| 释义 |
Definition of early in English: earlyadjectiveearliest, earlier ˈəːliˈərli 1Happening or done before the usual or expected time. 早的；提早的 我们吃了一顿早午饭。 Example sentencesExamples - He was three-quarters of a length up at the line, and could have gained no more than a neck's advantage by his early start.
- Saturday will be centrepiece of the trek, and an early start will take them over a high mountain pass to Spain.
- We had decided to get an early start and headed out to Kirkuk and then to Tikrit.
- I'd pretty well given up on the day, took an early lunch, popped a couple of painkillers and took to my bed.
- There was an early start each day, admittedly, but I covered nearly 100 miles a day and got a lot done in between.
- Any protracted celebrations were curtailed by the early start to the Derry championship.
- Monday was an early lunch of homemade mince pie, chips and veg at Via Veneto.
- The IAEA mission has handed the plant management an early report on their work.
- Twenty-five pensioners enjoyed a free lunch as an early Christmas present from their local pub.
- The concentration of starch in stage two nodosities indicates a relatively early onset of starch accumulation.
- It's an idea that repeatedly surfaces in magazines and newspapers trying to sell an early start to the weekend.
- Mum was booked on the 12.55 back to Edinburgh, so it had to be an early lunch, come hail or shine.
- Just to really stoke things up, we arrived at Lyneham to find that we'd been booked an early lunch in the canteen.
- It is expected that the union will shortly call an early general assembly.
- The early onset of agricultural innovation there cannot be ascribed to above-average urban demand.
- With early planting it is essential that a good seed treatment be used to protect the seed.
- After an early lunch we packed some kit into a couple of bags and off we went to catch the ferry to Brownsea Island.
- He's off to Aus for a month on Thursday so we grabbed an early Christmas drink down near his office in Leatherhead.
- Once I had finished updating a monthly report, I took an early lunch and met her for a coffee.
- It's still early, but I may well get an entire chapter out of that little spark of an idea.
Synonyms untimely, premature too soon, too early, before time archaic unseasonable prompt, timely, quick, speedy, rapid, fast, without delay, expeditious archaic rathe - 1.1 (of a plant or crop) flowering or ripening before other varieties.
（植物或农作物）早产的，早熟的 早熟的马铃薯。 Example sentencesExamples - The garden is taking on its autumn hues and late-flowering plants dominate while early bloomers fade.
- In several cases it is possible to test this by comparing early and late varieties of titanite from the same sample or same locality.
- Many of the early maturing varieties are best when ripened under relatively cool conditions.
- Two types of monad pollen are present in early orchids, namely that with pollenkitt and that with elastoviscin.
- Wild plants such as the early marsh orchids are very selective about where they grow.
- However, for early crops in the south of the country, disease outbreak can be much earlier.
2Belonging or happening near the beginning of a particular period. 开始阶段的，开始时的 an early goal secured victory 开场后不久的一记进球奠定了比赛胜局。 she's in her early fifties Example sentencesExamples - A quick listen to their early songs proves just how clued in this group was from the start.
- Rangers settled quickest and took an early lead from a diving header by Smith from Philips cross.
- The early goal in that second period helped lift us, gave us something to hold on to, and from then on we played well.
- It is fascinating walking country, greener in early summer than you might expect.
- It was early morning and he had been parking his van near a site where he was working as a labourer, when he and a co-worker saw the fire.
- He had gone to his gentleman's club and was not expected to return until early evening.
- A decision on how the court will proceed is expected sometime in early April.
- An early goal after 30 seconds had the team from Portmagee under pressure from the start.
- An employee in his early thirties may well expect to retire at an earlier age than employees in their late fifties.
- From early morning, the general atmosphere was calm and relaxed, more in tune with a public festival than a mass protest.
- It now goes to the Senate, where little opposition is expected, in early March.
- It's never too early in the spring to plant the radish seeds, as long as the soil can be worked.
- However, Stevenson and his film crew have been warned to expect a few early alarm calls before they finally have the film in the can.
- The trials programme emerged as an ingenious political expedient in early 1998.
- We had already done around a dozen surgical cases in the morning and the early afternoon.
- They have until September 30 to submit final bids, and a winner is expected by early October.
- The early work, expected to start soon, will focus on the nature reserve.
- It was early in the morning and the sun was just beginning to show its lovely face from the horizon.
- We expected reasonable weather in early September, but boy, were we disappointed!
- In the early hours of the morning, police saw a driver using fog lights when there was no need for it and checked him.
Synonyms advance, forward, prior initial, preliminary, first, primary pilot, test, trial - 2.1 Done or occurring near the beginning of the day.
清早的，一大早的 we agreed to meet at 6 am to get an early start 我们约定6点集合以便一大早出发。 Example sentencesExamples - She returned to bed but called an ambulance in the early hours of the next day when she heard that her husband had stopped snoring.
- Richard's uncle Mel Taylor, who runs the Blue Pits Inn, Manchester Road, Castleton, stayed up until the early hours of Monday morning to share his success.
- I congratulate all those MPs who have had the courage of their convictions in signing up to this early day motion.
- 2.2 Denoting or belonging to the beginning of a historical period or cultural movement.
早期的，初期的 早期的印象主义。 Example sentencesExamples - Brading's book is a fine study that scholars of the early modern period should read.
- In the early modern period Descartes seems to have taken this position.
- When we look at this Hadith, we have a glimpse of life in the early Islamic period.
- The unitary empire of the early Islamic period had fragmented into numerous regional and local states.
- The Islamic expansion of the early medieval period was not waged for glory, or any of the other factors I listed at the top of this op.
- During the early post-war period, however, there was a marked turn towards a more analytical style.
- The main phase of construction of the visible walls of the fort, however, belongs to the early medieval period.
