理解“Dead In The Water”：英语习语的含义与用法
你有没有遇到过某个计划突然停滞不前，完全看不到进展的希望？英语习语 Dead In The Water 就完全表达了这种感觉。学习这些 英语习语，对于让你表达更自然、理解母语者的表达非常有帮助。本文将深入剖析 Dead In The Water 的含义，探讨它的正确用法以及常见误区，同时介绍相关表达，并带你一起练习！
目录
- “Dead In The Water”是什么意思？
- 什么时候该用“Dead In The Water”？
- 我们如何使用“Dead In The Water”？
- 同义表达和相关习语
- 英语对话示例
- 练习时间！
- 结语：用英语表达停滞不前的计划
“Dead In The Water”是什么意思？
习语 Dead In The Water 意思是某事（通常是计划、项目、提案，甚至船只）无法继续进行或取得进展。它表示完全停滞，往往几乎没有复苏或继续推进的希望。想象一艘没有风帆、没有动力的船——它就停在那里，“Dead In The Water”。这个表达强有力地描述了已经失败或无限期搁浅的情形。理解 dead in the water 的含义 能帮你领会这种隐喻的力量。
閱讀更多: 理解Dead End Job含义及用法：掌握英语职场表达和常见误区解决
什么时候该用“Dead In The Water”？
你大多数时候会在非正式到半正式的语境中听到或使用 Dead In The Water。它经常出现在日常对话、讲述失败项目的商务讨论，或者当计划遇到无法逾越的障碍时。如果你想学习英语表达来描述彻底停滞或毫无进展的情形，这是个非常生动的表达。
例如，你可以这样说：
- "After the main sponsor pulled out, the entire event was dead in the water."
- "Without a clear leader, the committee's proposal is dead in the water."
什么时候不宜使用： 虽然“dead in the water”适用范围广，但对于非常学术性或高度正式的科学论文，这个表达可能太口语化。在那种情形下，“stagnated”、“halted” 或 “ceased to progress” 这样的词语会更合适。但在大多数商业报告或一般书写中，只要语气允许这种生动的表达就可以使用。
常见错误： 以下是一些学习者在使用 dead in the water 时常犯的错误及其纠正方法：
| 常见错误 | 为什么错 / 说明 | 正确用法 / 如何纠正 |
|---|---|---|
| 用“dead into water”替代“dead in the water” | 介词使用错误。这个习语是固定表达。 | 务必用正确的介词：“dead in the water”。 |
| 认为只适用于船或者字面意义的死亡 | 虽然起源于航海，但现在常用于比喻，指失败的计划或项目。 | 抓住习语含义：计划、项目或想法失败或停滞不前。 |
| 用于轻微或暂时性挫折 | 这个习语通常指更永久或彻底的停顿，且难以恢复。 | “dead in the water”应仅用于真正卡死或彻底失败的情境。 |
| 说成“dead on the water” | 又一个错误的介词，改变了习语的固定结构。 | 正确表达始终是“dead in the water”。 |
閱讀更多: 掌握Cut To The Chase直截了当英语习语全解析教你高效进入正题
我们如何使用“Dead In The Water”？
在语法上，"Dead In The Water" 通常作为表语形容词短语，描述主语的状态，通常跟在系动词（is, am, are, was, were）、"seem" 或 "appear" 等后面。也可用于描述某个动作（或缺失）使得某事陷入这种状态。
以下是几个例句说明：
- "The negotiations are dead in the water due to unresolved disagreements."（描述谈判的状态）
- "The sudden departure of the lead architect left the new building project dead in the water."（说明某个动作导致项目停滞）
掌握如何将 Dead In The Water 融入句子，有助于正确使用习语表达。
最常见的句型结构：
| 结构/句型 | 使用“Dead In The Water”的例句 | 简要说明 |
|---|---|---|
| 主语 + is/are/was/were dead in the water | "The new marketing campaign is dead in the water without more funding." | 基本用法，直接描述主语的状态。 |
| 主语 + seems/appears dead in the water | "Their ambitious proposal seems dead in the water after the board's initial review." | 搭配“seems”或“appears”，表示推测这种状态。 |
| 使某事/某人 dead in the water | "The unexpected IT system crash left the online business dead in the water for hours." | 描述某一动作或事件导致失败或停滞。 |
| 计划/想法被认为 dead in the water | "For that plan to be revived, it needs major changes; otherwise, it's considered dead in the water." | 表示某事被看作已经失败。 |
閱讀更多: 理解Cut-Throat Competition驾驭激烈商业英语表达，一学就会地描述极端竞争情景
同义表达和相关习语
虽然 "Dead In The Water" 比较独特，但英语里还有很多 习语和表达 能传达类似失败、停滞或受阻的含义。掌握这些可以丰富你的词汇，也能帮你理解它们细微的差别。
来看对比表：
| 同义/相关表达 | 色彩/语气/正式程度 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Go belly up | 非正式，常形容企业财务破产，意味着完全倒闭 | After months of losses, the small restaurant finally went belly up. |
