1
in the dark
固定搭配，dark 前不加 the；引申可表示“蒙在鼓里”，如 keep someone in the dark。
I couldn't see anything in the dark.
在黑暗中我什么也看不见。
I couldn't see anything in the dark.
在黑暗中我什么也看不见。
完全或部分缺乏光线的状态。
A complete or (more often) partial absence of light.
缺乏光或照明
absence of light or illumination
无知。
Ignorance.
缺乏道德或精神价值
absence of moral or spiritual values
The dark made it impossible to see the path ahead.
黑暗使人无法看到前方的路。
He was lured into the dark of the city's underworld.
他被引诱进入了城市黑社会的黑暗之中。
She sat alone in the dark of the cinema, waiting for the film to start.
她独自坐在电影院的暗处，等待电影开始。
固定搭配，dark 前不加 the；引申可表示“蒙在鼓里”，如 keep someone in the dark。
I couldn't see anything in the dark.
在黑暗中我什么也看不见。
作时间状语，意为“天黑后”，不可写作 after the dark。
The park is closed after dark.
公园在夜幕降临后关闭。
the dark 可泛指“无光的状态”；指绘画中的暗部时常用复数 darks。
Her eyes gradually adjusted to the dark.
她的眼睛逐渐适应了黑暗。
Not this
I couldn't see in dark.
Use this
I couldn't see in the dark.
名词 dark 表示'黑暗、无光的环境'时，在 in the dark 这个短语中必须加定冠词 the，泛指'在黑暗中'；没有冠词不符合英语习惯。
Not this
Don't go out after the dark.
Use this
Don't go out after dark.
after dark 是固定短语，意为'黄昏后、夜幕降临后'，dark 在这里是不可数名词，前面不加 the；加上 the 反而指特定的一处黑暗，造成语义不自然。
Not this
He kept me dark about the plan.
Use this
He kept me in the dark about the plan.
表示'使某人不知道、蒙在鼓里'的习语是 keep someone in the dark，必须用介词短语 in the dark；此处 dark 是名词，不能用形容词直接作宾补。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
在黑暗中；在暗处
She was afraid to walk alone in the dark.
她害怕独自在黑暗中行走。
天黑以后；夜幕降临后
The park is dangerous after dark.
天黑后公园很危险。
天黑以前
We need to get back home before dark.
我们需要在天黑前回到家。
对黑暗的恐惧；怕黑
Many children have a fear of the dark.
许多孩子怕黑。
把某人蒙在鼓里；对某人隐瞒
They kept me in the dark about the merger.
他们对我隐瞒了合并的事。
瞎猜；毫无根据的尝试
It was just a shot in the dark, but the answer was correct.
那只是瞎猜，但答案竟然对了。
蒙在鼓里；一无所知
They kept me in the dark about the surprise party.
他们对我隐瞒了惊喜派对的事。
瞎猜；碰运气的尝试
It was a shot in the dark, but I guessed the answer correctly.
那是瞎猜，但我碰巧猜对了答案。
黑马；出人意料的获胜者
She was a dark horse in the competition and surprised everyone.
她是比赛中的一匹黑马，让所有人都感到惊讶。
我害怕黑暗。
As the lights went out, she whispered, "I have a fear of the dark."
灯熄灭时，她低声说：“我害怕黑暗。”
你害怕黑暗吗？
The show "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" asked exactly that question of its young viewers.
电视剧《你害怕黑暗吗？》正是向年轻观众提出这个问题。
Use dark naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把 dark 拆成 d + ark（方舟）：想象方舟里没开灯，一片黑暗，所以 dark 是“黑暗、暗处”。
语域：neutral 常见场景：everyday conversation、literary writing、art discussion 该词作名词时通常指无光或黑暗的状态，日常和书面表达中都比较常见；在艺术语境中可指画作的暗部。选择中性语域较为安全。
常与介词in连用表示'在黑暗中'；after dark和before dark是固定短语。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.