徠顧客而減價供應飲料的時間。
The food in that new
Italian restaurant across the street is pretty good, but business is slow. So
they've started a happy hour in
the hope people will stay on and order dinner.
街對面的那家義大利餐館飯菜味道不錯，但是生意不好。所以他們開始用幸運時刻的辦法招徠顧客，並希望那些顧客會繼續留下來吃晚飯。
9. darkest hour is just before the dawn破曉前是最黑暗的時刻。黎明前是最黑暗的时候。
A: I feel like giving up. I don't have a job, my boyfriend left me,
and they're raising the rent for my apartment.
B: It's always darkest just
before the dawn.
This world is just Awesome
!.....The darkest hour is that before the dawn
這個世界是太壯麗!.....最黑暗的時刻是在黎明即將到來之際。
10. by the hour按鐘點
It kept growing darker by the
hour.
I have to take this medicine by
the hour.
We became more anxious by the
hour.
我們一天比一天或一小時比一小時（越來越）急躁。
10. for hours on end連續幾個小時，連續不斷。
My brother plays computer games for hours on end.
我弟弟玩電子遊戲連續不斷。
We sat and waited in the emergency room for hours on end.
The children were happy to play video games for hours on end.
He used to roam the street for
hours on end . used to＝過去常常
他過去常逛大街, 一逛就是幾個小時。
She could sometimes talk away for hours on end.
有時候她可以連續不斷地談上幾個小時。
We studied for final exams for hours on end.
我們連續花了好幾小時準備期末考。
11. keep late hours晚睡
I'm always tired because I keep
late hours.
If I didn't keep late hours,
I wouldn't sleep so late in the morning.
二、有關Minutes的慣用語：
1. New York minute:
A New York
minute is the interval between a Manhattan traffic light changing to green and
the guy behind you honking his car horn.
「紐約分鐘」，就是曼哈頓交通號誌由紅轉綠，而你後面駕駛人按喇叭轟你之間的時間。An extremely short period of time.
She’s living a New York minute.」
她生活步調很快。 / 她是急驚風！
I would sell that car in
a New York minute if the right
offer came along.
2. last-minute person任何事情都要拖到最一分鐘才作的人
I don't want to be the last-minute person next time.
我下次不要再臨時抱佛腳了.
Last-minute person 專指那種任何事情都要拖到最一分鐘才作的人, 當然, 根據每個人混的程度之不同, 也有人被形容為 last-second person, 或是 last-hour person.這些都是用來形容那些喜歡臨時抱佛腳的人.
3. Give me ten more minutes.再給我十分鐘。
再給我十分鐘,"Give
me another ten minutes"
或是"Give
me ten more minutes."。
4. up to the minute最現代化的; 最新式的。
This report is up to the
minute and fresh from the wire services.
An up-to-the-minute account of the riots. 關於騷亂的最新報導。
We work hard
to bring you up-to-the-minute
technology.
竭誠為您帶來最新技術。
Her room was
furnished with up-to-the-minute
furniture.
她的房間備有最新式的家俱。
The general
lacked up-to-the-minute
information at the crucial moment. 這位將軍在關鍵時刻缺少最新資訊。
That's about
it for your up-to-the-minute
weather report.
最新天氣報告到此為止。
I want to hear some up-to-the-minute
news on the hostage situation.
I just got an up-to-the-minute
report on Tom's health.
5. at the last minute到最後一刻
Please don't make reservations at
the last minute.
Why do you ask all your questions at the last minute?
I often scold them for doing things at
the last minute.
我經常罵他們老是拖到最後一刻才做事。
He got cold feet
at the last minute.
他事到臨頭卻退縮了。
The team was behind, but at the last
minute Sam saved the day with a touchdown.
這個隊落後了，但在最後時刻Sam底線得分轉敗為勝。
I volunteered to do a parachute jump to raise money for charity but I got cold feet at the last
minute and didn't to through with it.
為慈善事業籌集資金我自願參加跳傘，可是在最後一刻我臨陣害怕了，結果沒有完成任務。
He let me down at the last
minute and turned out to be a broken reed.
他在緊急關頭拆了我的台，成了背信棄義的人。
It is impossible to get by a foreign language exam by cramming at the last
minute. 想要臨時抱佛腳來混過外語考試是不可能的。
They had cold feet at the last
minute and refused to sell their house.
在最後一刻他們退縮了，拒絕賣掉他們的房子。
And at the last
minute got cold feet huh?
