| 例句 |
marginal adj.
⇨ close (marginal constituencies) ⇨ slight (a marginal difference)close /kləʊs; NAmE kloʊs/ adjective close ♦︎ even ♦︎ near ♦︎ narrow ♦︎ level ♦︎ marginal ♦︎ hard-fought ♦︎ neck and neckThese words all describe a race or contest in which two people or teams are equal, or a situation in which sth nearly happens or does not happen. 这些词均表示比赛或竞赛实力接近的、势均力敌的，或情况几乎出现或没有出现。SYNONYM SCALE 词义标尺 下图显示这些词所表达势均力敌的程度| close | ➔ | even | | near | | level | | narrow | | neck and neck | | marginal | | | | hard-fought | | |
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆level / neck and neck with sb◆a close / an even / a hard-fought contest◆a close / hard-fought battle / finish◆a narrow / hard-fought win / victory◆a narrow / marginal lead◆a close / narrow vote◆desperately close / hard-fought■ close (of a race or contest) won by only a small amount or distance; used to describe sth that nearly happens, usually a dangerous or unpleasant situation （速度比赛或竞赛）实力相近的，以微弱优势取胜的；（通常指危险或不好的事情几乎发生）差一点儿，险些◆It's a desperately close race－I can't quite see who is ahead.这真是一场势均力敌的比赛－我都分不太清楚谁在前面。◆The California election looks too close to call (= it is impossible to predict the result) as voters go to the polls.加州的选举在选民投票时很难预测结果。◆The invasion never happened but it was a close run thing (= it almost did).侵略始终没有发生，但是差一点就发生了。◆Phew! That was close－the motorbike nearly hit us.啊！好险！那辆摩托车差点儿就撞上我们了。■ even (of an amount) equal or the same for each person, team, place, etc.; (of two people or teams) equally balanced or of an equal standard （数量）相等的，均等的；（两人或两队）均衡的，水平相当的◆The scores were even at 2-2.分数是2比2平。◆The political goal was a more even distribution of wealth.政治目标是更平均地分配财富。◆The two players were pretty even.这两个选手不相上下。◆This seems to be a more even contest.这看来是一场更势均力敌的竞赛。OPP uneven ⓘ An uneven contest is one in which one group, team or player is much better than the other. * uneven形容比赛时指实力悬殊。■ near [only before noun] (no comparative or superlative 无比较级和最高级) being almost sth or almost happening 接近的；差不多的◆The election proved to be a near disaster for the party.这次选举对该党来说几乎是一场灾难。◆We won in the end but it was a near thing.我们最后获胜了，但是赢得很惊险。◆The climbers had already had one near miss (= almost had an accident) on the summit.这群登山者已经有过一次在山顶上差点出事的经历。■ narrow [usually before noun] only just achieved or avoided 勉强的；刚刚好的◆He blamed the goalkeeper for the narrow defeat against Ireland.被爱尔兰队险胜，他责怪起守门员来。◆She lost the race by the narrowest of margins.她以极小的差距在赛跑中落败了。◆She was elected by a narrow majority.她以微弱多数当选。◆He had a narrow escape (= nearly had a bad accident) when his car skidded on the ice.车在冰上打滑，他险些出事。■ level [not before noun] (especially BrE) (in sport) having the same score as sb （体育运动）得分相同◆A good second round brought him level with the tournament leader.他第二轮发挥良好，使他与锦标赛领先的选手得分持平。◆The clubs are level on points.各俱乐部得分相同。◆The score was level at 5 points each.比分是5比5平。◆France took an early lead but Wales soon drew level (= scored the same number of points).法国队开始领先，但很快威尔士队扳平了比分。■ marginal /ˈmɑːdʒɪnl; NAmE ˈmɑːrdʒɪnl/ [usually before noun] (especially BrE) (in politics) won or lost by a very small number of votes in the last election and therefore very important or interesting politically （议席或选区）边缘的，游离的（以微弱票数决定成败）◆Their campaign targeted marginal constituencies.他们的竞选活动针对边缘选区。◆They risk losing key marginal seats at the next election.他们有失去下次选举关键边缘席位的风险。OPP safe ⓘ In British politics a safe seat is a constituency where a particular party has a lot of support and is unlikely to be defeated in an election. 在英国政治中，safe seat指某政党稳操胜券的选区。■ ˌhard-ˈfought (of a contest or competition) that involves both sides fighting very hard to win （比赛）竞争激烈的◆It was a lively and hard-fought match.这是一场气氛热烈、竞争激烈的比赛。◆It was a hard-fought game.这是一场激烈的比赛。■ ˌneck and ˈneck idiom level with sb in a race or competition （速度比赛或竞赛中）势均力敌，不分上下，平手◆The cyclists were neck and neck as they approached the final lap.自行车运动员在接近最后一圈时战况激烈。◆He was running neck and neck with his Democrat rival.他和他的民主党竞争对手势均力敌。 slight adjective ➡ See also the entry for ⇨ minor 另见minor条slight ♦︎ small ♦︎ modest ♦︎ little ♦︎ marginal ♦︎ minimal ♦︎ negligibleThese words all describe things that are not very important or serious in degree. 这些词均表示不太重要的、不严重的、轻微的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a slight / small / modest / little / marginal / minimal change / difference / improvement◆a small / modest / minimal / negligible amount◆a slight / small / little error / mistake / defect / accident / problem◆a slight / small / minimal chance◆a modest / marginal / minimal / negligible effect / impact◆a small / modest / minimal investment / outlay / sum / charge■ slight not very important or serious; small in degree 不太重要的；轻微的；略微的◆I woke up with a slight headache.