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谈英语俚语
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在中文报章杂志上,常看到一些英语俚语(口语)的中文翻译。诸如「黑羊」、「踢水桶」、「阿奇里斯 H6 v2 B5 I+ t; z0 e/ m$ y
之踝」等等。其实这些译文都是来自英语「black sheep」、「kick the bucket」和「Achille's heel」。
- T& J y2 r. {1 j- V若是这些译文不附加原文予以解释,恐怕「迷惑」的读者,不在少数。这不是影响了语文的沟通目的吗?为此,介绍一些这类的英语俚语(在此称之为「特别字眼」),也许对某些读者会有点助益!: a. N' Y( H8 G7 V, U6 z5 g
+ H# ^5 O4 g* U- R(1) empty suit:
" D+ a/ n# W6 k6 ]% m& _6 q指不重要的人或假冒者 ( an unimportant person or a phony) 多半用在商业上,当名词用。
' o, {. X/ e" J0 q(这本是business term,指虽然穿著整齐全套的 business suit,却不能干、没有能力,不受尊敬的人。)
8 U y8 Z5 \, U) U例如:7 ~6 u& n5 Y' U' j/ m* r
An empty suit generally gets no attention from the public.0 x5 t" y$ S$ F: W
(一位虚伪不实的人,通常不会受到大众的注意。)% C- N7 K5 P* p6 R) A# R4 M* d
Mr. Lee acts like a big shot, but he is just an empty suit./ O9 n; ^- K; b( e! p
(李先生装著像位大人物,但他只是不重要的人。)! ^" d& b# j0 h5 h( T& N
虽然这句话,多半只用单数,但有时也用复数:: \& b0 C9 u" {; Z
The company is filled with a lot of empty suits.
# s' F3 `' s( V% ^$ i/ q(这公司有许多虚伪不重要的人)5 z# S2 m7 ~0 F# Z; z
(2) fair-haired boy:9 p f5 U8 K6 P0 j9 `! v0 ^
指得宠的人,也就是宠儿,多半指男人(a fa-vorite person usually referring to a man)
- {5 o6 F- \, ?(通常用单数,当名词用)0 f' H4 S2 V, {& L, i
例如:% `( a. s$ t' { q' `
Mr. Cheney has become a fair-haired boy to the presi-dent.
: w" ?3 N$ Z* W3 h6 e4 @( Cheney 先生变成总统的宠儿。). v# F- i# B0 W5 b7 {6 Y- r
Not being a fair-haired boy, Mr. Wong never gets pay-raises and promotions.# z4 \+ c" [; W( G' ]
(王先生不得宠,从未得到加薪和升级。). U9 }; b% ~% x# L% B) X
有时也可用复数:: T5 S: |$ N; v0 w) T
Mr. Bush selected two former fair-haired boys for his cabinet.
F1 [) i4 f" ^) O(Bush 先生为他的内阁选用两位过去的宠儿。)
( t3 `- P/ H1 h% eFair-haired boys tend to receive special treatment by their bosses.
; p/ d" L9 E3 E/ {0 ~& g; Q(得宠的人,较会受到他们上司的特别待遇。). [9 m0 q. P4 v4 n
(但没有 fair-haired girl 的说法)
% {$ g1 m9 F9 _- U! r! \(3) fishing expedition:
8 d: | Q# x% T% c# N为了搜罗新闻材料而进行盘问或调查(Try to ask questions to get more useful information)( o9 O+ I& U9 R& q! `+ L
(这句话本是 legal term,当名词用,多半用单数)- W5 K9 J, k- u {, f0 j
例如:$ h1 L% b- N r' I9 g
The judge said the prosecutor was on a fishing expedi-tion and stopped him.
4 R U8 s W# d8 [. t(法官说原告为搜罗罪证而进行调查,要他停止。)
2 W/ }. q3 T8 M% TThe police are on a fishing expedition in order to solve(或 resolve)the murder case.8 C. d8 L: Y" u( f1 N
(警察进行调查盘问,以便侦破谋杀案。)7 {9 s5 s0 t6 o/ n0 k
(注:solve 和 resolve 都有「解决」的意思,但通常solve用在「问题上」,resolve 用在「争执」上。solve the problem 而 resolve the conflict)* A7 E1 p" R7 T
The reporter went on a fishing expedition about the president's involvement in the Iraq War.& L% {$ R$ Z" s9 o x2 l
(记者搜罗有关总统卷入伊拉克战争的新闻资料。)
+ ~9 c, z& i) j- j8 o u% ^偶尔也有人用复数:
. a5 X9 i& W; T" y" XSeveral fishing expeditions have been made before he decides to run for office.: W4 X" b+ Y& m& Q! O# Z' L( l
(在他决定竞选之前,他做了数次的收集资料调查。)/ u4 h+ M; f8 D2 O: \: {- X! A" G- N
(4) filthy rich:
$ h3 G0 f5 ]* `5 o+ U意思是很富有,很有钱。(very wealthy)
' R/ l* c+ t2 _(未必是不义之财或肮脏钱)
/ Z5 r: x1 A' v5 U- G多半当形容词用。例如:
3 H. X+ Q. @, W0 KWith a beautiful mansion and an expensive car, Mr. B must be filthy rich.
5 \' m& c1 ~7 ^: y9 I, O. h( B先生住著富丽堂皇的大厦,开著昂贵的汽车,他一定很有钱。)
h% i( X! ~/ o, G9 bDespite being filthy rich, Mr. C is still leading his life in a frugal way.
n9 w) y5 `/ P& G+ `(尽管 C 先生很富有,他仍然过著简朴的生活。)
. W# b9 J+ ^4 ^3 \; O( VA filthy rich person tends to have a superiority complex toward others.
