① by the lights of意為“借助于……的光線”,lights一定要用復(fù)數(shù)。
They climbed the hill by the lights of the moon. 他們借著月光爬山。
② in the light of意為“根據(jù),按照”,其中的the可省略,后跟名詞,也可跟what從句,相當于according to。
He made the decision in light of what he had heard. 他根據(jù)他所聽到的做出決定。