英語中很多顏色單詞有特殊的寓意,比如之前的 black day,black and blue 和 baby blues 等等,還有接下來的 black sheep,字面意思是「黑色的綿羊」,綿羊是白色的,根據之前的習語判斷規則,black sheep 肯定是一個習慣用語,意為「害群之馬,有辱家族的人」,寓意:
a disgrace
恥辱
the least reputable member of a group
團體中名聲最差的成員
someone who is viewed as unlike the rest (usually a part of a family)
被認為不像其他人的人(通常是家庭的一部分)
someone who is disapproved of
不被認可的人
someone who brings shame to their family
給家人帶來恥辱的人
例如:
I have always been the black sheep of my family. Everyone else has responsible jobs while I have chosen to be an artist.
其他所有人都有義務範圍內的工作,而我選擇成為一名藝術家。
John is the black sheep in our family. He almost ended up in jail a few times when we were younger.
約翰是我們家族的害群之馬。在我們年輕的時候,他好幾次差點進監獄。
解析:此句中的 family 是集體名詞,當作整體來看,表示整個家族;當然 family 也可以表示全體成員,這時作主語,謂語動詞用複數,例如:
All my family enjoy skiing.
我們全家都喜歡滑雪。
My cousin is seen as the black sheep in our family. She left school to run off with her boyfriend.
在我們家族,我表妹被看作有辱家族的人。她離開學校和男朋友私奔了。
解析:run off with sb 表示與某人私奔。
Eric is a black sheep, splashing one million dollars in a few years.
埃裡克是個害群之馬,幾年之內就花了一百萬美元。
解析:現在分詞 splashing one million dollars in a few years 作狀語表原因。
天生我材必有用,人的一生都是有作為的一生,千萬不能有辱家族,有辱公德的行為。
本文由外語行天下原創,歡迎關注,帶你一起長知識!