2008年9月12日星期五

hook up 连接、扣住、接通

hook up字面上的意思是勾起来,实际上就是连接、扣住、接通的意思,例如:
Would you hook me up
你能帮我扣上扣子吗?
有关hook up的例句:
  1. We are planning to hook up the whole area
    我们打算将这整个地区的通电话
  2. John and Mary arranged to have a parson hook them up.
    John和Mary打算找个牧师主持婚礼。
  3. Please hook my dress up at the back, I can't reach.
    请帮我扣下扣子,我够不到
  4. He hooked up the doorbell.
    他把门铃连好了

2008年9月11日星期四

Keep an eye on someone/something 密切关注某人或者某事

Keep an eye on someone/something 字面上是用眼睛看着某人或者某事,实际上就是指密切关注某人或者某事的意思,还是非常容易理解的。
例如:
Always keep an eye on the baby when he is playing.
当这个婴儿玩的时候注意看着。
Watch someone/something carefully to make sure everything is all right
仔细看着某人或者某事确保没有问题。

有关这个短语的例句:
  1. Basking on the balcony,granny can still keep an eye on the children.
    一边在阳台上晒太阳,奶奶还可以一边看孩子。
  2. How did you make such great success on the East European market.
    你们怎么在东欧市场取得这么大的成功呢? We always keep an eye on the East European market.
    我们一直很关注东欧的市场。
  3. Can you keep an eye on my suitcase for a moment please?
    可以帮我看一下手提箱吗?

本文部分参考了ESLMonkeys.com

2008年9月10日星期三

I'm beat 累死了

I'm beat 字面意思是被打倒了实际上累死了的意思。面我们在介绍hit the sack的时候,用到了这个短语。
用被打到的意思来说一个人很累还是蛮形象的的。
例如:
I'm dead beat after going through all this mass of details of the case!
在经历了这件案子的细节之后我累死了。
有关这个段此的例句还有:
I'm really beat
我累死了。
I'm so beat this week
这周真是累死了

2008年9月8日星期一

hang one's head(in shame) 垂头丧气,抬不起头来,感到羞愧

hang one's head 字面上的意思是指悬挂你的头,实际上就是指垂头丧气的意思,还是非常形象的。
例如:Even though we lost the football match, we must not hang our heads because we tried our best!
虽然我们输掉了球赛,但我们也不能垂头丧气,因为我们已经尽力了。

下面是是有关hang one's head的例句:
  1. Athletes caught taking drugs should hang their heads in shame.
    那些被抓住服用药品的运动员应该感到羞愧
  2. He hang his head when the teacher discover that he have steal the money.
    他感到非常羞愧,当老师发现他偷了钱的时候

本文部分参考了eslmonkeys.com

2008年9月7日星期日

heart goes out to someone 同情,伤心,痛心

heart goes out to someone字面上是指心跑到某人那里去了,但实际的意思是为某人感到很悲伤。例如:
Our hearts go out to all the tsunami vicitims
我们为海啸的罹难者痛心

其英文解释是:if your heart goes out to someone who is in trouble, you feel sympathy for them.

这个短语的相关例句:
  1. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this terrible traged
    我们为在这场悲剧中罹难的家庭感到同情。

  2. My heart went out to kerry when I heard that her dog had died.I knew how much she loved him
    当我听说Kerry的狗死掉之后我很为他伤心,我知道她有多喜欢它
  3. We're so sorry to hear of your loss, and our hearts go out to you in this difficult time.
    听说了你的损失之后,我们为你感到很难过,你的那段艰苦时光让我们感到很同情。

本文部分参考了EnglishClub.comthefreedictionary.com

2008年9月2日星期二

hit it off 相互很好,合得来

hit it off 是合得来的意思,虽然字面上是 打掉它 的意思。类似于英文中的get along well with,不过hit it off 更强调很快就相处很好的意思。这个英语短语对于两性都适用的,男女之间也可以用。
例如:She hit it off with Dean and soon the two of them set out on a cross-country adventure.
她和Dean很快就混熟了, 并准备一起其越野冒险。

这个词的英文解释是:to be friendly with each other immediately.

下面是这个英语短语的一些例子
  1. The two didn't get along well with each other,but now they hit it off each other.
    他俩以前相处不太好,现在却很合得来。

  2. So how did it go with Mollica?
    和Mollica过得怎样?
    I took her to he cinema and we hit it off with each other.
    我带她去了电影院,我们相处很好

  3. We hit it off beautifully – we liked all the same things, and we liked each other a lot.
    我们相处很好,有很多共同爱好,彼此也很喜欢

  4. He would hit it off with anyone. He's an honest, generous, gregarious guy with a genuine interest in other people.
    他和谁都能相处好,他很诚实,大方,合群,对别人很真诚


本文部分参考了 TheFreedictionary.com

half baked 半熟的

half baked 字面意思是半熟的实际上是指未完成的,不成熟的,还是非常形象,很好理解的。
例如:
He came up with another half baked idea that didn't work!
他带着一个跟不就不可能起作用的不成熟的点子过来。

下面是有关half baked的其他一些例句:
  1. Her plans are always half baked, so no one listens to her anymore.
    她的计划总是半生不熟的,所以在也没人听她说

  2. a half-baked scheme
    一个考虑不周的计划

  3. Don't listen to his half-baked ideas.
    别听他那还不成熟的主意


本文部分参考了ESLMonkeys.com

2008年8月31日星期日

on the dot 整点

on the dot字面上意思是在这个点上,实际上整点的意思,这个也容易理解。例如:
We will leave the house at 6:30am on the dot.
我们将在六点半整出发。
on the dot 的英文解释是:
exactly at a given time.
这里是这个短语的一些例句:
  1. He should arrive tomorrow at 2pm on the dot, if he doesn't I'll be disappointed.
    他应该明天两点整到,如果不到,我会很失望的

  2. The 3 o'clock train will arrive on the dot.
    三点的火车会准点到的

  3. I will be here at 8pm on the dot next Monday,after check in, will grab a bite to eat.
    我将会在下周一八点准时到这里,登记之后,我们去找点吃的。

本文部分参考了:ESLenglish.com

wet behind the ears 乳臭未干 太嫩

wet behind the ears 的字面意思是耳朵后面是湿的,其引申的含义是指一个人很幼稚,没有经验,是新手,乳臭未干,太嫩的意思。
有关wet behind the ears这个英语谚语的来历也很有意思。动物的新生儿在出生时,由于从母体里出来,身上会有一层粘膜,小动物的母亲就会用舌头替他们舔干净,这也有利于小动物们的第一次呼吸。从那以后他们的皮肤开始慢慢变干燥,但是由于耳朵包裹的原因,耳朵后面的皮肤最最后变干燥的。
所以说用这个词来描述那些少不更事的新手,在汉语中有一个词叫乳臭未干,而这个词的意义和来源非常接近。
来看一个例子:
The older members of the committee took no notice of anything I said: they clearly thought I was still wet behind the ears.
这些老会员对我说的意见根本不重视,他们显然觉得我太嫩了。
下面是一些有关这个英语谚语的一些例句:
  1. He is too wet behind the ears to lead this sales team. We need someone with more experience.
    他还太嫩了,领导不了这个销售队伍,我们需要一个经验多一点的人。

  2. The rookie was obviously wet behind the ears.
    这个新手太嫩了。

  3. The new students are still wet behind the ears,they haven't yet leaned the tricks the boys play on each other.
    这个新生还太嫩,没明白这些男孩子们玩的把戏

本文部分参考了ESLEnglsih

2008年8月28日星期四

step on it赶快

前面我们介绍过sleep on it是深思熟虑的意思。这里我们在介绍一下step on it,其字面上的意思是踩在上面,其实是赶快的意思。相当于hurry up
例如:
We should step on it,otherwise we shall miss the flight.
我们应该赶快,否则可能赶不上飞机了。
再如:
If you don't step on it,you will miss the wedding.
如果你不赶快的话,你会错过这个婚礼的。
下面是有关step on it 的其他例句
  1. step on it
    快点
  2. step on it,the film will start in two minutes.
    赶快,电影两分钟后就开始了
  3. step on it or we will miss the beginning of the show.
    快点,否则你会错过电影的开头的
本文部分参考了ESLmonkeys.com

2008年8月27日星期三

奥运飞鱼菲尔普斯 the flying fish

在中国他被称为飞鱼,而在美国人们叫他"巴尔的摩子弹"。
In China he's known as 'the Flying Fish'; in America they call him 'the Baltimore Bullet'.

不管你怎么叫他,在一届奥运会中的很多金牌都打破了世界记录,美国游泳选手Michael Phelps似乎注定要成为一个家喻户晓的人物。
Whatever you call him, American swimmer Michael Phelps looks destined to become a household name across the world after breaking the Olympic record for most gold medals in a single Games.

菲尔普斯总共获得了8开金牌,比他的美国同胞Mark Spitz在1972年创下的记录还要多。
Phelps's total of eight golds in Beijing put him one ahead of compatriot Mark Spitz's previous tally set in 1972.

Michael Phelps 统治了他所参赛的7的项目,并且令人吃惊的取得了7个世界记录。虽然在100m的蝶泳中他侥幸的以最小可能的0.01秒的优势取胜,而在另一场比赛中,他不得不苦于应付一副错误的游泳镜。
Michael Phelps dominated the field in seven of his races and set an amazing seven world records in the process. He did, however, have one close shave in the 100m butterfly which he won by the smallest possible margin of just 0.01 seconds, and in another he had to contend with a faulty pair of goggles.

现在人们已经开始叫他有史以来最好的奥林匹克选手了,不管是不是,到底什么东西让Michael Phelps如此之好呢?
Now people are already calling him the greatest Olympian of all time. But whether he is or not, what is it that makes Michael Phelps so good?

也许最好要从他的体格开始说起。也许有了最完美的体型:他的壁展比他的身高还高,他有非常柔韧的关节,肺部非常大,还有他非常大尺寸的脚(美国14英寸,中国49码),在水中像是脚蹼一样。
A good place to start might be his physique. Phelps has the perfect body shape for a swimmer: his armspan is longer than his height, he has very flexible joints, huge lungs, and his incredibly large feet (size 14 in the US, size 49 in China) act like flippers in the water.

为了喂饱他巨大的游泳型体格,菲尔普斯每天要吃掉令人吃惊的12000卡路里,是他同龄男性的平均水平的6倍
To feed his huge swimmer's body, Phelps eats an astonishing 12,000 calories a day, six times the average for a man of his age.

