“Did Mary enjoy her trip on the ocean liner?”
“No, she stayed in her cabin while the ship was ____.”
A. over the sea B. in the sea C. to sea D. at sea(TOEFL)
为什么这里应当选 D(at sea)? 它与 at the sea 和 in the sea, on the sea 有何区别?
at sea 是个固定用法,意思是“在海上(航行)”或“航行中,航海旅行中”:
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When he woke up, the ship was at sea. (Palmer) 当他醒来时，船正在航行。
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By the second day the ship was well out at sea. (DAI) 到第二天船早已航行在海上了。
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They had first met at sea. (DAI) 他们是航海旅行中第一次相遇的。
at sea 的比喻用法,作“茫然”(be puzzled)解:
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He was all at sea when he began his new job. (OSD) 当他刚开始干他的新工作时，他一片茫然。
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I don't understand politics: I'm (all) at sea when people talk about the government. (LDCE) 我不懂政治;当大家谈到政府事务时,我茫然如坠五里雾中。
at the sea 的意思是“在海边”(at the seaside):
He spent the summer at the sea. 他在海滨度过了夏天。
on the sea 是指“在岸边”“在海上”：
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Brighton is on the sea. (OSD) 布赖顿座落在海岸边。
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a town with a beautiful position on the sea(LDCE) 位处海滨,地点甚佳的一座城镇
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There were lots of small yachts sailing on the sea. (CIDE) 海上有许多小游艇在航行。
in the sea 是指“在海里”：
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The small boat struggled in a turbulent sea. (FWF) 那只小船在波涛汹涌的海洋里拼搏航行。
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We went swimming in the sea. (CIDE) 我们去海里游泳。
When he first started in university, he really felt at ____ with his major-economics.