“swear off”是一个常用的英语动词短语,核心含义是“发誓戒掉;坚决放弃(某习惯、行为或事物)”,强调通过“发誓”这种形式表达停止做某事的强烈决心(通常针对负面习惯或不再想要的行为)。
“swear off”侧重“主动、正式地决定终止”,隐含“为了自我约束或改变而做出承诺”的意味。比普通的“give up(放弃)”“quit(停止)”更强调决心和仪式感(因为关联“swear”——发誓)。
结构:主语 + swear off + 名词/动名词(doing sth.)
(注:“off”是介词,后接名词或动名词,不能接不定式)
以下是不同场景的常用例句,帮助理解:
He swore off smoking after his lung check-up.
(他在肺部检查后发誓戒烟。)
She finally swore off biting her nails—it was ruining her hands.
(她终于发誓不再咬指甲——那把她的手毁了。)
I need to swear off junk food if I want to lose weight.
(如果想减肥,我得发誓戒掉垃圾食品。)
They swore off going to that bar after the fight last week.
(上周打架后,他们发誓不再去那家酒吧。)
My mom swore off online shopping for a month to save money.
(我妈妈发誓一个月不网购,以便省钱。)
He swore off dating for a while to focus on his career.
(他发誓暂时不约会,专注于事业。)
I’ve sworn off procrastinating—no more putting things off until the last minute!
(我发誓不再拖延——再也不把事情拖到最后一刻!)
She swore off lying to her friends after feeling guilty.
(内疚之后,她发誓不再对朋友说谎。)
现在时:swear off
过去时:swore off
过去分词:sworn off(用于完成时)
例:
I have sworn off late-night snacking. (我已经发誓不再吃夜宵。)
He swore off drinking years ago. (他几年前就发誓戒酒了。)
swear off:强调“发誓”的决心,更正式;
give up:通用词,侧重“停止”,无“发誓”的仪式感;
quit:更口语化,侧重“主动停止”(如quit smoking=戒烟);
abstain from:更正式,侧重“克制、戒除”(如abstain from alcohol=戒酒)。
不能接不定式:错误:swear off to smoke → 正确:swear off smoking;
通常用于主动语态(主语自己发誓放弃);
多针对可重复的行为(如习惯、活动),而非单次动作。
总之,“swear off”是表达“坚决戒断”的高频短语,适用于描述为了改变而做出的强烈承诺,尤其贴合“戒掉坏习惯”的场景。