按照他的教练,菲尔普斯每天从冠军早餐开始:“三个炸鸡蛋三明治,还有奶酪,西红柿,炸洋葱,蛋黄酱,一份五个鸡蛋的煎蛋,一碗燕麦粉,三片法国土司,三张带巧克力棒的煎饼”
According to his coach, Phelps starts with a breakfast of champions: "Three fried egg sandwiches with cheese, tomatoes, fried onions and mayo, a five egg omelette, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast and three pancakes with chocolate chips."

然后他钻进一套在游泳界引起轰动的游泳衣。由美国航天局设计,这套衣服据说可以让游泳选手的成绩提高2%。
He then slips into a swimsuit which has been making waves in the world of swimming. Designed by NASA, the American space agency, the suit is made of a special material which is said to help athletes swim 2% faster.

飞鱼应该关心一个他的妈妈。他妈妈最开始把他送去游泳只是为了作为结交朋友的一个方式,在一个教练说他永远不可能成功之后,仍然相信他。
Michael Phelps should spare a thought for his mum, who first pushed him into swimming as a way of making friends, and who believed in him when one teacher said he would never be a success.

不管他成功的原因是什么,菲尔普斯承认这也许还是有一些运气的成分在里面。
Whatever the reason for his success, Phelps admits there was perhaps also a bit of luck involving in winning his eight medals.

"我猜8也是我的幸运数字吧,开幕式在08年8月8日,这也许是注定的",他说。
"I guess eight is a lucky number for me, too, now. The opening ceremony started on 8/8/08.
Maybe it was meant to be," he said.

bullet
子弹
household name
家喻户晓的名字
tally
(奖牌)总数
close shave
差一点(输掉);死里逃生
goggles
游泳镜
armspan
两只胳膊的长度(从一手指尖到另一手指尖)
flippers
橡胶蹼, 鸭脚板
mayo
mayonnaise 的缩写,蛋黄酱
swimsuit
(连体)游泳衣
spare a thought
关心,想着
destined to become
命中注定成为
compatriot
同胞
dominated the field
独霸泳池
margin
相差时间
physique
体格
flexible joints
灵活柔韧的关节
calories
卡路里,热量
grits
粗燕麦粉
making waves
引起轰动,制造浪潮
meant to be
命中注定的

本文部分参考了BBC中文
下载本文的录音文件

2008年8月26日星期二

chance upon 偶尔遇见

chance upon指的是偶然撞见。
例如:
I chanced upon a fantastic new Chinese restaurant while I was taking a walk last night.
在昨天吃饭时,我偶然遇见了一个很好的中餐馆。

chance upon的英文解释是:find something by accident.

有关chance upon的例句:
Perhaps you might chance upon the dictionary at some old bookstall.
也许你会在某个旧书店里偶尔看到这本书吧。

2008年8月25日星期一

sleep on it 深思熟虑

sleep on it 的字面意思是睡在上面,但实际的意义是深思熟虑。其实也不难理解,当你仔细的考虑一件事情的时候,感觉好像成天就想着这件事情,就好像睡在上面一样。
例如:
It's a major decision and why don't you sleep on it and give me your answer in a day or two.
这是一个很大的决定,为什么不仔细考虑一下,一两天之后给我答复呢?

sleep on it的英文解释是:
take at least a day to think about something before making a decision.

下面是有关sleep on it 的一些例句:
1.
We asked him if he would go home on holiday and he said he would sleep on it.
我们问他是否会在假期回家,他说他会好好考虑的。

2.
I need to sleep on it before I can tell you if I want to rent this apartment.
我要好好考虑一下是要租这套房子。

3.
Have a sleep on it before you do anything.
在采取任何行动之前,请仔细考虑一下。

本文部分参考了ESLMonkeys.com

hit the ceiling/roof 怒不可竭

hit the ceiling或者hit the roof字面上的意思是击打天花板或房顶,这很好的描述了一个人很生气的时候张牙舞爪的姿态。这个词的意思的也就是指一个人怒不可竭的样子,这也非常形象。
例如:
Dad will hit the ceiling if I tell him that I crashed the car.
老爸会发疯如果我告诉他我把车撞坏了。

有关hit the ceiling/roof的其他例子有:
  1. When he saw the amount of the bill,he hit the ceiling.
    当他看到账单的数量时,他勃然大怒。

  2. When I saw all the mistake the secretary had made I really the roof.
    当我看到秘书所犯的这些错误的时候,我真的是怒不可竭

  3. My husband hit the roof when he found out that my boss had taken me to dinner last night.
    我丈夫知道我和我老板共进晚餐后,真的是气疯了

2008年8月22日星期五

hit the sack/hay 上床睡觉

hit the sack 的字面意思是 打沙袋,而hit the hay的字面意思是打干草,hay是干草的意思, 实际上这两个短语都是上床睡觉的意思,因为英语中sack本身就有睡袋、床的意思,而hay是干草,在很久以前,床下面所铺垫的是干草,所以这里的hit the sack/hay的意思就是上床的意思。
需要注意的是,hit the sack/hay 指的是晚上睡觉,而不是午睡或者白天的小憩。
例如:
It's getting late let's hit the sack.
天晚了,让我们睡觉吧。
下面是有关hit the sack和hit the hay的一些例句:
  1. I hit the hay before 11 p.m. every day.
    我每天网上11点前睡觉

  2. John was so tired that he hit the sack soon after supper.
    John是如此的劳累,以至于他一吃完饭就睡了

  3. Man,I'm beat.I'm going to hit the sack.
    天啊,累死了,我睡去了

  4. Come on,folks.It's eleven o'clock——time to hit the hay.
    快点,各位,11点了,该睡觉了



本文部分参考了EslMonkey.com

2008年8月20日星期三

catch-22第二十二条军规

catch-22是指令人左右为难的规定。
这个短语的起源很有意思:
“如果你能证明自己发疯,那就说明你没疯”。源出美国作家约瑟夫·赫勒(JosephHeller)根据自己在第二次世界大战中的亲身经历创作的黑色幽默 小说《第二十二条军规》(1961)。这部小说太有影响了,以至于在当代美语中,Catch-22已作为一个独立的单词,使用频率极高,用来形容任何自相 矛盾、不合逻辑的规定

现在这个短语已经不一定是指规定了,往往用来形容一种左右为难的处境。
例如:
我们在前介绍
beyond one's means时使用过这个短语catch-22

It's something of a catch-22 situation: On the one hand it may be beyond the means of the owners of a new restaurant to buy expensive furnishings, but on the other hand it is those furnishings that help make the good first impression that attracts customers.
事情本身就是一个两难的问题:一方面一家新开业的餐馆可能没有财力去购买高档的家俱,另一方面,就是这些高档的家俱给客人很好的第一印象,从而吸引他们。

本文部分参考了百度知道

carry 相关的短语

前面介绍了一个和carry有关的短语是carry away,在这里我们在介绍几个和carry相关的短语,他们分别是carry off,carry on,carry over,carry out

  1. carry off 除了本意是抢走,偷走之外还可以是赢、战胜的意思。其英文解释是:win,succeed
    例如:
    Mark carried off most of the prize at the races.
    Mark获得了这词比赛的大部分奖金。

    The rugby team carried off a surprise victory.
    刚篮球队获得了一个意外的胜利。

    The hawk pounce on its prey and carry it off
    鹰猛扑向它的的猎物,把它叼走了。


  2. carry on的意思是继续,坚持,有一首很好听的英文歌也叫carry on,可以搜来听听。
    例如:
    Don't stop your work.Carry on!
    别停下你的工作,继续。

    We must try to carry on as if nothing was happened.
    我们必须继续下去,只当什么都没发发生。

    另外 carry-on的意思是随身携带的包、箱,一般翻译成手提袋,随身行李。
    例如:
    Can I carry this carry-on bag with me on board?
    我可以带着个手提包登机吗?


  3. carry over 是指推迟,继续 Continue past a certain point
    例如:
    Our bad luck carried over from last game to this one,we need change our luck.
    我们霉运从上次比赛延续到这次,我们需要转运了。


  4. carry out 有两个意思分别是:
    a.完成。to preform a task
    例如:
    Our programmer finally carried the difficult job out.
    我们的程序员最终把这个复杂的工作给搞定了
    b.外卖。food bought from a restaurant to take away
    例如:
    Let's order the Chinese carry out.
    我们叫中餐外卖吧。


本文部分参考了如下文章
carry over
carry off
carry on
carry out 1
carry out 2

2008年8月19日星期二

be in a pickle 处于困难之中

前面我们介绍了be in hot water的含义和用法,这里我们介绍英语口语中的另一个意义差不错的短语be in a pickle ,也是处于困难之中的意思。pickle做名词有腌菜、(用来处理污垢的)酸水的意思,作为动词还有腌渍的意思。如果你觉得热水(hot water)还不过瘾的话,可以尝试一下也许硫酸(pickle)吧,如果还不足够表达你的尴尬的处境,可以使用be in a fine pickle或者be in a nice pickle。
例如:
Oh no,we are in a nice pickle that the car will not start.
噢,糟糕,我们车起不来了。

be in a pickle的英文解释是:Be in a difficult situation.

