字面直译为“对某人期待太多”,实际常用表达为“对某人期望过高”(指要求或期待超过了对方的能力、现实条件或合理范围)。
该短语是 "expect sth. of sb." 结构的延伸("expect sth. of sb." 表示“对某人有某种期待/要求”),加上程度副词 "too much" 后,强调“期待/要求超出合理限度”。
1、 基本结构:
主语 + expect too much of + 某人(sb. 可以是名词或代词,如 "him/her/the kids/my employees" 等)。
例:
Don’t expect too much of your new colleague—she’s still learning the job.
别对你的新同事期望过高——她还在学习工作内容。
My parents always expect too much of me in school.
我父母在学习上对我总是期望过高。
2、 扩展结构:expect too much of sb. to do sth.
可进一步接不定式("to do sth."),表示“对某人做某事的期望过高”。
例:
The manager expects too much of the team to finish the project in two days.
经理对团队在两天内完成项目的期望过高了。
You’re expecting too much of a 5-year-old to solve this puzzle.
你让一个5岁孩子解这个谜题,期望太高了。
3、 同义替换:
有时也用 "expect too much from sb.",含义完全一致("of" 和 "from" 在此结构中可互换,侧重“从某人身上期待过多”)。
例:
I think you’re expecting too much from him—he’s already busy enough.
我觉得你对他期望太高了——他已经够忙的了。
该短语多用来表达“对他人的期待超出合理范围”,常见场景包括:
家庭(父母对子女):"Parents often expect too much of their children without realizing it."(父母常不自觉地对孩子期望过高。)
职场(上司对下属):"The boss expects too much of the interns—they’re not paid enough for this workload."(老板对实习生期望过高——他们的工作量配不上薪资。)
人际关系(朋友/伴侣之间):"Don’t expect too much of your friend—everyone has their limits."(别对朋友期望过高——每个人都有底线。)
"expect too much of sb." 是一个表达“过度期待”的实用短语,核心是“期待超过对方的能力/现实”,常用于指出他人的要求不合理,或提醒自己/他人降低对某人的期待。
简单记:对某人要求/期待太高 = expect too much of sb.