Playing the Lute to a Cow 對牛彈琴 In ancient times was a man who played the zither very well. Once, he played a tune in front of a cow, hoping that the cow would appreciate it. The tune was melodious ,but the cow showed no reaction, and just kept on eating grass. The man sighed, and went away. This idiom is used to indicate[5IndIket]reasoning with stubborn[5stQbLn]people or talking to the wrong audience。
一、源于歷史故事或歷史事件。
歷史上出現(xiàn)過眾多的著名歷史故事或事件,后人常用一簡潔說法表達其內(nèi)容,沿用久了就成了成語。如Sword damocles出自古代希臘的一則歷史故事。
業(yè)通古希臘歷史、文學的羅馬杰出作家與政論家西塞羅(106BC?3BC)在其論文《圖斯庫拉的談話》中寫道:“紀元前4世紀西西里島上敘拉古的統(tǒng)治者狄奧尼修斯一世(406BC?67BC)有個親信的佞叫達摩克里斯,他很羨慕帝王的豪華生活,常說:“君王是人世間最幸福的人”。狄奧尼修斯為了教訓這個想得君位者,在一次宴會上,要他坐在國王的寶座上,當他猛然抬頭,只見頭頂上有一把用頭發(fā)懸著的寶劍,隨時都刺到頭頂?shù)奈kU。
他嚇得戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢,如坐針氈,時刻提心吊膽,惶惶不安。由此便產(chǎn)生了“達摩克里斯的寶劍”這個成語,它被用來比喻臨頭的危險或情況的危急,類似于漢語的“千鈞一發(fā)”。
又如burn one's boats(bridges),此成語中的bridges為美國人所使用,原指古羅馬朱力斯·凱撒大軍乘船越過Rubicon后就把船燒了,以此向士兵指明后路已斷,不可能后退?,F(xiàn)借用來比喻“不留后路,下定決心干到底”,同漢語的“破釜沉舟“。
二、源于寓言故事。寓言是用比喻的形式說明一定的道理,是文學作品中最為短小精練的一種形式。
如kill the goose to get the eggs,源于希臘寓言,說的是曾有一個鄉(xiāng)下人,因為發(fā)財心切殺死了自己飼養(yǎng)的那只能下金蛋的鵝,以為如此就可一次獲得全部想象中的金塊,但其結(jié)果一無所獲。現(xiàn)借比喻只貪圖眼前利益,沒有長遠打算。
但漢語中不說“殺鵝取卵”而說“殺雞取卵”,喻體不同,因此漢譯時須遵循漢語成語的搭配規(guī)律。又如Veper and File出自《伊索寓言》,說的是一條蝰蛇(Viper)發(fā)現(xiàn)一把鐵銼(File),以為是一頓美餐。
但鐵銼說,它的天職是咬別人,而不是被別人咬。后人借此比喻“騙人者反受人騙”,漢譯時要作直譯或意譯處理。
三、源于神話故事。神話是關(guān)于神仙或神化的古代英雄的故事,是古代人們對自然現(xiàn)象和社會生活的一種天真的解釋和美好向往。
如rain cats and dogs,源于北歐神話,貓對天氣有很大影響,英國水手至今說:“貓尾巴藏大風”。據(jù)說駕暴風雨的巫士化為貓形。
狗是風的信號,狗和狼都是暴風雨神奧丁的隨從。在德國古畫中,風被畫成狗頭和狼頭。
因此,貓被年作暴雨的象征,狗是伴隨暴雨的強風,to rain cats and dogs就是to rain heavily/hard,漢譯便為“下傾盆大到雨”。又如Analthea's horn,漢譯常為“豐饒的羊角”。
阿瑪爾忒亞(Amalthea),希臘祖籍中一神女,是宙斯(Zeus為主神,相當于羅馬神話中的朱庇特Jupiter)的保姆。嬰兒時宙斯由神女阿瑪爾忒亞喂以羊乳。
為了感思,宙斯敲下一羊角送給她。許諾讓羊角主人永遠豐饒。
四、傳說。傳說指的是人們口頭流傳下來的關(guān)于某人某事的敘述。
如swan song,據(jù)傳說,音樂之神阿波羅(Apollo)的靈魂進入了一只天鵝,由此產(chǎn)生了畢達哥斯寓言:所有杰出詩人的靈魂都進入天鵝體內(nèi)。另據(jù)相傳天鵝(swan)在臨終前唱的歌最優(yōu)美動聽。
后人就用swan song來比喻詩人、作曲家、演員等的“最后作品”,這也是其漢譯形式。又如Leave no stone unturned,相傳公元前447年波斯獎軍馬多尼奧斯在希臘的普拉蒂亞兵敗被殺后,留下一大批財寶在軍帳里。
底比斯的波利克拉特斯搜尋卻一無所獲,請示德爾斐神諭后知道要“翻轉(zhuǎn)所有的石頭”,最后找到了財寶。現(xiàn)借此比喻想方設(shè)法等,漢譯為“千方百計,想盡辦法”。
