“make up to”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义围绕“主动接近/讨好某人”,具体可分为两种常见用法,需结合语境判断:
最常见的用法,指为了获得某种好处(如晋升、帮助、认可)而主动讨好或奉承他人。
结构:`make up to + 某人`(后面常接“目的状语”,说明讨好的原因)。 例句:He’s always making up to the boss to get a promotion.(他总巴结老板,想获得晋升。)
Don’t make up to me just because you want to borrow my car.(别因为想借我的车就讨好我。)
She made up to the teacher by volunteering to grade papers.(她主动帮忙改试卷,讨好老师。)
指主动接近某人(尤指陌生人或不太熟的人),目的可能是交友、聊天或进一步接触。
结构:`make up to + 某人`(常搭配场景描述,如“at a party”“in a café”)。 例句:He made up to her at the party and asked for her phone number.(他在派对上主动接近她,要了她的手机号。)
The shy boy finally made up to the new student after class.(那个害羞的男孩下课后终于主动接近了新同学。)
1、 接宾语要求:
“make up to”是及物短语,后面必须接人(不能接物),表示“针对某人做动作”。
✖ 错误:He made up to get a raise.(缺少宾语)
✔ 正确:He made up to the manager to get a raise.(他巴结经理想涨工资。)
2、 与其他“make up”短语的区别:
make up for:弥补(= compensate for),如“I’ll work overtime to make up for being late.”(我会加班弥补迟到的损失。)
make up with:与…和好,如“They made up with each other after the fight.”(他们吵架后和好了。)
make up:编造(谎言)、化妆、组成,如“She made up a story to avoid trouble.”(她编了个故事避祸。)
3、 同义词替换:
若表示“讨好/巴结”,可替换为:
suck up to(更口语,贬义更强):He’s always sucking up to the boss.(他总拍老板马屁。)
flatter(奉承):She flatters the teacher to get good grades.(她奉承老师以获得好成绩。)
“make up to”的核心是“主动对某人采取行动”,具体是“讨好(为私利)”还是“接近(为接触)”,需看语境中的目的——若有明确“求好处”的动机,就是贬义的“巴结”;若只是“主动搭讪”,则是中性的“接近”。