formBrE /fɔːm/ NAmE /fɔːrm/► SEE ALLgood/bad formoff formon formtake form(do sth) as a matter of formon present formin any (way,) shape or formin the shape/form of sb/sthtrue to form ●good/bad ˈform (old-fashioned, BrE) a way of doing things that is socially acceptable/not socially acceptable符合礼节，礼貌；不符合礼节，不礼貌◆I think it was very bad form for Joe to arrive late for the funeral. 我觉得乔在葬礼上迟到非常失礼。◆Apparently, good form requires you to wear a hat on these occasions. 显然，按规矩在这种场合你应该戴帽子。●off ˈform ( out of ˈform) in a poor mental or physical state; doing worse than normal状况不佳；发挥失常◆She had been ill and was off form, so she didn’t do so well in the exam. 她生病了，状态不佳，所以考试时没有很好地发挥。●on ˈform ( in (good) ˈform) in a good mental or physical state; doing as well as normal状况良好；发挥正常◆He’s really on form tonight and is answering all the questions correctly and very quickly. 今晚他的表现很好，所有的问题都回答得又准又快。◆The team are in good form this season. 该队本赛季的表现很出色。●take ˈform (formal) gradually form into a particular shape; gradually develop逐渐成形；渐渐发展◆In her body a new life was taking form. 她的体内正孕育着一个新生命。●(do sth) as a matter of ˈform(do sth) because it is polite, or because it is the usual way of doing sth（做某事）为表示礼貌；例行公事◆We knew everyone agreed, but we had a vote as a matter of form.我们知道大家都同意，但还是走了一下选举程序。◆I need your signature, just as a matter of form.我想请您签一下名，这只是程序的需要。●on ˈpresent formjudging by sb/sth’s present performance or behaviour; as things are at the moment就目前情况看◆On present form I’d say he should win easily.就目前情况看，我觉得他获胜易如反掌。◆A painting by Durant could sell for over a million on present form.照目前的行情，一幅杜兰特的画应该能卖出高于 100 万的价钱。●in any (way,) shape or ˈform (informal) of any kind以任何形式◆I don’t approve of violence in any shape or form.我不赞成任何形式的暴力行为。●in the shape/form of sb/sthfollows a general word and introduces a particular example of it以…的形式◆There was entertainment on the ship, in the form of a disco and a cinema.船上有迪斯科和电影之类的娱乐活动。◆Help arrived in the shape of a policeman.来帮忙的是一位警察。●true to ˈformin the usual or typical way or as you expect一如既往；不出所料◆True to form, he arrived early.跟平常一样，他早早就到了。◆The meeting went true to form, with a lot of boring speeches.会议跟平时一样，尽是些无聊的发言。