by all means 和 by no means 这一组词并非同义词,而是具有鲜明对立意义的反义语。它们带有强烈的感情色彩,在文句中起加强语势的作用。
一、By all means 的意思是“一定”、“无论如何”、“用一切手段”,相当于by all manner of means,例如:
You must bring him here by all means. = You must bring hime here by all manner of means.
你们一定要设法把他带到这里来。
This project must be realized by all means.
这个规划必须要实现。
You should by all means warn him before he leaves for Singapore.
你务必在他去新加坡之前提醒他。
By all means 亦可用于回答,表示有礼貌的同意,作“好的”、“当然可以”解,例如:
May I have one?—Yes,by all means.
我可以拿一个吗?——当然可以。
二、By no means 的意思是“决不”,相当于not at all, 常与 by no manner of means 互换,但后者只作特别强调,远不如前者用得普遍,例:
She is by no means bright. = She is by no manner of means bright.
她一点儿也不聪明。
I will by no means consent.
我决不同意。
The first step will take quite a long time and can by no means be accomplished overnight.
第一步的时间是相当地长,决不是一朝一夕所能完成的。
三、By any means 的意思是“无论如何,想方设法”,相当于 at all,例如:
We were not surprised at the news by any means.
我们对这个消息一点也不感到惊讶。
I need to get there soon by any means.
我无论如何要尽快赶到那里。
Not by any means shall our country be drawn into yet another war overseas.
我们的国家决不能再卷入另一场海外战争。
同义词:by hook or by crook
They intend to get their way, by hook or by crook.
为达到目的,他们不择手段。
I'll get her to marry me, by hook or by crook.
我要想方设法让她同我结婚。
四、By some means (or other) 的意思是"用某种方式(或方法)",不要把它与 by all means 或 by no means 混淆。
We must get out of the present dilemma by some means or other.
我们总得想个办法摆脱目前的困境。
An electron is by some means removed from the most tightly bound state of motion.
用某种方法把一个电子从束缚最紧的运动状态上移走。
I must fulfil my task by some means or other.
我总得想个办法完成任务。
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