/ækt ||; ækt/noun[C]
1 a thing that you do 所做之事;行动:
In a typical act of generosity they refused to accept any money. 他们真的是慷慨,不肯收钱。
to commit a violent act 动粗;施暴
Act and action can have the same meaning It was a brave act/action. Act, not action can be followed by of It was an act of bravery. Activity is used for something that is done regularly I like outdoor activities such as walking and gardening. act 和 action 可以用来表示相同的意思:It was a brave act/action. 这是英勇的行为。act 后面可以接 of,但 action 不可:It was an act of bravery. 这是英勇行为。activity 指经常做的事:I like outdoor activities such as walking and gardening. 我喜欢户外活动,例如散步和园艺。
2 oftenAct one of the main divisions of a play or opera (戏剧的)一幕:
How many scenes are there in Act 4? 第4幕有多少场?
3 a short piece of entertainment, especially as part of a show (尤指综合表演中的)小节目:
Did you enjoy the clowns' act? 你喜欢那些小丑表演的节目吗?
4 oftenAct a law made by a government 法律条例;法令:
The government passed an act forbidding the keeping of guns. 政府通过一项法令禁止私藏枪支。
5 behaviour that hides your true feelings 掩饰真实感情的行为:
She seems very happy but she's just putting on an act. 她看似很快乐,但只是装出来的。
a hard act to follow→
HARD¹
be/get in on the act become involved in an activity that is becoming popular 参与或加入某项时髦的活动
get your act together to organize yourself so that you can do sth properly 妥作安排以便办好某事;使出劲来:
If he doesn't get his act together he's going to lose his job. 他不使劲就会失去工作。
in the act (of doing sth) while doing sth, especially sth wrong 正在做某事(尤指坏事)的时候;当场:
He was looking through the papers on her desk and she caught him in the act. 他正在翻阅她桌子上的文件的时候被她逮个正着了。