second /ˈsekənd/► SEE ALLbe second nature (to sb)be second only to sb/sthget your second windhave second thoughtson second thoughtsplay second fiddlesecond besta/your second childhoodsecond sightsecond to nonewithout a second thoughta bite at/of the cherryjust a minute/moment/secondnot for a/one minute/moment/second/instanta split secondwait a minute/moment/second ●be second ˈnature (to sb)be sth that you do automatically, without thinking about it, because you have done it for so long or so often成为第二天性；习以为常◆It took a while to learn to drive, but now it’s second nature (to me). 学车是费了点时间，不过现在开车（对我来说）已经习惯成自然了。●be second only to sb/sthbe in a position where only one person or thing is better, more important, etc.仅次于…◆As a pianist, he was second only to Rubinstein. 作为一名钢琴家，他的水平仅次于鲁宾斯坦。●get your second ˈwind (informal) find energy, strength or enthusiasm after feeling tired or after a period when you produce little恢复体力；重鼓干劲；重振精神◆After midnight the dancers seemed to get their second wind and went on till dawn. 午夜过后，跳舞的人们似乎又来了精神，一直跳到天亮。NOTE This expression comes from running; after feeling out of breath at the beginning of a race, you later find it easier to breathe.这个表达法源于赛跑，开始时会觉得呼吸困难，后又会觉得好一些。●have second ˈthoughtschange your opinion about sth; have doubts about sth（重新考虑后）改变主意，改变想法；对…起疑心◆We were going to go to Italy, but we had second thoughts and came here instead. 我们本来要去意大利，但又改变了主意来到了这儿。●on ˈsecond thoughts (BrE) (NAmEon ˈsecond thought) used when you want to change what you have said or decided（表示想要改变主意）经重新考虑，又一想◆On second thoughts, I won’t have water, I’ll have a cup of tea. 算了，我不要水了，要一杯茶。●play second ˈfiddlehave a lower or less important position than another person居次要职位；做第二把手；充当副手◆She wants to be the boss, not play second fiddle to somebody else. 她想当老板，不想给人当副手。OPPcall the shots/the tuneNOTEFiddle is an informal word for ‘violin’. * fiddle 是 violin （小提琴）的非正式用语。●ˌsecond ˈbestnot as good as the best; not exactly what you want次于最好的；退而求其次的◆The two teams seemed evenly matched, but Arsenal came off second best (= did not win). 两队似乎旗鼓相当，可是阿森纳队最终还是屈居亚军。◆Sometimes you have to settle for (= be content with) second best. 有的时候你不得不退而求其次。●a/your second ˈchildhooda period in life, especially in old age, when you sometimes act like a child, forget things, etc.第二童年期（年老而又变得和孩子一样）；老小孩◆I have to feed her and dress her. She’s really in her second childhood. 我不得不喂她吃饭，给她穿衣服。她真成了个老小孩了。●ˌsecond ˈsightthe special ability to know what will happen in the future or what is happening somewhere else预见力；洞察力；千里眼◆Sometimes I think I’ve got second sight because my dreams seem to come true. 有时候我觉得自己有先见之明，因为我的梦似乎总会成真。●second to ˈnonevery good; as good as the best最好的；不亚于任何人（或物）的◆This airline’s safety record is second to none. 这家航空公司的安全纪录是最好的。●without a second ˈthoughtimmediately; without stopping to think about sth further立即；不加考虑◆He dived in after her without a second thought. 他连想都没想就跟着她跳入水中。●a bite at/of the ˈcherry ( a second/another bite at/of the ˈcherry) (BrE) an opportunity to do sth, or a second attempt at doing sth, especially sth you have failed to do earlier做某事的机会；另一次机会◆They all wanted a bite of the cherry.他们都想得到这个机会。◆We’ve lost that contract with the German firm and we probably won’t get another bite at the cherry.我们失去了与德国公司的合同，很难再有另一次机会了。●just a ˈminute/ˈmoment/ˈsecond (informal) used to ask sb to wait for a short time稍等一会儿；马上；立刻◆‘Is Mr Burns available?’ ‘Just a second, please, I’ll check.’“彭斯先生现在有空吗？”“请稍等，我看一下。”●not for a/one ˈminute/ˈmoment/ˈsecond/ˈinstant (informal) not at all; definitely not一点也不；当然不；决不◆I didn’t think for a minute that he was married.我从来没有想到他已经结婚。◆Not for one instant would I ever consider going there on holiday again.我再也不想去那儿度假了。●a ˌsplit ˈseconda very short time瞬间；剎那◆I heard a loud explosion and a split second later I was on the floor.我听到一声很响的爆炸声，转瞬间我就躺在地板上了。▸ˌsplit-ˈsecond
adjective
◆split-second timing / reactions分秒不差的时机选择；瞬间作出的反应●wait a ˈminute/ˈmoment/ˈsecond1.wait for a short time等一会儿；稍等一下◆Can you wait a second while I make a call?你等一会儿，我先打个电话，好吗？2.used when you have just noticed or remembered sth, or had a sudden idea（表示刚注意到、刚想起某事或突然有了主意）且慢，等一等◆Wait a minute — this isn’t the right key.等一等，不是这把钥匙。