“settle down”是英语中含义丰富、使用频率极高的短语,核心逻辑是“从不稳定/分散状态 转向稳定/集中状态 ”,具体含义需结合语境判断。以下是其主要用法、搭配及例句,帮你系统掌握:
指从“移动/频繁变动”转为“固定生活”,强调长期稳定性。
搭配:+ `in/at + 地点`(在某地定居);+ `with sb`(和某人一起安定)
例句:
After years of backpacking, they finally settled down in a small town in Oregon.(多年背包旅行后,他们终于在俄勒冈的一个小镇定居。)
She wants to settle down with her boyfriend and adopt a dog.(她想和男友安定下来,养只狗。)
用于让自己或他人从“激动、吵闹、紧张”的状态中恢复平静。
搭配:
不及物:直接用(如“settle down!” 安静点!);
及物:`settle sb down`(让某人平静)。
例句:
Settle down, everyone—let’s start the meeting.(大家安静下来,会议要开始了。)
I needed a cup of tea to settle down after the stressful drive.(开完紧张的车后,我需要一杯茶冷静一下。)
Can you settle the kids down? They’re running around the house.(你能让孩子们安静吗?他们在屋里乱跑。)
指结束“分散注意力”的状态,集中精力处理某件事(通常是需要投入的任务)。
搭配:+ `to + 名词/动名词`(`settle down to sth/doing sth`);或 + `to + 不定式`(口语中常用)。
例句:
It’s time to settle down to work—we have a deadline tomorrow.(该认真工作了,我们明天截止。)
After lunch, she settled down to reading her new book.(午餐后,她开始专注读新书。)
I can’t settle down to study with all this noise outside.(外面这么吵,我没法专注学习。)
特指年轻人从“单身/漂泊”转为“结婚、生子”的稳定人生状态,强调生活模式的固定。
例句:
He’s 30 now and says he’s ready to settle down and start a family.(他现在30岁,说准备好安定下来生小孩了。)
My cousin finally settled down last year—she married her college sweetheart.(我表妹去年终于安定了,嫁给了大学时的恋人。)
含义 | 搭配 | 例句 |
---|---|---|
在某地定居 | settle down in/at + 地点 | She settled down in London after college. |
和某人安定 | settle down with sb | He wants to settle down with his girlfriend. |
专注于某事 | settle down to sth/doing sth | Let’s settle down to the project. |
让某人平静 | settle sb down | Can you settle the baby down? |
语境优先:判断含义时看上下文——提到“traveling/move”(旅行/搬家)→ 定居;提到“noise/argument”(噪音/争吵)→ 冷静;提到“work/study”(工作/学习)→ 专注。
及物 vs 不及物:只有“让某人平静”时是及物动词短语(settle sb down),其他情况多为不及物(如settle down in sp)。
通过以上场景和例子,你可以快速在不同语境中准确使用“settle down”~