1.gift作“礼物,礼品”解时,指出于好意、礼貌或尊敬等赠送给对方礼品,并且不期望报答或补偿,赠送的“礼”可以是具体的,也可以是抽象的。gift是可数名词。gift引申可作“极便宜的东西,极容易的事”解,这时通常用作单数,常与不定冠词a连用。
2.gift作“天赋,才能”解时,指在某一方面或领域天生具有的一种才能,是可数名词,其后可接for〔of〕短语作定语,偶尔也可接动词不定式充当定语。

a gift from the gods
非劳动所得,意外之财 advantageous thing that is unearned and unexpected
To have such an easy examination paper was a gift from the gods.碰到这样容易的考卷,那是老天爷的恩赐。

in sb's gift
由某人授予 in sb's power to give, whoever they want
The chairmanship of this committee is in the minister's gift.该委员会主席由部长委派。

I didn't buy the book,I received it as a gift.这本书不是我买的,而是别人送给我的礼物。
It was promised to Susan by her aunt as a Christmas gift.这东西苏珊的姨母已答应作为圣诞礼物送给她了。
Please advise me whether I should accept his gift.我应不应收下他的礼物,请说说你的意见。
Please accept this little gift in token of our esteem.请接受这个表示我们敬意的小礼物。
Mary received the gift from her friend and she enjoyed it very much.玛丽收到了她朋友寄来的礼物,她十分喜欢它。
The gift was intended for Mr. Beckson, but his daughter took it.这个礼物是送给柏克逊先生的,可是被他女儿拿去了。
She conditioned her acceptance of the gift on his coming to dinner next evening.她以他第二天来吃晚饭作为接受礼品的条件。
The gift to the boy is conditioned on his good marks.那孩子得到礼物的条件是取得好成绩。
These gifts were forced upon me. 我勉强接受了这些礼物。
He flattered her with flowers and expensive gifts.他用鲜花和昂贵的礼物讨好她。
The two girls always exchanged Christmas gifts.两个女孩经常交换圣诞礼物。
People rained gifts upon the heroes returning from the war.人们纷纷送礼物给那些战罢归来的英雄。
The government has promised to match the council's gift to the university with an equal payment.政府答应给这所大学一笔数目与那个委员会的赠款相当的钱。
At 50 dollars it was a gift.这东西只卖50美元,真便宜。
Her tactfulness is a remarkable gift.她的机敏是一种非凡的天赋。
I've always been able to learn languages easily; it's a gift.我学习语言一向是轻而易举,这是天分。
▲～+for n./v-ing
This diplomat possessed an excellent gift for repartee.这位外交官具有卓越的应对才能。
He has a gift for doing the things.他有天生做事的天赋。
She has a gift for learning foreign languages.她学习外语有天赋。
▲～+to-v
He has the gift to draw painting.他有绘画的天分。

gift, present
这两个词的共同意思是“礼物”。其区别是:
1.gift常指贵重的礼品,可以是具体的,也可以是抽象的东西; present则往往指一般的具体的礼物,价值可高可低。
2.赠送gift往往被看作慷慨的行为; 而赠送present则往往出于好心、礼貌、尊敬等。
3.gift多指送给团体、机构或个人的礼品,一般没有回赠; present则多指送给亲友的礼品,往往有回赠。例如:
The company makes a yearly gift to the Fund.这家公司一年一度向该基金会捐赠。
We bought a wedding present for John.我们给约翰买了一件结婚礼物。
4.gift是比较正式的用语; present则多用于非正式场合。
5.gift的主体的身份可高于客体,也可低于客体,而present的主体的身份一般都低于客体或与客体相当。
gift, genius, talent
参见genius条。

gift还可用作动词,作“向…赠送”解,常与with连用。例如:
He gifted her with a large heart-shaped diamond.他送她一颗心形大钻石。

［同义词］   present; genius, talent, flair
［词源］  ＜古英语giefa(给,给予)