Donna can sing after a fashion.

（誤譯）唐納能唱時代歌曲。
（正譯）唐納多少能唱一些歌。

after a fashion adv. 勉強；不太好

Donna can sing after a fashion.
唐娜勉強能唱首歌。

Carl played golf after a fashion.
卡爾的高爾夫球打得不好。

he speaks French after a fashion.
他勉強會說幾句法語。

類似的表達還有：

1. manage with an effort 勉強

2. do sth. with difficulty 做某事很費勁

3. grudgingly；unwillingly；narrowly；reluctantly 勉強地

He gave his permission grudgingly.
他勉強地表示“許可”。

The boss grudgingly raised my salary.
老板很不情愿地給我加了薪。

He submitted unwillingly to his mother.
他不情愿地屈服于他母親。

Even when I call, he receives unwillingly.
他也是很不情愿地接待我。

He is likely to win the presidency narrowly in a run-off ballot.
他可能在決賽投票中勉強獲勝。

Been there, done that, narrowly avoided nervous breakdown through counselling and medication.
我也有過類似經歷，通過心理咨詢和藥物治療才勉強沒有精神崩潰。

4. reluctant；loth；strained；loath 勉強的