volunteer to do sth/recommend oneself

毛遂自荐

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

战国时代，秦国军队攻打赵国的都城。

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

赵国的平原君打算亲自到楚国去请救兵，想挑选一个精明能干的人一同前去。

A man called Mao Sui volunteered.

有一个名叫毛遂的人，自告奋勇愿意同去。

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.

平原君到楚国后，与楚王谈了半天，没有一点结果。毛遂怒气冲冲地拿着宝剑，逼近楚王，终于迫使楚王答应出兵，与赵国联合共同抵抗秦国。

This idiom means to recommend oneself.

“毛遂自荐”这个成语用来比喻自己推荐自己，不必别人介绍。

【文化链接】

英文中“毛遂自荐”可以说成“volunteer to do sth”，“volunteer”既可以作名词，也可以作动词，作名词时的意思是“志愿者”，作动词就可以解释为“志愿去做什么事”，就是“毛遂自荐”啦~

我们来一起看几个例句吧~

Our company volunteered to support and help the victims.

我们的公司毛遂自荐来帮助受灾灾民。

You can volunteer to work one or multiple shifts.

你可以毛遂自荐做单班制，也可以选择多班制。