肥胖症始于20世纪80年代,许多人把它归因于食物分量的增加和缺乏运动,但这并不是全部原因。
本句结构较为简单,句中的epidemic的本义为"传染病,流行病",而此处obesity epidemic是指"肥胖症"。portion的本义为"部分;命运;分配",但此处意为"(食物的)一份,一客"。inactivity意为"静止,不活动"。attribute to则指"把……归因于"。如:
He attributed his failure to bad luck.
他把自己的失败归因于运气差。
与attribute to近义的短语还有:
ascribe sth. to sth.意为"把……归功于……。如:
He ascribed his success to his years of hard work.
他把自己的成就归功于多年的努力工作。
His indifference should be put down to his childhood memory.
他的冷漠应该归因于他童年的记忆。
Due to his carefulness,the whole team has lost their last chance.
由于他的粗心,整个团队丧失了最后的机会。