| 释义 |
Definition of about in English: aboutpreposition əˈbaʊtəˈbaʊt 1On the subject of; concerning. a book about ancient Greece it's all about having fun Example sentencesExamples - Today I would like to tell you a little more about what is involved and what I do.
- He suggests that such evasiveness often occurs because of concerns about giving away the plot.
- I am mostly concerned about the amount of exhaust fumes we are being subjected to.
- As far as Basques who are not too fussed about their food are concerned, using a recipe book is cheating.
- There is much more to say about this subject, but that has to wait for another time.
- In America, the book has chimed with concern about corruption in the Catholic Church.
- Why write a scientific book about a subject best left to poets and songwriters?
- This is a subject of modern concern about which classical Buddhist sources have little to say.
- It's a good kids and adult cartoon book, all about the triumph of good over evil.
- Good biopics struggle to present a truth, if not the truth, about their subjects.
- Even if you don't know about the subject matter, you can apply the generic skills to any business.
- This is the only reason that should be regarded when talking about this subject.
- What we will have to settle for, at best, is a frank debate about some of the subjects raised by Mind the Gap.
- Yet this is not all - the nature and placing of these units can say a lot about your intentions.
- So impassioned am I about Croydon that I have put together a poetry book all about it.
- It quickly came in the form of a book on the subject, Girls Night In, or rather an article about the book.
- That letter set out at some length Mr Carroll's concerns about a number of subjects.
- However a spokesman for the firm declined to give any information about its intentions.
- It is really immaterial how much we are promised about the good intentions of the new owners.
- I'm not too concerned about the exam, just looking forwards to getting it over and done with.
Synonyms regarding, concerning, with reference to, referring to, with regard to, with respect to, respecting, relating to, on, touching on, dealing with, relevant to, with relevance to, connected with, in connection with, on the subject of, in the matter of, apropos, re Scottish anent - 1.1 So as to affect.
there's nothing we can do about it Example sentencesExamples - Stephanie says that unless she did something about her weight, she would just carry on piling on the pounds.
- The system is rubbish, but there's nothing I can do about that.
- The argument now is about how badly we will be affected and whether it is too late to do anything about it.
- We now have a better understanding as to why the firm is not accelerating in a growing marketplace, and what it is doing about it.
- But what caused the cancer in the first place, and what can we do about it?
2British Used to indicate movement within a particular area. she looked about the room Example sentencesExamples - I paused, gazing about the room, watching carefully for any sign of movement.
- They strolled about the gardens, enjoying the beautiful day.
- While some men can wander about a hardware store for an hour, I can kill 60 minutes or more in a kitchen supply place.
- I should like to walk about my city again without being subjected to foul-mouthed racist abuse.
- He paused, looked about himself for a moment, and sighed.
Synonyms around, round, throughout, over, through, all over, in all parts of, on every side of, encircling, surrounding here and there, everywhere 3British Used to express location in a particular place. rugs were strewn about the hall he produced a knife from somewhere about his person Example sentencesExamples - Residents near the play area are being disturbed by noise, and beer cans have been left about the area.
Synonyms around, in circulation, in existence, current, going on, prevailing, prevalent, widespread, pervasive, endemic, happening, in the air, abroad - 3.1 Used to describe a quality apparent in a person.
there was a look about her that said everything Example sentencesExamples - He was friendly, with a gentle way about him and the wisdom that came with age.
- Seen from the air in the lemony light of dawn, the place has an almost mystical quality about it.
- There was a film noir quality about that piece of managerial advice, and it fitted the times.
- The girl's eyes had a blank look about them.
- The French veteran has a grace about his movement which seems to mesmerise opponents.
adverb əˈbaʊtəˈbaʊt 1British Used to indicate movement within an area. men were floundering about Example sentencesExamples - A small space was fenced off so that the lion could move about, unhindered.
- The day was too warm and too nice for rushing about.
- You go in feet first - there's enough room to move about and then come out head first.
- They emptied the pool of its water by splashing about and then threw toys and sand into it.
- What does swimming about and spontaneously singing bits of the Batman theme song mean?
Synonyms around, here and there, to and fro, back and forth, from place to place, hither and thither, in every direction, in all directions, abroad 2British Used to express location in a particular place. there was a lot of flu about Example sentencesExamples - Houdini relied on great skill, low cunning, and keeping tiny metal picklocks concealed about his person.