五、源于民間飛俗。如a bird of ill omen,源出古代占卜風俗,延至今日,貓頭鷹、鸛則被視為吉祥鳥)。
渡鳥嗅覺靈敏,能確定遠方死尸和腐尸地點。因此渡鳥象征死亡。
貓頭鷹在惡劣天氣來臨之前喊叫,而壞天氣常帶來疾病,故貓頭鷹被視為喪鳥,陰森之鳥。后人以此比喻“不吉利的人,常帶來不幸消息的人”,漢譯也是如此。
又如a feather in your cap,漢譯為“值得榮耀的事、榮譽”。源于廣泛流行于亞洲和美洲印第安人當中的一種風俗:每殺死一個敵人就在頭飾或帽子上加插一根羽毛。
古代呂西亞人和許多其他古人也有類似風俗,均以此來顯示戰(zhàn)績與榮譽。六、源于諺語。
諺語是在人閃中間流傳的固定語句,用簡單通俗的話反映出深刻的道理,是社會生活經(jīng)驗的總結(jié)。如birds of a feather,birds of a feather flock together.即“物以類聚,人以群分”,轉(zhuǎn)義為“一丘之貉”。
在《魯迅全集》中有這樣一句:“增加混亂的倒是有些悲觀論者……將一切作者詆為‘一丘之貉’”。其英譯為In fact it is these pessimists who increase the chaos by…considering all writers birds of a feather.又如 early bird,其漢澤為“早起者,早到的人”,源出諺語The early bird gets/catches the worm.意為“捷足先登(得),先下手為強”。
比較First come,first served.意指“先到的先招待”,與前一個有所不同。七、源于某些作品。
英語中有較好的成語出自某些作品,有的是原封未動的摘引,有的是節(jié)縮而成。如wash one's hands of a thing,可譯為“洗手不干……;與……斷絕關(guān)系”。
出自《馬太福音》,猶太巡撫彼拉多主持審判耶穌,由于他判定。
一、源于歷史故事或歷史事件。
歷史上出現(xiàn)過眾多的著名歷史故事或事件,后人常用一簡潔說法表達其內(nèi)容,沿用久了就成了成語。如Sword damocles出自古代希臘的一則歷史故事。
業(yè)通古希臘歷史、文學的羅馬杰出作家與政論家西塞羅(106BC?3BC)在其論文《圖斯庫拉的談話》中寫道:“紀元前4世紀西西里島上敘拉古的統(tǒng)治者狄奧尼修斯一世(406BC?67BC)有個親信的佞叫達摩克里斯,他很羨慕帝王的豪華生活,常說:“君王是人世間最幸福的人”。狄奧尼修斯為了教訓這個想得君位者,在一次宴會上,要他坐在國王的寶座上,當他猛然抬頭,只見頭頂上有一把用頭發(fā)懸著的寶劍,隨時都刺到頭頂?shù)奈kU。
他嚇得戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢,如坐針氈,時刻提心吊膽,惶惶不安。由此便產(chǎn)生了“達摩克里斯的寶劍”這個成語,它被用來比喻臨頭的危險或情況的危急,類似于漢語的“千鈞一發(fā)”。
又如burn one's boats(bridges),此成語中的bridges為美國人所使用,原指古羅馬朱力斯·凱撒大軍乘船越過Rubicon后就把船燒了,以此向士兵指明后路已斷,不可能后退。現(xiàn)借用來比喻“不留后路,下定決心干到底”,同漢語的“破釜沉舟“。
二、源于寓言故事。寓言是用比喻的形式說明一定的道理,是文學作品中最為短小精練的一種形式。
如kill the goose to get the eggs,源于希臘寓言,說的是曾有一個鄉(xiāng)下人,因為發(fā)財心切殺死了自己飼養(yǎng)的那只能下金蛋的鵝,以為如此就可一次獲得全部想象中的金塊,但其結(jié)果一無所獲?,F(xiàn)借比喻只貪圖眼前利益,沒有長遠打算。
但漢語中不說“殺鵝取卵”而說“殺雞取卵”,喻體不同,因此漢譯時須遵循漢語成語的搭配規(guī)律。又如Veper and File出自《伊索寓言》,說的是一條蝰蛇(Viper)發(fā)現(xiàn)一把鐵銼(File),以為是一頓美餐。
但鐵銼說,它的天職是咬別人,而不是被別人咬。后人借此比喻“騙人者反受人騙”,漢譯時要作直譯或意譯處理。
三、源于神話故事。神話是關(guān)于神仙或神化的古代英雄的故事,是古代人們對自然現(xiàn)象和社會生活的一種天真的解釋和美好向往。
如rain cats and dogs,源于北歐神話,貓對天氣有很大影響,英國水手至今說:“貓尾巴藏大風”。據(jù)說駕暴風雨的巫士化為貓形。
狗是風的信號,狗和狼都是暴風雨神奧丁的隨從。在德國古畫中,風被畫成狗頭和狼頭。
因此,貓被年作暴雨的象征,狗是伴隨暴雨的強風,to rain cats and dogs就是to rain heavily/hard,漢譯便為“下傾盆大到雨”。又如Analthea's horn,漢譯常為“豐饒的羊角”。
