1.multitude作“大量,许多”解时,常与of连用,且其后面常接可数名词的复数形式,其谓语动词既可用单数形式也可用复数形式。
2.the multitude(s)还可作“大众,民众,群众”解,有时用作贬义,作“流氓”解。

cover〔hide〕 a multitude of sins
1.〈常谑〉掩盖(通常为不快的)实情conceal a (usually unpleasant) reality
You say that he owns a business, but “business” covers a multitude of sins.你说他开了一家商行,但“商行”两字下面藏有种种见不得人的东西。
2.成为冠冕堂皇的借口be a common and useful excuse
Don't say you woke up late—say you were delayed.That hides a multitude of sins!不要说你醒来晚了——说你因为什么事耽搁了。这是个冠冕堂皇的理由!

There is〔are〕 a multitude of reasons against it.有大量反对它的理由。
There are multitudes of islands on the Pacific.太平洋中有许多岛屿。
Political power has been placed in the hands of the multitude.政治权力一直在民众手中。

multitude, band, circle, crowd, gang, group, herd, host, mass, mob, set
参见band条。

［同义词］   crowd, mass
［词源］＜古法语multitudo(大量,大群)