在最後一刻退縮了，哈？
But at the last
minute Gates changed his mind announcing
that he too would license java while also promising somewhat menacingly to
"extend" it.
但到了最後一刻，Gates改變了主意，宣佈他也將批准使用java，同時還略帶威脅地說要「擴展」它。
The prisoners' attempt to escape was foiled at the last
minute when police received a tip-off.
警方接到密報，那些囚犯的越獄企圖在最後關頭被挫敗。
6. Every minute counts分秒必爭。
Doctor, please try to get here quickly. Every minute counts.
When you take a test, you must work rapidly because every minute counts.
When you're trying to meet a deadline, every moment counts.
Questions , please .. every moment counts.
大家提問題，分秒必爭。
Yes , every minute counts ,
for the meeting is very important.
是的,分秒必爭,因為那場會議非常重要。
Each team covered a distance of 18 to 53 miles. every minute counted.
每個隊都要跑18 - 53英里的路程.分秒必爭呀！
7. just a minute稍等一下!
I'm almost done. I'll be there in just a minute! Could I
have just a minute of your time?
Just a minute, you! Where are you
going with my coat?
I'll be there in a second. I'll be
with you in just a minute. I'm on
the phone.
Are you ready to order or just a minute?
你們準備好了嗎? 還是要再等一會?
8. be a laugh a minute
You know what Mark's like - he's not exactly a laugh a minute.
A two-hour meeting with Nigel Owen? I bet that was fun.Oh, it was a laugh a minute.
9. There's one born every minute. 愚蠢的人太多了，總會有人上當的。
there's one (或 a sucker) born every minute
(informal)there are many gullible people
(非正式)總會有人上當的
愚人節(April Fool's Day)那天，好友 Jenner在“愚弄”我失敗後，仍不甘休，她堅信一定可以找到一個愚弄我的方法。我勸她放棄，她卻說：“ There's one born every minute." 我聽後覺得一頭霧水，每分鐘都有一個人出生？問了Jenner才明白，這句話是一句慣用語意思是“總會有人上當的”。
Bernard paid
much more for his car than it is really worth—there's one born every minute!
伯納德付的錢遠遠超過這輛車的價值, 真是太蠢了!
He left a window open and then wondered why he'd been burgled! There's one born every minute, isn't
there?
三、有關Seconds的慣用語：
1. Split second: 一刹那、一瞬間
1. He froze for a split second, sucking in lung fulls
of cold air.
吸進一大口冷空氣後, 他一瞬間凍僵了.
2. It all
happened in a split second.
這一切都是在頃刻間發生的。
3. The cat
disappeared in a split second.
那只貓一刹那間無影無蹤了。
4. For one split second I thought he was gone.
有那麼一刹那我以為他走了。
5. Every word
spoken on the telephone every message sent covers the44,600 miles in a split second.
在電話中輸出的每一個字，每一資訊，在刹那間跨過44,600英里。
2. in (just) a second
1. I'll be there in a second. I'll be with you in just a minute. I'm on
the phone.
2. Just a second we're not broken just bent
只要一點時間，我們還沒玩完.
四、其他有關時間的慣用語或單字：
1. Bat/wink/twinkling of an eye: 轉眼間，一眨眼的時間
1. The mood of the crowd can change in
the twinkling of an eye.
群眾情緒轉眼就能發生變化
2. How time flies! Late spring has come in the twinkling of an eye.
時間過得真快，一轉眼又到晚春季節了！
3. The little
boat shuttled into the reed marshes, and got rid of the
enemy in
the twinkling of an eye.
小船在蘆葦蕩中穿梭，轉眼就把敵人甩在了身後。
圖6. twinkling of an
eye: 轉眼之間
2. Jiffy: 瞬間( jiff的名詞複數 )
1. Please wait half a jiffy. 請等片刻。
2. Lunch will be ready in a jiffy. 馬上就要吃飯了。
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Box 6：實境英語之二：
Joe: So, uh, how’s your day
goin’?
Kristin: Oh, it could
have started off better. Actually, I feel like I woke up on
the
wrong side of the bed.
woke up on the wrong side of the bed: to feel a little angry at the
start of the day
Joe: Why, what happened?
Kristin: Well, things
were going okay. I mean I’d gotten the e-mails done. I’d gotten all the
dishes done. Took a shower. Got ready to go. Um, but as usual, I was running
against the clock, trying to, uh, get down
and catch the train on time. running against the clock: to be late get down: to go to
catch the train: to get on the train
Joe: Yeah.
