plain

adjective

/pleɪn/

(comparative plainer, superlative plainest)

Idioms

not decorated or complicated; simple不尚修饰的；朴素的；简单的
- a plain but elegant dress朴素淡雅的连衣裙
- plain food清淡的食物
- The interior of the church was plain and simple.教堂内部朴素无华。
- plain yogurt (= without sugar or fruit)原味酸奶
compare fancy
Homophones plain | plane
plain plane
/pleɪn/

/pleɪn/
- plain adjective
  She likes plain food, without sauces or cheese.她喜欢简单的食物，不加酱汁或奶酪。
- plain noun
  Wheat is still grown on the Lombardy plain.伦巴第平原仍然种植小麦。
- plane noun
  They recently flew into London on a private plane.他们最近乘坐私人飞机飞往伦敦。
- plane verb
  You may need to plane the surface for a smoother fit.您可能需要平整表面以获得更平滑的贴合。
Extra Examples
- The dress was absolutely plain, but quite stunning.这件裙装非常简单，但是十分漂亮。
- The food was fairly plain, but well cooked.虽然都是家常菜，但是做得很好。
- I prefer plain, simple things.我更喜欢简单、简单的事情。
- He eats his popcorn plain. 他简单地吃爆米花。
Topics Houses and homesb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- look
- seem
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
phrases
- plain blue, white, etc.
without marks or a pattern on it素的；无花纹的；单色的
- covers in plain or printed cotton单色或印花的罩布
- Write on plain paper (= without lines).用无格白纸书写。
Extra Examples
- Patterned carpet shows the dirt less than a plain colour.花色地毯比单色地毯耐脏。
- a range of plain and printed linens一系列素色和印花亚麻布
- Do you want plain or lined paper?你想要白纸还是条格纸？
- a plain white shirt纯白色衬衫
Topics Clothes and Fashionb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- look
- seem
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
phrases
- plain blue, white, etc.
easy to see or understand显而易见的；公然 synonym clear
- He made it plain that we should leave.他明确表示要我们离开。
- She made her annoyance plain.她满脸不耐烦。
- The facts were plain to see.事实显而易见。
- It was a rip-off, plain and simple.这是不折不扣的敲竹杠。
- plain to somebody It is all very plain to me.这对我来说显而易见。
- it is plain (to somebody) that… It was plain that she wanted to leave.很明显，她想离开。
- it is plain (to somebody) how, what, etc…. It was plain to everyone just how dangerous the site could be. 每个人都清楚这个地点有多危险。
- plain from something (that…) What is quite plain from the evidence before me is (that) the figures are false.从我所掌握的证据可以看出，这些数字显然是假的。
Synonyms clear
clearobvious ▪ apparent ▪ evident ▪ plainThese words all describe something that is easy to see or understand.
clear easy to see or understand and leaving no doubts:
It was quite clear to me that she was lying.我十分清楚她在撒谎。
obvious easy to see or understand:
It’s obvious from what he said that something is wrong.根据他所说的，显然是出问题了。
apparent [not usually before noun] (rather formal) easy to see or understand:
It was apparent from her face that she was really upset.从面容上一眼就可以看出她确实心绪烦乱。
evident (rather formal) easy to see or understand:
The orchestra played with evident enjoyment.管弦乐队演奏得兴致勃勃。
plain easy to see or understand:
He made it very plain that he wanted us to leave. 他明确表示要我们离开。
which word?
- These words all have almost exactly the same meaning. There are slight differences in register and patterns of use. If you make something clear/plain, you do so deliberately because you want people to understand something; if you make something obvious, you usually do it without meaning to:
  I hope I make myself obvious.
  Try not to make it so clear/plain.
  In the expressions clear majority, for obvious reasons, for no apparent reason and plain to see, none of the other words can be used instead. You can have a clear/an obvious/a plain case of something but not:
  an evident case of something.
Patterns
- clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain to somebody/something
- clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain that/what/who/how/where/why…
