less

less1 /les/ S1 W1 adverbadv

1 LESSnot so much or to a smaller degree 更少地，较少地；较小程度地 OPP more

Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation.

他要是了解情况，也许就不会那么担心了。

In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently.

近年来她在公开场合露面的次数少了。

less (...) than

Tickets were less expensive than I had expected.

票比我原来想的要便宜。

much/a lot/far less

Social class matters a lot less than it used to.

社会阶层远不如以前重要了。

not ... any the less/no less (=not less) 同样

Your second point is no less important.

你的第二点也同样重要。

It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing.

这是一个普遍问题，但同样令人担忧。

I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.

我知道他做了件很差劲的事，可我依然爱他。

be less a ... than a ... (=be not so much like one thing as another) 不是…更像…

‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.

“你和我一起去吧。” 这话不像请求，而更像是命令。

2 less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc not at all helpful, honest etc 一点也没有帮助/一点也不诚实/一点也不热心等

He was less than enthusiastic about the idea.

他对这个想法一点也不热心。

Examples from the Corpus

less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc• But the way in which they are present may be less than helpful.• Not surprisingly, the reaction of local residents to the schemes was less than enthusiastic.• Those who had known him from that earlier period, however, were less than enthusiastic about his elevation.• Although he did not reject a fact-finding mission outright, Major was clearly less than enthusiastic about the idea.• The refugees are naturally less than enthusiastic about this.• In this dilemma, Eliot was less than helpful to his apologists.• But in the same interview Mr Dole, as is his way, was a little less than helpful to the president.

3 less and less LESSused to say that a quality, situation etc gradually decreases 越来越少；越来越小 OPP more and more

As the years went by, he seemed to care less and less about his reputation.

一年年过去，他好像越来越不在乎自己的名声。

5 Smoking in the workplace is becoming less and less acceptable.

在工作场所抽烟越来越不被接受了。

n Smoking is becoming less and less acceptable.

Examples from the Corpus

less and less• The fighting has become less and less frequent.• Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres.• They began spending less and less time with each other.• As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.• Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.• However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.• It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.• It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.• Now I seem to care less and less.• She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores.

4 much/still less NOTused to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned 更不用说，更何况

These people can scarcely afford to buy food, still less luxury goods like perfume.

这些人连食物都买不起，更不用说香水这样的奢侈品了。

I didn’t think Dave would ever read a book, much less write one himself.

我觉得戴夫都不会去看一本书，更不用说自己去写了。

Examples from the Corpus

much/still less• Equally, science would be much less advanced than it is if the only available data were intuitive estimates of quantities.• The grouping of other languages of the world-and even of their number-is much less clear.• Half a century earlier his behaviour would have seemed much more normal and aroused much less criticism.• There was to be no pause for reflection, nor - much less - for a changeover from military to civilian rule.• She could not afford the bus fare to see a doctor, much less his fee.• On the battlefield armament was still much less important than discipline and fighting spirit.• The average person is unlikely to pick up this type of book, much less read it.• In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.• There is not much chance of finding a razor blade, much less using it in the appropriate way.

Examples from the Corpus

less• Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.• But retail investors are trading less and borrowing less from their brokers, cutting the industry's core profits.• He seemed to care less and less about the band, and eventually decided to leave.• With the growth of telecommunications, the location of a company's headquarters is becoming less and less important.• You should drive less and walk more often.• They are less depressed, less likely to become addicted to drugs and less likely to commit suicide.• Tickets were less expensive than I expected.• Of course, it would be less expensive to use frozen fish.• I want something less formal than a traditional wedding dress.• Cycling was certainly less hazardous than today, as petrol rationing restricted motor traffic.• We go to movies less often than we used to.• However, the adaptation to changing potassium intakes is less rapid and less complete than for sodium.• But there has been a good deal less successful cross-border brand-building in the confectionery division.• This type of problem still occurs, but less than it did in the past.• How, they ask, can we entrust this task to some one whose character is anything less than spotless?• Since we got the car, we walk a lot less than we used to.• Gradual changes are much less traumatic than sudden changes.

much/a lot/far less• We are sold through financial advisers and we have done a lot less advertising in the past.• But it took a lot less computing power to design a nuke than to test it in software today.• Under first-place-only restrictions, there would be a lot less dreaming.• I mean that was a lot less earlier beauties.• But absent sport, Sofie Fotakis would be a far less happy person.• Statements about beliefs play a far less obtrusive role in these games.• To my mind, the action was a lot less successful than the J-18 event in the City last year.• One could, however, imagine a lot less suitable choices.

less2 S1 W1 determiner , pronoun

1 LESSa smaller amount or not as much 不那么多，更[较]少 OPP more

Doctors recommend eating less salt.

