(1) About average
— no better or no worse than others.
— 符合一般水平
Example: Some staff's performance is about average. They have never provedbetter.
(2) About time
— the appropriate time.
— 差不多到时候了
Example: You have been working for quite a while. It's about time you hada new car.
(3) About to
— ready to
— 即将；正要
Example: We were about to go out when it suddenly rained.
(4) Back to back
— with the back facing the other.
— 背靠背
Example: Stand back to back, boys! Let me see who is the tallest.
(5) Back to front
— with the back placed where the front should be.
— 前后颠倒
Example: You got your pullover on back to front.
— thoroughly
— 透彻地
Example: All the people here know the government's major policies backto front.
(6) Back up someone/something
— support someone/something.
— 支持某人／某事
Example: ① No matter how, we should back up our most respected representative.
② Some new evidence backed up the prosecutor's argument.
(7) Call on/upon someone
— visit someone
— 访问某人
Example: When are we going to call on our new neighbours?
(8) Call on/upon someone to do something
— invite someone to speak, etc.
— 邀请
Example: Without further ado, let me call upon our distinguished guestto speak to us.
— appeal to someone to act.
— 恳求；促使
Example: In times of difficulties, we will have to call on the public tomake donations.
(9) Call out someone
— order officially.
— 召唤
Example: During the riot, the chief of police had to call out the riotpolice to restore law and order.
(10) Damp(en) something down
— make a fire burn less strongly.
— 使火燃烧缓慢下来
Example: It was a moonlit night, so the campers dampened down the fire.
— control and reduce something; suppress something.
— 抑制；减弱
Example: ① Some boys were over-zealous and we had to damp down their enthusiasm.
② Lack of support has damped down political dissidents' activities.
(11) Dance attendance on/upon someone
— do what someone wants without asking.
— 侍候某人，听其差遣
Example: The manageress sat still, expecting everyone to dance attendanceon her.