brief
adjective uk/briːf/ us/briːf/
(SHORT IN TIME)
B1 短暂的;简短的
lasting only a short time or containing few words
His acceptance speech was mercifully brief. 幸而他的获奖感言很简短。
I had a brief look at her report before the meeting. 会前我浏览了一下她的报告。
It'll only be a brief visit because we really don't have much time. 我们的时间真的不多，所以只能作短暂的参观游览。
After a brief spell/stint in the army, he started working as a teacher. 在部队呆了短暂的一段时间以后，他当起了教师。
The company issued a brief statement about yesterday's accident. 那家公司就昨天的事故发表了简短的声明。
（时间）短暂的，飞快的
used to express how quickly time goes past
For a few brief weeks we were very happy. 在短短的几周里，我们过得十分愉快。
- More examples
- His illness was mercifully brief.
- When you've got a minute, I'd like a brief word with you.
- The meeting was brief and businesslike.
- She called me this morning at the office and we had a brief chat.
- She sketched out the plan in a few brief sentences.
(SHORT IN LENGTH)
（衣服）很短的
(of clothes) very short
She was wearing a fairly brief skirt, as I recall. 我记得她当时穿了件非常短的裙子。
brief
verb uk/briːf/ us/briːf/
[ T ]向…介绍情况;给…指示
to give someone detailed instructions or information
We had already been briefed about/on what the job would entail. 已经有人向我们介绍了工作内容。
Compare: debrief
brief against/in favour of someone/something [ I ] UK通过非正式背景说明活动来否定/支持（人或事件），吹风否定/支持（人或事件）
to make information about someone or something public, with the intention of criticizing/praising him, her, or it
On several occasions government officials briefed against their own ministers. 政府官员曾数次以情况通报的方式批评部长们的做法。
She has been repeatedly briefed against in the media.
He dismissed the claims as rubbish and insisted that no one had briefed against him.
Smith was subsequently accused of briefing against the former leader and her allies.
It later became clear that members of the party had briefed in favour of a public judicial inquiry.
brief
noun uk/briːf/ us/briːf/
(SHORT FORM)
in briefB2 简言之，一言以蔽之
If something is said in brief, it is said in a very short form, with very few details.
"So you didn't enjoy the party much." "In brief, no." “那么，你不喜欢这个聚会喽?”“简单说吧，不喜欢。”
In brief, they were wrong and they have finally admitted it.
In brief, he was leaving his family and his job with no idea of where he was going or what he was going to do.
"So will the restaurant remain open?" "Well, in brief, yes, but with some significant modifications."
In brief, she is the pre-eminent authority in her field.
(UNDERWEAR)
briefs [ plural ] 内裤
a piece of underwear worn by men or women, covering the area between the waist and the tops of the legs
cotton briefs 棉质内裤
I'm looking for some plain cotton briefs.
Excuse me, do you have any high-cut briefs?
They have thongs, boy shorts, bikinis, and hipsters but no briefs, as far as I can see.
You have a choice - classic or high-cut briefs.
He usually wears regular black cotton briefs.
If you thought they only sold boring cotton briefs, think again!
(INSTRUCTIONS)
[ C ] UK指示；（任务）简介
a set of instructions or information
[ + to infinitive ] It was my brief to make sure that the facts were set down accurately. 我的要求是确保准确记录所有事实。
[ C ] law specialized诉讼要点;案情摘要
a document or set of documents containing the details about a court case
(LAWYER)
UK informal（出庭）律师
a lawyer who will speak for someone in a court of law
My brief advised me to plead guilty. 我的律师建议我认罪。