| 释义 |
plumb the depths (of something) plumb the depths (of something)To experience, understand, explore, or exhibit something in explicit detail or to an extreme degree. These valiant officers plumb the depths of heroism every day that they step foot on our streets. This new study aims to plumb the depths of the relationship between one's mood and one's appetite. I plumbed the depths of grief and despair for years after the death of my son. My hope is that I can now help others who are struggling in similar situations.See also: depth, plumbplumb the depths 1. If someone's behaviour plumbs the depths, it is extremely bad. This crime plumbs the very depths of the abyss into which it is possible for the human spirit to sink.2. If you plumb the depths of something, you find out everything you can about it. He doesn't plumb the depths of a text in the way of his contemporaries. We can never fully plumb the depths of the unconscious.3. If someone plumbs the depths of an unpleasant or difficult situation or emotion, they experience it to an extreme degree. They frequently plumb the depths of loneliness, humiliation and despair. Note: The above expressions relate to sailing in former times. When a ship was in shallow water one of the sailors would find out how deep the water was by dropping a piece of lead on a string, called a `plumb', over the side of the ship. See also: depth, plumbplumb the depths 1 reach the extremes of evil or unhappiness. 2 inquire into the most obscure or secret aspects of something.See also: depth, plumbplumb the ˈdepths of something reach the lowest or most extreme point of something: When his friend was killed, he plumbed the depths of despair.Originally, this referred to finding out the depth of the sea, etc. by dropping a weight tied to a rope into the water.See also: depth, of, plumb, something |