- Contrary to what many books say, neither chess or draughts were commonly played in the early medieval period.
- For historians of the early modern period the study of death has proven especially fruitful.
- As we get into the post-Roman / early medieval period we have a series of bows from Denmark and Germany.
- We are only now beginning to see how much survived of Roman and Celtic culture in the early medieval period.
Synonyms old style, former, past, bygone, historic, heritage, antique, antiquarian, classical, traditional, folk, old-world, ancestral, time-honoured, ancient, veteran, vintage, quaint - 2.3 Occurring at the beginning of a sequence.
清早的，一大早的 the earlier chapters of the book 这本书的前几章。 Example sentencesExamples - In roots of wild-type plants of cultivar Finale, all early stages of infection were identified.
- She narrates the early chapters with an innocence and knowingness that is touching, funny and disturbing.
- Mr Oliver said that plans for the plant were in the early stages and more details would be released next month.
- Mr Miller told us that one question kept cropping up from an early stage.
- These early chapters confirm much of what was suspected but not known about the Tampa crisis.
- Just how rapid the early stages of recovery can be is shown for Anomodon viticulosus in Fig.3.
- The plot is triggered in the early chapters of the novel when a colleague is murdered.
- With the transformation still in its early stages revenues are expected to decline.
- Browsing may cause profuse basal branching and maintain plants at an early stage of growth and development.
- In my eyes, this is an exceptionally well written book, particularly in the early chapters.
- The early chapters are strong on narrative and pace but the ending sort of fades.
- The fact that we know how this horrible story ends makes it difficult for us to analyse the early chapters.
- For many crop species, such as corn or wheat, varieties involved in the early stages of domestication are lost.
- It reminded me a lot of the early parts of the peyote sequence in Animal Man.
- A penniless writer used to sit here all day, writing the early draft chapters of her now famous novel.
- The early chapters are a little confusing perhaps, and the ending is a tad predictable.
- This early sequence, without a trace of dignity or sensitivity, sets the tone for the entire film.
- Thackeray, as he penned the early chapters, saw a rather more dignified narrative future for William.
- During the early stages of plant development, internode elongation is suppressed and only leaves expand.
- The early chapters are not well handled from a technical point of view.
adverbearliest, earlier ˈəːliˈərli 1Before the usual or expected time. 早的；提早的 I was planning to finish work early today 我原本打算今天提早完成工作。 Example sentencesExamples - It took me over a week to do just this chapter, because the computer lab closed early, some days.
- We were encouraged to sign up early for events as some were expected to sell out early.
- The bulbs can be planted early, which gives them longer to fatten up.
- The agent came today, half an hour early, to measure up the rooms, note details and take photographs.
- I set out early, expecting the city to myself, only to discover the streets packed with runners and spectators.
- This means the bar started its party 12 hours early, at noon today, as the seventeenth dawned in Fiji.
- He might as well try this race, and if he did reach the finish line early, he could down the whiskey.
- Today I left work early to watch them play their deadly rivals St Hugo's at home and caught the second half.
- I managed to charm one of the supervisors into letting me start, and thus finish half an hour early.
- The workers said there would be no production at the site today and many were leaving work early.
- People are advised to get their tickets early as a full house is expected.
- Today we woke up early and decided to see as much of the city as we could on foot.
- She rises early before the sun gets too hot to work in the corn fields behind her apartment.
- She rose early the next morning with a thousand questions running around in her head - where was she?
- His boss is nice, lets him glide his time, so he works through lunch and takes off early, which is a good plan on fine days.
- However, there are justifiable reasons for going to bed so ridiculously early.
- A few producers were able to line up scripts early and finished that part of the work sooner.
- We turned into bed early that night, readying ourselves for what we expected would be a long day.
- People are advised to book tickets early as it is expected that the show will sell out very quickly.
- The freight train involved in the crash was running 20 minutes early, it was revealed today.
Synonyms early in the day, in the early morning at dawn, at daybreak, at cockcrow, with the lark before the usual time, before the appointed time prematurely, too soon ahead of time, ahead of schedule, in good time literary betimes 2Near the beginning of a particular time or period. 开始阶段的，开始时的 we lost a couple of games early in the season 我们在赛季开始阶段输掉了几场比赛。 Example sentencesExamples - Building can only begin once the government relaxes gaming laws, which is expected to happen early next year.
- We decided early that the games to beat would be the other naval games on the market.
- They are now gearing up to host India for another three Tests and five one-day games early next year.
- Chelsea had a good period early in the second half, but we weathered that and came back at them.
- Chelsea players would be well advised not to coast when they gather for pre-season training early next month.
- Hudson should be inserted early in the game because he's often hot right out of the chute.
- Shipley wrote to the government early last month, which confirmed the letter had been copied to Irish Rail.
- He received a back injury early in the competition and was not expected to be back until the championship.
- A frank discussion early in the game about its nature and extent is the best approach.
- Compared to the same period last year you've performed very well early in the season.
- His interest in criminal work petered out fairly early in his career and he specialised in family law.
- It looked like they had played the game too early and the adrenaline had run out.
- I should have learned my lesson about naming an Employee of the Month too early in the month.
- We are also hoping to travel to England to play a challenge game early next year.
- It was at the opening of the new offices early last month.
- Few top-quality games titles were launched early in the year, so shoppers weren't lured in.
- These three guys were expected to climb well, but got shelled early and lost big time.
- Preliminary talks are slated to begin in Hong Kong early next month, he said.
- Any incoming administration would be ill advised to get on my bad side early in the game.
- The signing of the peace accord was initially scheduled to take place early this month.
Synonyms beginning, opening, commencing, starting, inceptive, embryonic, fledgling - 2.1 Near the beginning of the day.
