idea
noun
aɪˈdɪə noun
1
PLAN/SUGGESTION
计划/建议
a plan or suggestion for a possible course of action, especially one that you think of suddenly 〔尤指突然想到的〕计划，建议，想法，主意 C
2
the idea of doing something a good idea to do something it was your idea to do something
Do not say ‘the idea to do something’. Say . However, you can say it is and . 不要说 the idea to do something，而要说 the idea of doing something。但是可以说 it is a good idea to do something 和 it was your idea to do something.
3
KNOWLEDGE
认识
a general understanding of something, based on some knowledge about it 大致的了解 C,U | spoken :
Could you give me an idea of how bad his injuries are?
你能告诉我他的伤有多严重吗？
You must have some idea (=have at least a little knowledge) of what happened to the money.
对于这笔钱的事你肯定略知一二。
Don’t worry if you don’t understand it right now – you’ll get the idea (=begin to understand or be able to do something) .
如果你现在不明白，不要着急 — 你会懂的。
have no idea/not have any idea
She doesn’t have any idea where they’ve gone.
她压根儿不知道他们去哪里了。
a general/rough idea (a not very exact idea) 大致的想法
Can you give me a rough idea of how much the repairs will cost?
你能否告诉我修理费用大约要多少？
not have the faintest/slightest/foggiest idea
I don’t have the faintest idea what to get Rachel for her birthday.
我一点儿也不知道该给雷切尔买什么生日礼物。
4
AIM/INTENTION
目的/意图
the aim, intention, or purpose of doing something 〔做某事的〕目的，意图 C,U
The idea is to teach children to save money.
目的是教孩子省钱。
[+ of/behind ]
The idea behind the outing is to encourage employees to get to know each other.
远足的目的是鼓励员工相互了解。
They wanted Mike to go to law school, but he had other ideas (=had different plans) .
他们想让迈克上法学院，但他另有打算。
5
HOW YOU IMAGINE SOMETHING TO BE
想象某事物
an image in your mind of what something is like or should be like 概念，想法 C,U
[+ of ]
Chefs differ in their idea of what makes a good dessert.
拿什么当餐后甜点最好，厨师们想法各异。
I only have a vague idea of the kind of work I’ll be doing.
我对马上要干的工作只有个模糊的概念。
not my idea of sth
It helps if you have a clear idea of what you want. Chocolate milk and a piece of cake is not my idea of dinner. The very idea of kissing him made her feel physically sick.
清楚自己要的是什么有好处。 巧克力牛奶加一块蛋糕并不是我想象中的晚餐。 一想到要吻他，她就恶心想吐。
It helps if you have a clear idea of what you want.
清楚自己要的是什么有好处。
not my idea of sth
Chocolate milk and a piece of cake is not my idea of dinner.
巧克力牛奶加一块蛋糕并不是我想象中的晚餐。
The very idea of kissing him made her feel physically sick.
一想到要吻他，她就恶心想吐。
6
BELIEF/OPINION
信念/意见
someone’s opinion or belief about something 〔某人对某事的〕看法，信念 C usually plural 一般用复数
[+ about ]
She had some rather unusual ideas about raising children.
对于抚养孩子她有些与众不同的见解。
where did you get that idea? (used to say that what someone thinks is completely wrong) 你那想法从哪儿来的？〔指某人的想法完全错误〕
No, I’m not seeing Jane. Where did you get that idea?
不，我没在和简谈恋爱。 你这想法从哪儿来的？
7
PRINCIPLE
原则
a principle or belief about how something is or should be 原则，信念 C
[+ of ]
The whole idea of democracy was something strange and new to most people.
对于当时大部分人来说，民主这个概念陌生而新鲜。
idea that
It’s based on the idea that all people are created equal.
它是基于人人生而平等这个信念之上的。
8
have an idea (that)
to be fairly sure that something is true, without being completely sure 猜想（…），估计（…）〔指猜想确有某事，但无绝对把握〕
I’m not sure where my necklace is, but I have a pretty good idea who took it.
我说不准我的项链在哪儿，但我大体上猜到是谁拿的。
9
get the wrong idea
to think that something is true when it is not 误解
Don’t get the wrong idea about Dan and Helen – they’re just friends.
不要误会丹和海伦，他俩不过是朋友而已。
10
have the right idea
to act or think in a way that will probably lead to the correct result 〔行事或思维〕方法正确，方向对头
He still makes a few mistakes but I reckon he’s got the right idea.
他还是会犯一些错误，但我认为他已经走对路了。
11
that’s/there’s an idea
10. used to say that you like what someone has just suggested [口] 好主意〔用于表示赞同某人的建议〕 spoken
‘Why don’t you invite Paula to come with us?’ ‘There’s an idea.’
“你为什么不邀请葆拉和我们一起去？”“好主意。”
12
that’s the idea
11. a. used to tell someone who is learning to do something that they are doing it the right way, in order to encourage them b. used to emphasize what the main point of something is, or to say that someone understands that point 对，就是这样〔用于强调某事的要点或说明某人理解了该要点〕 spoken
Keep your knees bent and lean forward slightly. That’s the idea!
屈膝稍微向前倾。 对，就是这样！
‘You’re thinking of getting a new job?’ ‘Yeah, that’s the idea.’
“你在考虑找新工作吗？”“对，是这样。”
13
bright idea
12. a very clever idea, often used in a joking way to mean a very stupid idea or action 馊主意〔常用于开玩笑〕
Whose bright idea was it to leave the back door wide open?
这是谁的馊主意，把后门大敞着？
14
give sb ideas/put ideas into sb’s head
13. to make someone think of doing something that they had not thought of doing before, especially something that they should not do 使某人产生某种念头〔尤指不该做的事〕
Nick tells me he wants a motorbike. Have you been putting ideas into his head?
尼克对我说想要一辆摩托车，是不是你让他胡思乱想的？
15
is it sb’s idea of a joke?
14. used when you are surprised and often rather annoyed by what someone has said or done 有人这样开玩笑的吗？〔用于对某人的言语或行为表示惊讶和生气〕
‘She wants you to do it by tomorrow.’ ‘Is that your idea of a joke?’
“她想让你明天之前做好。”“有你那样开玩笑的吗？”
16
what’s the big idea?
15. used when you cannot understand why someone has done something [口] （你）这是干什么？（你）这样做用意何在？ spoken
17
you have no idea (how/what etc)
16. used when you are telling someone that something is extremely good, bad etc [口] 你简直想不到〔用于告诉某人某事非常好或坏等〕 spoken
You have no idea how worried I was.
你简直想不到我当时多么着急。
18
the idea!
17. used to express surprise or disapproval when someone has said something stupid [过时，口] 什么话！〔用于对方说了蠢话时，表示惊讶或贬斥〕 old-fashioned spoken