下面是有关这个英语短语的一些例子:
1.
Last night,Mark was really in a fine pickle because he didn't have enough money or a credit card to pay for his dinner date.
昨天晚上,Mark真是尴尬呀,他没钱,也没信用卡来付他昂贵的约会晚餐。

2.
Now jenny is really in a pickle since she has two serious boyfriend at the same time.
jenny正为她有两个认真的男朋友而烦劳。

本文部分参考了eslmonkeys.com

2008年8月18日星期一

my two cents 我的拙见

"My two cents"这个短语的完整形式是"put my two cents in" ,是一个美国英语中的俗语,被用来描述说话人将会陈述个人的意见。为了陈述一个反对的意见,并暗示这个意见“只有两美分”,分量非常轻,说话人在使用这个短语时往往希望最大限度的降低这个争论意见的影响,并表达自己的礼貌和谦卑。虽然这个短语有时也被用作讽刺的场合,用来讽刺性的陈述自己强烈的反对意见。这个短语有时候也跳出习惯,用于一些没有争议的场合,表示补充性质的建议和意见,而不是持有反对意见。

这个词可以直接译为:依我拙见,我的一点小小建议,等等。
例如:
If I may put my two cents in, that hat doesn't do you any favors.
依我拙见,那顶帽子并没有给你加分。
这里实际上再说你的帽子不好看,只是很礼貌,很隐晦。

下面是有关这个短语的一些例子:
1.
My Two Cents is a simple PHP class to add a comment function to any PHP script,
我的意见是在任何PHP脚本里使用一个简单的类来增加评论的功能。

2.
my two cents on the iphone
关于iphone的两点拙见。

3.My two cents is that you should sell that stock now.
我的意见就是你现在就应该将那只股票抛了。

2008年8月17日星期日

my cup of tea 我的菜

在英语中有很多很形象的说法,例如我们前面介绍的shoot the breeze,这里的我们在介绍一个很有意思的短语,my cup of tea,这个短语的意思是指我喜欢的东西、类型、人等等。在中文中我们也有一个非常类似的非常形象的描述,就是我的菜,例如我们经常说:“这不是我的菜”表示我不喜欢这个的意思。同样在英语中我们也可以说:
It's not my cup of tea
我不喜欢这个
如果你对心仪的女孩子表白了,但对方却说:“Sorry ,but you are not my cup of tea”,你一定会伤心欲绝,因为她的意思是:“你不是我喜欢的类型”

下面是有个这个词的一些例句:
1.
You may find this sort of job rather difficult,but it's just my cup of tea.
你也许会发现这种类型的工作非常困难,但是正和我胃口。

2.
Tennis is not my cup of tea,let's watch TV instead.
打网球不是我的菜,我们看电视吧。

3.
I am afraid archaeology just isn't my cup of tea.
恐怕考古不是我的菜。

4.
Today I met a boy from the internet,and he is really my cup of tea.
今天见了个网友,他真的是我喜欢的类型。

2008年8月16日星期六

be in hot water 陷入困境

be in hot water 的本意是再热水中,这里的意思的是指由于说错了话或者做错了事情而陷入困境。和汉语一样,英语的很多词汇总是很形象的。哈哈。
例如:
You'll be in hot water when your mother finds out what you've done.
要是你妈发现了你就麻烦了。

这个单词的英文解释是: Be in trouble. Be in a difficult situation because something wrong was said or done.

下面是这个单词的一些例句:
1.
He has been in hot water with his boss for days now. He might lose his job.
他和他的老板这几天关系陷入僵局,他也许会丢掉他的工作的。

2.
You will be in hot water if you still don't accept my advice.
不听老人言,吃亏在眼前。

3.
I am in hot water with my girlfriend after she found some old love letters I sent a long time ago to another girl.
我和女朋友现在关系很紧张,因为她发现了我在很久以前寄给给一个女孩的一些情书。

2008年8月15日星期五

老外学汉语

外国人学中文的有趣故事。

对外国朋友来说,真的要学会汉语,并非易事。在包括雅利安语、闪米特语、含米特语、图兰语、印第安语、班图语等各大语系在内的人类语言中,汉语(中国话)在西方人眼里是最难学的。外国朋友如何形容汉语难学?在欧洲曾有这么一个笑话,一个学生调皮,老师惩罚他的方式是,让他去学汉语。最偏激的反应应该是英国20世纪著名作家、学者H.G.威尔斯(Herbert George Wells),在其经典作品《世界史纲》中,威尔斯把中国不能成为世界一流强国,归结为语言原因——因为太难学,中国人都把精力用在语文学习上了。


原话是这样的——


“在中国,文字造就了一个特殊的读书人阶级,也就是官吏。他们也就是统治和官僚阶级。他们的注意力必须集中于文字和古典文学格式,胜过集中于思想和现实;尽管中国相当太平,它的人民的个人智慧很高,但它的社会和经济发展,看来却因此受到了很大的阻碍。中国之所以在许多世纪中一直是个勤劳的但缺乏进取心的广袤地区,而不是世界上首屈一指的强国,大概就是由于它的语言和文字的复杂,而不是由于任何别的可以想像到的原因。”(吴文藻、冰心、费孝通译本)


外国朋友觉得汉语难学,难在哪?主要是语言习惯和所使用的语系完全是两个概念。英语、法语、德语、俄语、希腊语、意大利语等,都属雅利安语系,学起来自然方便。更麻烦的是,汉语一字多义、一词多义和多字一义、多词一义现象很普遍。如有人专门就“我”(“I”)的不同用法作过研究,竟然有多达108不同说法。如此繁杂,连以汉语为母亲的中国人有时也很难搞清楚,对外国朋友来说,就难上加难了。再加上外国朋友喜欢用他们单一、简单、自以为是的思维方式来学习汉语,忽视汉语字、词结构的复杂、多义性,常常会闹出大笑话。


从过去流行的笑话中来看,有这么10句堪称经典,令人捧腹——


一、“胜败都是中国人赢” 曾有一道考外国学生的选择题是这样:“大连实德队经过90分钟激战大胜北京现代队,获得冠军。”问,下面哪句话与文意最吻合?A 北京现代队大胜大连实德队、B北京现代队大败大连实德队、C大连实德队大败北京现代队。虽然正确的是C,考前模拟测验反复强调,结果考场上许多考生还是选 B。


这题目源于一则真实的故事:1983年,中国女排和美国女排小组赛上相遇, 赛后中国报纸上出现了“中国队大胜美国队”的标题。过了几天,决赛里中国和美国队又碰头,争夺冠军, 中国报纸的标题换成了“中国队大败美国队”一名名叫Christr 的美国留学生看了报纸后很高兴,认为美国队赢了,在中国同学中称赞自己的国家队,结果弄出了大笑话。据说,直到毕业离开中国,Christr见谁都愤愤不平地称,中国人太奇怪了,胜败都是中国人赢, 那还比赛什么呢?或许在北京奥运会上,不少外国朋友又要为此迷惑不解了。



二、“亲爱的姑妈” 在汉语中,“娘”与“妈”一样,都是指母亲。有一初到中国学汉语的英国留学生,在校园看上了一位漂亮的中国女生。于是他给她写求爱信,但一时忘“娘”怎么写了,便自作聪明,以“妈”代“娘——“亲爱的姑妈······”



三、“一起上床吧” “上”与“起”有时意思相同,但如果分别搭配,意思可能完全相反。如“上床”与“起床”便是两回事情。一美国女孩与临时教她汉语的中国男邻居一起应邀参加朋友PARTY,因时间太晚,又喝多了,便留宿下来。临休息前,美国女孩给中国男邻居递了一张纸条——“我们一起上床吧!”她的本意是明天一道起床离开,却害得中国男邻居胡思乱想半宿。



四、“戴安全套” 帽子是套在头上的,有时外国朋友便会弄混。有一中国老师讲过一个发生在他教授的在京外国留学生身上的故事——这名留学生告诉老师,他常骑摩托车外出。老师提醒他北京车太多,要小心。他接了一句,“没关系,我会戴安全套的。”



五、“你我都不是东西” 这则笑话南师大汉语专业的老师曾在课堂上讲过——一位自称为汉语专家的美国教授,向他的学生讲授中文课,在谈到准确理解“东西”的词义时,他作如下的表述:汉语中,“东西”并不仅仅表示方向,更多的时候指的是物品,如桌椅、电视机、眼镜,都可以称为东西,但如果是有生命的动物就不能这样表示——比如,你我都不是东西!”


六、“方便时候不能来” 一次,几位中国同学邀请刚来华学汉语的外国男生吃饭,中间,一名中国同学出去“方便一下”。外国学生不懂其意,大家告知这是去厕所排泄。这名学生记住了,有一天,一名女生希望在他方便的时候拜访他,这位留学生立即摆手,“你什么时候都可以来,但就是我方便的时候不能来。”还把服务行业常见语“为顾客提供方便”,理解为向顾客提供上厕所服务,一时成为笑谈。

因为对“便”字一知半解,还弄出过另一则笑话——中国人请客普遍客气,明明很丰盛的酒席,对客人也称是“便饭”。有一次,一名外国客人看到中国主人准备了如此便饭,竖起了大拇指,赞美道——“这是一顿大便饭!”此言一出,全桌的中国人顿时没有了味口。



七、“中国农民越来越贵了” 此事发生在上世八十年代后期,有一名美国学生分不清“富”和“贵”的区别,在造句时写道:“三中全会以后,中国农民越来越贵了。”



八、“哪里哪里” “哪里”连起说就是自谦,这是一般中国人都知道的,也常用。但初通汉语的外国人W先生不理解。一次W先生参加一对年轻华侨的婚礼,他很有礼貌地赞美新娘漂亮。一旁的新郎立即代表新娘表示感谢,“哪里哪里”。W先生觉得挺不好意思的,以为未说到地方,便用生硬的中国话再说——“头发、眉毛、眼睛、耳朵、鼻子、嘴都很漂亮!”



九、“含笑九泉” 上汉语课时,老师想了解一下近期外国留学生的汉语学习效果,便问,“你们能说出一句成语,来形容一个人很开心很高兴的样子吗?”台下很快出现了“开怀大笑”、“兴高采烈”、“手舞足蹈”等答案。老师接着又说,“这个成语里最好含有数字,比如一、二、三、四……”有一位留学生反应很快——“含笑九泉”。



十、“你,牛逼!” 这是一个旅美华人讲过的故事:2005年的圣诞节,晚上去一个中国朋友家吃饭,都是中国人,虽过洋节但吃的还是中国饺子。一同吃饭的还有一个美国女孩。饭后她要先走,我送她到家口,由于是我包的饺子,我就客气性地问了一句,今天晚上你吃得还好吧?她自然是对我的手艺大加夸奖了一番,就在她转身要走时,她好像称赞的还不够,又冲我伸出大拇指——“你,牛逼!”



