英语短语 "leave (someone) to one's own devices" 是一个常用的习语,核心含义是“让某人自行其是;放手让某人独立处理(不加指导、干涉或帮助)”。
字面拆解:leave(留下) + to one's own devices(某人自己的“办法/手段”)→ 字面可理解为“把某人留给自己的‘办法’去处理”,引申为让某人靠自己的能力解决问题、做决定(不提供外部帮助或干预)。
结构:通常为 leave sb to one's own devices(注意物主代词需与主语/宾语一致,如 his/her/their/my 等)。
语境:强调“不干涉、不指导”,让对方独立行动;可用于主动(主语“放手”)或被动(主语“被放手”)。
通过具体场景理解更清晰:
主动“放手”:
My boss usually leaves me to my own devices when I'm working on a project—he trusts my judgment.
(我做项目时,老板通常让我自己看着办——他信任我的判断。)
被动“被放手”:
As a teenager, I hated being left to my own devices on weekends—I wanted more family time.
(小时候我讨厌周末被丢着自己玩——我想要更多家庭时光。)
否定形式(不放手):
Don't leave the kids to their own devices in the kitchen—they might burn something!
(别让孩子自己在厨房瞎折腾——他们可能会烧到东西!)
let sb be:更侧重“不打扰、别管某人”(比如某人在发脾气时,“let them be”是“别理他们”);
let sb do as they please:强调“让某人随心所欲”(更偏向“纵容”);
leave sb to it:更口语化,含义接近,但“to one's own devices”更正式、强调“独立解决”。
这个短语本质是“赋予某人自主权”,既可以表示“信任对方的能力”(正面),也可能隐含“忽视、不管不顾”(负面),具体含义需结合上下文判断。
比如:
正面:She's a great writer—just leave her to her own devices and she'll produce something amazing.(她是优秀的作家——让她自己写,肯定能出好作品。)
负面:The teacher left the noisy class to their own devices while she took a call—chaos ensued.(老师接电话时不管吵闹的班级,结果一团乱。)
希望以上解释能帮你掌握这个短语~ 😊