Kristin: So, I got on
the train. I go in the back like I usually do because I have a
pass. Sit down, we go one stop. We, we’re actually coming up to 18th, y’know,
just the next stop. And I see the, the ticket
checkers, for lack of a better word…
Joe: Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah,
I know who you’re talkin’ about.
pass: a ticket that allows you to ride the train
ticket checkers: people who make sure that you paid to
ride the train
Kristin: People who are always checking for passes…
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圖7. 時間飛逝(Time Flies).
慣用語往往短小精悍，富於哲理，具有較高的概括性和表達性，眾多學者、語言學家和文字工作者對其推崇備至。成語無處不在，其形式和意義的約定俗成和文字的風趣幽默大大增強了語言的生命力和表現力。
─摘自《英漢成語異同比較》作者肖芬(Xiao Fen)老師，中國，中南財經政法大學外語學院副教授。
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Time and tide wait for no man. 歲月不饒人
The months and years pass by like a stream.歲月如梭
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如有錯誤請告知：freak07291955@gmail.com
一、詢問時間(Inquire
time)：
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Box 1：今天幾號? 與今天星期幾? 如何表達？
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What is the date today?今天幾號?
＝What date is it today?
It's August thirteenth.(8月13號)
*表示日期的時候在數字後面加th。但是1號、2號、3號分別是first、second、third。
※date也是水果中的棗子。
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What is the day today?
＝What day is it today?今天星期幾?
It's Friday. (星期五。)
→用day表示問星期幾？
→用date表示問日期(幾號)？
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圖1. 今天幾號?
What is the date today?
＝What
date is it today?
＝Can you tell me the time, please?
圖2.今天星期幾? What day is it today?
＝What
is the day today?
Do
you have the time?”
＝Can you tell me the time, please? 是更好的說法。
真正的意思是 “請問現在幾點?”
這句話跟 “Do you have time?” （你有空嗎？） 很相似，意思卻有很大的分別。
真正的意思是 “請問現在幾點?”
這句話跟 “Do you have time?” （你有空嗎？） 很相似，意思卻有很大的分別。
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Can you tell me the
time, please? will be better.
This could be
misunderstood. The usual question would be: Can you tell me the time, please? You could also say: Do you have the time? but unless it
is clear that you are talking about what
time it is,
there is the
possibility of it meaning:
Do you have enough
time to do something?
e. g. Do you have enough time to finish the paper?
你有足夠的時間寫完論文嗎？
Do you
have the time？ 這句話的意思是"你知道現在幾點嗎?"
重點就在於有沒有"the"! [易混淆句] Do you have time? (你有時間嗎?) [說明] 1.當有the的時候,time指的是"一天時間中的某一個特定時點" 2. have在這裡則是可以指"知悉","知道" 3. 所以句子可以翻成"你知道現在幾點嗎?" [同義句] 1. What time is it? 2. What is the time?
『找一位土生土長道道地地的美國人，直接請教他「Do you have time?」他說，基本上跟我們認知的「你有時間嗎？」是一樣的。而想問人家「What time is it?」，是有人使用「Do you have the
time?」。他說這好像是比較委婉的說法，不好直接問人家時間覺得不禮貌時，是有人會這麼說。他說他自己很少這麼用，不過他知道有人這樣用，似乎是比較禮貌的說法。因此，我上網查了"Do you have the time?"，確實是有"What time is it?"的意思。感覺是多了the，似乎是合理了一些。』
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01. 今天星期幾?
01. What day is it? *What's today's date? 表示問幾號；What day is
it? 表示問星期幾。
01. What day is it? (今天星期幾?)
02. 星期四。
02. It's Thursday.
03. 現在幾點?
03. Do you have the time? *問時間時記住在time前加the。
＝What time have you
got?
＝May I ask the time? (我可以問您現在幾點嗎?)
04. 快到中午了。
04. It's almost noon. *夜裡零點是midnight。
05. 現在1點鐘了。
05. It's one o'clock.
06. 1點45分。
06. It's a quarter to two.
＝It's a quarter of two.
*a quarter 是四分之一的意思，在這兒是60分鐘的四分之一的意思，即15分鐘。另外，這裡的to是表示“～前”的意思，即“差15分2點”。
07. 1點5分。
07. It's five after one.
＝It's five past one.
