light /laɪt/► SEE ALLbe in sb’s lightbe light on sthbe/go out like a lightbring sth to lightcast/shed/throw (new) light on sthcome to lightin a good, bad, favourable, etc. lightin the light of sth(as) light as air/a feather(see the) light at the end of the tunnel(the) light dawned (on sb)(see) the light of daythe light of sb’s lifea light touchmake light of sthmake light work of sthsee the lightset light to sthwith a light heartin the cold light of daygive sb/get the green lightmany hands make light workhide your light under a bushela leading light (in/of sth)be a shining example (of sb/sth)be all sweetness and lighttravel light ●be in sb’s ˈlightbe between sb and a source of light挡住某人的光线◆Could you move, please? You’re in my light. 请挪一下好吗？你挡住我的光了。●be light on sthnot have enough of sth不足；缺乏◆We seem to be light on fuel. 我们好像燃料不够了。●be/go out like a ˈlight (informal) fall asleep very quickly or suddenly lose consciousness很快入睡；突然失去意识◆She went out like a light after an exhausting day at work. 一天辛苦的工作之后，她筋疲力尽，倒头就睡着了。◆One minute she was talking and laughing and the next minute she was out like a light. It was very frightening. 前一分钟她还有说有笑，后一分钟就不省人事了，这可真吓人。●bring sth to ˈlightshow information, evidence, etc.披露；揭示；揭发；让…见见阳光◆The police investigation brought to light evidence of more than one crime. 警方的调查披露了不止一起罪行的证据。◆These documents have brought new information to light about Shakespeare’s early life. 这些文献披露了有关莎士比亚早期生活的新情况。●cast/shed/throw (new) ˈlight on sthmake a problem, etc. easier to understand阐明；使人了解◆This book sheds new light on the role of the CIA. 这本书使人们对中央情报局的角色有了进一步的了解。◆‘Can you throw any light on the matter?’ “你能否解释一下这个问题？”●come to ˈlightbecome known; be revealed为人所知；暴露◆It recently came to light that he’d been in trouble with the police before. 他曾犯过案的事情最近才被披露出来。●in a ˌgood, ˌbad, ˌfavourable, etc. ˈlightif you see sth or put sth in a good, bad, etc. light, it seems good, bad, etc.从好（或坏、有利等）的角度看◆You must not view what happened in a negative light. 千万不要负面地看待所发生的事。◆They want to present their policies in the best possible light. 他们想尽可能从好的方面来介绍他们的政策。●in the ˈlight of sth (BrE) (NAmEin ˈlight of sth) after considering sth考虑到；鉴于◆In the light of what you have just told me, I am prepared to increase your loan to £5 000. 考虑到你刚刚告诉我的情况，我准备把贷给你的款项增加至 5 000 英镑。●(as) light as ˈair/a ˈfeatherweighing very little; very light像空气／羽毛一样轻；很轻◆I love this jacket — it’s really warm but it’s as light as a feather. 我喜欢这件夹克，因为它又暖又轻。◆Her sponge cakes are as light as air. 她做的海绵蛋糕很轻。OPPweigh (half) a ton●(see the) ˌlight at the end of the ˈtunnel(see) the possibility of success, happiness, etc. in the future, especially after a long period of difficulty（看到）隧道尽头的亮光；艰苦奋斗后的成功（或幸福等）；曙光在望◆Business has been bad recently, but I think we’re beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel. 最近生意很难做，但我认为我们快要熬出头了。●(the) light ˈdawned (on sb)somebody suddenly understood or began to understand sth豁然开朗；恍然大悟◆I puzzled over the problem for ages before the light suddenly dawned on me. 我对这个问题冥思苦想了很久才豁然开朗。●(see) the light of ˈdaybe thought of or discovered by sb, or become known to a lot of people at a particular time被考虑；被发现；问世；开始为公众所知◆It was then that the idea of a European parliament first saw the light of day. 组建一个欧洲议会的想法就是在那时首次公开的。●the light of sb’s ˈlifethe person sb loves more than any other心爱的人；心肝宝贝◆Elizabeth was his only child, the light of his life. 伊丽莎白是他唯一的孩子，他的掌上明珠。●a light ˈtouchthe ability to deal with sth in a delicate and relaxed way灵活巧妙的处事能力◆She handles this difficult subject with a light touch. 她处理起这种难题来得心应手。