oc‧ca‧sion 1 S1 W2 / əkeɪʒ ə n / 名词
1 time
a) [可数名词] a time when something happens
on … occasions
I’ve seen Jana with them on several occasions.
On this occasion we were sitting in a park in Madrid.
She had met Zahid on two separate occasions.
b) [单数形式] a suitable or favourable time
occasion for
This was the occasion for expressions of friendship by the two presidents. ► Do not use occasion to mean ‘a time when it is possible for you to do what you want to do’. Use opportunity or chance : Do not waste this opportunity (NOT this occasion).
2 special event [可数名词] an important social event or ceremony :
I’m saving this bottle of champagne for a special occasion.
3 cause/reason [不可数名词] formal a cause or reason :
His remark was the occasion of a bitter quarrel.
I had occasion to call on him last year.
4 if (the) occasion arises formal if a particular action ever becomes necessary :
If ever the occasion arises when I want advice, you’re the first person I’ll come to.
5 on occasion sometimes but not often :
On occasion, prisoners were allowed visits from their families.
6 on the occasion of something formal at the time of an important event :
on the occasion of his second wedding → rise to the occasion at rise 1 ( 9 )
COLLOCATIONS
形容词
several occasions He has helped me on several occasions.
many occasions I have seen him drunk on many occasions.
numerous occasions She has been late on numerous occasions.
two/three etc occasions He was given a red card on two occasions this season.
a rare occasion (= used when something does not happen often ) Only on rare occasions did she ever receive a letter.
a particular occasion On that particular occasion, he greeted me by kissing my hand.
a previous occasion He insisted then, as on every previous occasion, that he was innocent.
a separate occasion I had heard this story on at least four separate occasions.
a different occasion The same person can react differently on different occasions.
such occasions (= an occasion like the one mentioned or described ) He had a box of toys by his desk for such occasions.
短语
a number of occasions The crowd interrupted her speech on a number of occasions.
more than one occasion (= more than once ) She stayed out all night on more than one occasion.
at least one occasion (= once, and probably more than once ) On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
COLLOCATIONS
形容词
a special occasion She used her best china on special occasions.
a big/great/splendid occasion The big occasion for country people was the Agricultural Fair.
a formal occasion He wore the suit on formal occasions.
a social occasion I prefer not to discuss business at social occasions.
a ceremonial occasion (= a very formal official occasion ) The gowns are worn only on ceremonial occasions.
a happy/joyful occasion The wedding had been a joyful occasion.
a sad/solemn occasion He did not want his funeral to be a sad and solemn occasion, but a celebration of his life.
a festive occasion (= when you celebrate something ) The Great Hall had been prepared for the festive occasion.
a historic occasion (= important as part of history ) This is truly a historic occasion.
动词
celebrate an occasion To celebrate the occasion, a small party was held at his home.
mark an occasion (= do something special to celebrate an event ) The bells were rung to mark the occasion.
suit the occasion The table was decorated to suit the occasion.
短语
a sense of occasion (= a feeling that an event is very special or important ) The music gave the event a real sense of occasion.
enter into the spirit of the occasion (= join in a social occasion in an eager way ) People entered into the spirit of the occasion by enjoying a picnic before the outdoor concert.