volunteer to do sth/recommend oneself

毛遂自薦

In the Warring States Period， the State of Qin besieged the capital of the State of Zhao.

戰(zhàn)國時代，秦國軍隊攻打趙國的都城。

Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Chu personally for assistance.He wanted to select a capable man to go with him.

趙國的平原君打算親自到楚國去請救兵，想挑選一個精明能干的人一同前去。

A man called Mao Sui volunteered.

有一個名叫毛遂的人，自告奮勇愿意同去。

When the negotiactions between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitated to send troops， Mao Sui approached him， brandishing a sword. At that， the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao， against Qin.

平原君到楚國后，與楚王談了半天，沒有一點結果。毛遂怒氣沖沖地拿著寶劍，逼近楚王，終于迫使楚王答應出兵，與趙國聯(lián)合共同抵抗秦國。

This idiom means to recommend oneself.

“毛遂自薦”這個成語用來比喻自己推薦自己，不必別人介紹。

英文中“毛遂自薦”可以說成“volunteer to do sth”，“volunteer”既可以作名詞，也可以作動詞，作名詞時的意思是“志愿者”，作動詞就可以解釋為“志愿去做什么事”，就是“毛遂自薦”啦~

我們來一起看幾個例句吧~

Our company volunteered to support and help the victims.

我們的公司毛遂自薦來幫助受災災民。

You can volunteer to work one or multiple shifts.

你可以毛遂自薦做單班制，也可以選擇多班制。