轻描淡写,用英语怎么表达
现在这个社会让人有点矛盾的地方是:你很在乎的人往往不在乎你,你很在乎的事往往枉费心机,但这不表明我们应该轻易地半途而废或毫无在乎身边的人或事。在乎某些人是出于各种情分,在乎某些事是出于道德,因此在人生的舞台上,有些人或有些事不能轻描淡写,特别是与自己息息相关的。
在英语中“轻描淡写”可以简单地用单词 understate 和 minimize 来表示;state 是“陈述或说明”,那么 understate 就是“低估、轻描淡写或避重就轻”;minimize 可以意为”使显得不重要“,例如:
understate:
It would be a mistake to understate the seriousness of the problem.
对该问题的严重性轻描淡写是错误的。
She believes the research understates the amount of discrimination women suffer.
她认为这项研究低估了妇女遭受歧视的程度。
The company was accused of understating potential side effects of the drug.
该公司被指控轻描淡写这种药物的潜在副作用。
minimize:
He always tried to minimize his own faults, while exaggerating those of others.
他总是试图对自己的错误轻描淡写,对别人的错误夸大其词。
She accused politicians of minimizing the suffering of thousands of people.
她指责政客们轻描淡写成千上万人的痛苦。
It's important to focus on your strengths and to minimize your weaknesses.
把重点放在你的优点上,轻描淡写你的缺点。
短语动词 play down 也可以用来表示轻描淡写,意为”降低…的重要性;贬低;淡化“,是一个可分短语动词,例如:
John is a famous actor, but the director tried to play him down as just another member of the cast.
约翰是一位著名的演员,但导演试图轻描淡写他只是作为演员中的一员。
Her lawyer tried to play down her earlier arrest.
她的律师试图轻描淡写她早些时候被捕的事实。
The pharmaceutical company tried to play down the harmful side effects of its new medication.
这家制药公司试图淡化其新药的有害副作用。
Play down 的同义词是 downplay,它也有类似的意思,意为”对…轻描淡写;使轻视;贬低“,例如:
The coach is downplaying the team's poor performance.
教练对这个队的拙劣表现轻描淡写。
The report downplayed the effects of large class sizes in schools.
报告对学校大班级规模的影响一带而过。