說話時「吊一吊胃口」,能給他人留下想像的空間,更能激發人的好奇心和求知慾。
「吊胃口」,本意指「用好吃的東西引起人的食慾(arouse the appetite)」,現在多比喻讓人產生欲望或興趣(increase someone's interest in and wish for something),引起興趣而不給予滿足,可以翻譯為「whet somebody's appetite」或「hold in suspense」。
例句:
先吊吊他的胃口,再告訴他實情。
Don’t tell him the truth right away but keep him in suspense for a while.
別吊人胃口了,快說誰得了第一名。
Don’t keep us in suspense, and tell us who won the first prize.
丹尼斯說:「接著說,別吊我們胃口了。」
'Go on, don't leave us in suspense,' Dennis said.