4.be an unknown quantityNOT KNOWif someone or something is an unknownquantity, you do not know what their abilities are or how they are likely to behave 未知的人[事物]
Examples from the Corpus
be an unknown quantity• Swales said he had a lot of flair, but admitted he was an unknown quantity.• These arrangementsare an unknown quantity and the administration may not turn out to be up to scratch.• Whatever it was they were after, it was an unknown quantity, unknown, that is, except for a lethalferocity.• Barnes was an unknown quantity, without any clear prejudice on the nuclear issue.
Examples from the Corpus
unknown• The year of Gabor's birth is unknown.• She said the flowers were from an unknownadmirer.• an unknownartist• As an unknownauthor, it isn't easy to get your work published.• Yesterday the village was quite unknown, but today it's on the front page of all the newspapers.• There are still a great many unknowninsectspecies in the world.• The picture was painted in the 15th Century by an unknownItalian artist.• Until their first single, the Beatles were virtually unknown outside Hamburg and Liverpool.• Horn was beaten by a relatively unknownpolitician in the last election.• For some unknown reason, Fred quit his job and moved to Alaska.• We met near the Tomb of the UnknownSoldier.• After they left Kathmandu they would be travelling through unknownterritory.• The Internet has opened up a marketplace where sellers and buyers are virtually unknown to each other.• Most of the stars in the movie are unknown to US audiences.
For some unknown reason• Archeologists have discovered a creeping village. For some unknown reason it has moved eleven times.
unknown2 noun [countableC]
1FAMOUS#someone who is not famous 不出名的人
At that point in her career she was still an unknown.
在她事业的那个阶段,她还是个无名小卒。
2something that is not known 不明的情况;未知的因素
The long-term effects of the drug are still an unknown.
这种药品的长期作用还是个未知数。
3the unknown
a)HANOT KNOWa place that is not known about or that has not been visited by humans 不为人知 [人类尚未到达]的地方
The astronauts began their journey into the unknown.
宇航员开始了对未知世界的探索之旅。
b)RFNOT KNOWthings that you do not know or understand 未知事物
a fear of the unknown
对未知事物的恐惧
Examples from the Corpus
the unknown• Starting a new relationship with someone is always a journey into the unknown.• The astronauts began their journey into the unknown.• In 1492 Columbus and his group of tinyshipsset off into the unknown.• a fear of the unknown• The fear of the unknownprevents many people from making significant changes in their lives.
Examples from the Corpus
unknown• After 30 years in show business, Butler is still an unknown.• a movie made with a cast of complete unknowns• A new version is in the pipeline in which unknowns will be replaced by celebrities.
1place/thing that you know nothing about未知的處所或事物ADJECTIVE | VERB + UNKNOWN | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤big, great無可知曉◇What the weather will be like on the day is, as always, the great unknown.到時天氣會怎樣一向都是個未知數。VERB + UNKNOWN➤explore, face, step into, venture into探索未知事物;面對未知事物;步入未知領域;鬥膽進入未知領域PHRASES➤a journey into the unknown, a leap into the unknown, a voyage into the unknown探索未知世界的旅程◇This action represents a leap into the unknown.這個行動是對未知事物的大膽探索。◇Motherhood was for her a journey into the unknown.做母親對她來說是開始一次未知之旅。➤fear of the unknown對未知事物的恐懼unknown
noun²
2sb who is not well known不出名的人ADJECTIVE➤complete毫無名氣的人◇The championship was won by a complete unknown.一個名不見經傳的人贏得了冠軍。➤relative, virtual不太為人所知的人;幾乎無人知曉的人◇a cast of virtual unknowns由幾乎沒什麼名氣的人組成的演員陣容unknown
adjective
VERBS | ADVERB | PREPOSITION | PHRASESVERBS➤be未知▸➤remain仍然未知◇These sites remain largely unknown to the British public.這些場所基本上一直不為英國公眾所知。ADVERB➤completely, entirely, quite, totally, utterly (especially NAmE) 完全是未知的;一無所知◇His whereabouts were quite unknown during this period.這一時期他幾乎是下落不明。➤almost, practically, virtually幾乎無人知道;事實上不為人知◇This drug was practically unknown in Britain.這種藥在英國幾乎不為人知。➤largely, mostly基本上不為人知▸➤comparatively, relatively名氣比較小;相當不為人知◇a comparatively unknown actor不怎麼出名的演員◇She was then still relatively unknown.她那時候還不怎麼出名。➤as yet, currently, still還不為人知;目前不為人知;依然不為人知▸➤heretofore (formal, especially NAmE) , hitherto, previously迄今不為人知;以前不為人知◇a period of democratic development previously unknown in their country以前在他們國家無人知曉的一段民主發展時期➤apparently表面上不為人知▸➤otherwise本來不出名◇He cites the works of two otherwise unknown authors.他引用了兩位本來不出名的作者的作品。PREPOSITION➤to不為⋯所知◇Gold was totally unknown to their civilization.黃金完全不為他們的世界所知。PHRASES➤for parts unknown, to parts unknown去往未知的地方◇She departed for parts unknown.她離開了,不知去了什麼地方。➤for reasons unknown, for unknown reasons不知何故