OBEY1 to obey someone2 to obey a law, rule, or custom3 always doing what you are told to do4 too willing to do what you are told to do5 when you have to do whatever someone tells you to doRELATED WORDSoppositeDISOBEYsee alsoLAWTELL SB OFFILLEGALRULE/REGULATIONBEHAVE1 to obey someone 服从某人obey /əʊˈbeɪ, ə-/ [intransitive/transitive verb]to do what someone in authority tells you to do 服从 Soldiers must always obey their commanding officer. 军人必须永远服从指挥官的命令。 I knew that if I didn't obey, I would be shot. 我知道我如果不服从，就会被开枪打死。obey an order/command/instruction You can teach most dogs to obey simple commands. 大多数狗都可以学会服从简单的命令。 War criminals tried to justify their actions by saying that they were only obeying orders. 战犯试图为自己的行为辩护，说他们只是服从命令。follow /ˈfɒləʊǁˈfɑː-/ [transitive verb]to do what someone tells you to do, wants you to do, or thinks you should do 听从，依从follow orders/instructions He was a military man, and therefore used to following orders. 他是个军人，所以习惯了服从命令。 I have followed your instructions exactly. 我是完全照你的指示做的。follow somebody's advice Visitors to the city should follow police advice and not resist muggers. 到该市旅游的游客应听从警方忠告，不要抵抗行凶抢劫者。follow somebody's orders/instructions etc to the letterdo exactly what someone tells you 严格遵从某人的命令/指示等 You will not make a mistake if you follow these instructions to the letter. 如果严格按照说明去做，就不会出错。do what/as somebody says /ˌduː wɒt, əz somebody ˈsez/ [verb phrase]especially spokento do what someone has advised or ordered you to do 【尤口】照某人说的去做 I did what you said and took half a pill instead of a whole one. 我照你说的吃了半片药，没吃一整片。 ‘Sit down and listen,’ Matt said. I did as he said. “坐下来听我说，”马特说。我就照着做了。do as I sayused by adults to tell children to do something 照我的话去做〔成人用以叫小孩做某事〕 I'm your father, and you'll do as I say. 我是你父亲，要听我的。do as you're told /ˌduː əz jɔːʳ ˈtəʊld/ [verb phrase]especially spokento obey someone and not do anything different - used by parents or teachers to tell children to do something 【尤口】叫你怎么做就怎么做〔为家长或老师所用〕 If she doesn't do as she's told, send her to her room. 如果她不听话，就叫她回自己房间去。on-message /ɒn ˈmedɪdʒ/ [adjective/adverb]if a politician ison-message he or she is always publicly willing to support the ideas and aims of their party and to do what their leaders want them to do - used especially in newspapers 〔政客〕服从政党的；支持党的观点的〔尤用于报纸上〕 The party leadership is desperately trying to get several senior members of the government back on-message. 该党领导层急切地想让政府中一些高级官员转变想法，支持党的官方观点。 Those who were firmly on-message dutifully defended the prime minister's actions to the media. 那些铁杆支持者尽心尽职地为首相对媒体采取的行动辩护。2 to obey a law, rule, or custom 遵守法律、规定或习俗obey /əʊˈbeɪ, ə-/ [transitive verb]to do what a law or rule says you must do 遵守 Drivers obey speed laws only when they think the police are near. 司机只有在他们认为附近有警察的时候才会遵守限速法规。obey the law All citizens must obey the law and be loyal to the Constitution. 所有公民都必须遵守法律，忠于宪法。obey the rules She was one of those people who obeyed the rules and was never irresponsible. 她是那种守规矩，从来不会不负责任的人。comply with /kəmˈplaɪ wɪð/ [transitive verb]formalif youcomply with a law or a decision, you do what it says you must do 【正式】遵守，服从 Companies must comply with European employment laws. 公司必须遵守欧洲就业法。 Failure to comply with these conditions could result in prosecution. 不遵守这些条件可能会遭到起诉。abide by /əˈbaɪd baɪ/ [transitive verb]to accept and obey a decision, rule, agreement etc, even though you may not agree with it 服从，遵守〔决定、规定、协议等〕 Those are the rules and regulations -- we don't make them but we have to abide by them. 那是规章制度—不是我们制定的，但我们必须遵守。 Players have to abide by the referee's decision. 球员必须服从裁判的判决。 Generally, journalists abide by an agreed code of practice. 一般来说，新闻记者都遵守既定的行规。keep to /ˈkiːp tə/ [transitive verb]to always obey the law or rules closely and not ignore them 遵守〔法律或规定〕 If you keep to the rules nothing can go wrong. 如果你遵守规定，就不会出事。 Keep to the law, but apart from that, do whatever you have to do to find this man. 要遵守法律，除此以外，你要想尽一切办法找到此人。 Do you always keep to the speed limit when you're driving? 你开车的时候总是遵守时速限制吗？