清早的，一大早的 I wrote this piece early one morning 这篇文章我是某一天一大早写好的。 Example sentencesExamples - Early to bed and early to rise and we awoke to the fulfillment of the horrid weather forecast: cold, dark skies, windy.
- Two shots were fired at a police car as officers made a routine stop-check on a vehicle parked on the M5 motorway in Gloucestershire early this morning.
- I and my two friends arrived fairly rested in Madrid very early on a Sunday morning and were immediately greeted by our Activity Coordinator, Antonio.
- And early the next morning, it was back on the Gray Goose for another site visit.
- He said they had arrested 12 Iraqis during raids in the Tikrit area overnight and early yesterday.
- The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said it had been responding to rocket fire early yesterday.
- One person died and two others were seriously injured in a collision between a lorry and a New Forest Council vehicle early today.
- Although not a morning person whatsoever Ari forced herself out of bed early every morning so she could start to get ready.
- In Beijing the announcement was put out early on the morning of the 30th.
- He explained that, earlier in the day, he had delivered the then-current version of the testimony to the State Department's Legal Adviser, Abraham Sofaer.
- So this morning, I woke up early and enjoyed a long, lazy lie-in before popping the radio on just as I hopped into the shower.
- She died early last Wednesday morning.
- Earlier in the day, Vajpayee held a one-on-one meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Zafar ullah Jamali after the inaugural session of the summit.
- It was announced earlier today that the final plans for the Eden-Epsom recreational precinct are now on public display.
Synonyms early in the day, in the early morning - 2.2earlier Before the present time or before the time one is referring to.
在此（或在那）以前，早先，早些时候 you met my husband earlier 你以前见过我的丈夫。 Example sentencesExamples - The theme of the film almost echoed the stories depicted earlier on stage and was not a remarkable hit.
- Claire had been arrested and bailed earlier on the day of her death for a previous criminal damage offence on a bus stop in Bolton.
Synonyms in advance, in readiness, ahead of time
noun ˈəːli 1Potatoes which are ready to be harvested before the main crop. 早熟马铃薯 Example sentencesExamples - Although they are independent growers, they are marketing their earlies through the growers' co-operative.
- If you are lucky, earlies will be ready before blight strikes; if it hits your maincrop, you'll see yellow stains on the leaves, which then spread.
- The versatile early potato Solanum tuberosum has many varieties, which have their own distinct season in Britain: earlies, second earlies and main crop.
- First earlies are planted between the end of March and early April and take about 100 days before cropping.
- The Pembrokeshire crop won't be harvested until May 7th, so they have imported earlies from Israel.
- The present spell of current weather is hampering growth and maturity with expected harvesting dates of first earlies now being delayed.
- Meanwhile, Puffin Produce growers will be producing 500 acres of earlies on contract for retail giant, Asda.
- An over-abundance of main crop potatoes in storage is depressing the price of Pembrokeshire-produced earlies.
- Mr Hayman, who has been growing earlies for nearly 40 years, had been runner-up four times.
- The Marketing Co-ordinator added that it is looking increasingly likely that the entry of the first and second earlies onto both the home and overseas markets will be later than last year.
- We're only growing 2 varieties of spuds this year - Red Duke of York for earlies and Desiree for main crop.
- By planting time - the end of the month for first earlies and, if you're busy, as late as early May for the maincrop - the eyes should have produced short tough shoots.
- The spokesman said the company was committed to maintaining its link with Pembrokeshire earlies.
- He is currently harvesting Lady Christl earlies which are being sold through Tesco's Welsh stores.
- To make absolutely sure of a constant supply, I planted some earlies, some mediums and some late fruiting varieties.
2informal Early shifts. 〈非正式〉早班 她在上早班。 Example sentencesExamples - He asked to be put on earlies so he could pick her up from school.
- But our allowances for working earlies, which means starting at 4.15 am, have stayed at £11.75 over the same period.
- Because the ITV network is 24 hours a day, the whole thing is based on shift work so we work a series of earlies, lates and nights.
- With earlies you can't get the tube to work because it's not running so it's the night bus or the bike.
PhrasesNot before the time or date specified. 最早，至早 the table won't be delivered until next week at the earliest Example sentencesExamples - As for delays to the local plan, the meeting was told that this will not be completed before 2007 at the earliest.
- Those in attendance demanded the council extend the consultation period until the end of October at the earliest.
- That means any announcement on reclassification will have to wait until summer at the earliest.
- The units were due to close on November 1, at the earliest, after the trust board made the decision in July.
- Not only is he struggling with an ankle injury, but his work permit isn't expected to arrive until next week at the earliest.
- He is not expected to make a decision on the appeal until September at the earliest.
- I'm flying back home to the UK today, so you won't be hearing from me until Thursday at the earliest.
- Building work is unlikely to start before September at the earliest.
- The new treatment plant will not be ready until next summer at the earliest.
- However, he said the victim's identity would not be revealed until today at the earliest.
humorous A person who rises, arrives, or acts before the usual or expected time. 早的；提早的 he was always an early bird as modifier many cruise lines offer early-bird discounts for people who plan ahead Example sentencesExamples - ‘Ahhh… the early bird finally arrives,’ her mother said, sarcasm dripping in her voice.
- Everyone wanted to be an early bird and cash in on the sale.
- She's always an early bird, always, that wife of mine.
- It is the early bird who gets the bargains, apparently.
- On the deluge of music albums, the early bird on the Indipop horizon says: ‘The more the number, the bigger is the competition.’
- Then I realized that I'd have to get up early to milk the goats and I am just not capable of becoming an early bird.
- Another early bird, a girl surnamed Chiu, bought 10 books of lyrics by local pop singer Chris Wong for her friends.
