11 BURN: 烧，燃烧，烧毁，烧掉

词组讲解

1. burn one's bridges behind one ** 切断后路，破釜沉舟

解 习语；词义溯源：烧毁身［后（behind）］的桥梁，引申为断掉后路、不能后退

例 Ed knew he had burned his bridges behind him and could not depend on any of his old colleagues in the future if he ever needed help.

2. burn oneself out / burn out ** 筋疲力尽或损害了自己的健康

解 习语；词义溯源：将自己燃烧［殆尽（out）］

例 If he doesn't stop working so hard, he'll burn himself out.

3. burn sb. at the stake ** 行火刑；严厉地谴责、惩罚

解 习语；词义溯源：烧被绑在［火刑柱（stake）］上的人

例 Anyone who failed to reach their monthly sales target will be burned at the stake.

4. burn sb. in effigy ** 烧某人的模拟像（泄愤等）

解 习语；词义溯源：将某人的［模拟像（effigy）］烧掉；参照 hang sb. in effigy

例 Several state leaders were burned in effigy at the demonstration.

5. burn sb. or sth. to a crisp ** 烧焦

解 习语；词义溯源：将某人或某物［噼里啪啦地（to a crisp）］烧掉

例 I lay in the sun all day and got burnt to a crisp.

6. burn sb. or sth. up *** 烧掉，焚化；生气

解 〈口〉短语动词；词义溯源：将某人或某物［彻底地（up）］烧掉

例 The letter fell into the fireplace, where it quickly burned up.

Senator Cranston's remarks are said to have burned the President up.

7. burn sth. down / burn down sth. *** 全部烧掉，焚为平地

解 短语动词；词义溯源：将某物烧［掉（down）］

例 A serial arsonist in Chicago has burned downed fifteen churches since 1993.

8. burn sth. out / burn out sth. *** 因摩擦或过热而不能操作；烧坏

解 短语动词；词义溯源：将某物［彻底地（out）］燃烧；参照burn oneself out

例 The TV set requires 110 volts. If you plug it into 220 volts, you'll burn it out.

9. burn the candle at the both ends ** 因超负荷工作而耗尽精力；操劳过度

解 习语；词义溯源：同时燃烧蜡烛的两端

例 I've been burning the candle at both ends and trying get this project completed on time.

10. burn the midnight oil ** 挑灯夜战；开夜车

解 习语；词义溯源：在夜里燃烧灯油

例 I'm afraid we're going to have to burn the midnight oil tonight.

11. burn with a low blue flame ** 酩酊大醉

解 习语；词义溯源：酒喝得太多以至于都燃烧出［火焰（flame）］来

例 The report upset him, and he's been burning with a low blue flame all day.

参考译文

1. 埃德知道他已经切断了所有退路，就算将来需要帮助，也不可能依靠他的这些老同事了。

2. 他继续这样拼命工作下去会累垮的。

3. 未能达到月度销售目标的人将受严惩。

4. 示威人群烧掉了几个国家领导人的画像以发泄心中的愤恨。

5. 我在太阳下躺了一整天，都快烤焦了。

6. 信掉进火炉中，很快就被烧掉了。

据说克兰斯顿议员的评论让总统非常生气。

7. 芝加哥一名纵火惯犯自1993年以来烧毁了15座教堂。

8. 电视机的电压为110伏。如果你插入220伏，就会把它烧坏。

9. 我一直在拼命，努力准时完成这个项目。

10. 恐怕我们今晚得熬夜了。

11. 那则报道让他很烦恼，因此他每天都喝得酩酊大醉。