| 词汇 | speak for themselves |
| 释义 | Idiom speak for itself and speak for themselves Theme: CLARITY not to need explaining; to have an obvious meaning.The evidence speaks for itself.The facts speak for themselves. Tom is guilty.Your results speak for themselves. You need to work harder. Idiom speak for themselvesspeak for itself/themselves if something speaks for itself, it does not need any explanation.I'm not going to talk about our business successes. I think the report speaks for itself. speak for (oneself)1. To express one's opinion as one's own, and not represent it as being indicative of anyone else's. Used as an imperative when there is disagreement. A: "We just love traveling." B: "Speak for yourself—I think it's exhausting." 2. To express one's own opinion or point of view, especially in contrast to those of others. She needs to speak for herself—I'm not a mind-reader! Speaking for myself, I haven't noticed any of the problems that David is bringing up. speak for someone or something1. to testify or argue for someone or something. I would be happy to speak for you in court. Just tell me when. My attorney will speak for our position. 2. to lay claim to someone or something. Fred is spoken for. I want to speak for the red one. speak foroneself to speak on one's own behalf. I can speak for myself. I don't need you to speak for me. speak for yourself. What you say does not represent my thinking. speaking for oneselfan expression indicating that one is expressing only one's own opinion. Speaking for myself, I am ready to cancel the contract. Sally is speaking for herself. She is not expressing our opinions. speak for1. Intercede for, recommend, as in He spoke for the young applicant, commending her honesty. [c. 1300] 2. Express the views of, as in I can't speak for my husband but I'd love to accept, or I don't care what Harry thinks-Speak for yourself, Joe. [c. 1300] 3. speak for itself. Be significant or self-evident, as in They haven't called us in months, and that speaks for itself. [Second half of 1700s] 4. spoken for. Ordered, engaged, or reserved, as in This lot of rugs is already spoken for, or Is this dance spoken for? This usage comes from the older verb, bespeak, meaning "to order." [Late 1600s] speak for yourselfINFORMALIf you say Speak for yourself when someone has said something, you mean that you do not agree with them, or that what they have said only applies to them. `We're not blaming you,' Kate said. `Speak for yourself,' Boris muttered. `We love you, too,' Cooper said. `Hey, speak for yourself,' Sasha told her. speak for yourselfgive your own opinions.The exclamation speak for yourself! indicates to someone that an opinion they have expressed is not shared by yourself and is resented. speak for myˈself, himˈself, etc.express what you think or want yourself, rather than somebody else doing it for you: I’m quite capable of speaking for myself, thank you!speak for yourˈself(spoken, informal) used to tell somebody that a general statement they have just made is not true of you: ‘We didn’t play very well.’ ‘Speak for yourself!’ (= I think that I played well).speak forv. 1. To act as spokesperson for someone or something: I speak for the entire staff when I say thank you. I think these photographs will speak for themselves. Hey, speak for yourself—I'm not too old to dance! I can't speak for my competitors, but we take every precaution to ensure the customer's safety. 2. To make a reservation or request for someone or something. Chiefly used in the passive: Is this dance spoken for? That painting is already spoken for. speak for yourselfTake your own part, not someone else’s; also, that’s your opinion, not necessarily mine. In the first meaning, this term dates from the nineteenth century and was popularized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in “The Courtship of Miles Standish” (1858), recounting the wooing of Priscilla Carpenter by John Alden for Captain Standish. Priscilla “said, in a tremulous voice,‘Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?’”With or without John, the term has been so used ever since. Also, since at least the early eighteenth century, the expression has signified implicit disagreement. Jonathan Swift used it in Polite Conversation (1738): “Pray, sir, speak for yourself.” |
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