高中英语

Lots of people are so afraid of losing, they choose to play against someone they know they can beat or at least compete __on__ a level playing field with.

这里为什么要用on，这句话是什么意思。

答：好问题，好问章！

译：很多人怕输，所以他们选择他们知道能赢或至少能公平竞争的对手进行比赛。

主干是：They choose to play against someone（+定语从句）

注意，其中they know是一个插入语。

定语从句省略了关系代词（whom/that), 在从句中作beat和compete with 的宾语。

compete前显然省略了 can,

compete是不及物动词，不直接跟人作宾语，常见用法是compete in a game with sb. for sth.

这样看来，这个with与compete 隔得是远了点，且没有这个必要。不如：。。。they can beat or at least compete with on a level playing field .

查：Level playing field---From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A level playing field is a concept about fairness, not that each player has an equal chance to succeed, but that they all play by the same set of rules. A metaphorical playing field is said to be level if no external interference affects the ability of the players to compete fairly. Although some may view "government interference" to slant the field in reality the level playing field is created and guaranteed by the implementation of rules and regulations ... building codes, material specifications and zoning create a starting point/ a minimum standard --- a "level playing field".

Examples where governments, regulators and sports associations have tried to create a 'level playing field':

学到一个新的词组：on a level playing field 公平地

例子：

Airbus must compete now on a level playing field.

Can IE compete on a level playing field?

Is the Heineken Cup played on a level playing field ?

附原文：

Play tennis with someone better

Simon Sinek

When Christina plays tennis, she doesn't always win. She's not a bad player; quite the opposite. The reason she doesn't win all the time is that she prefers to play against someone much better than she is. When she does, it pushes her to play much harder than if she played someone below or even at her level. In fact, she gets mad at herself if she wins too often or too easily...it means that she's not challenging herself enough.

Who we choose to compare ourselves to or compete against significantly impacts our future performance. Lots of people are so afraid of losing, they choose to play against someone they know they can beat or at least compete on a level playing field with. These people will definitely win more often than Christina. And they may improve somewhat. But they won't advance as far as Christina in the long run. How can they? They are not pushing themselves or learning anything new.

We do the same with our careers. All too often, we compare ourselves to those at our level. Why not compare ourselves to someone way beyond ourselves? If you own a small company - don't compete against other small companies - compete against the biggest and the best. If you're a mid-level employee - don't aim for the job just above yours, aim for the top job.

If we compare ourselves to the average, then the average is our benchmark. If we compare ourselves to the best, then that's the bar to beat. We should request to be on the team of people smarter than ourselves, demand to be the junior man on the senior team, plead to be the inexperienced one on the project staffed with all the most experienced people. If we always surround ourselves with people much better than ourselves and openly declare that we're there to learn and to compete and to improve...then we will learn, we will compete and we will improve.