“confront sb. with”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义是“使某人直面(令人不快、困难或需要回应的事/人)”,或“向某人出示(证据、事实等)以对质/追问”。它强调“将某人置于必须面对、回应的情境中”,通常涉及严肃、棘手的话题。
该短语有两个主要义项,需结合语境判断:
1、 使某人直面(困难/现实/错误)
迫使某人面对不愿接受的事实、问题或自己的行为后果。
例:She was confronted with the reality that her business was failing.(她被迫直面生意失败的现实。)
2、 向某人出示(证据/指控)以对质
用具体的证据、事实或证人与某人对质,要求其解释或回应。
例:The detective confronted the suspect with the murder weapon.(侦探拿凶器与嫌疑人对质。)
“sb.”是“被要求面对的人”(宾语);
“sth./sb.”是“需要面对的内容”(介词宾语),可以是:
抽象名词(如truth/reality/problem);
具体名词(如evidence/facts/lie);
人(如witness/accuser)。
常用sb. be confronted with sth.,此时主语是“被面对的人”,强调“某人被迫面对某事”。
例:I was confronted with a difficult choice: stay or leave?(我被迫面对一个艰难的选择:留下还是离开?)
1、 对质错误/谎言:
The teacher confronted the student with his plagiarized essay.(老师拿学生的抄袭作文跟他对质。)
My friend confronted me with my habit of being late.(朋友指出我总迟到的问题,让我直面这个习惯。)
2、 出示证据:
The police confronted the thief with the stolen items.(警察拿赃物与小偷对质。)
She confronted her husband with the text messages from his ex.(她拿丈夫和前任的短信跟他对质。)
3、 直面现实:
After losing his job, he was confronted with the need to find a new career.(失业后,他不得不面对重新找工作的现实。)
The team was confronted with the fact that they were not prepared for the game.(球队被迫承认他们没准备好比赛。)
该短语语气较严肃,通常用于需要“回应、解释”的情境,不用于日常轻松对话;
区分“confront sb. with sth.”与“confront sth.”:
confront a problem = 自己面对问题(主动);
confront sb. with a problem = 让某人面对问题(迫使对方回应)。
总结:“confront sb. with”本质是“把某人推到需要‘面对/回应’的境地”,核心是“要求对方直视或解释某件事”。