insinuate
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？
insinuate in question form
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。
insinuate + clause (without 'that')
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。
commercial context: insinuate negative competitor claims
- insinuate that…
- insinuate something about someone
- insinuate wrongdoing
- insinuate guilt
- 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。
insinuate oneself into + event/place
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。
insinuate + reflexive with result clause
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。
insinuate oneself into + someone's confidence
- insinuate oneself into someone's trust
- insinuate oneself into someone's confidence
- insinuate oneself into a group
- insinuate oneself into a position of power
- 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。
insinuate one's way through + crowd
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。
insinuate + inanimate subject (plant)
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。
insinuate + body part under + object
- insinuate one's way into/through
- insinuate a hand into
- insinuate an arm under/into
- insinuate fingers into
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).
常見錯誤
同根字
- insinuation名詞C1
- insinuating形容詞C1
- insinuatingly副詞C2
常見搭配
副詞搭配
- subtly insinuate
- gradually insinuate
- cleverly insinuate
- slowly insinuate
常用片語
- insinuate oneself
介系詞搭配
- insinuate into
- insinuate through