hold a brief for 有意维护

【讲解】

在这里brief作名词。与该习语意义相反的习语为hold no brief for,其意思是“不支持，不赞成”。例如：I hold no brief for those who say that violence can be justified.(我不赞成人们说有时使用暴力是合乎情理的.)

【对话】

A:Why did you quarrel with our teacher?

A：为什么你和老师吵架？

B:He held a brief for Tom, it's unfair.

B:他有意维护汤姆，这是不公平的。

A:Don't tell me that. I think you were wrong, too.

A:别这么说，我想你也有错。