cir·cum·stance /ˈsɜːkəmstæns, -stəns $ ˈsɜːr-/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL noun 1 [countableC usually plural]SITUATION the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc 情况,情形 The Soviet Union had been forced by circumstances to sign a pact with Nazi Germany. 苏联为形势所迫同纳粹德国签订了一项条约。
I can’t imagine a circumstance in which I would be willing to steal. 我无法想象我在什么情况下会愿意去偷东西。
in ... circumstances The rules can only be waived in exceptional circumstances. 这些规定只有在特殊情况下才能破例。
under ... circumstances Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances. 只有在某些情况下囚犯才可以离开牢房。
2 under no circumstances (also in no circumstances British English)NOT DO something used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen 决不,无论如何都不 Under no circumstances are you to go out. 你绝对不可以出去。
3 under/given the circumstances (also in the circumstances British English)SITUATION used to say that a particular situation makes an action, decision etc necessary, acceptable, or true when it would not normally be 在这种情况下,情形既然如此 It’s the best result that could be expected under the circumstances. 在这种情况下,这可能是最好的结果了。
under/given the circumstances• Their disciplined behavior under the circumstances impressed my father.• Besides, under the circumstances, the risk had to be taken.• Especially under the circumstances and all.• He made some measure of pass at me. Given the circumstances of a cheese dip, it was cheering.• He said that he felt that its terms were the best obtainable under the circumstances.• Perhaps under the circumstances it made sense to remain in the one place.• Well given the circumstances who can blame them. 4 [uncountableU] formalSITUATION the combination of facts, events etc that influence your life, and that you cannot control 命运;客观环境;境遇 He was a victim of circumstance. 他是客观环境的牺牲品。
5 circumstances [plural] formal the conditions in which you live, especially how much money you have 境况,状况〔尤指经济状况〕economic/financial/personal etc circumstances Whether or not you qualify for a loan will depend on your financial circumstances. 你是否有贷款资格将取决于你的经济状况。
people living in difficult social circumstances 在艰难的社会环境里生活的人们
in reduced circumstances old-fashioned (=with much less money than you used to have) 财政状况不佳,经济拮据
economic/financial/personal etc circumstances• Personal circumstances Employees' personal circumstances, such as their domestic commitments, health and age are often taken into account.• Such ferocious outbursts stemmed from 50-cial and economic circumstances which the Mahatma rarely discussed and usually underestimated.• Most identified turning points in terms of crises in family relationships, often connected with a change in financial circumstances.• The influence of the trade unions has been weakened as a consequence of legislation, our economic circumstances, and demographic decline.• But the second problem goes well beyond me and my own personal circumstances.• First, the economic circumstances of poor families have worsened relative to the rest of the population in recent decades.• Is the amount at stake, though small, significant in relation to the financial circumstances of the applicant?• In due course, when economic circumstances permit, we would like to rebuild it. → pomp and circumstance at pomp COLLOCATIONSadjectivesin/under certain circumstances (=if particular conditions exist) 在某些情况下In certain circumstances you may be refused a visa. 在某些情况下你的签证申请有可能会被拒。
exceptional/special circumstances 特殊情况The court may allow this evidence in exceptional circumstances. 法庭在特殊情况下可能会允许出示这项证据。
normal circumstances 正常情况In normal circumstances, a child’s language will develop naturally. 在正常情况下,儿童的语言能力会自然发展。
particular circumstances (=special or specific) 特殊情况;特定情况There may be particular circumstances in which this rule will not apply. 这条规则可能不适用于某些特殊情况。
difficult circumstances 艰苦的环境Many teachers are doing a very good job under difficult circumstances. 许多老师在艰苦的条件下都干得非常出色。
suspicious circumstances (=making you think something illegal has happened) 可疑情形Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. 警方称他的死亡不存在疑点。
mysterious circumstances (=strange or suspicious) 神秘的情况One of their colleagues had vanished in mysterious circumstances. 他们有一名同事神秘失踪。
unusual circumstances 非常情况nThere were several unusual circumstances that night.
unforeseen circumstances (=that you did not realize would happen) 未预见的情况nThe tragedy was the result of a series of unforeseen circumstances.
tragic circumstances (=extremely sad and unfortunate) 悲惨境况nBoth parents had died in tragic circumstances.
extenuating/mitigating circumstances (=conditions that make it reasonable for someone to break the rules or law) 情有可原的情形nHunger and poverty are not treated by the courts as extenuating circumstances.
phrasesa set/combination of circumstances 多种因素This was a very unusual set of circumstances. 这是很不寻常的复杂情况。
the circumstances surrounding something 某事的原因Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. 警方正在调查事故原因。
due to circumstances beyond somebody’s control 因为某人无法控制的原因Occasionally flights are cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. 偶尔有航班因为我们无法控制的原因而取消。