Pick someone's brains 表示向比你更懂某个领域的人请教,通常是礼貌而略带幽默的请求:Can I pick your brains about...? 英式英语较常用复数 brains,美式英语较常用单数 brain。这个表达非正式;写信给不熟悉的人,用 Could I ask your advice about...? 更合适。
什么情境适合说 pick someone's brains?
写一句英语,检查习语是否适合当前情境,以及哪里需要修改。
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pick someone's brains (about/on + noun); Can I pick your brains about...?; US: pick someone's brain
- Can I pick your brains about renting a flat in Edinburgh?
- Before my job interview, I picked my cousin's brains because she works at the same bank.
- After class, our teacher lets students pick her brains about university applications.
修改原因
修改前Can I pick up your brains about the visa process?
修改后Can I pick your brains about the visa process?
Pick up 是很熟悉的短语动词,可以表示拿起或接人,因此容易顺手加上 up。但 pick up your brains 会像是要把脑子从地上捡起来。这个习语只需要 pick,原句应删去 up。
Rack your brains 看起来相近,却表示费尽脑筋,努力回忆或解决问题:I racked my brains, but I couldn't remember his name。Pick someone's brains 则是去向另一个人请教。
动手练习
My sister is an accountant, so before filling in my tax return I ___ about a few tricky questions.
查看答案
picked her brains — 说话者的姐妹是会计,向她请教专业问题,因此选 picked her brains。Rack your brains 强调本人绞尽脑汁,不是这里向别人询问建议的动作。
你需要向认识的一位专业人士请教,例如律师、医生或程序员。写一个简短请求,说明对方擅长什么,以及你想问什么。
Since you've worked as a web developer for years, could I pick your brains about building a website for my bakery?
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