you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink idiom 英文意思
“you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” 是一个英语习语,字面意思是“你可以带一匹马到水边,但你不能强迫它喝水”。这个短语比喻的是,你可以为某人提供机会或资源,但不能强迫他们利用这些机会或资源。
含义
这个习语的含义是,无论你做了什么努力,最终的选择和行动还是在于个人。它强调了自由意志和个人责任,即使条件已经具备,最终的结果也取决于个体的决定。
用法
该短语常用于以下情境:
- 教育:老师可以提供知识,但学生是否学会取决于他们自己。
- 助人:朋友可以提供建议或帮助,但接受与否在于对方。
- 职场:管理者可以提供培训和资源,但员工是否利用取决于员工自己的决策。
词源
这个习语的来源可以追溯到17世纪的英语,常被用来指代那些尽管提供帮助,但他人依然不愿意接受的情境。
发音
/juː kæn liːd ə hɔːrs tu ˈwɔːtə, bət juː kænt meɪk hɪm drɪŋk/
同义词
- You can show someone how to do something, but you can’t force them to do it.
- You can give someone the tools, but you can’t make them use them.
反义词
- You can make someone do something.
- You can force someone to accept help.
这个习语在日常英语对话中非常常见,可以用来表达对他人选择的理解和确认。
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You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink; it’s up to him to choose. 你可以把马带到水边,但你无法强迫它喝水;这取决于它的选择。
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I can show you the path to success, but remember, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. 我可以给你指明成功的道路,但请记住,你可以把马带到水边,但你无法强迫它喝水。
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My dad always said, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink, when I asked him to help my brother. 我爸爸总是说,你可以把马带到水边,但你无法强迫它喝水,当我请他帮我兄弟的时候。
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The coach can teach you the game, but you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink if you don’t want to play. 教练可以教你这项运动,但你可以把马带到水边,但如果你不想玩,就无法强迫它喝水。
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We offered him the resources he needed to succeed, but it was clear, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. 我们为他提供了成功所需的资源,但很明显,你可以把马带到水边,但你无法强迫它喝水。