pull punches

英语

其他形式

• pull one's punches

词源

源自拳击用语，20世纪20年代。

发音

• （澳洲）音频：

  (檔案)

动词

pull punches (第三人稱單數簡單現在時 pulls punches，現在分詞 pulling punches，一般過去時及過去分詞 pulled punches)

1. (原為拳擊) 出拳时不过度用力
   • 2017, Mark D Bishop, Zen Odyssey, An Okinawan Karate & Martial Arts Journey, Lulu.com, →ISBN，第 228 頁:

     Traditionally on Okinawa (if 'traditionally' is the right word to use), protectors had been worn during sparring practise because the trainees believed that, to be effective, one should not train to pull punches.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

2. (比喻義，一般用否定) 行事谨慎克制；（尤指）小心说话避免惹麻烦

   近義詞：hold back

   I did not pull any punches when I told them my thoughts.

   我告诉他们我的想法时没有留情。

   • 2005, Nick Morgan, Give Your Speech, Change the World: How To Move Your Audience to Action, Harvard Business Review Press, →ISBN，第 78 頁:

     The key here is not to pull punches. Tell it to 'em straight. Don't point fingers. But don't avoid painful truths.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

   • 2010, Kenneth J. Heineman, Catholic New Deal: Religion and Reform in Depression Pittsburgh, Penn State Press, →ISBN，第 75 頁:

     Father Charles Owen Rice was not one to pull punches, particularly when it came to confronting what he viewed as hypocritical behavior among Catholics.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

   • 2017年2月1日, Neil Bartlett, “The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis review – a childhood in hell”, 出自 The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     This arresting autobiographical novel pulls no punches; rather, it lands them on the reader as frequently as fists descend on its subject.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

   • 2021年2月10日, Thomas L. Friedman, “Cyberspace Plus Trump Almost Killed Our Democracy. Can Europe Save Us?”, 出自 The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:

     A few weeks ago, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, released an open letter that pulled no punches.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

参见

• no holds barred

延伸阅读

• “pull (one's) punches”，Lexico，Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press，2019–present年.