life
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++life /laɪf/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural lives /laɪvz/) 1 time SB is alive 某人的一生 [countable, uncountable]LIFE the period of time when someone is alive 一生，寿命 Learning goes on throughout life. 学习是一生的事。 You have your whole life ahead of you. 你前面还有漫长的人生呢。in somebody’s life For the first time in my life I was happy. 我人生中第一次感到幸福。 I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life! 我这辈子还从来没有这么尴尬过呢！ I’ve known John all my life (=since I was born). 我从小就认识约翰了。 His main aim in life was to have fun. 他人生的主要目标就是享乐。 It was one of the best days of my life. 那是我一生中最快乐的时光之一。 The accident scarred him for life (=for the rest of his life). 这场事故给他留下了终生的创伤。 She knew she’d feel guilty for the rest of her life. 她知道自己将内疚终生。 Raj spent his life caring for others. 拉杰一辈子都在关爱他人。 Bonington spent his entire adult life in France. 博宁顿成年后就一直在法国生活。 We don’t know much about the poet’s early life (=when he was young). 我们对这位诗人的早年生活所知甚少。 Poor diet can lead to a whole range of diseases in later life (=when you are older). 饮食不良会在晚年引发各种疾病。 She married late in life (=when she was fairly old). 她结婚晚。 He’s a life member (=continuing until he dies) of the club. 他是俱乐部的终身会员。2 state of being alive 活着 [countable, uncountable]LIVING/ALIVE the state of being alive 生，生存；生命 The right to life is the most basic of human rights. 生存权是最基本的人权。 Danny was a cheerful little boy who loved life. 丹尼是一个热爱生命的快乐小男孩。 Two firefighters risked their lives to save the children. 两名消防员冒着生命危险营救这些孩子。3 way SB lives 某人的生活方式 [countable usually singular]LIFE the way you live your life, and what you do and experience during it 生活lead/live/have a ... life The operation should enable Bobby to lead a normal life. 这次手术应该能让博比过上正常的生活。 She just wanted to live a quiet life. 她只是想过平静的生活。 Having a baby changes your life completely. 有了孩子会彻底改变你的生活。 The family moved to Australia to start a new life. 这家人移居澳大利亚，开始新的生活。 Ken’s whole life revolved around surfing (=that was the main interest and purpose of his life). 肯的全部生活都以冲浪为中心。 You shouldn’t let your boyfriend rule your life (=control and affect everything you do). 你不应该让你的男朋友主宰你的生活。 My grandmother had a hard life (=a life full of problems). 我的祖母一生坎坷。 She’s led a very sheltered life (=a life in which you have been protected from unpleasant things). 她过着备受呵护的生活。a life of crime/poverty/misery etc He had been drawn into a life of crime. 他被引上了犯罪的道路。4 particular situation/job 独特的情形/工作 [countable, uncountable]LIFE5 social/personal/sex etc life LIFEthe activities in your life relating to your friends, your family, sex etc 社交/个人/性生活等6 human existence 人的生活 [uncountable]LIVING/ALIVE human existence, considered as a variety of experiences and activities 生活；人生7 time when STH exists/works 某事物的存在期/使用寿命 [countable usually singular]8 living things 生物 [uncountable]9 be somebody’s (whole) life IMPORTANTto be the most important thing or person to someone 是某人的(全部)生活；是某人的生命10 life and death (also life or death)SERIOUS SITUATION used for emphasizing that a situation, decision etc is extremely urgent and important, especially because someone is at risk of dying 生死攸关(的)，决定生死(的)11 game 游戏 [countable] a chance in a game, especially a computer game, in which you can be defeated or do something wrong and can still continue playing 命〔尤指计算机游戏中继续玩下去的机会〕12 BUSY PLACEactivity 活动 [uncountable] activity or movement 生气，生机13 interest/excitement 兴趣/兴奋 [uncountable] a quality of being interesting or exciting 活力；精彩14 come to life/roar into life/splutter into life etc START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETCto suddenly start working 突然开始运作15 make life difficult/easier etc EASYPROBLEMto make it difficult, easier etc to do something 使生活变得困难/较容易等16. the life and soul of the party British English, the life of the party American EnglishENJOY/LIKE DOING something someone who enjoys social occasions and is fun and exciting to be with 社交聚会中最活跃的人17 life and limb formal your life and physical health – used especially when this is threatened in some way 生命，生死安危〔尤用于生命受到某种威胁时〕18 get a life! spoken used to tell someone that you think they are boring and should find more exciting things to do 来点有意思的吧！19 that’s life (also such is life) spokenDISAPPOINTED used to say that something is disappointing but you have to accept it 生活就是这样，这就是生活〔用于表示某事令人失望，但必须接受〕20. life’s a bitch spoken not polite used to say that bad things happen in life 生活真是狗屁21 this is the life spoken used when you are relaxing and doing something you enjoy 这样才是生活，生活就该这样〔用于放松并做自己喜欢的事时〕22 the shock/surprise/game etc of somebody’s life ENJOY/LIKE DOING somethingthe biggest shock or surprise, the best game etc that someone has ever had 某人平生最大的震惊/最大的意外/最出色的比赛等23 how’s life? spoken used to ask someone if they are well, what they have been doing etc 你过得好吗？