things /θɪŋz/► SEE ALLall things consideredand things (like that)as things standbe all things to all men/peopledo things to sbin all things(just) one of those thingsother/all things being equalput things rightsee/hear thingsthese things are sent to try usthese things happenthings that go bump in the nightmake the best of sth/things/a bad jobtake it/things one day at a timetake it/things easybe/feel out of it/thingscut it/things finefirst things firstby/from the look(s) of it/thingshave your mind on other thingsyour mind is on other thingsin the nature of thingsoverdo it/thingsof all people/places/thingspush your luckpush it/thingsthe/sb’s scheme of thingsbe the shape of things to comeas it/things turned outget/have your (own) waywork it/things (so that…) ●all things conˈsideredconsidering all the facts, especially the problems or difficulties, of a situation从总的情况来看；考虑到所有的因素◆She’s had a lot of problems since her husband died but she seems quite cheerful, all things considered. 丈夫去世后她遇到了很多困难，可是总的来说她看起来还挺乐观的。●and ˈthings (like ˈthat) (spoken, informal) used when you do not want to complete a list等等；诸如此类◆She likes nice clothes and things like that. 她喜欢漂亮衣服之类的东西。◆I’ve been busy shopping and things. 我一直忙着购物啊什么的。●as things ˈstandthe present situation is that目前的情况是；照眼下的形势来看◆As things stand, we won’t finish the job on time, but we might if we get some extra help. 照目前的情况我们没法按时完成任务，但是如果有额外人手，我们就可能完成。●be all ˌthings to all ˈmen/ˈpeople (saying) change the way you behave or what you say to try to please the people you are with见风使舵；八面玲珑；圆滑世故◆The President’s attempts to be all things to all men had disastrous consequences. 总统企图讨好各方的做法招致了灾难性的后果。●ˈdo things to sb (informal) have a powerful emotional effect on sb震撼某人；深深打动某人◆That song just does things to me. 那首歌深深地打动了我。●in ˈall things (formal) in every situation; always在任何情况下；总是◆I believe in honesty in all things. 我认为在任何情况下都应该诚实。◆Moderation in all things is my motto. 凡事有节制是我的座右铭。●(just) ˌone of those ˈthingsused to say that unfortunate things do happen sometimes and we must accept this fact难免的倒霉事；命中注定的事◆He doesn’t love me any more and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. It’s just one of those things. 他不再爱我，对此我也无能为力，这是没有办法的事。●other/all things being ˈequalif nothing else changes; if other conditions remain the same如果其他情况不变；如果其他条件相同◆Other things being equal, prices will rise if people’s incomes rise. 如果其他条件不变，价格会随着人们收入的增加而上涨。●ˌput things ˈrightdo sth to improve a difficult situation or correct a mistake改善困境；纠正错误◆The company is inefficient. A good director could put things right very quickly. 这家公司效率很低，来一个好主管会使情况很快好转。●ˈsee/ˈhear things (informal) see/hear things that are not really there幻视；幻听◆So it was you that was playing the piano! I thought I was hearing things. (humorous) 是你在弹钢琴呀！我还以为是我幻听呢。◆Tom’s washing the dishes — I must be seeing things! 汤姆在洗碗，我肯定是看花眼了！●these ˌthings are sent to ˈtry us (saying) used to say that you should accept an unpleasant situation or event because you cannot change it（表示只能接受令人不快的事实）这是对我们的考验，这是上天的安排◆‘My car broke down again.’ ‘Oh well, these things are sent to try us.’ “我的车又抛锚了。”“噢，这是上帝对我们的考验。”●ˌthese things ˈhappenused to tell sb not to worry about sth they have done（用于告诉某人不用担心）这种事总会发生，谁都会犯错◆‘Sorry — I’ve spilt some wine.’ ‘Never mind, these things happen.’ “抱歉，我把酒洒了。”“没关系，这是常事。”●ˌthings that go ˌbump in the ˈnight (informal, humorous) strange or frightening noises, or things that cannot be explained by science稀奇古怪的声音（或事情等）；不能用科学解释的现象◆I don’t believe in ghosts or spirits, or things that go bump in the night. 我不相信鬼怪或者什么灵异事件。●make the best of sth/things/a bad jobdo as well as you can in a difficult situation在逆境中尽力而为◆It wasn’t a very large room, but he made the best of it by using space carefully.这个房间不是很大，不过他精心布置，充分利用了空间。◆I know the lighting isn’t perfect but we’ll have to make the best of a bad job and get the best photos we can.我知道灯光不尽如人意，不过我们必须尽力弥补不足，拍出最好的照片。●take it/things one ˌday at a ˈtime (spoken) not think about what will happen in the future得过且过；做一天和尚撞一天钟；过一天算一天◆I don’t know if he’ll get better. We’re just taking things one day at a time.我不知道他还能不能好起来，我们只有过一天算一天。●take it/things ˈeasy (informal) relax and avoid working too hard or doing too much; not get angry, excited, etc.