英语习语：off-the-cuff;be about to...

cuff

UK [kʌf]

US [kʌf]

n.

袖口；用掌轻拍

v.

用手轻快地拍(某人)

The cuffs of his shirt were fraying.

他衬衣的袖口磨破了。

Idiom

n.

off the cuff

(of speaking, remarks, etc. 讲话、话语等) 未经思考（或准备）；即兴

without previous thought or preparation

I'm just speaking off the cuff here─I haven't seen the results yet. 

我只是在这里即兴说说而已，我还没看到结果呢。

an off-the-cuff remark 

即席发言

cufflinks

UK [ˈkʌflɪŋks]

n.

(衬衫的)袖口链扣，袖扣

cufflink的复数

He clipped his cufflinks neatly in place.

他把袖扣别得整整齐齐。

Turn-ups N-COUNT (裤脚的)翻边，卷边

The turn-ups on a pair of trousers are the parts which are folded over at the ends of the legs.

Notes On Alternative Forms 变体形式注释

in AM, use 美国英语用 cuffs

handcuff

UK [ˈhændkʌf]

US [ˈhændkʌf]

v.

用手铐铐住(某人)；把(某人)铐在(某物、某人)上

n.

手铐；思想上的桎梏

复数：handcuffs第三人称单数：handcuffs现在进行时：handcuffing过去式：handcuffed过去分词：handcuffed

He was led away to jail in handcuffs.他戴着手铐被送进了监狱。

She was led away in handcuffs.她被铐住双手带走了。

be about to do sth /be going to do sth

to risk your neck 冒生命危险

to raise your eyebrows 大吃一惊

to twist your arm 要你让步

to split hairs 做过分琐细的分析

to break your neck是指尽一切努力去做某件事

to stick your neck out是指为了某人或某件事冒风险

“be about to”后面接“ do”相当于“be going to do”。

“be about to”意为“就要、即将干某事”，指最近的将来，表示动作马上就要发生。

如果网上流言可信，苹果可能正在开发一款平板电脑。

“be about to”有三种含义：

1、表示即将做某事。

如：It might be about to do the same with the introduction of a tablet computer,if internet rumours are  to be believed.如果网上流言可信，苹果可能正在开发一款平板电脑。

2、其否定式在美国英语中可表示“不打算（不愿意）”。

如：I’m not about to stop when I’m so close to success. 在这样接近成功时我不打算就此罢手。

3、习惯上不与具体时间状语连用。

由于本身已含有“即将”这样的时间概念，所以它习惯上不再与 soon, at once, immediately, tomorrow 这样的具体时间状语连用。“be about to do”的近义词“be going to do”：将要；打算；即将做，“going to”后面接动词原形。

例如：

I'm going to take a shower.我打算去洗个澡。