盤點那些自相矛盾的英語單詞
英語中有不少單詞，其本身存在互相矛盾的兩個意思，如果不弄清楚，有時會給我們的英語閱讀帶來一定困擾。特定情況下，聯繫上下文語境即可弄清它們的具體意思。
1. sanction“制裁”&“批准”
Economic sanctions will only be lifted when the aggressor nation withdraws its troops.
只有侵略國撤回其軍隊，經濟制裁纔會解除。
They tried to get official sanction for the scheme.
他們想使計劃獲得正式批准。
2. overlook“檢查；監視”&“忽視；忽略”
I am overlooking her work.
我正在檢查她的工作。
I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
我認爲你忽略了一個重要的事實。
3. finished“完成的”&“失敗的”
Are you finished with that drill?
你的那個練習做完了嗎？
This financial crisis means that the government's economic policy is finished.
這次金融危機意味着政府的經濟政策失敗了。
4. dust“擦去……的灰塵”&“在……上撒粉末”
I was dusting the mantelpiece when I noticed a crack.
我在擦壁爐臺的時候發現了一道裂紋。
Dust the top of the cake with icing sugar.
在蛋糕上撒些糖霜。
5. left“留下”&“離開”
He left the house by the back door.
他從房子的後門離開了。
His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.
他的鞋在地板上留下了泥印。
6. trim“添加，裝飾”&“修剪，剪枝”
The children are trimming up a Christmas tree with ribbons, laces.
孩子們正在往聖誕樹上掛彩帶和蕾絲。
He trimmed dead branches off a tree.
他從樹上剪掉枯枝。
7. cleave“劈開；分開”&“粘住；緊貼”
With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain (= into two pieces).
武士大斧一揮，將石頭劈成了兩半。
The ancient ivy cleaved to the ruined castle walls.
古老的常春藤緊緊攀附在破敗的城堡牆上。
注意：表“粘住；緊貼”時，cleave通常與to連用。
8. scan“細看，審視”&“粗略地看”
She anxiously scanned the faces of the men leaving the train.
她急切地盯着一張張下火車的人的臉。
I scanned through the booklet but couldn't find the address.
我很快地翻閱了一遍小冊子，但沒有找到那個地址。
9. fast“快速的”&“固定的”
Computers are getting faster all the time.
計算機一直在提速。
She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
她把繩子的一頭牢牢地綁在樹上。
10. off“關掉”&“響起”
She turned off the TV.
她關掉了電視。
The alarm went off.
鬧鈴響了起來。11. weather“經受住”&“受侵蝕”
The company weathered the recession.
這家公司挺過了經濟衰退。
The rock was weathered.
岩石風化了。
12. screen“放映；播出”&“遮掩；遮蔽”
The programme was not screened on British television.
這個節目沒有在英國電視上播出過。
She raised her hand to screen her eyes from the bright light.
她擡手遮住耀眼的亮光。
13. help“幫助”&“抑制”
How can I help you?
我如何才能幫你呢？
I couldn't help laughing.
我忍不住大笑起來。
14. clip“剪下來”&“別上去”
I clipped his picture from the newspaper.
我把他的照片從報紙上剪了下來。
He clipped his flashlight to his belt.
他把手電筒別在腰間。
15. fine“糟糕的；不合時宜的”&“優秀的；極好的”
He picked a fine time to leave us.
在那個時候扔下我們走了，他可真是會挑時間。
This building is the finest example of its type.
這幢建築是同類建築中最傑出的代表。
16. flog“鞭笞，棒打”&“推銷，出售”
Soldiers used to be flogged for disobedience.
過去士兵們常常因不守軍令而遭鞭笞。
He tried to flog his old car, but no one would buy it.
他想快點兒賣掉他的舊車，但沒人願意買。
17. ravel“使糾纏；使錯綜複雜”&“弄清；解開”
Mark's interference merely ravelled things further.
馬克的摻和只是讓情況進一步複雜化了。
It took Daisy a long time to ravel out all the wool.
黛西花了很長時間才把毛線解開。
18. mean“吝嗇的，小氣的”&“極好的，出色的”
He's too mean to buy her a ring.
他太吝嗇了，捨不得給她買一枚戒指。
She's a mean piano player.
她是個出色的鋼琴演奏家。
19. toss out“丟棄”&“提出”
She tossed out my old chair.
她把我的舊椅子扔了。
I decided to toss out the idea.
我決定提出這個想法。
注意：第二個例句在特定情況下也可以指“拋棄”那個想法，要根據上下文而定。
20. buckle“坍塌，垮掉”&“繫牢”
My knees buckled with fear.
