"speak too highly of" 是动词短语,字面直译为“对…说得太高”,实际表示“过分赞扬/推崇某人/某事”“对…评价过高”(即赞扬程度超过了人或事物的实际价值)。
其基础短语是 "speak highly of"(高度评价、称赞),添加 "too" 后,语义转向“过度”“超出合理范围”,隐含“实际没那么好”的潜台词。
该短语是及物动词短语,需接宾语(人或事物),常用结构为:
通过不同语境的例子,更清晰理解其用法:
1、 提醒他人不要过度赞扬
Don’t speak too highly of that café — the coffee is bitter and the service is slow.
(别把那家咖啡馆夸得太好了——咖啡苦,服务还慢。)
I think you’re speaking too highly of his cooking. It’s just ordinary.
(我觉得你把他的厨艺夸得太过分了,也就一般水平。)
2、 指出某人的赞扬过界
She speaks too highly of her new phone. It’s just a basic model with no special features.
(她把新手机夸得天花乱坠,其实就是个没特色的基础款。)
The reviewer spoke too highly of the movie, so audiences felt disappointed after watching it.
(影评人把这部电影吹得太神了,观众看完都很失望。)
3、 被动语态(较少见,但符合语法)
The product was spoken too highly of by the salesman, which made customers feel tricked.
(销售人员把这款产品夸得太过分,让顾客觉得被骗了。)
speak highly of:正常的“高度评价”(无贬义,强调认可)
例:Everyone speaks highly of her kindness.(大家都称赞她的善良。)
speak too highly of:过度的称赞(隐含“名不副实”,带轻微否定)
"speak too highly of" 用于指出或提醒“赞扬超过实际价值”,核心是“过犹不及”。使用时需结合语境,明确传递“评价过高”的意味。