“peg sb. down”是一个多义的及物动词短语,核心逻辑是“通过某种方式让某人/某事从‘不确定、自由’的状态变为‘固定、明确’”。以下是具体含义、用法和例句:
根据语境,“peg sb. down”主要有3种常见解释,按使用频率排序:
指通过追问、施压或要求,让原本含糊、拖延的人给出明确的答案、决定或具体安排(解决“不确定”的问题)。
英文解释:to force someone to give a clear answer, make a decision, or commit to a specific plan
例句:
I’ve been trying to peg her down about the wedding date, but she keeps saying “maybe later.”(我一直想让她确定婚礼日期,但她总说“以后再说”。)
Can you peg him down to a time for the meeting? We can’t wait forever.(你能让他确定会议时间吗?我们不能一直等。)
The boss finally pegged me down to finishing the report by Friday.(老板终于让我承诺周五前完成报告。)
用规则、责任、义务等“束缚”某人,使其无法随意做想做的事(解决“太自由”的问题)。
英文解释:to restrict someone’s freedom or ability to act as they wish
例句:
His new job has pegged him down—he can’t travel like he used to.(新工作束缚了他——他没法像以前那样旅行了。)
Don’t let anyone peg you down; you’re free to choose your own path.(别让任何人约束你,你有权选择自己的路。)
She felt pegged down by her family’s expectations and wanted to move abroad.(她觉得被家庭的期望束缚,想出国。)
字面义是“用木桩固定某人”(极少用于人,更常用于物,如“peg down a tent”固定帐篷);比喻义指将某人“钉死”在某个角色、岗位或状态中,无法改变。
英文解释:to fix someone in a particular role, position, or situation
例句:
The team pegged him down as the goalkeeper, even though he wanted to play forward.(团队把他固定在守门员位置,尽管他想踢前锋。)
I hate being pegged down as “the quiet one”—I’m more than that!(我讨厌被贴上“安静的人”的标签——我远不止如此!)
1、 搭配介词“to”:
常与“to”连用,引出“被明确/限制的内容”(如时间、决定、角色等),结构为peg sb. down to sth.。
例子:We need to peg them down to a budget before starting the project.(项目开始前,我们得让他们确定预算。)
2、 被动语态:
可用被动形式be pegged down,强调“被约束/明确”的状态。
例子:She was pegged down by work commitments and couldn’t attend the party.(她被工作缠身,没法参加派对。)
3、 语境适用:
口语和书面语均可用,但更常见于日常对话、非正式文本(如 emails、聊天),正式场合可替换为“force sb. to commit”或“restrict sb.”。
两者都有“迫使明确”的意思,但侧重不同:
peg sb. down:更强调“通过限制/规则来固定”(如合同、责任、日程);
pin sb. down:更强调“通过追问/施压来锁定”(如细节、答案)。
互换示例:Can you pin/peg him down to a date?(你能让他确定日期吗?)
不可互换示例:He was pegged down by his contract.(他被合同约束。)≠ He was pinned down by his contract.(逻辑不通,“pin down”不用于“被合同约束”)
“peg sb. down”的核心是“把‘不确定/自由的人’固定下来”,具体场景取决于上下文:
想让某人“给准信”→ 用义项1;
想表达“某人被束缚”→ 用义项2;
想说明“某人被定型”→ 用义项3。
用对场景+搭配“to”,就能准确使用这个短语啦!