- I just want to say now if you are an early bird you'll be delighted to know that from this Monday, he will be starting his breakfast show at 6am.
- Membership is restricted to one person from each profession or trade, but you need to be an early bird - meetings start at 7.30 am.
- The Hospital, an early bird in putting in place comprehensive diabetology services for patients, has also planned several programmes for patients as well as the public.
the early bird catches the worm proverb The person who takes the earliest opportunity to do something will gain the advantage over others. 〈谚〉捷足者先登 Example sentencesExamples - As is usually the case with property investment opportunities, the early bird catches the worm.
- We all know that the early bird catches the worm.
- Baxter wanted to prove that the early bird catches the worm, or in this case, Tony's finger.
- As my father always used to say, the early bird catches the worm and surprises the IRS spies.
- As my Mom always says, the early bird catches the worm.
- The experience of Australia is that the early bird gets the worm.
- The early bird catches the worm in my game, so I have to be up and about no matter what day it is.
informal Early on, especially in a game or contest. 〈英，非正式〉（尤指比赛或竞赛中的）在开始阶段；在早期 you should try to wind up their star player early doors 你们应该一开始就设法冻结他们的明星队员。 Example sentencesExamples - It's hit us early doors that, if you don't get your basics right, this division will punish you.
- We handled the pressure early doors and asked a lot of questions even without scoring a lot of tries.
- We need to make sure we get into games early doors so we are not having to come from behind.
- The English white flags, the ones without the red cross, were being flown early doors as Brazil's quality became apparent.
- I know it's early doors but I'm quite optimistic about our chances this season.
- ‘We've got to take our chances and we've not got to give them a start early doors,’ adds the boss, who is trying to treat this one like just another game.
- Cordoba himself lost to Abelyan only by a majority points decision in October 2002, so for Estrada to stop him early doors is an indication that he is no mug.
- They try to play a very physical game and get on top of you early doors, but we've got to front up to them.
- He's throwing out cards like a croupier early doors and the game could end up being a farce if he's not careful.
- In fact they cheated all afternoon, targeting Chris Cusiter at early doors, killing the game in rucks and all the time being nasty, niggling and brutish.
A premature or untimely death. 早逝 he worked himself into an early grave 他因过度工作而早逝。 Example sentencesExamples - I was tired of losing those I cared about most to an early grave, I was tired of hearing about death upon death upon death.
- His undignified road to the bottom - like that of fellow Scottish boxer Benny Lynch, who drank himself into an early grave - has been well documented.
- As much as you want your children to have fabulous childhoods, you must surely appreciate that it is essential for them to have a father who is not driving himself into an early grave.
- The fight or flight emotions we originally felt, are today replaced with many other emotions that injure our immune systems and put us in an early grave.
- They believe the British culture of long working hours is killing family life and driving workers into an early grave through stress and overwork.
- Many of these poor people only found relief when, worn out by misery and broken hearted, they went to an early grave.
- Experts believe that their lack of activity and taste for sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks may be driving them towards an early grave.
- Bob drank himself towards an early grave for nine years.
- The early death of the poet's brother haunts the book, and there is an elegy for him, and more than one portrait of him as a delinquent headed for an early grave.
- Life's short enough without worrying yourself into an early grave.
The time after midnight and before dawn. 凌晨（午夜后黎明前） the bar stays open until the early hours Example sentencesExamples - He set off in the early hours of one morning and finished in the small hours of the next.
- The ripples of celebration spread across Japan and lasted until the early hours.
- He rang back again two hours later, which was in the early hours of the morning over there.
- They complained of noise nuisance until the early hours of the morning and of litter.
- You were expected to party until the early hours and then be up first thing in the morning to sort out any problems.
- The seaside town was more than 70 miles away and they did not arrive until the early hours.
- That evening a dance was held which did not finish until the early hours of the morning.
- Three more city centre night spots in York could soon open until the early hours every day of the week.
- That is the nature of the game and it tends to go on into the early hours.
- The first person arrived shortly before midnight, and others came in the early hours.
An occasion when someone goes to bed before the usual time. （尤指为弥补睡眠不足而）比平时睡得早的晚上 I think I'll have an early night Example sentencesExamples - I'm going to try and get an early night so I don't oversleep tomorrow.
- Anyway it was an early night and a fairly comfortable sleep.
- Monday it gets a little worse but I shrug it off, have an early dinner and an early night.
- I was going to have an early night but just before we retired Linda switched the kitchen light on and blew the lighting fuse.
- Most ministers would have had an early night; Lenihan was still up at 4am.
- I must get a bite to eat, a pint, and an early night.
- We had a quick dip in the pool, grabbed some food, had a few glasses of wine watching the stars and then turned in for an early night.
- About once a month I have an early night - ten or eleven p.m. - and it's always a deliriously wonderful experience.
- Right, I'm just about unpacked now, so it's an early night for me, after which I'll only have to write the odd 4,000 words tomorrow to get back on track.
- After an early night, the boys will have a light work-out before travelling to Twickenham on Sunday in time to soak up the atmosphere of the first game.
At an early (or earlier) stage in a period. 在早期；早先 they discovered early on that the published data were wrong 他们早就发现所公布的数据是错的。 Example sentencesExamples - The aim is to offer help early on so that problems can be solved rather than turning into bigger issues.
- Once Limerick had made the game safe early on they eased off to play at their own pace.
- They always look for children with specific talents and they have a system to select them early on.
- You can speed up the financial recovery process by reviewing your situation early on.
- Craig ran with his brother Mark early on before pressing on to try to get into the medal places.
- I'm one of them people who drinks until they fall over, and I fall over pretty early on.
- If the problem can be detected early on, then there is a good chance it can be successfully treated.
