1. 认识这个词(基础篇)
词:escalate
英英释义:to become much worse or more serious, or to make something do this
例句:The skirmish between rival factions could escalate into a full-scale war.
2. 体会这个词 (进阶篇)
我们很熟悉“自动扶梯”的英文是“escalator”,今天我们学习和它相关的动词“escalate”。escalate 最常见的意思是“不断恶化”“(某个不好情况)升级”,表示这个意思时 escalate 常作为不及物动词使用,后面常接介词 into。我们通过几个例子掌握它的用法。
比如有些人因为拌嘴,吵着吵着最后就动手打起来了,这时我们就可以说:
The altercation between the two friends quickly escalated into a physical fight.
派系之间的小规模的冲突很有可能会升级成全面战争,就可以说:
The skirmish between rival factions could escalate into a full-scale war.
再比如一个人长期处于沮丧消沉的状态,最终恶化成精神崩溃:
The depression he has been suffering escalated into a mental breakdown.
《经济学人》中也经常用到 escalate,比如:
1)The risk that a conventional conflict between India and Pakistan would escalate into a nuclear one is low, but not negligible.
2)Uncertainty about the outlook for the economy would only escalate after a vote to leave.
3)It is easy to imagine how a collision in the air or at sea could escalate.
3. 怎样学会使用这个词?
1)翻译下面的句子:
示威游行已激化成为一场大规模的起义。
The demonstration has escalated into a large revolt.
造句
That the malicious programs infect computers will escalate into a high-impact event.
(参考翻译:The demonstration has escalated into a large uprising.)