放松；不着急；不生气；不激动◆Bob’s still running the business on his own. He really ought to be taking things easy at his age.鲍勃还在自己打理生意。他都这把年纪了，确实应该悠着点了。◆Take it easy, Jenny! There’s no need to get so annoyed.别激动，珍妮！没必要生这么大的气嘛！ OPPbe hard at it●be/feel ˈout of it/thingsnot be/feel part of a group, a conversation, an activity, etc.无法融入某个群体（或谈话、活动等）◆I didn’t know anybody at the party so I felt a bit out of it really.聚会上我一个人也不认识，真有点儿格格不入的感觉。●cut it/things ˈfineallow only just enough time to do sth只留刚刚够用的时间；时间紧迫◆Your train leaves in twenty minutes and you’re still here! You’re cutting it a bit fine, aren’t you?你要坐的火车二十分钟后就开了，可你还在这儿！你把时间卡得太紧了。●ˌfirst things ˈfirst (oftenhumorous) the most important or necessary duties, matters, etc. must be dealt with before others要紧的事先做◆First things first. We must make sure the electricity is turned off before we start repairing the cooker.要紧的事要先做。一定要先切断电源再开始修灶具。◆We have a lot to discuss, but, first things first, let’s have a cup of coffee!我们有很多事情需要讨论，不过事有先后，先让我们喝杯咖啡吧！●by/from the ˈlook(s) of it/things (informal) judging from the way things seem to be从外表看；看样子◆From the look of it, there’s going to be another war.看样子又要打仗了。◆By the looks of things, we’re going to be late.看样子我们要迟到了。●have your ˌmind on other ˈthings●your ˌmind is on other ˈthingsnot give sb/sth your full attention because you are thinking about sth else走神；心有旁骛；心不在焉◆‘He’s made a few mistakes today. What’s the matter with him?’ ‘He’s got his mind on other things. Family problems mainly.’“他今天出了好几个错，怎么回事？”“他心里有事，主要是家庭问题。”●in the ˈnature of thingsused for saying that sth that happens is normal in a particular situation and not at all surprising理所当然；丝毫不令人奇怪◆Don’t worry about it. It’s in the nature of things for children to argue with their parents when they’re teenagers.别发愁了。青少年常常会和他们的父母争辩，这不足为奇。◆In the nature of things, people who have power don’t like losing it.有权力的人不想失去他们的权力，这很自然。●overˈdo it/thingsdo too much做得过度◆He rather overdid it last Saturday playing football, and now he’s aching all over.他上周六踢球太猛了，现在浑身疼痛。◆I’ve been overdoing things a bit recently. I really need a rest.最近我劳累过度，真的需要休息。●of ˈall people/places/thingsused to emphasize that the person/place/thing is the most or least likely in the circumstances（在所有的人／地方／事情中）唯有，偏偏◆You of all people should be sympathetic, having just had a similar accident yourself.在所有的人中你最应该感到同情，你刚刚遭遇了同样的事故。◆If it’s a rest they need, then why go to New York of all places?如果他们想要休息一下，为什么偏偏要去纽约呢？●push your ˈluck●ˈpush it/things (informal) (often used as a warning常用作警告) take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past（由于过去的成功过关）再冒一次险，继续碰运气◆You’ve already got a good pay rise. Now don’t push your luck by asking for more leave.你的薪金已经涨了很多，不要再冒险要求更长的假期了。◆Look, boys, I told you ten minutes ago to leave, so don’t push it. Get out of here now or I’ll call the police.听着，小子，我十分钟前就让你走了，不要得寸进尺，现在马上离开，否则我就报警了。●the/sb’s ˈscheme of thingsthe way the world and other things are or seem to be organized事物的格局；一般规律◆Low-paid workers like us don’t have a very important place in the scheme of things.像我们这样低收入的工人一般来说无足轻重。◆Don’t worry too much about your exam results; they’re not really important in the great scheme of things.不要过于担心考试的结果，从大局看，这并不是很重要。●be the ˌshape of ˌthings to ˈcome ( be a ˌtaste of ˌthings to ˈcome) be a sign or an example of how things are likely to be in the future代表未来的发展状态（或方向）◆These new computers are the shape of things to come.这些新型计算机代表着未来的发展方向。◆Are solar-powered cars a taste of things to come?用太阳能驱动的汽车将会是未来的趋势吗？ ●as it/things turned ˈoutas later events showed结果；果不其然◆I didn’t need my umbrella as it turned out (= because it didn’t rain later).结果我的伞没有用上。●get/have your (own) ˈway ( have it/things/everything (all) your (own) ˈway) get, believe or do what you want, usually in spite of the wishes or feelings of others随心所欲；为所欲为◆She always gets her own way in the end.她最后总是一意孤行。◆All right, have it your own way — I’m tired of arguing.算了，你想怎样就怎样吧，我不想再和你争辩了。●ˈwork it/things (so that…) (informal) plan sth carefully to get the result you want; organize or arrange sth想办法；巧妙安排（以获成功）◆Can you work it so that we get free tickets?你能不能想想办法，弄些免费的票？◆I worked things so that I could take all my leave in July and August.我想了各种办法，好把假期全部安排在7、8 月份。