something of a(an) ¹

something of a(an)既可与表物的名词连用,亦可与表人的名词连用。它表示不确定的程度(多少,有点,在某种程度上):

1. I'm something of a carpenter. 我会点儿木工。
2. I'm something of a photographer myself, you know. 你知道,我本人是多少懂得点儿摄影的。
3. He speaks with something of a foreign accent. 他说话带有一点儿外国口音。
4. It is something of a mystery why the trade union should continue to support this policy. 工会为什么继续支持这项政策,真是有点儿难以理解。
5. Larry has something of a penchant for golfing, but Tom has none. (TOEFL) 拉里有点儿爱好高尔夫球，但汤姆却一点也不爱好。
6. He's something of a character. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 他是个有个性的人。(《达·芬奇密码》) 有时 something of a(an) 表示 a fairly good(相当不错的一个,可以说是一个相当突出的):
7. Dr. James is something of a philosopher. 詹姆斯博士是一个相当不错的哲学家。
8. He's something of a book collector. 他可以称得上是一位书籍收藏家。
9. They say he's something of a musician. (ELD) 据说他颇有音乐家的天分。
10. Mrs. Hunt was something of a beauty in her days. 亨特太太年轻时是相当漂亮的。something of a(an) $^{2}$

上句似应译为： 他有几分音乐天赋(或他颇有音乐家的天赋)。 请对比： Jessy had something of the genius of humour in her nature. 杰西生来有点儿幽默天才。