英語裏,很多詞有本意/實意用法(literal usage)和喻意用法(figurative usage),因此我們不要把我們的知識僅僅局限在它們的本意用法裏。就拿drown一詞來舉例,Drown的本意是"淹沒",但它還有喻意用法。它作喻意用法時,意思是“(情感/悲情等等)淹沒”。比如:
本意用法:The kid was drowned in the pond.
喻意用法:She drowned her trouble in alcohol.
I've got a bottle of whiskey here - shall we stay in and drown our sorrows?
He was drowing in bills.