| Run aground | 可以是字面（船搁浅）也可比喻（计划遇到障碍），强调被具体问题阻塞 | The trade negotiations ran aground due to disagreements on tariffs. |
| At a standstill | 较中性或正式，表示行动或进展完全停止，但不一定是永久性的失败 | Due to the strike, production at the factory is at a standstill. |
| Out of steam | 非正式，暗示失去动力、热情或进展放缓乃至停止 | The reform movement seems to have run out of steam after initial successes. |
| Hit a brick wall | 非正式，指遇到解决不了或无法逾越的障碍 | We've hit a brick wall with this research; we can't find the data we need. |
| Stuck in a rut | 非正式，指陷入乏味、重复难以跳出的状况或例行公事 | He felt like he was stuck in a rut at his job and needed a change. |
英语对话示例
以下是几个简短对话，展示了 "Dead In The Water" 在自然语境中的使用：
对话1：商务项目
- Anna: "So, what's the latest on the Phoenix Project? Are we moving forward?"
- Ben: "Actually, not great. We lost our main investor last week."
- Anna: "Oh no! Does that mean...?"
- Ben: "Pretty much. Without that funding, the whole Phoenix Project is dead in the water, I'm afraid."
对话2：社区项目
- Maria: "I heard you were trying to start a new community garden. How's that going?"
- Leo: "It was going well until the city council denied our permit for the land."
- Maria: "That's terrible! So, is the idea dead in the water now?"
- Leo: "It feels like it. We're trying to find alternative locations, but it’s looking tough."
对话3：个人计划
- Chloe: "Weren't you planning a big road trip across the country this summer?"
- David: "Yeah, that was the plan. But then my car broke down, and the repair costs are huge."
- Chloe: "So the trip is off?"
- David: "Looks like it. With no car and no budget for a new one right now, those plans are dead in the water."
练习时间！
准备好测试你对 "Dead In The Water" 的理解和用法了吗？试试这些有趣的练习题吧！
1. 快速小测！
选择下列句子中关于 "Dead In The Water" 的正确含义或用法。
- Question 1: If a plan has no chance of succeeding or progressing, it is ______.
- a) a piece of cake
- b) dead in the water
- c) on cloud nine
- Question 2: "Without the main investor, the startup was completely ______."
- a) dead in the water
- b) under the weather
- c) a dime a dozen
- Question 3: The phrase "dead in the water" usually describes a situation that is:
- a) Temporarily paused
- b) Permanently stopped or failed
- c) Successfully completed
(Answers: 1-b, 2-a, 3-b)
2. 习语配对游戏
把A列的句子开头与B列正确的结尾配对，组成逻辑通顺的完整句子。
| A列（句子开头） | B列（结尾） |
|---|---|
| 1. After losing their star player, the team's championship hopes | a) ran aground over budget issues. |
| 2. The new software update was so buggy that the entire launch | b) seemed dead in the water. |
| 3. The ambitious peace talks unfortunately | c) left the entire marketing campaign dead in the water. |
| 4. The sudden and unexpected budget cut | d) was effectively dead in the water from the start. |
(Answers: 1-b, 2-d, 3-a, 4-c)
结语：用英语表达停滞不前的计划
学习像 "Dead In The Water" 这样的习语不仅能扩展词汇量，还让你能像母语者一样，用更细腻准确的方式去表达复杂情境。当你能够准确描述某个项目失败或计划无法推进时，就能沟通得更有效，这也体现了你对 英语习语表达 的深入理解。
即使遇到事情“dead in the water”，也别气馁——这在生活和工作中难免遇到！关键在于从中汲取经验继续前行。恰当地使用这些 习语表达，你的英语会变得更流利、更自然。
你听说过哪些“dead in the water”的计划或项目？欢迎在评论区分享你的想法！
