366 – Word 面面观：向你保证、一字不差、口耳相传

1. To have (take) someone’s word: To believe what someone is saying is true

- I’m serious. You can have my word.

我是很认真的，我向你保证。

- If she says she’s sick, you have to take her word for it.

如果她说她病了，你就得相信她的话。

- I will return it by the end of the week. You have my word.

我这周末之前会还的。我向你保证。

2. Word of mouth: Being told by another person

- We learned of this restaurant by word of mouth.

我们是听人说了知道这家餐馆的。

- News travels fast by word of mouth.

消息通过口耳相传传播得很快。

- We get most of our clients through word of mouth.

我们大部分客户都是通过口耳相传获得的。

3. Spread the word: Tell something to a lot of people

- Could you help spread the word about this latest update?

你能帮忙传播这个最新消息吗?

- Nowadays people spread the word mostly on social media.

如今人们主要在社交媒体上传播信息。

- The goal of this campaign is to spread the word about the importance of handwashing.

这项运动的目标是宣传洗手的重要性。

4. Word for word: Using exactly the same words

- She listened carefully to what I said and repeated word for word to her mom.

她仔细听我说的话，一字不差地重复给她妈妈听。

- She copied it word for word from the encyclopedia.

她一字不差地从百科全书上抄下来。

- Try not to translate Chinese to English word for word.

尽量不要逐字逐句地把中文翻译成英文。

5. Have a word with someone: To talk or speak with someone with a negative implication

- Could I have a word with you?

我能和你谈一下吗?

- The boss wants to have a word with you. Do you have any idea what it’s about?

老板想和你谈谈。你知道是关于什么事吗?

- I’m concerned with Johnny’s recent behavior at school. I might need to have a word with his parents.

我对Johnny最近在学校的行为感到担忧。我可能需要和他父母谈谈。