"give rein to" 源于字面意思“松开(马的)缰绳”,引申为放任、纵容;充分发挥(情感、能力等),强调让某种内在的情绪、潜力或欲望不受约束地释放或表达。
注:常与 free 连用(give free rein to),加强“完全放开”的语气,含义一致。
1、 结构:
主语(人)+ give (free) rein to + 抽象名词(情感、能力、欲望等)
(后接的名词多为表示内在状态的词,如 imagination, anger, creativity, curiosity 等)
2、 常见搭配与例句
情感类(放任情绪):
He gave rein to his frustration and slammed the door.
(他放任自己的挫败感,摔门而去。)
She rarely gives rein to her sadness in public.
(她很少在公众场合流露悲伤。)
能力/创造力类(充分发挥):
The artist gave free rein to her imagination in this painting.
(这位艺术家在这幅画中充分发挥了想象力。)
Teachers should give rein to students' critical thinking skills.
(教师应让学生充分发挥批判性思维能力。)
欲望/冲动类(纵容欲望):
Don't give rein to your greed—know when to stop.
(别纵容你的贪婪——要懂得适可而止。)
同义词:let loose (on), indulge (in), give free expression to
反义词:hold rein on(控制,约束), suppress(压抑)
多用于书面语或正式语境(如文学作品、议论文),口语中可简化为“let go of”或“express freely”,但"give rein to"更具画面感和文学性。
总结:"give rein to" 是一个生动的比喻性短语,核心是“放开约束,释放内在的东西”,需结合抽象名词使用,表达“放任情绪”或“发挥能力”的意思。