"in the wrong" 表示“有错的;理亏的;处于错误的一方”,强调某人对某件事(如错误、冲突、纠纷)负有责任或判断失误。
它常用来描述“在争执、过错或不当行为中,某人是‘错的那一方’”,比单纯的 "be wrong" 更侧重“情境中的理亏/责任”(而非单纯“内容错误”)。
"in the wrong" 通常与be动词或表示“发现、判定”的动词搭配,结构灵活,以下是高频场景:
直接说明“某人有错/理亏”,适用于冲突、道歉或判断对错的情境。
He realized he was in the wrong and apologized to his sister.
(他意识到自己错了,向妹妹道歉。)
If you broke her phone, you’re definitely in the wrong.
(如果你弄坏了她的手机,你肯定理亏。)
Who is in the wrong here—you or him?
(这里谁错了——你还是他?)
表示“在某件具体事情上出错/判断失误”,后接具体的“错误点”(如时间、事实、观点)。
I was in the wrong about the meeting time—it’s at 3 PM, not 2 PM.
(我把会议时间搞错了——是下午3点,不是2点。)
Don’t argue with her—she’s not in the wrong about the rules.
(别和她争——她对规则的理解没错。)
用表示“认知”的动词引出“某人有错”的结果,常见于理性判断(如调查、证据)的场景。
After checking the surveillance video, the manager found the cashier in the wrong.
(查看监控后,经理发现收银员有错。)
The lawyer proved the witness was in the wrong during cross-examination.
(律师在交叉询问中证明证人的说法有误。)
表示通过言行让他人“陷入错误的境地”(即使对方原本可能没错),强调被动置于“错的位置”。
His sharp question put me in the wrong, even though I thought I was right.
(他尖锐的问题让我显得理亏,尽管我认为自己是对的。)
Don’t let him put you in the wrong—stand up for yourself.
(别让他让你显得理亏——为自己辩护。)
固定搭配,表示“(自己)发现/意识到自己有错”,强调自我认知的过程。
I found myself in the wrong when I re-read the email—she had clearly said “no”.
(我重读邮件时发现自己错了——她明明说“不行”。)
"be wrong" 侧重内容/判断本身错误(如答案错、观点错):
Your answer is wrong.(你的答案错了。)
"in the wrong" 侧重情境中的责任/理亏(如冲突中错的一方、因行为不当而有错):
You’re in the wrong for lying to her.(你骗她,你理亏。)
"in the wrong" 是描述“过错责任”的实用短语,核心是“某人在某件事上是错的一方”。只要记住它用于“情境中的对错判断”,结合be动词或认知动词的搭配,就能准确使用~