refrain 英 [rɪˈfreɪn] 美 [rɪˈfreɪn]
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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）。《尤利西斯》作为意识流小说的代表作，被誉为20世纪百大英文小说之首，并被奉为20世纪最伟大的小说。
常见短语
“refrain” 这个单词的中文解释是 “克制” 或者 “抑制”。
以下是包含 “refrain” 这个词的50个短语，每个短语都附有中文解释：
- refrain from doing something – 克制做某事
- refrain from speaking – 克制讲话
- refrain from using – 抑制使用
- refrain from eating – 克制吃
- refrain from commenting – 克制评论
- refrain from criticizing – 抑制批评
- refrain from interfering – 克制干涉
- refrain from complaining – 克制抱怨
- refrain from making noise – 克制制造噪音
- refrain from shouting – 抑制大声喊叫
- refrain from arguing – 克制争论
- refrain from smoking – 抑制吸烟
- refrain from drinking – 克制饮酒
- refrain from excessive behavior – 抑制过度行为
- refrain from laughing – 克制笑声
- refrain from crying – 抑制哭泣
- refrain from interrupting – 克制打断
- refrain from texting – 抑制发短信
- refrain from social media – 抑制社交媒体
- refrain from overeating – 克制过量进食
- refrain from procrastinating – 抑制拖延
- refrain from giving advice – 克制给予建议
- refrain from using foul language – 抑制使用粗俗语言
- refrain from making excuses – 克制找借口
- refrain from taking shortcuts – 克制抄近路
- refrain from cheating – 克制作弊
- refrain from being negative – 抑制消极情绪
- refrain from showing anger – 克制展示愤怒
- refrain from showing frustration – 克制展示挫败感
- refrain from excessive spending – 抑制过度消费
- refrain from excessive talking – 抑制过度说话
- refrain from raising one’s voice – 抑制提高音量
- refrain from using offensive language – 抑制使用冒犯语言
- refrain from making noise – 克制发出噪音
- refrain from giving in to temptation – 克制诱惑
- refrain from being rude – 克制粗鲁
- refrain from being impatient – 克制不耐烦
- refrain from unnecessary actions – 抑制不必要的行为
- refrain from excessive worrying – 抑制过度担心
- refrain from making a scene – 克制制造场面
- refrain from jumping to conclusions – 克制草率下结论
- refrain from criticizing others – 克制批评他人
- refrain from overreacting – 克制过度反应
- refrain from spreading rumors – 抑制传播谣言
- refrain from panicking – 克制惊慌
- refrain from blaming others – 克制责怪他人
- refrain from getting involved – 克制介入
- refrain from making judgments – 克制做出判断
- refrain from overthinking – 克制过度思考
- refrain from overanalyzing – 克制过度分析
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