- to seem/become/make something clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain
- perfectly/quite/very clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain
Extra Examples
- They made it plain that they were against the idea.他们明确表示反对这个观点。
- Within weeks, it became perfectly plain that we were in the grip of a tyrant.没过几个星期，事情就变得很清楚了：我们落在了暴君手里。
- He made it very plain that he wanted us to leave.他明确表示要我们离开。
- Her intentions were plain enough.她的意图再清楚不过。
- It was plain to us that they had left fairly recently.我们很清楚他们最近才离开。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- seem
- become
- …
adverb
- fairly
- very
- etc.
- …
preposition
- to
not trying to trick anyone; honest and direct坦诚的；直率的；直接的
- The plain fact is that nobody really knows.事实很明显，没有人真正了解。
- a politician with a reputation for plain speaking一个说话直率出了名的政治人物
- (especially North American English) a plain, straightforward sort of man一个朴素、直率的人
Synonyms plain
plainsimple ▪ stark ▪ bare ▪ unequivocal These words all describe statements, often about something unpleasant, that are very clear, not trying to hide anything, and not using more words than necessary.
plain used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; honest and direct in a way that other people may not like:
The plain fact is that nobody really knows.事实很明显，没有人真正了解。
simple [only before noun] used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; very obvious and not complicated by anything else:
The simple truth is that we just can’t afford it.事实很简单，我们就是付不起。
plain or simple?When it is being used to emphasize facts that other people may not like to hear, plain is usually used in the expression the plain fact/truth is that… Simple can be used in this way too, but it can also be used in a wider variety of structures and collocations (such as reason and matter): The problem was due to the simple fact that… • The problem was due to the plain fact that… • for the plain reason that… • It’s a plain matter of… Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people’s behaviour.
stark (rather formal) used for describing an unpleasant fact or difference that is very obvious:
The stark truth is that there is not enough money left.明摆着的事实是剩下的钱已经不够了。
The simple/plain truth may be something that some people do not want to hear, but it may be good for them to hear it anyway. The stark truth is something particularly unpleasant and has no good side to it at all.bare [only before noun] the most basic or simple, with nothing extra:
She gave me only the bare facts of the case.她只给我介绍了这个案件的一些基本资料。
unequivocal (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly:
The reply was an unequivocal ‘no’.回答是个干脆利落的“不”字。
Patterns
- the plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal truth
- a(n) plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal fact/statement
- a(n) plain/simple/unequivocal answer
Extra Examples
- He prided himself on being a plain, honest man with no nonsense about him.他为自己是个朴素、诚实、规规矩矩的人而感到自豪。
- Let's be plain about this: we will need to make some difficult choices.我们还是直截了当地说吧：我们得作出艰苦的抉择。
Topics Personal qualitiesc1
[only before noun] used to emphasize that something is very ordinary, not special in any way极普通的；平庸的；平凡的 synonym everyday
- You don't need any special skills for this job, just plain common sense.这项工作不需要任何特殊技能，只要有普通常识就够了。
- The situation thrives on half-truths and plain ignorance.这种情况因半真半假和明显的无知而猖獗。
(especially of a woman) not beautiful or attractive相貌平平的；无姿色的
- She looked very plain and dowdy.她长得非常普通，衣也过时。
- a rather plain woman长得相当不起眼的女子
- As a child she was rather plain.她小时候相貌平平。
Topics Appearanceb2
describing a simple stitch used in knitting（编织）平针的，平纹的

