1. early: if something happens
early, it happens before the usual time or the most suitable time; if someone
is early, they arrive before the time they are expected to
例：
I finished work early today. （我今天提早收工。）
After an early lunch, we started the
meeting at one o'clock. （我們提早吃過午飯，1點開始開會。）
be early
(for something) (=arrive early)
You're early—I wasn't expecting you till
seven. （你來得好早，我本以為你7點才會到。）
I'm sorry; I'm a bit early for my
appointment. （抱歉，我來得有點早了。）
seven months/three days etc. early (=seven months/three days etc. earlier than expected)
Our first child was born eight weeks early.
（我們第一個孩子早產(chǎn)8周（即比預(yù)產(chǎn)期提前8周出生）。）
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2. ahead of time: earlier than the
time when you have arranged or expect to do something
例：
We will try to complete the building ahead
of time. （我們盡量提前完工。）
You can always prepare the salad ahead of
time and refrigerate it. （你可以提前做好沙拉，放在冰箱里。）
He called the restaurant ahead of time to
make a dinner reservation. （他提早給餐廳打了電話，預(yù)定好了午餐的座位。）
She read the report ahead of time to
prepare for the meeting. （她提前看了報告，為會議做好了準(zhǔn)備。）
Prepare what you plan to say in the meeting
ahead of time. （提前準(zhǔn)備好你在會上的發(fā)言。）
''ahead of time''的反義詞：''behind time''。
例：
The train left twenty minutes behind time. （火車延誤了20分鐘。）
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3. ahead of schedule: earlier than
the officially agreed time
例：
The builders were ahead of schedule. （建筑工人提前完工。）
Due to the economy's strong recovery,
Mexico will repay ahead of schedule the last installment of a $13.5 billion
loan. （墨西哥經(jīng)濟強勁復(fù)蘇，將會提前還完135億美元貸款的最后一期。）
six months/two weeks/a year etc. ahead
of schedule
The renovation of the school has just been
completed three months ahead of schedule. （校舍翻新提前3個月完成。）
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4. in good time: early enough, so
that you do not have to rush, or so that you have time to get ready
例：
I like to get all my Christmas presents
bought and sent in good time. （我喜歡提前買好圣誕禮物，早早寄出去。）
It is important to arrive in good time for
your interview. （面試時早點到很重要。）
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5. with time to spare: if you arrive
somewhere or finish something with time to spare, you arrive or finish before
the time when you have to arrive or finish
例：
In spite of the bad traffic, we reached
London with plenty of time to spare. （盡管交通擁堵，我們到倫敦時，還是比預(yù)定時間提前了很多。）
He got there with time to spare. （他到那兒時，比預(yù)定時間提早了很多。）
with ten minutes/half an hour etc. to
spare
I finished the test with just two minutes
to spare (=two minutes before the end). （交卷前兩分鐘，我才把考卷做完。）
He got there with minutes to spare. （他剛好趕得及到那兒。）
We have very little time to spare. （我們快來不及了。）
補充：''with ...
to spare''還可以跟''money''，''energy''等搭配使用。
例：
He seems to have energy to spare. (=He seems
to have a lot of energy.)（他好像有使不完的力氣。）
I have no money to spare (=do not have enough money) for such things. （我沒錢買這些東西。）
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