[转]谈英语俚语（一）

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<p>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<br/>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」。<br/>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！<br/>更多的具体信息，请参考 <a href="http://www.Eslbay.com">http://www.Eslbay.com</a>&nbsp; 里面的 “Idioms” 。</p><p>（1） empty suit：</p><p>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。</p><p>（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。）</p><p>例如：</p><p>An empty suit generally gets no attention from the public.</p><p>（一位虚伪不实的人，通常不会受到大众的注意。）</p><p>Mr. Lee acts like a big shot, but he is just an empty suit.</p><p>（李先生装著像位大人物，但他只是不重要的人。）</p><p>虽然这句话，多半只用单数，但有时也用复数：</p><p>The company is filled with a lot of empty suits.</p><p>（这公司有许多虚伪不重要的人）</p><p>（2） fair-haired boy：</p><p>指得宠的人，也就是宠儿，多半指男人（a fa-vorite person usually referring to a man）</p><p>（通常用单数，当名词用）</p><p>例如：</p><p>Mr. Cheney has become a fair-haired boy to the presi-dent.</p><p>( Cheney 先生变成总统的宠儿。)</p><p>Not being a fair-haired boy, Mr. Wong never gets pay-raises and promotions.</p><p>（王先生不得宠，从未得到加薪和升级。）</p><p>有时也可用复数：</p><p>Mr. Bush selected two former fair-haired boys for his cabinet.</p><p>（Bush 先生为他的内阁选用两位过去的宠儿。）</p><p>Fair-haired boys tend to receive special treatment by their bosses.</p><p>（得宠的人，较会受到他们上司的特别待遇。）</p><p>（但没有 fair-haired girl 的说法）</p><p>（3） fishing expedition：</p><p>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）</p><p>（这句话本是 legal term，当名词用，多半用单数）</p><p>例如：</p><p>The judge said the prosecutor was on a fishing expedi-tion and stopped him.</p><p>（法官说原告为搜罗罪证而进行调查，要他停止。）</p><p>The police are on a fishing expedition in order to solve（或 resolve）the murder case.</p><p>（警察进行调查盘问，以便侦破谋杀案。）</p><p>（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）</p><p>The reporter went on a fishing expedition about the president's involvement in the Iraq War.</p><p>（记者搜罗有关总统卷入伊拉克战争的新闻资料。）</p><p>偶尔也有人用复数：</p><p>Several fishing expeditions have been made before he decides to run for office.</p><p>（在他决定竞选之前，他做了数次的收集资料调查。）</p><p>（4） filthy rich：</p><p>意思是很富有，很有钱。（very wealthy）</p><p>（未必是不义之财或肮脏钱）</p><p>多半当形容词用。例如：</p><p>With a beautiful mansion and an expensive car, Mr. B must be filthy rich.</p><p>( 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。)</p><p>Despite being filthy rich, Mr. C is still leading his life in a frugal way.</p><p>（尽管 C 先生很富有，他仍然过著简朴的生活。）</p><p>A filthy rich person tends to have a superiority complex toward others.</p><p>（有钱者对他人有优越感的倾向。）</p><p>Filthy rich people are not necessarily well-respected unless they possess noble characters.</p><p>（有钱人未必受人尊敬，除非有高尚的品格。）</p><p>（注：但没有 cleanly rich 的说法）</p><p>（5） fairy godmother：</p><p>指及时慷慨提供帮助的人（someone who unex-pectedly gives generous assistance）</p><p>（多半指有钱的女人）</p><p>（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。可参考 <a href="http://www.eslbay.com">http://www.eslbay.com</a> 里面的“Idioms”）</p><p>例如：</p><p>Mr. A has a fairy godmother who gave him fifty thou-sand dollars.</p><p>（一位有钱的女人，帮助A先生五万元。）</p><p>After lifelong savings, Mrs. B donated all her money to a charity organization like a fairy godmother.</p><p>（B 太太将一生的积蓄全部捐给慈善机构。）</p><p>有时也用复数：</p><p>Only business women can act as fairy godmothers.</p><p>（只有商场上的女人才能提供金钱帮助他人。）