30 at large; at length; in detail

● 以上词组均表“详细地” “充分地”之意，常可互换，作后置定语。

● at large侧重全面谈论某事, at length侧重深入谈论某事，且length前还可有形容词（含比较等级）修饰，而large前没有形容词修饰。如：He related the story at large.（他详细地讲了这个故事。）She talked at large about her plans.（她详细地谈了她的打算。）We should discuss on this subject at large.（关于这个问题我们应详细讨论。）There is no time to discuss the plan at large at this meeting.（在这次会上，没有时间充分讨论这一计划。）He told Philip the story at length.（他给菲力普详细地讲了那个故事。）Austin was questioned at length by detectives.（奥斯汀受到了侦探详细而又长时间的询问。）I investigated it at great length.（我非常详尽地调查了此事。）The matter will be discussed at greater length this evening.（今晚，这个问题要更多时间、更加详细地讨论。）

● in detail是本组词组中最常用的。它侧重从各方面详细论述某事物，可替换at large和at length。detail前也可使用形容词修饰。如：Answer the following questions in detail.（逐条回答下列问题。）It is worthwhile dealing with this in some detail.（这个问题值得较详细地谈谈。）［比较This question has already been discussed at some length.（已经较详细地讨论过了这个问题。）］She described the accident in great detail.（她详细描述了那起事故。）The Nobel Prize winning physicist explained his new theory in great detail. （这位获诺贝尔奖的物理学家极其详细地解释了他的新理论。）