中国人最易误解的表达第38期:多多少少能够

Donna can sing after a fashion.

（误译）唐纳能唱时代歌曲。
（正译）唐纳多少能唱一些歌。

after a fashion adv. 勉强；不太好

Donna can sing after a fashion.
唐娜勉强能唱首歌。

Carl played golf after a fashion.
卡尔的高尔夫球打得不好。

he speaks French after a fashion.
他勉强会说几句法语。

类似的表达还有：

1. manage with an effort 勉强

2. do sth. with difficulty 做某事很费劲

3. grudgingly；unwillingly；narrowly；reluctantly 勉强地

He gave his permission grudgingly.
他勉强地表示“许可”。

The boss grudgingly raised my salary.
老板很不情愿地给我加了薪。

He submitted unwillingly to his mother.
他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。

Even when I call, he receives unwillingly.
他也是很不情愿地接待我。

He is likely to win the presidency narrowly in a run-off ballot.
他可能在决赛投票中勉强获胜。

Been there, done that, narrowly avoided nervous breakdown through counselling and medication.
我也有过类似经历，通过心理咨询和药物治疗才勉强没有精神崩溃。

4. reluctant；loth；strained；loath 勉强的