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SAT TEM8 GRE
外刊例句
- Asked why he and his compatriots rebuffed the evangelisers, Jack Ma, boss of Alibaba, an e-commerce giant, insists it is not because they were stingy.
当电商巨头阿里巴巴的老板马云被问及他和他的同胞为何断然拒绝那些狂热鼓吹者时,他坚称这并不是因为他们吝啬。
——《经济学人》 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel appeared to rebuff the Biden administration’s request, saying that any cease-fire would be contingent on the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡似乎断然拒绝了拜登政府的请求,称任何停火都将取决于哈马斯劫持的以色列人质获释。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[verb] reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner
[动词] 以唐突或无礼的方式拒绝(某人或某事)
深入解读
Rebuff 是一个在拼写上以 buff (爱好者;米色;一丝不挂)结尾的单词,两者可以一并联想记忆。
从词源上来看, rebuff 源自意大利语 ribuffare (制止、指责、嘲笑),16世纪80年代经中古法语 rebuffer (制止、拒不接受)进入英语后,即用来表示“断然拒绝、生硬拒绝、粗暴回绝”,常作正式用语使用,主要指以唐突或无礼的方式无情拒绝某人或某个友好或有益的提议、要求、建议等,比如:
- 那位思想解放的年轻女士坚决地回绝了他的求欢。
The emancipated young woman rebuffed his advances.
用作名词时, rebuff 相应表示“断然拒绝、生硬拒绝、粗暴回绝、峻拒、冷遇”,比如:
- 兴致勃勃的总统主动帮忙,却遭到断然拒绝。
The ebullient president's offer of help was met with a sharp rebuff.
名著用例
Carrie summoned up all her courage, which was little at best. She realised that she was a novice, and felt as if a rebuff were certain.
嘉莉鼓起了全部勇气,其实充其量也没有多少勇气可言。她意识到自己是个新手,非遭到断然回绝不可。
出自美国现实主义作家西奥多·德莱赛(Theodore Dreiser)创作的长篇小说《嘉莉妹妹》(Sister Carrie)。参见:名著下载 | 嘉莉妹妹(Sister Carrie)
同近义词
- spurn: reject with disdain or contempt
- repudiate: refuse to accept; reject
- disdain: refuse to do (something) from feelings of pride or superiority