嗨,大家好!我們知道mutton有「羊肉」的意思,lamb有「羊羔,小羊」的意思,那mutton dressed as lamb是什麼意思?
mutton dressed as lamb的意思是「a way of describing an older woman who is dressed in a style that is more suitable for a younger woman」,即「扮俏或裝嫩的婦女」。
這句習語最早出現在1811年Frances Calvert 夫人編撰的《社會八卦雜誌》上。 1911年出版的《An Irish Beauty of the Regency》中,有收納那本雜誌的摘錄,那段話是這樣說的:
Someone the other day asked the Prince of Wales at the Ancient Music whether he did not think some girl pretty. 'Girl!' answered he, 'Girls are not to my taste. I don't like lamb; but mutton dressed like lamb!'.
在這段話中,威爾斯親王把女孩比作lamb,mutton dressed like lamb比作打扮得像女孩的那些女子,所以mutton dressed like lamb這句習語後來就引申為「扮俏或裝嫩的婦女」的意思啦!
例句:
Alice, do you think this dress is too young-looking for me? Oh, I don't want to look likemutton dressed as lamb.
愛麗絲,這條連身裙對我來說是不是太年輕了?哦,我可不想裝嫩。
At first sight, I thought she was so attractive, but in a better light, I realized she was mutton dressed up as lamb.
第一眼我覺得她非常迷人,但看仔細一些我才明白她在裝嫩。
以上就是今天所學內容,你學會了嗎?