我醒来时有点头痛。◆The picture was at a slight angle.这幅画稍微有点歪。◆A slight breeze was blowing.微风习习。◆The damage was slight.损坏很轻微。◆She takes offence at the slightest thing (= is very easily offended).她动辄生气。◆There was not the slightest hint of trouble.当时丝毫没有出乱子的迹象。▸ slightly adverb to a small degree; not very or not very much 略微；稍微◆This author takes a slightly different approach.这位作者采用了一种稍微不同的方法。◆It will make the cost slightly higher.这将会使成本略微上升。◆The door was slightly ajar.门打开了一点点。■ small [usually before noun] not very important, serious or difficult 不太重要的；不严重的；不困难的◆I made only a few small changes to the report.我对报告只做了几处小改动。◆Can I ask you a small favour?你能帮我个小忙吗？◆Everything had been planned down to the smallest detail.一切都已做了细致入微的安排。◆It was no small achievement getting her to agree to the deal.能让她同意那笔交易可是个不小的成就。NOTE 辨析 Slight or small?You can use either word to talk about changes or problems. 这两个词都可指变化不大或问题不严重◆a slight / small adjustment / alteration / amendment / change / improvement / reduction / rise / variation略微的调整／改动／修改／变化／改进／降低／上升／变更◆a slight / small mistake / error / defect / flaw / blemish / discrepancy / problem / snag / accident小错误；小差错；小缺点；小瑕疵；小斑点；小差异；小问题；小麻烦；小事故Use slight but not small to talk about medical problems, feelings or things that affect the senses. 谈论疾病、感觉或影响感官的事情时要用slight而不用small◆a slight cold / headache / movement / noise / touch轻微的感冒／头痛／活动／噪音／触摸◆slight discomfort / embarrassment轻微的不安／尴尬Use small but not slight to talk about amounts or numbers. 谈论数量或数目时要用small而不用slight◆a small amount / number / quantity / degree / proportion / minority少量；少数；小量；轻度；小部分；极少数Both words are often used in the superlative, but especially slightest, often in negative sentences. 二者都常用于最高级，特别是slightest，常用在否定句中◆He is, without the slightest doubt, the greatest living novelist.毫无疑问，他是当世最伟大的小说家。◆I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我一点也不着急。 ■ modest / /ˈmɒdɪst; NAmE ˈmɑːdɪst/ not very large, expensive or grand 不太大的；不太贵的；不太显著的◆There has been a modest improvement in the situation.形势有了些许的改善。◆He charged a relatively modest fee.相对来说他的收费不算高。◆She grew up in a modest little house in the suburbs.她是在郊区一所简朴的小房子里长大的。◆The research was carried out on a modest scale.这项研究开展的规模不算太大。ⓘ Modest is used especially to talk about aims and achievements * modest尤用于修饰目标和成就◆a modest aim / achievement / ambition / goal / success不太高的目标；不显著的成就；不太大的抱负；不太高的目标；一般的成功amounts of money that people spend or earn 或修饰花费或赚的钱◆a modest contribution / expenditure / fee / gain / investment / outlay / profit / sum不多的捐款／开支／收费／回报／投资／费用／利润／一笔钱buildings that are not very expensive or grand 或指房子不太贵或不太富丽堂皇◆a modest house / flat / villa简朴的房子／公寓／别墅◆modest premises规模不大的营业场所and the size of sth. 或修饰某物的大小、尺寸◆a modest size / amount / quantity / scale / share / proportion不大的尺码／数额／数量／规模／一份／份额 ▸ modestly adverb ◆modestly priced goods定价不算贵的商品■ little [usually before noun] (rather informal, especially spoken) not very important; not serious 微不足道的；不严重的◆I can't remember every little detail.我不可能记得住每一个微小的细节。◆You'll soon get used to these little difficulties.你很快就会习惯这些小小的不便。◆We had a little adventure yesterday.昨天我们经历了一次小小的冒险。ⓘ Little is often used to talk about problems, events or mysteries that are not very serious or important. * little常指问题、事件或谜团不太严重或不太重要◆a little error / mistake / defect / problem / argument / accident / incident / adventure / mystery / quirk / secret小差错；小错误；小瑕疵；小问题；小争执；小事故；小事件；小冒险；小谜团；小怪癖；小秘密 ■ marginal /ˈmɑːdʒɪnl; NAmE ˈmɑːrdʒɪnl/ (rather formal) only slight 小的；微不足道的；不重要的◆The story will only be of marginal interest to our readers.我们的读者对这则故事不会很感兴趣。◆The difference between the two estimates is marginal.这两种估计差别很小。▸ marginally adverb ◆He's in a new job but he's only marginally better off.他换了新工作，但也多挣不了多少钱。■ minimal /ˈmɪnɪməl/ / very small in size or amount; as small as possible 极小的；极少的；最小的◆The work was carried out at minimal cost.这项工作是以极少的开销完成的。◆The damage to the car was minimal.汽车受到的损坏很小。■ negligible / /ˈneglɪdʒəbl/ / (especially written) so small or unimportant that it is not worth considering 微不足道的；不值一提的◆The cost was negligible.费用不多，无关紧要。◆Tests found only a negligible amount of the chemical in the product.测试发现该产品中这种化学物质的含量很低，不碍事。ⓘ When you use negligible, you mean that an amount of the thing described exists or is present, but that there is not enough of it to have an effect. * negligible表示所描述的事物存在一定的数量，但不足以产生影响。 |