英语短语 "follow one's nose" 是一个常用的口语表达,核心关联“鼻子”的功能(方向感知、直觉、嗅觉),但具体含义需结合语境,主要有三大用法:
这是最直观的字面延伸——“跟着鼻子的方向走”(即不转弯,保持直线)。
用法:常与表示路径的介词(down/along)搭配,或直接接地点。
例子:
Excuse me, how do I get to the train station? — Just follow your nose down Main Street for two blocks; it's on your left.
(请问去火车站怎么走?——沿着主街直走两个街区,就在左边。)
Follow your nose along the river path, and you'll find the park.
(沿着河边小路直走,你会找到公园。)
这里的“鼻子”隐喻“直觉”(类似“第六感”),强调“跟着内心的感觉走”,不纠结逻辑。
用法:可直接作谓语,或接“in doing sth”“to do sth”表示“凭直觉做某事”。
例子:
Don't overanalyze the job offer—follow your nose and take it if it feels right.
(别过度分析这份工作邀约——凭直觉,感觉对就接受。)
When I'm stuck on a creative project, I just follow my nose and see where it leads.
(当我在创意项目上卡壳时,我会凭直觉走,看它带我到哪里。)
She followed her nose to choose the red dress, and everyone complimented her.
(她凭直觉选了红裙子,所有人都夸她。)
直接关联“鼻子的嗅觉功能”,指被气味引导到某个地方。
用法:常接“to + 地点”(跟着气味到某地)。
例子:
I was walking home when I followed my nose to a tiny café with the best croissants.
(我走在回家的路上,跟着香气找到了一家卖超好吃可颂的小咖啡馆。)
The dog followed its nose to the kitchen, where we'd left a plate of bacon.
(狗跟着气味跑到厨房,我们在那儿留了一盘培根。)
指路时:直走;
做决定/选择时:凭直觉;
涉及气味时:跟着嗅觉走。
这个短语非常口语化,适用于日常对话,记住三个核心场景就能灵活使用啦!