078｜权力、地位与公共形象（1/4）
公共生活与社会运行 · 权力、地位与公共形象 · 3 个表达
本课先理解语境，再完成主动回忆和仿写。标准学习时间约 15 分钟；忙碌时只做“一眼掌握”和本课小练习。
进度只保存在当前浏览器。复习时先回忆和重写，再展开讲解。
开始前，用 90 秒主动回忆
不要翻看上一课：写出上节课的一个表达，并尝试造句。想不起来也没关系，先检索记忆，再开始新内容。
1. be the envy of sb.
一眼掌握
核心含义： 成为某人羡慕的对象；令别人十分眼红和向往；让他人觉得“真希望自己也拥有”
English definition： to be something that other people admire and want to have very much
这个短语用来表示某个人、某个机构、某种生活状态、某项成就或某种条件，非常令人羡慕，以至于别人不仅欣赏，而且也很想拥有。
普通表达 → 地道升级
- 普通表达： Their lifestyle is admired by many people.
- 升级表达： Their lifestyle is the envy of many people.
语境例句
For many smaller towns, a city with efficient transport, clean public space, and strong cultural life can easily become the envy of the region.
主动回忆 · 先遮住英文，只看中文，尝试补出目标表达。
迁移输出 · 保留 be the envy of sb.，把主语换成你熟悉的工作、生活或社会议题，再口头说一句。
深入理解：用法、语法与易错点
用法说明
这个短语用来表示某个人、某个机构、某种生活状态、某项成就或某种条件，非常令人羡慕，以至于别人不仅欣赏，而且也很想拥有。
它在社会文化类话题中很好用，因为很多社会现象都带有“比较”和“羡慕”的维度，比如：
- a city being the envy of other cities
- a school being the envy of the district
- a lifestyle being the envy of others
- a company being the envy of its competitors
- a public transport system being the envy of the country
比如：
- Her garden is the envy of the neighbourhood.
- The university is the envy of many others in the region.
- For a time, that country’s welfare system was the envy of the world.
它比简单的 be admired by sb. 更强一些，因为 admire 只是“欣赏”，而 be the envy of sb. 还带有：
- 别人也很想要
- 别人会拿来和自己比较
- 这种优越感很明显
所以这个表达天然带有一种“社会比较”的意味。
语境复现
基础句：
- Their new house is the envy of the whole street.
提升句：
- For many smaller towns, a city with efficient transport, clean public space, and strong cultural life can easily become the envy of the region.
应用句：
- In modern society, success is often measured not only by what people have, but by whether their lives become the envy of others, which is one reason why visibility, status, and comparison play such a powerful role in shaping people’s desires.
对应译文
- 他们的新房子成了整条街羡慕的对象。
- 对许多较小的城镇来说，一座拥有高效交通、整洁公共空间和丰富文化生活的城市，很容易成为整个地区羡慕的对象。
- 在现代社会中，成功常常不仅取决于一个人拥有什么，还取决于他的生活是否会成为别人羡慕的对象；这也是为什么可见度、地位和比较，会如此强烈地塑造人们的欲望。
语法与搭配
这个短语通常用于以下结构：
A + be 动词 + the envy of + B
例如：
- The team is the envy of the league.
- Her career is the envy of her friends.
- The school became the envy of the district.
- Their lifestyle is the envy of many people.
常见形式：
- be the envy of sb.
- become the envy of sb.
- the envy of the world / the industry / the neighbourhood
- be the envy of one’s peers / rivals / competitors
常见搭配对象：
主语常见是：
- a person
- a family
- a house
- a company
- a city
- a school
- a lifestyle
- a team
- a system
后面的“羡慕者”常见是：
- friends
- neighbours
- rivals
- competitors
- peers
- other cities
- the world
- the industry
说明：
- 这是固定结构，最常见是：
- be the envy of sb.
- 常常和范围词连用，比如：
- the envy of the neighbourhood
- the envy of the industry
- the envy of the world
- 它通常带明显褒义，但有时也隐含“令人眼红”的比较意味。
易错提醒
be the envy of sb. 不只是“被欣赏”，而是“让别人羡慕、眼红，也想拥有”。
它通常用于明显值得羡慕的优势、条件、地位或成就。
正确结构是：
- √ be the envy of others
- √ become the envy of the industry
- × be envy of others
这是一个固定名词结构，envy 前面通常要有 the。
在社会文化写作里，它很适合和：
- success
- status
- urban development
- education
- public services
- lifestyle 连用。
近义表达与区别
- be admired by sb.
- be looked up to by sb.
