fact S1 W1 / fækt / 名词
1 true information [可数名词] a piece of information that is known to be true
fact about
The book is full of facts about the World Cup.
fact of
First of all, we need to know the facts of the case.
it’s a fact/that’s a fact (= used to emphasize that something is definitely true or that something definitely happened )
The divorce rate is twice as high as in the 1950s – that’s a fact.
is that a fact? (= used to reply to a statement that you find surprising, interesting, or difficult to believe )
‘She used to be a professional singer.’ ‘Is that a fact?’
2 the fact (that) used when talking about a situation and saying that it is true :
Our decision to build the museum in Hartlepool was influenced by the fact that there were no national museums in the North East.
He refused to help me, despite the fact that I asked him several times.
given the fact (that)/in view of the fact (that) (= used when saying that a particular fact influences your judgement about something or someone )
Given the fact that this is their first game, I think they did pretty well.
due to the fact (that)/owing to the fact (that) (= because )
The school’s poor exam record is largely due to the fact that it is chronically underfunded.
The fact we didn’t win when we were so close is very disappointing.
3 in (actual) fact
a) used when you are adding something, especially something surprising, to emphasize what you have just said :
I know the mayor really well. In fact, I had dinner with her last week.
b) used to emphasize that the truth about a situation is the opposite of what has been mentioned :
They told me it would be cheap but in fact it cost me nearly $500.
Her teachers said she was a slow learner, whereas in actual fact she was partially deaf.
4 the fact (of the matter) is spoken used when you are telling someone what is actually true in a particular situation, especially when this may be difficult to accept, or different from what people believe :
The fact of the matter is that he’s just not up to the job.
5 the fact remains used to emphasize that what you are saying about a situation is true and people must realize this :
The fact remains that the number of homeless people is rising daily.
6 real events/not a story [不可数名词] situations, events etc that really happened and have not been invented 反义词 fiction :
Much of the novel is based on fact.
It’s a news reporter’s job to separate fact from fiction .
7 facts and figures [复数形式] the basic details, numbers etc concerning a particular situation or subject :
Here are a few facts and figures about the country.
8 the facts speak for themselves used to say that the things that have happened or the things someone has done show clearly that something is true
9 after the fact after something has happened or been done, especially after a mistake has been made
→ as a matter of fact at matter 1 ( 4 ) , → face facts at face 2 ( 2 ) , → in point of fact at point 1 ( 17 )
COLLOCATIONS
形容词
the basic/key facts The report outlines the basic facts concerning the case.
a well-known fact It is a well-known fact that new cars lose a lot of their value in the first year.
a little-known fact It is a little-known fact that the actor was born in London.
an interesting fact The research revealed some interesting facts about the behaviour of cats.
a curious/remarkable fact It is a remarkable fact that elephants do not use their trunks to suck up water until they are over four months old.
hard facts (= information that is definitely true and can be proven ) His theory is supported by hard facts.
a historical/scientific fact This was presented as a historical fact when it was just an opinion.
the bare facts (= only the basic general facts of a situation ) We know the bare facts of his life, but nothing about what he was really like.
动词
give somebody/provide the facts Newspapers have a duty to give their readers the facts.
establish/piece together the facts (= find out what actually happened in a situation ) The police are still piecing together the facts.
examine the facts I decided to examine the facts for myself.
state the facts (= say what you know is true ) Press reports often fail to state the facts completely.
stick to the facts (= say only what you know is true ) Just stick to the facts when the police interview you.
短语
know for a fact (= used to say that something is definitely true ) I know for a fact that she is older than me.
get your facts right/straight (= make sure that what you say or believe is correct ) You should get your facts straight before making accusations.
get your facts wrong It’s no use putting together a beautifully-written argument if you get your facts wrong.