“at the thought of”是一个常用的英语介词短语,核心含义是“一想到……(就产生某种情绪/反应)”,用来连接“某个想法/念头”和随之引发的情感或行为。
at:此处表示“在……时刻/情况下”(引出触发情绪的时机);
the thought of:“……的想法/念头”(of后接具体的人、事、物,即“想到的内容”)。
整体表达:当脑海中出现“某件事/某个人”的念头时,立刻产生某种情绪或反应。
后接成分:因“of”是介词,后面需接名词、代词或动名词(v-ing)(即“想到的具体内容”);
功能:通常在句中作状语(时间或原因状语),说明情绪/反应的触发点;
常见搭配:常与表达情绪的动词(如feel、become、grow、turn等)或动词短语(如jump with joy、feel sick、get nervous等)连用,突出“想法”与“情绪”的直接关联。
以下例子覆盖不同情绪场景,帮助理解:
She smiled at the thought of her upcoming birthday party.
一想到即将到来的生日派对,她就笑了。
They cheered at the thought of winning the game.
一想到会赢得比赛,他们就欢呼起来。
He felt nervous at the thought of giving a speech in public.
一想到要在公众面前演讲,他就紧张。
I get sick at the thought of eating raw fish.
一想到吃生鱼片,我就觉得恶心。
She teared up at the thought of leaving her hometown.
一想到要离开家乡,她就哭了。
He stopped talking at the thought of his boss’s warning.
一想到老板的警告,他就不说话了。
We started packing at the thought of the trip tomorrow.
一想到明天的旅行,我们就开始收拾行李。
at the mention of:一提到……(强调“被说起”时的反应);
at the sight of:一看到……(强调“视觉触发”的反应);
at the sound of:一听到……(强调“听觉触发”的反应)。
例如:
She cried at the mention of her late father.(一提到已故的父亲,她就哭了。)
The dog ran away at the sight of a cat.(一看到猫,狗就跑了。)
“at the thought of”是“想法→情绪/反应”的连接词,重点在于“内心念头引发的即时反应”。只要记住后面接“名词性成分”,并结合情绪动词使用,就能准确表达“一想到……就……”的逻辑。