美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)：872 have a soft spot for

周末朋友從外地來(lái)華盛頓玩，我陪他們?nèi)⒓右蝗沼?。那個(gè)可憐的導(dǎo)游，一看就是新手，被七嘴八舌的游客問(wèn)得難以招架。我年輕的時(shí)候也當(dāng)過(guò)導(dǎo)游，所以感同身受，深知她的苦衷。

這也讓我想起一個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)可以跟大家分享。那就是：have a soft spot for. To have a soft spot for something or someone, 意思是因?yàn)橄矏?，所以?duì)某個(gè)人或是某件事心軟。

比如說(shuō)，Grandpa has a soft spot for Jimmy, his first grandson. 爺爺偏愛長(zhǎng)孫Jimmy. 在剛才的例子中，正因?yàn)槲乙郧白鲞^(guò)導(dǎo)游，所以很能理解那個(gè)年輕導(dǎo)游的感受，you have a soft spot for tour guides.

下面例子中的這個(gè)人談到了自己一個(gè)表面冷酷無(wú)情、其實(shí)內(nèi)心善良的叔叔。讓我們聽聽他是怎么說(shuō)的。

例句-1：Uncle Phil has a reputation as a tough guy who's unfeeling. But what most people don't know is that he can be quite caring. He's donated a lot of time and money to charities that help those less fortunate than him. Clearly, he has a soft spot for the underprivileged.

這個(gè)人說(shuō)：菲爾叔叔一直以冷酷無(wú)情的硬漢形象著稱。可是，大多數(shù)人并不了解的是，他是一個(gè)很關(guān)心別人的人。他向一些慈善機(jī)構(gòu)捐贈(zèng)了很多時(shí)間和金錢，幫助那些不如他幸運(yùn)的人。顯然，他很同情那些弱勢(shì)人群。

這也讓我想起2009年剛?cè)ナ赖拿绹?guó)政治家泰德.肯尼迪。他是美國(guó)前總統(tǒng)約翰.肯尼迪的弟弟，在國(guó)會(huì)參議院當(dāng)了46年參議員。雖然他生長(zhǎng)在一個(gè)富有的政治世家，Ted Kennedy had a soft spot for people who didn't grow up with the advantages he had. 泰德.肯尼迪對(duì)生長(zhǎng)環(huán)境不如他優(yōu)越的人格外關(guān)心。他將自己畢生的精力用于爭(zhēng)取民權(quán)、消費(fèi)者利益和醫(yī)療保健。

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美國(guó)人非常關(guān)心動(dòng)物。在下面的例子中，一位婦女開辦了一個(gè)服務(wù)中心，為狗尋找溫暖的家。讓我們聽聽她先生是怎么說(shuō)的。

例句-2：My wife started an adoption service for dogs. What started out with finding a home for one unwanted puppy became a full-time occupation. Thanks to her, over 200 dogs have been rescued. She could have chosen a job that's easier and higher paying. But she has a soft spot for dogs in need. It's very fulfilling.

他說(shuō)：我太太辦了一個(gè)狗收養(yǎng)中心。最初只是要給一只沒人要的小狗找個(gè)家，后來(lái)居然變成了全職工作。在她的幫助下，已經(jīng)有兩百多只狗被救。她本可以選擇一個(gè)更容易做、工資更高的工作，但是她看見那些需要幫助的狗就會(huì)心軟。這份工作讓她很充實(shí)。

我一直想去動(dòng)物收容所做義工，可我老公不同意，因?yàn)樗?，I have a soft spot for kittens. 我特別喜歡小貓咪，一定會(huì)帶一堆回家。不過(guò)，如果我女兒提出養(yǎng)貓，那就另當(dāng)別論了。Doug你知道為什么嗎? Your husband has always had a soft spot for your daughter. 你說(shuō)得太對(duì)了。我老公特別疼愛女兒，對(duì)她百依百順。