请问句中的either to sweep all before it是什么意思？

问题描述

The ability to split atoms and extract energy from them was one of the more remarkable scientific achievements of the 20th century, widely seen as world-changing. Intuitively one might expect such a scientific wonder either to sweep all before it or be renounced, rather than end up in a modest niche, at best stable, at worst dwindling.

请问句中的either to sweep all before it是什么意思？

老师答疑

刘老师：

Intuitively one might expect such a scientific wonder either to sweep all before it or be renounced.

【翻译】凭直觉，有人可能认为这样的科学奇迹，或者大获全胜或者为人摈弃。

【分析】本句谓语部分：expect +宾语+ to do sth.

1. sweep all before it 是个英语习语。字面意思是“横扫面前的一切”，引申为：“所向无敌；所向披靡；彻底成功；大获全胜”。

2. either to sweep all before it or be renounced： either...or...连接两个并列的不定式。