- It was then that he remembered her as the girl who had asked Nick a question earlier on at the main stage.
- The wind also played a major factor in the first half with Leigh and their kicks benefiting early on.
- He played bass in a punk rock band early on, but he was also into disco, funk and hip hop.
- If Mayo fail to hang on to their tails early on, the end result could be messy.
- I believe that the problem had occurred much earlier on by the water at the crystallisation stage.
- Won't some kids be stuck with a label very early on, when actually they might well change?
- For better or for worse, they discovered their unique sound early on and have stuck with it.
- We had something go bad with our tires early on, but once we changed them, we took off and had a great race car.
- Ideally, I'd like to get some fast laps in early on and try to put distance between us and the pack.
- As I said to you earlier on, this is the next stage the Met has to go through.
- Mayo have plenty of talent, and they prepared as best they could, but were swamped early on.
- Cynthia, even early on, appears by her own account to have been a bit of a doormat.
- They took the lead early on and had a nine point advantage at the end of the first quarter.
it's (or these are) early days informal It is too soon to be sure how a situation will develop. 〈非正式，主英〉为时尚早 it's early days yet, but the centre has already doubled its workforce it's still early days for the initiative 现在采取主动为时尚早。 Example sentencesExamples - He's settled in well as a striker behind Andy Whittaker and they have a good understanding with each other already, though it's early days yet.
- I quite like this so far, although it's early days.
- They have been seen drinking in an Irish pub together and they certainly looked very cosy but it's early days.
- We haven't had too many problems yet because of this but it's early days.
- Although it's early days, I'd have to agree with you.
- That's why I'm mentioning the idea now - it's early days, but finally I have something to build on.
- I'm not sure whether it's early days or not, but everything seems to be going ok.
- At any rate, it's early days and I'm sure they'll improve as they get their sea legs.
- I'm not sure I'm going to hit the target of 50,000 words but it's early days.
- We have started that process but it's early days and we need to look at what is happening in other jurisdictions in Australia.
Derivativesnoun ˈəːlɪnəsˈərlinəs The earliness of the crop may help it escape severe yield loss due to rust and mildew but, undoubtedly these diseases will have some impact on the yields. Example sentencesExamples - Part of the excitement was the earliness of the departure.
- I didn't sleep a wink last night for thinking about everything, hence the unearthly earliness of these posts.
- Mike was complaining about everyone's earliness.
- This variety is touted for earliness, flavor and its manageable 6-to 7-pound size with harvest about 58 days from transplants, 79 days from seed.
OriginOld English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce (see ere, -ly2), influenced by Old Norse árliga. The adjective use dates from Middle English. The word early, like late, is from Old English, and is found in many idioms and proverbs. The early bird gets the worm is first recorded in 1636, and early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise goes as far back as 1496. Early doors, meaning early on in a game or contest, has become a cliché of sports reporting, but originally referred to admission to a music hall some time before the start of the performance, which was more expensive but gave you a wider choice of seating. The first record of its use is from 1883. The practice died out in the 1950s but the phrase was resurrected in footballing circles in the 1970s in its current sense, with the legendary English football manager Brian Clough (1935–2004) providing the first recorded example.
RhymesBurghley, Burley, burly, curly, girlie, hurley, hurly-burly, pearly, Shirley, surly, swirly, twirly Definition of early in US English: earlyadjectiveˈərliˈərlē 1Happening or done before the usual or expected time. 早的；提早的 我们吃了一顿早午饭。 Example sentencesExamples - Twenty-five pensioners enjoyed a free lunch as an early Christmas present from their local pub.
- Monday was an early lunch of homemade mince pie, chips and veg at Via Veneto.
- After an early lunch we packed some kit into a couple of bags and off we went to catch the ferry to Brownsea Island.
- Mum was booked on the 12.55 back to Edinburgh, so it had to be an early lunch, come hail or shine.
- It's still early, but I may well get an entire chapter out of that little spark of an idea.
- Once I had finished updating a monthly report, I took an early lunch and met her for a coffee.
- We had decided to get an early start and headed out to Kirkuk and then to Tikrit.
- There was an early start each day, admittedly, but I covered nearly 100 miles a day and got a lot done in between.
- He's off to Aus for a month on Thursday so we grabbed an early Christmas drink down near his office in Leatherhead.
- It is expected that the union will shortly call an early general assembly.
- With early planting it is essential that a good seed treatment be used to protect the seed.
- Saturday will be centrepiece of the trek, and an early start will take them over a high mountain pass to Spain.
- I'd pretty well given up on the day, took an early lunch, popped a couple of painkillers and took to my bed.
- Any protracted celebrations were curtailed by the early start to the Derry championship.
- The IAEA mission has handed the plant management an early report on their work.
- It's an idea that repeatedly surfaces in magazines and newspapers trying to sell an early start to the weekend.
- He was three-quarters of a length up at the line, and could have gained no more than a neck's advantage by his early start.
- Just to really stoke things up, we arrived at Lyneham to find that we'd been booked an early lunch in the canteen.
- The concentration of starch in stage two nodosities indicates a relatively early onset of starch accumulation.
- The early onset of agricultural innovation there cannot be ascribed to above-average urban demand.
Synonyms untimely, premature prompt, timely, quick, speedy, rapid, fast, without delay, expeditious - 1.1 (of a plant or crop) flowering or ripening before other varieties.
（植物或农作物）早产的，早熟的 早熟的马铃薯。 Example sentencesExamples - Wild plants such as the early marsh orchids are very selective about where they grow.
- Two types of monad pollen are present in early orchids, namely that with pollenkitt and that with elastoviscin.
- Many of the early maturing varieties are best when ripened under relatively cool conditions.
- In several cases it is possible to test this by comparing early and late varieties of titanite from the same sample or same locality.
