Dry run最早可追溯到19世纪中期,run在这里表示“溪流”,而“dry run”则指“干涸的河床”。当时在美国西部有很多这样的河床,平时干涸无流水,一场大雨过后却又过分积水。由此,有人猜测,dry run(干涸的河床)好比演出之前的排练,只等“暴雨”来临之时“积水”,以其排山倒海之势惊压四方。
据语言学家考证,run实质上是消防队的行话,指“出动”,即“消防队员整装待发赶往救火现场”。19世纪末,在一些“狂欢活动”中,各消防队为显示其英勇和睿智,往往相互PK,现场模拟表演整套消防动作,如“全体出动、立定式起跑”等。既然是模拟,这些动作一定与“水”没有直接干系,所以被称作“dry run”。
随着时间的推移,dry run的词义逐步扩大,可以用于各种“彩排、排练”,甚至是“非实弹军事演习”。 举两个例子:
He
did1 a dry run of his
speech2 in front of a mirror. 他对着镜子试讲。
The
Chairman3 is to arrive in two hours and we still have a lot to do. Please hurry up and we need to
save4 at
least5 half an hour for another dry run. 董事长两个小时以后到,我们还有许多事情要做。请大家抓紧时间,必须留出至少半个小时再来进行一次排练。
点击
收听单词发音
1
did
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v.动词do的过去式 |
参考例句: |
- How many goals did you score in the last game?上一场比赛你们进了几个球?
- Why did you choose basketball in the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢?
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2
speech
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n.讲话,演说 |
参考例句: |
- I did not lose a word of his speech.他的演说我没有听漏一个字。
- We were listening in to the Prime Minister's speech.我们正在收音机旁听首相的广播演说。
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3
chairman
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n.主席,会长,议长;董事长 |
参考例句: |
- The chairman asked us to vote on the plan.主席要我们对计划进行表决。
- He acted as chairman of the meeting.他担任大会主席。
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4
save
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n.救援,救球,节约;v.解救,保存,节省;prep.除...之外 |
参考例句: |
- Why didn't you save me?你为什么不救我?
- We have to save old newspapers.我们得保存旧报纸。
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5
least
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adj.最小(少)的;adv.最少(小;不);n.最小(少) |
参考例句: |
- He spends at least a part of his time in reading. 他至少有一部分空闲时间看书。
- The trip will take ten days,at least.这趟旅行顶少得10天时间。
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