1LESSnot so much or to a smaller degree 更少地,较少地;较小程度地OPP more
Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation.
他要是了解情况,也许就不会那么担心了。
In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently.
近年来她在公开场合露面的次数少了。
less (...) than
Tickets were less expensive than I had expected.
票比我原来想的要便宜。
much/a lot/far less
Social class matters a lot less than it used to.
社会阶层远不如以前重要了。
not ... any the less/no less (=not less) 同样
Your second point is no less important.
你的第二点也同样重要。
It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing.
这是一个普遍问题,但同样令人担忧。
I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.
我知道他做了件很差劲的事,可我依然爱他。
be less a ... than a ... (=be not so much like one thing as another) 不是…更像…
‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.
“你和我一起去吧。” 这话不像请求,而更像是命令。
2less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etcnot at all helpful, honest etc 一点也没有帮助/一点也不诚实/一点也不热心等
He was less than enthusiastic about the idea.
他对这个想法一点也不热心。
Examples from the Corpus
less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc• But the way in which they are present may be less than helpful.• Not surprisingly, the reaction of local residents to the schemes was less than enthusiastic.• Those who had known him from that earlier period, however, were less than enthusiastic about his elevation.• Although he did not reject a fact-findingmissionoutright, Major was clearly less than enthusiastic about the idea.• The refugees are naturally less than enthusiastic about this.• In this dilemma, Eliot was less than helpful to his apologists.• But in the same interview Mr Dole, as is his way, was a little less than helpful to the president.
1LESSa smaller amount or not as much 不那么多,更[较]少OPP more
Doctors recommend eating less salt.
医生建议少吃盐。
People today seem to have less time for each other.
现在人与人之间相处的时间好像比以前少了。
Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less.
我们中大多数人的报酬都是每小时4英镑,但有些人的报酬甚至更少。
less of
The map covered less of the area than I’d thought.
地图覆盖的范围比我原来想的要小。
Flying is less of a risk than driving.
乘飞机比开车风险小。
less (...) than
She knows less than I do about it.
这事她没有我知道的多。
less than 10/100 etc
a distance of less than 100 metres
不足100米的距离
much/a lot less
It costs much less to go by bus.
乘公共汽车去要便宜很多。
5GRAMMAR 语法
Less, not ‘fewer’, should be used before an uncountable noun. 不可数名词前应用less,而不用fewer
Less electricity is used.
用电量减少了。
Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer, especially in writing. 有时有些人在复数名词前也用less,但许多人认为不正确,因此用fewer更好,尤其在书面语中
There are fewer delays (NOT不说less delays).
延误次数减少了 。
nUSAGE: Less, fewer
You use less before an uncountable noun:
These light bulbs use less electricity.
You use fewer before a plural noun:
There were fewer cars in those days.
✗Don't say: There were less cars in those days. Although you will hear people say this in everyday spoken English, it is considered to be incorrect.
2no less
a)used to emphasize that an amount or number is large 不少于,多达
no less than
By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil.
到了1977年,美国有高达45%的石油依赖进口。
b)used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive 正是;竟是〔强调谈及的人或物很重要〕
Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.
给我们颁奖的正是市长。
The message came from no less a person than the prime minister.
3nothing less than somethingEMPHASIZEIMPORTANTused to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is 简直是某物,绝对是某物
His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation.
他在节目中出现引起了不小的轰动。
Examples from the Corpus
nothing less than something• There is nothing less than a culturalcover-up about depression in men.• The change in Bob's behavior has been nothing less than a miracle.• They had stumbled in upon what was quite clearly nothing less than a pagansacrifice.• This gave her hope, for it was nothing less than a re-birth that Maggie was aiming for.• It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.• The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.• It is nothing less than national economic and social suicide.• He is aware that what he is involved in now is nothing less thanThatcheriteself-help.
The band was doing less and less of that kind of music.
那支乐队越来越少演奏那种音乐了。
Examples from the Corpus
less and less• As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.• Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.• However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.• It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.• It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.• Now I seem to care less and less.• She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores.• Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres.
5in less than no timeFAST/QUICKSOONvery quickly or very soon 很快地,迅速地
In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000.
很快他们就发现他们已经欠了一万多美元。
6less of somethingBritish EnglishBrE spokenSTOP DOING something used to tell a child to stop doing something 不要做某事〔对小孩说的话〕
Less of that noise, please!
别吵了,好不好!
Examples from the Corpus
less of• She spends less of her time playing tennis now.
less3prepositionprep formal
COUNT/CALCULATEtaking away or not including a particular amount 减去,不计SYN minus
What is 121 less 36?
121减去36是多少?
He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge.