Ways to 'Divide and Conquer'

For example, the police detectives tried to divide and conquer warring drug dealers.

例如，警方偵探曾試圖分而治之，對付交戰的毒販。

The drug dealers were so busy fighting each other they made mistakes and got arrested by police.

那些毒販忙於互相廝殺，因而犯下錯誤並被警方逮捕。

However, you must be careful when trying to divide and conquer.

然而，你在嘗試分而治之時必須謹慎。

The people you are trying to divide may band together.

你試圖分化的人可能會團結起來。

This means they form an alliance, they overcome their differences, work together, and turn against you.

這意味著他們會結成聯盟，克服彼此的分歧，攜手合作，然後轉而對抗你。

Now this expression is not just used when talking about defeating people.

現在這個表達法不僅用於談論擊敗他人。

We can also divide and conquer when trying to complete a difficult task.

我們在嘗試完成艱鉅任務時，也可以分而治之。

If you want to complete a complex task, it is helpful to have several people working on it at the same time.

如果你想完成一項複雜的任務，同時有多人共同處理會很有幫助。

You would divide the tasks and delegate them to others.

你會將任務分配並委託給其他人。

That way, you can conquer or complete the task.

如此一來，你就能征服或完成該任務。

Here's an example.

這裡有個例子。

Let's say you are working on a big project with some coworkers.

假設你正與一些同事共同進行一個大專案。

The project is complex and has many moving parts.

該專案相當複雜，且包含許多變數。

So instead of everyone working on the same things at once, you decide to divide and conquer.

因此，與其讓所有人同時處理相同的事情，你決定分而治之。

You assign each person a different task.

你指派每個人不同的任務。

In the end, the project gets done smoothly and on time.

最後，專案得以順利且按時完成。

Now let's hear some friends use this expression this way.

現在讓我們聽聽朋友們如何這樣使用這個表達法。

They are preparing for a surprise birthday party and have lots to do.

他們正在準備一場驚喜生日派對，有許多事情要做。

Okay, change of plans.

好吧，計畫有變。

Samantha just texted.

莎曼珊剛傳了訊息。

She canceled her work meeting and will be here in two hours, not four.

她取消工作會議，兩小時後就會到，而不是四小時。

Two hours?

兩小時？

That's not enough time.

時間不夠。

We'll never be ready for her surprise party.

我們永遠無法在她驚喜派對前準備好。

You need to stall her, but don't make her suspicious.

你需要拖延她的時間，但別讓她起疑。

If I try to keep her away, she'll know something's up.

如果我試圖阻擋她，她一定會察覺有異。

She knows us too well.

她太了解我們了。

You're right.

你說得對。

What are we going to do?

我們該怎麼辦？

First, calm down.

首先，冷靜下來。

What still needs to be done?

還有哪些事沒做完？

The food needs to be cooked, the cake and drinks need to be picked up, the living room needs to be decorated, and the gift needs to be wrapped.

食物需要烹煮，蛋糕和飲料需要購買，客廳需要裝飾，禮物需要包裝。

We'll never finish in time.

我們永遠無法按時完成。

We will.

我們會的。

We just need to divide and conquer.

我們只需要分工合作。

You keep cooking.

你繼續煮飯。

I'll text Claudia and ask her to pick up the cake on the way over.

我會傳訊息給克勞迪婭，請她在過來時順道把蛋糕帶回來。

Then I'll text Gwen.

然後我會傳訊息給格溫。

She can pick up the drinks.

她可以負責拿飲料。

When Steve gets here.

當史蒂夫到這裡的時候。

He can wrap the gift and decorate.

他可以包裝禮物並進行裝飾。

He's good at those things.

他很擅長那些事情。

Okay, sounds like a plan.

好的，聽起來是個好計畫。

Wait a minute, what will you be doing?

等一下，你會在做什麼？

I'm busy.

我很忙。

Dividing and conquering doesn't happen by itself.

分工合作不會自動發生。

And that's the end of this Words in Their Stories.

以上就是本期「故事中的單字」的內容。

If you have a big goal, maybe it's time you divide and conquer it.

如果你有一個大目標，也許是時候把它分解並逐一完成了。

Break it down into small tasks and get them done.

將它拆解成小任務並完成它們。

Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.

下次再見，我是安娜·馬特奧。

Thank you.

謝謝。