●ˌstart ˈoff🔑1. ( ˌstart ˈoff doing sth, ˌstart sth ˈoff) [+ adv/prep/adj]to begin happening in a particular way; to begin doing sth in a particular way（以某种方式）进行起来，开展起来◆The game started off well, but gradually got worse. 比赛开始一帆风顺，但逐渐变得艰难起来。◆We started off with some gentle exercises. 我们先是做了点动作柔和的练习。◆She started off by welcoming everyone. 她首先向大家表示欢迎。◆He started off as a plumber. 他的第一份工作是做管道工。◆I started off working quite hard, but it didn’t last. 我一开始非常勤奋，但没有坚持下去。◆The discussion started off calmly enough. 讨论开始时颇为平静。◆The leaves start off green but turn red later. 叶子起先是绿色，到后来就变红了。◆We always started off the lessons with a quiz. 我们上课开始时总是先做一个小测验。◆The teacher started things off by asking us what we had done at the weekend. 老师上课时首先问我们周末做了什么。➡ SYNONYMS 同义词辨析start off begin ◇ commence ◇ kick off ◇ open ◇ start off These verbs are all used to talk about things happening from the beginning.这些动词都表示开始、开展、展开。 begin to start to happen or exist; to start in a particular way or from a particular point开始；起步；开展When does the concert begin?音乐会什么时候开演？It was beginning to snow.开始下雪了。 commence (formal) to start happening开始发生；开始The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon.会议定于中午开始。 kick off (informal) (of an event, activity, film or book) to start, especially in a particular way（事件、活动、电影或书籍）开始，展开，发展The festival kicks off on Monday September 13.节庆活动 9 月 13 日星期一开始。 open (of an event, film or book) to start, especially in a particular way（事件、电影或书籍）开始，展开，发展The story opens with a murder.故事以一起谋杀案开头。 start off (of an event or thing) to start in a particular way or from a particular point（事件或事情）开始进行，开展The discussion started off mildly enough.讨论开始时气氛很缓和。Let's start off with some gentle exercises.我们先做些强度小的练习吧。 NOTEStart can be used on its own * start 可单独使用Have you any idea where the rumour started?你知不知道谣言是从哪儿传出来的？ WHICH WORD? Start (off) is more frequent in spoken English and in business contexts than begin, which is more frequent in written English and is often used when you are describing a series of events * start (off) 比 begin 更常见于英语口语和商务语境，而 begin 更常见于书面英语，常用于描述系列事件The story begins on the island of Corfu.故事从科孚岛展开。 Open is a less informal way of saying kick off; however, it is not usually used for shorter or more informal activities * open 是 kick off 较正式的说法；但通常不用于持续时间较短或不太正式的活动What time do we kick off?我们几点钟开始？ You can use it for longer or more formal events * open 可用于持续时间较长或较正式的活动The conference opens on 15 March.大会 3 月 15 日开幕。 PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONSto start / begin / start off / kick off / commence / open by doing / with sthto start / begin / start off / commence as stha campaign / season / tour starts / begins / starts off / kicks off / commences / opensa film / book / chapter starts / begins / starts off / opensan enquiry / investigation starts / begins / commences / openswork / production starts / begins / starts off / kicks off / commences2.[+adv/prep]to begin to move or travel开始活动（或旅行）；启动；启程◆The bus started off with a jolt. 公共汽车开动时颠了一下。◆We started off for home. 我们动身回家了。1[v + adv][v + adv + -ing][v + adv + n][v + pron + adv][v + n + adv] (rare) 2[v + adv]