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French plain, from Latin planus, from a base meaning ‘flat’.

Idioms

be plain sailing

(North American English be clear/smooth sailing)

to be simple and free from trouble顺利；一帆风顺

in plain English

simply and clearly expressed, without using technical language用平白的言语（或文字）
- a document written in plain English用简单的英语写成的文件
- If you could put it in plain English I might be able to understand.如果你能用简单的英语说出来我也许能理解。
- Teachers should encourage students to write in plain English.教师应鼓励学生用平白的英文写作。

(as) plain as a pikestaff | (as) plain as day | (as) plain as the nose on your face

very obvious一清二楚；一目了然；显而易见

单词	plain
释义	plain adjective /pleɪn/ /pleɪn/ (comparative plainer, superlative plainest) Idioms not decorated or complicated; simple不尚修饰的；朴素的；简单的 a plain but elegant dress朴素淡雅的连衣裙 plain food清淡的食物 The interior of the church was plain and simple.教堂内部朴素无华。 plain yogurt (= without sugar or fruit)原味酸奶 compare fancy Homophones plain \| planeplain plane /pleɪn/ /pleɪn/ plain adjective She likes plain food, without sauces or cheese.她喜欢简单的食物，不加酱汁或奶酪。 plain noun Wheat is still grown on the Lombardy plain.伦巴第平原仍然种植小麦。 plane noun They recently flew into London on a private plane.他们最近乘坐私人飞机飞往伦敦。 plane verb You may need to plane the surface for a smoother fit.您可能需要平整表面以获得更平滑的贴合。 Extra Examples The dress was absolutely plain, but quite stunning.这件裙装非常简单，但是十分漂亮。 The food was fairly plain, but well cooked.虽然都是家常菜，但是做得很好。 I prefer plain, simple things.我更喜欢简单、简单的事情。 He eats his popcorn plain. 他简单地吃爆米花。 Topics Houses and homesb2 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be look seem … adverb extremely fairly very … phrases plain blue, white, etc. without marks or a pattern on it素的；无花纹的；单色的 covers in plain or printed cotton单色或印花的罩布 Write on plain paper (= without lines).用无格白纸书写。 Extra Examples Patterned carpet shows the dirt less than a plain colour.花色地毯比单色地毯耐脏。 a range of plain and printed linens一系列素色和印花亚麻布 Do you want plain or lined paper?你想要白纸还是条格纸？ a plain white shirt纯白色衬衫 Topics Clothes and Fashionb2 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be look seem … adverb extremely fairly very … phrases plain blue, white, etc. easy to see or understand显而易见的；公然 synonym clear He made it plain that we should leave.他明确表示要我们离开。 She made her annoyance plain.她满脸不耐烦。 The facts were plain to see.事实显而易见。 It was a rip-off, plain and simple.这是不折不扣的敲竹杠。 plain to somebody It is all very plain to me.这对我来说显而易见。 it is plain (to somebody) that… It was plain that she wanted to leave.很明显，她想离开。 it is plain (to somebody) how, what, etc…. It was plain to everyone just how dangerous the site could be. 每个人都清楚这个地点有多危险。 plain from something (that…) What is quite plain from the evidence before me is (that) the figures are false.从我所掌握的证据可以看出，这些数字显然是假的。 Synonyms clearclearobvious ▪ apparent ▪ evident ▪ plainThese words all describe something that is easy to see or understand.clear easy to see or understand and leaving no doubts: It was quite clear to me that she was lying.我十分清楚她在撒谎。 obvious easy to see or understand: It’s obvious from what he said that something is wrong.根据他所说的，显然是出问题了。 apparent [not usually before noun] (rather formal) easy to see or understand: It was apparent from her face that she was really upset.从面容上一眼就可以看出她确实心绪烦乱。 evident (rather formal) easy to see or understand: The orchestra played with evident enjoyment.管弦乐队演奏得兴致勃勃。 plain easy to see or understand: He made it very plain that he wanted us to leave. 他明确表示要我们离开。 which word? These words all have almost exactly the same meaning. There are slight differences in register and patterns of use. If you make something clear/plain, you do so deliberately because you want people to understand something; if you make something obvious, you usually do it without meaning to: I hope I make myself obvious. Try not to make it so clear/plain. In the expressions clear majority, for obvious reasons, for no apparent reason and plain to see, none of the other words can be used instead. You can have a clear/an obvious/a plain case of something but not: an evident case of something. Patterns clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain to somebody/something clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain that/what/who/how/where/why… to seem/become/make something clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain perfectly/quite/very clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain Extra Examples They made it plain that they were against the idea.他们明确表示反对这个观点。 Within weeks, it became perfectly plain that we were in the grip of a tyrant.没过几个星期，事情就变得很清楚了：我们落在了暴君手里。 He made it very plain that he wanted us to leave.他明确表示要我们离开。 Her intentions were plain enough.她的意图再清楚不过。 It was plain to us that they had left fairly recently.我们很清楚他们最近才离开。 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be seem become … adverb fairly very etc. … preposition to not trying to trick anyone; honest and direct坦诚的；直率的；直接的 The plain fact is that nobody really knows.事实很明显，没有人真正了解。 