“swear at”是一个常用的英语动词短语,核心含义是“咒骂;对……说脏话”,强调用粗俗、攻击性的语言针对某人或某物表达愤怒、不满或 frustration。
英文词典定义(Oxford):to use bad language to or about someone or something(对某人/某物使用脏话)。
简言之,“swear at”的动作是“把脏话指向某个对象”——对象可以是人,也可以是物(比如出故障的设备、糟糕的天气等)。
“swear at”是及物动词短语,必须接宾语(人或物),结构为:
通过不同场景的例子,更直观理解用法:
当某人惹你生气时,用脏话骂他/她:
Don’t swear at your little brother—he didn’t mean to break your toy.(别骂你弟弟——他不是故意弄坏你玩具的。)
The angry man swore at the waiter who spilled his coffee.(那个愤怒的男人咒骂了把咖啡洒在他身上的服务员。)
因物品故障、情况不顺而对着物品骂:
I always swear at my phone when it dies in the middle of a call.(我手机在通话中途没电时,总会对着它骂。)
She swore at the broken printer that ruined her report.(她咒骂那台毁了她报告的坏打印机。)
过去式(描述过去的动作):He swore at the driver who cut him off.(他咒骂了那个抢道的司机。)
过去分词(完成时/被动):She has never sworn at anyone before—she’s usually very polite.(她以前从没骂过人——她通常很有礼貌。)
被动语态(强调“被咒骂”):The teacher was shocked when she was sworn at by a student.(当被学生咒骂时,老师很震惊。)
注意“swear at”和其他“swear + 介词”短语的区别:
swear to:发誓说(强调“承诺真实性”)→ I swear to God I didn’t steal your money.(我对天发誓没偷你钱。)
swear by:极其信赖(强调“依赖某物/人”)→ My grandma swears by this herbal tea for colds.(我奶奶坚信这种 herbal tea 能治感冒。)
“swear at”的关键是“用脏话针对某个对象”,核心在“骂的目标”。日常使用中多出现于生气、烦躁的场景,需注意语境的非正式性(正式场合避免使用)。