英语短语 "after a fashion" 是一个常用的副词短语,核心含义是 “勉强地;马马虎虎地;不太好地(完成某事)”,强调动作或结果“不够完美、不够熟练,只是差强人意”。
英文释义:in a way that is not very good, thorough, or skillful; to a limited or unsatisfactory degree
(以不够好、不彻底或不熟练的方式;达到有限或不尽如人意的程度)
1、 位置:通常放在动词/动词短语之后,作方式状语,修饰动作的质量。
2、 搭配:常与表示“做某事”的动词(如 do, play, cook, speak, manage 等)连用,结构为 "do sth after a fashion"(勉强做某事)。
He can play the guitar after a fashion—but don’t ask him to play a solo.
他吉他弹得马马虎虎——别让他弹独奏。
She cooked dinner after a fashion, but it was too salty and overcooked.
她勉强做了晚饭,但太咸且煮过头了。
I understand Spanish after a fashion, but I can’t hold a conversation.
我勉强能懂一点西班牙语,但没法对话。
The old man manages his garden after a fashion, though most plants are wilting.
老人勉强打理着花园,尽管大部分植物都枯萎了。
"after a fashion" vs "in a fashion":两者意思几乎相同,可互换,但 "after a fashion" 更强调“勉强、凑合”,语气略消极;"in a fashion" 更中性,侧重“以某种方式”。
例:She dressed in a fashion that caught everyone’s eye.(她穿得很惹眼。)
(此处不能用 "after a fashion",因为没有“勉强”的含义。)
总之,"after a fashion" 是描述“做事不够好、只是将就”的实用短语,适合日常对话或书面语中表达“差强人意”的状态。