co-opt
/ˌkəʊ ˈɒpt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkəʊ ˈɑːpt/ (ame, ipa) · /kō-ˈäpt/ (ame, mw)
co-opt — 動詞
- co-optpresent simple I / you / we / they
- co-optshe / she / it
- co-optedpast simple
- co-opting-ing form
1. When an elected group such as a board or committee adds a new member by a vote o
增補為成員
現任成員投票增補新成員
When an elected group such as a board or committee adds a new member by a vote of the existing members rather than by a fresh public election.
The school board co-opted Noor onto the finance subcommittee last Thursday.
上週四，校董會增補 Noor 為財務小組委員會的成員。
pattern: co-opt + person + onto + subcommittee
Members voted to co-opt Vinícius as a temporary trustee until the spring election.
成員們投票增補 Vinícius 為臨時理事，任期到春季改選為止。
passive-adjacent: voted to co-opt + person + as + role
Three retired teachers were co-opted onto the parents' council to fill the empty seats.
三位退休教師被增補進家長委員會，以填補空缺席次。
After two resignations, the committee co-opted Beatrix to balance the regional representation.
在兩人辭職後，委員會增補了 Beatrix，以平衡各地區的代表性。
The village hall trustees co-opted a local lawyer for her expertise in charity law.
村會堂的理事們增補了一位當地律師，看中她在公益法方面的專業。
- elect
implies a wider public or membership vote rather than a vote of sitting members
文法句型
co-opt + somebody + onto/into + group
用法筆記
Frequently passive ('was co-opted onto'). Subject is typically a committee, board, council, or other elected body; the new member is added without a fresh public ballot.
常見錯誤
2. To pull a person, group, or movement inside a larger cause so that their voice s
收編；吸納
把對手或運動拉進己方以化解反對
To pull a person, group, or movement inside a larger cause so that their voice serves that cause — usually quietly, and sometimes against their own preference. Often used of political parties that absorb activists or critics to silence them.
The ruling party tried to co-opt Samir's grassroots campaign by offering him a cabinet seat.
執政黨企圖收編 Samir 的基層運動，提議讓他入閣。
co-opt + movement + by + offering inducement
Many activists felt the union had been co-opted by management after the new bonus deal.
新獎金方案出爐後，許多基層認為工會已經被資方收編了。
passive: be co-opted by + opposing party
Critics warned that the foundation was being co-opted to defend the very industry it once opposed.
批評者警告，這個基金會正在被收編，反而要替它過去抨擊的產業辯護。
The protest movement refused to be co-opted into the mayor's re-election strategy.
這場抗議運動拒絕被收編進市長的連任策略裡。
- absorb
neutral on motive; co-opt implies the absorbing party gains and the absorbed party loses independence
- neutralise
stresses the outcome (the opposition no longer fights); co-opt stresses the method (bringing them inside)
文法句型
co-opt + somebody + into + movement/cause
用法筆記
Frequently passive; subject is usually a movement, group, cause, or voice, and the agent (the co-opter) is a more powerful body trying to neutralise opposition. Distinguish from sense 1: there is no formal vote here — the absorption is strategic, not procedural.
常見錯誤
3. When somebody takes an idea, image, style, or object that began with another per
挪用；佔用
把他人的點子或符號拿來為己所用
When somebody takes an idea, image, style, or object that began with another person or group, and repurposes it to serve their own goals — for example, a brand turning a street-art motif into a logo, or a politician borrowing a protest slogan to win votes.
Fast-fashion brands have co-opted designs that originated in small Mexican weaving villages.
快時尚品牌挪用了源自墨西哥小型編織村落的設計。
co-opt + cultural product + that originated in + community
The advertising agency co-opted the green-square symbol from a grassroots climate campaign.
這家廣告公司把一個基層氣候運動的綠色方塊符號挪為己用。
co-opt + symbol + from + original group
Christopher accused his manager of co-opting the report's main idea without giving him any credit.
Christopher 指控主管挪用了那份報告的核心構想，卻完全不給他任何功勞。
Local councils have co-opted the empty bank as a free workspace for young start-ups.
地方議會把那間閒置的銀行挪用為年輕新創的免費工作空間。
The film studio was accused of co-opting Joon's short story for its blockbuster script.
這家電影公司被指控挪用 Joon 的短篇小說來寫他們的賣座劇本。
- appropriate
near-synonym; appropriate is often the preferred verb when the taking is cultural
- hijack
stronger and clearly hostile; co-opt can be polite or commercial
- credit
the opposite move: name and reward the original source
文法句型
co-opt + something + for + new purpose
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 takes a person or movement; sense 3 takes an idea, image, or object. Often carries a negative tone — the original owner usually gets no credit and no payment.
常見錯誤
4. When a person already in charge picks somebody to help them in a role, doing it
逕行指派
握有職權者未經正式程序就任命某人協助
When a person already in charge picks somebody to help them in a role, doing it on their own authority instead of running an open competition or proper election.
The senior surgeon co-opted Eleni as her assistant for the long Friday operation.
資深外科醫師逕行指派 Eleni 擔任她週五那場長時間手術的助手。
co-opt + person + as + assistant
Without waiting for the panel, the director co-opted Zola to draft the museum's new policy.
館長沒等委員會開會，就逕行指派 Zola 來草擬博物館的新政策。
without waiting for + body + co-opt + person + to + task
The chief inspector co-opted two off-duty officers to guard the crime scene overnight.
總督察逕行指派兩名下班的警員通宵看守犯罪現場。
The festival organiser co-opted Élise as a last-minute interpreter when the booked one failed to arrive.
原本預約的口譯員沒到場，藝術節主辦人臨時逕行指派 Élise 接手。
文法句型
co-opt + somebody + as + assistant/colleague
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 needs an elected body voting in a new member; sense 4 is one person in authority drafting someone in as helper or colleague — no vote, no group decision. Less common than sense 1 in current usage.