Whatever!為什麼那麼讓人反感呢?在口語上,它有點像「隨便啦,無所謂」,例如,別人問你"Do you like coffee or tea?"(你喜歡咖啡還是茶?)你回答"Whatever!",就有點兒不在乎的意思,沒有明白講,但就是"I don't care."。設想如果你的屬下成天把「隨便啦,無所謂」掛在嘴邊,你會喜歡嗎?。
有時候Whatever也出現在句尾,是Who cares?的意思。老美會說"I totally have no idea how to file my tax return, whatever."(我不知道該怎麼報稅,唉,隨便啦。)最後那個 whatever 是老美在講話時很喜歡加的,就是「隨便,反正我也不擔心的意思。」
If you're like,"whatever,"and someone gives you a mean look, just remember it is what it is - certain sayings rub people the wrong way, you know? Anyway, at the end of the day, who cares?
If the above paragraph thoroughly irritated you, you're probably not alone. The question is, which word or phrase bothered you the most?
Chances are it was"whatever."In a recent Marist poll, nearly half of Americans - 47% - said they find"whatever" most annoying. The other sayings weren't quite so loathed. 25% say they find"you know"most grating:11% can't stand "it is what it is":7% would like to ban"anyway"from all verbal exchanges;and 2% reported that they could do without hearing"at the end of the day."
Interestingly, if you're traveling to the Midwest, it might be especially wise to leave your store of"whatevers"at home. 55% of residents in that region dislike the term, while only 19% of them disapprove of"you know."In contrast, 35% of Northeast residents say"whatever"is most annoying, while 32% are most bothered by"you know."(節選自Marist Poll)
註:
1.rub people the wrong way 惹惱
任何動物都是順著毛生長的方向撫摸會比較舒適,逆方向動物就會不高興,rub people the wrong way 就是比喻人容易被激怒、惹惱。例:He is well-intentioned but not tactful enough in his speech, thus he often rubs others the wrong way. 他是好心,只是說話不圓滑,因此常常得罪人。
2.Chances are...
Chances are 是口語的用法,相當於"it is likely (that)"。
表示很有可能的意思。例如:Chances are (that) they'll be late. 看起來,他們勢必會遲到。
NOTE1:Bad at, clever at, quick at, slow at, etc. 相對地,weak in: He is weak in grammar.
NOTE2:He is good in class. 意思是他在課堂上行為很好.
3.You must guard against bad habits.
4.He was found guilty of murder.
5.Clare's independent of her parents.
NOTE:We say dependent on: A child is dependent on its parents.
6.They are indifferent to politics.
7.He always insisted on his opinion.
NOTE:另一個很接近的字是Persist,介系詞用in:He persisted in his silly ideas.
8.He is very jealous of his brother.
9.They are leaving for England soon.
10.Look at his beautiful picture.
NOTE:Also gaze at, stare at, etc. But: look after (= take care of), look for (=try to find), look over (=examine), look into (=examine closely), look on or upon (=consider), look down on (=have a low opinion of), look up to (=respect), look out for (=expect), look forward to (= expect with pleasure),