“in sight”是英语中常用的介词短语,核心含义围绕“视觉可达”或“即将实现”,具体解释和用法如下:
1、 字面义:看得见;在视线范围内(反义词:out of sight 看不见)
2、 引申义:即将发生;在望;可预期(表示目标、结果等即将实现)
“in sight”通常作为表语(跟在be动词后)或定语(修饰名词)使用,也可用于某些固定语境。
描述视觉状态:
No one was in sight when I arrived.(我到达时,一个人都看不见。)
The mountains are beautiful when they’re in sight.(山脉在视线内时很美。)
描述抽象的“在望”(目标、结果等即将实现):
After months of hard work, victory is finally in sight.(经过数月努力,胜利终于在望。)
With the exam date approaching, graduation is in sight for the seniors.(随着考试日期临近,高年级学生即将毕业。)
此时“in sight”后置(介词短语作定语通常后置):
A ship in sight is usually a welcome sight for sailors.(看得见的船对水手来说通常是令人欣慰的景象。)
We waited for hours, but no help in sight appeared.(我们等了几个小时,但没看到任何救援。)
“keep ... in sight”:保持……在视线内(注意……)
Keep the kids in sight while they’re playing near the lake.(孩子在湖边玩时,要盯着他们。)
“lose sight of”:看不见;忽略(引申义)
Don’t lose sight of your original goal.(别忘记你最初的目标。)
“at the sight of”:一看到……(注意:这是另一个短语,强调“看到的瞬间”,而非“处于视线内的状态”)
She cried at the sight of her lost dog.(她一看到丢失的狗就哭了。)
in sight vs. within sight:两者含义相近,都表示“在视线内”,但“within sight”更强调“距离近”(within = 在……范围内),而“in sight”更侧重“视觉可达”(不管距离)。
The café is within sight of the station.(咖啡馆离车站很近,一眼就能看到。)
“in sight”的核心是“视觉上的可达”或“结果的可预期”,用法灵活,常用来描述状态(表语)或修饰名词(定语)。掌握它的关键是结合上下文判断是“字面的看得见”还是“抽象的即将实现”。