一、核心语义和经典例句解析
“Get off on the wrong foot” 是英语中描述“(关系、活动等)一开始就不顺利、开局糟糕、出师不利、给人第一印象不好等”的经典习语,有时暗含“初始阶段出现误解、矛盾或失误,影响后续发展”的意味。例:
We got off on the wrong foot when I forgot her name on our first meeting.
第一次见面我就忘了她的名字,我们的关系一开始就不顺。
Tom got off on the wrong foot by being late on his first day in the company.
汤姆上班第一天因为迟到,留下了不好的印象。
The new manager got off on the wrong foot by criticizing everyone on her first day.
新经理第一天就批评了所有人,开局很糟糕。
They got off on the wrong foot, but now they’re good friends.
他们一开始关系不好,但现在成了好朋友。
解析:突出“开局不顺但后续可能改善”,暗含转折可能性。
If you get off on the wrong foot with someone, you start your relationship badly.
例句:
I got off on the wrong foot with my neighbor by accidentally breaking his fence.
我不小心弄坏了邻居的栅栏,和他一开始就处得不好。
The project got off on the wrong foot when the budget was cut unexpectedly.
预算突然被削减,项目一开始就不顺利。
She got off on the wrong foot with her in-laws by arriving late to the family dinner.
她第一次参加家庭聚餐就迟到了,和公婆的关系开局很糟。
The team got off on the wrong foot in the first quarter of the game.
球队在比赛第一节就开局不利。
The research collaboration got off on the wrong foot due to miscommunication.
由于沟通不畅,这项研究合作一开始就不顺利。
We got off on the wrong foot when he spilled coffee on my dress during our first date.
第一次约会时他把咖啡洒在了我的裙子上,我们的开局很糟糕。
They got off on the wrong foot as a married couple—arguing over how to decorate their apartment on their first day together.
他们刚结婚就开局不顺——第一天就为公寓装修的事吵了起来。
I got off on the wrong foot with Lisa by laughing at her joke that wasn’t meant to be funny.
我把莉萨一本正经的话当成笑话笑了,和她一开始就处得不好。
The new intern got off on the wrong foot with the team by questioning their work methods on her first day.
新来的实习生第一天就质疑团队的工作方法,和大家一开始就合不来。
Ross and I got off on the wrong foot when he tried to fix my sink and flooded the kitchen. 老友记》(Friends)
罗斯想帮我修水槽,结果把厨房淹了,我和他一开始就处得不好。
解析:剧中莫妮卡回忆与罗斯的初次矛盾,用该短语体现“好心办坏事”导致的开局不顺,翻译时需保留轻松的调侃语气。
I got off on the wrong foot with Claire’s dad—he caught me trying to sneak into her room in high school. 《摩登家庭》(Modern Family)
我和克莱尔爸爸一开始就不对付——高中时他撞见我想偷偷溜进她房间。
解析:描述恋爱中与伴侣家长的糟糕初遇,暗含青春期的尴尬与后续关系的张力,翻译需体现回忆中的无奈。
二、近五年考试题目解析
该短语在英语考试中多以“短语辨析”“语境理解”形式出现,以下为典型例题解析:
1. 完形填空(2024年全国高考英语乙卷)
We ______ on the wrong foot when I refused to accept his help, but later we became close friends.
A. got off B. took off C. put off D. set off
答案:A
解析:本题考查固定短语搭配。“get off on the wrong foot”为习语,意为“开局不顺”,其他选项无此含义。句意:我一开始拒绝了他的帮助,我们关系开局很糟,但后来成了好朋友。
2. 阅读理解(2022年托福阅读真题)
What does "got off on the wrong foot" mean in the context of the passage?
A. Started with a success
B. Began in a problematic way
C. Ended with a failure
D. Developed gradually
答案:B
解析:原文描述两个合作方因合同细节争议导致初期合作不畅,结合短语核心含义“开局有问题”,可知答案为B。
3. 写作应用(2023年雅思写作Task 2)
提示:讨论“如何改善与新邻居的关系”,可使用“get off on the wrong foot”描述负面开端。
参考例句:
Many people get off on the wrong foot with new neighbors due to misunderstandings, but a simple apology or greeting can often fix the situation.
(很多人因误解与新邻居开局不顺,但一句简单的道歉或问候往往能改善局面。)
解析:写作中用该短语引出“负面开局”,再提出解决方案,逻辑清晰且贴合语境。
三、用法总结与语境注意事项
1. 核心语义:强调“初始阶段的不顺利”,可用于人际关系、工作、活动等多场景,暗含“有改善可能”的潜台词。
2. 搭配特点:常与“with sb”(描述人际关系)或“in sth”(描述活动、项目)搭配,如“get off on the wrong foot with a colleague”(和同事开局不顺)、“get off on the wrong foot in a project”(项目开局不利)。
3. 情感色彩:中性偏负面,仅描述“开局状态”,不直接评判结果,后续可接转折(如“but later improved”)。
4. 同义替换:可与“start off badly”“begin on a bad note”互换,但“get off on the wrong foot”更具口语化和形象感。
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