字面直译是“咧嘴笑并忍受它”,实际表示 “(虽不情愿但)默默忍受;逆来顺受;苦笑着接受”。强调面对不愉快、困难或无奈的情况时,选择压抑情绪、勉强承受(往往带着“别无选择”的无奈感)。
1、 结构与搭配:
这是一个动词短语,通常用作谓语,主语多为“人”,后面的it指代前文提到的“不愉快的事/困境”(需上下文呼应,不能单独使用)。
2、 时态变化:
现在时:grin and bear it
过去时:grinned and bore it
现在分词:grinning and bearing it
该短语口语化极强,常见于日常对话,描述“不得不忍”的场景(如工作、生活中的小挫折、麻烦事)。以下是典型例子:
工作场景:
I hate working overtime every day, but I have to grin and bear it until I find a better job.
(我讨厌每天加班,但在找到更好的工作前只能忍着。)
生活小事:
My feet were killing me after walking 10km, but I just grinned and bore it for the sake of the trip.
(走了10公里后我的脚疼死了,但为了这次旅行我还是忍了。)
社交场合:
The party was boring, but we grinned and bore it because it was our cousin’s birthday.
(派对很无聊,但因为是表弟的生日,我们只能硬着头皮待着。)
过去式例子:
When the teacher gave us a surprise test, we all grinned and bore it—there was no point complaining.
(当老师突然要考试时,我们都默默承受了——抱怨也没用。)
suck it up(美式口语):更直接,强调“硬扛”(无“笑”的含义,更偏向“忍气吞声”)。
Just suck it up—everyone has to do this task.(别抱怨了,大家都得做这个任务。)
put up with:更中性,指“忍受”(不强调情绪,侧重“接受”)。
I can’t put up with his rudeness anymore.(我再也受不了他的无礼了。)
总结:"grin and bear it" 是带情绪色彩的“忍受”——明明不舒服,却还要“笑着”(或假装无所谓)承受,突出“无奈但必须接受”的心态,是英语中描述“忍气吞声”的生动表达。