point
noun
verb
pɔɪnt noun
1
IDEA
想法
a single fact, idea, or opinion that is part of an argument or discussion 观点; 论点 C
That’s a very interesting point.
那个观点很有趣。
That’s a good point .
说得对。
There are three important points we must bear in mind.
有三个要点我们必须记住。
This brings me to my next point.
这样我就要讲到下一个论点。
[+ about ]
I agree with John’s point about keeping the costs down.
我同意约翰关于维持低成本的观点。
I’d like to make one final point before I stop.
结束前我想提出最后一个看法。
Some simple examples will illustrate the point .
一些简单的例子可以说明这一点。
He showed me some of the original documents to prove his point .
他给我看了一些原始文件来证明他的观点。
I can see your point (=I understand it) and in general I agree with you.
我理解你的观点，总的来说我同意。
You have a point there (=I agree with your idea or opinion) .
我赞同你的看法。
I take your point (=understand it) about waiting until the spring.
我同意你关于等到春天的想法。
OK, Sam, point taken (=I understand your idea or opinion) .
好吧，萨姆，我明白你的意思了。
They spent the evening discussing the finer points of (=the small details of) world politics.
那天晚上他们讨论了世界政治的微妙之处。
2
MAIN MEANING/IDEA
主要的意思/观点
the most important fact or idea 要点，重点; 中心意思，主要含义; 核心问题
The point is , at least we’re all safely back home.
重要的是，至少我们都安全回家了。
Nobody knows exactly how it works. That’s the whole point .
没有人知道它到底是怎么工作的，这才是问题所在。
He may not have stolen the money himself, but that’s not the point .
他也许没亲自偷那笔钱，不过那不是关键。
I wish you’d get to the point (=talk about the most important thing) .
我希望你能切入正题。
I’ll come straight to the point (=talk about the most important thing first) .
我就直奔主题了。
I need to find out who killed Alf, and more to the point (=what is more important) I need to do it before anyone else gets killed.
我要找出是谁杀了阿尔夫，更重要的是，得在其他人被害之前找到他。
We all like him, but that’s beside the point (=not the most important thing) .
我们都喜欢他，不过这并不是最重要的。
I think you’ve missed the point (=you have not understood the most important thing) .
我想你没听懂。
3
PURPOSE
目的
the purpose or aim of something 目的，意图 U
I suppose we could save one or two of the trees, but what’s the point ?
我想我们可以拯救一两棵树，不过那有什么意义呢？
[+ of ]
What’s the point of this meeting anyway?
那么这次会议的目的到底是什么？
The whole point of this legislation is to protect children.
这项立法旨在保护儿童。
There’s no point in worrying.
担心是没有用的。
We’re going to lose anyway, so I can’t see the point of playing .
不管怎么说我们都是要输的，我不明白去比赛还有什么意义。
I didn’t see the point in moving to London.
我不明白为什么要搬到伦敦去。
4
PLACE
地方
a particular place or position 〔确切的〕地方，地点; 位置 C
The accident happened at the point where the A15 joins the M1.
事故发生在 A15 公路和 M1 公路的交汇处。
No cars are allowed beyond this point.
任何车辆都不允许越过此处。
a border crossing point
过境站
Cairo is a convenient departure point for tours.
开罗是外出旅游便捷的出发点。
Dover is a point of entry into Britain.
多佛尔是到英国的一个入口。
5
IN TIME/DEVELOPMENT
在时间上/在发展中
an exact moment, time, or stage in the development of something 时候，时刻;〔发展的〕阶段; 程度; 地步 C
I had reached a point in my career where I needed to decide which way to go.
我的事业到了需要我决定何去何从的阶段。
She had got to the point where she felt that she could not take any more.
她已经到了忍无可忍的地步了。
Their win over old rivals Manchester United was the high point (=best part) in their season.
他们打赢老对手曼彻斯特联队是他们赛季中最精彩的时刻。
Sales reached a low point in 1996.
1996 年销售跌入低谷。
We will take last week’s riots as a starting point for our discussion.
我们将从上星期的骚乱开始我们的讨论。
At one point , I thought he was going to burst into tears.
我一度认为他要号啕大哭了。
Maybe at this point we should move onto some of the practical experiments.
也许这时我们应该开始做一些应用实验了。
At that point , I was still living at home and had no job.
那个时候，我仍和父母一起住，没有工作。
You will probably sell the car at some point in the future.
将来某个时候你很可能会卖掉这辆车。
It is impossible to give a definite answer at this point in time .
现在不可能作出明确答复。
Some children are bullied to the point of suicide (=until they reach this stage) .
有些孩子被欺负到要自杀的地步。
6
QUALITY/FEATURE
特质/特点
a particular quality or feature that something or someone has 特点，特质，特征 C usually plural 一般用复数
sb’s/sth’s good/bad points
Sometimes she had to remind herself of his good points.
