flatter
英 ['flætə]
美 ['flætɚ]
助記提示
1. 後飛來的卻在溜須拍馬，此事聽起來真神奇。
2. 後來者多半都需要溜須拍馬來上位，討好、奉承前麵的上級。
3. lack => flack: 缺乏廣告宣傳。因為缺乏了解，所以需要廣告宣傳。flier, flyer + lack => flack.
4. 鎖在一起是一群(flock)，飛出去卻遭到蔑視(flout)，後飛來的卻在溜須拍馬(flatter)，此事聽起來真神奇，缺乏的卻是廣告宣傳(flack).
中文詞源
flatter 奉承，討好flat, 平的。-er, 表反複。引申詞義俯伏在地，拜倒，奉承等。
英文詞源
- flatter
- flatter: [13] Etymologically, flatter means ‘smooth down or caress with the flat of the hand’. It comes from Old French flatter, in which the original literal notion of ‘caressing’ had already passed into the figurative ‘buttering up’. The Old French verb in turn was based on Frankish *flat, the ‘flat or palm of someone’s hand’, a word which shared a common source with English flat.
=> flat - flatter (v.)
- c. 1200, flateren, flaterien, "seek to please or gratify (someone) by undue praise, praise insincerely, beguile with pleasing words," from Old French flater "to deceive; caress, fondle; prostrate, throw, fling (to the ground)" (13c.), probably from a Germanic source, perhaps from Proto-Germanic *flata- "flat" (see flat (adj.)).
"Of somewhat doubtful etymology" [OED]. Liberman calls it "one of many imitative verbs beginning with fl- and denoting unsteady or light, repeated movement" (for example flicker, flutter). If it is related to flat the notion could be either "caress with the flat of the hand, stroke, pet," or "throw oneself flat on the ground" (in fawning adoration). The -er ending is unusual for an English verb from French; perhaps it is by influence of shimmer, flicker, etc., or from flattery.
Meaning "give a pleasing but false impression to" is from late 14c. Sense of "show (something) to best advantage" is from 1580s, originally of portraits. Related: Flattered; flattering.
雙語例句
- 1. You flatter yourself. Why would we go to such ludicrous lengths?
- 你真自以為是。我們為什麽要費那麽大的力氣？
來自柯林斯例句
- 2. You can make your stomach look flatter instantly by improving your posture.
- 通過采取更好的坐姿，你的腹部馬上就會看起來平坦一些。
來自柯林斯例句
- 3. I flatter myself I've done it all rather well.
- 我認為自己已經做得相當好了。
來自柯林斯例句
- 4. Orange and khaki flatter those with golden skin tones.
- 橘黃色和卡其色能襯托那些金黃色皮膚的人。
來自柯林斯例句
- 5. Strong colours would flatter her pale skin and dark hair.
- 亮顏色更能襯托她的白皮膚和黑頭發。
來自柯林斯例句