1. Our major diet is rice and noodles. (x)
Our staple diet is rice and noodles. (√)
staple diet(=main food),是“主食”的固定说法。
2. Remind him to drive carefully. I don't want him to become statistics. (x)
Remind him to drive carefully. I don't want him to become a statistic.(√)
become a statistic是指某人出意外(尤指车祸),为死亡名单再添一数字。statistics 表一般的“统计数字”,接复数动词:表“统计学”时,接单数动词,如:Their statistics are not reliable.(他们的统计数字不可靠。)或如:Statistics is a branch of mathematics(统计学是数学的一支。)
3. You did not mention your marital standing.(x)
You did not mention your marital status.(√)
表社会/职业“地位”时,standing和status互通,如:People's jobs are an important measure of their social standing / status.(人们的职业是其社会地位的重要指针。)表“婚姻状况”时,一律用marital status.
4. Julie has been going stable with her boyfriend for seven years.(x)
Julie has been going steady with her boyfriend for seven years.(√)
stable表“稳定的”,强调的是情况不再恶化或出差错,如:The patient in the ICU is in stable condition now.(这名加护病房的病人现在情况稳定了。)steady强调的是“持续稳定的进展”.如:Do you have a steady job / girlfriend?(你有稳定的工作/女友吗?)
5. Watch your steps一the path is wet and slippery. (x)
Watch your step一the path is wet and slippery.(√)
watch/mind your step(恒用单数),可用来提醒对方走路时或言行方面“要小心”,如:You'd better watch your step 一 the boss is over there.(你最好谨言慎行,老板就在那边。)但表“采取步骤/措施”时,则须用take steps to do sth.如:We should take immediate steps to pacify them.(我们应该立即采取措施来安抚他们.)
6. It looks like you were bitten by wasps. (x)
It looks like you were stung by wasps.(√)
蚊子、蚂蚁、蛇“咬人”,用bite。蜂、蝎子“蜇人”,用sting.
7. When spring comes, she always puts her winter clothes in store.(x)
When spring comes, she always puts her winter clothes in storage.(√)
in storage表东西不用时被.‘存放”起来。in store (for sb)表某件事情/意外将要发生,如:We have no idea what lies in store (for us).(我们不知道有什么事情要发生。)另外,in stock表“有存/现货”,如:Du you have any newer models in stock?(你们较新的型号有没有现货?)
8. The town straddles between the US-Mexico border.(x)
The town straddles the US-Mexico border. (√)
The town straddles the border between the US and Mexico. (√)
straddle sth是及物动词的用法,本指“两脚跨坐/骑在某物的两侧”,引申为“某物坐落/跨在某地两侧”。另外,straddle sth可兼指学术领域,如:Her research straddles psychology and sociology.(她的研究跨及心理学和社会学的领域.)
9. I'd like a pure whiskey.(x)
I'd like a straight whiskey. (√)
straight用来形容酒时,表“不添加水或其他饮料的"。
10. It seems that he is clutching at straw.(x)
It seems that he is clutching at straws.(√)
straw表“稻草/麦秆”,一般作不可数名词,如:The hat is made of straw.(这顶帽子是稻草做的。)表“吸管”时,straw是可数名词,如:She was drinking fruit juice through a straw.(她用吸管喝果汁。)clutch/grasp at straws(恒用复数),表“狗急跳墙”,是固定用法。另外,the last straw或the straw that broke the camel's back表令人无法再忍受的“最后一件事情”。