fronting

in front of, ahead of

ahead of和in front of都可表示“在…前面”，指具体的或比喻的空间时，两者都可使用；指时间时，只可使用ahead of。例如：

He was running 50 meters ahead of〔before〕 me.他跑在我前面50米。

At that moment two girls passed in front of me.那时有两个姑娘在我面前经过。

They say there is a great future ahead of me.他们说我有远大的前程。

You have a splendid life in front of you.你有大好的前程。

in front of, in the front of

这两个短语都可译为“在…的前面”,它们之间的区别是:前者主要指在某物体外面的前面,即两者是分开的; 而后者则指在某物体内部的前面,即两者是包容的。试比较:

He's sitting in front of the car with the driver.

他跟司机坐在车子的前面。 (两人在车外)

He's sitting in the front of the car with the driver.

他跟司机坐在车子的前面。 (两人在车里)

come to the front, go to the front

这两个短语意思不同:前者的意思是“露头角”或“显赫起来”; 后者的意思是“上前线”。试比较:

Brooks has come to the front recently.

布鲁克斯最近吃香起来了。

Our troops have gone to the front.

我们的部队已开赴前线。