hole

in a hole, in holes, in the hole

这三个短语的意思不尽相同:in a hole的意思是“处于困境”; in holes的意思是“破了”; in the hole的意思是“经济困难,亏空”。例如:

He is rather in a hole.

他处境极为困难。

His shoes were in holes.

他的鞋子已经破烂不堪。

Jack was 100 dollars in the hole last month.

杰克上个月亏损100美元。

hole, cave, cavity

这组词都有“洞”“孔”“穴”的意思。它们的区别在于:hole指任何物体中的开口、穿孔或洞穴; cave指山洞、洞穴或地窖; cavity是科技术语或专门用语,只指坚硬物体上的洞穴,通常表面有开口可见。例如:

The men have dug a hole in the road.那些人在路上挖了一个洞。

The cliff dwellers found that natural caves gave them warmth and protection during the Ice Age.悬岩洞人发现在冰河时代天然的洞穴不仅温暖,还能借以自卫。

The pleural cavity is a body where the lungs are situated.胸膜腔是人体内肺脏所在的地方。

hole, den, hollow

这组词都有“孔,洞,穴”的意思。它们的区别在于:hole可指正常的“洞,洞穴”,也可指不正常的“破洞,裂口”; hollow主要指凹地、洼地或任何物体的“凹陷部分”,如洞、穴、坑等; den特指“兽穴”,也指动物园中的“兽笼”,有时也可指“匪窝”等。例如:

We got into the cellar through a round hole covered by a metalplate.

我们从一个有金属盖板的圆洞进入地 下室。

More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the driveway.

在车道的凹地上需要填更多的沙砾。

The policeman happened to find a den of thieves in the suburb of the city.

警察在市郊发现了一个贼窝。