你生活得怎么样？24 life goes on spoken used to say that you must continue to live a normal life even when something sad or disappointing has happened 生活还得继续25 a life of its own 26 cannot for the life of me spokenCAN'T used to say that you cannot remember or understand something even when you try hard 我拼了命也不能，我怎么也不能〔用于不能记起或理解某事时〕27 life’s too short spoken used to say that you should not waste time doing something or worrying about something 人生苦短，生命太短暂〔用于表示不能浪费时间去做某事或为某事担心〕28 not on your life spokenNO used as a reply to a question or suggestion to say that you definitely will not do something 决不〔用于回答问题或建议〕29 the woman/man/girl etc in your life GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIENDthe woman or man you are married to or are having a relationship with – used especially in advertisements 你生命中的女人/男人/女孩等〔尤用于广告〕30 prison 监狱 [uncountable]SCPUNISH (also life imprisonment) the punishment of being put in prison for the rest of your life 终身监禁，无期徒刑31 art 艺术 [uncountable]AVP when you paint, draw etc something you are looking at, especially a person or animal 写生32 frighten/scare the life out of somebody informal to make someone feel very frightened 把某人吓得魂不附体33. there’s life in the old dog yet spoken used to say that although someone or something is old, they are still able to do something – used humorously 宝刀未老，老当益壮〔幽默用法〕34 live/lead/have the life of Riley informal to have a very easy and comfortable life and not have to work hard 过着安逸的生活35 book/film 书/电影 [uncountable]STORY the story of someone’s life 生平，传记 SYN biography36 the next life (also the life to come, life after death)DIE the time after death, in which some people believe life continues in another form 下辈子，来生 → as large as life at large1(7), → change of life, → for dear life at dear2(6), → double life, → high life at high1(22), → a new lease of life at lease1(2), → quality of life at quality1(5), → real life at real1(3), real-life, → true to life at true1(9), → walk of life COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the state of being alive 生，生存；生命verbssave somebody’s life 救某人的命The money you give will save the life of a child. 你给的这些钱能拯救一个孩子的生命。risk your life 冒生命危险He risked his life to help Jews during the Second World War. 第二次世界大战中他冒着生命危险帮助犹太人。lose your life (=die) 丧生Hundreds of people lost their lives on the first day of the fighting. 战斗第一天就有数百人丧生。take a/sb’s life (=kill someone) 夺去(某人的)生命，杀死某人 All cultures consider it wrong to take a life for no reason. 所有的文化均认为无故剥夺他人生命是错误的。ntake a/somebody’s life (=kill someone)All cultures consider it wrong to take a life for no reason.take your own life (=kill yourself) 自杀，了结自己的生命He was depressed and decided to take his own life. 他意志消沉，决定自杀。claim the life of somebody (=kill someone – used of a thing) 〔某事物〕夺走某人的生命The disease claimed the lives of up to a quarter of the population. 该病已夺走了四分之一人口的生命。cost lives/cost somebody their life (=result in deaths/in someone’s death) 致死/致某人死亡nThat decision may have cost him his life.give your life/lay down your life (=die in order to save other people, or because of a strong belief) 捐躯，献出自己的生命nThese men gave their lives during the war to keep us free.endanger the life of somebody 危及某人的生命nThey wanted to capture the gunman without endangering the lives of his hostages.spare somebody’s life (=not kill someone, when you could kill them) 饶某人的命nShe begged him to spare the life of her son.be fighting for your life (=be so ill or injured that you might die) 与死亡搏斗nOne badly burned man was fighting for his life in hospital.cling to life (=try to stay alive, even though you are very ill or injured) 坚持活下去，努力求生nShe clung to life, despite the pain.phrasesowe your life to somebody (=be still alive because of someone’s actions) 多亏某人相救The victim said he owed his life to the stranger who helped him. 受害人说他能活下来全亏那位陌生人相助。take your life in your hands (=put yourself in a dangerous situation) 玩命，豁出性命nJust crossing this road is taking your life in your hands.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘the cost of life’. Say the cost of living. 不要说 ‘the cost of life’. 而要说 the cost of living.Examples from the Corpus
