| 释义 |
ˈlook out, look-out
Pl. look-outs, rarely looks out.
[f. vbl. phr. look out: see look v. 40.]
1. The action (occas. the faculty or the duty) of looking out. lit. and fig. Chiefly in phrases to keep (rarely to take) a (good, etc.) look-out; to be, place, put on or upon the look out; const. for, to, and to with inf.; orig. Naut.
1748Anson's Voy. iii. vi. 346 We..kept a good look-out for the rocks of Vele Rete. c1760S. Niles in 3 Mass. Hist. Coll. (1837) VI. 161 They were upon the constant look-out and had two forts not far distant from thence. 1766Brice in Phil. Trans. LVI. 67, I wished to put other people upon the look-out. 1768Goldsm. Good-n. Man ii. Wks. (Globe) 622/2, I think if anything was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look-out as another. 17..Wilkes Corr. (1805) III. 81 He..keeps a very good look-out to futurity. 1815Sporting Mag. XLVI. 4 The gamekeeper of Mr. Blundell was upon the look-out for poachers. 1849W. Irving Crayon Misc. 192 At one time, in crossing a hill, Beatte..took a look-out, like a mariner from the mast-head at sea. c1860H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 85 You are placed on the look out. 1864Bowen Logic i. 26 Anything new or peculiar..puts us upon the lookout to detect a possible absurdity. 1875Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. iii. (ed. 2) 57 The very great majority of collisions happen through bad look-out and neglect to show lights. 1883Stevenson Treas. Isl. ii. x, We were running down for it with a bright look-out day and night. 1887Pall Mall G. 3 Aug. 2/2 In these ships the men go from look-out to wheel, from wheel to look-out. 1894J. Knight D. Garrick ii. 21 He had been on the look-out for such information.
2. In various concrete applications.
a. A station or building from which a look-out can be kept. orig. Naut.
1700S. Carolina Stat. at Large (1837) II. 161 The Look-out formerly built on Sullivan's Island..is by a late storm overthrown to the ground. 1766W. Stork Acc. E. Florida 33 To the back part of the house is joined a tower, called in America a look-out, from which there is an extensive prospect towards the sea. 1791Bentham Panopt. i. 145 A Look-out or Exterior Inspection-Lodge. 1855Longfellow Hiaw. xix. 5 Another vulture, watching From his high aerial look-out. 1861J. Edkins in Chinese Scenes and People (1883) 271 It is now used as a site for a high look-out by the rebels. 1893F. Adams New Egypt 244 A battery of four guns, with a telegraph station and look-out attached. 1935A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 73/1 Look-out, gambling house employee who observes the bets of players and the pay-off of dealers for regulatory purposes. 1961Canada Month 6 Oct. 42/3 However, the forestry people want money to buy greater preparedness through more lookouts, men, planes and equipment.
b. A person employed to keep a look-out; a watchman, scout; a party of men so employed. Also, see quot. 1889.
1699Cowley Voy. (1729) 12 We took their look-outs who told us the news. 1720De Foe Capt. Singleton xiv. (1840) 240 We..kept a look-out upon the hill. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xiv. 35 One man on deck as a look-out. 1872Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann., Apr. 266/2 The ‘Cambria’ sailed..with looks-out at her mast-heads. 1881Daily Tel. 24 Feb., Those aboard are divided into three look-outs, giving each look-out four hours on deck and eight hours below. 1888Century Mag. Feb. 498/2 These lookouts or forerunners having returned, the herds are set in motion as early in the spring as may be. 1889Farmer Americanisms, Look-out, an attendant who, at the gaming-table, is supposed to see that matters are conducted fairly. 1893Harper's Mag. May 939/2 By each dealer's side sits the ‘lookout’..lazily looking on in the interests of such fair play as is consistent with professional gambling. 1955J. S. Gowland Smoke over Sikanaska 16 The look-out had to be an expert woodsman, be able to read meteorological instruments, have an excellent degree of physical fitness and good eyesight.
c. A reconnoitring boat or vessel.
1761Descr. S. Carolina 36 Eight Look-outs, which are also laid aside. 1841J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk II. 203 Ere the channel was full enough for the look-outs to intercept her.
3. A more or less distant view; a prospect.
1779H. Swinburne Trav. Spain xxiii. 184 This leads to a little tower..The look-out charming. 1842F. Trollope Visit Italy II. xi. 199 A walk through the Villa Reale..seemed..to promise advantageous look-outs without end. 1883Eng. Illustr. Mag. Nov. 68/2 The traveller feels weary and disgusted with the ugliness of the look-out.
b. In immaterial sense: A prospect or prospective condition, an outlook.
c1825Houlston Tracts II. No. 47. 2 It was bad already with them, and a worse look out. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop xix, ‘He's going at the knees.’ ‘That's a bad look-out.’ 1886Times (weekly ed.) 6 Aug. 13/3 The look-out for the shooting-season is satisfactory. 1889‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xxxv, It seemed a rather blue look-out.
4.
†a. An object of desire (obs.).
b. With possessive n. or pron., that is ―'s look-out: i.e. the matter concerns only his interest, which others are not bound to consider if he neglects it.
1795Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) I. 45 The loaves and fishes are all the look out. 1844Dickens Mart. Chuz. xxvii, If he took it into his head that I was coming here for such or such a purpose, why, that's his look-out. 1858R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma xix. 63 That however is more the Earl's look-out than ours. 1884Sir F. North in Law Times Rep. LII. 51 The result would be that a less price would be got, but that is the vendor's look out.
5. attrib., as look-out-boat, look out-man, look out-ship, etc.
1781T. Jefferson Corr. Wks. 1859 I. 301 *Look-out boats have been ordered from the seaboard of the eastern shore.
1798Capt. Moss in Naval Chron. (1799) I. 248 Our *look-out canoes have watched them.
1860G. H. K. in Vac. Tour. 123 The deer..save the hinds a great deal of *look⁓out duty.
1806A. Duncan Nelson 177 The Swedish squadron had been seen by the *look-out frigates.
1835Court Mag. VI. 64/1 Over these ruins towered a tall *look-out house.
1830Marryat King's Own xxx, The *look-out men at the mastheads.
1884Mil. Engineering (ed. 3) I. ii. 41 A ‘*look-out’ place for noting the effect of the fire..should be constructed.
1834–47J. S. Macaulay Field Fortif. (1851) 272 Where to place videttes, *look-out posts, or telegraphs.
1804Capt. Dance in Naval Chron. XII. 138, I recalled the *look-out Ships.
1872Baker Nile Tribut. xv. 264, I ordered some of my men every day to ascend this *look-out station.
1748Anson's Voy. ii. xii. 259 On..some small eminences there are several *look-out towers.
1897R. Baden-Powell in Daily News 23 Apr. 6/2 Up on the roof of the hall is a *look-out turret. |