医生建议少吃盐。

People today seem to have less time for each other.

现在人与人之间相处的时间好像比以前少了。

Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less.

我们中大多数人的报酬都是每小时4英镑，但有些人的报酬甚至更少。

less of

The map covered less of the area than I’d thought.

地图覆盖的范围比我原来想的要小。

Flying is less of a risk than driving.

乘飞机比开车风险小。

less (...) than

She knows less than I do about it.

这事她没有我知道的多。

less than 10/100 etc

a distance of less than 100 metres

不足100米的距离

much/a lot less

It costs much less to go by bus.

乘公共汽车去要便宜很多。

5 GRAMMAR 语法

Less, not ‘fewer’, should be used before an uncountable noun. 不可数名词前应用less，而不用fewer

Less electricity is used.

用电量减少了。

Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer, especially in writing. 有时有些人在复数名词前也用less，但许多人认为不正确，因此用fewer更好，尤其在书面语中

There are fewer delays (NOT不说less delays).

延误次数减少了。

n USAGE: Less, fewer

You use less before an uncountable noun:

These light bulbs use less electricity.

You use fewer before a plural noun:

There were fewer cars in those days.

✗Don't say: There were less cars in those days. Although you will hear people say this in everyday spoken English, it is considered to be incorrect.

2 no less

a) used to emphasize that an amount or number is large 不少于，多达

no less than

By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil.

到了1977年，美国有高达45%的石油依赖进口。

b) used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive 正是；竟是〔强调谈及的人或物很重要〕

Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.

给我们颁奖的正是市长。

The message came from no less a person than the prime minister.

电文竟是首相发来的。

Examples from the Corpus

no less• Yet priorities are no less a matter of concern here than in other areas.• It is no less barbaric than killing people on a street corner.• And now ... Ace's face was no less expressive.• One could remain in life, in the selfless performance of secular tasks, and arrive no less securely at the goal.• This helped Airtours generate no less than £8m in interest alone during the year.• And if his comparison was contrived, it is no less valid for that.• Housman's style is no less vulnerable to the distortions of the rhymed quatrain.

3 nothing less than something EMPHASIZEIMPORTANTused to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is 简直是某物，绝对是某物

His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation.

他在节目中出现引起了不小的轰动。

Examples from the Corpus

nothing less than something• There is nothing less than a cultural cover-up about depression in men.• The change in Bob's behavior has been nothing less than a miracle.• They had stumbled in upon what was quite clearly nothing less than a pagan sacrifice.• This gave her hope, for it was nothing less than a re-birth that Maggie was aiming for.• It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.• The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.• It is nothing less than national economic and social suicide.• He is aware that what he is involved in now is nothing less than Thatcherite self-help.

4 less and less a decreasing amount of something 越来越少 OPP more and more

They began spending less and less time together.

他们在一起的时间越来越少了。

less and less of

The band was doing less and less of that kind of music.

那支乐队越来越少演奏那种音乐了。

Examples from the Corpus

less and less• As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.• Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.• However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.• It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.• It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.• Now I seem to care less and less.• She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores.• Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres.

5 in less than no time FAST/QUICKSOONvery quickly or very soon 很快地，迅速地

In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000.

很快他们就发现他们已经欠了一万多美元。

6 less of something British EnglishBrE spokenSTOP DOING something used to tell a child to stop doing something 不要做某事〔对小孩说的话〕

Less of that noise, please!

别吵了，好不好！

Examples from the Corpus

less of• She spends less of her time playing tennis now.

less3 prepositionprep formal

COUNT/CALCULATEtaking away or not including a particular amount 减去，不计 SYN minus

What is 121 less 36?

121减去36是多少？

He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge.

他把钱还给我们，扣去两美元的服务费。

-less /ləs/ suffix [in adjectives]

1 NOT HAVEwithout something 无…的

I felt powerless.

我感到无能为力。

a childless couple

一对无子女的夫妇

tasteless food

淡而无味的食物

2 XXnot doing or using something 不…的，不用…的

You’re too careless.

你太不小心了。

It’s perfectly harmless.

绝对没有害处。

3 XXnot possible to treat or affect in a particular way 不可能…的，不会…的

on countless occasions

在无数场合中

She’s tireless.

她不知疲倦。

Examples from the Corpus

-less• a tireless helper• ceaseless complaints• He was shirtless.

From Longman Business Dictionary

lessless /les/ prepositionprep

taking away a particular amount

$150 less what you owe in taxes is $102.