补充一条:某次看幸运52,一个老外初到中国的时候,进饭店经常看到“小心地滑”的牌子,中国人都明白,结果老外糊涂了,把“地”当成了助词“的”,于是他每次看到这个牌子,都会“小心”地“滑”着进去。。。

转自小山羊的博客

2008年8月14日星期四

for the time being 暂且

for the time being字面上的意思是就现在这段时间来说,就是暂且,就目前的情况,这次,这回的意思,还是很容易理解的。
这个词的英文解释是:
if you describe how a situation will be for the time being, you mean it will be like that for a period of time, but may change in the future.
如果你用for the time being来描述一种情况,你是指这种情况会持续一段时间,但在将来可能改变。
例如:
You may stay with us for the time being before you find your own house.
在你没找到房子之前可以暂时和我们住在一起。

下面有关这个英语短语的更多的一些例句:
1.
Put these books under the table for the time being.
暂时把这些书放在桌子下面吧

2.
The problems about the hospital was put on one side for the time being.
医院的问题被暂时搁在一边了。

3.
I am sorry,but our website is unavailable for the time being.
很抱歉,我们网站暂时不可用。

本文部分参考了thefreedictionary.com

2008年8月13日星期三

carried away 着迷,发疯

carry away是带走的意思,字面上的意思不难理解,而Carried away是一个形容词是指着迷,发疯的意思。其实可以很容易理解,神智被带走了,也就是着迷了,发疯了。
例如:
下面一个例子是着迷的意思
we were carried away by her magnificent singing.
我们为她的美妙的歌声而着迷。

还有另外一个含义是发疯,失控,失去理智,英文解释是:Get so emotional that you lose control
例如:
He got carried away at the football game and thown out for throwing his drink on someone.
他在球赛中失去理智了,后来因为向某个人扔饮料瓶,而被扔出来了。

下面是carried out的另外一些例句:
1.
The audience were carried away by her inspiring speech.
观众们对他鼓舞人心的演讲着了迷。

2.
Take your time and think carefully.--Don't get carried away.
花时间好好想一想,别感情用事。

care for 照顾/喜欢/想要

care for 是英语中一个比较常用的短语,有好几个意思它们分别是:
1.想要,愿意要。
Would you care for some more tea?
想要再喝些茶吗
这里我们也可以说成Would you like some more tea?

2.喜欢
I really don't care for icecream
我实在不喜欢冰激凌。

3.照顾,照料
I have to call a nurse to my mother's house to care for her.
我不得不打电话叫个护士到我妈妈家里去照顾她。

以下是有关care for 的一些其他例句:
1.
The mother cared for the sick child day and night.
母亲日夜照料生病的孩子。

2.
We must care for each other and help each other.
我们一定要彼此相互帮助和照顾。

3.
I don't much care for that sort of man.
我不喜欢哪种类型的人。

本文部分参考了ESLMonkeys.com

grab a bite to eat 赶紧吃

grab a bite (to eat) 字面上的意思是抢一口来吃的意思,其中的to eat可以在这里被省略。以前我曾写过一篇文章解释了make short work of的含义,例如:We were so hungry that we made short work of the food prepared for the meeting.(我们饥肠辘辘,把为会议准备的食物风卷残云的吃掉了),这里的make short work of 指的是快速做某事,并不一定指吃饭。而我们这里的grab a bite to eat则特指快速的吃东西。

grab a bite 的英文解释是:Get and eat food quickly

下面是有关这个英语谚语的一些例句:
1.
We have five minutes before the show. Let's grab a bite to eat.
里展览就差五分钟了,让我们赶紧吃两口吧。

2.
My uncle says often grabs a bite between sales meetings.
我叔叔说他们经常在展销会中(忙得只能)匆匆吃点饭。

本文 部分参考了ESLmonkeys.com

great minds think alike 英雄所见略同


great minds think alike 字面上的意思是英雄所见略同,所以非常容易理解。稍有不同的是,great minds think alike一般是一种幽默的用法,是用在当你听见别人的想法和你一样时的一种搞笑的段子,因为说话双方并不是什么伟人。
而中文中的英雄所见略同则是出自《三国志·蜀书·庞统传》裴松之注引《江表传》:“天下智谋之士所见略同耳。” 后简称为英雄所见略同。
中文中的含义一般是对别人进行称赞时使用,不过现在也可经常用于口头上的玩笑,像英语中的用法一样。
下面是一些例子:
1.
A: I'm going to the concert tonight.
我晚上去听音乐会。
B: Oh, really? Me too. I heard the performers are excellent.
哦,真的吗?我也去的。我听说表演很精彩。
A: Great minds think alike.
英雄所见略同。

(A and B meet in a restaurant unexpectedly.)
A和B两人在一个餐馆不期而遇
A: How did you know I am here?
你怎么知道我在这里?
B: This restaurant is a very nice place to spend an evening. Great minds think alike.
这个餐馆是一个打发晚上时间的好地方。英雄所见略同。

本文部分参考了ESL

2008年8月11日星期一

Hat trick帽子戏法


如果你经常收看体育类节目,你一定帽子戏法对这个词不陌生。帽子戏法这个词是个舶来词,Hat trick是这个词的英文说法。其意义就是在某项活动中(尤其指体育运动)连续三次获胜。

这个词起源于英国广受欢迎的板球,板球运动中规定所有人进入运动场地,必须脱帽,帽子被视为尊重的含义。这项运动中还有一个规定就是,当运动员连续三次投出好球,将3个对手淘汰的话,裁判就会授予该运动员一顶帽子,作为荣誉的象征。连续透出3个好球非常困难,能做到的运动远球艺都非常精湛。后来这个词被广泛运用到板球除了板球之外的其他运动,甚至是很多非体育运动的活动中。

例如:After 2 seccessful terms,the mayor is hoping for a hat trick(He wants to be eleced mayor again.)
经历了两个成功的任期之后,市长希望第三次连任。
在这里的election(选举)并不是运动,但并不妨碍hat trick的使用。

hat trick的英文呢解释是:
A series of three wins, goals, successes, or accomplishments especially in sport.
hat trick

下面是有关hat trick的一些例句:
1.
Beckham scored a hat trick today in his game against Barcelona.
小贝在今天和巴塞罗那队的对抗赛中上演了帽子戏法(或者说连进三球)。

2.
In Shanghai,the great young pianist Langlang complete his hat trick with an awesome concert after London and Newyork
继伦敦和纽约之后,年轻的钢琴家朗朗,在上海第三次举办了一场成功的音乐会。

本文部分参考了ESL

2008年8月10日星期日

go Dutch AA制


go Dutch 或者是 go Dutch treat是指在用餐或相关社交场合AA制付账。这里的dutch是指荷兰人,Dutch treat直译是荷兰人请客的意思,也就是指AA制。

这个俚语的源于英法战争(anglo-Dutch Wars),在这场战争中,荷兰人不仅丢掉了海上马车夫的称谓,一系列和荷兰人有关的稍带贬义词汇产生了,这里的的go Dutch treat就是其中一个,因为荷兰人在外就餐一般不愿意为别人付钱,都是各人付各人的,但现如今,go Dutch这种方式已经广泛的被接受,甚至在中国也很受欢迎,所以再也没有贬义的味道了。

go Dutch的英文解释是:
To pay one's own expenses on a date or outing

下面是有关go Dutch的一些例句:
1.
She and Her boyfriend Bobby always go Dutch at the restaurant.
她和她男朋友Bobby在餐馆吃饭时总是AA制的

2.
A:I'll pick up the tab.
B:No Thanks.Since we all now is in the same comapny,I guess we'll have a lot of chances to go out for a bite;let's just go Dutch.

A:我来付钱
B:不用了,谢谢。既然现在我们大家都在一个公司,我想以后将会有很多机会一起出去吃饭,我们还是AA制吧。

3.
Well, I spend ¥35 and yours is ¥48, let's go Dutch, Justin?
好的,我花了35块,你的是48块,我们各付各的吧,Justin.

另外据说“AA”是“Algebraic Average”的缩写。意思是“代数平均”。意思可以从字面看出,就是按人头平均分担帐单的意思。

calm down 平静下来


calm down 是指平静下来的意思。往往是指从一种愤怒的情感或情绪化的兴奋中平静下来。calm 是平静的意思,down是指向下,整体来讲这个词很容易理解。
例如:
Please calm down. If you don't stop yelling we cannot solve the problem
请平静下来。如果你不停的大喊大叫的话,我们也解决不了问题。

其英文解释是:
stop being angry or emotionally excited

以下是calm down的一些相关的例句。
1.
It's very difficult to calm down those crazy football fans.
使这些疯狂的球迷平静下来可真是困难。

2
I cannot calm down myself the whole night after watching the 2008 Beijing olympic opening ceremoly.
看了2008北京奥运会的开幕式,我的心整夜不能平复。

3.
I finally managed to calm down those desperately customers by a sincere apology and ¥5000 each.
通过诚恳的道歉和每个人赔偿5000元的方式,我终于使这些绝望的消费者平静下来了。

本文部分参考了ESL

hit the books 用功学习


hit the books 是指用功学习,这里字面上的意思是冲撞书籍,实际上指的就是用功学习,念书的意思。注意这里的book是复数的形式books。这是一个典型英语俚语,很地道的用法。
例如:
I'm going to hit the books tonight to prapare for the final exam.
我打算晚上抱抱佛脚,准备一下期末考试。

hit the books 的英文解释是:
To study, especially with concentrated effort.
Study very hard.

下面是一些有关hit the books的一些例句:
1.
I have an exam next week;I must hit the book now.
我下个周有一个考试,我现在必须的用功学习了。

2.
If you want to get an A in this class,you should start hitting the books right now.
如果你想在这么可获得A,你现在就应该好好学习了。

3.
I'll succeed if I hit the books every day.
如果我们每天都用功学习的话,我一定会成功的。

本文部分参考了ELS

2008年8月8日星期五

Translate server error翻译服务器出错

看下面这幅图片。据称是北京某餐馆为了在奥运会期间迎接那些说英语的客人而将自家的招牌翻译成了英语。显然是使用网路上翻译服务,在被告知翻译服务器出错后而错误地将此信息当成是翻译结果,从而虔诚的在自家的的招牌上印出来了。想必奥运期间如果真有外国朋友经过此处,也会对这个招牌发愣的吧。


Preparing for English-speaking visitors coming to the Olympics, a restaurant in China recently ran its name through an online translator, took the result, then purchased and mounted a large sign displaying the English version of their name.

本文部分参考了 Chinese in vancouver

2008年8月7日星期四

Pick up the Tab 替别人付账,买单


pick up the tab ,有时候也说成是pick up the bill指的是替别人付账,tab在口语中指的就是账单的意思,所以pick up the bill 就是值买单的意思。这与我们在前面介绍的一个短语foot the bill 意思基本上是一样的。
例如:
Some friends went together after work for a bite to eat at a local deli but rather than going "Dutch treat" Susan generously offered to pick up the tab.
几个朋友下班后一起去一家熟食店大吃了一顿,这次不是AA制,susan很大方的为大家付账了。
这里的dutch treat 是指AA制的意思。
pick up the bill 的英文解释是:to pay the bill (for someone)
这样我们请客吃饭就可以说成:
I'll foot the bill
I'll pick up the tab
dinner is on me
It's my treat
都是一样的意思。
下面是有关pick up the tab 的几个例句:
1.
It's wonderful to have a social "safety-net" and I do resent government cut-backs in health care but I also recognize that our government can't afford to pick up the tab for absolutely everything. What do you think?
能有一个社会保护网真是不错啊,我对政府在卫生保健上预算消减非常气愤。但我同时也意识到,如果每件事都让政府来花钱,政府也花不起。你怎么认为呢?

