A taskmaster is a person who gives other people work and makes sure they do it — and the word almost always says something about how hard they push. Nine times out of ten you will meet it in the phrase 'a hard taskmaster' or 'a tough taskmaster': someone who demands a great deal, sets a high standard, and does not let you slack off.

A taskmaster is a person who gives other people work and makes sure they do it一個taskmaster是分派工作給別人、還會盯著他們完成的人 — and the word almost always says something about how hard they push而且這個字幾乎總是暗示著這個人逼得有多緊。Nine times out of ten十次有九次 you will meet it in the phrase 'a hard taskmaster' or 'a tough taskmaster'你會在'a hard taskmaster'或'a tough taskmaster'這種說法裡看到它: someone who demands a great deal, sets a high standard, and does not let you slack off指要求很多、標準很高、不讓你偷懶的人。

The tone is interesting, because it is not simply an insult. Calling your old teacher a hard taskmaster can be a kind of respect — she worked us to the bone, and look what we learned. Calling your boss one is usually a complaint.

The tone is interesting口氣其實蠻有意思, because it is not simply an insult因為它不完全是罵人的話。Calling your old teacher a hard taskmaster把你以前的老師叫做hard taskmaster can be a kind of respect可以是一種尊敬 — she worked us to the bone, and look what we learned她把我們操得很兇，但你看我們學到了什麼。Calling your boss one把你老闆這樣叫 is usually a complaint通常是在抱怨。

The word is slightly old-fashioned and formal-sounding, which is part of why it survives in that fixed phrase rather than as an everyday job title; nobody's business card says 'taskmaster'.

The word is slightly old-fashioned and formal-sounding這個字聽起來有點老派、正式, which is part of why it survives in that fixed phrase rather than as an everyday job title這也是為什麼它只活在這個固定說法裡，而不是日常的職稱; nobody's business card says 'taskmaster'沒有人的名片上會印'taskmaster'。

It stretches nicely, too: English speakers use it for things that are not people at all. 'The sea is a hard taskmaster.' 'Time is a cruel taskmaster.' The idea is that the thing sets demands you cannot argue with.

It stretches nicely, too這個字也延伸得很自然: English speakers use it for things that are not people at all英文使用者也會拿它來講不是人的東西。'The sea is a hard taskmaster.''大海是個嚴苛的taskmaster'。'Time is a cruel taskmaster.''時間是個殘酷的taskmaster'。The idea is that the thing sets demands you cannot argue with意思是這個東西訂下的要求你沒得商量。

Note the definition given here is written as a verb — 'to force people to work very hard' — but the word itself is a noun. It names the person who does that forcing.

Note要注意 the definition given here is written as a verb這裡給的定義是用動詞寫的 — 'to force people to work very hard''逼人拚命工作' — but the word itself is a noun但這個字本身是名詞。It names the person who does that forcing它指的是做那種逼迫的人。

Behind it sits a much older and darker use, for the overseer who drove slaves at their work, which is why the word still carries a faint sense of no choice in the matter.

Behind it sits a much older and darker use這個字背後還有一個更古老、更黑暗的用法, for the overseer who drove slaves at their work指驅使奴隸做工的監工, which is why the word still carries a faint sense of no choice in the matter這也是為什麼這個字至今還帶著一絲「沒有選擇餘地」的味道。