玛丽接受这份新的工作，以提高自己的身价。 Mary took the new job to better herself.
不要自贬身价，以免被人看轻。 Don't make yourself a mouse, or the cat will eat you.
使汤姆十分惊讶的是，社会地位很高的、有时还是贵族社会和上流社会的贵妇们，怎么会自贬身价，用下流粗话来发泄感情。 It was greatly surprising to Tom that ladies of standing in society, often of rank and fashion, should condescend to utter sentiments couched in the language of the fish market.