Tantamount says two things are not the same, but come to the same thing. It appears in one fixed shape — X is tantamount to Y — and almost always when Y is bad: "Saying nothing was tantamount to agreeing", "Such a cut would be tantamount to closing the hospital". The speaker is arguing, not describing: they are saying that whatever you call your action, this is what it really amounts to.

Tantamount這個字 says兩件事 two things are not the same本身不一樣 but但 come to the same thing結果卻等於同一件事。It appears in one fixed shape它固定用一種句型 X is tantamount to YX is tantamount to Y and而且 almost always when Y is bad幾乎都是Y是壞事的時候 : "Saying nothing was tantamount to agreeing"「什麼都不說，等於默許」 "Such a cut would be tantamount to closing the hospital"「這樣的刪減無異於把醫院關掉」。The speaker is arguing, not describing說話者是在論證，不是在客觀描述 they are saying意思是 that whatever you call your action不管你把自己的行為叫做什麼 this is what it really amounts to實際上等於這樣。

So you meet it in newspapers, courtrooms, editorials, and formal complaints, rarely in conversation.

So you meet it所以你會在 in newspapers, courtrooms, editorials, and formal complaints報紙、法庭、社論、正式申訴裡碰到這個字 rarely in conversation口語中很少用。

Grammar note that catches learners: it is an adjective, but it never sits before a noun. You cannot say "a tantamount decision". It goes after be, seem, or amount, and it must bring to with it.

Grammar note that catches learners有個文法點常讓學習者出錯 it is an adjective它是形容詞 but但 it never sits before a noun卻從不放在名詞前面。You cannot say你不能說 "a tantamount decision"「a tantamount decision」。It goes after它要放在 be, seem, or amountbe、seem、或amount之後 and而且 it must bring to with it一定要帶著to。

Very close in meaning to "as good as" and "amounts to", which are what people say out loud instead.

Very close in meaning意思很接近 to "as good as" and "amounts to"「as good as」和「amounts to」 which are what people say out loud instead這兩個才是大家口語真正會說的話。