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.