least
determiner, pron
adv
liːst determiner, pron
1
at least
a. not less than a particular number or amount b. even if something better is not true or is not done c. used when you are correcting or changing something that you have just said 至少，起码〔用于纠正或改变刚说过的话〕
It will take you at least 20 minutes to get there.
到那里至少要花 20 分钟。
He had at least £100,000 in savings.
他起码有 10 万英镑的存款。
at the (very) least (not less than and probably much more than) 最起码
It would cost $1 million at the very least.
最起码要花 100 万美元。
At least he didn’t lie to me.
至少他没跟我撒谎。
I don’t expect you to pay me, but you could at least cover my expenses.
我不指望你给我报酬，但你至少也得支付我的费用呀。
The house still needed a lot of work, but at least the kitchen was finished.
这房子还有不少活要干，但至少厨房已经完工了。
They all knew I was on their side. At least, that’s what they said.
他们都知道我站在他们这一边，至少他们是这么说的。
I made everything perfectly clear – or at least I thought I did.
我把一切都搞得很清楚了 — 至少我自己是这么认为的。
2
at the (very) least
used when mentioning the least extreme thing that happens, is needed etc 最起码
Computer viruses are at the very least annoying and often actually destructive.
计算机病毒少说也很烦人，实际上还经常具有破坏性。
3
the least
a. the smallest amount b. used to emphasize how small something is, especially when it hardly exists at all c. used when you are saying what someone should do in a situation, and suggesting that they should really do more 起码应做的事情
: Women work in those sectors of the job market which pay the least.
女性在就业市场中报酬最低的行业里工作。
Which method causes the least damage to the environment?
哪一种方法对环境危害最小？
I haven’t the least idea what you are talking about.
我一点也不明白你在说什么。
He used to wake at the least noise.
他以前总是有一点点动静就会醒过来。
The least you could do is give me her phone number.
你起码可以把她的电话号码告诉我。
The least they could have given her is some money towards the rent.
他们起码可以给她一点钱帮她交房租。
4
not the least/not in the least/not the least bit
none at all, or not at all 一点也不
I tried to convince them, but they weren’t the least interested.
我想说服他们，可他们一点也不感兴趣。
I’m not in the least afraid of you any more.
我现在一点都不怕你了。
His voice was alert, not the least bit sleepy.
他的话音很警觉，没有一丝睡意。
5
to say the least
used to show that something is worse or more serious than you are actually saying 至少可以说
His teaching methods were strange, to say the least.
他的教学方法至少可以说是怪异。
6
the least of sb’s worries/problems/troubles/concerns
something that someone is not worried about because there are other more important problems 某人最不担心的事，某人根本无所谓的事
What I looked like was the least of my problems.
我看上去怎么样根本无所谓。
7
it’s the least I can do
used to say that you are very willing to do something or to reply to someone’s thanks [口] 这是我起码可以做的事〔表示非常愿意做某事，或用于回答某人的感谢〕 spoken
I’ll look after them – it’s the least I can do.
我来照顾他们 — 这是我起码可以做的事。
adv
8 less than anything or anyone else 最少; 最小;
The journey would impose extra expense on those least able to afford it.
这次旅行会给那些最负担不起的人增加额外的开支。
It is quite amazing what turns up when you are least expecting it.
事情偏偏就在你最意想不到的时候发生，真是很奇怪。
He’s my least favourite member of staff.
他是最不讨我喜欢的员工。
9
least of all
especially not a particular person or thing 最不…的
She hardly ever lost her temper – least of all with Anne.
她几乎从不发脾气 — 对安妮就更不用说了。
10
not least
used to emphasize that something is important 尤其，特别 formal
My mother was upset about his appearance here, not least because she felt it was invading her privacy.
他在这里出现使我母亲很不高兴，尤其是因为她觉得这侵犯了她的隐私。