- The site was overgrown and there was refuse strewn about the area.
- I have friends scattered about Australia.
- She looked inside to find the contents scattered about and then heard noises upstairs.
- She had scars all about her body and face.
- Couches, armchairs and tables were scattered about the place.
Synonyms near, nearby, around, about the place, hereabouts, not far off/away, close by, in the vicinity, in the neighbourhood, at hand, within reach, on the doorstep, (just) around the corner 3(used with a number or quantity) approximately. reduced by about 5 per cent Example sentencesExamples - Arab traders took Islam to the area in about the twelfth century, possibly even earlier.
- They held up movements for about eight hours and the road was effectively closed.
- A lot of us got out and waited for the emergency services, who arrived within about ten minutes.
- Plane Tree Grove is a residential area about a quarter of a mile from the airport.
- I spent about twenty minutes reading the wrong manual until JoAnn tactfully pointed out the mistake.
- I get about five emails per day from them.
- I read the graphic and then saw the film all within about a week of each other.
Synonyms approximately, roughly, around, round about, in the neighbourhood/region of, in the area of, of the order of, something like or so, or thereabouts, there or thereabouts, more or less, give or take a few, not far off British getting on for Latin circa informal as near as dammit North American informal in the ballpark of
Phrases There is little more involved or worth mentioning. he had flashes of brilliance, but that's about it I like to read, write, and sing. That's about it Example sentencesExamples - The laser fights are cool, but that's about it.
- I got five points for speaking English and that's about it.
- He said his events honor good parents and that's about it.
- He cares about big business but that's about it.
- There will be spot checks, but that's about it.
Intend to do something, or be close to doing something, very soon. the ceremony was about to begin Example sentencesExamples - The Government is about to close the door and stop all new referrals from receiving these drugs.
- Gavin is about to begin a music course at college and hopes to become a session musician when he graduates.
- The council is about to begin consultation with residents on the options for council tax.
- As the elevator doors were about to close, someone pushed the open button outside.
- They may be used to control symptoms in women who are close to the menopause for whom symptoms may soon be about to improve anyway.
- Nicol easily controlled the next two games, and seemed to be about to close out the match.
- The first major battle over public sector pensions could be about to begin.
- We showed up at the barn right when they were about to begin milking the cows.
- I had been about to close the door, but I stopped, afraid that the noise it would make would be disruptive.
- He leaps aboard and the most extraordinary adventure of his young life is about to begin.
Synonyms going to, ready to, all set to, preparing to, intending to, soon to
be not about to do something Be unwilling to do something. he is not about to step down after so long Example sentencesExamples - Ireland were not about to ease off, and emphasised the point with Henderson's dramatic arrival in midfield.
- I quickly left the midges behind but they were not about to give up and descending into Tarsaughaun, I could hear the hum at fifty yards.
- Skipton Girls' High School twins Louise and Charlotte Cobb were not about to let one outdo the other - both achieved five grade As at A-level.
- The problem was that Standard Life, the former owners of the shopping centre, said they were not about to spend any money removing this blot on the townscape.
- The major telecoms companies and the raft of Internet companies suddenly found themselves faced with massive balance sheet deficits and fantasy profits that were not about to materialise.
- More than 100 residents in Greenhithe were pushed too far and showed they were more than a force to be reckoned with and they were not about to be steam-rolled.
- People backed the president, because they wanted to back his patriotic effort, and they were not about to throw a wartime president out of office during a war.
- They seemed content to sit back and invite Arsenal to come on to them, and the league leaders were not about to spurn the invitation.
- Luckily however, her mother and neighbours were not about to give up on the notion and warned her that if she didn't enter, they'd do it for her!
- Mr Laurence Howard, spokesperson for the Erris Action Group explained to the Western People that the people of Erris were not about to be put off by the law.
informal Be sensible, self-possessed, and aware of how to deal with difficult situations. don't go to the Congo without knowing what you're about Example sentencesExamples - In time the truth will emerge but to win big contracts you have to know what you are about.
- But, now you are here, may I ask if you know what you are about?
- That's the key, you need to know what you are about.