我因爲害怕而膝蓋癱軟。
Buckle your seat belt.
請繫好安全帶。21. compromise“和解，讓步”&“危害，損害”
In the end I agreed to compromise.
最終我同意讓步。
The virus will compromise our immune system.
這種病毒會損害我們的免疫系統。
22. bolt“逃跑”&“鎖住”
The horse bolted at the sound of the shot.
那匹馬聽到槍聲後跑走了。
You'd better bolt your doors.
你最好鎖上門。
23. trip“旅行”&“絆倒”
The trip from York to Newcastle takes about an hour by train.
乘火車從約克到紐卡斯爾大約要花1個小時。
She had a nasty trip on the stairs.
她在樓梯上重重地絆了一跤。
24. apology“道歉，謝罪”&“辯解，解釋”
Please accept my apology.
請接受我的道歉。
The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct.
這些措施產生的後果爲我的行爲做了最佳詮釋。
25. consult“尋求諮詢”&“提供諮詢”
If you have any questions, consult an attorney.
你有任何問題，都可以諮詢律師。
The retired executive consults for several large companies.
這位退休高管爲好幾家大公司提供諮詢。
26. custom“慣常，習慣”&“特殊的，定製的”
He left the house at nine exactly, as is his custom.
他9點準時離開了家，這是他的習慣。
Justin Bieber looks suave in his custom suit.
穿上了定製西裝的賈斯汀·比伯展現了儒雅風範。
27. first-degree“最低級”&“最高級”
first-degree burn
一度燒傷（處於燒傷級別的低級）
first-degree murder
一級謀殺（處於謀殺級別的高級）
28. enjoin“囑咐”&“禁止”
He enjoined caution.
他囑咐要謹慎行事。
The government enjoined the publication of the book.
當局禁止出版這本書。
29. bound“去往，前往”&“束縛，綁縛”
She was on a plane bound for Moscow.
她在前往莫斯科的飛機上。
We found the girl bound.
我們發現女孩被綁起來了。
30. seed“播撒種子”&“去掉種子”
He is seeding the fields with wheat.
他在地裏種小麥。
Wash, seed and cut the pepper into small pieces.
將辣椒洗淨，去籽，切成小片。31. dollop“（固態的）一團，一塊”&“（液態的）一點，少許”
a dollop of whipped cream
一團生奶油
a dollop of whiskey
少量威士忌
32. garnish“增添配菜”&“扣錢”
Garnish the dish with parsley before serving.
這道菜端上桌之前，可以在上面配些歐芹點綴一下。
His employer garnished his wages in order to pay his debt.
僱主扣除了他的一部分工資用於支付他所欠的債務。
33. lease“（房東）出租”&“（租客）租用”
It was agreed they would lease him the flat.
按照約定他們要把公寓租給他。
He went to Toronto, where he leased an apartment.
他去了多倫多，在那兒租下一間公寓。
34. out of“在外”&“在內”
I hardly get out of the house because I work out of my home.
我幾乎不出屋，因爲我在家裏辦公。
注意：第一個out of表示“在……之外”，第二個out of表示“在……之內”。
35. model“榜樣的，優於別人的”&“按原樣複製的模型”
She really is a model student.
她真是個模範學生。
There is a model of a wooden house.
這兒有一個木屋模型。
36. presently“現在”&“不久之後”
Of 200 boats, only 20 are presently operational.
200條船中，目前只有20條可用。
The room was hot and presently her eyes grew heavy and she began to feel sleepy.
屋子裏很熱，不一會兒她就覺得眼皮發沉，昏昏欲睡。
37. out“亮了”&“滅了”
It's a good thing the full moon was out when the lights went out.
熄燈之後，滿月出來了。很好。
注意：第一個out表示“出來”，第二個out表示“滅掉”。
38. resign“辭職”&“重新簽署”
She resigned as director.
她辭去了董事職務。
Athletes who renew their contracts resign with their teams.
想要續簽的運動員都與各自的隊重新簽署了合約。
注意：第二句裏的resign也可以寫作re-sign，發音不同於“辭職”的resign。
39. fight with“與……打架”&“與……並肩戰鬥”
He fought with his mother-in-law.
他和岳母吵架了。
He fought with his mother-in-law.
他和岳母並肩戰鬥。
注意：還是這句英文，意思也可以理解爲“他以岳母爲武器進行戰鬥”。
40. unbending“倔強的；堅定的”&“放鬆，隨意”
He has earned a reputation as a stern and unbending politician.
作爲政治家，他以強硬和不妥協而聞名。
After a glass or two of wine she began unbending a little.
一兩杯酒下肚後她開始放鬆了一點兒。
