詞:edge
英英釋義:something that gives you an advantage over others
例句:Being able to speak good English is widely considered an edge in China.
2. 體會這個詞 (進階篇)
“edge”作名詞最基本的意思是“邊緣”“刀刃”,不過它也常可以引申表示“優勢”,我們可以用它來替換“advantage”。
找工作時,有壹定的實習或工作經驗絕對是壹種優勢,我們就可以說:
As far as job hunting is concerned, experience is an absolute edge.
使用“edge”時,最常見的壹個搭配是“A has an edge over B”,表示 A 比 B 更好。比如,許多人選擇在壹線二線城市生活,因為相比其它城市,大城市的文化更多元,工作機會更多。
First- and second-tier cities always have an edge over other cities in terms of cultural diversity and job opportunities.
另外,常和“edge”搭配的動詞有“maintain”(保持)和“lose”(失去),比如我們想說美國的軍事優勢還在,不過移民優勢正在減弱。我們就可以說:
It seems the US is losing its immigrant edge, but it has maintained its military edge.(建議把這個句子背下來)
想表達在某人或某物在某壹方面有優勢,我們可以在“edge”前添加相應的形容詞。比如《經濟學人》在壹篇討論美國創新的文章中,就有這樣壹句話:
Indeed, the assumption that America is losing its innovative edge is open to question.
這句話的意思是:“的確,美國正在失去它的創新優勢這個假設是可以質疑的。” 這句話的主語是“the assumption that America is losing its innovative edge”,這裏的“innovative edge”就表示在創新方面的優勢。
3. 從認識到會用(作業)
1)使用《牛津英語搭配詞典》查“edge”,了解它的常用搭配。
a.?competitive +edge 競爭優勢
slight + edge 微弱優勢
? decided / decisive / definite / winning ?+ edge 絕對優勢; 明顯優勢;
? technological edge 技術上的優勢
b.?VERB + EDGE
give sb/sth ?為…的有利條件
gain, have,hold, keep, maintain, retain ?獲得優勢;占優勢; 保持優勢
sharpen +edge 提升競爭力
lost edge 失去優勢
?to gain a competitive edge over rival suppliers 獲得其它供應商對手沒有的競爭優勢
c.?[搭配]PREP.~ over ?比…有優勢
?The intensive training she had done gave her the edge over the other runners.?
? 強化訓練使她比其它賽跑者更具優勢。
2)翻譯下面的句子:
這款新的電動汽車將會優於它的競品。
(參考翻譯:The new electric car will have an edge over its competitors/rivals.)
3)結合自己的生活、學習、工作、興趣等,想象在什麽語境下會用到這個表達。先簡要描述這個場景,再造句。
場景 1 :由於管理不善,這家公司失去了競爭優勢。
造句: Owing to poor management, ?the company lost its competitive edge.
場景2:找工作時,經驗是絕對優勢。
造句:When it comes to job seeking, experience is a definite edge.?
場景3:我們壹直在尋求改善,為了保持我們的競爭優勢。
造句:We're constantly looking for improvements to maintain our competitive edge.?
場景4: 當找工作時,壹口流利的英語將會使妳比別人更有優勢。
造句:Fluent English will give you an edge over others when you look for a job.?
情景5:優秀的表達能力將會使妳比同伴和競爭對手更有優勢。
造句:Having the ability to express well gives you an edge over your peers and rivals.?
情景6:為了趕超我們的競爭對手,我們必須提升自己的競爭力
造句:We have to sharpen our edge over our competitors.?
情景7:壹旦離開這家公司,他們就不再有競爭力。
造句:Once they leave this company, they won't have any competitive edge in the job market.?