stick to the rules /ˌstɪk tə ðə ˈruːlz/ [verb phrase]informalto do something exactly as it should be done, especially so that there is no chance of anything going wrong 【非正式】严格遵守规定〔尤因要避免出错〕 Everyone in the party has a responsibility to stick to the rules agreed by the party conference. 党内每个人都有责任遵守党会上制定的规章制度。 Failure to stick to the safety rules could result in disaster. 不遵守这些安全规则可能会酿成灾难。conform to /kənˈfɔːʳm tuː/ [transitive verb]to be correct according to a rule or regulation 遵守，遵照；符合 British meat products now have to conform to strict hygiene regulations. 英国的肉类产品现在必须遵守严格的卫生条例。 Many classroom interactions do not conform to the rules of normal conversation. 许多课堂上的互动都不遵照日常会话的规则。observe /əbˈzɜːʳv/ [transitive verb]formalto take notice of and obey rules, laws, customs etc 【正式】遵守〔规定、法律、习俗等〕 You can avoid danger by observing these simple rules. 只要遵守这些简单的规则，就可避免发生危险。 Too many accidents are occurring at work because employers are not observing safety regulations. 有非常多的工伤事故是因为雇主们没有遵守安全条例而发生的。 We try to observe the local customs so that we don't offend people. 我们尽量遵守当地的习俗，免得冒犯别人。observance [uncountable noun] The police ensure strict observance of the law. 警察确保法律得到严格的遵守。respect /rɪˈspekt/ [transitive verb]formalto obey the law or customs of a place, especially because you believe it is important to obey them 【正式】尊重；遵守 The President is expected to respect the constitution. 人们期望总统尊重宪法。 He's an honest, responsible citizen who respects the law and is dedicated to his family. 他是个诚实可靠，有责任心的公民，遵纪守法，对家庭尽心尽责。toe the line /ˌtəʊ ðə ˈlaɪn/ [verb phrase]to obey the rules and behave in an acceptable way in your job or in an organization, even if you do not want to, do not agree etc 服从命令，听从指挥，按规定行事〔尽管不愿意或不同意〕 They didn't agree, but as government employees they had to toe the line. 他们不同意，但作为政府职员，他们必须服从。 Gail realized that she had to toe the line if she wanted to keep her job. 盖尔明白，要想保住工作，就得服从命令。go by the book/do something by the book /ˌgəʊ baɪ ðə ˈbʊk, duː something baɪ ðə ˈbʊk/ [verb phrase]to do something exactly according to the rules or instructions, rather than in your own way 照章办事 Police must always go completely by the book when making arrests. 警察在逮捕犯人的时候必须永远完全照章办事。 My financial advisor is very straight - he does everything by the book. 我的理财顾问是个很诚实的人—一他什么都照章办事。3 always doing what you are told to do 总是按别人说的去做obedient /əˈbiːdiənt/ [adjective]someone who isobedient always does what their parents, teachers, or people in authority tell them to do - use this especially about children 顺从的，服从的，听话的〔尤指孩子〕 Bruno was a quiet and obedient little boy. 布鲁诺是个文静听话的小男孩。 Research shows that pupils who are good at maths tend to be more conformist and obedient than other pupils. 调查研究发现，数学好的学生往往比其他学生规矩听话。obedient to The majority of people were obedient to the King, not questioning his government. 大多数人民都服从国王，不怀疑他的统治。obedience /əˈbiːdiəns/ [uncountable noun]obedient behaviour 顺从，服从，遵从obedience to Young children are expected to show obedience to their parents. 小孩子应该服从父母。absolute/complete/total obedience The General demanded absolute obedience from his men. 将军要求部下绝对服从。law-abiding /ˈlɔː əˌbaɪdɪŋ/ [adjective]always obeying the law because you think this is the right thing to do 守法的 These men are all decent, tax-paying, law-abiding people. 他们都是按时纳税、遵纪守法的正派人。 There is a tendency to look back at a time when people were more peaceful and law-abiding. 人们总爱怀念过去的日子，那时的人更加和睦，更加守法。dutiful /ˈdjuːtɪfəlǁˈduː-/ [adjective usually before noun]always doing what you are expected to do and always behaving in a loyal and obedient way 尽职的；顺从的，恭敬的 Tom Campbell has been a loyal and dutiful employee of this firm for 25 years. 汤姆·坎贝尔在这家公司工作了25年，一直是个忠心尽职的雇员。 She rejected the traditional female roles of docile daughter and dutiful wife. 她拒绝传统的女性角色，不愿意当温顺的女儿和贤慧的妻子。disciplined /ˈdɪsɪplənd, ˈdɪsəplənd/ [adjective]a group of people that isdisciplined has developed obedience or has been trained to be obedient 遵守纪律的 They are a well-trained, disciplined and efficient fighting force. 他们是一支训练有素、遵守纪律、战斗力强的作战部队。well-disciplined The workforce is well-disciplined and eager to work. 工人们纪律性强，工作勤奋。4 too willing to do what you are told to do 过分听从别人submissive /səbˈmɪsɪv/ [adjective]always willing to do what someone tells you to do even if it is unpleasant or they ask you in an unpleasant way 顺从的；卑躬屈膝的，唯命是从的 My father was a violent, demanding man, who expected my mother to be completely submissive. 