# Undermine

**URL:** <https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303>\
**Category:** 英语词汇\
**Tags:** time1000\
**Created:** [November 18, 2021, 8:35am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303 "2021-11-18T08:35:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 8:35am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/1 "2021-11-18T08:35:27Z")

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词性：v.  
音标：[ˌʌndərˈmaɪn]  
释义：在某物下挖洞或挖通道；侵蚀…的基础，从根基处波坏，挖…的墙角，逐渐削弱.

To _undermine_ literally means to dig a hole underneath something, making it likely to collapse. But we more often use the word to describe sabotage or the act of weakening someone else’s efforts.

Originally spelled with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’, _undermine_ has Germanic roots and means “to weaken, hinder, or impair.” Accidentally undermine the foundation of a house by digging a tunnel to China beneath it and you might be forgiven. Undermine your teacher’s authority by speaking out of turn and throwing spitballs and odds are you’ll get in trouble.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 8:40am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/2 "2021-11-18T08:40:07Z")

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To undermine my authority?

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 8:47am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/3 "2021-11-18T08:47:41Z")

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You… don’t you fucking ever… fucking ever, ever undermine me again in front of my fucking troops.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 8:48am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/4 "2021-11-18T08:48:27Z")

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They’re trying to undermine everything we’ve achieved over the last nineteen years.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 8:50am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/5 "2021-11-18T08:50:53Z")

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I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining our constitution and our freedom.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:16am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/6 "2024-05-30T10:16:22Z")

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@Chatbot 你是一个英语教学的大师，你会用通俗易懂的方式给学生讲解各类英语知识，现在请你给我解释下上面帖子中我着重讲解的单词，介绍下这些单词在正式文书和口语中的各类含义，各举几个地道，自然的例子。介绍下这些单词的来历，以及我如何才能记住这些单词呢？

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**Author:** ![Chatbot](https://eijil.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Chatbot](https://eijil.com/u/Chatbot)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:16am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/undermine/303/7 "2024-05-30T10:16:47Z")

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@Tristan, 当然可以让我帮助你讲解这个词“undermine”。

### 词义解释

**Undermine** 是动词，音标为 [ˌʌndərˈmaɪn]。这个词有以下主要含义：

1. **在某物下挖掘，侵蚀基础** ：比如在地基下挖洞，使其可能倒塌。
2. **逐渐削弱、暗中破坏** ：这是更常见的用法，指通过暗中活动或间接手段削弱某个人的努力、权力或地位。

### 正式文书中的含义与用法

在正式文书和正式场合中， **undermine** 通常表示通过不直接的方式逐渐削弱某事或某人的影响力、权威。例如：

- **In politics** : “The recent scandal has significantly undermined the government’s credibility.”
- **In business** : “Constant negative feedback can undermine employees’ morale.”

### 口语中的含义与用法

在日常口语中， **undermine** 也频繁使用，通常用于描述破坏信任或权威。

- **In a relationship** : “Spreading rumors is a way to undermine someone’s reputation.”
- **In a team** : “Don’t undermine my authority in front of the team.”

### 自然的例子

- **正式文书** : “His constant criticism aimed to undermine the director’s leadership.”
- **口语** : “He tried to undermine his colleague by badmouthing him to the boss.”

### 词源及记忆方法

“ **Undermine** ”原来拼写为“undermyne”，具有德语词根，意为“削弱、妨碍”。这个词的直观形象就是在某个建筑物下挖洞，使其基础逐渐被侵蚀，从而变得不稳固、容易倒塌。

### 如何记住这个词

1. **联想记忆** : 想象一个矿工（miner）在建筑物下面（under）挖掘（mine），试图破坏建筑的基础。这样结合“under”和“mine”即“挖掘”的动作，很容易记住“undermine”的意思。
2. **造句练习** : 多尝试自己造句，将“undermine”运用在不同的情境中。
3. **关联其他词汇** : 将“undermine”和其他类似的词汇如“weaken”、“erode”、“sabotage”进行比较和联想。

通过这些方式，你应该能够较为轻松地掌握并记住“undermine”的各种用法和含义。如果你有任何其他问题或需要更多例子，随时告诉我！