discourage
verb [ T ] uk/dɪˈskʌr.ɪdʒ/ us/dɪˈskɝː.ɪdʒ/
(MAKE LESS CONFIDENT)
B2 使泄气，给…泼冷水，使心灰意冷
to make someone feel less confident, enthusiastic, and positive about something, or less willing to do something
The thought of how much work she had to do discouraged her. 一想到还有那么多工作得做她就泄了气。
Opposite: encourage
- More examples
- Don't let me discourage you if it's what you want to do.
- Her criticism had discouraged him.
- Don't let her comments discourage you.
- It discouraged me to hear so little enthusiasm for the project.
- I don't want to discourage her - merely inject a note of realism.
(PREVENT)
B2 （试图）阻挠，为…设置障碍，阻止
to prevent or try to prevent something happening or someone doing something, by making things difficult or unpleasant, or by showing disapproval
a campaign to discourage people from smoking 阻止人们吸烟的运动
The authorities have put tanks on the streets to discourage any protest. 当局调动坦克上街以阻止抗议活动。
Opposite: encourage
- More examples
- We need tougher penalties to discourage miscreants.
- Leaving an outside light on after dark can discourage a potential burglar.
- Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds and to discourage looters who ransacked shops and set fire to cars.
- A new campaign is aimed at discouraging children from watching too much television.
- The shop employs uniformed security guards to discourage shoplifters.