</p><p>In Chinese society very few fairy godmothers can be discovered.</p><p>（在中国社会里，很少有钱的女人慷慨捐助。）</p><p></p><p><br/>6）eye opener：</p><p>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）</p><p>（当名词用；通常只用单数）</p><p>例如：</p><p>Your wonderful article on marriage was certainly an eye opener to many youngsters.</p><p>（你那篇有关婚姻的好文章，使许多年轻人获得启示。）</p><p>Mr. Wong's speech about U.S./ China policy seemed to be an eye opener.</p><p>（王先生的中美政策讲演使人恍然大悟。）</p><p>The popular World Journal in North America is an eye opener for many Chinese immigrants.</p><p>（大名鼎鼎的世界日报是北美许多中国移民惊喜的新发现。）</p><p>Some American customs and ways of thinking can be an eye opener to many Chinese people.</p><p>（美国一些的风俗习惯和想法，让许多老中感到惊奇。）</p><p>（7） hot dog：</p><p>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)</p><p>例如：</p><p>Some young people are hot dogs behind the wheel, speeding all the time.</p><p>（一些年轻人开车时，常做些超速的惊险动作。）</p><p>（这里的 hot dogs = hot doggers）</p><p>In front of his girlfriend, the teenager was trying to hot dog.</p><p>（在女友面前，年轻人做出一些卖弄技巧的花招。）</p><p>（动词时态是：hot dogged, hot dogging）</p><p>During the air force show, one of the pilots was a dan-gerous hot dogging flyer.</p><p>（在空军表演时，一位飞行员做惊险的飞行动作。）</p><p>也指真正的热狗食物：</p><p>The hot dog is one of the favorite fast food in the U.S.</p><p>（在美国热狗是一种受欢迎的快餐。）</p><p>也可表达欣赏的心情：</p><p>Hot dog ! What great news for me.</p><p>（真棒！对我来说是好消息。）</p><p>（8）eager beaver：</p><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）</p><p>（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。）</p><p>（当名词用，可指男女）</p><p>例如：</p><p>John seems an eager beaver because he always comes early and leaves late.</p><p>（John 似乎是十分卖力的人，因为他总是来得早，走得晚。）</p><p>Being an eager beaver, he sometimes is not well-liked by his colleagues.</p><p>（他做事异常卖力，有时不受同事喜欢。）</p><p>Does Mr. B have a long-lasting attitude as an eager beaver?</p><p>（B 先生做事非常卖力，那是长久以来的态度吗？）</p><p>You may find some eager beavers in any organizations.</p><p>（在任何机关里，你总会发现一些对上司竭力讨好的人。）</p><p>（9）doubting Thomas：</p><p>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）</p><p>（这原出于圣经，因耶稣门徒 Thomas 不信基督的复活）</p><p>（当名词用）</p><p>例如：</p><p>I am not trying to be a doubting Thomas about Mr. Wong's keeping promise.</p><p>（我不怀疑王先生的承诺。）</p><p>There must have been some unpleasant experiences for Mr. B to become a doubting Thomas.</p><p>（B 先生不信任他人，也许因为有不愉快的经验所致。）</p><p>也可用复数：</p><p>My friends are doubting Thomases toward many Chi-nese business people.</p><p>（我朋友对许多中国商人不信任。）</p><p>If there are too many doubting Thomases in our society, people will lose confidence with one another.</p><p>（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。）</p><p>（10）dragon lady：</p><p>指生气、不友善或凶险的女人。（angry, un-friendly or dangerous woman）（当名词用）</p><p>例如：</p><p>The chairman's secretary is so snoffy and nasty that she is considered a dragon lady.</p><p>（主席的秘书，很自大，脾气差，她被视为凶恶的女人。）</p><p>I am sure no woman likes to be called a dragon lady.</p><p>（我相信没有女人喜欢被称为凶恶的女人。）</p><p>Should your girlfriend happens to be a dragon lady, are you going to breakup with her?</p><p>（假如你的女友成了凶恶的女人，你要与她分手吗？）</p><p>也可用复数：</p><p>There may be many dragon ladies in our community.</p><p>（在我们社区里也许有不少凶女人。）</p><p>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</p><p></p><p></p><p><br/></p>