英语短语"cut short"是一个常用的及物动词短语,核心含义是“缩短;中断;提前结束”,可用于字面场景(缩短物体长度)或比喻场景(中断活动、谈话等)。以下是详细解析:
1、 字面义:剪短/缩短(物体的长度)(如绳子、电线、头发等);
2、 比喻义:
中断/提前结束(活动、行程、会议等,通常因突发情况或刻意缩短);
打断(某人的话)(在对方未说完时强行停止)。
"cut short" 通常需要接宾语(sth 或 sb),也可用于被动语态(sth be cut short)。
字面场景(缩短物体):
Cut the rope short so it fits in the toolbox.(把绳子剪短,这样能放进工具箱。)
She cut her hair short for the summer.(她夏天把头发剪短了。)
比喻场景(提前结束活动):
He cut his speech short to avoid boring the audience.(他缩短演讲,以免让观众觉得无聊。)
We decided to cut our trip short and go home early.(我们决定缩短行程,早点回家。)
强调外力或突发情况导致提前结束,常见搭配 "be cut short by sth"(因某事被中断)。
Our picnic was cut short by a sudden rainstorm.(我们的野餐因突如其来的暴雨提前结束。)
The concert was cut short when the singer fell ill on stage.(歌手在舞台上生病后,演唱会被迫中断。)
The meeting was cut short due to a power outage.(会议因停电而提前结束。)
直接接“人”作宾语,表示在对方说话时强行打断。
Please don’t cut me short—I’m trying to explain.(别打断我——我正在解释。)
He was cut short by his boss before he could finish his idea.(他还没说完想法就被老板打断了。)
She cut him short in mid-sentence to ask a question.(她在他说到一半时打断,问了个问题。)
1、 及物性:"cut short" 是及物短语,必须接宾语(sth/sb),不能单独使用(如不能说 He cut short.,需说 He cut his speech short.)。
2、 被动语态:被动形式(be cut short)更常用,尤其强调“被迫中断”。
3、 与近义词的区别:
interrupt:仅侧重“打断(说话)”,而 "cut short" 还可指“提前结束活动”;
abbreviate:正式用词,指“缩写(文字、名称)”(如 abbreviate "United Nations" to "UN"),而 "cut short" 更口语化,指“缩短时间/长度”;
cut down:指“减少数量/规模”(如 cut down on coffee 减少咖啡摄入),而 "cut short" 指“缩短时间或中断”。
cut a speech/talk/presentation short → 缩短演讲/谈话/演示;
cut a journey/trip/holiday short → 缩短行程/旅行/假期;
cut sb short in mid-sentence → 打断某人说话到一半;
be cut short by bad weather/a crisis/an emergency → 因坏天气/危机/紧急情况中断。
"cut short" 是一个灵活的短语,核心是“让原本的长度/时间提前结束”,无论是剪短绳子、缩短演讲,还是打断对话、提前结束假期,都可以用它来表达。记住接宾语和被动语态的用法,就能轻松掌握!