act
act
act¹ / ækt ; ækt /
◙noun
1. ACTION 行为, [C] one thing that you do
• 行为，行动，动作，举动:
»The new president's first act should be to end the war.
新总统的第一个举动应当是结束战争。
»a thoughtless act
轻率的举动
»act of (doing) sth
»an act of violence
暴力行为
»her many acts of kindness
她的许多善举
»The act of writing a list can help to calm you down.
列清单可以帮助你冷静下来。
»in the act of doing sth ( = at the moment that you are doing something )
正在做某事的过程中
»Lindsay paused in the act of putting down the phone.
林赛放下电话时停顿了一下。
2. LAW 法律 also Act, [C] a law that has been officially accepted by Parliament or Congress
• 〔正式通过的〕法令，法律:
»the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977
1977 年《住房和社区发展法》
»an act of Parliament
议会法令
3. PRETENDING 假装, [sing.] insincere behaviour in which you pretend to have a particular kind of feeling or to be a particular kind of person
• 装模作样，装腔作势:
»Mike played the loving husband in front of the children but it was all an act.
迈克在孩子面前表现得像个很爱妻子的丈夫，但那都是假装的。
»Be natural. Don't feel you have to puton an act.
自然点，不必装模作样。
4. get your act together, [informal] to become more organized and behave in a more effective way, especially in order to achieve something
• 更有条理些，加把劲:
»You need to get your act together if you're going to find the right house to buy.
要想买到合适的房子，你得好好找找。
5. PLAY 戏剧, [C] one of the main parts into which a stage play, OPERA etc is divided
• 〔戏剧、歌剧等的〕一幕:
»I arrived at the theatre late and missed the first act.
我到剧场时晚了，错过了第一幕。
»the beginning of Act 3
第三幕开场
6. PERFORMANCE 演出, [C] a short performance on stage or television by someone who plays music or tells jokes
• 〔舞台或电视上的〕一段表演:
»The argument was just part of their act.
争吵只是他们表演中的一部分。
7. PERFORMER 表演者, [C] a performer or a group of performers who perform together
• 演出者:
»The band is one of many acts that have been booked for the concert.
音乐会安排了许多演出者，这个乐队是其中之一。
8. a hard / tough etc act to follow, someone who does such an excellent job that it would be difficult for someone doing the same job after them to be as good
• 不能与之媲美的人:
»He has been a very successful captain and will be a hard act to follow.
他是个非常出色的队长，接替他的人将难以望其项背。
9. get in on the act, [informal] to take part in an activity that someone else has started, especially in order to get a share of the advantages for yourself
• 插手，参加〔尤指为得到好处〕
10. act of God, an event that is caused by natural forces, such as a storm, flood, or fire, which you cannot prevent or control
• 天灾，自然灾害，不可抗力
11. act of worship, an occasion when people pray together and show their respect for God
• 拜祭，礼拜
12. balancing / juggling act, a situation in which you are trying to do several different types of work at the same time
• 保持平衡行动〔指同时兼顾好几方面的工作〕，面面俱到
--› see catch sb in the act at CATCH ¹ (3)
--› see clean up your act at CLEAN UP (3)
act²
◙verb
1. DO SOMETHING 做某事, [I] to do something in a particular way or for a particular reason
• 行动，做事:
»The company acted correctly in sacking him.
公司解雇他做得对。
»The jury decided that Walker had acted in self-defence.
陪审团裁定沃克的行为属于自卫。
»act to do sth
»The UN must act now to restore democracy.
联合国目前必须采取行动来恢复民主。
»Politicians will only act when enough people demand that they do something.
只有足够多的民众起来要求，政客们才会采取行动。
2. BEHAVE 表现, [I always + adv / prep] to behave in a particular way
• 举动; 表现:
»They acted unreasonably when they turned down Jill's application.
他们拒绝吉尔的申请，这样做没道理。
»He's been acting strangely ever since his Mom died.
自从母亲死后，他的行为一直很怪。
▪ [+as if]
»Pip acted as if he was better than everyone else.
皮普表现得好像他比任何人都强似的。
▪ [+like]
»Stop acting like a baby.
别像小孩子那样胡闹了。
▪ [+with]
»She acted with dignity.
她表现得很有尊严。
»act your age ( = used to tell someone to behave in a more adult way, suitable for someone of their age )
别耍孩子气了
3. PRETEND 假装, [I,T] to pretend to have feelings, qualities etc that are different from your true ones
• 装腔作势; 假装:
»When he's angry, he acts the fool.
他一生气就装傻。
»That guy is acting crazy.
那个家伙在装疯。
»act a part / role
»Stella felt unnatural in their company, as if she was acting a part.
斯特拉和他们在一起感到不自在，好像在演戏一样。
▪ [+as if / like]
»Why does he act as if he was stupid?
他为什么装傻？
4. PLAY / FILM 戏剧/电影, [I,T] to perform in a play or film
• 演出; 扮演:
»I first started acting when I was 12 years old.
我 12 岁开始演戏。
»act a part / role
»She is acting the role of Lady Macbeth six evenings a week.
她一星期六个晚上演麦克白夫人这个角色。
»The movie is very well acted.
这部影片演得很好。
5. HAVE AN EFFECT 起作用, [I] to have an effect or use
• 起作用:
▪ [+as]
»The padding acts as a cushion if the player falls or is hit by the ball.
万一选手摔倒或者被球击中，衬垫可以起到缓冲作用。
▪ [+on]
»Disinfectants act on bacteria in two main ways.
消毒剂作用于细菌有两种主要途径。
6. act for sb / act on sb's behalf, to represent someone, especially in a court of law or by doing business for them
• 代表某人，为某人代理:
»Makin, a solicitor, is acting for the young people in their case against the county council.
梅金律师在本案中代表年轻人起诉郡议会。
»I am acting on behalf of the bank.
我代表银行方面。
--› see ACTING ¹
【PHR V】
◘act as sth• to do a particular job for a short time, for example while the usual person is absent
• 〔暂时性地〕代理〔某人的工作〕:
»My brother speaks French – he can act as interpreter.
我弟弟说法语，他可以充当翻译。
◘act on / upon sth
• to do something because of another person's advice or order, or because you have received information or had an idea
• 根据…行事:
»She isacting ontheadviceof her lawyers.
她按照律师的建议行事。
»Police say theyacted on informationreceived.
警方称，他们根据接到的情报采取了行动。
◘act sth∽out
1. if a group of people act out an event, they show how it happened by pretending to be the people who were involved in it
• 将…演出来:
»The children were acting out the story of the birth of Jesus.
孩子们正在表演耶稣诞生的故事。
2. to express your feelings about something through your behaviour or actions, especially when you have been feeling angry or nervous
• 用行动来表现〔情绪〕:
»These teenagers are likely to act out their distress by running away.
这些青少年可能会用离家出走的方式来表达自己的郁闷。
◘act up
1. if children act up, they behave badly
• 调皮，捣乱:
»He's a tough kid and he acts up a lot.
他是个顽劣儿童，常常调皮捣蛋。
2. if a machine or part of your body acts up, it does not work properly
• 运转不正常，出毛病:
»The computer is acting up again.
计算机又出问题了。