OPPheavy hand●make ˈlight of sthtreat sth or behave as if sth is less serious, important etc. than it really is轻视；对…等闲视之；不把…当回事◆She was in great pain but she always made light of it. 她承受着极大的痛苦，但很少把它放在心上。◆They made light of their difficulties but it was obvious that things were going badly. 虽然他们对面临的困难轻描淡写，但是事态的发展明显不容乐观。●make light ˈwork of sth (informal) do sth very easily; defeat sb very easily轻而易举地做某事；轻松击败某人◆She made light work of that translation. 她做起那项翻译来毫不费力。◆They made light work of their match against Lazio and won the championship. 他们轻松地击败了拉齐奥队夺冠。OPPmake heavy weather of (doing) sth●see the ˈlight1.understand or accept sth after you have spent a lot of time thinking about it（经过长时间思考后）明白过来，恍然大悟；顿悟◆I think he’s finally seen the light and is going to retire while he’s still able to enjoy himself. 我想他最终想明白了，打算趁着还能享受人生之乐时就退休。2.change what you believe as a result of a religious experience（因某种宗教经历而）改变信仰◆She was an atheist but now she says she’s seen the light. 她本来是个无神论者，可是现在她说自己的信仰改变了。●set ˈlight to sth (especially BrE) make sth start burning点着；使…烧着◆A spark from the fire had set light to a rug. 从火炉迸出的火星引燃了地毯。●with a light ˈheartwith a feeling of happiness or relief愉快地；欣然◆She left the doctor’s with a light heart. There was nothing wrong with her after all. 她愉快地离开了诊所，她的身体一点儿问题都没有。OPPwith a heavy/sinking heart▸ˌlight-ˈhearted
adjective
1. (of a person人) cheerful and happy愉快的；高兴的2. (of a situation, etc.情形等) amusing, not serious好玩的；不严肃的◆The programme takes a light-hearted look at the tourist industry. 这档节目以轻松的基调讲述旅游业。●in the ˌcold light of ˈdaywhen you have had time to think calmly about sth; in the morning when things are clearer有时间冷静思考时；第二天早晨事情更明朗时◆In the cold light of day, the plans they’d made didn’t seem such a good idea.等冷静下来一想，他们的计划似乎不是个好主意。●give sb/get the ˌgreen ˈlight (informal) allow sb/be allowed to begin sth给某人开绿灯；得到许可（做某事）◆The council has given the green light for work to begin on the new shopping centre.政务委员会已经批准开工修建新的购物中心。◆As soon as we get the green light, we’ll start advertising for new staff.一旦得到许可，我们就将开始打广告招募新员工。NOTE This expression refers to the green light on traffic lights, which means ‘go’.这个表达法原指交通灯变绿即可通行。●many hands make light ˈwork (saying) a task is done easily if a lot of people share the work人多好办事；众人拾柴火焰高●hide your ˌlight under a ˈbushel (BrE) not let people know that you are good at sth不显露才能；不露锋芒◆We didn’t know you could play the guitar! You’ve been hiding your light under a bushel all this time!我们不知道你会弹吉他，你一直深藏不露啊！ORIGINThis phrase comes from the Bible.这个短语源于《圣经》。●a ˌleading ˈlight (in/of sth)an important and respected member of a group, an organization, a profession, etc.有影响的人物；头面人物◆Mr Harris is a leading light in the local business community.哈里斯先生是当地商界大佬。●be a shining eˈxample (of sb/sth) ( be a shining ˈlight) be a very good example of sb/sth, which other people can follow or copy是（…的）优秀榜样；是楷模◆Their friends think Phillip and Joan are a shining example of a happily married couple.朋友们都认为菲利普和琼是美满夫妻的典范。◆His books on grammar are a shining light in a very difficult and confused field.这一领域极其艰深且扑朔迷离，他的几本语法书犹如明灯，使研究的路子明朗了。●be all ˌsweetness and ˈlight1. (of a person人) be pleasant, friendly and polite和蔼可亲；亲切友善◆She’s all sweetness and light as long as you’re doing what she wants.只要你顺着她的意愿，她又亲切又和善。2. (of a situation情况) be enjoyable and easy to deal with良好；顺利◆Their quarrel seems to be over. Everything’s all sweetness and light at the moment.他们的争吵似乎结束了，眼下一切都风平浪静了。●travel ˈlighttravel with very little luggage轻装旅行◆We’re travelling light with one small bag each.我们轻装上路，每人只带一个小包。