看到 to take a stab at,你是不是第一反应是“捅一刀”?其实人家根本不是字面意思!在口语中,它可是个很常见又很实用的表达,意思是“尝试做某事”或者“试试看”。比如你从没做过某项工作、不会某项技能,但你想尝试一下,那就可以说“I’ll take a stab at it.”
这个表达的核心含义是:尝试做某事,尤其是不太确定自己是否能做成。它常常带着一点不自信、但愿意一试的语气,就像我们说的“我来试试”、“我试试看行不行”。
构成: to take a stab at + 名词 / 动名词
语气:非正式、口语中常用
This post at the reception desk requires me to speak at least two foreign languages. I’ll take a stab at learning Spanish first.
翻译:接待处的工作要求我会讲两种外语,我会先试试看学西班牙语。
I’ve never cooked Thai food before, but I’ll take a stab at it tonight.
翻译:我从没做过泰国菜,但我今晚打算试试看。
take a stab at something —— 尝试做某事
take a stab at doing something —— 尝试去做某事
give something a stab —— 同义表达,更加随意
例句:
She’s going to take a stab at writing a novel this summer.
翻译:她这个夏天打算试着写一本小说。
Let me take a stab at fixing your computer.
翻译:让我试试看能不能修你的电脑。
give it a shot —— 试试看
give it a try —— 尝试一下
have a go(英式)—— 来一试
try one’s hand at —— 初次尝试做某事
例句比较:
I’ve never painted before, but I’ll give it a shot.
翻译:我从来没画过画,但我可以试试看。
He decided to try his hand at woodworking during the holidays.
翻译:假期时他决定尝试一下木工。
1. 工作面试:
I’ve never worked in sales before, but I’m willing to take a stab at it.
翻译:我以前没做过销售,但我愿意试试看。
2. 新技能学习:
He’s taking a stab at learning the guitar.
翻译:他正在试着学吉他。
3. 帮助别人:
Your phone isn’t working? I can take a stab at fixing it.
翻译:你手机坏了?我可以试着帮你修修。
对话一:
A: Have you ever edited a video before?
B: Nope, but I can take a stab at it if you need help.
翻译:
A:你以前剪过视频吗?
B:没有,不过如果你需要帮忙我可以试试看。
对话二:
A: I need someone to redesign our website. Any ideas?
B: I’ve never done that, but I’d love to take a stab at it.
翻译:
A:我们的网站需要重新设计,有没有人能做?
B:我以前没做过,但我很想试试。
“take a stab at” 后面可以跟名词、动名词或代词。
这是一个固定搭配,不建议拆分。
时态可以根据语境变化,如 took a stab at、will take a stab at。
例句:
She took a stab at drawing a portrait.
翻译:她试着画了一幅肖像画。
We’ll take a stab at solving this problem tomorrow.
翻译:我们明天试着解决这个问题。
一、选择题:选择最合适的选项填空
I’ve never written a song before, but I’ll _______ it this weekend.
A. take a stab at B. take a shot in C. take care of
He’s going to _______ building a treehouse with his kids.
A. take a stab at B. stab a take C. take a risk of
二、翻译题:
我从没试过做甜点,但我想试试看。
我从没试过做甜点,但我想试试看。
他愿意尝试修一下电脑。
我们试着开发一个新功能吧。
三、改写句子:把句子改为使用“take a stab at”表达
I’ll try to write a short story.
→ _________________________________
She wants to attempt painting for the first time.
→ _________________________________
They will try solving the issue tomorrow.
→ _________________________________
四、造句题:请用“take a stab at”写三个英文句子,并写出中文翻译。