小词详解 | canvass

小词详解 | canvass
canvass 英 [ˈkænvəs] 美 [ˈkænvəs]

SAT TEM8 GRE BEC

外刊例句

  • Six of the 18 judges will also be replaced, in a ballot preceded by an unseemly round of bargaining and canvassing.
    在一轮容易遭到非议的交易与游说之后,也将通过投票替换18名法官中的6名。
    ——《经济学人》
  • She had a nursery in her Philadelphia campaign office so other parents could drop off their kids before canvassing shifts.
    她在位于费城的竞选办公室里开设了托儿所,以便团队里其他的父母在出门拉票前可以把孩子寄放在那里。
    ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[verb] solicit votes from (electors in a constituency)
[动词] 向(选区的选民)拉选票

深入解读

第一眼看到 canvass ,经常会把它与较为熟悉的 canvas (帆布、画布、油画)相混淆。这两个单词只差一个字母,是有什么关系吗?

canvas 源自拉丁语 cannabis (大麻),由于最初的帆布是由大麻制作而来,因此 canvas 便被用于表示 “帆布”,进而引申出“画布”“油画”等义。

canvass 则是16世纪时从 canvas 演变而来,原义为“to toss someone in a canvas sheet for pleasure or punishment”(为了取乐或惩罚而将某人裹在帆布床单里使劲摇晃)。此后,canvass 的含义几经演变,从“痛打”到“痛斥”,又从“痛斥”到“详细讨论”。由于旧时人们一度使用粗帆布来筛东西,因而 canvass 又引申出“详细检查”“征求意见”“拉选票”等义。

影视用例

小词详解 | canvass

出自2007年美国动画喜剧片《辛普森一家》(The Simpsons Movie)。影片讲述辛普森一家的爸爸荷马和他新养的宠物猪的愚蠢行为引发了一场环境危机,让家人和家乡陷入了危险之中。

同近义词

  • electioneer: (of a politician or political campaigner) take part actively and energetically in the activities of an election campaign
  • stump: travel around (a district) making political speeches
  • campaign: work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a political or social one