核心问题
《英语疑难词典》(外研社,02,p.322)说:“... not to say (mention)后面只能接名词或动名词。”
但是,我在该书(p.394)中却读到这样的例句:
It is rather cool, not to say cold. 天气虽不能说冷，但也算是相当凉了。
词典解答
该书作者说, not to mention 后面只能接名词或动名词, 是对的(见mention), 但他说 not to say 后面只能接名词或动名词, 那就谬以千里了(参见 not to say/let alone)。请看:
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It would be unwise, not to say (= and possibly even) stupid, to leave your first job after only six months. 你要是只干六个月就放弃第一份工作的话，那是不明智的，甚至是愚蠢的。
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It was an interesting, not to say shocking film. 这部电影虽说不上令人震惊，但是却挺有意思的。
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His language was irreverent, not to say blasphemous. 他的语言傲慢无礼，甚至可以说是恶声谩骂。