When you espouse an idea, you take it as yours and stand behind it in public — especially a political, moral, or social belief.

When you espouse an idea當你espouse一個想法時 you take it as yours你就把它當作自己的 and stand behind it in public並公開支持它 especially a political, moral, or social belief尤其是政治、道德或社會方面的信念

The word is fairly formal. Newspapers and speeches use it; friends at a night market almost never do.

The word is fairly formal這個字算蠻正式的 Newspapers and speeches use it報紙和演講會用它 friends at a night market夜市裡的朋友 almost never do幾乎不會這樣說

A party may espouse free trade; a writer may espouse a cause. You can espouse something without living it perfectly every day: the word is about what you claim and support, not a score of your private life.

A party may espouse free trade政黨可能espouse自由貿易 a writer may espouse a cause作家可能espouse某個理念 You can espouse something你可以espouse一件事 without living it perfectly every day卻不是每天都完美實踐它 the word is about what you claim and support這個字談的是你所主張、支持的東西 not a score of your private life不是在給你的私生活打分數

Though actually, it began as a marriage word. To espouse someone was to take them as a husband or wife. That older sense is rare now, and it can sound dated or legal, but it still sits under the modern one — you are, in a way, marrying the idea.

Though actually不過其實 it began as a marriage word這個字一開始是跟婚姻有關的詞 To espouse someone espouse某人 was to take them as a husband or wife意思是娶她或嫁給他 That older sense這個較舊的意思 is rare now現在很少用 and it can sound dated or legal而且聽起來有點過時或法律味 but it still sits under the modern one不過它仍然藏在現代意思底下 you are, in a way, marrying the idea可以說某種程度上是在跟這個想法「結婚」