- be the object of envy
- arouse envy in others
细微区别：
- be the envy of sb. 最自然，也最强调“令人羡慕，别人也想拥有”。
- be admired by sb. 更宽泛，强调“被欣赏”，不一定到“羡慕”的程度。
- be looked up to by sb. 更强调“被敬佩、被仰慕”，带人格或成就上的敬重。
- be the object of envy 更正式，更书面。
- arouse envy in others 更强调“引起别人嫉羡的情绪”。
更多仿写练习
请用 be the envy of sb. 写一句话，描述以下内容：
- 这座城市的公共交通让很多别的城市羡慕
- 她的职业发展成了同龄人羡慕的对象
- 一个拥有安全、清洁和便利环境的社区，往往会成为周边地区羡慕的对象
仿写提示：可参考以下开头
- The city’s public transport …
- Her career has become …
- A neighbourhood with …
- The company is …
查看参考答案
1. 这座城市的公共交通让很多别的城市羡慕
- The city’s public transport system is the envy of many other cities.
- With its reliable and affordable transit network, the city has become the envy of the region.
2. 她的职业发展成了同龄人羡慕的对象
- Her career has become the envy of many of her peers.
- By her early thirties, she had built a professional life that was the envy of her friends.
3. 一个拥有安全、清洁和便利环境的社区，往往会成为周边地区羡慕的对象
- A neighbourhood with safety, cleanliness, and convenience often becomes the envy of surrounding areas.
- Communities that combine order, comfort, and strong public services are often the envy of nearby districts.
2. be at the mercy of sb. / sth.
一眼掌握
核心含义： 任由……摆布；完全受……支配；无力掌控，只能听凭……左右
English definition： to be in a situation where someone or something has complete power over you
这个短语用来表示某人、某个群体、某种计划或某个系统，处在一种缺乏主动权的状态中，只能被更强大的力量、规则、环境或他人决定命运。
普通表达 → 地道升级
- 普通表达： Many people are controlled by market forces.
- 升级表达： Many people are at the mercy of market forces.
语境例句
Many low-income families are at the mercy of rising rents and unstable living costs.
主动回忆 · 先遮住英文，只看中文，尝试补出目标表达。
迁移输出 · 保留 be at the mercy of sb. / sth.，把主语换成你熟悉的工作、生活或社会议题，再口头说一句。
深入理解：用法、语法与易错点
用法说明
这个短语用来表示某人、某个群体、某种计划或某个系统，处在一种缺乏主动权的状态中，只能被更强大的力量、规则、环境或他人决定命运。
它在社会文化类话题中非常好用，尤其适合写：
- ordinary people being at the mercy of rising prices
- workers being at the mercy of unstable contracts
- small businesses being at the mercy of market forces
- communities being at the mercy of natural disasters
- individuals being at the mercy of technology platforms or public opinion
这个表达的语气通常偏负面，强调的是：
- 无力感
- 被动处境
- 权力不对等
- 缺乏保障或掌控权
它比普通的 be controlled by 更有画面感，也更能体现一种“身不由己”的状态。be controlled by 只是“被控制”，而 be at the mercy of 往往暗含：
- 对方或外部力量更强
- 自己几乎没有反抗余地
- 结果可能充满不确定性甚至危险
语境复现
基础句：
- Small farmers are often at the mercy of the weather.
提升句：
- Many low-income families are at the mercy of rising rents and unstable living costs.
应用句：
- In modern society, one of the quiet anxieties many people live with is the feeling of being at the mercy of forces they cannot control—markets, algorithms, temporary contracts, housing prices, and institutions whose decisions shape daily life without ever asking for consent.
对应译文
- 小农户往往只能听天由命。
- 许多低收入家庭都受制于不断上涨的房租和不稳定的生活成本。
- 在现代社会中，很多人内心深处都承受着一种安静的焦虑：他们常常觉得自己正被那些无法控制的力量所左右——市场、算法、临时合同、房价，以及那些无需征得他们同意却能塑造其日常生活的制度。
语法与搭配
这个短语通常用于以下结构：
be at the mercy of + 名词 / 名词短语
例如：
- be at the mercy of the weather
- be at the mercy of public opinion
- be at the mercy of the market
- be at the mercy of powerful institutions
常见形式：
- be at the mercy of sb. / sth.
- find oneself at the mercy of sb. / sth.
- leave sb. at the mercy of sb. / sth.