- A* \+ q- L8 ?4 C2 N- I(有钱者对他人有优越感的倾向。)3 n; s4 E/ B- p; _$ m9 z; h
Filthy rich people are not necessarily well-respected unless they possess noble characters.9 _: S0 P) m- t$ \ D& ?1 b# D
(有钱人未必受人尊敬,除非有高尚的品格。)
1 V8 H% F6 f0 `4 e: e. z(注:但没有 cleanly rich 的说法)4 K$ m* _9 H- @' b
(5) fairy godmother:
$ \- u* h- \0 X5 _* Z2 ~- V指及时慷慨提供帮助的人(someone who unex-pectedly gives generous assistance)" o W2 t M8 u; f i
(多半指有钱的女人)
9 w* z4 A! _) ^7 ^! p6 k( Q(这是来自 fairy tale, 指女人有 magical power;因为童话故事里没有男人,故不说 fairy godfather。当名词用。例如:
! z5 d9 I% S: h* c. V' WMr. A has a fairy godmother who gave him fifty thou-sand dollars.) {- x$ g! t2 f! B2 [( q
(一位有钱的女人,帮助A先生五万元。)
. E3 y* t& u# N4 z0 v8 I5 Q9 |/ cAfter lifelong savings, Mrs. B donated all her money to a charity organization like a fairy godmother.; h( @4 l& ~9 k" k( t8 m
(B 太太将一生的积蓄全部捐给慈善机构。), O9 B- V& y3 Y' Q
有时也用复数:
7 H9 Y+ l9 p8 v) {8 |Only business women can act as fairy godmothers.. t4 L$ r9 o" |2 p
(只有商场上的女人才能提供金钱帮助他人。)
5 U5 d- i( h$ ]; q0 Z2 F" fIn Chinese society very few fairy godmothers can be discovered.
# V3 N( L# m$ }2 A2 ?: {) |' Y( U+ \(在中国社会里,很少有钱的女人慷慨捐助。)1 f* Q9 [5 A6 p' [/ d) d6 s: l
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2 q: p! x8 Y7 M6 ]$ O8 P# t- u6)eye opener:
& a9 I7 h2 }8 |& b9 b4 l) w6 V. [# e指令人瞠目的事物或使人恍然大悟的发现。也就是惊人的新发现或启示(shocking news or revela-tion)
$ ~ x6 w. g' {: u* s- u( i% ^(当名词用;通常只用单数)
, s( z: X; J6 S' |2 P/ G7 Q$ y- l; k# N例如:+ M9 |1 E' B* I E8 n; j8 u
Your wonderful article on marriage was certainly an eye opener to many youngsters.- R) w1 q, E* ]3 g# r
(你那篇有关婚姻的好文章,使许多年轻人获得启示。)$ h) a" m& x" y% s: ?5 i
Mr. Wong's speech about U.S./ China policy seemed to be an eye opener.
' U. U2 [) \" R U(王先生的中美政策讲演使人恍然大悟。)
( N4 @- s4 _) z$ E6 y/ b1 q* u1 T3 rThe popular World Journal in North America is an eye opener for many Chinese immigrants.) N5 L0 T! n9 i( G& [. {! e
(大名鼎鼎的世界日报是北美许多中国移民惊喜的新发现。)9 b5 }7 T a5 ^0 m8 s. }3 ?2 l- u9 ]
Some American customs and ways of thinking can be an eye opener to many Chinese people.
5 B5 X# \. x- L( k(美国一些的风俗习惯和想法,让许多老中感到惊奇。)
$ }6 i5 Q8 t" t8 }(7) hot dog:" B# N. n+ Z3 |
指喜欢卖弄冒险的举动,或爱出锋头的惊险动作。(one who performs showy or dangerous stunts ; a show off) ( 可当名词或动词用)
' Z* N9 s" }9 Q例如:- d* k. N' ^7 ^. }- n2 |
Some young people are hot dogs behind the wheel, speeding all the time.
! B" x" F& i2 P! S/ h5 J$ Y(一些年轻人开车时,常做些超速的惊险动作。)
1 W, q9 ~# I: S2 x. ~; Z& g8 p(这里的 hot dogs = hot doggers)
% n% [5 X _6 D9 l1 E6 S* ]6 a# c: gIn front of his girlfriend, the teenager was trying to hot dog.
, l3 W( v$ i: V! w- ](在女友面前,年轻人做出一些卖弄技巧的花招。)
" H3 L2 R+ o) O7 n- Z' N(动词时态是:hot dogged, hot dogging)" R# Y& O" ?& v f" p0 |$ |4 T) Z
During the air force show, one of the pilots was a dan-gerous hot dogging flyer.