2.
We shouldn't have to pick up the tab for the new road if only one family will be using it.
我们本来就不应为这只有一个家庭使用的一条路来出钱。

3.
Taxpayers will have to pick up the bill for political campaigns.
纳税人不得不为政治运动买单。

部分类容转自ESL english

heart sinks 心都凉了



heart sinks 字面的意思是指心沉下来了,真正的含义其实就是指心都凉了,心痛,心碎,失望,扫兴的意思。
例如:
An hour before the picnic I heard the thunder and my heart sank.
在我们野餐前的一个小时我听见了雷声,我的心的凉了半截。

这个英语短语的英文解释是:
One's courage or hope fails; one is very disappointed or dejected.

有关这个词的一些例句如下:
1.
My heart sank when I heard I still had to take five more English classes before I can graduate.
听到在毕业之前我还需要在上五次英语课这个消息,我的心都凉了。

2.
Her heart sinks every time she thinks about the sad situation in the warring country.
每次听到那些交战中的乡下的局势的她都很痛心。

3.
My heart sank when I saw all the houses trumbled down and all peopble were made homeless in the Wenchuan earthquake.
看到在汶川地震的中倒塌的房子和无家可归的人们,我的心都碎了。

部分内容转自ESL english

The Monkey King in London 孙悟空在伦敦



点击此处听这篇英语小短文的录音
把下面这些东西加在一起你能想象出什么来呢?一部十六世纪的中国文学作品,一个知名的中国戏剧导演和一个英国的摇滚乐明星。
What do you get when you combine a 16th century work of Chinese literature, a renowned Chinese theatre director and a British rock star?

答案是《西游记》,一个结合了杂技,音乐,动画和武术的表演,来讲述孙悟空和他的伙伴们西行取经的故事。
The result is Monkey: Journey to the West, a show which blends acrobatics, music, animation and martial arts to tell the story of Sun Wukong and his travelling companions on their journey of redemption.

这个表演改编自知名的中国小说《西游记》,以普通话的形式在伦敦皇家剧院表演,门票被一抢而空。
Performed in Mandarin to sell-out crowds in London's Royal Opera House last week, the show is a stage adaptation of the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West.

“一个难以分类的艺术表演”监制这样评价这个表演。而另外一个评论家却说这是一个“几乎触及了所有艺术领域令人惊叹的表演”。
"An unclassifiable extravaganza" was how The Guardian described the show, while another reviewer said it was a performance that "left no genre untouched and whose scale of ambition could only be marvelled at."

对于导演陈士争来说,把这个充满想象力的中国神话带给21世纪的西方观众,的确是一个极具创造性的挑战,他和他的团队将各种感官体验结合在一起。
Indeed, for director Chen Shi-zheng, bringing the wildly imaginative Chinese tale to a 21st century Western audience was a creative challenge that allowed him and his team to mix together a wide range of influences.

配乐是由英国的大音乐家amon Albarn作曲的,他同时也是Blur乐队的主唱和虚拟动画乐团队大猩猩的创始人之一,由一个既使用西方乐器,又使用中国传统的琵琶,古筝和中阮的乐队演奏。
The score was composed by British musician Damon Albarn, lead singer of Blur and co-creator of the virtual cartoon band Gorillaz. It is played by an orchestra that uses both Western instruments and the traditional Chinese pipa, guzheng and zhongruan.


另一个使这个表演凸显出来的方面是动画的使用,动画被投射在一个巨大的萤幕上。陈导说动画和声音的结合简直一个天才作品。
Another aspect which makes this show stand out is the use of animation, which is projected onto a large screen behind the stage. Director Chen said "the integration of animation and sound was really a work of genius."

美猴王孙悟空,以及猪八戒、沙僧以及其他一些被来自大连马戏团的演员们表现的活灵活现的角色和妖怪在英语中已经被孰知。
The Monkey King, as Sun Wukong is known in English, as well as Pigsy, Sandy and a host of other characters and monsters are brought to life by 40 acrobats from the Dalian circus troupe.

虽然很多北亚的人都不知道美猴王,但很多英国人却对一部70年代的被称为猴的极受欢迎的电视剧还有美好的记忆。
Even though The Monkey King is less well-known outside North-East Asia, many British people fondly remember a cult 1970s TV series called Monkey.

这将不会是英国观众最后一次在这个夏天看到The Monkey King 这个表演。
And this isn't the last British people will be seeing of The Monkey King this summer.

这个表演的幕后工作人员特意为BBC的奥运新闻制作了一个动画花絮,这个动画展示了美猴王和伙伴们在他们去奥运会体育场的路途中与怪兽们厮杀的画面。
The team behind the stage show have produced an animated title sequence for the BBC's Olympic coverage which shows Monkey and his friends battling monsters on their way to Beijing's Olympic Stadium.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

renowned
有名的
animation
动画
sell-out crowds
(被)观众一抢而空
unclassifiable extravaganza
不能被分类的(带有华丽服饰的)娱乐表演
marvelled
(感到)惊奇
creative challenge
集聚创造性挑战的
co-creator
合伙创始人
integration
合成
brought to life
被活灵活现的重现
title sequence
片头,开片
acrobatics
杂技
redemption
拯救,弥补
stage adaptation
改编成舞台剧
left no genre untouched
囊括所有艺术表现手法的
wildly imaginative
极富想象力的
score
(音乐剧)配乐
virtual
虚拟的
a work of genius
天才制作
cult
(被)崇拜
coverage
覆盖


补充:
在这里提到的BBC奥运新闻的动画短片,我很早以前已经观赏过了。动画中的孙悟空确实借鉴了上世纪70年代风靡英国的一个动画片主角的形象,其龇牙咧嘴、满嘴獠牙的形象与我们熟悉的六小龄童版的孙悟空形象相去甚远,而其中的观音菩萨的造型也完全是出自西方人的审美观念。不过动画制作的还是比较精美,值得一看,虽然只有短短两分多钟。据了解这个短片将在奥运期间在各个项目期间被滚动播放。在这里给出一个链接,大家可以先睹为快。





另外,这里提高的英国版本的舞台剧西游记确实非常震撼,这里给大家介绍一点这部剧的花絮。


部分内容转自BBC中文

2008年8月6日星期三

beyond one's means 超过某人的财力


Beyond one's Means 是指超过某人的财力,出不起钱,以某人的财务状况,无法支付等相关意思,means 在此处做收入,财力理解。means还有别的意思方法、手段。
这个短语的英文解释是:more than one can afford, more than one can pay for
对于Beyond one's Means ,英语中还有很多这种beyond one's ...的结构,例如

beyond one's comprehension,是指超出某人的理解能力、范围。
It's beyond my comprehension why he acted like that. I'd always thought he was a sensible person
他那做我真是理解不了,我以前一直认为他是一个很理智的人。

beyond one's depth 也是指是指超出某人的理解范围 depth在这里(理解的)深度的意思。
Bob decided that his elder brother's geometry book was beyond his depth.
Bob认为他哥哥的几何书超出了他的理解范围。

beyond one's line of sight 超出某人的视野范围
The borders of his land lie out far beyond one's line of sight.
这片土地一望无垠

beyond one's control 超出某人的控制范围
He lost his position through circumstances beyond his control
他因为无法控制局势而失去了职位。

Beyond one's endurance 超出忍受范围,忍无可忍,难以忍受
Tom's impoliteness was beyond our endurance and he was asked to leave the room by his grandma
大家对Tom的无礼忍无可忍,他奶奶让他离开这个房间。

beyond one's wildest dream 无论如何也想不到,做梦也不敢想的
He's paying them a salary beyond their wildest dreams.
他们做梦也没想到,他会付给他们这个高的工资。

beyond one's grasp 不所不及,鞭长莫及
例如:He was restoring lands most of which were quite beyond his grasp
他那时候正在回收土地,但大多数都已经是很难回收的了。

beyond one's imagination 超出某人的想象
I confess that Las Vegas is beyond my imagination.
我不得不承认拉斯维加斯超出了我的想象


beyond the scope of 超出...的范围
Some technical terms are beyond the scope of this dictionary.
某些技术术语不在本词典的范围内

beyond the bounds of
It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that they will have a good command of English after three or four years of intensive study.
通过努力学习在三四年之内掌握好英语,并不是不可能的事。

对于beyond one's means 有如下例句:
1.
It's something of a catch-22 situation: On the one hand it may be beyond the means of the owners of a new restaurant to buy expensive furnishings, but on the other hand it is those furnishings that help make the good first impression that attracts customers.
事情本身就是一个两难的问题:一方面一家新开业的餐馆可能没有财力去购买高档的家俱,另一方面,就是这些高档的家俱给客人很好的第一印象,从而吸引他们。

2.
The problem with credit cards for people is that by using them it is so easy to live beyond one's means and sooner or later it's pay-up time!
信用卡的问题是:你将很容易的超出你的财务能力,然而早晚你是要换这笔账的。

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年8月5日星期二

rough and ready 马马虎虎


rough and ready 是马马虎虎,凑合,差强人意,粗略的意思。其本意是粗糙但是够用的意思,实际上就是马马虎虎,勉强使人满意的意思。这也是一个很地道的英语。
其英文解释是:rough, rude, or crude, but good enough for the purpose
例如:a rough and ready estimate of future expenses.对未来开销的一份马马虎虎的预估。

除此之外,rough and ready 也可以用来指人,表示缺少礼节和举止不甚高雅的人。
其英文解释为:(of a person) without formality or refinement
例如:My cousin is a bit rough and ready but he is nice guy.
我表弟虽然有点俗气,但人很好。

下面是这个英文单词的一些例句:
1.
The living condition is a bit rough and ready, as there is no bed.
居住环境非常凑合,连床都没有。

2.
She has a rough and ready method for calculating how long it takes for meat to cook
他有一个虽然不精确但挺管用的方法来计算要花多长时间来煮肉。
从这里来,这有点像我们前面介绍的一个短语,rule of thumb.

