"boast about"是“动词+介词”结构,后面需接名词、代词或动名词(doing) 作宾语,说明“吹嘘的内容”。主语通常是“人”(即“吹嘘的主体”)。
He always boasts about his wealth.(他总吹嘘自己的财富。)
Don’t boast about your grades too much—no one likes a show-off.(别太炫耀你的成绩——没人喜欢爱显摆的人。)
She boasted about her famous cousin at the party.(她在聚会上吹嘘自己那位有名的表亲。)
They boasted about winning the championship without much effort.(他们吹嘘不费吹灰之力就赢了冠军。)
He’s always boasting about traveling to 50 countries before 30.(他总吹嘘自己30岁前就去过50个国家。)
一般现在时(第三人称单数加s):She often boasts about her cooking skills.(她常吹嘘自己的厨艺。)
一般过去时(变boasted):He boasted about his new phone yesterday.(他昨天吹嘘了自己的新手机。)
同义短语:"boast of"(用法几乎完全相同,可互换),如:She boasts of her beauty.(她夸耀自己的美貌。)
更口语的表达:"brag about"(比"boast about"更直白、更贬义,强调“自夸”),如:Stop bragging about your salary!(别再吹嘘你的工资了!)
"boast"的及物动词用法:若直接接宾语(不加介词),意为“以…为傲;拥有(引以为豪的事物)”,中性,无贬义,如:
The town boasts a historic castle.(这座小镇有一座历史悠久的城堡(引以为豪)。)
He boasts a great sense of humor.(他有很强的幽默感(引以为傲)。)
"boast about"本质是“过度炫耀某事”,核心是“说出来让别人知道自己的‘厉害’”,但因“过度”而带贬义。使用时需注意语境(避免用于褒义场景),并正确搭配宾语。