Verb Master 動詞達人

Pressure, Stress, Strain，三個壓力動詞，Strain的用法最廣泛，也是我們東方人最不容易掌握的「壓力」，讓壓力龐大的美國總統歐巴馬來介紹：

【精神動詞】Pressure
Pressure someone，對人施加壓力
They pressured me into drinking. It calls peer pressure.
(他們逼我喝酒，這叫同儕壓力)

【精神動詞】Stress

Stress，名詞「壓力、張力」、「緊張」

Stress，動詞「強調、加重語氣」
to stress the importance of something
(強調某件事情的重要性)
to stress the need for something
(強調某方面的需要)

Stress，動詞「【語言】加重音」
The verb ‘present’ is stressed on the second syllable.
(動詞Present的重音在第二音節)

片語：Stress out，精神緊繃
The demanding deadline stressed me out.
(嚴苛的期限把我累壞了)
The final exam stressed me out.
(期末考快把我整慘了)

【精神動詞】Strain

Strain，動詞「拉、扯」「竭盡全力」「過度使用」

strain the muscle 拉傷肌肉
I strained my neck muscle.
(我的脖子拉傷)

strain the eyes 用眼過度、眼睛脫窗
I strained my eyes for watching too much TV.
(我看太多電視，眼睛看到脫窗)

strain the ears 用心聽
I strained my ears to hear what's going on.
(我很用力聽到底發生什麼事情)

常用詞：strain every nerve，竭盡全力
I will strain every nerve to win this game.
(我會竭盡全力贏得比賽)

常用詞：strain to the limit，逼到極限
My patience has been strained to the limit.
(我的耐性已經撐到最極限)

常用詞：Don’t strain yourself，不要強迫自己

常用詞：Strain the relationship，關係緊張
to strain the marriage，婚姻拉警報
to strain the finance，財務狀況拉警報

常用詞：Strain for an effect，求功心切
Be patient. Don’t strain for an effect.
(耐心點，不要想一夜成名)

片語：Strain at something，硬拉、硬扯

常用語：Strain at the leash，迫不及待、躍躍欲試
Jim is straining at the leash to get on the new job.
(Jim迫不及待要展開新的工作)

常用語：Strain at a gnat，對小事斤斤計較
The U.N. always strains at a gnat and swallows a camel.
(聯合國總是小事精明大事糊塗 - gnat, 會咬人的小昆蟲, swallow 吞, camel 駱駝)

動詞Strain有一個比較奇怪的意思，「過濾」，通常是過濾水分或油脂，搭配介係詞off或out：

Strain something – 【無介係詞】把該東西的水分濾掉
strain the fry chickens from the oil 把炸雞的油濾掉

Strain out/off something – 【介係詞out/off】過濾掉該東西
strain off the oil from the beef，把炸雞的油濾掉