act

noun

作为 sth that sb does

1. 行为；行动；所为
   a particular thing that sb does
   1. an act of kindness
      善行
   2. acts of terrorism
      恐怖行动
   3. The murder was the act of a psychopath.
      这次谋杀是精神变态者所为。
   4. a criminal act
      犯罪行为

法律 law

2. （议会通过的）法案，法令
   a law that has been passed by a parliament
   1. an Act of Congress
      国会法案
   2. the Higher Education Act 2002
      2002年颁布的高等教育法

假装 pretending

3. 假装
   a way of behaving that is not sincere but is intended to have a particular effect on others
   1. Don't take her seriously─it's all an act.
      别跟她认真——这全是假戏一场。
   2. You could tell she was just putting on an act .
      你可以看出，她是在装模作样。

戏剧；娱乐 in play/entertainment

4. （戏剧、歌剧等的）一幕
   one of the main divisions of a play, an opera , etc.
   1. a play in five acts
      一出五幕剧
   2. The hero dies in Act 5, Scene 3.
      男主角在第五幕第三场死去。
5. 一段表演
   one of several short pieces of entertainment in a show
   1. a circus/comedy/magic act
      马戏 / 喜剧 / 魔术表演
6. 表演者；音乐人组合
   a performer or group of musicians
   1. They were one of rock's most impressive live acts.
      他们是最富感染力的现场表演摇滚乐组合之一。

verb

做某事 do sth

1. 做事；行动
   to do sth for a particular purpose or in order to deal with a situation
   1. It is vital that we act to stop the destruction of the rainforests.
      至关紧要的是，我们应当采取行动制止破坏雨林。
   2. The girl's life was saved because the doctors acted so promptly.
      多亏医生行动迅速，女孩的生命得救了。
   3. He claims he acted in self-defence.
      他声称自己是出于自卫。

行为 behave

2. 行为；举止
   to behave in a particular way
   1. John's been acting very strangely lately.
      近来约翰的行为怪得很。
   2. Stop acting like spoilt children!
      别再像惯坏的孩子那样胡闹了！

假装 pretend

3. 假装
   to pretend by your behaviour to be a particular type of person
   1. He's been acting the devoted husband all day.
      他整天装作模范丈夫的样子。
   2. I decided to act dumb.
      我决定装哑。

戏剧 / 电影表演 perform in play/movie

4. 扮演（戏剧、电影中的角色）
   to perform a part in a play or film/movie
   1. Have you ever acted?
      你演过戏吗？
   2. Most of the cast act well.
      这出戏大多数演员演得不错。
   3. Who's acting (= taking the part of) Hamlet?
      谁演哈姆雷特？
   4. The play was well acted.
      这出戏演得不错。

起作用 perform function

5. 充当；起作用
   to perform a particular role or function
   1. Can you act as interpreter?
      你能担任口译吗？
   2. hormones in the brain that act like natural painkillers
      大脑中起着天然止痛药作用的激素

有作用 have effect

6. （对…）有作用，有影响
   to have an effect on sth
   1. Alcohol acts quickly on the brain.
      酒精对大脑迅速产生影响。