life• Life can be hard sometimes.• Life in L.A. is exciting.• I'm hoping to win the lottery and live a life of luxury!• He left school at 15, quickly turning to a life of crime.• A Life of Christopher Columbus• Cindy still doesn't know much about life.• Immigrating to the UK was their only chance for a better life.• Debbie has a really busy life, doesn't she?• Every opportunity to maximise the differences between school and college life was seized.• He knew very little about his mother's early life in Africa.• At least Aunt Edith had a happy life.• Dad spent his life building up this business.• Do you believe in life after death?• Do you think there is life on other planets?• Lack of calcium can lead to bone disease in later life.• Mars and Venus this weekend means your love life will start to sparkle.• a baby's first moments of life• By our actions today, we can improve the quality of life for future generations.• I can not say that Dickie ever talked to me about his most personal life.• But she knew Petey was too old for dishonest leaps between the movies and real life.• Boswell's Life of Sanuel Johnson was published in 1791.• This has had a huge effect on children's lives.• An 18-year-old San Jose man clung to life late Wednesday after being shot in the head during a robbery.• We are having a wonderful life, without you.• All your life every man has wanted to be a cowboy.• Having a baby completely changes your life.• How would you like to spend your life? What kind of work would you like to do?all my life• I lived in New York City all my life.• In this regard I have been nothing else all my life.• I love Barry and I feel like I have known him all my life.• I could say that in spite of ties of affection I have been lonely all my life.• The look of her will bother me all my life.• I have been fortunate enough to find myself all my life on the side of tolerance.• My memory of all my life is like that.• Father, Father, I called to you all my life!changes ... life• Small things cause great changes in fragile lives.• Not everyone feels this way, though, mostly because they've taken measures to make changes in their lives.• They know the presence of the Holy Spirit who changes their lives.way of life• Casual dress has become a way of life in corporate Britain.• The reef is indeed a way of life, not a particular kind of creature.• As long as it is not a way of life.• Shopping is an important part of the American way of life.• the American way of life• Of the rest, twenty mentioned various kinds of community-level effects which I would classify as affecting the local way of life.• "How can we abandon our way of life?" asked the old sheep herder. "It's all we know."• Nevertheless it stirred 28,000 ordinary people to write to Lambeth Palace about the way of life they most desired.• What about their way of life?• The basic mechanism that undermines the traditional way of life is the ever increasing number and density of the population.• The islanders whose way of life has been unchallenged.daily/everyday life• Similarly, the sentence-grammarian can not remain immured from the discourse he encounters in his daily life.• Appreciate the use made of percentages in everyday life.• The artist portrayed images of daily life in his native town of Ocotlan with vivid colors, surrealism and magical realism.• Such murders were becoming part of daily life in El Salvador.• This is the reality of everyday life.• Culturally dominant and playing a pervasive role in the everyday life of élite and masses alike, it wielded enormous influence.• National character supposedly reflects the everyday life that finds its way into the culture.• Will the daily lives of these people be improved through this project?life of• What's the average life of a passenger airplane?• The interest rate varies over the life of the loan.sign of life• Even when all sign of life had gone I kept on feeling itchy.• There are signs of life above the snow, too.• A flock was once thought to be a decisive sign of life, some noble formation only life could achieve.• Here are inchoate signs of life, but not as we know it, Jim.• After the bout in which I intimated signs of life, I came through the ropes, smiling.• It was Hilda Machin, and there was no sign of life.• There was no sign of life.• I looked around for the slightest sign of life.sign of life• Even when all sign of life had gone I kept on feeling itchy.• There are signs of life above the snow, too.• A flock was once thought to be a decisive sign of life, some noble formation only life could achieve.• Here are inchoate signs of life, but not as we know it, Jim.• After the bout in which I intimated signs of life, I came through the ropes, smiling.