自现象级英语
ERODE
1. 英英释义：to gradually reduce something such as someone's power or confidence
例句：Our privacy is being gradually eroded today. The more convenience we enjoy, the less privacy we have.
2. 为什么选这个词？
“erode”可以作及物动词也可以作不及物动词，本义是“侵蚀、腐蚀”，经常引申为“削弱”。erode 后面经常接抽象概念，比如 erode power/confidence/freedom/sympathy/support/trust/privacy。
当我们想表达“自信心受损”、“力量被削弱”、“信任受损”、“隐私减少”等时，就可以用 erode 来替换 diminish/decrease/destroy 等词，实现表达的多样性。下面通过几个例子来掌握这个词。
在军训期间，学生的自由得到了很大的限制，就可以说：
During military training, students' freedom is greatly eroded.
在科技越来越发达的今天，我们的隐私在不断被蚕食，就可以说：
Our privacy is being gradually eroded today. The more convenience we enjoy, the less privacy we have.
《经济学人》一篇关于科技对美国人生活的影响的文章中就出现了 erode：
Many felt men’s social skills had been especially eroded by over-reliance on technology.（这里搭配的是 social skills）
《经济学人》一篇关于泰国政治的文章中也出现了 erode：
That provides an easy way to erode Pheu Thai’s alliance.（这里搭配的是 alliance）
另一篇关于法国政治的《经济学人》文章中也出现了 erode：
And recent rioting in Paris, particularly violent on March 16th, has eroded public sympathy. Support for the gilets jaunes fell from 72% in December to 46% in March.（这里搭配的是 sympathy，意思是大众不像之前那样同情黄背心了）
3. 怎样学会使用这个词？
1）翻译下面的句子：
John 这次考试没及格，自信心非常受损。 (考试不及格fail one's exam, 伤自信 eode one's confidence)
John failed his exam, greatly eroding his confidence. 或 That John failed his exam greatly eroded his confidence.
造句：
例1：The movie is cliché-ridden and full of plot holes. That helps explain why its box office gross is eroding. 票房不佳的原因
例2：It is feared that the ill-conceived, ill-executed attempt may erode public trust. 公众信赖度
例3：In the wake of his drug scandal, the star's popularity eroded. 明星与丑闻
个人拓展
搭配：erode power/confidence/freedom/sympathy/support/trust/privacy
erode profits/ margins/ value
背诵
erode, diminish, decrease, destroy
Our privacy is being gradually eroded today. The more convenience we enjoy, the less privacy we have.
Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits.
The value of your savings can be eroded by inflation.
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