英式英語和美式英語之別——令美國人糊塗的英式短語

小編曾有一期文章展示部分令英國人困惑的美式短語，現在讓我們換換思路，看看一些令人困惑的英式短語。英國人常用的一些習慣用語或成語的出處含混不清，這使得親英派的人們怕是也不習慣這些不同尋常的表達方式。

1. They’re chalk and cheese. What does it mean?

A. They’re very different.

B. They’re looking pale.

C. They’re very fickle.

2. Bob’s your uncle! What does it mean?

A. You used nepotism.

B. What a coincidence!

C. You come from a rural area.

D. The task is easily achieved.

3. I』ve known her for donkey’s. What does it mean?

A. I』ve known her for a very long time.

B. She’s a jerk.

C. I don’t trust her.

D. I know a lot of her secrets.

4. Something for the weekend. What does it mean?

A. A condom

B. A time-consuming hobby

C. Marijuana

D. A duvet

5. At Her Majesty’s pleasure. What does it mean?

A. A lazy morning

B. Waiting for somebody slow

C. A beautiful sunset

D. In prison

6. Swings and roundabouts. What does it mean?

A. Ways of avoiding problem

B. Obstacles that prevent you getting somewhere

C. Gains and losses that offset each other

D. Perks of a job that aren’t mentioned in the job advert

7. Horses for courses. What does it mean?

A. Somebody wearing cloths suited to a younger person

B. Food that looks good by tastes terrible

C. A very competitive race

D. Different things suit different people

8. He’s got the hump.

A. He’s in love

B. He’s very hungry

C. He’s annoyed

D. He can drink a lot of alcohol without getting drunk

9. I need to spend a penny

A. I’m addicted to candy

B. I can’t afford to go abroad this year

C. I need to go to the toilet

D. I need to change my shoes

10. He’s on the pull

A. He’s going to get promoted

B. He relies on charity

C. He’s hoping to have sex with someone

D. He’s driving

準備好看答案了嗎？往下拉！

1. A

「chalk and cheese」等同於美國人說的「apples and oranges」，形容兩個事物或人是完全不同的或完全無法兼容的，通常的句式為「like / as different as chalk and cheese」，例如：we'll never get on—we're like chalk and cheese。

2. D

「Bob’s your uncle」據說源於 Arthur Balfour，他曾被自己的首相叔叔 Robert Cecil（暱稱為Bob）任命在多個頗有聲望的職位上，現用於表示很輕鬆就能完成某項任務。例如，Put together a couple of kitchen fitments, buy a coffee machine and Bob's your uncle.

3. A

「Donkey’s」通常是」donkey’s years」的簡寫方式，最初可能寫作 donkey’s ears，指代某物長度上很長，現指很長一段時間。例如，we've been close friends for donkey's years.

4. A

令人難以置信，「Something for the weekend」指保險套，人們通常認為這是售賣保險套的理髮師向顧客推銷時的委婉詞語，例如」something for the weekend, sir?」

5. D

「His sharp practice cost him a term at Her Majesty's pleasure」，如果有人 at Her Majesty’s pleasure，那他就是關押在英國監獄裡。形成這一詞組是因為君主最初擁有自由裁決是否關押某人的權利。

6. C

Swings and roundabouts 在英式英語中意為「不同的行動或選擇最終都造成毫無收益或毫無損失的情況，或所得和所失相抵消」，是不是有點殊途同歸或是失之東隅，收之桑榆的意思呢？更為完整的短語是」to gain on the swings and lose on the roundabouts」。例如，I don't want to have to, but it's swings and roundabouts.

7. D

Horses for courses 是英國諺語，意為「不同的人適合不同的事物」，其出處是短語」 Different race horses would perform better on different racecourses / 不同的賽馬在不同的賽道上各有更好表現」，真是各有所長或是各有所愛的含義吧。例如：So I'm not interested in politics, it's horses for courses.

8. C

短語 get / have / give someone the hump 的出處並不清楚，可能是與駱駝相關，其含義為「變得或令人惱怒、無緣故發脾氣」，例如」fans get the hump when they lose」或」Debate has been raging about road safety, with people across London getting the hump.」

9. C

在英國，曾經需要花費一個 penny 使用一次投幣式公共廁所，這就是短語 spend a penny 替代「小便」的委婉說法，例如」you can't get to sleep when you want to spend a penny」。

10. C

例句中的 pull 和 attractions 之間看起來有很明顯的關聯。短語 on the pull 在英式非正式語境中指企圖吸引某人上床，例如」an eligible bachelor on the pull」或」I remember now why I'm not interested in going on the pull.」

（來源：牛津辭典微信公眾號  編輯：Julie）