kerwin的国外老板很关心最近公司进行的专案。他对kerwin说:
“Please keep me in the picture. I need to know how the project is going.”
到底是什么 picture?千万不要以为老板要和你一起拍照。
“Keep someone in the picture” 是指「让人了解具体情况和事态的来龙去脉」。
Please keep me in the picture.
错误:请把我放在照片里。
正确:请让我知道整体情况。
In the picture = 在照片里?
我们熟悉的picture是照片、电影,但 In the picture 中的“picture”是比较抽象的「局面、状况」,大家常用的 big picture,指的是事情的大方向、整体轮廓。来看一个例句:
I'm trying to learn about the other side of the picture. 我试着也了解事情的另一面。
In the picture 除了可以是熟知事情状况,还有「可以想得到的」这层意思:
It just isn’t in the picture that they’ll get married.
错误:他们结婚时没有拍照。
正确:可真想不到他们会结婚。
Paint/draw a picture = 画一幅图?
Do I have to draw you a picture or you can visualize this?
错误:我要画一张图给你吗?还是你自己能想像?
正确:需要我再讲清楚一点,还是你自己能想像?
Paint/draw a picture 字面意思是画一幅图,可以引申为「讲清楚,说透彻」,是常用的口语。
I just don’t like it. Do I have to draw a picture? 我就是不喜欢这样。难道非得我讲得那么明白吗?
Out of the picture = 没在照片中?
I’ve been away for a few weeks so I’m rather out of the picture.
错误:我离开了几个星期,就不在照片上了。
正确:我离开了几个星期,所以不太了解情况。
Out of the picture 刚好和 in the picture 相对,意思就是搞不清楚状况。
Out of the picture 还可以引申为「死去的」。
Now that Tom is out of the picture, we needn’t concern ourselves about his objections. 既然汤姆不在世了,我们也就不必在意他的反对意见了。
Get the picture? = 拿到照片了吗?
After I told him about six times, he got the picture.
错误:我对他讲了大约六次,他才去拍照。
正确:我对他讲了大约六次,他才明白。
Get the picture 意思是「明白」,这句话也经常单独使用,有点劝告意味,教人识时务。
Things are tough around here, and we need everyone’s cooperation. Get the picture? 情况很险恶,我们需要大家配合。明白吗?