＝It's five minutes
after one o'clock.
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Box 3： About date
1. up to date與to
date都有 “到目前為止，到現在為止”的意思。
2. Year-to-date今年到目前為止；年初至今截止
3. blind date不認識的兩個人經由第三者或網路牽線, 第一次約會就叫blind date.
4. due date的中文意思：(借據等的)到期日，應付款日期。
5. Expiration
Date 簽證有效期，即可入境的最後日期。食品藥物過期或失效日期。
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圖3. Blind Date是兩個陌生人的首次約會，有人譯成「盲約」。
二、有關時間：
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Box 4：有關時間的慣用語（Idioms about the Time）：
1.) Better
Late Than Never：亡羊補牢為時未晚
This idiom is simple but effective.
It implies that a belated achievement is better than not reaching a goal at
all.
1. The achievement
is long overdue, but it’s better late
than never.
2.) On the Spur of the Moment：心血來潮，一時興起
This popular saying
denotes a spontaneous or sudden undertaking.
It's just on a whim 跟 Just a spur of
the moment 差不多, 都是說你突然想到什麼事就去做了.
1. Linda and Louis
drove to the beach on the spur of the
moment.
2. If the cardinal virtue of poetry is love, the
cardinal virtue of prose is justice; and, whereas love makes you act and
speak on the spur of the moment (一時衝動), justice needs inquiry, patience, and a control
even of the noblest passions.
如果說詩歌的主要優點是愛，那麽，散文的主要優點就是合理和公正。愛使人熱情奔放，瞬間爆發，而合理公正需要的是質疑、耐心和控制情感，即便是最崇高的激情。
例2. 摘自英國散文家克勒登‧布洛克(Arthur Clutton-Brock,1868-1924）寫的散文The Cardinal Virtue of Prose之第二句。
3.) Once in a Blue Moon：千載難逢、可遇不可求
在天文學裡，藍月是指：當一個月中出現兩次月圓之夜時，第二個滿月就被稱為「藍色月亮(Blue Moon)」，而並非月亮真正呈現藍色，機率大約每2.7年會有一次。（在許多天文曆法和年鑒記載中，當一個月中出現兩次月圓之夜時，第二個滿月就被賦予了一個充滿詩意的名字：「藍色月亮(Blue Moon)」。）
Once in a life, When
the moon is blue. Once in a blue moon, you will find the right one.
A blue moon is a
colloquial term applied to the second full moon in one month. This idiom
means something is rare or infrequent.
1. Homebodies Mary
and James only go out once in a blue
moon.
2. If he ever says thank
you there'll be a blue moon in the sky!
3. My sister lives
in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon (once in a very long
time).
4. They only go out for dinner once in a blue moon.
4.) Living on
Borrowed Time：意外延長的時間或比預期較長的時間。
Following an illness
or near-death experience, many people believe they have cheated death.
1. After Jim was
struck by lightning, he felt like he was living
on borrowed time.
2. He was
already living on borrowed time
for three times shells had freakishly
left him untouched.
他僥倖活了下來，3次都神奇地沒有被炮彈炸到。
3. The 90-year-old man feels that he is living on borrowed time.
90歲的男子覺得他的壽命是向天借來的。
4. His 20-year-old automobile lives on borrowed time.
他開了20年的舊車，比預料使用得久。
5. Mr. A, believing that he has lived on borrowed time for the last
ten years, wants to make some contributions to our community.
A先生認為他過去10年是意外之福，想為社區做些貢獻。
6. Mr. B is living
on borrowed time since he escaped from the plane crash.
B先生逃過空難，僥倖地活下來。
5.) In the
Interim：中間時期,過渡時期
This frequently used
phrase is interchangeable with “in the meantime,” which is another
time-related saying. It denotes a period of time between something that ended
and something that happened afterwards.
1. The boss will be
back next week. In the interim,
the workers will be stocking shelves and cleaning.
2. Little seems to have happened in the interim.
從那時到現在其間似乎沒有發生過什麼事情。
3. interim period. 過渡時期.
6.) In Broad
Daylight：光天化日之下
When something
occurs in broad daylight, it means the event is clearly visible.
1. Two coyotes
brazenly walked across the lawn in
broad daylight.
2. How can a person
vanish in broad daylight?
一人怎能大白天憑空消失？
3. The robbers struck the bank in broad daylight!”
盜匪在光天化日之下，洗劫銀行。
7.) Against
the Clock：與時間賽跑,分秒必爭
This common idiom
means time is working against a project or plan instigated by a group or an
individual.
