“lose one's hair”是一个多义短语,核心含义围绕“头发的失去”,但常延伸为情绪反应。以下是具体解析:
指因生理原因(如年龄、遗传、压力、疾病)导致头发脱落,是最直接的用法。
结构:主语(人)+ lose + 形容词性物主代词(my/his/her/your等)+ hair
例句:
My grandfather started losing his hair in his 40s.(我爷爷40多岁开始掉头发。)
Stress can make you lose your hair faster than usual.(压力会让你脱发更快。)
这是更常见的口语化引申义,字面“掉头发”被隐喻为“因某事而情绪失控(仿佛急得掉头发)”。
常用搭配:lose one's hair over/about something(因某事生气/焦虑)
例句:
Don't lose your hair over a tiny mistake—everyone makes them!(别为一点小错发脾气——谁都会犯错!)
She lost her hair when she found out the project was delayed again.(得知项目又延期时,她大发雷霆。)
Why are you losing your hair about the exam? You've studied hard!(你为什么为考试焦虑?你已经努力复习了!)
区分语境:若直接说“lose one's hair”,通常指字面“脱发”;若后面接“over/about sth”,则几乎都是比喻义(生气/焦虑)。
主语限制:只能用于人(因为“hair”是人的头发,动物用“fur”)。
同义词替换:比喻义可换为“lose one's temper”(发脾气)、“get upset”(烦躁)或“pull one's hair out”(急得抓头发,更强调焦虑),但“lose one's hair”更口语化。
总结:
字面:脱发(生理现象);
比喻:因某事生气/焦虑(情绪反应)。
结合语境很容易区分!