本质是通过强烈批评、否定的方式,让他人对目标(人/事)产生负面看法,削弱其影响力。
作为及物动词短语,必须接宾语(人或事物),结构为:
cry down + 宾语(常见)
偶尔也可分开为 cry + 宾语 + down(较口语化)
通过具体语境理解更清晰:
1、 贬低事物:
Some critics tried to cry down the artist’s new exhibition without seeing it.
(一些评论家没看就试图贬低这位艺术家的新展览。)
2、 诋毁他人:
Don’t cry down her achievements—she worked extremely hard for them.
(别诋毁她的成就——那是她拼命换来的。)
3、 否定观点/政策:
The opposition leader cried down the government’s economic plan as “irresponsible.”
(反对党领袖批评政府的经济计划“不负责任”,以此贬低其价值。)
4、 被动语态:
His innovative ideas were cried down by the conservative board.
(他的创新想法被保守的董事会贬低了。)
cry down:贬低、诋毁(侧重“降低价值”)
cry out against:大声反对(侧重“表达抗议”)
例:People cried out against the unfair law.(人们大声反对这项不公平的法律。)