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谈英语俚语9 Z. |6 F% S) p5 M2 y
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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 c$ I0 j$ o5 O
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」。* J, I% q* |( j, X4 F& C
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!. @! ^% J+ v. G0 {
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(1) empty suit:
- ^: A u7 Z& e& O* N- f' u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。
6 O" p4 z5 f6 L0 X(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。)0 L A( I9 o9 N8 M d
例如:
6 z* R( x$ ~5 A5 n* rAn empty suit generally gets no attention from the public.- e+ }. @# l+ }! o2 A2 a: a* c
(一位虚伪不实的人,通常不会受到大众的注意。)5 Y$ u$ w5 ^' M, n' e
Mr. Lee acts like a big shot, but he is just an empty suit.
8 ^" e+ }: F6 |& P(李先生装著像位大人物,但他只是不重要的人。): B1 Q" w* F7 g7 I0 ?
虽然这句话,多半只用单数,但有时也用复数:# w6 u4 ]5 N& w" c& B% p
The company is filled with a lot of empty suits.
: a& R, f* R; l. X(这公司有许多虚伪不重要的人)- r' W5 @( G( d0 C, A8 p
(2) fair-haired boy:) ~" Y/ O+ M% D9 v* U
指得宠的人,也就是宠儿,多半指男人(a fa-vorite person usually referring to a man)& l: @" v' k5 r7 ^. ]
(通常用单数,当名词用)* ? G& c8 o }- \
例如:, h5 u4 z2 j& d" j( h1 u. |
Mr. Cheney has become a fair-haired boy to the presi-dent.% d f4 U( F7 w
( Cheney 先生变成总统的宠儿。)- t, c% z6 r9 F$ i# o
Not being a fair-haired boy, Mr. Wong never gets pay-raises and promotions., e3 ?! A: z7 E( @8 `& k9 P
(王先生不得宠,从未得到加薪和升级。)
" T1 m9 R) A! l8 E: d1 ^6 X有时也可用复数:( L; K! h \" \% r* c7 g9 N. {
Mr. Bush selected two former fair-haired boys for his cabinet.( a. `& h6 K1 N1 T. [2 C
(Bush 先生为他的内阁选用两位过去的宠儿。)
. u' u' d! m4 w* T: N: s6 P- ^Fair-haired boys tend to receive special treatment by their bosses.
, X+ G; q$ E4 s* ^3 D7 q(得宠的人,较会受到他们上司的特别待遇。)5 ~, v v0 P& m1 r, V
(但没有 fair-haired girl 的说法)
7 J" b1 s. z: A' q4 `4 n/ {- z- y(3) fishing expedition:
& C3 A }# A+ D# d6 V0 ~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)7 P9 g$ d/ e- o' x* @5 F
(这句话本是 legal term,当名词用,多半用单数)6 p: o/ W, V# K8 [
例如:
: V2 R1 g& N* G' h; O& _: U! `1 gThe judge said the prosecutor was on a fishing expedi-tion and stopped him.9 c& G* a9 `9 A4 i6 k# ]
(法官说原告为搜罗罪证而进行调查,要他停止。)
1 u f& w. x+ D, K1 ~' S" l! J7 TThe police are on a fishing expedition in order to solve(或 resolve)the murder case.. g* O) b) A, {
(警察进行调查盘问,以便侦破谋杀案。)5 S1 t. i& V% g4 w$ ]/ K9 J/ [4 ^
(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)8 q& f2 ~% W0 I1 y0 [& o/ v
The reporter went on a fishing expedition about the president's involvement in the Iraq War.
( Q) F. M5 }1 v2 @2 n4 k- B: h(记者搜罗有关总统卷入伊拉克战争的新闻资料。)' h& b* U3 L; V1 j; @ [" J
偶尔也有人用复数:
* A2 @5 b- z4 T1 fSeveral fishing expeditions have been made before he decides to run for office.
- L8 M5 [! i# I. u" i(在他决定竞选之前,他做了数次的收集资料调查。)& v4 C: E9 j5 M6 I+ s6 H
(4) filthy rich:6 e7 _* G/ U! k2 k F
意思是很富有,很有钱。(very wealthy)
4 I5 P5 h% H! T! O- m(未必是不义之财或肮脏钱) P2 \1 w1 k `7 U- J7 M
多半当形容词用。例如:
" n% u5 A" {( UWith a beautiful mansion and an expensive car, Mr. B must be filthy rich.; U0 n7 q) { {" {( U% I: \
( 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。). O2 G/ h3 e) _
Despite being filthy rich, Mr. C is still leading his life in a frugal way.
