英语短语 "go to great lengths" 的核心含义是:竭尽全力;不遗余力;想尽一切办法(为实现某个目标而付出极大努力,甚至做一些困难、极端或超出常规的事)。
该短语通常与不定式 to do sth 搭配,构成固定结构:
go to great lengths to do sth(竭尽全力做某事)强调“努力的程度极大”,常用来描述为达到目的而采取的非常规/辛苦行动,口语和书面语均常用。例如:
She goes to great lengths to make her students feel welcome.(她竭尽全力让学生感到宾至如归。)
The restaurant went to great lengths to accommodate our dietary restrictions.(这家餐厅不遗余力地满足我们的饮食禁忌。)
He would go to great lengths to keep his secret safe.(他会想尽一切办法保守秘密。)
They are going to great lengths to organize a perfect wedding.(他们正在竭尽全力筹办一场完美的婚礼。)
spare no effort to do sth(不遗余力做某事)
do everything in one's power to do sth(尽某人所能做某事)
bend over backwards to do sth(拼命/费尽心思做某事,更口语化)
pull out all the stops(全力以赴,尤指为了成功而动用所有资源)
该短语侧重“努力的程度”,隐含“做了很多额外的、甚至不容易的事”,而非简单的“努力”。
时态变化:过去式 went to great lengths,现在分词 going to great lengths,第三人称单数 goes to great lengths。
总结:当你想表达“为了某个目标付出极大努力(甚至突破常规)”时,用“go to great lengths to do sth”非常贴切~