- However, for early crops in the south of the country, disease outbreak can be much earlier.
- The garden is taking on its autumn hues and late-flowering plants dominate while early bloomers fade.
2Happening, belonging to, or done near the beginning of a particular time or period. 开始阶段的，开始时的 an early goal secured victory 开场后不久的一记进球奠定了比赛胜局。 Example sentencesExamples - A quick listen to their early songs proves just how clued in this group was from the start.
- We had already done around a dozen surgical cases in the morning and the early afternoon.
- We expected reasonable weather in early September, but boy, were we disappointed!
- It was early morning and he had been parking his van near a site where he was working as a labourer, when he and a co-worker saw the fire.
- It's never too early in the spring to plant the radish seeds, as long as the soil can be worked.
- The early goal in that second period helped lift us, gave us something to hold on to, and from then on we played well.
- He had gone to his gentleman's club and was not expected to return until early evening.
- They have until September 30 to submit final bids, and a winner is expected by early October.
- Rangers settled quickest and took an early lead from a diving header by Smith from Philips cross.
- The trials programme emerged as an ingenious political expedient in early 1998.
- In the early hours of the morning, police saw a driver using fog lights when there was no need for it and checked him.
- An early goal after 30 seconds had the team from Portmagee under pressure from the start.
- It now goes to the Senate, where little opposition is expected, in early March.
- A decision on how the court will proceed is expected sometime in early April.
- An employee in his early thirties may well expect to retire at an earlier age than employees in their late fifties.
- The early work, expected to start soon, will focus on the nature reserve.
- It is fascinating walking country, greener in early summer than you might expect.
- From early morning, the general atmosphere was calm and relaxed, more in tune with a public festival than a mass protest.
- However, Stevenson and his film crew have been warned to expect a few early alarm calls before they finally have the film in the can.
- It was early in the morning and the sun was just beginning to show its lovely face from the horizon.
- 2.1 Done or occurring near the beginning of the day.
清早的，一大早的 we agreed to meet at 6 a.m. to get an early start 我们约定6点集合以便一大早出发。 Example sentencesExamples - I congratulate all those MPs who have had the courage of their convictions in signing up to this early day motion.
- Richard's uncle Mel Taylor, who runs the Blue Pits Inn, Manchester Road, Castleton, stayed up until the early hours of Monday morning to share his success.
- She returned to bed but called an ambulance in the early hours of the next day when she heard that her husband had stopped snoring.
- 2.2 Denoting or belonging to the beginning or opening stages of a historical period, cultural movement, or sphere of activity.
早期的，初期的 早期的印象主义。 Example sentencesExamples - The unitary empire of the early Islamic period had fragmented into numerous regional and local states.
- In the early modern period Descartes seems to have taken this position.
- We are only now beginning to see how much survived of Roman and Celtic culture in the early medieval period.
- As we get into the post-Roman / early medieval period we have a series of bows from Denmark and Germany.
- Contrary to what many books say, neither chess or draughts were commonly played in the early medieval period.
- When we look at this Hadith, we have a glimpse of life in the early Islamic period.
- During the early post-war period, however, there was a marked turn towards a more analytical style.
- For historians of the early modern period the study of death has proven especially fruitful.
- Brading's book is a fine study that scholars of the early modern period should read.
- The main phase of construction of the visible walls of the fort, however, belongs to the early medieval period.
- The Islamic expansion of the early medieval period was not waged for glory, or any of the other factors I listed at the top of this op.
Synonyms old style, former, past, bygone, historic, heritage, antique, antiquarian, classical, traditional, folk, old-world, ancestral, time-honoured, ancient, veteran, vintage, quaint - 2.3 Occurring at the beginning of a sequence.
清早的，一大早的 the earlier chapters of the book 这本书的前几章。 Example sentencesExamples - For many crop species, such as corn or wheat, varieties involved in the early stages of domestication are lost.
- Mr Oliver said that plans for the plant were in the early stages and more details would be released next month.
- Thackeray, as he penned the early chapters, saw a rather more dignified narrative future for William.
- These early chapters confirm much of what was suspected but not known about the Tampa crisis.
- Mr Miller told us that one question kept cropping up from an early stage.
- The early chapters are strong on narrative and pace but the ending sort of fades.
- A penniless writer used to sit here all day, writing the early draft chapters of her now famous novel.
- The plot is triggered in the early chapters of the novel when a colleague is murdered.
- She narrates the early chapters with an innocence and knowingness that is touching, funny and disturbing.
- In my eyes, this is an exceptionally well written book, particularly in the early chapters.
- Browsing may cause profuse basal branching and maintain plants at an early stage of growth and development.
- It reminded me a lot of the early parts of the peyote sequence in Animal Man.
- During the early stages of plant development, internode elongation is suppressed and only leaves expand.
- Just how rapid the early stages of recovery can be is shown for Anomodon viticulosus in Fig.3.
- The early chapters are not well handled from a technical point of view.
- The early chapters are a little confusing perhaps, and the ending is a tad predictable.
- In roots of wild-type plants of cultivar Finale, all early stages of infection were identified.
- This early sequence, without a trace of dignity or sensitivity, sets the tone for the entire film.
- With the transformation still in its early stages revenues are expected to decline.
- The fact that we know how this horrible story ends makes it difficult for us to analyse the early chapters.
adverbˈərliˈərlē 1Before the usual or expected time. 早的；提早的 I was planning to finish work early today 我原本打算今天提早完成工作。 Example sentencesExamples - I managed to charm one of the supervisors into letting me start, and thus finish half an hour early.
- We turned into bed early that night, readying ourselves for what we expected would be a long day.
- However, there are justifiable reasons for going to bed so ridiculously early.
- People are advised to get their tickets early as a full house is expected.
