insinuate
/ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈsin-yə-ˌwāt -yü-ˌāt/ (ame, mw)
insinuate — 動詞
- insinuatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- insinuateshe / she / it
- insinuatedpast simple
- insinuating-ing form
1. to communicate an idea indirectly, in a way that makes people think something ne
影射
不直接說出，但讓人聯想到負面的事
to communicate an idea indirectly, in a way that makes people think something negative or harmful is true
Siti didn't accuse me directly, but her tone clearly insinuated that I had lied.
Siti 沒有直接指責我，但她說話的語氣清楚影射我撒了謊。
insinuate + that-clause
The newspaper article insinuated that the governor had taken bribes from contractors.
報紙文章影射州長收受了承包商的賄賂。
media context: insinuate + that-clause
Are you trying to insinuate that I broke the vase on purpose?
你是在影射我故意打破花瓶嗎？
Kwame felt insulted when his teammate insinuated he wasn't trying hard enough.
Kwame 覺得被侮辱了，因為隊友影射他不夠努力。
The rival company's advert insinuated that Nalini's products were unsafe for children.
競爭對手的廣告影射 Nalini 的產品對兒童不安全。
- imply
more neutral and broader — can be used for positive, negative, or neutral indirect meanings
- hint
informal; often used for small, personal suggestions rather than serious accusations
- suggest
neutral and general; lacks the negative charge of insinuate
- intimate
formal, often used in writing or official speech
文法句型
insinuate + that-clause
insinuate + clause
用法筆記
The negative implication is always indirect — the speaker never states the accusation openly. Distinguish from sense 2 and 3, which describe physical or social positioning rather than communication.
常見錯誤
2. to cleverly gain someone's trust or a position of advantage, often by hiding you
巧妙鑽營
以巧妙手段取得他人信任或地位
to cleverly gain someone's trust or a position of advantage, often by hiding your true intentions
Dmitri insinuated himself into the director's inner circle within six months.
Dmitri 在六個月內就鑽營進入了總監的核心圈子。
insinuate oneself into + group
Yara slowly insinuated herself into the family's trust by running small errands.
Yara 透過幫忙跑腿，慢慢鑽營，取得了那家人的信任。
insinuate oneself into + someone's trust
The new assistant insinuated himself into every important meeting without an invitation.
那位新助理在沒有受邀的情況下，設法鑽營進入了每一場重要會議。
Oluwaseun had insinuated himself so cleverly that the board saw him as essential.
Oluwaseun 巧妙鑽營得如此高明，以至於董事會認為他不可或缺。
Ingrid tried to insinuate herself into the professor's confidence by praising his research.
Ingrid 試圖藉由讚美教授的研究，來鑽營取得教授的信任。
- ingratiate
emphasises flattery and pleasing behaviour to win favour
- worm
informal and more openly negative; suggests sneaky, writhing progress
- infiltrate
often used for entering organisations secretly, especially in espionage contexts
文法句型
insinuate oneself into + group/position
用法筆記
Almost always used reflexively: insinuate oneself into [position/group/favour]. The subject acts deliberately and the action has a calculated, often manipulative quality. Distinguish from sense 1 (communication) and sense 3 (physical movement).
常見錯誤
3. to move your body or one of its limbs slowly and carefully into a narrow or part
緩慢擠入
將身體或肢體慢慢移入狹小空間
to move your body or one of its limbs slowly and carefully into a narrow or particular space
The cat insinuated itself through the narrow gap in the garden fence.
那隻貓從花園圍籬的狹窄縫隙緩慢擠了進去。
insinuate + reflexive for animals / physical movement
Tariq insinuated his hand into the crowded cookie jar before anyone noticed.
Tariq 趁沒人注意時，把手緩慢擠入了塞滿餅乾的罐子裡。
insinuate + body part into + container
Fatima slowly insinuated her way through the dense crowd to reach the stage.
Fatima 緩慢擠過擁擠的人群，到達了舞台。
The ivy insinuated its tendrils into every crack of the old stone wall.
常春藤的捲鬚緩慢擠入了舊石牆的每一道裂縫。
Amina insinuated her arm under the heavy bookshelf to retrieve her glasses.
Amina 將手臂緩慢擠入沉重的書架底下，去撿她的眼鏡。
文法句型
insinuate oneself/one's body part + into/through + space
用法筆記
Used reflexively or with a body part. Often followed by 'into' or 'through'. Unlike sense 2, this describes physical movement, not social positioning. Can be used with inanimate subjects (vines, roots, water).