哄小孩入睡,不是put to sleep
一次漫長的會議,開到很晚,Sunny和同事說,她得回家帶小孩:
- “I need to put my son to sleep.” (X)
這句話聽起來好像沒問題,就是「我必須哄兒子睡覺」。外籍同事聽起來卻覺得心裡毛毛的。哪裡錯了?
原來安置人入睡,英文要說 put someone to bed:
- “I need to put my son to bed.” (O)
哄小孩入睡,是把他放到床上,所以是put to bed。Put to sleep,不只是把人放到床上,還得想辦法讓他睡著,這個片語有好幾層解釋,從淺到深,一起來看看:
(1) 太無聊了,讓人昏昏欲睡:
You need to work on your presentation, or you're going to put your audience to sleep!
你得好好準備簡報,要不然觀眾都會無聊到睡著。
(2) 把人弄睡,一般指鎮定劑或麻醉藥
This injection will put you to sleep so you won't feel any pain.
打一針會讓你入睡,所以不會有疼痛感。
(3) 無痛苦處死,安樂死
Stray dogs are usually put to sleep if no one claims them.
流浪狗無人認領通常會被安樂死。
(4)消除,打消(念頭)
You always seemed so well-behaved that my fears were put to sleep.
你看上去總是那麼舉止得體,我的耽心也就打消了。
Put這個動詞很好用,但大家對它可能不像take/get那樣熟,再來學一個常出現在商業場合的短句:
Put it there!
不要搞錯,這並不是把東西放在那裡,而有「握手言和」、「一言為定」的味道。來看兩個例句,句子跟著唸,有助記憶:
- This goes a great way towards solving problem. Put it there!這有助於解決問題。我同意!
- "So, do we have a deal?" "Sure, put it there." 「那麼,我們達成協議了?」「當然,我們握個手吧。」
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