rack your brain(s) 用法解析

“rack your brain(s)”是英语中高频使用的非正式习语，其词源可追溯至中世纪的酷刑工具“rack”（拉肢架），该工具通过拉伸人体骨骼造成剧痛，后动词“rack”引申出“使极度痛苦、绞尽脑汁”的含义。这一短语的核心语义为费尽心思、绞尽脑汁、挖空心思地思考某个难题或回忆某件事情，主语通常为人，强调思考过程中耗费大量精力的状态。与wrack/ cudgel one's brains完全同义。

如：

She racked her brains for the password but couldn’t remember it.

她绞尽脑汁想密码，却怎么也记不起来。

She racked her brains for hours, trying to work out the math problem that none of her classmates could solve.（2021年全国高考）

她绞尽脑汁好几个小时，试图解出一道同学都解不出来的数学题。

My sister has been racking her brains to plan a surprise party for our mom’s 50th birthday.（2023年上海市中考）

我姐姐一直在绞尽脑汁为妈妈50岁生日策划一个惊喜派对。

The writer racked his brains to create a character that could resonate with readers from different backgrounds.

这位作家绞尽脑汁，塑造出一个能引起不同背景读者共鸣的角色。（2024研考英译汉）

The team has been racking their brains to find a solution to the environmental problem.

这个团队一直在绞尽脑汁，试图找到解决环境问题的办法。

He racked his brain for the right words to comfort his girlfriend after their quarrel.

吵架后，他绞尽脑汁想找出恰当的话语安慰女友。

We racked our brains to plan a perfect anniversary surprise for our parents.

我们绞尽脑汁，想为父母策划一场完美的纪念日惊喜。

The teacher racked her brains to design interesting activities to attract the students’ attention.

这位老师绞尽脑汁设计有趣的活动，来吸引学生的注意力。

The couple racked their brains over where to go for their honeymoon, torn between a beach and a mountain.

这对情侣绞尽脑汁纠结蜜月目的地，在海滩和山区之间难以抉择。

The diplomat racked his brains to find a way to break the deadlock in the negotiation.

这位外交官绞尽脑汁，试图找到打破谈判僵局的办法。

He racked his brain to recall the name of the friend he met at the party last week.

他绞尽脑汁，回忆上周在派对上认识的那位朋友的名字。

She racked her brains to figure out why her boyfriend suddenly became distant lately.

她绞尽脑汁想弄明白，为什么男友最近突然变得疏远了。

They racked their brains over the plan for/over the new project.

他们为新项目的计划绞尽脑汁。

The general racked his brains to formulate a strategy to defeat the enemy.

这位将军绞尽脑汁制定击败敌军的战略。

The economist racked his brains to analyze the root cause of the economic recession.

这位经济学家绞尽脑汁分析经济衰退的根本原因。

The politician racked his brains to draft a speech that would satisfy both the public and the party.

这位政客绞尽脑汁起草演讲稿，力求同时满足公众和政党的需求。

I’ve been racking my brains all day trying to remember where I put Rachel’s birthday gift. 《老友记》

我一整天都在绞尽脑汁，想记起来把瑞秋的生日礼物放哪儿了。

Leonard racked his brain to explain quantum physics to Penny in a way she could understand. 《生活大爆炸》

伦纳德绞尽脑汁，想用法妮能听懂的方式解释量子物理学。

The countess racked her brains to save the estate from financial ruin during the war. 《唐顿庄园》

战时，伯爵夫人绞尽脑汁，想让庄园摆脱财务破产的困境。