大家也許都熟悉envelope這個詞,知道它是“信封”的意思。但在push the envelope這個習慣用語中,envelope可不是信封的意思,它是個技術性的詞匯,指機械或其它設備的性能范圍,或者功用極限。例如,一輛汽車的設計規格為最高時速180公里,如果你以190公里的時速駕駛這輛車,那么你就是在push the envelope,超越它的性能范圍或者是在玩命了。
再例如: “Test pilots often have to put themselves into danger. Sometimes they have to push the envelope to see whether a newly designed plane really can meet the limits the designers planned.”
不過現在這個短語已經不僅僅局限于機械工程領域使用了,日常生活中人際關系的緊張化也可以用這個短語來形容。例如: “He push the envelope when he hit his wife at the party after getting drunk. She asked for divorce the next day. “ (在晚會上他喝醉了酒,當眾毆打了妻子,這已經超過了他太太的忍耐極限,她第二天就提出要和他離婚。)
Go to Other Sections
Story Tools
Copyright by chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved
版權聲明:未經中國日報網站許可,任何人不得復制本欄目內容。如需轉載請與本網站聯系。
None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.