有时候她不得不让自己想起他的种种优点。
[+ of ]
They would spend hours discussing the finer points (=small details about qualities and features) of various cars.
他们会花上几小时讨论各种汽车的细节问题。
The low price is one of its main selling points (=features that will help to sell it) .
低价是其主要卖点之一。
Driving was not one of Baxter’s strong points .
驾车不是巴克斯特的强项。
One of the club’s plus points is that it is central.
那家俱乐部的一大优点是位于市中心。
There were some weak points in his argument.
他的论证有一些不足之处。
7
GAMES/SPORT
比赛/体育运动
one of the marks or numbers that shows your score in a game or sport 〔比赛或运动中的〕分数，得分 C
He is three points behind the leader.
他落后领先者三分。
Leeds United are now six points clear at the top of the table.
利兹联队现在以六分的优势在排名表上领先。
She had to win this point .
这一分她必须得。
You get three points for a win and one point for a draw.
你赢了得三分，打平得一分。
You lose a point if you do not complete the puzzle on time.
如果你不能准时完成字谜就失一分 。
The fight went the full fifteen rounds, and in the end the American won on points .
比赛整整进行了十五个回合，最后美国选手以点数取胜。
8
SHARP END
尖的一端
a sharp end of something 〔某物的〕尖（端） C
the sharp point of a spear
矛的尖头
9
boiling point/freezing point/melting point etc
the temperature at which something boils, freezes, melts etc 沸点/冰点/熔点等
Heat the water until it reaches boiling point.
把水煮开。
10
the point of no return
10. a stage in a process or activity when it becomes impossible to stop it or do something different 有进无退 （欲罢不能 ）的地步
reach/pass the point of no return
I was aware that we had passed the point of no return.
我意识到我们只能背水一战了。
11
point of departure
11. an idea which you use to start a discussion 〔讨论的〕出发点
He takes the idea of personal freedom as his point of departure.
他将人身自由这一观点作为他的出发点。
12
be on the point of (doing) sth
12. to be going to do something very soon 正要做某事
I was on the point of giving up the search when something caught my eye in the bushes.
我正要放弃搜索，这时注意到灌木丛中有什么东西。
The country’s economy is on the point of collapse.
该国经济处于崩溃的边缘。
13
up to a point
13. partly, but not completely 在某种程度上
I agree with you up to a point.
我在某种程度上同意你的看法。
That is true, but only up to a point.
说得有道理，不过只限于某种程度上。
14
to the point
14. dealing only with the important subject or idea, and not including any unnecessary discussions 简明恰当的; 简洁中肯的
Her comments were brief and to the point.
她的评论简短扼要。
15
make a point of doing sth
15. to do something deliberately, even when it involves making a special effort 〔即使费力也〕特意做某事
He made a point of spending Saturdays with his children.
星期六他必定要和自己的孩子在一起。
I always make a point of being early.
我总是特意提前到。
16
when/if it comes to the point
16. used to talk about what happens when someone is in a difficult situation and has to make a difficult decision [英] 必须作决定时 BrE
I’m sure that if it came to the point, he would do what is expected of him.
我肯定如果到了必要的时刻，他会做人们期盼他做的事情的。
17
in point of fact
17. used when saying that something is true, although it may seem unlikely [正式] 实际上; 其实 formal
We were assured that the prisoners were being well treated, when in point of fact they were living in terrible conditions.
我们原本得到保证，犯人们的待遇不错，但实际上他们的生活条件非常恶劣。
18
not to put too fine a point on it
18. used when you are saying something in a very direct way [尤英] 直言不讳地说，实话实说，说句老实话 especially BrE
She’s lying, not to put too fine a point on it.
说句老实话，她在撒谎。
19
NUMBERS
数字
a sign (.) used to separate a whole number from any DECIMALS that follow it 小数点 C
20
MEASURE ON A SCALE
刻度表上的单位
a mark or measure on a scale 点; 度 C
The stock market has fallen by over 200 points in the last week.
在过去的一周内股市已经下跌 200 多点。
21
SMALL SPOT
小点
a very small spot of light or colour 一小点 C
The stars shone like points of light in the sky.
夜空中繁星闪烁，尤如一个个光点。
22
DIRECTION
方向
one of the marks on a COMPASS that shows direction 罗盘（方位）点 C
Soldiers were advancing on us from all points of the compass.
士兵们从四面八方向我们逼近。
23
PIECE OF LAND
一块土地
a long thin piece of land that stretches out into the sea 尖岬，岬角 C
We sailed round the point into a small, sheltered bay.
我们绕过岬角驶入一个小小的隐蔽港湾。
24
ELECTRICITY
电
a piece of plastic with holes in it which is attached to a wall and to which electrical equipment can be connected [英] 插座 C | BrE
a telephone point
电话插座
an electrical point
电源插座
25
RAILWAYS
铁路
a piece of railway track that can be moved to allow a train to cross over from one track to another [英] 〔铁路上的〕道岔，转辙器 plural 复数 | BrE
The train rattled over the points.
