為了不冒犯他們其中任何一人,我選擇保持中立。
sit on the fence原來(lái)是指“在分家產(chǎn)的時(shí)候,騎在分割家產(chǎn)的籬笆上,不知應(yīng)該選擇哪一邊”,現(xiàn)在這個(gè)短語(yǔ)常用來(lái)表示:“保持中立,采取騎墻觀望的態(tài)度”。因此,當(dāng)美國(guó)人說(shuō)"In order not to offend either oft hem, I prefer to sit on the fence."時(shí),他/她要表達(dá)的意思就是:"In order not to annoy either of them, I took a neutral stance on this issue."、"I'd remain neutral in the event so as not to displease either of them."。
情景對(duì)白:
Benjamin: Why not express your opinion? Which side are you on?
本杰明:你怎么不發(fā)表意見(jiàn)呢?你支持哪一方?
Terry: In order not to offend either of them, I prefer to sit on the fence.
泰瑞:為了不冒犯他們其中任何一人,我選擇保持中立。
搭配句積累:
①What do you think of their suggestions?
你認(rèn)為他們的提議怎么樣?
②I don't really know what happened.
我確實(shí)不清楚究竟發(fā)生了什么。
③Both of them are reasonable, but also one-side.
雙方都有道理,但他們都是片面的。
④What's your opinion?
你怎么看?
單詞:
1. neutral adj. 中立的
Let's meet on neutral territory.
我們?cè)谥辛⒌貐^(qū)會(huì)面吧。
Those who had decided to remain neutral in the struggle now found themselves required to take sides.
那些先前決定在爭(zhēng)斗中保持中立的人現(xiàn)在發(fā)現(xiàn)他們需要表明立場(chǎng)了。
Switzerland seems to be a permanently neutral state.
瑞士似乎是一個(gè)永久中立國(guó)。
2. stance n. 立場(chǎng)
The Congress had agreed to reconsider its stance on the armed struggle.
國(guó)會(huì)已同意重新考慮其對(duì)武裝斗爭(zhēng)的態(tài)度。
They have maintained a consistently neutral stance.
他們一直持中立態(tài)度。
His stance towards the story is quite similar to ours.
他對(duì)該報(bào)道的態(tài)度和我們很相像。