“confirm sb. in”是一个固定短语,核心含义是“使某人坚定(某种状态/信念)”或“确认某人在…中的地位/身份”,强调通过某种方式让某人的状态、信念或身份更稳固。
该短语有两个主要方向的解释,核心都是“强化/确认某人的某种状态”:
1、 使某人坚定(信念、决心、习惯等抽象事物)
即通过外界因素(如反馈、结果、事件)让某人更坚信自己的想法、决定或习惯。
例:The positive reviews confirmed her in her choice to study abroad.(正面评价让她更坚定了出国留学的选择。)
2、 确认某人的(职位、身份、地位等具体事物)
即正式认可或维持某人在某个岗位、角色或身份中的地位(常指“留任”“续任”或“正式确认”)。
例:The board confirmed him in his role as manager for another year.(董事会确认他继续担任经理一年。)
短语的基本结构是:confirm + 某人 + in + 名词/名词短语
其中:
“sb.”是“被强化/确认的对象”;
“in”后面接抽象概念(如belief/decision/faith)或具体身份(如position/role/scholarship)。
confirm sb. in one’s beliefs/faith:使某人坚定信仰
例:The religious retreat confirmed her in her Christian faith.(宗教静修让她更坚定了基督教信仰。)
confirm sb. in one’s decision:使某人坚定决定
例:His support confirmed me in my decision to quit my job.(他的支持让我更坚定了辞职的决定。)
confirm sb. in one’s suspicion:使某人更坚信怀疑
例:The evidence confirmed the detective in his suspicion of the suspect.(证据让侦探更坚信对嫌疑人的怀疑。)
confirm sb. in office/position/role:确认某人任职
例:The president confirmed the ambassador in his post.(总统确认大使继续任职。)
confirm sb. in a scholarship:确认某人的奖学金(继续有效)
例:The university confirmed her in her merit scholarship for the next semester.(大学确认她下学期的 merit 奖学金继续发放。)
该短语常用被动形式“sb. be confirmed in sth.”,强调“某人被确认/坚定”:
例:She was confirmed in her leadership role after the team’s success.(团队成功后,她的领导角色得到了确认。)
例:He was confirmed in his belief by the expert’s opinion.(专家的意见让他更坚定了自己的信念。)
confirm sth.:确认某事(如消息、预约)
例:Please confirm your attendance by Friday.(请周五前确认出席。)
confirm with sb.:与某人确认
例:I need to confirm the details with my manager.(我需要和经理确认细节。)
confirm sb. in:聚焦“某人的状态/身份”,而非“某事的真实性”。
总结:“confirm sb. in”的关键是“针对某人的状态进行强化或确认”,无论是抽象的信念还是具体的身份,核心都是让某人的状态更稳固。