1. In movies,
writers love to create countdowns where the main characters are working against the clock.
2. We are working against the clock to rescue people
buried under rubble.
3. Everyone in that company is working
against the clock.
那家公司每個人都在分秒必爭地工作。
8.) All in
Good Time：在適當的時候(儘早)；勸人家不要急, 等時候到了它自然會發生
Patience is an
uncommon virtue. When individuals are inpatient, friends often assure them
that things will happen eventually.
all in good time 這句話是用在別人很心急, 希望某件事快些發生而等得不耐煩時，勸人家不要急, 等時候到了它自然會發生的意思。
good 在這裡不能解釋為 「好的」, 而是「恰當的」。
A: I'm the only girl in my class who doesn't have a
boyfriend.
B: All in
good time, sweetie.
A: Why hasn't Julie called me yet? It's been three
days.
B: All in
good time. I'm sure she will.
1. Rachel thought she was going to become an old maid, but her mother
assured her she would find the right person and get married all in good time.
4. All in good
time , you will know . be patient with yourself
待會兒你就知道了，耐心點兒。
5. All in good
time the party will be over
很快,這個這次聚會即將結束
9.) Big Time：
This versatile,
informal idiom is used to denote something of extreme severity.
Johnnie knew he was
going to be in big-time trouble.
It can also mean to reach the top of one’s
profession.
「big time」這兩個字在口語中常出現在句尾。
其實 big time 是 "真的", "很..." 的意思, 指在程度上很嚴重。
Jack screwed things up big time. = Jack really screwed things up.
Jack 真的把事情搞砸得很嚴重。
He pissed his boss off big time. = He really pissed off his boss.
他真的把他的老板惹火了。
不過這兩個字偶爾也有別的意思：
像 hit the big time 是指功成名就
She is the first Asian singer to hit the big time in the U.S.
有時這兩個字用一槓連起來當形容詞
big-time 指很成功的, 大牌的
比如 a big-time lawyer 就是知名的大牌律師
也可以說是個 hot-shot lawyer 搶手的律師
1. When he landed
the position as vice president, he knew he had reached the big time.
10.) The Time
is Ripe：是時候了
When the time is
ripe, it’s advantageous to undertake plans that have been waiting for awhile.
1. Raphael was
planning a trip overseas, and the time
was finally ripe.
The time is ripe for great sociological changes
The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.
I believe that the time is ripe for significantly better documentation of
programs, and that we can best achieve this by considering programs to be
works of literature. Hence, my title: "Literate Programming."
我相信是時候了，讓程式的文件能夠更好。讓我們開始改變傳統建構程式的習慣吧！我們的主要任務不是去指示電腦做什麼、而是專注於向人類解釋了解我們想要電腦做什麼。
11.) Have the
Time of Your Life：畢生難忘
The 1980s movie 《Dirty Dancing》 turned this idiom into a song
that became one of the film’s most iconic tracks. The time of your life means
you’re enjoying an unforgettable, exhilarating experience that cannot be
recreated.
1. Genevieve had the time of her life touring Italy.
2. You’re going to have the time of your life.
你們將會玩得非常愉快。
12.) Time is
Money：時間就是金錢
If time is going to
waste, money isn’t being made. This popular idiom attributed to Ben Franklin
is frequently used in relation to business or employment.
1. It’s wise to use
every minute productively because time
is money.
2. The saying 「Time is money」 emphasize on
the significance of time, which modern people rarely bears in mind, such as
being late for work. We can know how prudent one is from trivia. Thus, it's important to cultivate the virtue of
timekeeping.
Time is money意思是表達時間的重要性，現代人沒有時間觀念，例如上班遲到，從小地方可以看出一個人的細心，因此養成時間的觀念是很重要的。
圖5.
有關12個Times慣用語之海報。
Box 5：有關 Hours minutes and
seconds的慣用語：
一、有關Hours的慣用語：
1. After hours:下班後,在規定時間後，營業時間後
1. The
landlord was fined for allowing people to drink after hours.
店主因為允許人們在營業時間以後喝酒而被罰款。
2. Staff must
stay behind after hours to catch
up on their work.
下班後工作人員需要留下來把工作趕完。
3. An
enlisted man who handles his unit's administrative matters
after
hours.
