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| FUNCTION WORD |
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| /liːst/ |
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| 1 | used for referring to a smaller amount than any other amount , or the smallest amount possible （量）最少的，最小的 |
| The President seemed to be the one who knew least about the crisis. 总统好像是最不了解这次危机的人。 |
| He wonders why his most popular songs are always the ones he spends the least time on. 他想知道为什么他最流行的歌曲总是那些他用最少时间完成的歌曲。 |
| Of all of us, I think I earn the least. 我认为在我们所有的人当中我挣得最少。 |
| | 1a | used for emphasizing how small something is , especially when it is so small that it almost does not exist 最轻微的（用于强调某物之少，尤其是少到几乎不存在之时） | | He’ s a light sleeper and wakes up at the least noise. 他睡觉很轻，稍有动静就会醒来。 | | You don’ t have the least notion of how I’ m feeling at the moment. 你一点儿也不明白我此刻的感受。 | | I doubt anything you say will make the least difference to what he does. 我认为你所说的一切对他的所作所为不会有一丁点的影响。 | |
| | 1b | used for emphasizing that a particular problem is smaller or less important than other problems （问题等）最小的，最不重要的 | | the least of sth I’ ll have to pay for the ticket, but that’ s the least of my worries. 我得掏钱买票，但我一点都不为此犯愁。 | | Money is the least of my problems right now. 眼下钱对我来说绝对不成问题。 | |
| | 1c | used for stating the smallest amount that should be done about something , and suggesting that more should really be done （应做的）最起码的事 | | The least you can do is listen to what I have to say before you reject it completely. 在你断然拒绝之前你至少该听听我要说的话。 | | Let me pay for the dinner – it’ s the least I can do. 让我来付晚餐的账吧，我起码可以做到这一点。 | | The least he deserves is a compliment from time to time. 他至少应该时不时地得到夸奖。 | |
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| 2 | used for saying that someone or something has less of a particular quality than anyone or anything else （在某种品质方面）最不…的 |
| Hungary is one of the least polluted of the former East-bloc states. 匈牙利是前东欧国家中受污染程度最轻的一个国家。 |
| The least confusing route would be to get on the M6 at Birmingham. 最不易产生混乱的路线便是在伯明翰上M6高速公路。 |
| The new taxes will fall on those least able to pay. 新税收将摊到那些支付能力最弱的人头上。 |
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| 3 | used for saying that someone or something does something less often or to a smaller degree than anyone or anything else (频率)最低的；（程度）最轻的 |
| This chair squeaks the least. 这把椅子响得最不厉害。 |
| The man who actually won the car is the one who wanted it least. 最没有想过要得到这辆轿车的男子竟然赢得了它。 |
| | 3a | used for mentioning that something happens less often or to a smaller degree than at any other time （用于表示某事发生的可能性较其他时候小） | | Troubles come when you least expect them. 麻烦总是在你最意料不到的时候来临。 | |
| PHRASES |
| - | at least
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| 1 | not less than a particular amount or number , and possibly more （数量或数目上）至少，起码 | Mr Gray will remain the director for three years at least. 格雷先生将继续担任主管，任期至少3年。 | | The disease killed at least 120 people in England last year. 去年，英国至少有120人被该疾病夺去了生命。 | | We are expecting to at least double our money. 我们期望着把我们的钱至少翻一番。 | | at the very least (=not less than and probably much more than) The journey will take a year, at the very least. 至少；最起码 | |
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| 2 | even if nothing else happens or is true 无论如何；不管怎样；至少 | At least no one can accuse me of hiding the truth. 无论如何没有人会指责我隐瞒真相。 | | You might at least have waited for me. 不管怎样，当时你也可以等我一下吧。 | | We have reached an agreement that at least gives the company a chance to survive. 我们达成了一项协议，这至少给了这家公司一个生存的机会。 | | at the very least At the very least the player is guilty of violent behaviour. 不管怎么说这位运动员都有暴力犯罪行为。 | |
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| 3 | used when mentioning an advantage that exists despite the problem or disadvantage you have just mentioned （尽管有缺点或问题但）至少，起码 | A two per cent pay rise is not very much, but at least it’ s better than nothing. 工资增加2%并不是很多，但至少比没有好。 | | You lost, but at least you can say you tried. 你输了，但至少你可以说自己尝试过。 | | The work is difficult, but at least the pay is good. 这工作很费劲，但起码报酬不错。 | |
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| 4 | used when you are saying something that changes or limits what you have just said （用于修改或限定刚刚说过的话） | The election will mean the end, or at least the beginning of the end, of the present system. 这次选举将意味着现行制度的结束，或者至少说是开始结束。 | | No one saw anything, or at least they’ re not talking about it if they did. 没人说什么；即便说了什么，他们也不是在谈论这件事情。 | |
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| - | (in) the least
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| used for emphasizing a negative statement or question |
| （用于强调否定的陈述或问题）一点儿，丝毫，极少 |
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| I’ m not the least surprised that she’ s leaving. 她要走，我一点儿也不惊讶。 |
| I’ m not teaching anything the least bit challenging any more, and that is sad. 我教的东西不再有一点儿挑战性，这令人悲哀。 |
| Weren’ t you concerned in the least about where your son was? 你儿子在何处你难道一点儿也不关心？ |
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| - | least of all
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| used after a negative statement for showing that it applies to a particular person , thing , or group more than any other |
| （用于否定陈述后，表明该陈述较适用于某个人、物或团体）尤其，更不用说 |
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| None of us is religious, least of all Jim. 我们没人信教，吉姆就更不用说了。 |
| There is not much there to attract tourists, least of all the weather. 那儿没多少东西可以吸引游客，气候就更谈不上了。 |
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| - | not least
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| used for emphasizing the importance of a particular aspect of a situation |
| （用于强调某一方面情况的重要性）尤其，特别是 |
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| George is an excellent manager, not least because he is genuinely willing to listen. 乔治是一位优秀的经理，相当一部分原因是由于他非常乐于倾听。 |
| Not least among our difficulties is our lack of funding. 尤其是缺乏资金，这是我们的一个大难题。 |
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| - | to say the least
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| used for suggesting that something is worse or more extreme than you are saying |
| （用于暗示某事物比所说的更糟或更极端）至少可以说 |
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| I found him a difficult person, to say the least. 至少可以这么说，我发现他是一个很难对付的人。 |
| Your work isn’ t very good, to say the least. 至少可以说，你的工作不是很出色。 |
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