阿瑪爾忒亞(Amalthea),希臘祖籍中一神女,是宙斯(Zeus為主神,相當于羅馬神話中的朱庇特Jupiter)的保姆。嬰兒時宙斯由神女阿瑪爾忒亞喂以羊乳。
為了感思,宙斯敲下一羊角送給她。許諾讓羊角主人永遠豐饒。
四、傳說。傳說指的是人們口頭流傳下來的關(guān)于某人某事的敘述。
如swan song,據(jù)傳說,音樂之神阿波羅(Apollo)的靈魂進入了一只天鵝,由此產(chǎn)生了畢達哥斯寓言:所有杰出詩人的靈魂都進入天鵝體內(nèi)。另據(jù)相傳天鵝(swan)在臨終前唱的歌最優(yōu)美動聽。
后人就用swan song來比喻詩人、作曲家、演員等的“最后作品”,這也是其漢譯形式。又如Leave no stone unturned,相傳公元前447年波斯獎軍馬多尼奧斯在希臘的普拉蒂亞兵敗被殺后,留下一大批財寶在軍帳里。
底比斯的波利克拉特斯搜尋卻一無所獲,請示德爾斐神諭后知道要“翻轉(zhuǎn)所有的石頭”,最后找到了財寶?,F(xiàn)借此比喻想方設(shè)法等,漢譯為“千方百計,想盡辦法”。
五、源于民間飛俗。如a bird of ill omen,源出古代占卜風俗,延至今日,貓頭鷹、鸛則被視為吉祥鳥)。
渡鳥嗅覺靈敏,能確定遠方死尸和腐尸地點。因此渡鳥象征死亡。
貓頭鷹在惡劣天氣來臨之前喊叫,而壞天氣常帶來疾病,故貓頭鷹被視為喪鳥,陰森之鳥。后人以此比喻“不吉利的人,常帶來不幸消息的人”,漢譯也是如此。
又如a feather in your cap,漢譯為“值得榮耀的事、榮譽”。源于廣泛流行于亞洲和美洲印第安人當中的一種風俗:每殺死一個敵人就在頭飾或帽子上加插一根羽毛。
古代呂西亞人和許多其他古人也有類似風俗,均以此來顯示戰(zhàn)績與榮譽。六、源于諺語。
諺語是在人閃中間流傳的固定語句,用簡單通俗的話反映出深刻的道理,是社會生活經(jīng)驗的總結(jié)。如birds of a feather,birds of a feather flock together.即“物以類聚,人以群分”,轉(zhuǎn)義為“一丘之貉”。
在《魯迅全集》中有這樣一句:“增加混亂的倒是有些悲觀論者……將一切作者詆為‘一丘之貉’”。其英譯為In fact it is these pessimists who increase the chaos by…considering all writers birds of a feather.又如 early bird,其漢澤為“早起者,早到的人”,源出諺語The early bird gets/catches the worm.意為“捷足先登(得),先下手為強”。
比較First come,first served.意指“先到的先招待”,與前一個有所不同。七、源于某些作品。
英語中有較好的成語出自某些作品,有的是原封未動的摘引,有的是節(jié)縮而成。如wash one's hands of a thing,可譯為“洗手不干……;與……斷絕關(guān)系”。
出自《馬太福音》,猶太巡撫彼拉多主持審判耶穌,由于他。
運動英語小典故:10個最常見的表達
英語中有許多慣用語 (idiom)都是源自各種運動術(shù)語。這些慣用語除了用做字面的意思之外,經(jīng)常還含有隱喻(metaphor) 的意思。
[田徑]track and field jump the gun:(字面)偷跑。田徑比賽時,裁判還沒有鳴槍,選手就搶先起跑了。(比喻)過早采取行動。如果用在合唱,某人提前唱出某音時,就是“放炮”。
[美式足球]American football Monday morning quarterback: (字面)周一早晨的四分衛(wèi)。美國電視在足球季的每個星期天都會轉(zhuǎn)播一場比賽。由于是現(xiàn)場節(jié)目,結(jié)果立刻分曉。等到第二天早晨看了報紙才發(fā)表‘真知灼見’,為時以晚矣?。ū扔鳎?事后諸葛亮;放馬后炮。
[拳擊]boxing have a glass jaw: (字面)有個玻璃做的下顎。在拳擊賽中,下顎像是玻璃做的,一被擊中就不支倒地。(比喻) 不堪一擊。
[馬術(shù)]horseback riding get on one's high horse:(字面)騎上一匹高大的馬。從前,馬術(shù)師自以為騎馬的人高高在上,所以比用腳走路的人優(yōu)越。(比喻) 擺出傲慢的態(tài)度;擺高姿態(tài)。
[高爾夫]golf not up to par: (字面)沒有達到標準桿數(shù)。高爾夫球戲中,每一洞依難度及遠近有一標準桿數(shù),例如第一洞的標準桿數(shù)是四桿。因此,桿數(shù)越低越好。若擊出超過標準桿數(shù),沒有達到一般水平,就是 not up to par. (比喻)做事情沒有達到應(yīng)有的標準;也可以說是失常。注意:up to par 不用于肯定句。
