/fækt ||; fækt/noun1 [C] something that you know has happened or is true 事实；真相: It is a scientific fact that light travels faster than sound. 光速比声速快，这是科学上已知的事实。We need to know all the facts before we can decide. 我们要知道全部事实才可以作决定。I know for a fact that Peter wasn't ill yesterday. 我确实知道彼得昨天没有病。 The fact that I am older than you makes no difference at all. 我的年纪比你大根本没有关系。You must face facts and accept that he has gone. 你必须面对事实，他已经离开了。
2 [U] true things; reality 真事；现实: The film is based on fact. 这部影片以真人真事为素材。 [OPP] fiction 反义词为fiction
as a matter of fact→
MATTER¹
the fact (of the matter) is (that)... the truth is that... 事实上…:
I would love a car, but the fact is that I just can't afford one. 我希望拥有一部汽车，可是我实在买不起。 facts and figures detailed information 详细的资料:
Before we make a decision, we need some more facts and figures. 我们需要更多详细的资料才可以作出决定。 a fact of life something unpleasant that you must accept because you cannot change it 无可回避的事实；无法改变的事实:
Most people now see unemployment as just another fact of life. 如今大多数人把失业看作只是另一个无法改变的事实。 the facts of life the details of sexual behaviour and how babies are born 性知识
hard facts→
HARD¹
in (actual) fact 1 (used for emphasizing that sth is true) really; actually （用于强调某事物属实）事实上，其实: I thought the lecture would be boring but in actual fact it was rather interesting. 这次讲课我本来以为很沉闷，其实却相当有趣。
2 used for introducing more detailed information （用于引出更详细的信息）: It was cold. In fact it was freezing. 天气冷，简直冷得要命。