1. VERB 做事;行动
   When you act, you do something for a particular purpose.
   1. The deaths occurred when police acted to stop widespread looting and vandalism...
      警方采取行动制止猖狂的打砸抢行为时有多人丧生。
   2. I do not doubt that the bank acted properly.
      我毫不怀疑银行的处理方式是妥当的。
2. VERB 遵照…行动；奉行
   If you act on advice or information, you do what has been advised or suggested.
   1. A patient will usually listen to the doctor's advice and act on it.
      患者通常都会遵照医嘱行事。
3. VERB 举止;表现
   If someone acts in a particular way, they behave in that way.
   1. ...a gang of youths who were acting suspiciously...
      一伙形迹可疑的年轻人
   2. He acted as if he hadn't heard any of it...
      他表现得好像对此毫不知情。
   3. Open wounds act like a magnet to flies.
      裸露的伤口很招苍蝇。
4. VERB 起作用;充当
   If someone or something acts as a particular thing, they have that role or function.
   1. He acted both as the ship's surgeon and as chaplain for the men.
      他在船上为水手们兼作外科医生和牧师。
   2. ...the Cunard Princess, which acted as a support ship for American forces.
      用作美军支援船的公主号冠达邮轮
5. VERB 假装;故作
   If someone acts in a particular way, they pretend to be something that they are not.
   1. Chris acted astonished as he examined the note...
      克里斯检查记录时故作震惊状。
   2. Kenworthy had tried not to act the policeman.
      肯沃西努力表现得不像个警察。
6. VERB 代理；代表
   When professionals such as lawyers act for you, or act on your behalf, they are employed by you to deal with a particular matter.
   1. ...the law firm that acted for Diana during her marriage split...
      在戴安娜婚姻破裂期间为她做代理的法律事务所
   2. Because we travelled so much, Sam and I asked a broker to act on our behalf.
      由于我们经常游历在外，我和萨姆便请了一位经纪人代表我们处理事务。
7. VERB 影响；作用于
   If a force or substance acts on someone or something, it has a certain effect on them.
   1. He's taking a dangerous drug: it acts very fast on the central nervous system...
      他正在服用一种危险的药物：这种药物能很快影响到中枢神经系统。
   2. A hypnotist can act upon the unconscious mind directly.
      催眠师能直接作用于无意识思维。
8. VERB 表演；演（戏）；出演（角色）
   If you act, or act a part in a play or film, you have a part in it.
   1. She confessed to her parents her desire to act...
      她向父母坦言了自己想演戏的愿望。
   2. She acted in her first film when she was 13 years old.
      13岁时她出演了她的电影处女作。
9. N-COUNT 行为；行动
   An act is a single thing that someone does.
   1. Language interpretation is the whole point of the act of reading...
      阅读行为中关键在于对语言的理解。
   2. My insurance excludes acts of sabotage and damage done by weapons of war.
      我购买的保险对于蓄意损坏以及战争中武器造成的损坏不予赔偿。
10. N-SING 装模作样;装腔作势
    If you say that someone's behaviour is an act, you mean that it does not express their real feelings.
    1. There were moments when I wondered: did she do this on purpose, was it all just a game, an act?...
       有时我很困惑：她这么做是故意的吗？难道一切都只是一场游戏，是逢场作戏？
    2. His anger was real. It wasn't an act.
       他是真的生气了，不是在摆样子。
11. N-COUNT 法案；法令；条例
    An Act is a law passed by the government.
    1. ...an Act of Parliament.
       议会法案
12. N-COUNT （戏剧、歌剧、芭蕾舞剧等的）幕
    An act in a play, opera, or ballet is one of the main parts into which it is divided.
    1. Act II contained one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed...
       第二幕里有我看过的最搞笑的场面之一。
13. N-COUNT （演出中的）短节目
    An act in a show is a short performance which is one of several in the show.
    1. This year numerous bands are playing, as well as comedy acts...
       今年除了那些搞笑短剧外，还会有众多乐队登台献艺。
14. PHRASE 当场抓住；抓现行
    If you catch someone in the act, you discover them doing something wrong or committing a crime.
    1. The men were caught in the act of digging up buried explosives.
       那些人在挖掘掩埋的爆炸物时被逮个正着。
15. PHRASE 改邪归正；重新做人
    If someone who has been behaving badly cleans up their act, they start to behave in a more acceptable or responsible way.
    1. The nation's advertisers need to clean up their act.
       该国的广告商需要规范自己的行为。
16. PHRASE （为了得到好处等）参与，插一手
    If you get in on the act, you take part in or take advantage of something that was started by someone else.
    1. In the 1970s Kodak, anxious to get in on the act, launched its own instant camera.
       20世纪70年代，急于分一杯羹的柯达公司推出了自己的拍立得相机。
17. PHRASE 正在做…
    You say that someone was in the act of doing something to indicate what they were doing when they were seen or interrupted.
    1. Ken was in the act of paying his bill when Neil came up behind him.
       当尼尔从后面走过来时，肯正在付账。
18. PHRASE 全力以赴；集中精力；劲儿往一处使
    If you get your act together, you organize your life or your affairs so that you are able to achieve what you want or to deal with something effectively.
    1. The Government should get its act together...
       政府应该集中力量。
    2. We have to get our act together — we have to organize ourselves.
       我们必须把劲儿往一处使——我们得组织起来。
19. to act one's age → see: age