a politician with a reputation for plain speaking一个说话直率出了名的政治人物 (especially North American English) a plain, straightforward sort of man一个朴素、直率的人 Synonyms plainplainsimple ▪ stark ▪ bare ▪ unequivocal These words all describe statements, often about something unpleasant, that are very clear, not trying to hide anything, and not using more words than necessary.plain used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; honest and direct in a way that other people may not like: The plain fact is that nobody really knows.事实很明显，没有人真正了解。 simple [only before noun] used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; very obvious and not complicated by anything else: The simple truth is that we just can’t afford it.事实很简单，我们就是付不起。 plain or simple?When it is being used to emphasize facts that other people may not like to hear, plain is usually used in the expression the plain fact/truth is that… Simple can be used in this way too, but it can also be used in a wider variety of structures and collocations (such as reason and matter): The problem was due to the simple fact that… • The problem was due to the plain fact that… • for the plain reason that… • It’s a plain matter of… Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people’s behaviour.stark (rather formal) used for describing an unpleasant fact or difference that is very obvious: The stark truth is that there is not enough money left.明摆着的事实是剩下的钱已经不够了。 The simple/plain truth may be something that some people do not want to hear, but it may be good for them to hear it anyway. The stark truth is something particularly unpleasant and has no good side to it at all.bare [only before noun] the most basic or simple, with nothing extra: She gave me only the bare facts of the case.她只给我介绍了这个案件的一些基本资料。 unequivocal (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly: The reply was an unequivocal ‘no’.回答是个干脆利落的“不”字。 Patterns the plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal truth a(n) plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal fact/statement a(n) plain/simple/unequivocal answer Extra Examples He prided himself on being a plain, honest man with no nonsense about him.他为自己是个朴素、诚实、规规矩矩的人而感到自豪。 Let's be plain about this: we will need to make some difficult choices.我们还是直截了当地说吧：我们得作出艰苦的抉择。 Topics Personal qualitiesc1 [only before noun] used to emphasize that something is very ordinary, not special in any way极普通的；平庸的；平凡的 synonym everyday You don't need any special skills for this job, just plain common sense.这项工作不需要任何特殊技能，只要有普通常识就够了。 The situation thrives on half-truths and plain ignorance.这种情况因半真半假和明显的无知而猖獗。 (especially of a woman) not beautiful or attractive相貌平平的；无姿色的 She looked very plain and dowdy.她长得非常普通，衣也过时。 a rather plain woman长得相当不起眼的女子 As a child she was rather plain.她小时候相貌平平。 Topics Appearanceb2 describing a simple stitch used in knitting（编织）平针的，平纹的 Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French plain, from Latin planus, from a base meaning ‘flat’. Idioms be plain sailing (North American English be clear/smooth sailing) to be simple and free from trouble顺利；一帆风顺 in plain English simply and clearly expressed, without using technical language用平白的言语（或文字） a document written in plain English用简单的英语写成的文件 If you could put it in plain English I might be able to understand.如果你能用简单的英语说出来我也许能理解。 Teachers should encourage students to write in plain English.教师应鼓励学生用平白的英文写作。 (as) plain as a pikestaff \| (as) plain as day \| (as) plain as the nose on your face very obvious一清二楚；一目了然；显而易见 plain noun /pleɪn/ /pleɪn/ (also plains [plural]) a large area of flat land平原 the flat coastal plain of Thassos萨索斯岛平坦的滨海平原 Millions of buffalo used to roam freely across the Great Plains.数百万只野牛曾经在北美洲大平原无拘无束地活动。 see also floodplain Homophones plain \| planeplain plane /pleɪn/ /pleɪn/ plain adjective She likes plain food, without sauces or cheese.她喜欢简单的食物，不加酱汁或奶酪。 plain noun Wheat is still grown on the Lombardy plain.伦巴第平原仍然种植小麦。 plane noun They recently flew into London on a private plane.他们最近乘坐私人飞机飞往伦敦。 plane verb You may need to plane the surface for a smoother fit.您可能需要平整表面以获得更平滑的贴合。 Extra Examples Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。 Herds of buffalo roamed these plains.成群的水牛漫步在这些平原上。 Nothing grew on the plain.这片平原寸草不生。 The horses galloped across the open plains.马儿飞奔过开阔的平原。 fertile plains suitable for farming适宜耕作的肥沃平原 miles of rolling plain, made fertile by the river被河流浇灌得十分肥沃、连绵起伏数英里的平原 the Olduvai Gorge in the vast plain of Tanzania坦桑尼亚广阔平原上的奥杜瓦伊峡谷 To the east lies the flat coastal plain of the Yucatan peninsula.东边是尤卡坦半岛平坦的海滨平原。 Topics Geographyc1 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective open rolling great … verb + plain cross roam preposition across a/the plain in a/the plain on a/the plain … Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French plain, from Latin planus, from a base meaning ‘flat’. plain adverb /pleɪn/ /pleɪn/ (informal) used to emphasize how bad, stupid, etc. something is（用于强调）简直，绝对 plain stupid/wrong简直愚蠢至极；绝对错误 Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French plain, from Latin planus, from a base meaning ‘flat’.
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