“be blunt with”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义是“对……直言不讳/开诚布公/直截了当地说”,强调说话方式直接、坦率(甚至略带尖锐,但通常出于真诚或必要性)。
“blunt”本身是形容词,意为“直率的;不绕弯子的”,“be blunt with sb.”直译为“对某人保持直率”,实际表达“面对某人时不说假话、不拐弯抹角,直接说出真实想法”。
短语的结构通常是:
(“about + 事”是可选部分,用来补充“就某事对某人直言”)
基础用法(仅接人):
I need to be blunt with you—your attitude is causing problems.
(我得跟你直说——你的态度有问题。)
She was blunt with the manager when he asked for her opinion.
(经理征求她的意见时,她直言不讳。)
补充“关于某事”(加about sth.):
He was blunt with me about my mistake in the report.
(他就我报告里的错误对我直言不讳。)
Don’t be afraid to be blunt with her about how you feel.
(别害怕直截了当地告诉她你的感受。)
否定/建议语境:
You shouldn’t be blunt with people you just met—it might seem rude.
(你不该对刚认识的人太直率——可能显得无礼。)
If you want him to change, be blunt with him—he doesn’t take hints.
(如果你想让他改变,就直说是——他听不懂暗示。)
“be blunt with”的语气比“be honest with”(对……诚实)更直接尖锐,有时可能让对方感到“刺耳”,但目的是传递真实信息(而非恶意)。
常见的同义表达:speak bluntly to sb.(直率地对某人说)、be frank with sb.(对某人坦诚),但“be blunt with”的“直接感”更强。
总结:“be blunt with”是“对某人直话直说”的固定表达,适用于需要“开门见山、不绕弯子”的沟通场景,后面接人(可补充“关于某事”)。