1.phrase用作名词时意思是“短语”“词组”,转化为动词后意为“叙述”“措词”。
2.phrase既可用作不及物动词,也可用作及物动词。用作及物动词时,接名词或代词作宾语。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
The lecturer phrased monotonously.这位讲师用词单调。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
She phrased her excuse politely.她很客气地说出了她的借口。
I phrased my request very carefully.我小心翼翼地说出了我的请求。
The defense attorney phrased his summation at last.最后,辩护律师作了辩论总结。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
This passage is badly phrased.这段话措词很糟。

［同义词］ n.  expression, saying, words
［词源］＜拉丁语phrasis(说,说法)

That's exactly the phrase I was looking for myself.这就是我一直找的那个短语。
Every phrase in this poem is pregnant with meaning.这首诗中每一词语都含义深远。
He was—what is the phrase I'm looking for—not intimately acquainted with his subject.他——我该怎么说呢——对自己的主题很不熟悉。