常见搭配对象：
- the weather
- the market
- inflation
- public opinion
- powerful companies
- technology platforms
- bureaucracy
- natural disasters
- landlords
- employers
说明：
- 这是固定表达，核心是 at the mercy of。
- 最常见时态是一般现在时和一般过去时：
- are at the mercy of …
- were at the mercy of …
- 这个表达常用于人、群体、项目、制度安排等处于被动局面的语境。
- 它很适合搭配那些“更大、更强、不可控”的力量。
易错提醒
- be at the mercy of 强调“无力掌控，只能被动接受”，语气比 be affected by 强得多。
- 它通常带负面意味，不适合写那种中性或正面的“依赖关系”。
- 正确结构是：
- √ be at the mercy of the weather
- √ be at the mercy of public opinion
- × be under the mercy of
- mercy 在这里不是“仁慈”的字面褒义，而是强调“命运掌握在对方手里”。
- 这个表达很适合写社会评论，因为它天然带有权力结构和无力感。
近义表达与区别
- be subject to sth.
- be vulnerable to sth.
- be in the hands of sb.
细微区别：
- be at the mercy of sb. / sth. 最强调“完全被动、任由摆布”。
- be subject to sth. 更正式，强调“受……支配/约束/影响”，但无力感较弱。
- be vulnerable to sth. 更强调“容易受到伤害或冲击”。
- be in the hands of sb. 更强调“决定权掌握在别人手里”。
更多仿写练习
请用 be at the mercy of sb. / sth. 写一句话，描述以下内容：
- 很多普通人都受制于不断上涨的生活成本
- 小企业往往只能任由市场变化摆布
- 在网络时代，个人声誉有时会完全受公众情绪左右
仿写提示：可参考以下开头
- Many ordinary people are …
- Small businesses are often …
- In the digital age, individuals may …
- Some communities remain …
查看参考答案
1. 很多普通人都受制于不断上涨的生活成本
- Many ordinary people are at the mercy of rising living costs.
- Low-income households are increasingly at the mercy of inflation and housing pressure.
2. 小企业往往只能任由市场变化摆布
- Small businesses are often at the mercy of sudden market changes.
- Independent shops can easily find themselves at the mercy of larger economic forces.
3. 在网络时代，个人声誉有时会完全受公众情绪左右
- In the digital age, individuals may find themselves at the mercy of online public opinion.
- Personal reputations are sometimes at the mercy of fast-moving emotions on social media.
3. be on / at the receiving end of sth.
一眼掌握
核心含义： 遭受……；承受……；成为……的承受对象；处于被动接受某种行为的一方，尤指不愉快的行为
English definition： to be the person that an action, etc. is directed at, especially an unpleasant one
这个短语用来表示某个人、某个群体、某个机构处在“被作用的一端”，也就是：
写作应用
这个短语 / 句型适合用于以下写作场景：
- 描述社会中谁在承受批评、压力、歧视或攻击
- 分析权力不对称下的被动处境
- 讨论网络暴力、职场压力、公共服务冲突、制度性伤害
可替换普通表达：
- suffer from sth.
- be subjected to sth.
- bear the brunt of sth.
例：
- 普通表达：Shop assistants often suffer from verbal abuse from customers.
- 升级表达：Shop assistants are often at the receiving end of verbal abuse from customers.
语境例句
In many modern institutions, those with the least power are often at the receiving end of frustration generated elsewhere, which means the people least responsible for a problem are frequently the ones who must absorb its emotional, social, or practical consequences.
主动回忆 · 先遮住英文，只看中文，尝试补出目标表达。
迁移输出 · 保留 be on / at the receiving end of sth.，把主语换成你熟悉的工作、生活或社会议题，再口头说一句。
深入理解：用法、语法与易错点
用法说明
这个短语用来表示某个人、某个群体、某个机构处在“被作用的一端”，也就是：
不是发起者，而是承受者。 而且这个“承受”通常带有不愉快色彩，比如：
- criticism
- abuse
- attacks
- pressure
- discrimination
- legal action
- violence
- blame
所以它特别适合社会文化类话题，因为很多社会分析都需要写“谁在承受后果”“谁在被动挨打”“谁在吃下压力”。
比如：
- workers at the receiving end of customer anger
- minorities on the receiving end of discrimination
- young people on the receiving end of social pressure
- small businesses at the receiving end of policy changes
- women at the receiving end of online abuse
它比普通的 suffer from 更有“动作方向感”。 也就是说，suffer from 只是“遭受”， 而 be on / at the receiving end of 更强调：
- 某种行为是别人施加出来的
- 自己是那个被指向、被打到、被承受的一方
所以它很适合写权力关系、社会冲突、舆论攻击和现实处境。
其中：
- at the receiving end of 更常见
- on the receiving end of 也很自然，现在也广泛使用
语境复现
基础句：
- Frontline workers are often at the receiving end of public anger.
提升句：
- Women in the public eye are frequently on the receiving end of harsh online criticism.
