“serve out”是一个多义英语短语,核心含义围绕“完成、耗尽或终结某件事”,具体用法和含义需结合语境判断。以下是其常见义项、用法及例句:
指完成规定的一段时间的义务、监禁或职务,强调“坚持到结束”。
搭配宾语:通常为表示“时间段/义务”的名词(如sentence, term, military service, presidency等)。
例句:
He served out his 15-year prison sentence and was finally released.(他服完了15年徒刑,最终获释。)
The general decided to serve out his military service instead of retiring early.(这位将军决定服完兵役,而非提前退休。)
She’s determined to serve out her term as CEO, even amid criticism.(尽管饱受批评,她仍决心完成CEO任期。)
指把剩余的物品全部分发出去(强调“耗尽库存”)。
搭配宾语:通常为食物、饮料或其他可分配的物品(如drinks, snacks, cake等)。
例句:
Could you serve out the remaining pizza to the guests?(你能把剩下的披萨分给客人吗?)
We need to serve out all the drinks before the party ends.(派对结束前我们得把饮料全部分完。)
She served out the last of the soup to the homeless man.(她把最后一点汤分给了那个 homeless 男子。)
在网球、排球等运动中,指通过发球拿下最后几分,终结比赛/盘/局(强调“用发球结束”)。
搭配宾语:通常为体育术语(如game, set, match等)。
例句:
The tennis player served out the set with an unreturnable ace.(这位网球选手用一记无解的ACE球发球赢下这一盘。)
She served out the match to win her first Grand Slam title.(她发球赢下比赛,夺得首个大满贯冠军。)
He struggled but managed to serve out the final game.(他打得很艰难,但还是发球赢下了最后一局。)
引申为克服困难,完成某件事(强调“坚持到底”),较口语化。
例句:
Despite the budget cuts, we served out the project on time.(尽管预算削减,我们还是按时完成了项目。)
She served out the tough training program and made the team.(她坚持完严苛的训练,入选了球队。)
serve up:意为“端上(食物/饮料)”(强调“呈上”,而非“分发完”),如:She served up a delicious meal for us.(她为我们端上了一顿美味的饭。)
serve out:侧重“完成/耗尽”,如serve out the soup是“把汤分完”,而serve up the soup是“把汤端上来”。
总结:“serve out”的关键是“终结性”——无论是服完刑期、分发完物品,还是用发球结束比赛,都强调“这件事到这里为止”。理解时需结合宾语和语境判断具体含义。