3.
It is helpful to begin with a rough and ready classification.
先进行一个粗略的分类很有用

本文部分参考了thefreedictionary.com

rule of thumb 凭经验 凭感觉


rule of thumb 凭经验 凭感觉 字面的意思是拇指规则,实际上是指凭经验的方法,粗略不精确但很方便、实用的方法。
例如:

As a rough rule of thumb, for every 1 percent of gross national product devoted to military spending, overall economic growth is reduced by about one-half a percent.
粗略的计算,每当国民生产总值的1%贡献给军费开支时就会使得整个经济增长下降0.5%。

这个词语的英文解释是:
A means of estimation made according to a rough and ready practical rule, not based on science or exact measurement.
上面的意思是说:一种根据马马虎虎的实践规则估算的方法,不是基于科学或者精确的测量。

这里用到一个词 rough and ready ,很有意思,将在稍后介绍。

这个词实际还有非常用意思的起源,在这里介绍一下。主要有两说:

一说是木匠们经常用他们的大拇指而不是尺子来测量东西,这种说法倒是和它现在的意思(一种不精确,但是可信、方便的标准)吻合。

还有一说是这个短语与一部法律有关,这个法律限定了丈夫用来殴打妻子的木棒的粗度不能够超过他的大拇指。但是这说法被当作一个恶作剧而不被人相信。据传,这是一个名为Sir Francis Buller的英国法官宣布了这条法律。但是Buller是否真的宣布了这条法律,是很有疑问的,也没有证据表明是他宣布了这条法律。事实上,这条法律是如此的不受到公众的欢迎,以至于这位法官在一副讽刺的漫画中被称之为Judge Thumb(拇指法官)。这篇文章右侧的插图也就是当时的这幅漫画。画中一个丈夫正在鞭笞他的妻子,而一位法官为他送来了两捆拇指粗细的棒子。而这幅漫画的名字就《拇指棍,家庭暴力专用,保证合法》

以下是我摘抄自维基百科中关于the rule of thumb的来源的解释,有兴趣可以读一下。
The term is thought to originate with wood workers who used the length of their thumbs rather than rulers for measuring things, cementing its modern use as an inaccurate, but reliable and convenient standard.

It is often claimed that the term originally referred to a law that limited the maximum thickness of a stick with which it was permissible for a man to beat his wife, but this has been fully discredited as a hoax

Sir Francis Buller, a British judge, was alleged to have stated that a man may
legally beat his wife, provided that he used a stick no thicker than his thumb. However, it is questionable whether Buller ever made such a pronouncement and there is even less evidence that he phrased it as a "rule of thumb"; the rumoured statement was so unpopular that it caused him to be lambasted as "Judge Thumb" in a satirical James Gillray cartoon.

最后来说一下这个英语短语的几个例句:
1.
I haven't been taught the finer points of carpentry; I just make things by rule of thumb.
我从来没有被教过木工,只是按自己的经验来。

2.After I graduated, and joined international company, I started to use English in my e-mails within the company. It has been a rule of thumb that all international companies uses English as internal communication tool. English skill has been an important factor during interview process.
从我毕业后进入这家国际化的公司,我开始在公司的内部邮件中使用英语。现在已经成了一条不成文的规定,所有的国际化公司都会使用英语作为交流工具,而英语也在面试中的一个重要考虑的因素。

3.
As a rule of thumb , you should cook a chicken for 20 minutes for each pound that it weighs.
凭经验,每磅鸡肉你应该煮20分钟。

2008年8月4日星期一

Make Short Work of 很快完成,快速处理


Make Short Work of (something/someone)后面可以接someone或者 something这个英语短语如字面的意思一样,是快速做完,很快解决某事或某人的意思。
例如:
We made short work of the food that was put in front of us.
我们风卷残云地吃完了端上来的食物。
The boxer made short work of his challenger.
这个拳手很快解决了他的挑战者。
其英文解释是:to deal with someone or something quickly

下面是一些关于这个英文单词的例子:
1.
Lena made short work of the final remaining details of her business plan so that she could approach the bank for a loan. She planned to start up her new company in September.

Lena快速处理了创业计划中的最后一点事以便与可以赶去银行申请贷款,她计划在九月分开办自己的公司。

2.
Sveta spent all afternoon making the dinner but the family made short work of it. She had mixed feelings about that: It was sad that all her work disappeared so quickly but wonderful that her cooking was so appreciated.

Sveta花了整整一下午时间来做晚餐,却被家里人一扫而光。她现有种复杂的感情,劳动成果消失得这么快,她感到难过,同时又很欣慰,因为家人很喜欢她做的饭菜。

3.
Let's make short work of that. I want to get off right away
我们快点处理这个吧,我想马上走。

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年8月3日星期日

一个感人的故事 约会



这是一个非常感人故事。请永远不要因为太熟悉而对你的亲人吝啬你的爱。
故事如下:

约会
A Date

在我们结婚21年以后,我妻子要我带另外一个女人出去吃饭和看电影。我妻子说他很爱我,但是还有另外一个女人也很爱我,并且想和我一起度过一些时光。
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.


我妻子所说的另一个女人是我的母亲,已经守了19年的寡,但是由于我的工作和三个孩子,我只能偶尔见见他。
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.


那天晚上我打电话邀请她吃饭和看电影。“怎么了?你还好么”她问道。我母亲是那种把深夜电话和意外的邀请都怀疑为坏消息征兆的人。“我觉得和你在一起蛮开心的”,我回应道,“只有我们两个人”。她沉思了片刻,说,“我很愿意去”。
That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
"What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
"I thought that it would be pleasure with you," I responded. "Just the two of us."
She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."


那天周五下班后,我开车过去接她,我有点紧张。进屋以后我才发现,其实她也有点紧张,她穿好衣服在门口等着。他卷了头发,并且穿着上个结婚纪念日上穿的裙子。
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

她容光焕发的脸上绽放着天使一样的笑容。“我告诉我的朋友我要和儿子出去,他们都很惊喜”她说,“现在他们都等不及想听我们的聚会发生了什么呢。”我们走进一家餐馆,虽然不是很有优雅,但是很精致很舒适。母亲像总统夫人一样挽着我的胳膊。我们坐下来,我要看点菜了,菜单字印的很大。当我翻到一半的时候,我抬起眼睛,我看见母亲正坐在那盯着我,唇角流露着怀旧的笑容。
She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.
"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed, "she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting". We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.

“当你还是小孩子的时候,都是我来点菜的”她说
“现在是时间让你休息一下,我来效劳了”我回应道。
"It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said.
"Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.

吃饭期间,我们平和地谈着话,没什么特别的,只是问了问彼此最近的生活。我们谈的很多以至于我们都错过了电影。随后,我把她送回到她家,她说:“我会再次和你出去的,但是你要让我邀请你”。我答应她了。
During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.
As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed.

“晚上过的怎样?”回家后我妻子问我。“很棒,我都没想到会有这么好”我回答道。
"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.


几天以后,我母亲因为心脏病发作而去世。来的太突然了,我没来得及为她做任何事。一段时间过去以后,我收到一封信封,信封里有一张餐馆的发票的复印件,就是上次我和她一起去吃饭的那家餐馆。附带的一张便条上写道:“我提前买单了,我不确定我能否还能去那,但是我还是付了两个人的钱,一个是你,另一个是你的妻子。你不知道那天晚上对我有多重要。儿子,我爱你。”
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I did not do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates, one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."

那时,我突然明白及时地说“我爱你”并和他们一起分享时间是多重要。在人的生命的里,没什么比上帝和家人更重要了。把他们本就该得的时间给他们,因为这种东西到了“某个特定时间”就再也不可能被推迟了。
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I LOVE YOU!" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

curl 卷(头发)
wedding anniversary 结婚纪念日
radiant 容光焕发的,喜悦的
elegant 优雅的
cozy 舒适的
the First Lady总统夫人
half way 半道
nostalgic 怀旧的
Much more so than I could have imagined 比我想象的还要(。。。)
massive 大量的
entry 条目

本文部分参考了snopes.com

2008年8月2日星期六

in the red(black) 亏损(盈利)


in the red 是指亏损,而in the black 是指盈利。

这也是英语中常用的短语,这里的red 红色和 black 黑色指的是财物账簿上墨水的颜色。按行规,红色表示亏损,而黑色则表示盈利。后来这两个英语短语in the red和in the black则都引申为相应的含义,即亏损和盈利。

在汉语中我们也常说财政赤字,其中的“赤”是红色意思,其实是一样的道理。

这个短语相应的英文解释是:
In the Black (In the Red) - refers to operating a business at a profit (or loss). The colours refer to the colour of ink used in the account books (red indicating money that is owed i.e. debt).

下面是这个英语短语的一些例句:
1.
The CEO was able to announce to the shareholders at the first AGM that although the profits were not large, still the company had managed to complete its first year in the black.
首席执行官可以在年会上向股东们宣布,虽然利润不是很丰厚,公司还是在头一个年头保持了盈利。
这里的AGM是指annual general meeting 是指年会。

2.
A charitable organization must be run with just as much skill as a for-profit business if it is to keep itself out of the red.
慈善机构要想不亏损,也必须像盈利行业一样用很多技巧去经营。

3.
Jack often runs his father's company in the red.
jack 在经营他父亲的公司的时候,经常时期亏损。

本文部分参考了ESL english

love rat 负心汉,爱情骗子


love rat 负心汉,爱情骗子
rat老鼠 在西方人的印象中也是不好的东西,往往个欺骗相关联。love rat 是西方人中口语中常用的一个词,即所谓的俚语(Slang ),不是正式英语(formal english),意思是指那些对爱情不专一,玩弄感情的人,一般指男性,和中文中的负心汉,爱情骗子等含义对应。

love rat is people who cheat on their partners, and they’re quite often men.