- He knew early on what he was about.
Origin Old English onbūtan, from on 'in, on' + būtan 'outside of' (see but2). Rhymes bout, clout, devout, doubt, down-and-out, drought, flout, gout, grout, knout, lout, mahout, misdoubt, nowt, out, out-and-out, owt, pout, Prout, right about, rout, scout, shout, snout, spout, sprout, stout, thereabout, thereout, throughout, timeout, tout, trout, way-out, without Definition of about in US English: aboutprepositionəˈboutəˈbaʊt 1On the subject of; concerning. it's all about having fun an article about yellow fever Example sentencesExamples - It quickly came in the form of a book on the subject, Girls Night In, or rather an article about the book.
- So impassioned am I about Croydon that I have put together a poetry book all about it.
- However a spokesman for the firm declined to give any information about its intentions.
- There is much more to say about this subject, but that has to wait for another time.
- What we will have to settle for, at best, is a frank debate about some of the subjects raised by Mind the Gap.
- This is a subject of modern concern about which classical Buddhist sources have little to say.
- Today I would like to tell you a little more about what is involved and what I do.
- Yet this is not all - the nature and placing of these units can say a lot about your intentions.
- I am mostly concerned about the amount of exhaust fumes we are being subjected to.
- Even if you don't know about the subject matter, you can apply the generic skills to any business.
- It's a good kids and adult cartoon book, all about the triumph of good over evil.
- He suggests that such evasiveness often occurs because of concerns about giving away the plot.
- Good biopics struggle to present a truth, if not the truth, about their subjects.
- That letter set out at some length Mr Carroll's concerns about a number of subjects.
- As far as Basques who are not too fussed about their food are concerned, using a recipe book is cheating.
- I'm not too concerned about the exam, just looking forwards to getting it over and done with.
- It is really immaterial how much we are promised about the good intentions of the new owners.
- This is the only reason that should be regarded when talking about this subject.
- Why write a scientific book about a subject best left to poets and songwriters?
- In America, the book has chimed with concern about corruption in the Catholic Church.
Synonyms regarding, concerning, with reference to, referring to, with regard to, with respect to, respecting, relating to, on, touching on, dealing with, relevant to, with relevance to, connected with, in connection with, on the subject of, in the matter of, apropos, re - 1.1 So as to affect.
there's nothing we can do about it Example sentencesExamples - But what caused the cancer in the first place, and what can we do about it?
- The system is rubbish, but there's nothing I can do about that.
- We now have a better understanding as to why the firm is not accelerating in a growing marketplace, and what it is doing about it.
- The argument now is about how badly we will be affected and whether it is too late to do anything about it.
- Stephanie says that unless she did something about her weight, she would just carry on piling on the pounds.
2British Used to indicate movement within a particular area. she looked about the room Example sentencesExamples - I paused, gazing about the room, watching carefully for any sign of movement.
- I should like to walk about my city again without being subjected to foul-mouthed racist abuse.
- While some men can wander about a hardware store for an hour, I can kill 60 minutes or more in a kitchen supply place.
- He paused, looked about himself for a moment, and sighed.
- They strolled about the gardens, enjoying the beautiful day.
Synonyms around, round, throughout, over, through, all over, in all parts of, on every side of, encircling, surrounding 3British Used to express location in a particular place. rugs strewn about the hall he produced a knife from somewhere about his person Example sentencesExamples - Residents near the play area are being disturbed by noise, and beer cans have been left about the area.
Synonyms around, in circulation, in existence, current, going on, prevailing, prevalent, widespread, pervasive, endemic, happening, in the air, abroad - 3.1 Used to describe a quality apparent in a person.
there was a look about her that said everything Example sentencesExamples - The girl's eyes had a blank look about them.
- There was a film noir quality about that piece of managerial advice, and it fitted the times.
- He was friendly, with a gentle way about him and the wisdom that came with age.
- Seen from the air in the lemony light of dawn, the place has an almost mystical quality about it.
- The French veteran has a grace about his movement which seems to mesmerise opponents.
adverbəˈboutəˈbaʊt 1British Used to indicate movement in an area. men were floundering about Example sentencesExamples - What does swimming about and spontaneously singing bits of the Batman theme song mean?