应用句：
- In many modern institutions, those with the least power are often at the receiving end of frustration generated elsewhere, which means the people least responsible for a problem are frequently the ones who must absorb its emotional, social, or practical consequences.
对应译文
- 一线工作人员经常承受公众的愤怒。
- 处在公众视野中的女性，常常成为严厉网络批评的承受对象。
- 在许多现代机构中，那些权力最小的人，往往最容易承受由别处制造出来的挫败感；这意味着，对问题最不负责的人，反而经常要吸收它带来的情绪、社会或现实后果。
语法与搭配
这个短语通常用于以下结构：
be at the receiving end of + 名词 be on the receiving end of + 名词
例如：
- be at the receiving end of criticism
- be on the receiving end of abuse
- find yourself at the receiving end of legal action
- remain on the receiving end of public pressure
常见形式：
- be at the receiving end of sth.
- be on the receiving end of sth.
- find oneself at the receiving end of sth.
- be left at the receiving end of sth.
常见搭配对象：
- criticism
- abuse
- blame
- anger
- discrimination
- violence
- pressure
- attacks
- complaints
- lawsuits
说明：
- 最常见搭配是负面名词。
- 很常见的主语包括：
- workers
- employees
- women
- children
- minorities
- small firms
- foreign companies
- ordinary citizens
- find oneself on / at the receiving end of sth. 也是很高频的外刊式写法。
易错提醒
- 这个表达通常用于不愉快的行为或后果，不太用于明显正面的东西。
- 它强调“某种行为指向了你”，比普通的 suffer from 更有方向感。
- 正确结构是：
- √ be at the receiving end of criticism
- √ be on the receiving end of abuse
- × be in the receiving end of criticism
- at the receiving end of 和 on the receiving end of 都可以，但 at 略更经典常见。
- 它非常适合写“弱势方承压”的社会分析语境。
近义表达与区别
- suffer from sth.
- be subjected to sth.
- bear the brunt of sth.
细微区别：
- be on / at the receiving end of sth. 最强调“处在被施加、被指向的一端”。
- suffer from sth. 最通用，只表示“遭受”。
- be subjected to sth. 更正式，强调“被迫承受”。
- bear the brunt of sth. 更强调“首当其冲、承受最大冲击”。
更多仿写练习
请用 be on / at the receiving end of sth. 写一句话，描述以下内容：
- 一线员工经常承受顾客的怒气
- 一些弱势群体长期遭受社会偏见
- 网络上的公众人物常常成为恶意评论的对象
仿写提示：可参考以下开头
- Frontline staff are often …
- Some vulnerable groups remain …
- Public figures on the internet are often …
- Many workers find themselves …
查看参考答案
- 一线员工经常承受顾客的怒气
- Frontline staff are often at the receiving end of customer anger.
- Many service workers find themselves on the receiving end of complaints and frustration.
- 一些弱势群体长期遭受社会偏见
- Some vulnerable groups remain at the receiving end of social prejudice.
- Minority communities are often on the receiving end of discrimination and exclusion.
- 网络上的公众人物常常成为恶意评论的对象
- Public figures online are often at the receiving end of malicious comments.
- People in the public eye frequently find themselves on the receiving end of online abuse.
本课小练习
先独立完成，不要立即查看参考答案。
- 使用 be the envy of sb. 写一个关于“城市与住房”的句子；随后换到另一个主题，再写一句。
- 使用 be at the mercy of sb. / sth. 写一个关于“城市与住房”的句子；随后换到另一个主题，再写一句。
- 使用 be on / at the receiving end of sth. 写一个关于“真实世界观察”的句子；随后换到另一个主题，再写一句。
小练习参考
- 开放答案。检查 be the envy of sb. 的结构是否完整、语境是否自然，并比较两次迁移后表达的核心含义是否保持不变。
- 开放答案。检查 be at the mercy of sb. / sth. 的结构是否完整、语境是否自然，并比较两次迁移后表达的核心含义是否保持不变。
- 开放答案。检查 be on / at the receiving end of sth. 的结构是否完整、语境是否自然，并比较两次迁移后表达的核心含义是否保持不变。
迁移写作
围绕“权力、地位与公共形象”，选择一个与你的工作、学习或社会观察有关的具体问题，写一段 80—120 词的英文。至少自然地使用本课两个表达。
写完后检查：
- 表达的含义是否准确；
- 搭配和语法是否完整；
- 正式程度是否符合语境；
- 句子之间是否形成清楚的逻辑关系。
结束本课
回到页面顶部标记“完成初学”。之后按照第 1、3、7、21 天的节奏复习。复习时优先回忆和重写，不要先重读讲解。