1. The deaths occurred when police acted to stop widespread looting and vandalism
   警方采取行动制止猖狂的打砸抢行为时有多人丧生。
2. I do not doubt that the bank acted properly.
   我毫不怀疑银行的处理方式是妥当的。
3. A patient will usually listen to the doctor's advice and act on it.
   患者通常都会遵照医嘱行事。
4. He acted as if he hadn't heard any of it
   他表现得好像对此毫不知情。
5. Open wounds act like a magnet to flies.
   裸露的伤口很招苍蝇。
6. He acted both as the ship's surgeon and as chaplain for the men.
   他在船上为水手们兼作外科医生和牧师。
7. Chris acted astonished as he examined the note
   克里斯检查记录时故作震惊状。
8. Kenworthy had tried not to act the policeman.
   肯沃西努力表现得不像个警察。
9. Because we travelled so much, Sam and I asked a broker to act on our behalf.
   由于我们经常游历在外，我和萨姆便请了一位经纪人代表我们处理事务。
10. He's taking a dangerous drug: it acts very fast on the central nervous system
    他正在服用一种危险的药物：这种药物能很快影响到中枢神经系统。
11. A hypnotist can act upon the unconscious mind directly.
    催眠师能直接作用于无意识思维。
12. She confessed to her parents her desire to act
    她向父母坦言了自己想演戏的愿望。
13. She acted in her first film when she was 13 years old.
    13岁时她出演了她的电影处女作。
14. Language interpretation is the whole point of the act of reading
    阅读行为中关键在于对语言的理解。
15. My insurance excludes acts of sabotage and damage done by weapons of war.
    我购买的保险对于蓄意损坏以及战争中武器造成的损坏不予赔偿。
16. There were moments when I wondered: did she do this on purpose, was it all just a game, an act?
    有时我很困惑：她这么做是故意的吗？难道一切都只是一场游戏，是逢场作戏？
17. His anger was real. It wasn't an act.
    他是真的生气了，不是在摆样子。
18. Act II contained one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed
    第二幕里有我看过的最搞笑的场面之一。
19. This year numerous bands are playing, as well as comedy acts
    今年除了那些搞笑短剧外，还会有众多乐队登台献艺。
20. The men were caught in the act of digging up buried explosives.
    那些人在挖掘掩埋的爆炸物时被逮个正着。
21. The nation's advertisers need to clean up their act.
    该国的广告商需要规范自己的行为。
22. In the 1970s Kodak, anxious to get in on the act, launched its own instant camera.
    20世纪70年代，急于分一杯羹的柯达公司推出了自己的拍立得相机。
23. Ken was in the act of paying his bill when Neil came up behind him.
    当尼尔从后面走过来时，肯正在付账。
24. The Government should get its act together
    政府应该集中力量。
25. We have to get our act together — we have to organize ourselves.
    我们必须把劲儿往一处使——我们得组织起来。
26. Congress passed the National Security Act, and the CIA was born
    国会通过了《国家安全法》，中央情报局由此而诞生。
27. He wants to act in concert with other nations.
    他想和其他国家采取一致行动。
28. The tough new law should act as a deterrent.
    这项严厉的新法将起到威慑作用。
29. Women should be free to dress and act as they please
    女性应该有穿衣和行动的自由。
30. The legislature repealed the unpopular Rent Act.
    立法机关废除了不得人心的租借法案。

act for/on behalf of sb

1. （受雇）代表某人行事
   to be employed to deal with sb's affairs for them, for example by representing them in court

act on/upon sth

1. 根据（建议、信息等）行事
   to take action as a result of advice, information, etc.