$ H& r+ S9 a' `+ G2 z: u(尽管 C 先生很富有,他仍然过著简朴的生活。)
. P+ q# d ~ m8 \1 BA filthy rich person tends to have a superiority complex toward others.- e/ U8 U' S j0 m
(有钱者对他人有优越感的倾向。)
- k3 A7 E5 S4 r( IFilthy rich people are not necessarily well-respected unless they possess noble characters.
; t+ v; X T- P! o2 e% v! y0 r8 J8 q(有钱人未必受人尊敬,除非有高尚的品格。)
7 [9 v3 e. Z0 i(注:但没有 cleanly rich 的说法)
3 \3 a; O0 [* y! V3 V(5) fairy godmother:% K' j$ o3 r8 k0 V& q" ?
指及时慷慨提供帮助的人(someone who unex-pectedly gives generous assistance)
" P" s; Z, _% @: M9 g; z+ e(多半指有钱的女人)
2 S( M2 d* i" Y9 w, q+ X! d j3 i(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:- i, z: g8 L: q! b5 {% o
Mr. A has a fairy godmother who gave him fifty thou-sand dollars.
3 S: ~3 _$ O0 C T W4 I7 m(一位有钱的女人,帮助A先生五万元。): K1 ]8 V9 N# t6 S
After lifelong savings, Mrs. B donated all her money to a charity organization like a fairy godmother.
/ T3 c/ L3 ~ G: e* d(B 太太将一生的积蓄全部捐给慈善机构。)
9 Q, R* n2 O& r$ S1 Y有时也用复数:
* s- k; w( C# W; k) |/ k/ q# FOnly business women can act as fairy godmothers.
( s/ f7 Z+ ?" b9 x" C9 p' y(只有商场上的女人才能提供金钱帮助他人。)
% J7 e6 _9 }5 ~* w: b6 YIn Chinese society very few fairy godmothers can be discovered.
/ o* D6 p8 g6 o" w5 o1 L(在中国社会里,很少有钱的女人慷慨捐助。)$ M: }5 u3 Q' t
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( ^$ O9 a4 w& |$ g6)eye opener:0 A" A# K3 u1 _3 ]" ?. T: N3 X
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)
' B n5 h: o. T v& x: \! Z(当名词用;通常只用单数)6 n3 m `. [+ E1 Y
例如:
) W8 K4 \ g/ S6 RYour wonderful article on marriage was certainly an eye opener to many youngsters.- t% e, I% b( X" U0 z3 m5 J
(你那篇有关婚姻的好文章,使许多年轻人获得启示。)9 A8 f+ P1 A" u3 Q T
Mr. Wong's speech about U.S./ China policy seemed to be an eye opener.7 Q" c4 Z# w) x
(王先生的中美政策讲演使人恍然大悟。)
5 h- U2 q" a; w) ~+ ?, `+ w2 nThe popular World Journal in North America is an eye opener for many Chinese immigrants.
9 d7 ]5 P; b" @! V3 `% a. J(大名鼎鼎的世界日报是北美许多中国移民惊喜的新发现。)
6 m' J- m# w2 q8 Z' b6 _- L# HSome American customs and ways of thinking can be an eye opener to many Chinese people.8 H8 ~" ?# z( }3 a. r: W! `
(美国一些的风俗习惯和想法,让许多老中感到惊奇。)% L; B& v$ N+ R8 M
(7) hot dog:
- y# X) l- G( W9 Y1 F, N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)
) x$ h& S5 l- m8 ~& p ]% @例如:# r' I: G% Z% B% B8 f# c: w
Some young people are hot dogs behind the wheel, speeding all the time.& L4 k' L& j( _% u
(一些年轻人开车时,常做些超速的惊险动作。)
& F/ {8 W8 |& i(这里的 hot dogs = hot doggers) W( y1 U+ v: ~; P9 U$ c
In front of his girlfriend, the teenager was trying to hot dog.% F, s8 D" e9 g! ?; C4 O! {
(在女友面前,年轻人做出一些卖弄技巧的花招。)
2 z4 ^! y, a$ T9 x/ z0 j(动词时态是:hot dogged, hot dogging)
5 i0 X9 E1 T! SDuring the air force show, one of the pilots was a dan-gerous hot dogging flyer.2 r; \ [, }/ R3 K
(在空军表演时,一位飞行员做惊险的飞行动作。)
3 ?; G. h, V: [, \也指真正的热狗食物:( q! S9 c- p7 e0 I# f
The hot dog is one of the favorite fast food in the U.S.$ v, X* v. _+ M' {
(在美国热狗是一种受欢迎的快餐。)
3 `- h* G* U% M j1 W- K5 d也可表达欣赏的心情:- x/ ~9 \4 D$ r$ j0 O( Q& E# U
Hot dog ! What great news for me.
