（上接 第一部分 ）

1. begin to understand : to slowly begin to understand a situation or someone's feelings, because you get more information or because you experience something for yourself

例：

I think it will be a long time before we even begin to understand how damaging the effect has been. （我觉得，我们得很久以后才会意识到这件事的后果有多严重。）

Patients are given written information and videos so that they can begin to understand more about their condition. （我们会给病人纸质的资料和光盘资料，这样他们就会更了解自己的病情。）

begin to understand that

I was beginning to understand that being alone could be terribly depressing. （我终于明白孤单一人真是够令人沮丧的。）

begin to understand why/how/what etc.

As we walked up the narrow staircases, we began to understand why the Dutch haul their furniture up the outside of the buildings and through the windows. （我们走在狭窄的楼道上，终于明白为什么荷兰人要把家具从窗户吊进来。）

2. catch on : to begin to understand something that is not easy to understand

备注： ''catch on'' 常用于非正式的场合。

例：

Thomas isn't catching on as quickly as some of the other children. （托马斯的反应没有其他孩子那么快。）

catch on to...

It took Jennifer a long time to catch on to the fact that Mary was taking advantage of her. （珍妮弗很久以后才意识到，玛丽是在利用她。）

catch on fast/quickly

She catches on fast and will soon be promoted. （她反应很快，很能领会领导意思，很快就会得到晋升。）

3. get it : to finally understand something, especially after it has been explained to you several times

备注： ''get it'' 常用于口语中。

例：

Okay, I get it. You only get paid if you sell at least ten copies. （好吧，我明白了，你至少要卖掉 10 本才有钱拿。）

"So the plant takes in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen." "That's it. You've got it." （ - 植物吸收二氧化碳，释放氧气。 - 对的，你弄懂了。）

4. figure/work out : to think about something until you understand it, especially something complicated

例：

Tom thought he had it all figured out, but he hadn't. （汤姆觉得自己都明白了，但其实还没有全明白。）

figure/work out how/why/what etc.

Detectives are still trying to work out what happened. （探员们还在努力查案。）

5. twig : to begin to understand a situation by what you see and hear around you, and not by being told directly

备注： ''twig'' 常用于英式英语的非正式场合。

例：

Oh, I get it, I've twigged at last. How much do you want? （噢，我终于明白了。你想要多少？）

twig that

At last I twigged that I was pregnant. （我最后终于明白自己是怀孕了。）

twig why/where/what etc.

It took him about two minutes to twig what I was going on about! （他两分钟后才明白我在说什么。）

6. cotton on : to begin to understand a situation by what you see and hear around you, and not by being told directly

备注： ''cotton on'' 常用于非正式场合。

例：

cotton on to

It took him a while to cotton on to what was happening. （过了一会，他才明白刚刚发生了什么事。）

7. fall into place : if several facts fall into place , you begin to understand how they are connected and why each one is important, so that you understand a whole situation or subject

例：

Once the police received this new evidence, things began falling into place. （警方有了新证据，案情才开始真相大白。）