一個下班後負責處理單位行政事務的士兵。
4. Provide after hours technical service nights
weekends and holidays through a rotating on-call basis as directed by the
supervisor.
按照主管的指示在工作時間以外的夜間、週末、節假日通過電話向客戶提供技術支援。
2. On the hour: 準點地
I have to take this medicine every hour on the hour.
I expect to see you there on the
hour, not one minute before and not one minute after.
The bus runs from 9
a.m. to 11 p.m., every hour on the hour.
公車從早上九點到晚上十一點，每小時整點發車。
3. the small
hours (of the night) ＝the wee hours (of the night)：淩晨＝the hours
immediately after midnight.
1. They
launched their attack in the small
hours of April 3.
他們在4月3日淩晨發起進攻。
2. He was so
engrossed in his work that he frequently stayed up until
the
small hours.
他全神貫注地工作，經常工作到下半夜。
3. We used to
talk into the small hours.
我們過去經常長談到淩晨。
4. There we
were bopping away till the small hours.
我們在那兒，一直跳舞跳到下半夜。
5. The dance went on into the
small hours of the night.
6. Jim goes to bed in the wee
hours and gets up at lunchtime.
4. At the Eleventh
hour: 最後時刻；zero hour：關鍵性或者決定性時刻。
1. I thought
I had lost out because I didn't hear from the company after my interview. But
at the eleventh hour, when I was
packing to go back home, they called and said they wanted to hire me.
1. 起先我以為我已經失去機會了，因為我在面談之後一直沒聽到公司方面的回音。但是直到我在整理行裝準備回家的最後一刻，他們才打電話來說想要雇用我。
2. Look, it's the
eleventh hour for getting this contract signed! If we don't deliver it to
the customer by ten am tomorrow, we lose the whole deal, so we'll work all
night if we have to.
2. 看，現在已經到了簽訂這份合同的最後時刻了。如果我們不能在明天早上十點以前把合同發送給顧客的話，那這筆生意就全丟了，所以必要的話我們開夜車也得把合同趕寫出來。
3. All the waiting is over ─ it's zero
hour for the game we're all waiting for, the players are out on the court
and the referee is ready to throw the ball up and start the game.
3. 一切等待終於結束。我們盼到了久久等候的這場關鍵性的比賽。球員們都已經在場上，裁判正要拋起球來準備開場。
5. at the top of the hour.
at the bottom of the hour.
Fig. on the half
hour; the opposite of at the top of
the hour. (Alludes to the big hand of a clock pointing to the 6.
Typically heard on television or the radio.)
Top of the hour 整點時。Bottom of the
hour半點時。指鐘錶上分針走到最上端 (top) 及最下端 (bottom) 的時候。
1. Hear the news headlines at
the bottom of the hour.
2. We will have an interview with Harry Kravitz at the bottom of the hour.
6. Witching hour: 午夜時分
11. Don't let
your daughter go out the witching hour for her safety sake.
為了她的安全起見，不要讓你的女兒半夜出去。
2. The party began at11 o'clock hour the witching hour the old year ended the new began.
晚會在11點鐘開始，1小時後就到了舊歲結束新年來臨的午夜時分。
3. Drive extra defensively around the
witching hour , after midnight when some people are leaving bars ,
parties or sports arenas
午夜時分駕車要特別警惕，很多人這個時候離開酒吧、舞廳和體育場館。
7. banker's hours指特別安逸舒適的工作
Fig. short work hours: 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
1. When did you start keeping banker's
hours?
2. There aren't many bankers who keep banker's hours these days.
3. Joe, come on and get out of bed! You won't be working banker's hours, you know - you've got
to be there bright and early at seven am ready to pump gas for the customers.
他說：Joe， 快快起床！ 要知道你幹的活兒可沒那麼輕鬆自在。每天一早七點你就得精神飽滿地在那兒給顧客加油了。
8. happy hour特指飲食店為了招徠顧客而減價供應飲料的時間。
The food in that new
Italian restaurant across the street is pretty good, but business is slow. So
they've started a happy hour in
the hope people will stay on and order dinner.
街對面的那家義大利餐館飯菜味道不錯，但是生意不好。所以他們開始用幸運時刻的辦法招徠顧客，並希望那些顧客會繼續留下來吃晚飯。
9. darkest hour is just before the dawn破曉前是最黑暗的時刻。黎明前是最黑暗的时候。
A: I feel like giving up. I don't have a job, my boyfriend left me,
and they're raising the rent for my apartment.
