1[intransitiveI, transitiveT]RRTALK TO somebody to talk about a religious subject in a public place, especially in a church during a service (向…)布道,讲道;宣讲〔教义〕
preach to
Christ began preaching to large crowds.
基督开始向众人布道。
preach on/about
The vicar preached a sermon about the prodigal son.
教区牧师布道讲了浪子回头的故事。
He traveled the southern states, preaching the gospel.
他游历南方各州宣讲福音。
2[transitiveT]PERSUADE to talk about how good or important something is and try to persuade other people about this 宣扬,鼓吹
Alexander has been preaching patience.
亚历山大一直宣扬要坚忍。
preach the virtues/merits/benefits of something
a politician preaching the virtues of a free market
宣扬自由市场优点的政治家
3[intransitiveI]ADVISE to give someone advice, especially about their behaviour, in a way that they think is boring or annoying 唠叨地劝诫,令人烦厌地说教
preach about
grown-ups preaching about the evils of drugs
不断说教毒品害处的成年人
4.preach to the converted/choirEXPLAINto talk about what you think is right or important to people who already have the same opinions as you 向教徒传道/向唱诗班传教〔表示向已有同样观点的人作宣传〕
Examples from the Corpus
preach to the converted/choir• But they will still usually be only the partyfaithful, so he will find himself preaching to the converted.• To some extent this meanspreaching to the converted.• Not only was he preaching to the choir, he was talking to tax-cutting evangelists.• You're preaching to the converted in us, but you've got to get at everyone else.• He is preaching to the choir of religious-right Protestants and conservative Catholics whose votes should already be locked up.• As Chesterton was preaching to the converted there was no chance of this, so he avoidedprosecution.
preaching the gospel• It was only a few minutes into Sunday when VicePresidentGore started preaching the gospel.• He would tour the world quietly preaching the gospel of surfing.
preach the virtues/merits/benefits of something• He may preach the virtues of an empty bank account, but Damon is fairly obsessed with filling his own.• By preaching the merits ofdownsizing, they have provided bosses with arguments for measures that tough economic times have required anyway.
Originpreach
(1200-1300)Old Frenchprechier, from Late Latinpraedicare, from Latindicare“to say publicly”