dictate
verbVerb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they dictate | |
| he / she / it dictates | |
| past simple dictated | |
| past participle dictated | |
| -ing form dictating |
- [transitive]
to tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way （尤指以令人厌烦的方式）指使，强行规定 - dictate something (to somebody)
They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do). 他们没有资格发号施令。 - dictate how, what, etc…/that…
What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives? 他们有什么权利强行规定我们该怎样生活？
Extra ExamplesIt was only the king or queen who could dictate policy. 只有国王或王后才能决定政策。 This political stance had been dictated by the Prime Minister. 这一政治立场是由首相决定的。
- dictate something (to somebody)
- [transitive, intransitive]
to control or influence how something happens 支配；摆布；决定 - dictate (something)
When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule. 我们什么时候休假在很大程度上取决于格雷格的工作时间安排。 - dictate where, what, etc…
It's generally your job that dictates where you live now. 一般说来，你住在什么地方是由你的工作决定的。 - dictate that…
The social conventions of the day dictated that she should remain at home with her parents. 那时的社会习俗规定她应该留在家里，与她父母在一起。
Extra ExamplesWhat followed dictated the course of his life. 接下来的事决定了他的一生。 This is clearly the best choice, unless financial considerations dictate otherwise. 这显然是最佳选择，除非经济上不允许。 She had to remain indoors for 30 days before the wedding, as custom dictates. 按照习俗的规定，婚礼前30天她必须足不出户。
- dictate (something)
- [transitive, intransitive] dictate (something) (to somebody)
to say words for somebody else to write down or to be recorded 口述 She dictated the letter to her assistant. 她向助手口述了这封信。 OK, you write, I'll dictate. 好了，你写，我来口授。 Just dictate into the machine, we'll transcribe it later. 只要在机器上口述，我们稍后会转录它。
Word Originlate 16th cent. (in sense (1)): from Latin dictat- ‘dictated’, from the verb dictare.