B: It's always darkest just
before the dawn.
This world is just Awesome
!.....The darkest hour is that before the dawn
這個世界是太壯麗!.....最黑暗的時刻是在黎明即將到來之際。
10. by the hour按鐘點
It kept growing darker by the
hour.
I have to take this medicine by
the hour.
We became more anxious by the
hour.
我們一天比一天或一小時比一小時（越來越）急躁。
10. for hours on end連續幾個小時，連續不斷。
My brother plays computer games for hours on end.
我弟弟玩電子遊戲連續不斷。
We sat and waited in the emergency room for hours on end.
The children were happy to play video games for hours on end.
He used to roam the street for
hours on end . used to＝過去常常
他過去常逛大街, 一逛就是幾個小時。
She could sometimes talk away for hours on end.
有時候她可以連續不斷地談上幾個小時。
We studied for final exams for hours on end.
我們連續花了好幾小時準備期末考。
11. keep late hours晚睡
I'm always tired because I keep
late hours.
If I didn't keep late hours,
I wouldn't sleep so late in the morning.
二、有關Minutes的慣用語：
1. New York minute:
A New York
minute is the interval between a Manhattan traffic light changing to green and
the guy behind you honking his car horn.
「紐約分鐘」，就是曼哈頓交通號誌由紅轉綠，而你後面駕駛人按喇叭轟你之間的時間。An extremely short period of time.
She’s living a New York minute.」
她生活步調很快。 / 她是急驚風！
I would sell that car in
a New York minute if the right
offer came along.
2. last-minute person任何事情都要拖到最一分鐘才作的人
I don't want to be the last-minute person next time.
我下次不要再臨時抱佛腳了.
Last-minute person 專指那種任何事情都要拖到最一分鐘才作的人, 當然, 根據每個人混的程度之不同, 也有人被形容為 last-second person, 或是 last-hour person.這些都是用來形容那些喜歡臨時抱佛腳的人.
3. Give me ten more minutes.再給我十分鐘。
再給我十分鐘,"Give
me another ten minutes"
或是"Give
me ten more minutes."。
4. up to the minute最現代化的; 最新式的。
This report is up to the
minute and fresh from the wire services.
An up-to-the-minute account of the riots. 關於騷亂的最新報導。
We work hard
to bring you up-to-the-minute
technology.
竭誠為您帶來最新技術。
Her room was
furnished with up-to-the-minute
furniture.
她的房間備有最新式的家俱。
The general
lacked up-to-the-minute
information at the crucial moment. 這位將軍在關鍵時刻缺少最新資訊。
That's about
it for your up-to-the-minute
weather report.
最新天氣報告到此為止。
I want to hear some up-to-the-minute
news on the hostage situation.
I just got an up-to-the-minute
report on Tom's health.
5. at the last minute到最後一刻
Please don't make reservations at
the last minute.
Why do you ask all your questions at the last minute?
I often scold them for doing things at
the last minute.
我經常罵他們老是拖到最後一刻才做事。
He got cold feet
at the last minute.
他事到臨頭卻退縮了。
The team was behind, but at the last
minute Sam saved the day with a touchdown.
這個隊落後了，但在最後時刻Sam底線得分轉敗為勝。
I volunteered to do a parachute jump to raise money for charity but I got cold feet at the last
minute and didn't to through with it.
為慈善事業籌集資金我自願參加跳傘，可是在最後一刻我臨陣害怕了，結果沒有完成任務。
He let me down at the last
minute and turned out to be a broken reed.
他在緊急關頭拆了我的台，成了背信棄義的人。
It is impossible to get by a foreign language exam by cramming at the last
minute. 想要臨時抱佛腳來混過外語考試是不可能的。
They had cold feet at the last
minute and refused to sell their house.
在最後一刻他們退縮了，拒絕賣掉他們的房子。
And at the last
minute got cold feet huh?
在最後一刻退縮了，哈？
But at the last
minute Gates changed his mind announcing
that he too would license java while also promising somewhat menacingly to
"extend" it.
但到了最後一刻，Gates改變了主意，宣佈他也將批准使用java，同時還略帶威脅地說要「擴展」它。
The prisoners' attempt to escape was foiled at the last
minute when police received a tip-off.
警方接到密報，那些囚犯的越獄企圖在最後關頭被挫敗。
6. Every minute counts分秒必爭。
Doctor, please try to get here quickly. Every minute counts.
When you take a test, you must work rapidly because every minute counts.
