玛格丽特公主的婚事马上就要被媒体曝光。女王站在姐姐的立场真心希望可以成全妹妹,尽管丈夫和母亲都不同意。本期的口语用法颇为生动,《王冠》口语学习第七波,咱们用心领会。

1. I’ve been wracking my brain about how I can best help you.我绞尽脑汁地想怎样才可以给你最大的支持。

Notes: “wrack”作为动词的意思是“严重伤害”,“wrack my brain”显而易见可理解为“绞尽脑汁”,够形象。例句如下:

I’ve been wracking my brain about what presents I should prepare for my girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
关于情人节送女朋友什么礼物,我真的绞尽脑汁。

I’ve been wracking my brain to solve this math problem.
为了解开这道数学题,我绞尽脑汁。

2. If he were a good influence, he’d patch things up with his wife.如果他真想为她好,就应该和妻子和好。

Notes: “patch up”这个短语表示“修补,平息”。“patch things up with somebody”的意思是“与某人和好”。例如:

He went to the tailor’s to patch up his coat.
他去裁缝店补外套。

I tried to patch things up between them.
我试着化解他们之间的矛盾。

Has she ever tried to patch things up with him?
她有试着跟他和好吗?

3. I’ve given Margaret my word and I’m determined to support her.我向玛格丽特承诺过了,我一定会帮助她。

Notes: “give somebody my word”直译过来是“给某人我的话”,理解下就是“给某人承诺”。和之前分享过的另一个表达是同样的意思,还记得是什么吗?对啦!就是“You have my word.”“determined”作为形容词表示“坚决的”。“be determined to do something”自然就是“决意做某事”,可谓很坚定。更多例句:

I will study hard in college, I give you my word.
我向你保证,我一定会在大学努力学习。

He is determined to start his own business.
他下定决心要创业。

4. I’m on my knees with gratitude.我真是感激涕零。

Notes:“on my knees”的意思是“跪下”,“on my knees with gratitude”直译过来是“感激得跪下了”,可见感谢的程度之深——“感激涕零”,“感激不尽”。在片中饱含讽刺的意味。例句:

She fell on her knees and prayed to God.
她跪下来,向上帝祷告。

What do you expect? I’m on my knees with gratitude?
你在期待什么?等着我感激涕零?

5. This horse has already bolted.木已成舟/亡羊补牢,为时已晚/覆水难收。

Notes:“bolt”作为不及物动词有个意义是“(马等)脱缰”。这句话直译过来就是“马脱缰了。”脱缰的野马再难追回,形容某件事木已成舟,来不及阻止了。

They are gonna release the news. This horse has already bolted.
他们马上就要发布这条新闻了,木已成舟。

声明:本文系沪江英语原创内容,转载请注明出处。本文仅代表作者个人观点,仅供参考。如有不妥之处,欢迎指正。