• It was Hilda Machin, and there was no sign of life.• There was no sign of life.• I looked around for the slightest sign of life.came to life• Another man-ape came to life, and went through the same routine.• Everything came to life in the summer with the warm weather and long days.• The platform, which had become rather glazed during Mrs de Crespigny's harangue, came to life.• At that moment Hilda came to life.• Alfred more or less came to life at this.• Then they turned a crank on its side and the little radio came to life.• But for her the phantom baby that came to life dancing in her fantasy was a baffling problem.• They came to life and leapt out of their hiding places in little pots.life drawing• Conté Carres crayons are well known and very popular, especially for life drawing.• I think attending an evening class in life drawing helped me overcome this hurdle.• Stephen Conroy and I had the same tutor, Geoff Squires, and maybe he's a model for our life drawing.• In the life drawing classes it was hard to get a seat and many sat on the windowsills.• She felt that she would like to take up life drawing.nLife trademark na former US magazine known for having many interesting photographs of different places around the world. It stopped being published in 2007.From Longman Business Dictionarylifelife /laɪf/ noun (plural lives /laɪvz/) [countable]1the period of time during which something takes place or existsindustrial products used during the life of a mining operationThe rate of interest is often subsidized and fixed for the life of the loan.2the period of time during which something is still good enough to use, fresh enough to eat etclife ofOur general purpose machinery has an estimated useful life of 80,000 running hours.Castrol GTX2 oil has been specially formulated to prolong the life of catalytic converters.3service/working life the period of time during which a person worksThe average remaining service life of employees at the end of the last financial year was 10 years.Managers may spend as much as 50% of their working lives engaged in meetings.4for life until a person’s death, or until the end of their working lifeThe balance of the pension fund is used for an annuity giving a guaranteedincome for life.Few people can count on having a job for life.Origin life Old English lif Business the Corpus alive time when of period someone is
Life
Life
trademark
a former US magazine known for having many interesting photographs of different places around the world. It stopped being published in 2007.
Life
trademarka former US magazine known for having many interesting photographs of different places around the world. It stopped being published in 2007.
life
life S1 W1 /laɪf/ noun (plural lives /laɪvz/)
Learning goes on throughout life.
You have your whole life ahead of you.
in sb’s life
For the first time in my life I was happy.
I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life!
I’ve known John all my life (=since I was born).
His main aim in life was to have fun.
It was one of the best days of my life.
The accident scarred him for life (=for the rest of his life).
She knew she’d feel guilty for the rest of her life.
Raj spent his life caring for others.
Bonington spent his entire adult life in France.
We don’t know much about the poet’s early life (=when he was young).
Poor diet can lead to a whole range of diseases in later life (=when you are older).
She married late in life (=when she was fairly old).
He’s a life member (=continuing until he dies) of the club.
2. STATE OF BEING ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the state of being alive:
The right to life is the most basic of human rights.
Danny was a cheerful little boy who loved life.
Two firefighters risked their lives to save the children.
3. WAY SOMEBODY LIVES [countable usually singular] the way you live your life, and what you do and experience during it
lead/live/have a ... life
The operation should enable Bobby to lead a normal life.
She just wanted to live a quiet life.
Having a baby changes your life completely.
The family moved to Australia to start a new life.
Ken’s whole life revolved around surfing (=that was the main interest and purpose of his life).
You shouldn’t let your boyfriend rule your life (=control and affect everything you do).
My grandmother had a hard life (=a life full of problems).
She’s led a very sheltered life (=a life in which you have been protected from unpleasant things).
a life of crime/poverty/misery etc
He had been drawn into a life of crime.