例如:
Well,Having 12 children with 12 different women, all of whom he has cheated on at least five times,Mike is apparently the biggest love rat of the city.
显然mike是一个负心汉,他和十二个女士有十二个小孩,至少欺欺骗每个女士5次以上。


The love rat sprung a nasty surprise on his girlfriend by admitting he was two-timing her and had slept with his stepson's ex-girlfriend.
这个骗子对其女友爆出了下流的丑闻,承认了曾对其女朋友劈腿,并和其继子的前女友有过一夜。

本文部分参考了BBC China

haste makes waste 欲速则不达

haste makes waste 欲速则不达

这个英语谚语的本意是性急导致浪费(时间,金钱),haste是指匆忙,急忙,waste 是指浪费 实际上是指一个人做事情的时候,如果太着急,反而往往做不好,需要重新再做一边,浪费了时间和金钱。

有意思的是西方的这句谚语和我们东方的儒家思想有着同样的阐述:孔子向其即将要到外地做官的学生子夏嘱咐说: "无欲速,无见小利。欲速,则不达;见小利,则大事不成。"

这段话的意思是:做事不要单纯追求速度,不要贪图小利。单纯追求速度,不讲效果,反而达不到目的;只顾眼前小利,不讲长远利益,那就什么大事也做不成。

后来欲速则不达也做为谚语在东方流传下来,这和英语中的hate makes waste道理上一样的。
相同的道理我们还有很多词汇聊表述:揠苗助长,心急吃不了热豆腐等等

haste makes waste的英文解释是:time is actually wasted if someone tries to do something too quickly or too carelessly - it will just have to be done again correctly.
下面是有关haste makes waste这个英语谚语的一些使用例句:
1.
They simply had not allowed enough time for the concrete to harden fully before continuing the construction on top of it. The investigation showed that this was the main contributing factor in the collapse of the bridge. The expensive and time-consuming clean-up and reconstruction that followed was the most painful way of learning that haste makes waste.
他们没等水泥完全干掉就在上面开始别的建筑了,调查也显示了这是这座桥坍塌的主要原因。而接下来昂贵、耗时的清理和重建使他们学会了“欲速则不达”的道理。

2.
She was in such a hurry to get the cake ready for her guests that she forgot one essential ingredient: baking powder! Haste makes waste.
她十分着急地给客人们准备蛋糕,结果却忘了一样必不可以的配料:发酵粉,真是欲速则不达啊!

3.
Haste makes waste, so be careful as you work.
工作仔细点,欲速则不达啊!

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年8月1日星期五

buy up 买断,买光,收购


前面我们已经介绍了几个有关buy的短语,他们分别是:buy out 收购buy off 贿赂,买通,这里我们在学习一个有关buy的短语,buy up,买断,买空,买完的意思,同时buy up也有收购(公司)的意思。
buy up的英文解释是:Buy all of something
例如:
The USA seems to be buying up all of the world’s oil reserves. They are wise as soon there will be little oil left!
美国似乎正在买空全世界的所有石油资源,这倒是很聪明,因为用不了多久,世界上将会没有石油了。
下面是有关buy up这个英语短语的例句:
1.
We BOUGHT UP all the shop had before the price went up.
在价格上涨之前我们买光了商店里所有东西。

2.
Haier looks to buy up and expand in U.S.
海尔正寻找收购对象以在美国扩张。

3.
He bought up all the spare building land in the district and can now charge what he wants for it.
他买断了这个地区的所有闲置建筑土地,现在可以漫天要价了。

4.
Speculators are thick on the ground. They buy up land, sit on it for a month or two and resell for twice what they paid.
这里的投机者非常多,他们买下土地,搁置一两个月以后再以双倍的价格卖出。

5.
A Newyork business man have buy up the entire company.
一个纽约的商人收购了整个公司。

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年7月31日星期四

lighten up 放松,变亮。


lighten up 放松,
这个词的本意是使更亮,但一般使用其引申的意思即,轻松一点,当然本意还是可以使用,例如:
The room lightened up with the new paint.
新的油漆屋子变的更亮了
但用的更多是其引申的意思例如:
She is always trying to get her husband to lighten up.
她总是尽力使丈夫心情轻松愉快。

下面是这个词的例子:
1.
Berk said the finding strengthens the advice that everyone lighten up a little to live longer.
Berk说研究证实了轻松愉快使人长寿的观点。

2.
Life is short. Work is hard. Let's lighten up when the mailroom loses a package, OK?
生命苦短,工作辛苦,请对邮件室里丢失一个邮包放轻松一点好吗?

2008年7月30日星期三

黑暗骑士光彩夺目 dark knight shines bright


Batman Film Shatters Box Office Record 蝙蝠侠新片冲破票房纪录
电此处听原文的录音
在伦敦市中心看见一辆蝙蝠形状的骑车并不常见,除非也许是蝙蝠侠在城里。
It's not often you see a giant bat-shaped car driving through central London, unless perhaps Batman is in town.

为了配合新的蝙蝠侠电影《黑夜骑士》欧洲首映式,这位穿斗篷战士的蝙蝠汽车也被开到了这里。这个电影已经在美国的票房市场上卷起了波浪。
The caped crusader's famous Batmobile was here for the European premiere of new Batman film The Dark Knight, a film which has already been making waves at the US box office.

这个电影创造了公映后首个周末的票房纪录,仅美国市场公映后的前三天就有1.55亿美元(11.1亿人民币)。
It has set a box office record for best opening weekend ever, taking $155m (1.1bn yuan) in the US alone in its first three days in cinemas.

对于暑期的这枚重磅炸弹赚取如此多的钱也许没有什么大不了的,难能可贵的是这部电影收到了来自评论家的一致好评。
But while it is not unusual for summer blockbusters to make a lot of money, what is less common is for such films to receive good reviews from critics.

"这是一部让你在电影院里对其镜头和复杂性目瞪口呆的史诗"——这是相关媒体对这部电影的描述,很多对这部电影大唱赞歌的观点中的一种。
"An epic that will leave you staggering from the theatre, stunned by its scope and complexity," was how Associated Press described the film, one of many reviews which sung the praises of the latest Batman film.

这部由英国演员Christian Bale主演,由最近已经去世的Heath Ledger饰演其死敌——小丑的电影已经被imdb.com的用户们评为最佳电影。
The movie, which stars British actor Christian Bale in the lead role and the late Heath Ledger as his arch-enemy the Joker, has already been voted the number one film of all time by users of the website imdb.com.

这个故事讲述了这个超级英雄在一个虚构的城市Gotham里,同黑社会大战,
The story follows the superhero Batman as he battles the criminal underworld in the fictional Gotham City.

电影中以一个尤其令人吃惊的部分是,蝙蝠侠飞跃香港的国际财经中心时,还给了一个有争议的配角演员陈冠希一个特写。
One particularly stunning part sees Batman leap from the top of the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong; and even features a cameo role for controversial star Edison Chen.

很多批评家认为Heath Ledger的表演是发疯的小丑,小丑是电影中对蝙蝠侠制造事端的反派人物。
Many critics have singled out Heath Ledger's performance as the maniacal Joker, who wreaks mayhem as Batman tries to stop him.

盎格鲁血统的美国导演Christopher Nolan认为他的表演是非常激动人心的,复杂的,难以下结论的。该片的另一个主演Michael Caine则认为他是“最伟大的坏蛋之一”
Anglo-American director Christopher Nolan described his performance as breathtaking, complex and "hard to pin down". Co-star Sir Michael Caine called him "one of the greatest villains you've ever seen."

Ledger在今年早些时候由于过量服用药物而去世。现在看来他将会获得奥斯卡的遗作将提名。
Ledger died earlier this year from an accidental prescription drugs overdose. It now looks likely that he will receive a posthumous Oscar nomination.

caped crusader
披斗篷的先锋(蝙蝠侠的别称)
box office
票房
summer blockbusters
夏季大片
stunned
受惊的
sung the praises
表扬
criminal underworld
黑社会
singled out
挑出,选出
wreaks mayhem
犯下重伤罪
hard to pin down
很难下结论
accidental prescription drugs overdose
意外过量服药
making waves
掀起一阵热潮
opening weekend
首个周末
staggering
摇摇晃晃
scope
(影片的)范围
arch-enemy
死敌
cameo role
(电影中)托明星演员的小配角
maniacal
疯狂的
breathtaking
激动人心的
villains
坏人,反面人物
posthumous
死后获得的
部分内容转自BBC

foot the bill 付账,担负责任


foot the bill 付账,担负责任
这个短语非常有意思。foot the bill中的foot可不是指踩着或者脚之类的意思,这里的foot相当于bottom的意思,是指将所有的账目加在一起,然后写在最下面,意思就是付账,买单的意思,但后来慢慢引申出有担负责任的意思。

foot the bill是非常地道的英语,例如在餐馆里吃晚饭,如果我们想请客,我们可以说:“I will foot the bill”

foot the bill的英文解释是:to pay the expenses

下面是一些关于这个英文短语的例子:
1.
Is it really fair to expect the taxpayer to go on footing the bill for government mismanagement?
指望纳税人来继续为政府的失职买单公平吗?

2.
Dad, I appreciate you loaning your car to me to take my friends to Toronto and I'm sorry about the dent in your fender - I just didn't realize the car was set in reverse when I started it.
But the damage is so small ... do you mind if I leave it to you to foot the bill?
老爸,我非常感谢你把车借给我载我的朋友去多伦多,对于你的车的挡板上的凹坑,我非常抱歉,因为我启动它的时候没有意识到我开反了
但是,损伤很小,你可以自己去修吗?

3.
Who is going to foot the bill for the failure of the new aircraft?
谁来对这次新飞机试验的失败负责呢?

本文部分参考了ESL english

Drum out 轰走,被迫辞职


Drum out 轰走,被迫辞职
drum是鼓的意思,而Drum out合起来这个短语就是轰走某人的意思,一般是指职务上的勒令辞职等意思,有点击鼓相送、赶走、撵走、轰走的感觉,还是慢恰切的。
例如:
The president was drummed out of office.
总统被撵出了办公室
drum out的英文解释是:
force someone out of their job or position

下面是些有关drum out这个英文短语的例句:
1.The chairman was drummed out of the company after he misappropriated funds
主席因为挪用公款而被迫辞职。

2.I was not drummed out from that company,I quit.
我是自己主动辞职的,而不是被炒鱿鱼的。

本文部分参考了thefreedictionary

straddle 横跨,骑 ——每日单词

straddle [ˈstrædl]
1.To stand or sit with a leg on each side of
叉开腿; 跨坐
例如:
straddle a horse 骑马
He sat straddling the fence.
他骑坐在栅栏上。
2.To be on both sides of; extend over or across
横跨…的两边; 跨越…的两边
The village straddles the frontier.
这村庄横跨边境线。

本文部分参考了Thefreedictionary.com

drive a hard bargain 极力地讨价还价



drive a hard bargain 极力地讨价还价
这个俚语在英语口语中用得非常多。bargain的本意是:讨价还价; 商谈(以便更便宜)/特价商品的意思。drive a hard bargain就更加强调了这个意思。意思就是极力的去讨价还价,当然这里讨价还价是广义的,不一定指在买东西的时候,很多时候用在两方谈条件的时候。
例如:
Nadia drove a hard bargain - she agreed to help her brother with his homework from school if he in turn would agree to do her share of the clean-up at the dacha.
Nadia得了便宜:她和她弟弟达成协议,她帮她弟弟做家庭作业,而她弟弟作为回馈则需要帮她完成打扫别墅的工作

drive a hard bargain的英文解释是:
to demand a lot or refuse to give much when making an agreement with someone.
与某人达成协议的时候要求获得更多或者拒绝给出更多。

