Women work in those sectors of the job market which pay the least.
女性在就业市场中报酬最低的行业里工作。
Which method causes the least damage to the environment?
哪一种方法对环境危害最小?
b)used to emphasize how small something is, especially when it hardly exists at all 极微小的〔尤指几乎没有〕
I haven’t the least idea what you are talking about.
我一点也不明白你在说什么。
He used to wake at the least noise.
他以前总是有一点点动静就会醒过来。
c)used when you are saying what someone should do in a situation, and suggesting that they should really do more 起码能做的事情
The least you could do is give me her phone number.
你起码可以把她的电话号码告诉我。
The least they could have given her is some money towards the rent.
他们起码可以给她一点钱帮她交房租。
4not the least/not in the least/not the least bitNOTnone at all, or not at all 一点也不
I tried to convince them, but they weren’t the least interested.
我试图说服他们,可他们一点也不感兴趣。
I’m not in the least afraid of you anymore.
我现在一点都不怕你了。
His voice was alert, not the least bit sleepy.
他的声音透着警觉,没有一丝睡意。
5to say the leastEMPHASIZEused to show that something is worse or more serious than you are actually saying 至少可以说
His teaching methods were strange, to say the least.
他的教学方法至少可以说是怪异。
6the least of somebody’s worries/problems/troubles/concernsWORRIEDsomething that someone is not worried about because there are other more importantproblems 某人最不担心的事,某人一点都不在乎的事
What I looked like was the least of my problems.
我看上去怎么样根本无所谓。
7it’s the least I can dospoken used to say that you are very willing to do something or to reply to someone’s thanks 这是我起码可以做的事〔表示非常愿意做某事,或用于回答某人的感谢〕
1LESSless than anything or anyone else 最少;最小OPP most
The journey would impose extra expense on those least able to afford it.
这次旅行会给那些最负担不起的人增加额外的开支。
It is quite amazing what turns up when you are least expecting it.
真的很奇妙,你根本想不到会有什么出现。
He’s my least favourite member of staff.
他是最不讨我喜欢的员工。
2least of allespecially not a particular person or thing 最不…的,尤其不…的
She hardly ever lost her temper – least of all with Anne.
她几乎从不发脾气——对安妮就更不用说了。
Examples from the Corpus
least of all• They were not people who smiled much, least of all at children.• This wasn't yet a case for the police, least of all for him.• She told no one, least of all her husband, what she planned to do.• Dave doesn't take anything seriously, least of all himself.• Life is no bed of roses for the new dealer, least of all if female and of a gullibledisposition.• James was no model of deportment anywhere, least of all in his marital and other personalrelations.• Not least of all, it is the San Diego neighborhood that many gays have long embraced as their own.• Nobody wants to stop you from following the career of your choice, least of all me.• No one thought it was a goal of mine, least of all me.• Nobody, least of all the chancellor, one suspects, is banking on this.• Truth is, no one has laughed at the inconsistent Campbell lately, least of all the Nets.
3not leastformal used to emphasize that something is important 〔用于强调重要〕尤其,特别
My mother was upset about his appearance here, not least because she felt it was invading her privacy.
他在这里出现使我母亲很不高兴,尤其是因为她觉得这侵犯了她的隐私。
Examples from the Corpus
not least• Nevertheless it requiresseparateassessment, not least because it drew on certain areas of experience not directly dominated by the monarch.• I didn't relish this: not least because it meant that I didn't break my silence until the cheese course.• Alex Ferguson will have loved this, not least because questions had started to be asked of his team and star names.• There are many factors which limitproductivity; not least is employeeeducation.• And it annoyed her intensely, not least of all because she still felt a long way from figuring him out!• Like all good music it speaks of love, not least of the medium itself.• And last but not least, the baby of the family.
Examples from the Corpus
least• The people who are leastable to afford healthcare are often the ones who need it most.• The taxhits those who can least afford it.• Alex Ferguson will have loved this, not least because questions had started to be asked of his team and star names.• Last but not least, communityprojects include events such as school quizzes, sheltered shopping and the annual Aberdeen Carnival.• Car problems happen when you leastexpect them.• Air-conditioning is standardexcept on the leastexpensivemodel.• I was the least experienced member of the expedition.• Portugal would be my leastfavouritechoice.• It is also the explanation of political behavior that has been least fully explored by means of social scientificinquiry.• Not least, it reduces the time in which the specification can be changed.• Which job would you least like to do?• We were the leastsuccessful team in the competition.• Not least there are hints on organising your new crew.