fine /faɪn/► SEE ALLcut it/things finehave sth down to a fine artnot to put too fine a point on itchance would be a fine thingin fine/good fettletread/walk a fine/thin linethe small printyou can/can’t talkall very well/fine (for sb) (to do sth) but… ●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。●have sth down to a fine ˈart (informal, oftenhumorous) learn through experience how to do sth perfectly熟能生巧；熟练掌握◆I found it difficult to organize the timetables at first, but now I’ve got it down to a fine art. 开始的时候我觉得很难安排好时间表，但现在已经驾轻就熟了。◆She has complaining in restaurants down to a fine art! Head waiters are terrified of her. 她最会在餐馆里找茬儿了！领班们都怕她。●not to put too fine a ˈpoint on itused when you are about to speak very directly or honestly不客气地说；直截了当地说◆Not to put too fine a point on it, I think you’ve been a complete idiot. 不客气地说，我觉得你是个彻头彻尾的白痴。●ˈchance would be a fine thing (BrE, spoken) used to say that you would like to do sth but will probably not have the opportunity苦于没有机会◆‘Are you going on holiday this year?’ ‘Chance would be a fine thing — I can’t even afford a day trip to London!’“你今年去度假吗？”“没戏，我甚至去伦敦一日游的时间都没有！”●in fine/good ˈfettle (old-fashioned, informal) healthy and cheerful健康愉快；身心俱佳◆After ten hours’ sleep and a good long run, I was in fine fettle.睡了十个小时，又进行了一次长跑，我感觉好极了。OPPbe, feel, etc. out of sorts●tread/walk a fine/thin ˈlinebe in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake处于困境（或险境）；如履薄冰◆He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude.他是在幽默和粗鲁之间走钢丝。●the ˈsmall print (BrE) (NAmEthe ˈfine print) the parts of a written agreement or legal contract that are printed in very small letters, but which may contain important information（协议或法律合同中重要的）小号字体印刷的附加条款，限制性附属细则◆Make sure you read the small print before signing the contract.你签合同前一定要先阅读一下附属细则。●ˈyou can/can’t talk ( look who’s ˈtalking, you’re a ˈfine one to talk) (spoken) you should not criticize sb because you are also guilty of the same fault你还有脸说别人；你还好意思说◆‘He’s always late for appointments.’ ‘You can talk! You’re hardly ever on time yourself.’“他约会老迟到。”“你也好意思说别人！你自己几乎就没准时过。”◆‘George is so careless with money.’ ‘Look who’s talking!’“乔治总是乱花钱。”“你还好意思说别人！”●ˌall very ˈwell/ˈfine (for sb) (to do sth) but… (informal) used to criticize or reject a remark that sb has made, especially when they were trying to make you feel happier about sth（用于批评或反驳）说来容易，但是…；好倒是好，可是…◆‘Why don’t you try to relax more?’ ‘Look, it is all very well to say that, but how can I possibly relax with four small children in the house?’“你为什么不放轻松些？”“说起来容易，可家里有四个小孩，我怎么能轻松得起来？”