
Shape是形狀、輪廓,可以表示身材的「曲線」、個性的「樣子」。和外國朋友打招呼,如果你問:"How are you?" 而老外回答:"Oh, I'm in great shape."那可不是在自誇他身材好,而是指一切都好,可能包括身體、工作、運勢……凡事都順利。
Shape與其說是「身材」,其實它更接近所處的「狀態」。除了用來形容人,也可以指東西:
- For an old car, it’s in pretty good shape.(就一輛舊車來說,它情況算挺好的了。)
- The economy is in worse shape now than it was last year.(今年的景氣比去年差了。)
In good shape有這樣的玄機,in bad shape也一樣。In bad shape當然不是批評人身材不好,而是指「健康狀況很差」,例如:
- He has been in bad shape since he had the brain surgery.(腦部開刀後他身體狀況一直不好。)
In bad shape還有一種可能,是婉轉表達懷孕了。可以從上下文情境中判斷:
I heard that Vivian is in bad shape again, about three months in bad shape.(我聽說Vivian又懷孕了,三個月了。)
Out of shape!發福了
「發福了」也可以用"shape"這個字,就像我們會形容一個人變圓了,用"out of shape":
- Sarah hasn’t had any exercise for several months and had a lot of burgers so she is really out of shape.(Sarah已經好幾個月都沒有做運動而且吃了很多漢堡,所以她現在身材變形得很嚴重。)
一如人的身材會變形,東西也會,例如:
- My front wheel has been out of shape.(我車的前輪已經變形了。)
in really bad shape喝醉了
在口語中,in bad shape或in poor shape.還可以用在一種狀況,就是喝醉了:
Two glasses of that stuff and I'm in really bad shape.(兩杯酒一喝,我就醉了。)
- Fred is in bad shape. I think he's going to toss his cookies.(Fred喝醉了,我想他快吐了。)
Shape 也可以強調事情的形式、特徵、進展
- Take shape事情有眉目、有了模樣
Our plans are beginning to take shape.(我們的計劃開始成形了。)
- All shapes and sizes 各式各樣
Our products come in different shapes and sizes, so I’m sure you’ll find one that fits your need.(我們的產品有各式各樣的,所以我相信你可以找到適合你需求的。)
- Shape當動詞,表示影響、決定
Working at hospital shapes my value of life.(在醫院工作的經驗影響了我的人生觀。)