plain1 /pleɪn/ ●●● S2 W3 adjectiveadj → plane1 clear 清楚的CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND very clear, and easy to understand or recognize 清楚的,明白的,显而易见的,明显的 SYN obviousit is plain (that) It was plain that Giles was not going to agree. 显然贾尔斯是不会同意的。
The advantages were plain to see. 优势显而易见。
You have made your feelings plain enough. 你已经明确表示了你的感受。
Let me make it plain (=state it clearly). We do not want you here. 让我明说吧,我们不想你待在这儿。
make yourself plain (=make what you are saying clear) 把自己的话说得很明白 If you do that again you will be severely punished. Do I make myself plain? 如果再那么干,你就会受到严厉惩罚,我说清楚了吗?
as plain as day/the nose on your face (=very clear) 极为明显的,非常清楚的
2 in plain English/language in clear and simple words, without using technical language 用简单的英语/语言 The document, written in plain English, tells you about your new policy. 这份文件用简明的英语写成,解释了你们的新政策。
3 simple 简单的SIMPLE without anything added or without decoration 无装饰的,简单的,朴素的,单纯的 SYN simple a plain white blouse 一件朴素的白衬衫
a plain wooden table 一张朴素的木桌
a plain gold wedding ring 一枚式样简单的黄金婚戒
Your essay should be written on plain paper (=paper with no lines on it). 你的文章应该写在无格白纸上。
4 honest 诚实的CLEAR/HONEST showing clearly and honestly what is true or what you think about something 坦白的,直率的,爽快的 SYN frank, candid Let’s have some plain, truthful answers. 让我们听听坦率而真实的回答吧。
I don’t know, and that’s the plain truth. 我不知道,真的不知道。
The plain fact is people still buy books. 事实很明显,人们还在购买书籍。
5 emphasis 强调VERY [only before noun] spoken used to emphasize that a particular type of behaviour, attitude etc is involved, usually a bad one 完全的,十足的〔一般用于强调不好的行为或态度〕 His motive was plain greed. 他的动机纯粹是贪婪。
When you told him his house was too cold that was just plain bad manners. 你跟他说他的屋子里太冷,这很不礼貌。
6 not beautiful 不漂亮的UGLY not beautiful or attractive – often used because you want to avoid saying this directly 不好看的,不漂亮的,相貌平平的〔委婉说法〕5 Mrs Cookson was a rather plain woman.库克森夫人是个相貌平平的女人。
n Mrs Jones was a rather plain woman.
plain Jane (=used to talk about a woman who is not beautiful) 没有姿色的女人,外表平凡的女子
8 (just) plain Mr/Mrs etc spoken used to show that someone does not have or use a special title (仅仅是)不带头衔[称号]的先生/夫人等〔用来表示某人没有或不使用特殊头衔等〕 I don’t call him Uncle – just plain Bill. 我不叫他叔叔,就叫他比尔。
(just) plain Mr/Mrs etc• And being Lord Aviemore is just like being plain Mr Aviemore, right?• Cluedo's Reverend Green is to become plain Mr Green to bring one of the country's best-loved board games up to date. 9 be plain sailing EASYto be very easy to do or achieve 一帆风顺,非常顺利 If you can answer the first question, the rest of the test should be plain sailing. 如果你能答出测验的第一题,其余的题目就都是小菜一碟了。
be plain sailing• Get the mitres right and the rest is plain sailing.• I recognized that all would not be plain sailing.• In any event, it will not be plain sailing.• Roderick Conway Morris says it's not going to be plain sailing. 10 in plain sight American EnglishAmE if something is in plain sight, it is easy to see or notice, especially when it should be hidden 显眼的,露眼的 Don’t leave your valuables in plain sight. 不要把你的贵重物品放在显眼的地方。
in plain sight• I couldn't believe they'd left the drugs and needles right out in plain sight.• Thou shalt not leave illegal things lying around in plain sight. —plainness noun [uncountableU]
n THESAURUSplain without anything added, or without decorationa plain shirt
The fireplace was plain apart from a small design at the top.
simple not having a lot of decoration or unnecessary things, but attractiveShe was wearing a simple black dress.
The accommodation is simple but clean.
austere very plain and with very little decoration, or very little in it – used about a room or place that does not make you feel welcomeHe dreaded having dinner in that austere dining room.
The building was grey and a little austere.
the austere beauty and grandeur of mountain scenery
spartan plain and without anything that would make life easier or more comfortable – used especially about rooms, conditions, or ways of livingHer apartment is quite spartan.
They had a very spartan life.
stark very plain in a surprising way, with very little colour or decoration – used about rooms and placesSam sat looking at the stark white walls.
It is a landscape of stark beauty.
bare empty, or not covered by any decorationsHer office seemed very bare now that her desk had gone.
He was tired of looking at the bare walls of his prison cell.