老外对你说：“The answer is zero”是什么意思？

“熟词偏义”是英语中常见的情况

看似每个单词都认识

连在一起就不知道是什么意思

比如这个表达：The answer is zero

如果你不结合语境

简单直白的翻译并不能get到真正的意思

01、The answer is zero是什么意思？

如果老外对你说这句话

想表达的意思是：

事情“白忙一场、毫无结果”

①No matter what you have done, the answer is zero.

无论你做了什么，都是白忙一场。

②The answer is zero because of a small mistake in my work.

因为工作上除了一个小纰漏，所以白忙一场了。

“白忙一场，徒劳”其它英文表达

①in vain

徒劳的；枉然的；无用的

My efforts were not in vain.

我的气力没有白费。

②for nothing

它有两层意思，1）免费2）徒然

All my trouble went for nothing.

我的一切辛苦都白费了。

其它跟 answer 相关的表达

跟着我一起学习吧

02、answer back

answer （sb.） back =顶嘴，回嘴

不是很礼貌的方式应对长辈，领导的批评

①Stop answering your mother back!

不准和你妈妈顶嘴！

② I'd generally talk my father round, but never answer back.

我会委婉地和父亲解释，从来不顶嘴。

(talk sb. round=委婉的表达；说服)

03、answer the door

意思是应声开门、听到铃声去开门

I'm on the phone. Could you answer the door for me?

我正在打电话，你能帮我开一下门吗？

04、answer the call of nature

answer the call of nature=上厕所

Just a moment. I have to go to answer the call of nature.

稍等一会，我想上厕所。

05、answer for / to

answer for=对…负责

Do you really think the company will be made to answer for the problems that their pollution causes among the local people?

你真的认为公司会负责他们在当地造成的污染问题？

answer to=答复

That is an indirect answer to the question.

那只是对这一问题的间接答复。

END