字面意思是“把手放进自己的口袋”,但实际引申为“拿出钱包里的钱”——因为口袋通常装着钱包或现金,所以用来描述“愿意为某人/某事花钱”的行为。
以《剑桥英语词典》为例,其定义为:
"to spend money, especially willingly"(花钱,尤指心甘情愿地)。
该短语的关键是替换“one's”为具体的形容词性物主代词(my/his/her/their等),主语通常是“人”,用于描述其“花钱的意愿或行为”。
He's always ready to put his hand in his pocket for his friends.
(他总是愿意为朋友掏腰包。)
My mom never hesitates to put her hand in her pocket when we need new clothes.
(我们需要新衣服时,妈妈从不犹豫花钱。)
Will you put your hand in your pocket and buy us a round of drinks?
(你愿意掏腰包给我们买一轮饮料吗?)
常在动词前加否定词(never/rarely/hardly等),强调“不愿花钱”:
He never puts his hand in his pocket—even for his own kids.
(他从来不肯花钱——即使是为自己的孩子。)
She rarely puts her hand in her pocket when we go out to eat.
(我们出去吃饭时,她很少掏钱。)
常用 for sb/sth 引出花钱的对象或用途:
They put their hands in their pockets for the charity event.
(他们为慈善活动慷慨解囊。)
I had to put my hand in my pocket for a new phone after mine broke.
(我的手机坏了,我得花钱买个新的。)
该短语无被动语态,因为主语是“花钱的人”(主动掏腰包)。
口语中常用,正式场合可替换为更书面的表达(如 spare no expense“不惜代价”、open one's wallet“打开钱包”),但“put one's hand in one's pocket”更具生活气息。
这个短语本质是用“把手放进口袋”的动作比喻“花钱”,核心是“愿意/不愿意掏钱”的态度。记住替换物主代词、结合语境(肯定/否定),就能准确使用啦!