2018年成人学位英语考试：常用英语惯用语辨析
(1)no standing与free-standing：
no standing意思是不准在此停车(即使司机还在车上也不行)，也就是"don't stop"或"no car at all"，通常用在大城市交通十分拥挤的地方。至于"no parking"，意思也是不准在此停车，但司机还可以坐在车里一段时间，必要时，可随时移动车子，也就是"you may stay in your car for a short period of time"。例如：
In New York City there are many"no standing"signs posted on the streets.
在纽约市，路上有许多"不准停车"的牌子。
"No parking"signs sprang up around the school campus in America.
美国校园里出现一些"不准停车"的路牌。
但是free-standing(adj，in dividual or separate building for a specific purpose)，意思是独立式的，多指为特别用途而盖的单独建筑物或指一大建筑物的某种装饰。例如：
There is a new free-standing restaurant near the down town area.
在市中心区附近有座新的独立餐馆。
(2)break the house与 housebreak：
housebreak(to train pets to live proper hygiene at home)是指训练狗、猫等宠物，使其能在指定的地点大、小便，以保持家里的卫生。例如：
Pet owners should housebreak their dogs and cats.
宠物主人应该训练狗猫的卫生习惯。
但是"break the house"的意思是damage the house。例如：
Accidentally, he broke the house by backing up his car.
他倒车时，意外碰坏了房子。
(3)kick off 与 tip off：
kick off(officially start or beg in something)(有时也指球赛)意思是指任何事情的正式开始。例如：
Our school has recently kicked off a mass fundraising campaign.
我们学校近发起一次大规模的筹款运动。
但是，tip off(the beginning of official basketball game)虽然也指开始，不过多半是指篮球开赛前，裁判开球让两边球员争球。例如：
The players tipped off the basketball game at 2:00 yesterday afternoon.
篮球赛于昨天下午两点开始。
to tip somebody off(to inform somebody)意思是通知某人。
(4)in line与on the line：
in line有许多意义，但常见的意思是服从，不越轨，或按次序(obey，con trol or in the order)。例如：
The government is trying to keep the price of gas in line.
政府正设法控制汽油的价格。反之，out of line就是出格，不妥或举止不当。例如：
His opinions are out of line with reality.
他的意见是不合实际的。然而，(something)on the line意思又是"以某种事物为赌注或冒险"。例如：
Many police have put their lives on the line.
许多警察都冒着生命的危险。
If you continue to be hostile toward me, our friendship will be on the line.
假如你继续与我敌对，我们的友谊就有危险。
on-line指自动化，电脑化。例如：
All the libraries in the U.S.are on- line.美国所有图书馆都是电脑化。
(5)gifted child与exceptional child：
gifted child一般是指IQ很高的孩子;美国中、小学也有gifted and talented program(简称G and T program)，现在也叫 magnet program。但是exceptional child是指特殊儿童，可能是指IQ很高，
也可能指 low IQ，除非在句子里特别说明，否则一般老外倒认为是智商较低或retarded child。例如：
There are many gifted children in her class.
她班上有很多智商很高的孩子。
注：美国政府对低能孩子的教育，反而十分重视，因为政府希望低能学生也能成为社会有用的份子。
They can be more productive members of society.
(6)block out与black out：
to block out(to plan something ahead)意思是草拟大纲或订出某种计划。例如：
Her boss prefers her to block out her annual vacation time.
老板要她订出每年度假的时间。
但是black out的意思，多半是指停电(no electricity)。例如：
This block was blacked out for hours last night.
这个街区昨晚停电几个小时。
California has experienced many black-outs this year.
今年加州多次停电。
(7)off course与of course：
off course(out of line or in a wrong direction ;not in the designated area)意思是偏离方向或越出指定的范围。例如：
The ship was 200 international nautical miles off course.
那船偏离航向200国际海里。
反之，"on course"(right direction)就是正确方向。例如：
President Bush is trying to put American economy on course.
布什总统设法使美国经济走上正轨。
但是"of course"意思是当然或自然(as a matter of fact)。例如：
Of course, we will have turkey for Thanksgiving.
感恩节我们当然要吃火鸡。
They, of course, are excellent students in my class.
他们当然是我班上的学生。
(8)wanted poster与 want ad：
wanted poster通常是指通缉公告。例如：
I saw several FBI wanted posters in the city.
我在城里看到几张联邦调查局的通缉布告。
但是want ad多半是指报纸杂志刊登的人找事或事找人的广告。例如：
If you need a job, check the want ads in the newspaper.
He got a job through a newspaper want ad.
他从报纸的广告里找到一份工作。
至于，"help wanted"是指"需要帮手"(need a helper)，而"job wanted"是指"需要工作"
(need a job)。例如：
I will put a help wanted ad in our local newspaper.
我要在地方报纸上刊登广告找帮手。
(9)to tidy up与to tie up：
to tidy up意思是整理或清理(to clean up)。例如：
He is tidying up his garage.(desk， car，etc.)
他正在清理车库。
至于"to tie up loose ends"(to finish up something)又是一个十分常用的短语，意思是收拾零碎东西或完成某事。例如：
I have to tie up loose ends be fore immigrating to Canada.
我移民到加拿大前，必须办完零碎事情。(诸如打行李包等)
Prior to her retirement, she has to tie up loose ends.
她在退休前必须办完一些零碎的事情。
(10)Surgeon General与chief surgeon：
Surgeon General是美国公共卫生部部长，也就是掌握美国三军、联邦、州政府大众健康的官员(chief medical officer for the U.S.public health services)(也许因为与美国军队有关，故用 "general")。例如：
The Surgeon General was appointed by the President of the U.S..
美国公共卫生部部长是由总统任命。
但是，chief surgeon是指一般医院的手术室主任。
Normally, the chief surgeon will perform the most delicate operations.
通常手术室主任施行复杂的手术。
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