Changes in quantities and amounts are like movements up and down. People think of large quantities as being in a high position and small quantities as being in a low position. 數量的變化就像上下移動(movements up and down)。人們把量大看成位於高位置,把量小看成位於低位置。
- Temperatures are very high here in summer. 這裏夏天的氣溫很高。
- Profits were up on the previous year's figures. 與上一年的統計數字相比,利潤上升了。
- There has been a sharp rise in the number of unemployed. 失業人數急劇上升。
- Prices soared after the strike. 罷工後物價飛漲。
- The news gave a boost to the economy. 這個消息推動了經濟發展。
- The population peaked at 5.5 million. 人口數量攀上了550萬的高峰。
- The rate of inflation is very low. 通貨膨脹率很低。
- Output was down. 産量下降。
- Profits fell last year. 去年利潤下跌。
- The temperature dropped sharply. 溫度急劇下降。
- The economy is in freefall. 經濟急劇惡化。
- Car imports plummeted in value. 進口汽車的價格驟然暴跌。
- We discussed the level of unemployment. 我們就失業率進行了討論。
- The average mark hovers around 54%. 平均分數徘徊在54%左右。
Large quantities of something are like large amounts of water or rain, and small quantities are like small amounts of water. 大量的某物就如大量的水(large amounts of water)或雨(rain),少量的某物就像少量的水(small amounts of water)。
- There was a storm of protest when the decision was announced. 宣布決定時出現了一陣強烈的抗議。
- The speech was met with torrents of abuse. 演講遇到了鋪天蓋地的辱罵聲。
- They were showered with praise. 他們赢得了廣泛的稱贊。
- Stones rained down on them. 石頭雨點般地落到他們身上。
- The offers keep pouring/flooding in. 報價不斷湧來/洪水般地湧來。
- The switchboard was deluged with calls. 交換台接到大量湧來的電話。
- There was only a trickle of interest. 僅有一點興趣。
- Work has dried up. 沒有工作可做了。
- It sounds like a lot of money, but it's really just a drop in the ocean. 聽起來好像有很多錢,但實際上只是滄海一粟而已。
➡ money, success