和中文一樣,英語中的絕大多數成語,或者包含形象的比喻,或者說出了深刻的道理。以這些標準衡量,And then some可以算是英語中最不像成語的成語,3個組成部分都是最常用的詞,而且都是虛詞,一個連詞,一個副詞,一個代詞。
無論在影視作品,還是在書面文字中,很多人都曾碰到過And then some這個說法。9月份的The Economist,關於歐洲的新聞中,就有這樣一段:
ALL they were hoping to do, said the organisers of an art festival in Wiesbaden, a small city on the banks of the Rhine, when they installed a four-metre statue of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the town’s central square in late August, was to spark a debate about the Turkish president.
八月下旬,德國西部的城市威斯巴登舉行了一場藝術節,在藝術節期間,市中心的廣場上樹起了土耳其現任總統的塑像。組織方人聲稱,這樣做的目的,是希望大家討論這位當代政治人物的是非功過。
They got one, and then some. A woman spat on the statue. Others covered it with graffiti.
這座塑像確實引發了不少討論,但人們的反應很快就超出了口頭討論的程度。一個女人當眾向塑像吐口水,還有人在塑像上面塗鴉。
And then some 的釋義
在實際生活中,母語並非英語的人士,很少使用And then some這個說法,甚至注意不到這是一個固定的成語表達。在遇到時,也通常都會對其視而不見,甚至不會去查字典,只是當作別人話沒說完就打住了,偶爾會納悶:and then some what?
嚴格來說,And then some是個俚語,語氣幽默,一般都是用在陳述句的後面,用來表示:實際的程度、要遠遠超出前面所陳述的程度,相當於中文的「豈止、何止…」。口語中,在使用And then some時,通常會特別在then上面加重語氣。
And then some在生活中很常用,也很有用。要想掌握And then some的用法,最好的辦法就是集中多看幾個例句:
A: "This dessert is very rich."
B: "And then some! I don't think I can finish it."
這道甜點非常油膩。
何止油膩,我恐怕都吃不完。
You will have to train and then some if you want to make the basketball team—there are so many good players this year.
要想入選那支球隊,你們必須好好訓練,是必須拼命訓練。
They were successful in obtaining top positions because when it came to their work, they did what needed to be done and then some.
他們能成功獲得高層職位,是有原因的。在工作中,他們不僅會盡到份內的職責,而且會格外地精心努力。
電視劇中的例子
下面是兩個電視劇中的例子,分別來自英國和美國。
Forgive me, Lady Vera, but given the fact of where we have just now brought you from and where you were found, this face you offer to the world... some could call it heartless.
我插一句話,男爵夫人,我們的警員是在那樣兇險的地方發現你的,而且當時床上滿是血汙,你身邊橫陳著一具屍體;考慮到這些,現在你臉上卻是這樣無動於衷的表情,有些人會認為這是冷酷無情。
I am calm.It is how I was raised.
我只是冷靜、處變不驚,從小家裡就是這麼教育我的。
You are calm, and then some more.
你的確是處變不驚,但你冷靜得有些過份。
When you are secretive, it prevents me from being able to do my job.
如果你什麼事情都瞞著我,我的工作就沒法做了。
And when you cancel meetings, it prevents me from being able to do mine.
你不打招呼就把我和總統的會面取消,也讓我沒法做工作。
Which is why I wanted to talk, so we can work things out.
所以我要找你談談,把話講清楚。
I will not waste my time, inflating your sense of self-importance!
我沒工夫在這兒浪費時間,滿足你的虛榮心。
We should be working together… Excuse me?
我們應該彼此溝通…,你剛才說什麼?
How many elections have you won?! How many congressional committees have you chaired?! Would you even be working in the White House if I hadn't recommended you during the campaign?
你有什麼功勞,你贏過幾次選舉,你擔任過幾個國會委員會的主席?如果不是在競選時我向總統舉薦,你現在能在白宮工作嗎?
I returned that favor and then some. Look where your desk is now!
可我已經還了你的人情,而且遠不止於此。你現在不也在白宮上班,而且當上了副總統。
And I'd say we're even.
行了,那就算你我互不相欠吧。
END.