1. That afternoon aboard the train, the cousins settled down in their seats. (P34)
【归纳】 settle down 平静下来,定居,适应起来,专心于。
【延伸】 settle down to专心致力于,逐渐习惯于;settle in搬进新居,安顿下来;settle on栖息,选定,决定,停留;settle sth on sb将某物转让给某人;settle for sth 勉强认可某事;settle oneself in one’s seat在座位上坐定。
【易错点】 settle down, settle down to:这组短语结构相似,但含义和用法不同。settle down作“安稳地坐下,安居下来,安静下来”解,后接介词短语(表地点),可接不定式(表目的);settle down to意思是“安下心来做某事,认认真真做某事”,其中to为介词。如:
She didn’t start the lesson until the pupils settled down.
The constant interruptions stopped him settling down to his work.
She settled down in a sofa to read her book.