speak S1 W1 / spik / 动词 ( past tense spoke / spəʊk $ spoʊk / , past participle spoken / spəʊkən $ spoʊ- / )
1 in conversation [ intransitive always + 副词 / 介词 ] to talk to someone about something
speak to
I spoke to her last Wednesday.
‘Hello, may I speak to Jim Smith?’ ‘Yes, speaking’ (= used on the telephone ) .
I know her by sight, but not to speak to (= not well enough to talk to her ) .
speak to somebody about something
I haven’t spoken to Steve about all this.
speak with especially American English :
They did not want to speak with reporters.
speak of
It was the first time she had ever spoken of marriage.
2 say words [不及物动词] to use your voice to produce words :
I was so shocked I couldn’t speak.
He spoke very softly (= quietly ) .
3 language [及物动词，不用于进行时] to be able to talk in a particular language :
Do you speak English?
I don’t speak a word of French (= do not speak any French at all ) .
can/can’t speak something
Several children in the class can’t speak English.
French-speaking/Italian-speaking etc
a German-speaking secretary
4 formal speech [不及物动词] to make a formal speech
speak at
Jones spoke at the teachers’ annual convention.
speak to
She asked me to speak to her students about my work in marketing.
speak in favour of/against
Only one MP spoke against the bill. → speaker ( 1 )
5 express ideas/opinions [ intransitive always + 副词 / 介词 ] to say something that expresses your ideas or opinions
speak as a parent/teacher/democrat etc
He emphasized that he was speaking as a private citizen, not in any official capacity.
speak well/highly/ill of somebody (= say good or bad things about someone )
Her co-workers spoke highly of her.
It’s wrong to speak ill of the dead.
strictly/generally/roughly speaking (= used when expressing an idea that you think is exactly true, generally true etc )
Strictly speaking, it’s my money, not yours. I earned it.
6 so to speak used when you are saying something in words that do not have their usual meaning :
We have to pull down the barriers, so to speak, of poverty.
7 speak your mind to tell people exactly what you think, even if it offends them :
He was a tough politician who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.
8 be not speaking/not be on speaking terms if two people are not speaking, they do not talk to each other, usually because they have argued :
He was not on speaking terms with his brother or sisters.
9 speak volumes (about/for something) if something speaks volumes, it clearly shows the nature of something or the feelings of a person :
What you wear speaks volumes about you.
10 speak with one voice if a group of people speak with one voice, they all express the same opinion :
On this issue, the 12 organizations spoke with one voice.
11 speak the same language if two people or groups speak the same language, they have similar attitudes and opinions
12 speak out of turn to say something when you do not have the right or authority to say it
→ actions speak louder than words at action 1 ( 13 ) , → the facts speak for themselves at fact ( 8 ) , → in a manner of speaking at manner ( 5 )
COLLOCATIONS
副词
speak well/highly of somebody (= say good things about them ) He always spoke very highly of Marge.
speak ill of somebody (= say bad things about them ) She never speaks ill of him.
speaking personally Speaking personally, yes, this is a worry.
strictly speaking Strictly speaking, the tomato is a fruit.
generally speaking Generally speaking, the results have been good.
roughly/broadly speaking These innovations are, roughly speaking, what this book is about.
relatively speaking Relatively speaking, property there is still cheap.
短语
speak as a parent/teacher etc Speaking as a medical man, I’d advise you to take some exercise every day.
THESAURUS
to speak a language
speak to be able to talk in a foreign language : Do you speak German? | I learnt Spanish for years, but I still don’t speak it very well.
be fluent in something to be very good at speaking and understanding a foreign language, so that you can speak it almost as well as your own language : Applicants should be fluent in Cantonese.
get by to speak enough of a language to be able to buy things, ask for help etc : ‘What’s your Italian like?’ ‘Not great, but I can get by.’ | I’ve just bought a book called ‘Get by in Portuguese'.
have/pick up a smattering of something to speak or learn to speak a small but useful amount of a language : While I was in Bali, I picked up a smattering of Indonesian.
speak for 短语动词
1 speak for somebody/something to express the feelings, thoughts, or beliefs of a person or group of people :
Dan, speaking for the students, started the meeting.
2 speak for yourself spoken used to tell someone that you do not have the same opinion as they do, or that something that is true for them is not true for you :
‘We don’t want to go.’ ‘Speak for yourself!’
3 be spoken for if something or someone is spoken for, they have already been promised to someone else :
They’re all either married or spoken for.
4 speak for itself/themselves to show something very clearly :
The results speak for themselves.
speak of something 短语动词
1 literary to show clearly that something happened or exists :
Her skin spoke of warm summer days spent in the sun.
2 no … to speak of ( also none/nothing to speak of ) very little of something or a very small thing :
There’s been no rain to speak of for several months.
The house had no garden to speak of.
speak out 短语动词
to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous
speak out about/against
Five students who had spoken out against the regime were arrested.
speak to 短语动词
1 to talk to someone who has done something wrong and tell them not to do it again :
Joe was late again today. You’ll have to speak to him.
2 if something such as a poem, painting, or piece of music speaks to you, you like it because it expresses a particular meaning, quality, or feeling to you :
Modern art just doesn’t speak to me.
speak up 短语动词
1 used to ask someone to speak louder :
Could you speak up, please?
2 to say something, especially to express your opinion :
There was a brief silence, then Gerald spoke up.
3 speak up for somebody to speak in support of someone :
He is willing to speak up for the rights of women.