音标:英 /ˈtæŋɡld ʌp/,美 /ˈtæŋɡəld ʌp/
核心含义:作为动词短语,由 "tangle"(缠绕、纠缠)与副词 "up" 构成,基本义为"使缠结在一起",可描述具体物体的物理缠绕状态,也可比喻抽象事物陷入复杂、混乱的局面。
指线绳、毛发、电线等实体相互交织形成混乱状态。
搭配对象:常与 wires(电线)、hair(头发)、cables(电缆)、threads(线)等名词连用。
例句:
"The computer cables under my desk are tangled up."(我桌下的电脑线全缠在一起了)
"Her hair got tangled up in the barbed wire fence."(她的头发被铁丝网缠住了)
表示陷入复杂、难以解决的状况,如纠纷、情感或责任的纠葛。
搭配结构:后接介词 "in" 引出具体对象,构成 "tangled up in sth"。
例句:
"I was not about to get tangled up in their argument."(我不想卷入他们的争吵)
"We got tangled up in that boy's death."(我们都被牵扯进那孩子的死事中)
| 短语 | 含义 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| get tangled up | 陷入纠缠/混乱 | "If you make a mistake, get all tangled up, just tango on."(即使犯错陷入混乱,继续跳下去) |
| tangled up in sth | 卷入(纠纷、情感等) | "He's tangled up in a legal dispute."(他卷入了一场法律纠纷) |
| leave sth tangled up | 任由某物处于缠绕状态 | "Don't leave the headphones tangled up—they'll break."(别让耳机缠成一团,会弄坏的) |
"No mistakes in the tango... If you make a mistake, get all tangled up, just tango on."(探戈里没有错误……即使踏错步陷入混乱,继续跳就好)
"However, I think I will share with you that the cause of his death was in fact related to his research here, even though it was a little more tangled up."(不过我可以告诉你们,他的死其实和他的研究有关,尽管其中牵扯更复杂)
"You can't differentiate between 'this is due today' and 'this is important' when you are... 'tangled up in others'."(当你"纠缠于他人"时,会分不清"今天要做"和"重要事项")
| 短语 | 区别点 | 例句对比 |
|---|---|---|
| tangled up | 强调相互缠绕形成的混乱状态 | The wires tangled up behind the TV.(电视后的电线缠成一团) |
| mixed up | 侧重内容或顺序的混淆 | I got the dates mixed up.(我把日期弄混了) |
| caught up in | 强调被动卷入(常含情感色彩) | She was caught up in the excitement.(她被兴奋冲昏了头) |
文学引用:鲍勃·迪伦经典歌曲 Tangled Up in Blue 用该短语表达情感的复杂纠葛,歌词中反复出现 "tangled up in blue",象征爱情与人生的迷茫交织。
影视台词:电影《闻香识女人》中,探戈教学场景的台词 "If you make a mistake, get all tangled up, just tango on" 成为励志名句,体现对失误的包容态度。
使用场景总结:无论是描述耳机线的缠绕、头发的打结,还是职场的人际纠纷、内心的情感矛盾,"tangled up" 都是简洁而生动的表达。掌握其物理与抽象双重用法,能让英语表达更具画面感和深度。