4. PARTICULAR SITUATION/JOB [uncountable and countable]
a. the experiences, activities, and ways of living that are typical of being in a particular job, situation, society etc:
Why do so few women enter political life?
the British way of life
city/country/village etc life
Noise has become one of the main pollutants of modern city life.
army/student/college etc life
He missed the routine of army life.
Are you enjoying married life?
b. the time in your life when you are doing a particular job, are in a particular situation etc
sb’s life as something
Now a celebrity chef, he rarely talks about his life as an army cook.
Sara admits to having affairs throughout her married life.
Most of his working life was spent in the shipyards.
5. social/personal/sex etc life the activities in your life relating to your friends, your family, sex etc:
I don’t need advice about my love life.
traditional views of family life
Children need a caring and happy home life.
6. HUMAN EXISTENCE [uncountable] human existence, considered as a variety of experiences and activities:
My Aunt Julia had very little experience of life.
Life has a way of changing the best of plans.
For some people, religion gives life a meaning.
daily/everyday life
the frustrations and disappointments of everyday life
I try to see the funny side of life.
7. TIME WHEN SOMETHING EXISTS/WORKS [countable usually singular]
a. the period of time during which something happens or exists
life of
The issues will not be resolved during the life of the present parliament.
start/begin/come to life as something
The building began life as a monastery.
b. the period of time during which something is still good enough to use
life of
What’s the average life of a passenger aircraft?
Careful use can extend the life of your washing machine. ⇨ shelf life
8. LIVING THINGS [uncountable]
a. the quality of being alive that people, animals, plants etc have and that objects and dead things do not have:
Ben felt her neck for a pulse or any other sign of life.
In the springtime, everything comes to life again.
b. living things, such as people, animals, or plants:
Is there life on other planets?
human/animal/plant/bird etc life
The island is rich in bird life. ⇨ wildlife
9. be sb’s (whole) life to be the most important thing or person to someone:
Music is Laura’s whole life.
10. life and death (also life or death) used for emphasizing that a situation, decision etc is extremely urgent and important, especially because someone is at risk of dying:
Don’t call me unless it’s a matter of life and death.
a life or death decision
A doctor’s job involves life and death situations.
11. GAME [countable] a chance in a game, especially a computer game, in which you can be defeated or do something wrong and can still continue playing:
He’s up to level five and still has three lives left.
12. ACTIVITY [uncountable] activity or movement:
The house was quiet and there was no sign of life.
She was always so cheerful and full of life.
13. INTEREST/EXCITEMENT [uncountable] a quality of being interesting or exciting:
Try to put some life into your writing.
The game really came to life after a magnificent goal from Rooney.
A gifted teacher can really bring literature to life for his or her students.
14. come to life/roar into life/splutter into life etc to suddenly start working:
Finally the car spluttered into life.
15. make life difficult/easier etc to make it difficult, easier etc to do something:
Surely computers are supposed to make life easier, not more complicated!
make life difficult/easier etc for
Why make life difficult for yourself?
16. the life and soul of the party British English, the life of the party American English someone who enjoys social occasions and is fun and exciting to be with
17. life and limb formal your life and physical health – used especially when this is threatened in some way:
She risks life and limb every day in her job as an undercover investigator.
18. get a life! spoken used to tell someone that you think they are boring and should find more exciting things to do:
You guys should just stop moaning and get a life!
19. that’s life (also such is life) spoken used to say that something is disappointing but you have to accept it:
Oh well, that’s life!
20. life’s a bitch spoken not polite used to say that bad things happen in life
21. this is the life spoken used when you are relaxing and doing something you enjoy:
Ah, this is the life! Lying on the beach, sipping cool drinks.
22. the shock/surprise/game etc of sb’s life the biggest shock or surprise, the best game etc that someone has ever had:
I had the surprise of my life when I saw John standing there. ⇨ have the time of your life at time1(41)
23. how’s life? spoken used to ask someone if they are well, what they have been doing etc:
Hi Bob! How’s life?
How’s life been with you?
24. life goes on spoken used to say that you must continue to live a normal life even when something sad or disappointing has happened:
We both miss him, but life goes on.
25. a life of its own
a. if something has a life of its own, it seems to move or work by itself:
The ball seemed to have acquired a life of its own.
b. if something has a life of its own, it exists and develops without depending on other things:
Slowly but surely, the project is taking on a life of its own.
