每日单词计划（每日单词:err）

err

英 [ɜː(r)] 美 [er]

v.犯错；做错

CET4 CET6

◉Usage examples

(1) Instead, the policy maker may decide to err on the side of safety.

(2) They know to err oneself, alarmed, you see me, I see you, how is knowing good.

(3) She would not err in any way, if she could help it.

(1) 相反，为了公众安全决策者会作出决策，而不惜犯错。

(2) 他们自知犯错，一阵惊慌，你看我，我看你，不知如何是好。

(3) 只要有可能的话，她要避免做错任何动作。

◉Word Origin

Middle English (in the sense ‘wander, go astray’): from Old French errer, from Latin errare ‘to stray’.

◉Usage notes

Err is just a formal way of saying you've made a mistake or done something wrong. A married man might err by going on a date with another woman, but he will surely feel the repercussions of his wrongdoing when he gets home!

By itself, err means to make a mistake. The old proverb "To err is human, to forgive divine," is an old-fashioned way of saying, "Hey, everyone makes mistakes. Why don't you be the bigger person and let it go?" Err can also mean to go in a certain direction, as in another common saying, "Err on the side of caution," which just means, "Play it safe."

◉Collins

1. [VERB 动词]犯错误；出差错 If you err, you make a mistake. [V in n] [V] [FORMAL 正式] [OLD-FASHIONED 过时]

① It criticises the main contractor for seriously erring in its original estimates...

它批评主要承包商在其最初估价中犯了严重的错误。

② If you make a threat be sure to carry it out if he errs again.

如果你作出威胁，在他再犯错时，一定要说到做到。

2. [PHRASE 短语]人非圣贤，孰能无过 If you say that to err is human, you mean that it is natural for human beings to make mistakes.

To err is human, and nobody likes a perfect person.

是人都会犯错，而且谁也不喜欢完人。

3. [PHRASE 短语]宁愿过于…；力求… If you err on the side of caution, for example, you decide to act in a cautious way, rather than take risks. [V inflects]

① They may be wise to err on the side of caution...

他们过于谨慎也许是明智的。

② He probably erred on the conservative rather than the generous side.

他可能过于保守，而不是过于宽宏大量。