Crush your interest

幼稚園面試結果陸續公布，家長經常比較學校是「谷」還是「happy」，似乎學術與快樂不能共存。我最怕學校「死谷」，揠苗助長，徹底打擊（crush）小朋友的學習興趣。

動詞crush本身解「壓碎、壓扁」，例如，Crush three cloves of garlic.（壓碎三瓣大蒜。）The cat was crushed to death in the car accident.（那隻貓在車禍中被壓死。）衣服「壓皺」了，也可以用crush一字描述──My silk scarf got all crushed in the suitcase.（我的絲巾在行李箱裏全給弄皺了。）

Crush還可以引伸指「徹底擊敗、使人極度震驚、失望或不快」，常用crush one's interest/enthusiasm/confidence/hopes（打擊某人的興趣/熱情/自信/希望）等等。例句：Don't let them crush your confidence and bring negative energy into your life.（不要讓他們打擊你的信心，給你的生活帶來負面能量。）Pushing too hard for academic achievement will crush children's learning interest.（因為學業成績而逼得太緊，會打擊小朋友的學習興趣。）Some parents were crushed by the kindergarten interview results.（有些家長因幼稚園的面試結果而極度傷心。）

（本欄逢周一、三、五刊登）