法律英语|三合一名词组及形容词组

在《三合一惯用语》中,介绍了几种三合一的容易见到短语。这里集中谈三合一名词组及形容词组,期望大伙有更进一步的认识。

● odds^{1 and ends:各种不值钱的小物品}

Every year, we have to clear the rooms of all odds and ends.

● oddities and absurdities^{2:异样或不合情理的感觉}

Sometimes, we have to bear with oddities and absurdities of language use.

● bits and pieces:零星物件

The storeroom is filled with bits and pieces. Can't someone arrange them properly？

● aches and pains:周身疼痛

After a day's hardwork, the old man suffered aches and pains, especially in the limbs.

● board and lodging^3:食宿

I paid about $200 for board and lodging when I studied in the U.S. in 1969.

● chapter and verse:（常和动词give或quote连用）注明的出处或详细情况

Jason knows all the important points in this book and can give you chapter and verse without hesitation^4.

● hammer and tongs^{5:（常和go at it连用）闹哄哄地争吵}

At a political meeting, many participants went at it hammer and tongs for quite a while.

● heaven and earth:（常和move连用）竭尽全力

When a government is good, the people will move heaven and earth to support it.

● hue^{6 and cry:嘈杂声}

When it was learnt that some workers would be laid off, there was a hue and cry among them.

● hustle^{7 and bustle8:喧闹}

One can often see hustle and bustle in a place with crowds of unruly people.

● ifs and buts:各种借口

No ifs and buts, please ！ Just work according to the schedule.

● rack and ruin:（常和go to连用）遭破坏

Owing to urban renewal^{9, even historic spots are going to rack and ruin.}

● stuff and nonsense:胡说八道

Is Tom asking to leave the company？ Stuff and nonsense！ I bet that would be the last thing for him to do.

● ups and downs:盛衰；浮沉

For many people, life is full of ups and downs.

● wear and tear:耗损

Because of wear and tear, a car needs regular servicing.

● bright and breezy:活泼轻快的

Joelle is bright and breezy； everyone likes her.

● cut and dried:早已决定的

The programme is cut and dried； it is not possible to make changes now.

● rough and ready:粗略的

I cannot dwell on the use of English determiners, but you can follow the rough and ready rules.

● spick and span:崭新的；极整洁的

Despite being busy, Mrs Chen manages to keep the house spick and span.

● short and sweet:简短扼要

Everybody is too busy to listen to a long-winded story, so try to keep it short and sweet.