BBC news 2011-03-13 加文本

贬低;降低...的重要性
The general tried to play down the military defeat.
将军设法减低战败的严重性。

He tried to play down my part in the work and play up his own.
他极力贬低我在这工作中的作用,而拼命抬高他自己的份量。

According to

1.根据;按照
They divided themselves into three groups according to age.
他们按年龄分成三组。

 2.取决于
He will be punished according to the seriousness of his crime.
他将据其罪行的轻重受到处罚。
 
3.据...所载;据...所说
According to the Bible, Adam was the first man.
据《圣经》记载,亚当是人类始祖。

compare to

把...比作
He compared the girl to the moon in the poem.
他在诗中把那姑娘比作月亮。

get out of

1.逃避
I couldn't get out of going to that wedding.
我不能逃避出席婚礼。
 
2.弃绝
He got out of the bad habit.
他改掉了这个坏习惯。

3.使说出
The police got the truth out of him.
警察迫使他说出真相。

pick up

1.拾起
The boy picked up the hat for the old man.
男孩替老人拾起了帽子。
 
2.收拾
You should pick up the tools after work.
工作结束后应该把工具收拾好。
 
3.学到;获得
He was picking up the skills quickly.
他正在很快地掌握技术。

4.【口】与...偶然结识(常指与异性调情)
We picked up a couple of girls at the pub last Friday.
上星期五我们在酒吧结识了几个女孩。

next to

1.几乎,差不多
She has eaten next to nothing.
她几乎什么也没吃。

2.紧邻着

catch up

1.很快拾起
The thief caught up the money and ran away.
小偷一把抓起钱,逃之夭夭。
 
2.赶上
They started a few minutes ago, and we must hurry to catch up.
他们几分钟前已出发,我们必须赶紧追上。
 
3.缠住
It seemed that she was always caught up in the household.
看来她总是家务缠身。

aim at

1.瞄准
He aimed at the bird but missed.
他瞄准那只鸟射击,可是没打中。
 
2.以...为目的
What are you aiming at?
你的用意何在?