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not at any time; not on any occasion 从不;绝不;从未;未曾 You never help me. 你从不帮我。 He'll never forget her. 他永远不会忘记她。 He has never been abroad. 他从未出过国。 She had never seen so much snow. 她从未见过这么多雪。 She left the country, vowing never to return again. 她离开了这个国家,发誓再也不回来了。 ‘Would you vote for him?’ ‘Never.’ “你会投他一票吗?” “决不。” ‘I work for a company called Orion Technology.’ ‘Never heard of them.’ “我在一家名为奥里昂科技的公司工作。” “从来没听说过。” Never in all my life have I seen such a horrible thing. 我一辈子也没见过这么恐怖的事。 Never ever tell anyone your password. 不要把你的密码告诉任何人。 Never before has English cuisine been so stylish. 英国美食从未如此时尚。
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used to emphasize a negative statement instead of ‘not’ (与 not 同义,语气较强)一点都不,从未 I never knew (= didn't know until now) you had a twin sister. 我从来不知道你还有个双胞胎姐姐。 I never realized just how easy it is. 我从未意识到这有多容易。 - (especially British English)
Someone might find out, and that would never do (= that is not acceptable). 也许有人会发现,那是绝对不行的。 He never so much as smiled (= did not smile even once). 他从未笑过。 Most people have never even heard of Iggy. 大部分人连伊基都没听说过。 - (especially British English)
‘I told my boss exactly what I thought of her.’ ‘You never did!’ (= ‘Surely you didn't!’) “我对老板说了我对她的真实看法。” “不可能!” - (British English, slang)
‘You took my bike.’ ‘No, I never.’ “你把我的车骑走了吧。” “没有,我没骑。” - (old-fashioned or humorous)
Never fear (= Do not worry), everything will be all right. 别担心,一切都会好的。
Word OriginOld English nǣfre, from ne ‘not’ + ǣfre ‘ever’.
Idioms
never say never
used to say that nothing is impossible (表示并不重要)没关系,无所谓 Many thought the book could not become a movie, but with Hollywood never say never. 许多人认为这本书不可能成为一部电影,但好莱坞从来不说永远。
on the never-never
- (old-fashioned, British English, informal)
on hire purchase (= by making payments over a long period) 以分期付款的方式 to buy a new car on the never-never 以分期付款的方式购买一辆新车
Well, I never (did)!
- (old-fashioned)
used to express surprise or disapproval (表示惊奇或不赞同)不会吧,不行的 Well, I never! Fancy getting married and not telling us! 嗬,好家伙! 想偷偷结婚不告诉我们!