1. plug something on TV 做電視廣告
I have a contract for two million dollars a year to plug these shoes on TV. They've already filmed three plugs and you'll see the first plug next week - I think you'll like it.
我有一份耗資兩百萬美元為這些鞋子作一年電視廣告的合約。他們已經(jīng)拍了三個廣告片。下星期你將會看到第一個。我想你會喜歡的。
例句里提到 to plug these shoes,這里plug是動詞,就是“做廣告宣傳”。后面提到的 three plugs和the first plug,這里plug成了名詞了,意思就是“廣告”。
2. plug away 堅持不懈,努力完成某項工作
I started my novel five years ago. It's been hard to find the time with all my other work, but I've kept plugging away every weekend and yesterday I started the last chapter.
我五年前開始動筆寫這部小說。但是因為平時還得忙于其它事務,所以很難擠出時間來寫作。不過,我每個周末都堅持創(chuàng)作,昨天已經(jīng)開始進入最后一章的寫作了。
這里的plugging away every weekend就是每個周末都埋頭苦干的意思。五年來一直如此。這樣說來習慣用語plug away意思就是堅持不懈、排除障礙,努力完成一件困難的工作。
3. plug in 和權貴關系密切并熟知內(nèi)情
See that tall man who just walked in. He's a good news source: he's a lawyer who's plugged in to the leaders of both political parties and is really in touch with what's going on.
看見那剛進來的高個子先生吧,他可是寶貴的消息來源。他是律師,和兩黨的頭面人物都關系密切,所以確實熟知政界內(nèi)情。
我們都知道plug通??梢灾鸽娋€插頭,動詞詞組plug in意思一定是“插進插頭”。電器一插上了插頭就接通了電源,也就能發(fā)揮作用了。然而plug in常常隱含更深的意思,可以轉(zhuǎn)用來說人,多用be plugged in to的形式出現(xiàn),表示“和權貴/高層關系密切并熟知內(nèi)情”。