英語中有不少單詞，其本身存在互相矛盾的兩個意思，如果不弄清楚，有時會給我們的英語閱讀帶來一定困擾。特定情況下，聯(lián)系上下文語境即可弄清它們的具體意思。

1. sanction“制裁”&“批準”

Economic sanctions will only be lifted when the aggressor nation withdraws its troops.
只有侵略國撤回其軍隊，經(jīng)濟制裁才會解除。

They tried to get official sanction for the scheme.
他們想使計劃獲得正式批準。

2. overlook“檢查；監(jiān)視”&“忽視；忽略”

I am overlooking her work.
我正在檢查她的工作。

I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
我認為你忽略了一個重要的事實。

3. finished“完成的”&“失敗的”

Are you finished with that drill?
你的那個練習做完了嗎？

This financial crisis means that the government's economic policy is finished.
這次金融危機意味著政府的經(jīng)濟政策失敗了。

4. dust“擦去……的灰塵”&“在……上撒粉末”

I was dusting the mantelpiece when I noticed a crack.
我在擦壁爐臺的時候發(fā)現(xiàn)了一道裂紋。

Dust the top of the cake with icing sugar.
在蛋糕上撒些糖霜。

5. left“留下”&“離開”

He left the house by the back door.
他從房子的后門離開了。

His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.
他的鞋在地板上留下了泥印。

6. trim“添加，裝飾”&“修剪，剪枝”

The children are trimming up a Christmas tree with ribbons, laces.
孩子們正在往圣誕樹上掛彩帶和蕾絲。

He trimmed dead branches off a tree.
他從樹上剪掉枯枝。

7. cleave“劈開；分開”&“粘?。痪o貼”

With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain (= into two pieces).
武士大斧一揮，將石頭劈成了兩半。

The ancient ivy cleaved to the ruined castle walls.
古老的常春藤緊緊攀附在破敗的城堡墻上。

注意：表“粘??；緊貼”時，cleave通常與to連用。

8. scan“細看，審視”&“粗略地看”

She anxiously scanned the faces of the men leaving the train.
她急切地盯著一張張下火車的人的臉。

I scanned through the booklet but couldn't find the address.
我很快地翻閱了一遍小冊子，但沒有找到那個地址。

9. fast“快速的”&“固定的”

Computers are getting faster all the time.
計算機一直在提速。

She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
她把繩子的一頭牢牢地綁在樹上。

10. off“關(guān)掉”&“響起”

She turned off the TV.
她關(guān)掉了電視。

The alarm went off.
鬧鈴響了起來。

11. weather“經(jīng)受住”&“受侵蝕”

The company weathered the recession.
這家公司挺過了經(jīng)濟衰退。

The rock was weathered.
巖石風化了。

12. screen“放映；播出”&“遮掩；遮蔽”

The programme was not screened on British television.
這個節(jié)目沒有在英國電視上播出過。

She raised her hand to screen her eyes from the bright light.
她抬手遮住耀眼的亮光。

13. help“幫助”&“抑制”

How can I help you?
我如何才能幫你呢？

I couldn't help laughing.
我忍不住大笑起來。

14. clip“剪下來”&“別上去”

I clipped his picture from the newspaper.
我把他的照片從報紙上剪了下來。

He clipped his flashlight to his belt.
他把手電筒別在腰間。

15. fine“糟糕的；不合時宜的”&“優(yōu)秀的；極好的”

He picked a fine time to leave us.
在那個時候扔下我們走了，他可真是會挑時間。

This building is the finest example of its type.
這幢建筑是同類建筑中最杰出的代表。

16. flog“鞭笞，棒打”&“推銷，出售”

Soldiers used to be flogged for disobedience.
過去士兵們常常因不守軍令而遭鞭笞。

He tried to flog his old car, but no one would buy it.
他想快點兒賣掉他的舊車，但沒人愿意買。

17. ravel“使糾纏；使錯綜復(fù)雜”&“弄清；解開”

Mark's ?interference ?merely ravelled things ?further.
馬克的摻和只是讓情況進一步復(fù)雜化了。

It took Daisy a ?long ?time to ravel out all the ?wool.
黛西花了很長時間才把毛線解開。

18. mean“吝嗇的，小氣的”&“極好的，出色的”

He's too mean to buy her a ring.
他太吝嗇了，舍不得給她買一枚戒指。

She's a mean piano player.
她是個出色的鋼琴演奏家。

19. toss out“丟棄”&“提出”

She ?tossed out my ?old ?chair.
她把我的舊椅子扔了。

I decided to toss out the idea.
我決定提出這個想法。

注意：第二個例句在特定情況下也可以指“拋棄”那個想法，要根據(jù)上下文而定。

20. buckle“坍塌，垮掉”&“系牢”

My knees buckled with fear.
我因為害怕而膝蓋癱軟。

Buckle your seat belt.
請系好安全帶。

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 杜娟）