1. 认识这个词(基础篇)
词:sway
英英释义:to influence someone so that they change their opinion
例句:Don’t be swayed by your emotions.
2. 体会这个词 (进阶篇)
“sway”是及物动词,本意是”摇晃、摇摆“(可以试着闭上眼睛,边读边用一只手从左到右摇摆,感受一下“sway”)。它常被引申为“影响、使动摇”,因此很多时候它可以用来替换 influence 和 impact。但需要注意,从上面的英英释义可以看得出来,sway 的影响程度要高于 influence 和 impact。
我们经常说的“别让情绪左右了你”,就可以说成:
Don’t be swayed by your emotions.
现在很多西方国家的民众都受到民粹主义政客的摆布,就可以说:
Across much of the West, people are swayed by populist politicians.(populist 就是“民粹主义”)
再来看《经济学人》中的一处例子,来自一篇关于 Facebook 对美国竞选影响的文章,里面正好先后出现了 sway 和 influence。原文第一句过长,在此有删改:
People wonder whether some content and ads shown to each user could be biased and help sway political attitudes. Could Facebook influence the outcome of this presidential election?
3. 从认识到会用(作业)
1)翻译下面的句子:
人们往往会被广告所影响,购买很多根本不需要的东西。
(参考翻译:People tend to be swayed by commercials and purchase lots of things that are unnecessary. 或 People are often swayed by advertisements and buy lots of things that they do not necessarily need.)
2)结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等,先想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达,然后再进行造句。
场景:他很擅长甜言蜜语,很难不为所动
造句:It is hard not to be swayed by his smooth talk.