
promise
词源
源自拉丁语 'promissum',意为'发送'或'承诺',后经古法语 'promesse' 进入英语。
noun
❶ 承诺,指某人明确表示会做某事或保证某事会发生,带有责任和可信赖的含义。
“She made a promise to visit her grandmother every week.”
(她承诺每周都去看望她的祖母。)
“He broke his promise to quit smoking.”
(他违背了戒烟的承诺。)
❶ 希望或潜力,指某人或某事展现出未来可能成功的迹象。
“The young athlete shows great promise.”
(这位年轻运动员展现出很大的潜力。)
“Her early paintings held the promise of a brilliant career.”
(她早期的画作预示着她将有一个辉煌的职业生涯。)
verb
❶ 承诺,表示保证会做某事或某事会发生,通常带有责任感和确定性。
“She promised to help me with my homework.”
(她承诺帮我做作业。)
“He promised that he would never lie again.”
(他承诺再也不会撒谎。)
❶ 预示,表示某事很可能发生或某人很可能成功。
“The dark clouds promise rain.”
(乌云预示着要下雨。)
“Her talent promises a bright future in music.”
(她的天赋预示着她将在音乐领域有光明的未来。)
常见短语
promise the moon — 承诺不可能实现的事情,通常用于形容夸大的承诺。
“Politicians often promise the moon during elections.”
(政客们在选举期间常常做出不切实际的承诺。)
break a promise — 违背承诺,没有履行之前的保证。
“It's disappointing when someone breaks a promise.”
(当有人违背承诺时,会让人感到失望。)
keep a promise — 信守承诺,履行之前的保证。
“He always keeps his promises, which is why people trust him.”
(他总是信守承诺,这就是人们信任他的原因。)
promise land — 应许之地,比喻理想中的美好地方或状态。
“For many immigrants, America was seen as the promise land.”
(对许多移民来说,美国被视为应许之地。)