26. cannot for the life of me spoken used to say that you cannot remember or understand something even when you try hard:
I couldn’t for the life of me remember his name.
27. life’s too short spoken used to say that you should not waste time doing something or worrying about something:
Forget about it. Life’s too short.
life’s too short for
Life’s too short for moping about.
life’s too short to do something
Life’s too short to bear grudges.
28. not on your life spoken used as a reply to a question or suggestion to say that you definitely will not do something:
‘Are you going to go and work for him then?’ ‘Not on your life!’
29. the woman/man/girl etc in your life the woman or man you are married to or are having a relationship with – used especially in advertisements:
This is the ideal gift for the man in your life.
30. PRISON [uncountable] (also life imprisonment) the punishment of being put in prison for the rest of your life
be sentenced to/get/be given life
He was sentenced to life for the murder.
I think she should get life. ⇨ life sentence, lifer
31. ART [uncountable] when you paint, draw etc something you are looking at, especially a person or animal:
She’s taking classes in life drawing. ⇨ still life
32. frighten/scare the life out of somebody informal to make someone feel very frightened:
Don’t do that! You scared the life out of me!
33. there’s life in the old dog yet spoken used to say that although someone or something is old, they are still able to do something – used humorously
34. live/lead/have the life of Riley informal to have a very easy and comfortable life and not have to work hard:
He spends all day lounging by the pool and living the life of Riley.
35. BOOK/FILM [uncountable] the story of someone’s life
SYN biography:
Boswell’s ‘Life of Johnson’
36. the next life (also the life to come), life after death the time after death, in which some people believe life continues in another form:
She expects to meet her dead husband in the next life.
⇨ as large as life at large1(7), ⇨ change of life, ⇨ for dear life at dear3(6), ⇨ double life, ⇨ high life at high1(22), ⇨ a new lease of life at lease1(2), ⇨ quality of life at quality1(5), ⇨ real life at real1(3), ⇨ real-life, ⇨ true to life at true1(9), ⇨ walk of life
■ verbs
▪save sb’s life The money you give will save the life of a child.
▪risk your life He risked his life to help Jews during the Second World War.
▪lose your life (=die) Hundreds of people lost their lives on the first day of the fighting.
▪take a/sb’s life (=kill someone) All cultures consider it wrong to take a life for no reason.
▪take your own life (=kill yourself) He was depressed and decided to take his own life.
▪claim the life of somebody (=kill someone – used of a thing) The disease claimed the lives of up to a quarter of the population.
▪cost lives/cost somebody their life (=result in deaths/in someone’s death) That decision may have cost him his life.
▪give your life/lay down your life (=die in order to save other people, or because of a strong belief) These men gave their lives during the war to keep us free.
▪endanger the life of somebody They wanted to capture the gunman without endangering the lives of his hostages.
▪spare sb’s life (=not kill someone, when you could kill them) She begged him to spare the life of her son.
▪be fighting for your life (=be so ill or injured that you might die) One badly burned man was fighting for his life in hospital.
▪cling to life (=try to stay alive, even though you are very ill or injured) She clung to life, despite the pain.
■ phrases
▪owe your life to somebody (=be still alive because of someone’s actions) The victim said he owed his life to the stranger who helped him.
▪take your life in your hands (=put yourself in a dangerous situation) Just crossing this road is taking your life in your hands.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'the cost of life'. Say the cost of living.
