它与“价格”(price的字面义)相关,但更侧重“代价”的抽象概念——即“用X去交换Y”,其中X是需要牺牲的东西。
该短语是介词短语,通常作状语(修饰谓语动词,说明动作的代价)。结构为:
后面接名词(如 health, friendship, freedom 等);
若接动作,需用动名词(doing),因为 of 是介词。
以下例子直观展示其用法:
He became rich at the price of his family’s happiness.
(他以家庭幸福为代价变得富有。)
The team won the championship at the price of several players’ injuries.
(球队以几名球员受伤为代价赢得了冠军。)
She achieved her dream at the price of missing her child’s childhood.
(她以错过孩子的童年为代价实现了梦想。)
The company expanded its business at the price of polluting the river.
(公司以污染河流为代价扩大了业务。)
需注意与其他“price”相关短语的差异:
at a price of + 金额:表示“以…的价格”(侧重字面“价格”,指具体金额)。
例:This shirt was sold at a price of $20.(这件衬衫以20美元的价格售出。)
at a price:表示“付出代价;高价地”(侧重笼统的“代价”,不一定具体)。
例:The luxury bag is beautiful, but it comes at a price(= it’s very expensive).(这个奢侈品包很漂亮,但价格很高。)
例:He got the job at a price(= he had to make sacrifices).(他得到了这份工作,但付出了代价。)
希望以上解析能帮你掌握这个短语!