When you're trying to meet a deadline, every moment counts.
Questions , please .. every moment counts.
大家提問題，分秒必爭。
Yes , every minute counts ,
for the meeting is very important.
是的,分秒必爭,因為那場會議非常重要。
Each team covered a distance of 18 to 53 miles. every minute counted.
每個隊都要跑18 - 53英里的路程.分秒必爭呀！
7. just a minute稍等一下!
I'm almost done. I'll be there in just a minute! Could I
have just a minute of your time?
Just a minute, you! Where are you
going with my coat?
I'll be there in a second. I'll be
with you in just a minute. I'm on
the phone.
Are you ready to order or just a minute?
你們準備好了嗎? 還是要再等一會?
8. be a laugh a minute
You know what Mark's like - he's not exactly a laugh a minute.
A two-hour meeting with Nigel Owen? I bet that was fun.Oh, it was a laugh a minute.
9. There's one born every minute. 愚蠢的人太多了，總會有人上當的。
there's one (或 a sucker) born every minute
(informal)there are many gullible people
(非正式)總會有人上當的
愚人節(April Fool's Day)那天，好友 Jenner在“愚弄”我失敗後，仍不甘休，她堅信一定可以找到一個愚弄我的方法。我勸她放棄，她卻說：“ There's one born every minute." 我聽後覺得一頭霧水，每分鐘都有一個人出生？問了Jenner才明白，這句話是一句慣用語意思是“總會有人上當的”。
Bernard paid
much more for his car than it is really worth—there's one born every minute!
伯納德付的錢遠遠超過這輛車的價值, 真是太蠢了!
He left a window open and then wondered why he'd been burgled! There's one born every minute, isn't
there?
三、有關Seconds的慣用語：
1. Split second: 一刹那、一瞬間
1. He froze for a split second, sucking in lung fulls
of cold air.
吸進一大口冷空氣後, 他一瞬間凍僵了.
2. It all
happened in a split second.
這一切都是在頃刻間發生的。
3. The cat
disappeared in a split second.
那只貓一刹那間無影無蹤了。
4. For one split second I thought he was gone.
有那麼一刹那我以為他走了。
5. Every word
spoken on the telephone every message sent covers the44,600 miles in a split second.
在電話中輸出的每一個字，每一資訊，在刹那間跨過44,600英里。
2. in (just) a second
1. I'll be there in a second. I'll be with you in just a minute. I'm on
the phone.
2. Just a second we're not broken just bent
只要一點時間，我們還沒玩完.
四、其他有關時間的慣用語或單字：
1. Bat/wink/twinkling of an eye: 轉眼間，一眨眼的時間
1. The mood of the crowd can change in
the twinkling of an eye.
群眾情緒轉眼就能發生變化
2. How time flies! Late spring has come in the twinkling of an eye.
時間過得真快，一轉眼又到晚春季節了！
3. The little
boat shuttled into the reed marshes, and got rid of the
enemy in
the twinkling of an eye.
小船在蘆葦蕩中穿梭，轉眼就把敵人甩在了身後。
圖6. twinkling of an
eye: 轉眼之間
2. Jiffy: 瞬間( jiff的名詞複數 )
1. Please wait half a jiffy. 請等片刻。
2. Lunch will be ready in a jiffy. 馬上就要吃飯了。
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Box 6：實境英語之二：
Joe: So, uh, how’s your day
goin’?
Kristin: Oh, it could
have started off better. Actually, I feel like I woke up on
the
wrong side of the bed.
woke up on the wrong side of the bed: to feel a little angry at the
start of the day
Joe: Why, what happened?
Kristin: Well, things
were going okay. I mean I’d gotten the e-mails done. I’d gotten all the
dishes done. Took a shower. Got ready to go. Um, but as usual, I was running
against the clock, trying to, uh, get down
and catch the train on time. running against the clock: to be late get down: to go to
catch the train: to get on the train
Joe: Yeah.
Kristin: So, I got on
the train. I go in the back like I usually do because I have a
pass. Sit down, we go one stop. We, we’re actually coming up to 18th, y’know,
just the next stop. And I see the, the ticket
checkers, for lack of a better word…
Joe: Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah,
I know who you’re talkin’ about.
pass: a ticket that allows you to ride the train
ticket checkers: people who make sure that you paid to
ride the train
Kristin: People who are always checking for passes…
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圖7. 時間飛逝(Time Flies).
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