Origin -less

Old English -leas, from leas “lacking, false”

单词	less
释义	less less1 /les/ ●●● S1 W1 adverbadv 1 LESSnot so much or to a smaller degree 更少地，较少地；较小程度地 OPP more Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation. 他要是了解情况，也许就不会那么担心了。 In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently. 近年来她在公开场合露面的次数少了。 less (...) than Tickets were less expensive than I had expected. 票比我原来想的要便宜。 much/a lot/far less Social class matters a lot less than it used to. 社会阶层远不如以前重要了。 not ... any the less/no less (=not less) 同样 Your second point is no less important. 你的第二点也同样重要。 It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing. 这是一个普遍问题，但同样令人担忧。 I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less. 我知道他做了件很差劲的事，可我依然爱他。 be less a ... than a ... (=be not so much like one thing as another) 不是…更像… ‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command. “你和我一起去吧。” 这话不像请求，而更像是命令。 2 less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc not at all helpful, honest etc 一点也没有帮助/一点也不诚实/一点也不热心等 He was less than enthusiastic about the idea. 他对这个想法一点也不热心。 Examples from the Corpus less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc• But the way in which they are present may be less than helpful.• Not surprisingly, the reaction of local residents to the schemes was less than enthusiastic.• Those who had known him from that earlier period, however, were less than enthusiastic about his elevation.• Although he did not reject a fact-finding mission outright, Major was clearly less than enthusiastic about the idea.• The refugees are naturally less than enthusiastic about this.• In this dilemma, Eliot was less than helpful to his apologists.• But in the same interview Mr Dole, as is his way, was a little less than helpful to the president. 3 less and less LESSused to say that a quality, situation etc gradually decreases 越来越少；越来越小 OPP more and more As the years went by, he seemed to care less and less about his reputation. 一年年过去，他好像越来越不在乎自己的名声。 5 Smoking in the workplace is becoming less and less acceptable. 在工作场所抽烟越来越不被接受了。 n Smoking is becoming less and less acceptable. Examples from the Corpus less and less• The fighting has become less and less frequent.• Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres.• They began spending less and less time with each other.• As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.• Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.• However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.• It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.• It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.• Now I seem to care less and less.• She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores. 4 much/still less NOTused to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned 更不用说，更何况 These people can scarcely afford to buy food, still less luxury goods like perfume. 这些人连食物都买不起，更不用说香水这样的奢侈品了。 I didn’t think Dave would ever read a book, much less write one himself. 我觉得戴夫都不会去看一本书，更不用说自己去写了。 Examples from the Corpus much/still less• Equally, science would be much less advanced than it is if the only available data were intuitive estimates of quantities.• The grouping of other languages of the world-and even of their number-is much less clear.• Half a century earlier his behaviour would have seemed much more normal and aroused much less criticism.• There was to be no pause for reflection, nor - much less - for a changeover from military to civilian rule.• She could not afford the bus fare to see a doctor, much less his fee.• On the battlefield armament was still much less important than discipline and fighting spirit.• The average person is unlikely to pick up this type of book, much less read it.• In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.• There is not much chance of finding a razor blade, much less using it in the appropriate way. Examples from the Corpus less• Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.• But retail investors are trading less and borrowing less from their brokers, cutting the industry's core profits.• He seemed to care less and less about the band, and eventually decided to leave.• With the growth of telecommunications, the location of a company's headquarters is becoming less and less important.• You should drive less and walk more often.• They are less depressed, less likely to become addicted to drugs and less likely to commit suicide.• Tickets were less expensive than I expected.• Of course, it would be less expensive to use frozen fish.• I want something less formal than a traditional wedding dress.• Cycling was certainly less hazardous than today, as petrol rationing restricted motor traffic.• We go to movies less often than we used to.• However, the adaptation to changing potassium intakes is less rapid and less complete than for sodium.• But there has been a good deal less successful cross-border brand-building in the confectionery division.• This type of problem still occurs, but less than it did in the past.• How, they ask, can we entrust this task to some one whose character is anything less than spotless?• Since we got the car, we walk a lot less than we used to.• Gradual changes are much less traumatic than sudden changes. much/a lot/far less• We are sold through financial advisers and we have done a lot less advertising in the past.• But it took a lot less computing power to design a nuke than to test it in software today.• Under first-place-only restrictions, there would be a lot less dreaming.• I mean that was a lot less earlier beauties.• But absent sport, Sofie Fotakis would be a far less happy person.