喜樂美語

核心畫面

You can picture expect as leaning forward toward something you're fairly sure is coming — your mind has already gone ahead and is waiting there for it to arrive. From that one leaning-forward image you get: expecting an event, expecting a person, expecting a quality, expecting a baby, and even fixed phrases that lean on what you 'already saw coming'.

可以把 expect 想成：心已經往前傾，朝著一件你相當確定會發生的事，提前在那裡等它到。整個字都從這個「提前往前等…更多收起可以把 expect 想成：心已經往前傾，朝著一件你相當確定會發生的事，提前在那裡等它到。整個字都從這個「提前往前等」的畫面長出來：等一件事發生、等一個人來、預想某樣東西會是怎樣、甚至等一個寶寶出生；連幾個固定片語，也都靠著「我早就料到了」這層意思。

From the picture

等人或東西到來

同一個「提前往前等」，只是等的不是一件事，而是一個人或一樣東西「會來、會到」：心已經在門口候著了。

expect (someone's arrival) · verb · B1

To think that someone or something will arrive soon.

等候 / 等…來

要求別人做到

當你「等」的是別人該做的事，這份等就帶了壓力：不只是預測，而是「我等著你做到」——預期裡多了一層要求。

require of someone (as a duty) · verb · B1

To want someone to do something because it is a duty or seems fair.

要求 / 期待（做到）

口語固定說法

這幾個都靠「我早就料到」這層意思活在固定句型裡，當成整塊口語片語記比較好用，不必每次都拆回原義。

what do you expect? · verb · B1

Used to say you are not surprised by something bad — in 'what do you expect?'

還能怎樣 / 意料中

Also in this word

think something will happen · verb · B1

To think that something will happen, usually because you have a good reason.

預期 / 認為會

think something will have a quality · verb · B1

To think that someone or something will have a certain quality.

以為 / 預想（是…）

原始詞典資料6 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

expectverb/ɪkˈspɛkt/

  • 1

    To predict or believe that something will happen

    • when you least expect it
    • I expect to be able to walk again after getting over my broken leg.
  • 2

    To consider obligatory or required.

    • England expects that every man will do his duty.
    • I was born and immediately thrown into a society that makes its own rules, standards, and expectations. I am expected to behave. I am expected to deliver. I am expected to live up to the contrived standards of the society.
  • 3

    To consider reasonably due.

    • My parents expected too much of me when I was in college.
    • You are expected to get the task done by the end of next week.
  • 4

    To be pregnant, to consider a baby due.

    • We are expecting our third in June.
    • “You are pregnant?” he asked with shock in his voice. “Yes, Justin, I am expecting a child,”
  • 5

    obsoleteTo wait for; to await.

    • Let's in, and there expect their coming.
    • The knight fixed his eyes on the opening with breathless anxiety, and continuing to kneel in the attitude of devotion which the place and scene required, expected the consequence of these preparations.
  • 6

    obsoleteTo wait; to stay.

    • I will 'expect until my change in death, / And answer at Thy call

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。