pause ♦︎ break ♦︎ interruption ♦︎ lull ♦︎ gapThese are all words for a period of time when sth stops before starting again.這些詞均表示停頓、間斷。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a pause / a break / an interruption / a lull / a gap in sth◆after a pause / a break / an interruption / a lull / a gap◆without pause / a break / interruption◆a short pause / break / interruption / lull / gap◆a long pause / break / gap◆a sudden pause / break / lull◆to fill a pause / gap■pause [countable] (especiallywritten) a period of time during which sb stops talking or when sth stops before starting again停頓;停頓的時間◆There was a long pause before she answered.她停了好一會兒才回答。◆After a brief pause, they continued climbing.他們略停了一下就繼續爬山。■break [countable] a period of time when sth stops before starting again; a pause for advertisements in the middle of a television or radio programme暫停;間斷;(電視或電台節目的)插播廣告的間隙◆I need a break in my daily routine.我需要脫離日複一日的常規生活,調劑一下。◆She wanted to take a career break in order to have children.她想暫時放下工作,去生孩子。◆More news after the break.廣告後繼續播報新聞。◆a commercial break廣告時間ⓘ Break is often used to talk about people stopping work for a period of time. * break常指暫時放下工作。 see also break ⇨ restnoun2■interruption [countable] something that temporarily stops an activity or situation; a period of time when an activity is stopped before starting again阻斷物;中斷時間◆The birth of her son was a minor interruption to her career.兒子的出生使她的事業小小中斷了一下。◆There's been an interruption in the power supply.曾經發生停電。◆I managed to work for two hours without interruption.我總算連續工作了兩個小時。ⓘ An interruption to/in sth is often used in announcements or statements about the power supply/normal service/sb's career/activities/output/production being stopped for a period of time. * interruption to/in sth常用於關於服務或活動暫時中斷的通告或聲明,如interruption to/in the power supply/normal service/sb's career/activities/output/production(電力供應/正常服務/事業/活動/輸出/生産的中斷)。 see also interrupt ⇨ disrupt■lull [countable, usually singular] (especiallywritten) a quiet period between times of activity(活動間的)平靜時期,間歇◆There was a lull in the conversation.談話中出現了一段沉寂。◆Just before an attack everything would go quiet, but we knew it was just the lull before the storm(= before a time of noise or trouble).就在攻擊開始前一切都變得沉寂,但我們知道這只是風暴前的平靜。ⓘ Lull is often used in business contexts to talk about a period of time when people are not buying many products or services. * lull常用於商務語境,指業務淡季◆ (business商業) There will probably be a lull over the winter, followed by a resurgence of activity next spring.整個冬天都可能會是淡季,接着會在來年春天複蘇。■gap [countable] (especiallyspoken) a period of time when sth stops before starting again, or between two events間斷;間隔;間隙◆I waited for a gap in the conversation.我等待談話中出現間隙。◆They met again after a gap of twenty years.他們闊别二十年後又見面了。NOTE辨析 Break, lull or gap?A break is often planned: you need a break in your own activities in order to have a rest or do sth different. A lull in a conversation, in fighting or in business activity is sth that just happens without being planned. A gap also usually happens without being planned: it is usually either a gap in the conversation or a period of time between two events. * break常常是計劃好的,因活動期間需要間歇來休息或做些其他事情。lull指談話、戰事或商務活動中未經計劃的間歇。gap通常也不是安排好的,通常用於gap in the conversation,或指兩件事之間的間隔。pause
verb
pause ♦︎ hesitate ♦︎ break off ♦︎ ditherThese words all mean to stop speaking or doing sth, or to be slow to speak or act, because you feel uncertain about how to continue.這些詞均表示暫停、猶豫。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to hesitate / dither over sth◆to hesitate / dither between two things◆to pause / hesitate / break off (for) a moment◆to pause / hesitate briefly / momentarily / a little◆to pause / break off abruptly■pause [intransitive] to stop speaking or doing sth for a short time before continuing暫停;停頓◆Anita paused for a moment, then said, 'All right.'安妮塔略停了一會兒,然後說:“好吧。”◆The woman spoke almost without pausing for breath(= very quickly).那女人說話像放連珠炮似的。◆Pausing only to pull on a sweater, he ran out of the house.他只停下來穿上件毛衣,就沖出了屋外。ⓘ Pause is often used with the adverbs briefly, (for) a moment, (for) an instant and momentarily. * pause常與副詞briefly、(for) a moment、(for) an instant和momentarily連用。■hesitate [intransitive] to be slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain or nervous猶豫;遲疑不決◆She hesitated before replying.她猶豫了一下才回答。◆I didn't hesitate for a moment about taking the job.我毫不猶豫地接受了那份工作。 see also hesitate ⇨ hesitate, hesitant ⇨ hesitant▸hesitation
noun
[countable, uncountable] ◆He spoke fluently and without unnecessary hesitations.他講話很流暢,毫不支吾遲疑。■ˌbreak ˈoff
phrasal verb
(broke, broken) (especiallywritten) to suddenly stop speaking or doing sth for a time突然停頓;突然中斷◆He broke off in the middle of a sentence.他話說了一半兒就不說了。ⓘ People often break offsuddenly or abruptly, often because of a sudden strong emotion. * break off常與suddenly或abruptly連用,常指因情緒強烈而中斷◆She broke off and turned away to hide the tears.她突然不說了,轉過身去,不願别人看到她哭了。■dither ˈdɪðə(r) [intransitive] (especially BrE, ratherinformal, disapproving) to hesitate about what to do because you are unable to decide猶豫不決;躊躇◆She was dithering over what to wear.她拿不定主意穿什麽好。◆Stop dithering and get on with it.别再猶豫了,幹吧。ⓘ Dither is usually used in a disapproving way. A person who dithers is generally seen as being rather weak and irritating. * dither通常含貶義,指人懦弱和令人惱火。▸dither
noun
[singular] ◆ (informal) She was in a total dither about the party.那個聚會簡直讓她不知所措。