• Statements about beliefs play a far less obtrusive role in these games.• To my mind, the action was a lot less successful than the J-18 event in the City last year.• One could, however, imagine a lot less suitable choices. less2 ●●● S1 W1 determiner , pronoun 1 LESSa smaller amount or not as much 不那么多，更[较]少 OPP more Doctors recommend eating less salt. 医生建议少吃盐。 People today seem to have less time for each other. 现在人与人之间相处的时间好像比以前少了。 Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less. 我们中大多数人的报酬都是每小时4英镑，但有些人的报酬甚至更少。 less of The map covered less of the area than I’d thought. 地图覆盖的范围比我原来想的要小。 Flying is less of a risk than driving. 乘飞机比开车风险小。 less (...) than She knows less than I do about it. 这事她没有我知道的多。 less than 10/100 etc a distance of less than 100 metres 不足100米的距离 much/a lot less It costs much less to go by bus. 乘公共汽车去要便宜很多。 5 GRAMMAR 语法 Less, not ‘fewer’, should be used before an uncountable noun. 不可数名词前应用less，而不用fewer Less electricity is used. 用电量减少了。 Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer, especially in writing. 有时有些人在复数名词前也用less，但许多人认为不正确，因此用fewer更好，尤其在书面语中 There are fewer delays (NOT不说less delays). 延误次数减少了。 n USAGE: Less, fewer You use less before an uncountable noun: These light bulbs use less electricity. You use fewer before a plural noun: There were fewer cars in those days. ✗Don't say: There were less cars in those days. Although you will hear people say this in everyday spoken English, it is considered to be incorrect. 2 no less a) used to emphasize that an amount or number is large 不少于，多达 no less than By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil. 到了1977年，美国有高达45%的石油依赖进口。 b) used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive 正是；竟是〔强调谈及的人或物很重要〕 Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less. 给我们颁奖的正是市长。 The message came from no less a person than the prime minister. 电文竟是首相发来的。 Examples from the Corpus no less• Yet priorities are no less a matter of concern here than in other areas.• It is no less barbaric than killing people on a street corner.• And now ... Ace's face was no less expressive.• One could remain in life, in the selfless performance of secular tasks, and arrive no less securely at the goal.• This helped Airtours generate no less than £8m in interest alone during the year.• And if his comparison was contrived, it is no less valid for that.• Housman's style is no less vulnerable to the distortions of the rhymed quatrain. 3 nothing less than something EMPHASIZEIMPORTANTused to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is 简直是某物，绝对是某物 His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation. 他在节目中出现引起了不小的轰动。 Examples from the Corpus nothing less than something• There is nothing less than a cultural cover-up about depression in men.• The change in Bob's behavior has been nothing less than a miracle.• They had stumbled in upon what was quite clearly nothing less than a pagan sacrifice.• This gave her hope, for it was nothing less than a re-birth that Maggie was aiming for.• It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.• The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.• It is nothing less than national economic and social suicide.• He is aware that what he is involved in now is nothing less than Thatcherite self-help. 4 less and less a decreasing amount of something 越来越少 OPP more and more They began spending less and less time together. 他们在一起的时间越来越少了。 less and less of The band was doing less and less of that kind of music. 那支乐队越来越少演奏那种音乐了。 Examples from the Corpus less and less• As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.• Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.• However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.• It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.• It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.• Now I seem to care less and less.• She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores.• Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres. 5 in less than no time FAST/QUICKSOONvery quickly or very soon 很快地，迅速地 In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000. 很快他们就发现他们已经欠了一万多美元。 6 less of something British EnglishBrE spokenSTOP DOING something used to tell a child to stop doing something 不要做某事〔对小孩说的话〕 Less of that noise, please! 别吵了，好不好！ Examples from the Corpus less of• She spends less of her time playing tennis now. less3 prepositionprep formal COUNT/CALCULATEtaking away or not including a particular amount 减去，不计 SYN minus What is 121 less 36? 121减去36是多少？ He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge. 他把钱还给我们，扣去两美元的服务费。 -less /ləs/ suffix [in adjectives] 1 NOT HAVEwithout something 无…的 I felt powerless. 我感到无能为力。 a childless couple 一对无子女的夫妇 tasteless food 淡而无味的食物 2 XXnot doing or using something 不…的，不用…的 You’re too careless. 你太不小心了。 It’s perfectly harmless. 绝对没有害处。 3 XXnot possible to treat or affect in a particular way 不可能…的，不会…的 on countless occasions 在无数场合中 She’s tireless. 她不知疲倦。 Examples from the Corpus -less• a tireless helper• ceaseless complaints• He was shirtless. From Longman Business Dictionary lessless /les/ prepositionprep taking away a particular amount $150 less what you owe in taxes is $102. Origin -less Old English -leas, from leas “lacking, false”
随便看	Flash flash a flash a at flash a at sb flash a at somebody flash a glance flash a glance at flash a glance at sb flash a glance at somebody flash a look flash a look at flash a look at sb flash a look at somebody flash around flash around something flash around sth flash a smile flash a smile at flash a smile at sb flash a smile at somebody flash a smile/glance/look etc (at somebody) flash back flashback flashbacks flash-bulb