life S1 W1 /laɪf/
noun (plural lives /laɪvz/) Word Family: noun: life, lifelessness, lifer; adjective: lifeless, lifelike, lifelong; adverb: lifelessly
Language: Old English
Origin: lif
1. TIME SOMEBODY IS ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the period of time when someone is alive:Origin: lif
in sb’s life
2. STATE OF BEING ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the state of being alive:
3. WAY SOMEBODY LIVES [countable usually singular] the way you live your life, and what you do and experience during it
lead/live/have a ... life
a life of crime/poverty/misery etc
4. PARTICULAR SITUATION/JOB [uncountable and countable]
a. the experiences, activities, and ways of living that are typical of being in a particular job, situation, society etc:
city/country/village etc life
army/student/college etc life
b. the time in your life when you are doing a particular job, are in a particular situation etc
sb’s life as something
5. social/personal/sex etc life the activities in your life relating to your friends, your family, sex etc:
6. HUMAN EXISTENCE [uncountable] human existence, considered as a variety of experiences and activities:
daily/everyday life
7. TIME WHEN SOMETHING EXISTS/WORKS [countable usually singular]
a. the period of time during which something happens or exists
life of
start/begin/come to life as something
b. the period of time during which something is still good enough to use
life of
8. LIVING THINGS [uncountable]
a. the quality of being alive that people, animals, plants etc have and that objects and dead things do not have:
b. living things, such as people, animals, or plants:
human/animal/plant/bird etc life
9. be sb’s (whole) life to be the most important thing or person to someone:
10. life and death (also life or death) used for emphasizing that a situation, decision etc is extremely urgent and important, especially because someone is at risk of dying:
11. GAME [countable] a chance in a game, especially a computer game, in which you can be defeated or do something wrong and can still continue playing:
12. ACTIVITY [uncountable] activity or movement:
13. INTEREST/EXCITEMENT [uncountable] a quality of being interesting or exciting:
14. come to life/roar into life/splutter into life etc to suddenly start working:
15. make life difficult/easier etc to make it difficult, easier etc to do something:
make life difficult/easier etc for
16. the life and soul of the party British English, the life of the party American English someone who enjoys social occasions and is fun and exciting to be with
17. life and limb formal your life and physical health – used especially when this is threatened in some way:
18. get a life! spoken used to tell someone that you think they are boring and should find more exciting things to do:
19. that’s life (also such is life) spoken used to say that something is disappointing but you have to accept it:
20. life’s a bitch spoken not polite used to say that bad things happen in life
21. this is the life spoken used when you are relaxing and doing something you enjoy:
22. the shock/surprise/game etc of sb’s life the biggest shock or surprise, the best game etc that someone has ever had:
23. how’s life? spoken used to ask someone if they are well, what they have been doing etc:
24. life goes on spoken used to say that you must continue to live a normal life even when something sad or disappointing has happened:
25. a life of its own
a. if something has a life of its own, it seems to move or work by itself:
b. if something has a life of its own, it exists and develops without depending on other things:
26. cannot for the life of me spoken used to say that you cannot remember or understand something even when you try hard:
27. life’s too short spoken used to say that you should not waste time doing something or worrying about something:
life’s too short for
life’s too short to do something
28. not on your life spoken used as a reply to a question or suggestion to say that you definitely will not do something:
29. the woman/man/girl etc in your life the woman or man you are married to or are having a relationship with – used especially in advertisements:
30. PRISON [uncountable] (also life imprisonment) the punishment of being put in prison for the rest of your life
be sentenced to/get/be given life
31. ART [uncountable] when you paint, draw etc something you are looking at, especially a person or animal:
32. frighten/scare the life out of somebody informal to make someone feel very frightened:
33. there’s life in the old dog yet spoken used to say that although someone or something is old, they are still able to do something – used humorously
34. live/lead/have the life of Riley informal to have a very easy and comfortable life and not have to work hard:
35. BOOK/FILM [uncountable] the story of someone’s life
SYN biography:
36. the next life (also the life to come), life after death the time after death, in which some people believe life continues in another form:
⇨ as large as life at large1(7), ⇨ change of life, ⇨ for dear life at dear3(6), ⇨ double life, ⇨ high life at high1(22), ⇨ a new lease of life at lease1(2), ⇨ quality of life at quality1(5), ⇨ real life at real1(3), ⇨ real-life, ⇨ true to life at true1(9), ⇨ walk of life
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■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'the cost of life'. Say the cost of living.
