【问】 我知道I was not the least tired.意为：“我一点也不累。”His mother did not in the least understand him.意为：“他母亲一点儿也不了解他。”因此，We were very impressed by thenew school，not least its own swimming-pool.应当译为：“新学校给我们留下很深刻的印象，但是它的游泳池一点儿也没有给我们什么好印象。”译文对否?

【答】 not the least，not in the least这两个短语与not least的含义是完全不同的。not the least与not in the least作“一点儿不”、“根本不”解。但是not least则具有完全不同的含义，它常常引出重要的例子或理由(尤其是，特别是，部分地，主要地)：

1. ...all western countries，not least the USA(EED)

……所有西方国家，尤其是美国

2. The programme was moving，not least because the narrator had the best voice in broad-casting.

节目很动人，主要是因为播音员的嗓音极好。

3. Trade has been bad，not least because of the increased cost of rubber. (LDCE )

生意一直不好，主要是因为橡胶价格上涨了。