下面是关于这个词的一些英文解释:
1.
I'm impressed that you got £2000 for that car. You certainly drive a hard bargain.
我太佩服你了,你仅仅花了2000欧元就买下了那辆车,你一定狠狠的杀了价。

2.
The bank was able to drive a hard bargain because the company badly needed cash.
银行可以狠狠地宰这个公司一笔,应为这个公司急需用钱。

3.
I am happy to let Marilyn negotiate for us because she can drive a hard bargain.
我很高兴能让
Marilyn 去谈判,因为她很懂得杀价。

4.
You can drive a hard bargain in the free market.
自由市场上你可以狠狠的杀价。

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年7月29日星期二

buy out 买空,买断,收购

buy out 买空,买断,收购
作为对比,这里再写一下buy out这个英语短语的解释,这个短语和字面上的意思一样就是买断,收购(一般是指公司的股份)。
英语解释:Buy somebody's share in a company
例如:
That big internet company was brought out by the huge software company.
那个大网络公司被那个巨头软件公司收购了(是微软收购雅虎吗?哈哈)
下面是这个英语单词的例子
1.
He had enough money to buy out the island.
他有足够的钱可以买断这个岛。

2.Eventually they were all bought out.
最终他们被收购了。

3.Large companies can easily buy out the shareholders of small companies.
大公司可以轻易的收购那些小公司的股份。

本文部分参考了ESL English

buy off 买通,收买,贿赂


buy off 买通,收买,贿赂,这个词从字面上看是买通的意思,实际上也是买通的意思。这种事情常发生在中国,但英语中也有这个很形象的词。
例如:
My father bought off the lawyer and the judge so that he would not get taken to court and sued.
我父亲买通了律师和法官,这样他就不会被带到法庭审判了。
类似意思的词还有:bribe

下面是一些有关这个buy off这个英语单词的例子:
1.
The gangster's friends bought off the police witness.
那家伙的朋友买通了警察方面的目击证人。

2.
They tried in vain to buy off the opposition.
他们以前还白费力气的试图买通对手,但是没有用。这里的in vain 的意思是白费地,徒劳地

3.
I don't like the way they are trying to buy me off.
我不喜欢他们试图贿赂我的这种方式。(well,anyway,I don't care the way they buy me off.hah..)

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年7月28日星期一

butter up 讨好,拍马屁,奉承


butter up 讨好,拍马屁,奉承
这个单词字面上的意思是抹黄油,因为黄油以前在西方相对来说是奢侈的东西,所以为某人抹黄油引申出来的意思就是奉承某人,拍某人马屁,讨好某人。同样这样英语单词非常的形象,用起 来显得很地道。
例如:
You don’t have to use nice words to butter me up so I will help you. Just ask me and that is enough!
你不需要为了要我帮你来对我说好话来讨好我。告诉我(你要我做什么就够了)
相同意思的单词还有flatter,brown-nose,cringe(卑躬屈膝,阿谀奉承,意思稍有不同)
下面是些这个英语单词的例子:
1.
I believe some people are simply born with the talent of buttering up people. Don't you think I haven't tried. I did, but I felt so awkward about flattering people. So I've given up a long time ago.
我觉得有些人天生就有拍别人马屁的本事。你也不要觉得我从没试过,我以前试过的,但是奉承别人时我感到非常尴尬,所以我很早以前就放弃了。

2.
I wish he'd stop trying to butter me up.
我希望他不要再试图讨好我了。

3.
Harry is working hard to butter up the boss to get that promotion. The funny thing is if he worked as hard at his job as he does at buttering up people, he'd have a better chance to get what he's after.
harry工作很努力讨好老板以便于晋升,有趣的是如果他能像他讨好领导一样地去工作的话,他将得到更多的机会。

最后顺便再提一下中文中“拍马屁”这个词的来源,也非常有意思。

这个典故来源于元朝文化,有两种说法。

一说蒙古族的一般百姓人家都会拥有几匹马,以解决行路、运输等问题,牧民们常以养得骏马为荣。有时人们牵着马相遇时,常要拍拍对方马的屁股,摸摸马膘如何,并附带随口夸上几声“好马”,以博得马主人的欢心。起初,人们实事求是,好马说好,可是相沿很久以后,有的人不管别人的马好坏、强弱,都一味地只说奉承话,把劣马也说成是好马了。

一说蒙古是马上得天下的民族,所以元朝的官员大多是武将出身,马往往是一个将领权力、身份、地位的象征,下级对上司最好的赞美,就是拍拍他的马、夸他的马好。逐渐人们就把对上司的奉承称为“拍马”。这是因为夸赞的话是不一样的,而拍马的动作是一样的。这就是“拍马屁”的由来。后蒙古入主中原,建立了元帝国,建起了元大都,他们的文化也就逐渐渗透到汉文化中,“拍马屁”一词也就流传下来。也有人说实际上拍马时决不能拍马的屁股,但由于汉人很少骑马,就把“拍马”想象为“拍马屁”了。至于马屁股到底能不能拍,尚无定论,总之不要拍到马蹄子上就好了。

本文部分参考了ESL english

shoot the breeze 闲聊,侃大山


shoot the breeze 字面意思是对着微风射击,这是英语中非常形象的地方,给人一副非常形象的画面,这个短语一般指闲聊,侃大山的意思。英语中非常地道的用法。
以下是这个短语的一些例句:
1.
They spent all their time sitting around the dock and shooting the breeze.
他们整天坐在码头附近闲聊。

2.
On Friday nights I usually go to a movie. But it was raining so hard last night I just stayed in the dorm to sit around and shoot the breeze with a couple of friends."
周五晚上我一般出去看电影,但昨天当时雨下得太大了,我只是和几个朋友呆在宿舍里闲聊。

3.
One thing I enjoy about shooting the breeze -- you can relax and say anything you want to. You're among friends and nobody takes things seriously."
我喜欢闲聊的原因之一 -- 你可以放松,说你任何想说的东西。你和朋友们在一起没有人会当真的。
注意这里用了One thing...的结构,这个结构一般是用来表示原因的。

4.
The men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze.
男人们当时正坐在咖啡馆侃大山。

本文部分参考了ESL english

2008年7月27日星期日

妈妈米亚!从舞台走向银幕(Mamma Mia!From Stage to Silver Screen)


单击听下面这段英语学习材料的录音

一直深受欢迎的West End的歌舞剧妈妈米亚最终被从舞台搬上了银幕。
The ever so-beloved musical Mamma Mia! has finally been taken from the stage to the silver screen.
2008年6月30日,在伦敦市中心的莱斯特广场举行了该影片的全球首映。
The international premiere of the film was held at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London, 30 June 2008.

电影基于传奇的瑞典流行乐团ABBA的歌曲,并且改编自同名音乐剧。
The film is a musical based on the legendary Swedish pop band ABBA’s songs and it is the film adaptation of the musical of the same name.

妈妈咪呀使用了ABBA的音乐来讲述索菲.谢里单的故事。索菲.谢里单是一个21岁的准新娘,视图找到她的亲生父亲,以便于可以在婚礼中完成将新娘交给新郎的仪式。
Mamma Mia! uses the music of ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan, a 21-year-old American bride-to-be, trying to find out the identity of her real father so that he can give her away at the wedding.

自从歌舞剧妈妈米亚1993年在伦敦首场演出以来,她已经被世界各地超过3000万的观众所欣赏,并且粗略估计给剧院带来了20亿美元(150亿人民币)的收入
Since the premiere of the musical in London in 1999, over 30 million people have seen Mamma Mia! around the world and the theatre production has grossed $2bn (15bn yuan) in earnings.

虽然歌舞剧的名字是源于ABBA乐队1975年的,但是妈妈米亚的歌舞剧和电影的情节都和这个乐队没有任何关系。
Although the title of the musical is taken from ABBA’s 1975 chart-topper Mamma Mia, neither the musical’s nor the film’s plot has anything to do with the story of the group itself.

ABBA乐队是1974年欧洲歌曲大赛的冠军,在那以后,直到80年代早期,他们的歌曲在世界各地的排行榜中一直名列前茅。ABBA这个乐队的名字是源于这个乐队每个成员的名字首字母
The band ABBA was the winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and following that success their songs topped the charts worldwide until the early 1980s. The name ABBA is an acronym formed from the first letters of the group member’s first names.

在伦敦最有名的电影院之一莱斯特广场音乐厅独家展映一周以后,从6月10号开始,这部电影将在全国各地的所有电影院中开播。
After a week of exclusive showing in the Leicester Square Odeon, one of London’s most famous cinemas, the film will be on in all cinemas across the country from 10 July.

一些人认为电影之所以如此成功是因为演员的阵容强大。Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard分别饰演了三个可能的爸爸,而奥斯卡获奖者 Meryl Streep饰演了准新娘的妈妈。
Some people say maybe it is the mature A-list cast that makes the film work so well. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard star as the three potential dads with the Oscar winner Meryl Streep starring as the mum of the bride-to-be.
一个电影评论家说这个电影本身非常精彩,辛辣,有趣,并且被拍摄得非常漂亮。
A film critic said the film is truly wonderful. It is sharp, hilarious and very beautifully shot.
如果你是ABBA的粉丝,或者歌舞剧的粉丝,或者仅仅是Pierce Brosnan的粉丝,那么电影妈妈米亚你一定要看。
If you are a fan of ABBA, a fan of the musical, or simply just a fan of Pierce Brosnan, then the film Mamma Mia!is a must.


词汇表GLOSSARY
beloved
心爱的,受人喜爱的
stage
舞台
legendary
传奇的
bride-to-be
准新娘
give her away
(婚礼中通常由父亲)把新娘交给新郎
chart-topper
(音乐)榜首
Eurovision Song Contest
欧洲歌唱大赛
exclusive showing
独家放映
potential
可能的
hilarious
十分有趣的
musical
音乐剧
silver screen
银幕
adaptation
改编
identity
身份
grossed
总共赚得
plot
情节
acronym
缩写字
A-list cast
由重量级演员组成的演出班子
critic
评论家
shot
拍摄

本篇文章参考了BBC的Mamma Mia! 妈妈咪呀!

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