- We were encouraged to sign up early for events as some were expected to sell out early.
- She rises early before the sun gets too hot to work in the corn fields behind her apartment.
- She rose early the next morning with a thousand questions running around in her head - where was she?
- The bulbs can be planted early, which gives them longer to fatten up.
- This means the bar started its party 12 hours early, at noon today, as the seventeenth dawned in Fiji.
- People are advised to book tickets early as it is expected that the show will sell out very quickly.
- The freight train involved in the crash was running 20 minutes early, it was revealed today.
- Today we woke up early and decided to see as much of the city as we could on foot.
- Today I left work early to watch them play their deadly rivals St Hugo's at home and caught the second half.
- It took me over a week to do just this chapter, because the computer lab closed early, some days.
- His boss is nice, lets him glide his time, so he works through lunch and takes off early, which is a good plan on fine days.
- A few producers were able to line up scripts early and finished that part of the work sooner.
- The agent came today, half an hour early, to measure up the rooms, note details and take photographs.
- I set out early, expecting the city to myself, only to discover the streets packed with runners and spectators.
- He might as well try this race, and if he did reach the finish line early, he could down the whiskey.
- The workers said there would be no production at the site today and many were leaving work early.
Synonyms early in the day, in the early morning before the usual time, before the appointed time 2Near the beginning of a particular time or period. 开始阶段的，开始时的 we lost a couple of games early in the season 我们在赛季开始阶段输掉了几场比赛。 Example sentencesExamples - Few top-quality games titles were launched early in the year, so shoppers weren't lured in.
- He received a back injury early in the competition and was not expected to be back until the championship.
- Compared to the same period last year you've performed very well early in the season.
- Hudson should be inserted early in the game because he's often hot right out of the chute.
- These three guys were expected to climb well, but got shelled early and lost big time.
- Chelsea players would be well advised not to coast when they gather for pre-season training early next month.
- Any incoming administration would be ill advised to get on my bad side early in the game.
- The signing of the peace accord was initially scheduled to take place early this month.
- Shipley wrote to the government early last month, which confirmed the letter had been copied to Irish Rail.
- His interest in criminal work petered out fairly early in his career and he specialised in family law.
- We decided early that the games to beat would be the other naval games on the market.
- Building can only begin once the government relaxes gaming laws, which is expected to happen early next year.
- They are now gearing up to host India for another three Tests and five one-day games early next year.
- We are also hoping to travel to England to play a challenge game early next year.
- It was at the opening of the new offices early last month.
- It looked like they had played the game too early and the adrenaline had run out.
- I should have learned my lesson about naming an Employee of the Month too early in the month.
- A frank discussion early in the game about its nature and extent is the best approach.
- Chelsea had a good period early in the second half, but we weathered that and came back at them.
- Preliminary talks are slated to begin in Hong Kong early next month, he said.
Synonyms beginning, opening, commencing, starting, inceptive, embryonic, fledgling - 2.1 Near the beginning of the day.
清早的，一大早的 I wrote this piece early one morning 这篇文章我是某一天一大早写好的。 Example sentencesExamples - Earlier in the day, Vajpayee held a one-on-one meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Zafar ullah Jamali after the inaugural session of the summit.
- One person died and two others were seriously injured in a collision between a lorry and a New Forest Council vehicle early today.
- I and my two friends arrived fairly rested in Madrid very early on a Sunday morning and were immediately greeted by our Activity Coordinator, Antonio.
- It was announced earlier today that the final plans for the Eden-Epsom recreational precinct are now on public display.
- The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said it had been responding to rocket fire early yesterday.
- Two shots were fired at a police car as officers made a routine stop-check on a vehicle parked on the M5 motorway in Gloucestershire early this morning.
- He said they had arrested 12 Iraqis during raids in the Tikrit area overnight and early yesterday.
- Although not a morning person whatsoever Ari forced herself out of bed early every morning so she could start to get ready.
- He explained that, earlier in the day, he had delivered the then-current version of the testimony to the State Department's Legal Adviser, Abraham Sofaer.
- So this morning, I woke up early and enjoyed a long, lazy lie-in before popping the radio on just as I hopped into the shower.
- Early to bed and early to rise and we awoke to the fulfillment of the horrid weather forecast: cold, dark skies, windy.
- She died early last Wednesday morning.
- And early the next morning, it was back on the Gray Goose for another site visit.
- In Beijing the announcement was put out early on the morning of the 30th.
Synonyms early in the day, in the early morning - 2.2earlier Before the present time or before the time one is referring to.
在此（或在那）以前，早先，早些时候 you met my husband earlier 你以前见过我的丈夫。 Example sentencesExamples - The theme of the film almost echoed the stories depicted earlier on stage and was not a remarkable hit.
- Claire had been arrested and bailed earlier on the day of her death for a previous criminal damage offence on a bus stop in Bolton.
Synonyms in advance, in readiness, ahead of time
PhrasesNot before the time or date specified. 最早，至早 the table won't be delivered until next week at the earliest Example sentencesExamples - However, he said the victim's identity would not be revealed until today at the earliest.
- Building work is unlikely to start before September at the earliest.
- The new treatment plant will not be ready until next summer at the earliest.
- I'm flying back home to the UK today, so you won't be hearing from me until Thursday at the earliest.
- Not only is he struggling with an ankle injury, but his work permit isn't expected to arrive until next week at the earliest.
- As for delays to the local plan, the meeting was told that this will not be completed before 2007 at the earliest.
- The units were due to close on November 1, at the earliest, after the trust board made the decision in July.
- He is not expected to make a decision on the appeal until September at the earliest.
- Those in attendance demanded the council extend the consultation period until the end of October at the earliest.
