一个美国客户发给我的文件中有这么一个句子：
"For small and medium-sized businesses, （中小型企业）the options are less appealing. They can go to tradeshows and try to identify trustworthy suppliers. Alternatively, they can comb supplier databases such as Alibaba.com, pick a supplier based on supplier-provided information, and then hope for the best. With either option, small and medium-sized companies risk wasting time and money working with sub-par suppliers. There has to be a better way."
comb在这里肯定不是“梳头”的意思了。
comb：2 to search a place thoroughly
comb something for somebody/something
Police are still combing the woods for the missing
boy.
comb supplier databases - 搜索供应商数据库
一词多义的情况在英语中很常见。对于一名中学生，他只需要知道comb是“梳子”或“梳头”的意思就能应付考试了。但是，作为一名翻译，学习是没有止境的。
sub-par (adj.)not be up to par to be less good than usual or below the proper standard: 次等的，达不到标准的
类似的表达：be below par/be under par/not be up to par
实际上par就表示一种标准，以上的短语都表示“达不到标准”的意思。
sub-standard: 也是指“达不到标准”。sub-standard products就是不符合标准的疵品。
中小型企业- small and medium-sized enterprises = SMEs
或者small and medium-sized businesses/companies