Animals 动物
animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth) 动物交配／繁育／繁殖／以…为食 fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)鱼／两栖动物游动／产卵 birds fly/migrate/nest/sing 鸟飞翔／迁徙／筑巢／啼叫 insects crawl/fly/bite/sting 昆虫爬／飞／咬／叮 insects/bees/locusts swarm 昆虫／蜜蜂／蝗虫成群地飞来飞去 bees collect/gather nectar/pollen蜜蜂采蜜／花粉 spiders spin/weave a web蜘蛛结网／织网 snakes/lizards shed their skins 蛇／蜥蜴蜕皮 bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate 熊／刺猬／青蛙冬眠 insect larvae grow/develop/pupate 昆虫的幼虫生长／发育／化蛹 an egg/a chick/a larva hatches 卵孵化；小鸡出壳；幼虫孵出 attract/find/choose a mate吸引／找到／选择配偶 produce/release eggs/sperm产卵；排卵；产生／释放精子 lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs产卵；使卵受精；孵卵 inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast栖居于森林／礁石／海岸 mark/enter/defend (a) territory标出／进入／保卫领地 stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey悄悄接近／猎杀／捕获／杀死猎物
Plants and fungi 植物和真菌
trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower 树木／植物生长／开花 a seed germinates/sprouts 种子发芽 leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form 叶子／花蕾／根茎／幼苗长出来／长大／成形 flower buds swell/open 花蕾含苞欲放／绽放 a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth 菌类生长／扩散／长满… pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant给花／植物授粉 produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores长出／传播花粉／种子／孢子 produce/bear fruit结果 develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves长出根茎／嫩芽／叶子 provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients提供／吸收／提取／释放营养物 perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis进行／增加／减少光合作用
Bacteria and viruses 细菌和病毒
bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply 细菌／微生物／病毒生长／扩散／繁殖 bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth细菌／微生物在…中存活／大量生长 bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease 细菌／微生物／病毒进化／长满…／引发疾病 bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth) 细菌（将某物）分解／转化（成某物） a virus enters/invades sth/the body病毒进入／侵入某物／身体 a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself) 病毒变异／演化／（自我）复制 be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria感染上／接触到一种新病毒／抗药性细菌 contain/carry/harbour/ ( especially
harbor bacteria/a virus带有细菌／病毒 kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria杀灭有害的／致命的细菌
often
Animals 动物
animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth) 动物交配／繁育／繁殖／以…为食 fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)鱼／两栖动物游动／产卵 birds fly/migrate/nest/sing 鸟飞翔／迁徙／筑巢／啼叫 insects crawl/fly/bite/sting 昆虫爬／飞／咬／叮 insects/bees/locusts swarm 昆虫／蜜蜂／蝗虫成群地飞来飞去 bees collect/gather nectar/pollen蜜蜂采蜜／花粉 spiders spin/weave a web蜘蛛结网／织网 snakes/lizards shed their skins 蛇／蜥蜴蜕皮 bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate 熊／刺猬／青蛙冬眠 insect larvae grow/develop/pupate 昆虫的幼虫生长／发育／化蛹 an egg/a chick/a larva hatches 卵孵化；小鸡出壳；幼虫孵出 attract/find/choose a mate吸引／找到／选择配偶 produce/release eggs/sperm产卵；排卵；产生／释放精子 lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs产卵；使卵受精；孵卵 inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast栖居于森林／礁石／海岸 mark/enter/defend (a) territory标出／进入／保卫领地 stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey悄悄接近／猎杀／捕获／杀死猎物
Plants and fungi 植物和真菌
trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower 树木／植物生长／开花 a seed germinates/sprouts 种子发芽 leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form 叶子／花蕾／根茎／幼苗长出来／长大／成形 flower buds swell/open 花蕾含苞欲放／绽放 a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth 菌类生长／扩散／长满… pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant给花／植物授粉 produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores长出／传播花粉／种子／孢子 produce/bear fruit结果 develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves长出根茎／嫩芽／叶子 provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients提供／吸收／提取／释放营养物 perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis进行／增加／减少光合作用
Bacteria and viruses 细菌和病毒
bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply 细菌／微生物／病毒生长／扩散／繁殖 bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth细菌／微生物在…中存活／大量生长 bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease 细菌／微生物／病毒进化／长满…／引发疾病 bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth) 细菌（将某物）分解／转化（成某物） a virus enters/invades sth/the body病毒进入／侵入某物／身体 a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself) 病毒变异／演化／（自我）复制 be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria感染上／接触到一种新病毒／抗药性细菌 contain/carry/harbour/ ( especially
harbor bacteria/a virus带有细菌／病毒 kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria杀灭有害的／致命的细菌