火车轰隆隆地开过了道岔。
verb
26
SHOW STH WITH YOUR FINGER
用手指指某物
to show something to someone by holding up one of your fingers or a thin object towards it 〔用手指或细的物体〕指，指向 I,T
‘Look!’she said and pointed.
“看呀！”她用手指着说道。
[+ at ]
I could see him pointing at me and telling the other guests what I had said.
我看到他指着我并告诉其他客人我说了些什么。
[+ to/towards ]
She was pointing to a small boat that was approaching the shore.
她指着驶近岸边的一艘小船。
[+ with ]
The driver pointed with his whip.
驾车人用他的鞭子指了指。
She pointed in the direction of the car park.
她指着停车场的方向。
He stood up and pointed his finger at me.
他站起来用手指指着我。
27
AIM STH
瞄准某物
to hold something so that it is aimed towards a person or thing 用〔某物〕对准〔某人或某物〕，使指向 T always + adv/prep
point sth at sb/sth
He stood up and pointed his gun at the prisoner.
他站起身用枪瞄准了那个犯人。
She produced a camera and pointed it at me.
她拿出相机对准了我。
28
FACE IN ONE DIRECTION
面对一个方向
to face or be aimed in a particular direction 面向，对着 I always + adv/prep
The arrow always points north.
箭头总是指向北方。
There were flashlights all around us, pointing in all directions.
我们周围都是手电筒，对着各个方向照射。
[+ at ]
There were TV cameras pointing at us.
电视摄像机正对着我们。
[+ to/towards ]
The hands of the clock pointed to a quarter past one.
时钟的指针指向一点一刻。
We found footprints pointing towards the back door.
我们发现了走向后门的脚印。
29
SHOW SB WHERE TO GO
为某人指示方向
to show someone which direction they should go in 为〔某人〕指方向 （指路） T always + adv/prep
She pointed me towards an armchair.
她指着一把扶手椅叫我过去。
Could you point me in the direction of the bathroom, please?
请问你能否指点我到洗手间怎么走？
30
SUGGEST WHAT SB SHOULD DO
建议某人做何事
to suggest what someone should do 建议，为…指路 T always + adv/prep
My teachers were all pointing me towards university.
我的老师都建议我上大学。
A financial adviser should be able to point you in the right direction .
理财顾问应该能够给你指点迷津。
31
SUGGEST THAT STH IS TRUE
暗示某事为真
to suggest that something is true 暗示，表明 I always + adv/prep
Everything seemed to point in one direction.
一切似乎都指向一个方向。
[+ to/towards ]
All the evidence pointed towards Blake as the murderer.
所有证据都表明布莱克是凶手。
32
WALLS/BUILDINGS
墙壁/建筑物
to put new CEMENT between the bricks of a wall [英] 〔用水泥〕抹〔砖缝〕，勾〔缝〕 T | BrE
33
point your toes
to stretch the ends of your feet downwards 绷直脚尖
34
point the/a finger at sb
to blame someone or say that they have done something wrong 指责某人，责怪某人
I knew that they would point the finger at me.
我知道他们会责怪我的。
I don’t want to point a finger of blame at anyone.
我不想指责任何人。
35
point the way
10. a. to show the direction that something is in b. to show how something could change or develop successfully 指明发展方向
[+ to/towards ]
An old-fashioned signpost pointed the way to the restaurant.
一个老式的路标指明了去饭店的路。
[+ forward/forwards ]
This report points the way forward for the water industry.
这份报告为水利工业的发展指明了方向。
[+ to/towards ]
a government paper which points the way towards reform
指明改革方向的政府文件
36 to tell someone something that they did not already know or had not thought about 指出，指明
He was always very keen to point out my mistakes.
他总是急不可待地指出我的错误。
The murder was obviously well planned, as the inspector had pointed out.
正如督察指出的那样，这桩凶案显然是经过周密策划的。
point out that
Some economists have pointed out that low inflation is not necessarily a good thing.
一些经济学家指出，低通货膨胀不一定是好事。
point sth out to sb
Thank you for pointing this out to me.
谢谢你向我指出这一点。
37 to show something to someone by pointing at it 指出〔某物给某人看〕
Luke pointed out two large birds by the water’s edge.
卢克指出水边有两只大鸟。
point sb/sth out to sb
I’ll point him out to you if we see him.
如果我们见到他我会指给你看。
38 to mention something because you think it is important 提到〔认为重要的事〕
Many politicians have pointed to the need for a written constitution.
很多政治家都提出需要一部成文宪法。
39 to make something seem more important or more noticeable 强调，突出; 清楚地表明
These cases point up the complete incompetence of some government departments.
这些事例清楚地表明某些政府部门十分无能。