12.04【每日一词】antidote

antidote n.
释义:something that helps to improve the effects of something bad or negative.

“antidote”的本意是“解毒药”,常被引申为表示“缓解作用”“有效手段”,和我们中文里的“一剂良药”完美对应。如果在写作中恰当使用 antidote,可以显示不凡的词汇水平。
例① 我们常说的“何以解忧,唯有杜康”,说的是很多人认为只有酒才能消除忧虑。
Some people believe that alcohol can offer a quick antidote to depression.
例② 米歇尔?奥巴马在回忆录 Becoming 中用到了 3 次 antidote,其中一处写到祖父(外号“Southside”)非常喜欢音乐时,她说:
Music seemed to be an antidote to his worries, a way to relax and crowd them out. When Southside had a payday for his carpentry work, he’d sometimes splurge and buy himself a new album.
“Music seemed to be an antidote to his worries”说的就是音乐可以解忧,缓解压力。我们可以根据这个意思用 antidote 造句。
例③ 表达音乐的功效就可以说:
It seems that music serves as a powerful antidote to worries. Music provides the perfect antidote to loneliness and boredom.
例④ 经典工作效率提升指南 Getting Things Done 中,开篇也出现了 antidote:
【12.04【每日一词】antidote】This is the vaccination against day-to-day firefighting and an antidote for the imbalance many people bring upon themselves.
vaccination 是“疫苗”,在这里表示“预防措施”,antidote 是“解药”,在这里表示“矫正方法”。当我们想表示一个工具、方法的有效性时,就可以用到 vaccination 和 antidote 这类词汇。句子中的 firefighting 和 imbalance 写出了上班族的狼狈,vaccination 和 antidote 和它们一一对应,相比“a good way/method”这样的表达,它们更生动、灵活和恰当,建议直接把这段话背下来。


【作业】
1. 使用《牛津英语搭配词典》查 “antidote”,了解它作为名词时的常用搭配。
effective/good/perfect/powerful antidote
act as/serve as antidote
offer, provide 发挥缓解作用
The resort offers the perfect antidote to the pressures of modern life.


2. 翻译:健身是缓解压力的有效方法。
Working out serves as an effective antidote for stress relief.
(参考翻译:Working out is a powerful antidote to anxiety. 或者 Regular exercise serves as a potent antidote to alleviate anxiety.)


3. 造句练习:
场景:冥想有助于缓解焦虑,抑郁以及疼痛。
造句: It is proved that meditation offers a potent antidote to alleviate anxiety, depression and pain.

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