“*****”是中文裏一種形象的說法,意思是故意表現得很弱、很卑微、低聲下氣,以求自保或避免衝突。這個說法帶有一些幽默或諷刺的語氣。
根據具體語境,英文中可以用幾種表達方式來傳達這個意思:
常見翻譯表達:
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Play dumb
裝傻,假裝什麽都不知道。他明明懂,但在會上*****。
He clearly understood, but he played dumb at the meeting. -
Act humble / Play humble
假裝謙卑低調。麵對上司的責問,他隻能*****。
He had to play humble in front of the boss's scolding. -
Eat humble pie(美式)
意為“低聲下氣地認錯”被抓包之後他隻能*****。
After being caught, he had to eat humble pie. -
Suck it up and keep your head down
意思是“忍著別吭聲”,也有“*****”的意思。在這種職場裏,你隻能*****。
In a workplace like this, you just have to suck it up and keep your head down.
更地道的俚語表達:
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Play the underdog
假裝自己處於弱勢來博取同情或避免衝突。 -
Lie low / Keep a low profile
表示“低調做人”甚至“忍氣吞聲”。
如果你告訴我是哪種場景(比如:職場、家庭衝突、校園鬥爭),我可以幫你選最貼切的翻譯。要不要我舉幾個不同行業的例子?