在英语中,有许多词语和短语的意思和用法并不直观,尤其是像“at the expense of”这种常见的短语。它的意思和用法可能会让学习者感到困惑。虽然它在日常英语交流中频繁出现,但很多人仍然难以完全掌握它的正确用法。
“At the expense of”是一个固定搭配,字面意思是“以...为代价”。它通常表示某个行为或结果的获得是通过牺牲其他事物、利益或资源来实现的。这个短语常常带有一定的负面含义,暗示着为了达成某个目标或取得某些好处,必须牺牲其他东西,尤其是那些重要的或有价值的事物。
例如,假如某个公司为了增加利润而减少员工福利,这个过程就可以说是“at the expense of”员工的利益。
The company's success was achieved at the expense of its workers' well-being. 公司的成功是以员工福祉为代价换来的。
She became rich at the expense of her health. 她的富有是以健康为代价的。
1. 表示牺牲某物:这是“at the expense of”最常见的用法,通常表示为了获得某种好处,必须牺牲其他事物。例如:
His fame came at the expense of his privacy. 他的名声是以隐私为代价获得的。
The environment is being destroyed at the expense of economic growth. 为了经济增长,环境正被破坏。
2. 不一定指代具体物质:有时候,“at the expense of”并不仅仅指代物质或金钱的损失,它也可以表示某种情感、健康、时间等方面的损失。例如:
The team’s victory came at the expense of their mental health. 这支队伍的胜利是以他们的心理健康为代价的。
She achieved her goals at the expense of her relationships. 她达成目标是以人际关系为代价的。
在使用“at the expense of”时,通常会有负面后果的含义。这意味着为了某种目的付出的代价往往是有害的,或者至少不理想。例如,某人可能为了升职而忽视家庭,虽然最终升职了,但家庭关系可能因此受到影响。
He advanced in his career at the expense of his personal life. 他在事业上取得了进步,但却以个人生活为代价。
“At the expense of”有时会与其他词语搭配,形成不同的表达。理解这些搭配对于准确使用这个短语非常重要。以下是一些常见的搭配:
这种搭配用于表示牺牲的对象,通常后面接的是名词,如利益、资源、健康等。例如:
Success at the expense of happiness. 以幸福为代价的成功。
Growth at the expense of quality. 以质量为代价的增长。
这种用法可以用来表示牺牲某项活动或行为。例如:
He gained power at the expense of ruining his reputation. 他为了权力,毁掉了自己的声誉。
She built her career at the expense of neglecting her family. 她为了事业忽视了家庭。
“At the cost of”与“at the expense of”意思相似,常用来表示某个目标或利益是通过付出代价实现的。两者的区别主要体现在语气上,"at the expense of" 的语气通常较为负面或带有批评的意味,而 "at the cost of" 在某些情境下语气较为中性。
He built the company at the cost of his personal life. 他为了建立公司,牺牲了个人生活。
She achieved success at the cost of her friends. 她为了成功,牺牲了朋友关系。
使用“at the expense of”时,一些学习者常常会犯一些错误。以下是几个常见的错误及其改正方法:
一些学习者会错误地将“at the expense of”与正面含义搭配。例如:
Incorrect: She achieved success at the expense of her health, and it was worth it. 错误:她为了成功,牺牲了健康,而且这是值得的。
Correct: She achieved success at the expense of her health, which she later regretted. 正确:她为了成功,牺牲了健康,这让她后悔不已。
在这个例子中,“at the expense of”强调牺牲的重要性和负面后果,通常不会出现“值得”这样的评价词。
“In favor of”表示支持或偏爱某个事物,而“at the expense of”则是表示牺牲或付出。很多学习者会错误地混淆这两个短语。
Incorrect: He changed his decision in favor of his career at the expense of his friends. 错误:他为了事业改变了决定,而牺牲了朋友。
Correct: He changed his decision at the expense of his friends in favor of his career. 正确:他为了事业,牺牲了朋友,改变了决定。