其中:
flatter 本身表示“奉承;讨好;使(某人)感到受宠若惊”;
about sth. 引出“奉承/夸奖的具体内容”(即“关于某件事”)。
该短语可用于主动语态(强调“某人主动奉承他人”)或被动语态(强调“某人因某事感到受宠若惊”),具体语境决定其感情色彩(中性/轻微贬义/褒义)。
结构:主语 + flatter + sb. + about + sth.
强调“说话者/动作执行者主动就某事讨好/夸奖对方”,常带有“刻意迎合”的意味(未必完全真诚)。
The salesman flattered the customer about his taste in suits to make a sale.
推销员奉承顾客的西装品味,以促成交易。(明显的“讨好”,目的是卖东西)
Don’t flatter me about my cooking—I burnt the steak!
别奉承我的厨艺了——我把牛排烤焦了!(对方的夸奖可能过了头,说话者觉得不真实)
He always flatters his boss about her leadership skills to get a promotion.
他总奉承老板的领导能力,以求升职。(带有“功利性讨好”的贬义)
结构:sb. + be flattered + about + sth.
强调“某人因某事被夸奖/关注而感到高兴、受宠若惊”,此时感情色彩更偏向中性或褒义(突出“被认可的愉悦”)。
I was flattered about the compliment on my new haircut.
有人夸奖我的新发型,我感到受宠若惊。(真诚的夸奖带来的愉悦)
She was flattered about being invited to the exclusive party.
被邀请参加专属派对,她觉得很荣幸。(强调“被重视的开心”)
flatter 与 praise 的区别:
praise 是“真诚夸奖”(不带讨好意味);
flatter 是“奉承/讨好”(可能过度或有目的),但被动语态中可弱化“讨好”感,侧重“受宠”。
常见搭配:
flatter sb. about one’s appearance/skills/work(奉承某人的外貌/技能/工作);
be flattered about sb.’s attention/invitation/compliment(因某人的关注/邀请/夸奖而受宠若惊)。