善用"shape"這個字,就連懷孕、喝醉也能這麼用
Shape是形狀、輪廓,可以表示身材的「曲線」、個性的「樣子」。和外國朋友打招呼,如果你問:"How are you?" 而老外回答:"Oh, I'm in great shape."那可不是在自誇他身材好,而是指一切都好,可能包括身體、工作、運勢……凡事都順利。
Shape與其說是「身材」,其實它更接近所處的「狀態」。除了用來形容人,也可以指東西:
For an old car, it’s in pretty good shape.(就一輛舊車來說,它情況算挺好的了。)
The economy is in worse shape now than it was last year.(今年的景氣比去年差了。)
In good shape有這樣的玄機,in bad shape也一樣。In bad shape當然不是批評人身材不好,而是指「健康狀況很差」,例如:
He has been in bad shape since he had the brain surgery.(腦部開刀後他身體狀況一直不好。)
In bad shape還有一種可能,是婉轉表達懷孕了。可以從上下文情境中判斷:
I heard that Vivian is in bad shape again, about three months in bad shape.(我聽說Vivian又懷孕了,三個月了。)
「發福了」也可以用"shape"這個字,就像我們會形容一個人變圓了,用"out of shape":
Sarah hasn’t had any exercise for several months and had a lot of burgers so she is really out of shape.(Sarah已經好幾個月都沒有做運動而且吃了很多漢堡,所以她現在身材變形得很嚴重。)
一如人的身材會變形,東西也會,例如:
My front wheel has been out of shape.(我車的前輪已經變形了。)
在口語中,in bad shape或in poor shape.還可以用在一種狀況,就是喝醉了:
Two glasses of that stuff and I'm in really bad shape.(兩杯酒一喝,我就醉了。)
Fred is in bad shape. I think he's going to toss his cookies.(Fred喝醉了,我想他快吐了。)
Shape 也可以強調事情的形式、特徵、進展
Take shape事情有眉目、有了模樣
Our plans are beginning to take shape.(我們的計劃開始成形了。)
All shapes and sizes 各式各樣
Our products come in different shapes and sizes, so I’m sure you’ll find one that fits your need.(我們的產品有各式各樣的,所以我相信你可以找到適合你需求的。)
Shape當動詞,表示影響、決定
Working at hospital shapes my value of life.(在醫院工作的經驗影響了我的人生觀。)