I used to live in a small village on the coast (=on the land near the sea).
我以前住在一个滨海小村。
off the coast
a small island off the coast (=in the sea near the land) of Scotland
苏格兰近岸的一座小岛
the first European to cross Africa coast to coast
第一个横穿非洲的欧洲人
a deserted stretch of coast
空无一人的一段海岸
2.the coast is clearinformalSAFE if the coast is clear, it is safe for you to do something without being seen or caught 〔做某事〕没有危险,危险已经过去
Examples from the Corpus
the coast is clear• We raced out the door as soon as the coast was clear.• Or do you wait till they tire of the taunting and go to release the victim when the coast is clear?
nCOLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + coast
rocky
the rocky coast of Maine
rugged (=rough and uneven)
There are sandy beaches in the west and a rugged coast in the east.
the east/west/north/south coast
We stayed on the south coast of the island.
the Atlantic/Pacific/Mediterranean etc coast
the Mediterranean coast of Spain
coast + NOUN
a coast road
In summer the coast road is very crowded.
a coast path
There were wonderful sea views from the coast path.
the coast route (=the way that follows the coast)
I’d prefer to take the coast route.
verbs
follow the coast (=stay close to the coast)
The path follows the coast.
hug the coast (=follow it very closely)
A small railway hugs the coast.
phrases
a stretch of coast (=a long area of coast)
The 13th century chapel lies on a spectacular stretch of coast.
nTHESAURUS
coast noun [countableC] the part of a country that is close to the sea
The hurricane struck Florida’s coast.
St Andrew’s is on the east coast of Scotland.
shore noun [countableC, uncountableU] the land along the edge of the sea or along the edge of a lake
The children managed to swim to shore but their father was swept out to sea.
Vevey is a pretty town on the shores of Lake Geneva.
the seashore the land along the edge of the sea, especially where there is sand and rocks
Waves were crashing onto the seashore.
coastline noun [countableC] the edge of the land next to the sea – used especially about a long length of land or the shape it makes, for example as seen from the air
The road follows the rugged coastline of northern France for nearly 100 miles.
Environmentalists are concerned about possible damage to some of the most beautiful stretches of Welsh coastline.
seaboard noun [countableC] the part of a country that is close to the sea. Used mainly about very large countries such as the US or Australia: western/eastern etc seaboard
Australia’s eastern seaboard
| Atlantic/Pacific etc seaboard
the Atlantic seaboard of the US
the seasideBritish EnglishBrE a place at the edge of the sea where people go for a holiday
The children love going to the seaside.
by the seaBritish EnglishBrE, by the oceanAmerican EnglishAmE on land next to the sea
We bought a small cottage by the sea.
He always walks by the ocean in the early morning.
1[usually + adverbadv/prepositionprep]DRIVE if a car or bicycle coasts, it moves without any effort from you or any power from the engine 〔汽车或自行车〕靠惯性滑行
coast down/around/along etc
Bev coasted downhill on her bicycle.
贝夫骑着自行车沿山坡滑行而下。
2EASYto not try very hard to do something well – used to show disapproval 得过且过〔含贬义〕
Janey’s teacher says she’s just coasting at school.
珍妮的老师说她在学校里只是混日子。
3to be successful at something without much effort 不费力地成功
They scored three goals in the first half and from then on United were coasting.
他们在上半场进了三球,此后联队就踢得顺风顺水了。
coast to/through
The Ugandan relay team are coasting to victory.
乌干达接力队一路领先轻松获胜。
4.TTWto sail along the coast whilestaying close to land 沿海航行,近海航行
Examples from the Corpus
coast• She used to be an honorstudent, but now she's just coasting.• But this is hardly a place for coasting.• The shares were coasting along at above 400p and looking like going better after a string of tipstersrecommendations.• Laura was a brightkid and she could coast along at school without too much effort.• I had to coast along until I stopped.• So there's no scope to coast at all and not pick the strongestteam.• By now we were close to my farm, coasting down off the ridge, the headlights turning the gravelroadwhite.• You begin by coasting down the logflume, which makes you laugh.• If you feel that you've been coasting in your job, perhaps it's time for a change.• In 1994 he coasted to re-election.
coast down/around/along etc• The shares were coasting along at above 400p and looking like going better after a string of tipsters recommendations.• They rise up out of nowhere, coast along in the rearview mirror.• The end result is that both start coasting along in the same direction in which the box was originally moving.• By now we were close to my farm, coasting down off the ridge, the headlights turning the gravel road white.• Not long ago, this team coasted along on the road to resurrection.• You begin by coasting down the log flume, which makes you laugh.• The giantpalmslining the road inspected me disinterestedly as I coasted along trying to find the Alcade Apartments.