promise
verb uk/ˈprɒm.ɪs/ us/ˈprɑː.mɪs/
(SAY CERTAINLY)
B1 [ I or T ]允诺，答应;保证
to tell someone that you will certainly do something
[ + to infinitive ] He promised faithfully to call me every week. 他信誓旦旦地保证每周都给我打电话。
[ + that ] The government have promised that they'll reduce taxes. 政府已承诺要减税。
[ + (that) ] Promise me (that) you won't tell him. 答应我你不会告诉他。
I'll look for some while I'm at the shops but I'm not promising anything. 我逛街的时候找找，但不敢保证能买到。
Can I have that book back when you've finished because I've promised it (= I have said I will give it) to Sara. 那本书你看完后能还给我吗，因为我答应萨拉要给她。
[ + two objects ] Her parents promised her a new car if she passed her exams. 她父母答应如果她通过考试就送她一辆新车。
I've promised myself a long bath when I get through all this work. 干完所有这些工作后我要好好洗个澡。
[ + speech ] "I'll come round and see you every day," she promised. “我会每天来看你的。”她保证道。
"I won't do anything dangerous." "You promise?" "I promise." “我不会做任何危险的事。”“你保证？”“我保证。”
"I won't have time to take you shopping this afternoon." "But you promised!" “今天下午我没时间带你去购物了。”“但你答应过的！”
- More examples
- "But listen, you must promise never to tell anyone." "I promise."
- You have to stand up in court and promise to tell 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.
- I gave him my number and he promised to call me.
- I promised the babysitter that we'd be home by midnight.
- She's been promising to pay back the money for six months, but I reckon she's just stringing me along.
(BE EXPECTED)
promise to be good, exciting, etc.B2 预计会很好／激动人心等
If something promises to be good, exciting, etc. it is expected to be good, exciting, etc.
It promises to be a really exciting game. 预计这会是一场非常精彩的比赛。
Idiom
promise someone the earth/moonidiom informal 向（某人）作无法兑现的承诺
to say that you will do much greater things than you will ever be able to achieve
Like most governments in their first term of office, they promised the earth. 像大多数处于第一个任期内的政府一样，他们也作了无法兑现的承诺。
promise
noun uk/ˈprɒm.ɪs/ us/ˈprɑː.mɪs/
(SAY CERTAINLY)
B1 [ C ]允诺;诺言;保证
the act of saying that you will certainly do something
I'll put my things away tonight - and that's a promise! 今晚我要把我所有的东西都收拾好——说到做到！
I'll try to get back in time, but I'm not making any promises. 我会尽量及时回来，但我不能保证。
keep/break a promiseB2 遵守／违背诺言
to do/not do what you said that you would do
If I make a promise, I like to keep it. 如果我作出了承诺，我会遵守的。
Synonyms: assurance (PROMISE)bond (PROMISE)commitmentguarantee oath (PROMISE)pledge undertaking (PROMISE) vow word (PROMISE)
- More examples
- She felt encouraged by their promise of support.
- I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it.
- Voters are bound to be mistrustful of a government that has broken so many promises.
- The prime minister may now be regretting her impetuous promise to reduce unemployment by half.
- The company has not kept faith with its promise to invest in training.
(EXPECTED)
[ U ]（成功的）迹象，征兆；（有）出息，（有）前途
the idea that someone or something is likely to develop successfully and that people expect this to happen
His English teacher had written on his report that he showed great promise. 英语老师在他的成绩报告单中写道他将大有前途。
As a child I was quite a good dancer, but I didn't fulfil my early promise. 我小时候舞跳得相当好，但我并没有成为舞蹈家。
Idiom
promises, promises!idiom informal 保证，又是保证！（用于表达不相信对方的承诺）
something that you say when someone says they will do something and you do not believe it
"When I've got some time I'll show you everything." "Promises, promises!" “有时间的话我保证把所有的都拿给你看。”“保证，又是保证！”