in iron, in irons
两者意思不同:in iron的意思是“从事铁业”; 而in irons的意思是“戴着镣铐”。例如:
He is a worker in iron.
他是个铁匠。
When the earl reached the castle,his legs were put in irons.
那位伯爵到了城堡后,双脚就被套上 了镣铐。
irons, fetters, handcuffs
这三个词都可表示刑具。它们的区别在于: irons 主要指“脚镣或手铐”; fetters则专指“脚镣”; handcuffs常指“手铐”。例如:
The prisoner was put in irons.那个罪犯被戴上了镣铐。
The black leader was in fetters behind the bars.这位黑人领袖在铁窗里,戴着脚镣。
Handcuffs were put on her wrists when the arrest warrant was shown to her.给她看了逮捕证,随即给她戴上手铐。
下面三个短语意思不同:
the Iron 铁器时代
Iron Age (希腊与罗马神话中的)黑铁时代
iron age (人类的)颓废时期