decline:婉言拒绝这个词侧重表达婉言拒绝,也就是谢绝的意思。其后可接名词或不定式作宾语;同时这个词也可为不及物动词,不接宾语。
The company reported a small decline in its profits. 公司报告其利润略有减少。An increase in cars has resulted in the decline of public transport. 汽车的增加导致了公共交通的减少。The government has failed to reverse the economic decline.
政府未能扭转经济滑坡的趋势。One region is attempting to buck the trend of economic decline. 其中一个地区正试图挡住经济衰退的趋势。Industry in Britain has been in decline since the 1970s. 英国工业自20世纪70年代以来一直在走下坡路。
My initial reaction was to decline the offer. 我最初的反应是要婉言谢绝这个提议。The climate of political confusion has only reinforced the country's economic decline. 政局混乱只加速了国家经济的衰退。I offered to give them a lift but they declined.