強人所難：force的用法和辨析
Love is a force of nature.
——Brokeback Mountain
愛是與生俱來的能力。
——《斷背山》
一、你知道force有幾種含義嗎？
n.
1.力，力量，力氣 [U] the physical strength of sth that is shown as it hits sth else
A great man can dominate others by force of character.
偉人能以人格的力量支配他人。
2.武力；暴力 [U] violent physical action used to obtain or achieve sth
We will never yield to force.
我們決不會向暴力屈服。
3.影響力；效力 [U] the strong effect or influence of sth
Nothing can abate the force of that argument.
什麼也不能減弱那崇論的影響力。
4.一羣人；部隊；兵力 a group of people who have been trained to protect other people, usually by using weapons
The small British contingent belongs to the UN peace-keeping force.
這支英國小分隊是屬於聯合國維和部隊的。
5.(社會)勢力，威力，實力，權力；有影響的人(或事物) the authority of sth
The remainder of Al Qaeda and Taliban force may start new attacks.
蓋達和塔利班組織殘餘勢力可能發動新攻勢。
v.
1.強制，迫使，逼迫 [T] make sb do sth that they do not want to do
He was forced into resigning.
他被迫辭職。
2.施強力於；強行促成 [T] to use physical strength to move sb / sth into a particular position
The thief forced the lock and broke in the house.
小偷強行開鎖然後闖進屋子裏來了。
3.強作，勉強做出 [T] to make yourself smile, laugh, etc. rather than doing it naturally
She managed to force a smile.
她勉強笑笑。
4.促成早熟，促成生長 [T] to make fruit, plants, etc. grow or develop faster than normal by keeping them in special conditions
Using plant growth substance to force the rhubarb.
使用植物生長調節劑來催熟大黃。
5.竭力提高，擡高；竭力加快…的進程；使過勞（以致受損傷）[T] to make sth happen, especially before other people are ready
Article15 Tenderers shall not submit tenders in collusion with one another to force the tender price up or down.
第十五條投標者不得串通投標，擡高標價或者壓低標價。
二、詞義辨析：有哪些詞彙能表達“迫使”的意思
compel, force, constrain, oblige
這些動詞均含“迫使”之意。
compel指在法律、權力、力量或行動等的驅使下被迫而爲。
force指用個人意志、權力、權威或暴力等，迫使他人改變看法或做本不願做的事。
constrain側重施加約束力或有約束作用的影響，也指環境對人強加的影響迫使人去做某事，尤指受良心、情感等內在力量驅使去做某事。
oblige指由於生理上或道德上的需要，促使某人做某事，也指有權威的人或機構迫使某人做某事，還可指在特定情況下被迫作出的反應。
三、下面我們來學習一下含有force的常見短語
air force
n. 空軍,美國空軍
centrifugal force
n[物].地心引力
centripetal force
n.向心力
force out
v. 1.把…趕走，擠掉；迫使離開，屈服
force pump
n. 壓力泵
四、最後，做個小測試吧
Building a new road here will _____ house prices down.
在這裏修建一條新道路將使房價下跌。