我父亲是个粗暴苛刻的男人，他希望母亲对他千依百顺。 If you constantly try to make someone happy, you end up becoming submissive, saying yes when you don't really mean it. 如果你总是想讨好某人，最后就会变得卑躬屈膝，口是心非。submissively [adverb] Carrigan smiled submissively and did what he was told. 卡里根恭顺地笑着，照吩咐的去做了。yes-man /ˈjes mæn/ [countable noun]informalsomeone who always agrees with and obeys their employer or leader etc 【非正式】应声虫，唯唯诺诺的人 It's no good applying for a job with him unless you're happy being a yes-man. 找一份工作为他做事没什么意思，除非你乐于做一个应声虫。 She packed the committees with yes-men and then did just what she liked. 她在委员会里塞满了一些唯唯诺诺的人，然后就为所欲为。servile /ˈsɜːʳvaɪlǁ-vəl, -vaɪl/ [adjective]obeying someone too eagerly and showing them too much respect 奴颜婢膝的，卑躬屈膝的 The driver asked in a servile tone for more instructions. 司机用逢迎的语气请求更多的指示。 He was young and hard-working, though annoyingly servile. 他年轻、勤奋，不过唯唯诺诺，让人讨厌。subservient /səbˈsɜːʳviənt/ [adjective]someone who issubservient is always willing to do what people tell them to do and behaves as if they expect to be told what to do 低声下气的，卑躬屈膝的，屈从的 The waiter had an excessively subservient manner that made us very uncomfortable. 服务员的态度过于恭顺，使我们感到很不舒服。subservient to What she hated about being a nurse was having to be so subservient to doctors. 当护士令她感到讨厌的一点是必须对医生言听计从。slavish /ˈsleɪvɪʃ/ [adjective]slavish obedience/compliance/conformity etcobeying much too easily without thinking or asking questions 奴性地服从/顺从/遵守等 The women's slavish obedience disgusted me. 那些女人顺服得像奴隶，让我觉得恶心。 He was able to manipulate their slavish willingness to serve in the name of patriotism. 他借着爱国的名义利用他们的奴性让他们为他服务。slavishly [adverb] She made all the decisions, gave all the orders, and Ramón slavishly complied. 她专权独断，爱发号施令，而拉蒙卑躬屈膝地顺从。compliant /kəmˈplaɪənt/ [adjective]too obedient because you are used to obeying people or because you are afraid not to obey 依从的，顺从的；屈从的 It's depressing to see an intelligent, spirited young woman like her turning into a meek and compliant wife. 看到像她这样聪明、有活力的年轻女子变成了一个顺服安分的妻子，真让人难过。 Patients who are less compliant may be forced to take medication against their will. 不太听话的病人可能要被强迫服药。blind obedience /ˌblaɪnd əˈbiːdiəns/ [uncountable noun]when someone does whatever someone else tells them to do, without thinking for themselves about whether it is right or wrong 盲从 With blind obedience, I allowed Victor to organize my life. 我盲目顺从，任由维克托来安排我的生活。lackey /ˈlæki/ [countable noun]someone who is always too willing to do what someone else, especially someone in authority, tells them to do, even when this is wrong 走卒，唯命是从的人，卑躬屈膝的人 Many employees regarded Human Resources staff as little more than management lackeys. 许多雇员都认为人力资源部的人不过是管理层的走卒。 Some poeple in the UK were worried that their country might be regarded as simply being a lackey of the US. 有些英国人担心，人家会认为他们的国家不过是美国的附庸。5 when you have to do whatever someone tells you to do 不得不听命于别人you're the boss/she's the boss etc /ˌjɔːʳ ðə ˈbɒsǁ-ˈbɔːs/spokensay this when you feel you have to do whatever someone says, even if you disagree 【口】你说了算/她说了算等〔表示自己只能服从〕 Personally, I don't like dark-coloured wallpaper, but you're the boss. 我个人不喜欢深颜色的墙纸，但你是老板，你说了算。 If he tells you to do something, you do it, no questions, because he's the boss. 他叫你干什么，你就干什么，不要多问，因为他说了算。be under somebody's/the thumb /biː ˌʌndəʳ somebodyˈs, ðə ˈθʌm/ [verb phrase]to be so strongly influenced by someone so that they control you completely and you do anything that they want you to do 完全在某人的控制之下 The President, senators, and deputies are all under the thumb of the military. 总统、参议员以及下议院的议员，都在军方的控制之下。have somebody under your thumb It was widely known that the mafia had the union under their thumb. 众所周知，黑手党操控了工会。be at somebody's beck and call /biː ət somebodyˈs ˌbek ən ˈkɔːl/ [verb phrase]if youare at someone's beck and call, they are always telling you to do things for them, and you always have to be ready to do things for them 任由某人摆布，听凭某人使唤 I have never liked to be at anybody's beck and call. 我一向不喜欢被人呼来唤去的。 She was always rushing around at her mother's beck and call. 她总是被母亲支使来支使去的。