* T3 c& _' H N5 u- [! E(在空军表演时,一位飞行员做惊险的飞行动作。)
+ _6 v% T7 u/ c5 L也指真正的热狗食物:
8 C" u" e7 j2 w6 v& P2 CThe hot dog is one of the favorite fast food in the U.S.
# k4 s& g3 f+ ^7 A0 H, B( e' F(在美国热狗是一种受欢迎的快餐。). R1 @! D4 y2 ~/ l: H
也可表达欣赏的心情:+ L4 a0 J) W! A+ o8 @1 S
Hot dog ! What great news for me.& D. Y4 L8 U3 {! B
(真棒!对我来说是好消息。)1 u5 F8 L% F, C; ]0 W
(8)eager beaver:
# |' ^/ l! X) e' o- k5 }- N5 \指做事非常卖力的人,也许为了给人良好的印象。(one who likes to work harder in order to impress others), b: d: |3 A9 [: i0 C) x) G6 l
(这句话是来自二次世界大战,新兵为了讨好长官而卖力工作。)# ^$ ~: m+ `: E: I
(当名词用,可指男女)
; a1 q, N9 \+ Q, b' ]例如:
, m* r# a' y G+ }) {John seems an eager beaver because he always comes early and leaves late.
, c/ i; F4 P% m7 R! [$ ?(John 似乎是十分卖力的人,因为他总是来得早,走得晚。)
4 y1 R" A/ L7 f; ~Being an eager beaver, he sometimes is not well-liked by his colleagues.
. V/ |9 ?0 E$ _/ r0 _(他做事异常卖力,有时不受同事喜欢。)
8 p7 P$ ]" j" }- @ cDoes Mr. B have a long-lasting attitude as an eager beaver?% Y$ `1 x4 n. L" ^# o
(B 先生做事非常卖力,那是长久以来的态度吗?)
3 c- u4 j: t6 X5 G* ^3 j* N, BYou may find some eager beavers in any organizations.
- R$ i! b" O! \. K% _2 \(在任何机关里,你总会发现一些对上司竭力讨好的人。)
( P( k D! j9 b(9)doubting Thomas:! l# b N- \* S5 y5 a
这是指不信任所有的人,几乎是一种怀疑主义者。(one who is always doubtful toward others)% q4 B2 N( E& e0 K' c
(这原出于圣经,因耶稣门徒 Thomas 不信基督的复活)
4 x/ {; ?* m7 G9 ~9 s(当名词用)
$ v; y) W- K& X! o z) R, C例如:/ ^9 ^6 g$ i( g, j' p+ T' Y
I am not trying to be a doubting Thomas about Mr. Wong's keeping promise. t* o; x( Q+ i6 ]2 v
(我不怀疑王先生的承诺。)! l9 b, [2 Z( {' V9 g3 J
There must have been some unpleasant experiences for Mr. B to become a doubting Thomas." f7 ~# Y8 m# i5 d$ K5 f1 V
(B 先生不信任他人,也许因为有不愉快的经验所致。) N3 z1 o2 |# F9 |
也可用复数:
4 c+ f$ a$ D1 E. }My friends are doubting Thomases toward many Chi-nese business people.- X- q) y% u; p" ?% S4 s
(我朋友对许多中国商人不信任。)5 q) R5 E+ d4 V/ q+ A* q$ g
If there are too many doubting Thomases in our society, people will lose confidence with one another.0 v8 t8 U) M. L
(假如社会上有太多的怀疑主义者,那么人与人之间的信心就会丧失。)
. y: J& _) p; m1 t3 p4 a(10)dragon lady:* f5 C- F5 P, P- G `$ A2 e
指生气、不友善或凶险的女人。(angry, un-friendly or dangerous woman)(当名词用)
: K& X( D7 q7 a! u% z+ I+ t T例如:; k1 |6 V) z/ b8 |
The chairman's secretary is so snoffy and nasty that she is considered a dragon lady.
& ]' z5 E6 C+ ~4 ~(主席的秘书,很自大,脾气差,她被视为凶恶的女人。)
' J) c2 J0 x, W; yI am sure no woman likes to be called a dragon lady.
9 ~7 n* M) `' v(我相信没有女人喜欢被称为凶恶的女人。)1 Z6 m. }2 f5 H7 O6 `8 a* O
Should your girlfriend happens to be a dragon lady, are you going to breakup with her?
% |8 s& g" t" c2 U0 f(假如你的女友成了凶恶的女人,你要与她分手吗?)1 W. Y ^; j" Q- ~; j2 X# s
也可用复数:4 O; E. s8 h+ g( `$ ?8 Z1 E
There may be many dragon ladies in our community.
+ g9 D9 M. s' h(在我们社区里也许有不少凶女人。)- B# Z) j7 v0 N6 R) I: p( k
注:老外指凶恶男人,不用 dragon gentleman,利用英国侦探小说里的中国恶棍傅满洲(Fu Manchu)为代表 |
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