test /test/► SEE ALLput sb/sth to the teststand the test of timetest the water/watersthe acid test (of sth) ●put sb/sth to the ˈtesttest sb/sth; find out whether sb/sth is good, bad, true, real, etc.考验；检验◆The second part of the contest will put your general knowledge to the test. 竞赛的第二部分将测试你们的常识。●stand the test of ˈtimebe considered valuable or useful by people for many years经得起时间的考验◆Dickens’ books have stood the test of time — they are as popular now as they were a century ago. 狄更斯的作品经久不衰，还像一个世纪以前一样受欢迎。●test the ˈwater/ˈwaterstry to find out whether sth is likely to succeed, by asking people for their opinions before you do sth探听情况；试探反应；调查民意◆Your idea might not be popular with people, so before you start marketing it you should test the waters. 你的想法不一定受欢迎，所以在推出之前你应该先调查一下民意。●the ˌacid ˈtest (of sth) ( the ˈlitmus testespecially in NAmE) a situation which finally proves whether sth is good or bad, true or false, etc.决定性的考验◆They’ve always been good friends, but the acid test will come when they have to share a flat.他们一直是好朋友，可是两个人必须合住一套公寓，真正的考验快要到了。ORIGINBoth these expressions originally referred to chemical tests. The acid test uses nitric acid to test if something is made of gold. The litmus test uses litmus paper to test for acids and alkalis.这两个表达法原指两种化学试验。acid test （酸性试验）使用硝酸测试物质是否含金。litmus test （石蕊试验）使用石蕊试纸检测物质的酸碱性。