believe it or not

连词 or 可以连接两个词性相同的词语或同等结构或意义相反的词语或结构, 表达让步关系。例如:

A. 动词 + or + 动词或动词 + or + not(上句属于此种结构)

1. The parade will start promptly, rain or shine. 检阅将准时开始，无论下雨还是晴天。

2. He's upstairs doing his homework, believe it or not. (=it's true, although it seems unlikely) 不管你信不信，他正在楼上做作业。

3. I asked them for $10,000 loan, and believe it or not, they said yes. (believe it or not = you may find it difficult to believe this) 我向他提出给我贷款 10,000 美元, 不管你信不信, 他们说可以。

4. Fred is second to none in maths in our class, but believe it or not, he hardly passed the last exam. (上海高考,00-57) 在我们班上弗雷德的数学是首屈一指的,但是,不管你信不信,他差点儿没有通过最后一次考试。

B. 形容词 + or + 形容词

1. East or west, home is best. (prov.) 金屋银屋,不如自家的土屋。

2. Large or small, new or old, wide or narrow, fast or slow, they moved down to the shore. 不论大的小的，新的旧的，宽的窄的，快的慢的，它们一齐向海岸驶去。

C. 名词 + or + 名词

Winter or summer, the sun itself is the same. 无论冬夏,太阳本身都是一样的。

D. 分词 + or + 分词 Walking or sleeping, she always has the question in her mind. 无论是走路还是睡觉，她总是想着这个问题。

E. 副词 + or + 副词

In or out, a spoiled child is often capricious. 不管在家还是在外，一个被宠坏的孩子常常是任性的。

F. 介词短语 + or + 介词短语

In joy or in sorrow, my brother plods away at his lessons until he learns. 不论是在欢乐时还是在悲伤时，我弟弟都孜孜不倦地读书，直到学会为止。