本文经授权转载自微信公众号：田间小站
考研 CET6 IELTS SAT TEM8 GRE
外刊例句
- Hence the refrain of some that low unemployment is a mirage: stronger economic growth, they say, could draw plenty of folk back into work.
因此一些人反复表示，低失业率是一种幻象。他们说，强劲的经济增长能吸引许多人重返职场。
——《经济学人》 - White House aides say they expect the president to try to refrain from criticism during the transition because of his belief in the importance of a courteous and dignified transfer of power.
白宫幕僚们说，他们估计总统会在过渡时期内克制自己不去批评，因为他相信礼貌且有尊严的权力移交是非常重要的。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[verb] stop oneself from doing something
[动词] 阻止自己做某事
深入解读
Refrain 一词最先源自拉丁语 refrenare （勒住、克制、控制、抑制），14世纪中期经古法语 refraigner （抑制、压制、控制）进入英语后开始表示“克制、节制、避免”，多作为一个正式用语指暂时对某种行动或冲动的抑制，常用搭配为 refrain from sth/doing sth ，比如：
- 我们忍住不嘲笑他们的新鞋子，直到他们走了。
We refrained from sneering at their new shoes until they were gone. - 那个总是自我吹嘘的异见分子克制住了自己，没有在公开场合批评政府。
The dissident who always blows his own trumpet has refrained from criticizing the government in public.
不过， refrain 同小站之前推送过的 grouse, staunch, steep, cue, trump, secrete 等一样，也是个同形异义词，还有名词含义源自拉丁语 refringere （分裂、分开），14世纪末期经古法语 refrain （副歌）进入英语后开始在诗歌和歌曲中表示“副歌、迭歌、迭句”。
由于这个含义指的是一种反复重复的诗词歌句，所以后来 refrain 就被引申用来指“一再重复说的话、老调”，多用于形容经常重复的评价或抱怨等，比如：
- 抱怨服务差已是耳熟能详的老调了。
Complaints about poor service have become a familiar refrain. - 罗莎总是重复的一句话就是她没有舒坦的生活。
Rosa's constant refrain is that she doesn't have a snug life.
名著用例
The presence even for a moment among a party of debauchees of a woman endued with every quality of modesty and not less severe than beautiful refrained the humorous sallies even of the most licentious but her departure was the signal for an outbreak of ribaldry.
一贤淑端庄、容貌标致之淑女一时出现于荡子群中，彼等淫荡之徒便即刻收敛其轻佻猥亵。然而俟伊退出后，秽言秽语刹那间重新爆发。
出自爱尔兰现代主义作家詹姆斯·乔伊斯（James Joyce）于1922年出版的长篇小说《尤利西斯》（Ulysses）。参见：名著下载 | 尤利西斯（Ulysses）
同近义词
- eschew: deliberately avoid using; abstain from
- abstain: restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something
- desist: stop doing something; cease or abstain
