自從智能手機(jī)普及以來，我們經(jīng)常能聽到“手機(jī)變磚”這個說法。也就是說，因為手機(jī)刷機(jī)或程序更新誤操作導(dǎo)致手機(jī)無法正常使用，不能正常使用的手機(jī)就像一塊磚頭，所以，英語中也就用brick一詞來表示這種狀況。

In the tech-centered world in which we live, it's inevitable that electronic devices might be periodically subjected to a bit of an overhaul, but what if our attempts at maintenance or improvement leave them worse for wear? This is the circumstance behind an action now described by the verb brick.

在我們生活的這個技術(shù)世界里，電子設(shè)備難免要定期進(jìn)行一些更新，但是，如果我們對電子設(shè)備的維護(hù)或升級導(dǎo)致它們無法使用了怎么辦呢？這種設(shè)備更新或升級后無法正常使用的情況現(xiàn)在可以用一個詞來表示：brick（變磚）。

The transitive verb brick refers to the undesirable action of causing an electronic device to stop working because of something you've done to the software, usually when updating its operating system or adding a new application. Though the term is usually used in the context of mobile phones, it's also possible to brick other devices, such as tablet or desktop computers and even games consoles. Devices are often bricked when there's an interruption to an update procedure, perhaps because of power failure or because the user inadvertently does something which affects it. Such interruptions can partially overwrite or corrupt what is known as firmware, software which is integral to the device and without which it may not properly function. (Source: macmillandictionary.com)

這里的動詞brick就指因為對軟件進(jìn)行的某個操作導(dǎo)致電子設(shè)備罷工的意外狀況，這些操作通常是升級操作系統(tǒng)或添加新的應(yīng)用程序。雖然“變磚”這個說法多用于手機(jī)，不過這種情況也可能發(fā)生在平板電腦、臺式電腦以及游戲機(jī)主機(jī)等設(shè)備上。設(shè)備“變磚”多由斷電或用戶無意操作導(dǎo)致的升級程序中斷引發(fā)。此類程序中斷會部分覆蓋或損壞固件，固件就是設(shè)備中內(nèi)置的軟件，沒有此類軟件，設(shè)備可能無法正常運行。

相關(guān)閱讀

iPhone“越獄”到底指啥？

手機(jī)保姆 smartphone nanny

常玩手機(jī)警惕“手機(jī)臉”

手機(jī)幻聽 ringxiety

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen）

點擊查看更多英語習(xí)語和新詞