4.比较下列成对惯用短语

下面所列举的一部分成对惯用短语既常用又有趣，是最容易搞混搞错的。这些短语中的名词前用和不用不定冠词，其含义完全不同。所以在平时的学习中以及考试中要特别注意这一点，以免失误。

after time，after a time

after time过了规定的时间

We cannot wait for anyone who arrives after time．

我们不等任何一个过了规定时间才到的人。

after a time过了一段时间

I didn't care for the place at first，but after a time I got to like it．

我起初不喜欢这个地方，但过了一段时间以后便开始喜欢它了。

at birth，at a birth

at birth出生时

The baby weighted seven pounds at birth．

婴儿出生时，体重7磅。

at a birth一胎

Pigs often have twelve or thirteen young at a birth．

猪每胎通常产仔十二、三头。

in body，in a body

in body亲自，自行

I observed the incident in body．

我目睹了这件事。

in a body全体，一齐

The staff of the company resigned in a body．

公司职工全体辞职。

in fashion，in a fashion

in fashion流行

This kind of dress is quite in fashion．

这种服装现在很流行。

in a fashion勉强

Mary speaks Chinese in a fashion．

玛丽能勉强讲一点汉语。

in kind，in a kind

in kind以实物(支付)，以同样的方法或手段

Farmers in these small villages often pay their bills in kind．

在这些小村子里，农民经常以实物付货款。

Blood debts must be paid in kind．

血债要用血来还。

in a kind在某种程度上，有几分

What he says is，in a kind，insult．

他的话在某种程度上是一种侮辱。

I like him in a kind but he is very rude．

我有点喜欢他，但他太粗鲁了。

in measure，in a measure

in measure适度地，在一定限度内

But I will correct you in measure，and will not leave you altogether unpunished．但我将要适度地惩罚你，万不能不惩罚你．

in a measure有几分，部分地，多多少少

What he says is，in a measure，correct．

他说的有几分正确。

in state，in a state

in state正式地，庄重堂皇地，隆重地

The president was received in state．

总统受到隆重的接待。

in a state处于焦急、激动的状态;处于糟糕、混乱、不整洁的状态

She was in a state when she heard her mother was ill．

听说妈妈病了，她内心焦急不安。

Her clothes were in a state．

她的衣服乱七八糟。

in word，in a word

in word口头上，表面上

Whoever sides with the revolutionary people indeed as well as in word is arevolutionary in the full sense．

如果不仅在口头上而且在行动上也站在革命人民那边，他就是一个完全的革命派。

in a word总而言之，简言之．

In a word，while prospects are bright，the road has twists and turns．

总而言之，前途是光明的，道路是曲折的。

of age，of an age

of age成年，到达法定年龄

John will be of age on his next birthday．

约翰过了下个生日就成年了。

of an age同年，同岁

We are of an age．

我们是同年的。

with child，with a child

with child怀孕

I believe his wife is with child．

我认为他的妻子怀孕了。

with a child带着孩子

She is with a child．

她带着孩子。

draw breath，draw a breath

draw breath喘口气

He was so tired that he had to draw breath for a moment．

他太累了，只得停下来喘气片刻。

draw a breath吸气

He opened the window and drew a breath．

他打开窗子，深深地吸了一口气。

have time，have a time

have time有时间

If I have time，I will help you repair your radio．

如果我有时间，我就帮你修理收音机。

have a time有困难，费力，过得快乐

She had a time trying to get the children to go to bed．

她费了好大的劲才把孩子们哄去睡觉。

She had herself a time going to the movies every Saturday evening．

她很开心，每个星期六晚上都去看电影。

have word，have a word

have word听到消息、新闻

We had word that he was suspended fromhis office．

我们听说他被停职了。

have a word谈一谈

I'll have a word with him in private．

我将私下和他谈一谈。

keep shop，keep a shop

keep shop照管店务

Mr．Green got a friend to keep shop for him while he went to his wife's funeral．

格林先生给妻子送葬时，请了一位朋友为他看店。

keep a shop开店铺，做店主

They keep a shop in Ottawa．

他们在渥太华开了一间店铺。

make note of，make a note of

make note of指出，注意到

He took to being out frequently in the evening，and of course the watchful Esther did not fail to make note of it．

他在晚上经常出去，当然警惕的艾斯特没有忽视这一点。

make a note of记录下来，记下，作笔记

I have made a note of what he said．

我把他讲的记下来了。

take account of，take an account of

take account of考虑，注意，重视

Have you taken account of possible shifts in demand?

你考虑到市场需求可能发生的变化了吗?

take an account of列表，把……登在账上

Our department store takes an account of stock at the end of every month．

我们的百货商店每逢月底都要盘点存货。

take flight，take a flight

take flight逃走

Our troops captured the town before the enemy could take flight．

敌人还未来得及逃走，我军就把这座市镇占领了。take a flight飞走，飞去;飞行

He will take a round-the-world flight．

他将做环球飞行。

take rest，take a rest

take rest睡觉，就寝

His son has taken rest．

他的儿子又睡觉了。

take a rest休息，休息一会

You should take a rest for ten minutes．

你应该休息10分钟。