) J" n( r' p( j9 p& ?" I(真棒!对我来说是好消息。)7 }2 l9 t; H3 W, c. b
(8)eager beaver:* _. h, L2 O- P/ x# O" a' P
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)
' f. D$ r* ?5 }8 i; c8 Q' Z# g(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。)
! z% g# n3 N0 f. X( n! [" t. s' L(当名词用,可指男女)2 U6 u. w3 A% M$ l& w3 s
例如:0 N/ z, @1 a1 y$ W
John seems an eager beaver because he always comes early and leaves late.: \0 D7 c% u6 _; M# D8 e7 M
(John 似乎是十分卖力的人,因为他总是来得早,走得晚。)
1 B( R' ~( g7 u/ @! uBeing an eager beaver, he sometimes is not well-liked by his colleagues.* c7 L0 a6 O( s4 b
(他做事异常卖力,有时不受同事喜欢。)5 e, j6 X6 G( k5 H$ Z
Does Mr. B have a long-lasting attitude as an eager beaver?
1 P* a1 x' U2 l5 a5 r8 X(B 先生做事非常卖力,那是长久以来的态度吗?)
5 ]/ s9 c, O; W4 a2 JYou may find some eager beavers in any organizations.
- p' o$ Q- R& l; @. s(在任何机关里,你总会发现一些对上司竭力讨好的人。)
: M9 T; I" x7 f+ H(9)doubting Thomas:
! S/ ~; B: P0 p. N/ h# ^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)( z3 [2 {( L& h8 p
(这原出于圣经,因耶稣门徒 Thomas 不信基督的复活)
5 P0 r! z2 z9 {7 D& d3 k2 T(当名词用)
4 a8 D0 Q/ \& x& p2 {' s z例如:
. Z* ]( v0 _# V8 b' G# }) \3 w0 V9 k& W6 gI am not trying to be a doubting Thomas about Mr. Wong's keeping promise.# u' D9 n; u9 l5 J" Z5 b8 {4 s2 {
(我不怀疑王先生的承诺。)
$ `4 }! N' i$ K0 ~/ B" tThere must have been some unpleasant experiences for Mr. B to become a doubting Thomas.
" \. E& D) W X: d& t(B 先生不信任他人,也许因为有不愉快的经验所致。)1 Q$ ?! k# j8 S4 u) I
也可用复数:
( _5 i0 D- m; e- _- {( W. JMy friends are doubting Thomases toward many Chi-nese business people.. A. c; R; O. |0 w
(我朋友对许多中国商人不信任。). F. {4 ]8 C/ `9 q
If there are too many doubting Thomases in our society, people will lose confidence with one another.
) M9 L; x* u! H" [(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。): E# S0 F* a9 O1 m9 w# k' j
(10)dragon lady:0 v( T6 Q* Y+ p7 E: l2 a
指生气、不友善或凶险的女人。(angry, un-friendly or dangerous woman)(当名词用)+ ^7 A3 T; s* W# Q. j, O
例如:
! Y1 ? t$ o. }$ U6 U. AThe chairman's secretary is so snoffy and nasty that she is considered a dragon lady.
2 L) N9 r6 S) U(主席的秘书,很自大,脾气差,她被视为凶恶的女人。)
' [' q! i/ K' L6 j; u5 b7 J$ J9 s" X3 TI am sure no woman likes to be called a dragon lady./ d0 n0 Q, `. e; T" {4 G
(我相信没有女人喜欢被称为凶恶的女人。)4 h. v$ p4 }- ^ p+ Y; J
Should your girlfriend happens to be a dragon lady, are you going to breakup with her?
# f& c. I e$ h9 r' E" g2 w$ l(假如你的女友成了凶恶的女人,你要与她分手吗?)
( n* @! X4 n: J0 Q- T7 o* x! \' o也可用复数:6 ?# e( o3 e; _2 V, w) z- O+ y
There may be many dragon ladies in our community.
5 j" T8 n$ v4 L, N: K& V% m) [(在我们社区里也许有不少凶女人。)0 F) s3 i$ f M& l" }
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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