act sth↔out

1. 履行（仪式）；将…表演出来
   to perform a ceremony or show how sth happened, as if performing a play
2. 充当（真实情况中的角色）
   to act a part in a real situation
   1. Don't take her seriously─it's all an act.
      别跟她认真——这全是假戏一场。
   2. You could tell she was just putting on an act .
      你可以看出，她是在装模作样。

act up

1. 表现不好；捣乱
   to behave badly
   1. a play in five acts
      一出五幕剧
   2. The hero dies in Act 5, Scene 3.
      男主角在第五幕第三场死去。
2. 出毛病
   to not work as it should
   1. a circus/comedy/magic act
      马戏 / 喜剧 / 魔术表演

n.

act of God

• 天灾；不可抗力（如风暴、洪水、地震）
  an event caused by natural forces beyond human control, such as a storm, a flood or an earthquake

be/get in on the act

• 参与；插一手
  to be/become involved in an activity that sb else has started, especially to get sth for yourself

do, perform, stage a disappearing/vanishing act

• 隐藏踪迹；潜踪隐迹
  to go away or be impossible to find when people need or want you

get your act together

• 集中精力
  to organize yourself and your activities in a more effective way in order to achieve sth
  1. He needs to get his act together if he's going to pass.
     要是他想合格，就必须集中精力。

a hard/tough act to follow

• 令人望尘莫及的人
  a person who is so good or successful at sth that it will be difficult for anyone else coming after them to be as good or successful

in the act (of doing sth)

• 正在（做某事）；当场
  while you are doing sth
  1. He was caught in the act of stealing a car.
     他偷汽车时被当场逮个正着。

clean up your act

• 改邪归正；重新做人
  to start behaving in a moral or responsible way
  1. He cleaned up his act and came off drugs.
     他已改邪归正戒掉了毒品。

read (sb) the Riot Act

• 警告（某人）不得做某事
  to tell sb with force that they must not do sth

v.

be/act your age

• 行为和年龄相称；举止不再有孩子气
  to behave in a way that is suitable for sb of your age and not as though you were much younger

act/play the fool

• 装傻，扮丑相（以逗人笑，但往往惹人恼怒）
  to behave in a stupid way in order to make people laugh, especially in a way that may also annoy them
  1. Quit playing the fool and get some work done!
     别再装傻了，干点实事吧！

behave/act as if you own the place

think you own the place

• （言行）喧宾夺主
  to behave in a very confident way that annoys other people, for example by telling them what to do

noun

1. something that people do or cause to happen

   Synonym:    deedhuman actionhuman activity

2. a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

   Synonym:    enactment

3. a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program
   1. he did his act three times every evening
   2. she had a catchy little routine
   3. it was one of the best numbers he ever did

   Synonym:    routinenumberturnbit

4. a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet

5. a manifestation of insincerity
   1. he put on quite an act for her benefit

verb

1. behave in a certain manner
   1. You should act like an adult
   2. Don't behave like a fool
   3. What makes her do this way?
   4. The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people

   Synonym:    behavedo

2. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
   1. He acted the idiot
   2. She plays deaf when the news are bad

   Synonym:    playact as

3. discharge one's duties
   1. She acts as the chair
   2. In what capacity are you acting?

4. play a role or part
   1. Gielgud played Hamlet
   2. She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
   3. She played the servant to her husband's master

   Synonym:    playrepresent

5. perform on a stage or theater
   1. She acts in this play
   2. He acted in `Julius Caesar'
   3. I played in `A Christmas Carol'

   Synonym:    playroleplayplayact

6. behave unnaturally or affectedly
   1. She's just acting

   Synonym:    dissemblepretend

7. perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
   1. think before you act
   2. We must move quickly
   3. The governor should act on the new energy bill
   4. The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel

   Synonym:    move

8. be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure

9. have an effect or outcome
   1. The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
   2. How does your idea work in practice?
   3. This method doesn't work
   4. The breaks of my new car act quickly
   5. The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water

   Synonym:    work

10. be suitable for theatrical performance
    1. This scene acts well