- That means any announcement on reclassification will have to wait until summer at the earliest.
humorous A person who rises, arrives, or acts before the usual or expected time. 早的；提早的 Example sentencesExamples - On the deluge of music albums, the early bird on the Indipop horizon says: ‘The more the number, the bigger is the competition.’
- Everyone wanted to be an early bird and cash in on the sale.
- She's always an early bird, always, that wife of mine.
- Membership is restricted to one person from each profession or trade, but you need to be an early bird - meetings start at 7.30 am.
- The Hospital, an early bird in putting in place comprehensive diabetology services for patients, has also planned several programmes for patients as well as the public.
- Then I realized that I'd have to get up early to milk the goats and I am just not capable of becoming an early bird.
- ‘Ahhh… the early bird finally arrives,’ her mother said, sarcasm dripping in her voice.
- I just want to say now if you are an early bird you'll be delighted to know that from this Monday, he will be starting his breakfast show at 6am.
- It is the early bird who gets the bargains, apparently.
- Another early bird, a girl surnamed Chiu, bought 10 books of lyrics by local pop singer Chris Wong for her friends.
A premature or untimely death. 早逝 he worked himself into an early grave 他因过度工作而早逝。 Example sentencesExamples - Bob drank himself towards an early grave for nine years.
- Many of these poor people only found relief when, worn out by misery and broken hearted, they went to an early grave.
- His undignified road to the bottom - like that of fellow Scottish boxer Benny Lynch, who drank himself into an early grave - has been well documented.
- I was tired of losing those I cared about most to an early grave, I was tired of hearing about death upon death upon death.
- As much as you want your children to have fabulous childhoods, you must surely appreciate that it is essential for them to have a father who is not driving himself into an early grave.
- They believe the British culture of long working hours is killing family life and driving workers into an early grave through stress and overwork.
- The early death of the poet's brother haunts the book, and there is an elegy for him, and more than one portrait of him as a delinquent headed for an early grave.
- The fight or flight emotions we originally felt, are today replaced with many other emotions that injure our immune systems and put us in an early grave.
- Experts believe that their lack of activity and taste for sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks may be driving them towards an early grave.
- Life's short enough without worrying yourself into an early grave.
The time after midnight and before dawn. 凌晨（午夜后黎明前） Example sentencesExamples - That is the nature of the game and it tends to go on into the early hours.
- You were expected to party until the early hours and then be up first thing in the morning to sort out any problems.
- Three more city centre night spots in York could soon open until the early hours every day of the week.
- They complained of noise nuisance until the early hours of the morning and of litter.
- The seaside town was more than 70 miles away and they did not arrive until the early hours.
- That evening a dance was held which did not finish until the early hours of the morning.
- The first person arrived shortly before midnight, and others came in the early hours.
- He set off in the early hours of one morning and finished in the small hours of the next.
- The ripples of celebration spread across Japan and lasted until the early hours.
- He rang back again two hours later, which was in the early hours of the morning over there.
An occasion when someone goes to bed before the usual time. （尤指为弥补睡眠不足而）比平时睡得早的晚上 Example sentencesExamples - Right, I'm just about unpacked now, so it's an early night for me, after which I'll only have to write the odd 4,000 words tomorrow to get back on track.
- Monday it gets a little worse but I shrug it off, have an early dinner and an early night.
- Most ministers would have had an early night; Lenihan was still up at 4am.
- I must get a bite to eat, a pint, and an early night.
- About once a month I have an early night - ten or eleven p.m. - and it's always a deliriously wonderful experience.
- Anyway it was an early night and a fairly comfortable sleep.
- We had a quick dip in the pool, grabbed some food, had a few glasses of wine watching the stars and then turned in for an early night.
- I'm going to try and get an early night so I don't oversleep tomorrow.
- I was going to have an early night but just before we retired Linda switched the kitchen light on and blew the lighting fuse.
- After an early night, the boys will have a light work-out before travelling to Twickenham on Sunday in time to soak up the atmosphere of the first game.
At an early (or earlier) stage in a particular time or period. 在开始阶段，在初期，在早期 they discovered early on that the published data were wrong 他们早就发现所公布的数据是错的。 Example sentencesExamples - Craig ran with his brother Mark early on before pressing on to try to get into the medal places.
- If the problem can be detected early on, then there is a good chance it can be successfully treated.
- As I said to you earlier on, this is the next stage the Met has to go through.
- The aim is to offer help early on so that problems can be solved rather than turning into bigger issues.
- You can speed up the financial recovery process by reviewing your situation early on.
- They always look for children with specific talents and they have a system to select them early on.
- I'm one of them people who drinks until they fall over, and I fall over pretty early on.
- Won't some kids be stuck with a label very early on, when actually they might well change?
- We had something go bad with our tires early on, but once we changed them, we took off and had a great race car.
- For better or for worse, they discovered their unique sound early on and have stuck with it.
- If Mayo fail to hang on to their tails early on, the end result could be messy.
- Mayo have plenty of talent, and they prepared as best they could, but were swamped early on.
- They took the lead early on and had a nine point advantage at the end of the first quarter.
- It was then that he remembered her as the girl who had asked Nick a question earlier on at the main stage.
- Once Limerick had made the game safe early on they eased off to play at their own pace.
- Cynthia, even early on, appears by her own account to have been a bit of a doormat.
- The wind also played a major factor in the first half with Leigh and their kicks benefiting early on.
- He played bass in a punk rock band early on, but he was also into disco, funk and hip hop.
- I believe that the problem had occurred much earlier on by the water at the crystallisation stage.
- Ideally, I'd like to get some fast laps in early on and try to put distance between us and the pack.
OriginOld English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce (see ere, -ly), influenced by Old Norse árliga. The adjective use dates from Middle English. |