Putty in one’s hands

Putty in one’s hands 意為「任由某人擺佈;易受某人擺佈或影響」。這個慣用語可用作隱喻 (metaphor) 而寫成或說成 be putty in one’s hands,如 My brother is putty in my hands. (我弟弟易受我的影響),或者用作明喻 (simile) 而寫成或說成 be/seem like putty in one’s hands,如 She seems like putty in his hands. (她似乎任由他擺佈)。

Putty in one’s hands 的隱喻用法首次出現在 1924 年,但它的使用量在 20 世紀末大幅增加。這個慣用語中的 putty 意為「油灰」,是白堊粉和亞麻籽油的混合物,最常用來密封窗玻璃。

例句:

  • Cindy’s husband is putty in her hands. He never thinks for himself. (辛蒂的先生任由她擺佈。他從來不會自己拿主意)
  • John is putty in his father’s hands. He always does exactly what his father says. (約翰任由他父親擺佈。他向來都是他父親說什麼,他就做什麼)
  • We were rather in awe of him — we were like putty in his hands. (我們對他非常敬畏 - 我們任由他擺佈)
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