- A small space was fenced off so that the lion could move about, unhindered.
- You go in feet first - there's enough room to move about and then come out head first.
- They emptied the pool of its water by splashing about and then threw toys and sand into it.
- The day was too warm and too nice for rushing about.
Synonyms around, here and there, to and fro, back and forth, from place to place, hither and thither, in every direction, in all directions, abroad 2British Used to express location in a particular place. there was a lot of flu about a thief about in the hotel Example sentencesExamples - The site was overgrown and there was refuse strewn about the area.
- I have friends scattered about Australia.
- She had scars all about her body and face.
- Couches, armchairs and tables were scattered about the place.
- Houdini relied on great skill, low cunning, and keeping tiny metal picklocks concealed about his person.
- She looked inside to find the contents scattered about and then heard noises upstairs.
Synonyms near, nearby, around, about the place, hereabouts, not far away, not far off, close by, in the vicinity, in the neighbourhood, at hand, within reach, on the doorstep, around the corner, just around the corner 3(used with a number or quantity) approximately. reduced by about 5 percent Example sentencesExamples - They held up movements for about eight hours and the road was effectively closed.
- Arab traders took Islam to the area in about the twelfth century, possibly even earlier.
- Plane Tree Grove is a residential area about a quarter of a mile from the airport.
- I read the graphic and then saw the film all within about a week of each other.
- I get about five emails per day from them.
- I spent about twenty minutes reading the wrong manual until JoAnn tactfully pointed out the mistake.
- A lot of us got out and waited for the emergency services, who arrived within about ten minutes.
Synonyms approximately, roughly, around, round about, in the neighbourhood of, in the region of, in the area of, of the order of, something like
Phrases Intending to do something or close to doing something very soon. the ceremony was about to begin Example sentencesExamples - He leaps aboard and the most extraordinary adventure of his young life is about to begin.
- Nicol easily controlled the next two games, and seemed to be about to close out the match.
- The Government is about to close the door and stop all new referrals from receiving these drugs.
- The first major battle over public sector pensions could be about to begin.
- Gavin is about to begin a music course at college and hopes to become a session musician when he graduates.
- The council is about to begin consultation with residents on the options for council tax.
- They may be used to control symptoms in women who are close to the menopause for whom symptoms may soon be about to improve anyway.
- As the elevator doors were about to close, someone pushed the open button outside.
- I had been about to close the door, but I stopped, afraid that the noise it would make would be disruptive.
- We showed up at the barn right when they were about to begin milking the cows.
Synonyms going to, ready to, all set to, preparing to, intending to, soon to
be not about to do something Be unwilling to do something. he is not about to step down after so long Example sentencesExamples - Luckily however, her mother and neighbours were not about to give up on the notion and warned her that if she didn't enter, they'd do it for her!
- They seemed content to sit back and invite Arsenal to come on to them, and the league leaders were not about to spurn the invitation.
- The major telecoms companies and the raft of Internet companies suddenly found themselves faced with massive balance sheet deficits and fantasy profits that were not about to materialise.
- Mr Laurence Howard, spokesperson for the Erris Action Group explained to the Western People that the people of Erris were not about to be put off by the law.
- People backed the president, because they wanted to back his patriotic effort, and they were not about to throw a wartime president out of office during a war.
- More than 100 residents in Greenhithe were pushed too far and showed they were more than a force to be reckoned with and they were not about to be steam-rolled.
- Ireland were not about to ease off, and emphasised the point with Henderson's dramatic arrival in midfield.
- The problem was that Standard Life, the former owners of the shopping centre, said they were not about to spend any money removing this blot on the townscape.
- I quickly left the midges behind but they were not about to give up and descending into Tarsaughaun, I could hear the hum at fifty yards.
- Skipton Girls' High School twins Louise and Charlotte Cobb were not about to let one outdo the other - both achieved five grade As at A-level.
informal Be aware of the implications of one's actions or of a situation, and of how best to deal with them. Example sentencesExamples - He knew early on what he was about.
- But, now you are here, may I ask if you know what you are about?
- That's the key, you need to know what you are about.
- In time the truth will emerge but to win big contracts you have to know what you are about.
Origin Old English onbūtan, from on ‘in, on’ + būtan ‘outside of’ (see but). |