“hold forth”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义是“长篇大论地说;滔滔不绝地讲”,通常强调讲话冗长、正式甚至带点浮夸(隐含“不顾听众反应、自我表达欲强”的贬义色彩)。
英文解释:to speak at length, especially in a formal, pompous, or tedious way(长时间讲话,尤指正式、浮夸或枯燥地讲)。
强调“持续时间长”和“讲话者的主导性”,常隐含“听众可能觉得无聊/啰嗦”的潜台词。
结构:主语 + hold forth + (on/about 话题) + (to 听众)
(括号内为可选成分,“on/about”引出讲话的主题,“to”引出听众)
1、 带话题(on/about):
The professor held forth on quantum physics for over an hour.(教授就量子物理滔滔不绝地讲了一个多小时。)
She always holds forth about her expensive travels—no one cares anymore.(她总滔滔不绝地说她的奢华旅行——没人在意了。)
2、 带听众(to sb.):
He held forth to the crowd about the need for tax reform.(他向人群长篇大论地讲税制改革的必要性。)
Don’t get him started—he’ll hold forth to anyone who listens about his car collection.(别让他开口——他会对着任何愿意听的人滔滔不绝讲他的汽车收藏。)
3、 否定/抱怨语境(体现贬义):
I wish he’d stop holding forth—no one is listening!(我希望他别再长篇大论了——没人在听!)
The guest speaker held forth in such a boring way that half the audience left early.(嘉宾讲话太无聊,一半听众提前离场了。)
色彩:中性偏贬(重点在“冗长”或“浮夸”,而非“内容有价值”)。
同义词:
go on (and on)(口语化,强调“没完没了”);
rant(带“愤怒/抱怨”的长篇大论);
rave(带“狂热/夸大”的夸夸其谈);
lecture(更正式,强调“说教”)。
现在时:hold forth
过去时:held forth
现在分词:holding forth
例:He’s always holding forth about his “great achievements.”(他总滔滔不绝讲他的“伟大成就”。)
总结:“hold forth”适合描述某人主导讲话、持续时间长且可能让听众不耐烦的场景,使用时注意语境的贬义倾向~