英語中有些俚語很有意思
但是卻很容易被搞錯意思
比如這九個,也蠻常見的,但意思不大好猜
你都知道它們真正的意思嗎?
1. a chip on one’s shoulder
一個肩膀上的木片?是輕微的壓力嗎?其實不是。
這成語出自十九世紀的美國.當時多數家庭都要砍木為薪,很多地方都有木碎.好勇鬥狠的少年想找人打架,會在自己肩上放一塊木碎,問人家敢不敢撥下來,撥下來就有架打了.所以,carry/have/wear a chip on one's shoulder是說準備隨時吵嘴、打架的樣子,一般是指感到委屈、一有機會就爆發的人。類似於漢語的「針鋒相對」「互不相讓」或「好鬥」,有時也與漢語的「叫板」近似。
Peter, stop being a chip on my shoulder. Just take care of your own work.
彼得,你就管好你份內的工作,少找我麻煩了。
He is not popular among his peers. He always seems to have a chip on his shoulder.
他在同學中人緣不好,他好像總要別人叫板。
2. a pain in the neck
中文口語裡說不喜歡的人或事,有時候會說「真讓人頭疼」,英文裡對應的表達則是說「讓人脖子疼」。意為「討厭的人或事」,讓人感到芒刺在背、燙手山竽、如鯁在喉。
這是一個常見的俚語,你幾乎每天都可以聽到美國人說這個俚語。如:He is a real pain in the neck. 那個人真討厭。Negotiating with customers is a pain in the neck for Betty.
對 Betty 來說,要跟客戶協商是一件難搞的事情。
This new project is a pain in the neck .
這項新計劃真是令我煩惱啊。
3. a short fuse
一條短的引線,直覺來說就是容易快速引爆的引線,後來引申為形容一個人的脾氣不好。 fuse是導火線的意思,a short fuse,很短的導火線,因此「一點就著」, 所以have a short fuse就是形容脾氣暴躁,容易動怒,性情火爆。
Jason is a short fuse. So be careful when you speak with him.
Jason 的脾氣不太好,所以跟他講話的時候要小心一點。
Our neighbor have a short fuse and always quarrel with others.
我們的鄰居脾氣暴躁總跟人吵架。
4. a social butterfly
一隻社交的蝴蝶,形容那些善於交際、會應酬的人,對應中文裡的「交際花」。
Shelly is such a social butterfly. She became friends with more than 100 people in the party yesterday!
Shelly 是那麼的善於社交,她在昨天的派對就新認識了一百個人!
5. a clean slate
clean是乾淨的,slate是石板的意思。連起來,clean slate, 乾淨的石板,引申為一個事件的新開始,有「盡棄前嫌,重新開始」的意思。
It’s a clean slate to John after changing to a new company.
對於 John 來說換到一間新公司就象是新的開始一樣。
The proposal is to pay everything you owe, so that you can start with a clean slate.
建議你還清所有的債務,這樣你就能夠重新開始了。
6.have a bone to pick with…
從字面上來解釋就是挑骨頭的意思,實際上形容一些爭議、抱怨。與…有爭端需要解決;對…有意見;對…有理由懷恨[有時用作戲謔語]。
該短語多用於日常生活,不宜用於重大而嚴肅的爭論。
The article Ashley wrote is so perfect that there’s no bone to pick.
Ashley 所寫的文章完美到無可挑剔。
Honey, I have a bone to pick with you. Could you tell me what you want to buy when you ask me to accompany you shopping?
親愛的,我對你有點小抱怨,你叫我陪你去買東西時能不能告訴我你想買些什麼?
7. a cake walk
容易的事。走去吃蛋糕,形容就像走去吃蛋糕這件事一樣容易的事情。
For me, giving a speech in front of a thousand people is a cake walk.
對我來說,要在一千人面前演講易如反掌。
It is such a cake walk ; I can finish it in an hour.
這是一件簡單的事,我能在一小時做完。
8. a shot in the dark
在黑夜裡的射擊,就在形容一個人盲目臆測、瞎猜。
Guessing what the customers need without a proper market survey is like a shot in the dark.
在不做正確的市場調查的情況下就盲目臆測顧客的需求,簡直猶如亂槍打鳥。
I didn『t know.I was only a shot in the dark.
我不知道。那只是我瞎猜的。
9. a slap in the face
在臉上挨了一耳光,形容在公眾面前被羞辱、或是當頭棒喝的意思。
He got a slap in the face in front of all his classmates.
他在所有同學面前被公然羞辱。
I』ve told all my colleagues that I would become the manager but it was a slap in the face to hear that my friend instead of me got promoted.
我告訴了所有的同事我會晉升成經理,結果聽說是我的朋友代替我去做經理,簡直太打臉了。