“draw oneself up”是一个描述姿态或情绪控制的英语短语,核心含义围绕“调整自身状态”,具体可分为两类常见用法:
强调通过调整身体姿态展现内心的态度或情绪(如自豪、不满、正式感),常伴随“站直到最高身高”的动作。
例1:When the stranger mocked his work, he drew himself up to his full height and defended his ideas firmly.(当陌生人嘲笑他的作品时,他挺直身子,坚定地为自己的想法辩护。)
例2:The young officer drew himself up and saluted the general as he passed.(年轻军官站直身子,在将军经过时敬礼。)
指通过自我调整,从情绪低谷(如悲伤、慌乱)中恢复,重新掌控状态。
例1:She had to draw herself up before telling her family about the job loss—she didn’t want to cry in front of them.(在告诉家人失业的事之前,她必须振作起来——她不想在他们面前哭。)
例2:After the failure, he drew himself up and started planning his next project.(失败后,他振作起来,开始规划下一个项目。)
1、 反身代词一致:
“oneself”需根据主语调整为对应的反身代词(如he→himself,she→herself,you→yourself/yourselves)。
错误:He drew itself up.(×)→ 正确:He drew himself up.(√)
2、 语境区分:
若描述身体动作(如站直、昂首),对应“挺直身子”;
若描述情绪调整(如从崩溃中恢复、控制眼泪),对应“振作起来”。
3、 常见搭配:
与“to one’s full height”连用,强化“挺直全身”的动作:draw oneself up to one’s full height(挺直身子,站直);
与“before doing sth”连用,强调“在做某事前调整状态”:draw oneself up before speaking(说话前振作/站直)。
“draw oneself up”本质是“自我调整状态”:要么通过身体姿态传递情绪,要么通过心理建设恢复控制。理解时结合语境(是“身体动作”还是“情绪修复”)即可准确翻译。