字面直译为“浪费某人的话”,实际引申为:白费口舌;说的话毫无效果(对方不听/不回应/不认同)。
强调“说话者的努力完全无用”——要么对方没听进去,要么根本不在乎你的观点。
该短语通常以 "waste one's words (on/with sb./sth.)" 的形式出现,其中:
one's 需替换为形容词性物主代词(my/your/his/her/our/their);
on/with sb.:表示“对某人白费口舌”(with更强调“与某人交流时”,on更强调“把话用在某人身上”);
on sth.:表示“对某事白费口舌”(比如解释一件对方根本不想了解的事)。
劝人不听时:
I tried to tell him not to quit his job, but I just wasted my words—he handed in his resignation anyway.
(我试着劝他别辞职,但完全白费口舌——他还是递交了辞职信。)
对方无动于衷时:
Don’t waste your words with her—she’s already made up her mind about moving abroad.
(别和她白费口舌了——她已经打定主意要出国了。)
解释无用时:
You’re wasting your words on this topic—I don’t care about football at all.
(你在这个话题上白费口舌了——我根本不关心足球。)
吐槽对方不听劝:
He never listens to anyone—talking to him is like wasting your words.
(他从来不听别人的话——和他说话就是白费口舌。)
talk to a brick wall(对牛弹琴,字面“和砖墙说话”);
fall on deaf ears(话语被当作耳旁风,字面“落在聋子的耳朵上”);
preach to the converted(对已经认同的人说教,即“白费力气”,但侧重“对方早已同意”)。
该短语主动态为主(说话者“浪费自己的话”),一般不用于被动态;
口语中常用,偏非正式,适合日常对话或吐槽场景。
总结:当你觉得“说了等于没说,对方根本不买账”时,就可以用 "waste one's words" 表达你的无奈~