刚外派到美国时,有一回Tom要找地方停车,问了坐在旁边的同事,可不可以就停在某处。
同事回答:Dont even think about it!,Tom以为是:「不用想太多」一停下来;结果同事继续,Its illegal to park here.
他才知道原来自己搞错Dont think about it.的意思。
Dont think about it.
错误:不用想太多。
正确:不用做白日梦了、省省吧、不可能的、不行
这句话属强硬的拒绝,叫人想都不用想。
Its illegal to park here. Dont even think about it!停在这里不合法,想都别想了。
几个think的道地用法,在意思或语气上比较容易判断错误的字,我们一起来看看:
1. think straight
错误:想法直接
正确:好好思考、想清楚
Straight 是指「直线的、直接的」,think straight是指能够平静、理性、好好的思考。非常好用的口语表达。
I was so tired, I couldnt think straight. 我好累,没法好好思考。
Im sorry, that was a stupid thing to do - I wasnt thinking straight. 对不起,那样做太愚蠢了——我当时没有想好。
2. I thought as much.
错误:想太多
正确:果然不出所料
Thought是think的过去式,指对发生的事并不感到惊奇,意思是:我早就知道了;我本来也这样想;果然不出我所料;我担心就是这个。如:
A:He didn’t show up for the meeting. 会议他没有出席。
B:I thought as much. 果然不出我所料。
3. Just think …
错误:只是思考
正确:没想到吧、你想想看
有不可思议、惊讶,意思接近中文里的:你想想看!你没想到吧!如:
Just think —— she got married at 14. 你想想看,她14岁就结婚了!
Just think of the cost of that rent! 你想想那租金代价有多高!
4. To think…
错误:去思考
正确:竟然
和just think有一点相近,都有「不敢相信」之意,但to think除了表示惊奇,还有可惜、悲伤,怎么就、真令人想不到、……竟然……的意思。
To think that he had an accident! 他竟然会遭遇到意外事故。
To think that all that money has been wasted! 那些钱竟然白白地浪费掉了。