drown one's sorrows

基本释义

本义为“将悲伤淹没”，即通过大量饮酒来麻痹自己，暂时忘记痛苦或烦恼。引申义可指任何通过沉迷某种活动（如工作、游戏）来逃避现实的行为，但最常用的仍是饮酒。该短语带有贬义或自嘲色彩，暗示一种消极的应对方式。

构词与来源

“drown”源自古英语“druncnian”，意为“淹没、溺死”，此处比喻“淹没”情感。“sorrows”源自中古英语“sorwe”，意为“悲伤、遗憾”。整个短语字面意为“淹没悲伤”，形象生动，易于记忆：想象悲伤如火焰，用酒水将其浇灭。

常见语境

常见于日常口语和文学作品中，用于描述个人因失恋、工作压力等而借酒消愁。在新闻报道中，可能用于描述某人因挫折而酗酒的事件。在正式学术或商务写作中极少使用，因其带有随意和消极色彩。语气上多含同情或轻微批评。

语法提示

“drown”是及物动词，后接反身代词（如“oneself”）或直接宾语。“one's”需根据主语变化，如“drown my sorrows”、“drown his sorrows”。固定句型为“drown one's sorrows in + 酒类/场所”。注意不可省略“sorrows”的复数形式，且“drown”后不接介词。

同义词区别

与“drink away”意思相近，但“drink away”可指用喝酒消除任何情绪，而“drown one's sorrows”专指悲伤。与“drown one's cares”类似，但“cares”侧重忧虑。与“take a drink”相比，后者中性，无情感色彩。正式场合可用“seek solace in alcohol”，语气更书面。

常见误区

该短语为口语化表达，语域较低，正式场合慎用。带贬义，暗示逃避问题，可能被视为不成熟。常见误用包括忘记反身代词或误将“sorrows”改为单数。注意“drown”也可用于“drown in work”等，但此处专指饮酒。

搭配用法

• drown one's sorrows in drink
• drown one's sorrows at the bar
• drown one's sorrows with friends
• try to drown one's sorrows
• drown one's sorrows in alcohol
• drown one's sorrows away

实用例句

After losing his job, he spent the whole evening drowning his sorrows at the local bar.

She tried to drown her sorrows in chocolate, but it only made her feel worse.

Instead of drowning your sorrows, why not talk to a friend?

He drowned his sorrows with whiskey, hoping to forget the breakup.

The novel's protagonist drowns his sorrows in alcohol after his wife leaves him.