[斗牛]bullfighting take the bull by the horns:(字面)斗牛比賽時,斗牛士常握著牛角以扳倒牛,這是一項艱難又危險的動作。(比喻)采取果敢的行動應(yīng)付艱難的局面;面對困難采取行動。雖然字面的意思上像是中文里的‘執(zhí)牛耳’,而‘執(zhí)牛耳’的英文卻可以用 rule the roost [roast] 來表達。
[游泳]swimming sink or swim: (字面)遇到河流時,沉到水底或游泳逃生。 (比喻)不成功便成仁。
[網(wǎng)球]tennis The ball is in your court.: (字面)該由你發(fā)球了。許多運動的場地以網(wǎng)隔開,并由雙方輪流發(fā)球,像網(wǎng)球、排球、羽毛球等。(比喻)輪到該你負責了;輪到你采取行動了。
[賽馬]horse racing neck and neck: (字面)賽馬時兩馬頸部同時抵達終點,即以平手論。(比喻)并駕齊驅(qū);不分勝負;不相上下;不分軒輊。
[籃球]basketball The game isn't over until the fat lady sings.: (字面)胖婦人未唱歌前,比賽不算結(jié)束。這是達拉斯小牛隊前教練 Dick Motta 的一句名言,指一場比賽緊張激烈,不到結(jié)束時刻,仍然勝負未卜。在歌劇中,往往在結(jié)束前的高潮便是由一位身材豐滿的女聲樂家表演。胖婦人開始唱歌是比喻比賽將要結(jié)束。(比喻) 比賽不到最后一刻不知鹿死誰手。
Plug one's ears while stealing a bell(掩耳盜鈴)完整的英語,后面有中文意思:)~ In the Spring and Autumn period, a thief had stolen a bell and intended to carry it away on his back, but the bell was too bulky and heavy to be carried, so he tried to break it into pieces with a hammer to make it easier for carrying. On his first hit, however, the bell made a loud noise. He thus feared that the ringing sound might be heard by someone, who would come to rob him of his bell. His fright made him plug his own ears, while hitting the bell with the hammer. The bell sound was, nevertheless, audible to others and therefore to stuff his ears for the purpose of stealing a bell was a stupid action it is as foolish as burying one's head in the sand. from Huai Nanzi(淮南子著) 掩耳盜鈴 在春秋戰(zhàn)國時期,有一個小偷偷了一只鐘。
他準備把鐘扛在背上帶走??墒晴娪执笥殖粒茈y扛走。
因此他想用錘子把鐘敲成碎片,這樣運起來就能多了??墒?,他敲了一下,那只鐘發(fā)出巨大的響聲。
他怕別人聽到了鐘聲會來搶他的鐘,于是他在錘子敲鐘時捂上了自己的耳朵。不過,即使他這樣做,別人還是聽得到鐘聲的。
所以掩耳盜鈴是非常愚蠢的行為,就像把頭埋在沙子中一樣。 (淮南子著)。
1. Waste not,want not. 儉以防匱。
2. From saving comes having. 富有來自節(jié)儉。 3. A penny saved is a penny gained. 省一文是一文。
4. Take care of the pence and the pound will take care of themselves. 金錢積少便成多。 5. Frugality is an estate alone. 節(jié)儉本身就是一宗財產(chǎn)。
6. He that regards not a penny,will lavish a pound. 小錢不知節(jié)省,大錢將濫花。 7. Small gains bring great wealth. 積小利,成巨富。
8. Many a little makes a mickle. 積少便成多。 9. As the touchstone tries gold,so gold tries man. 試金之石可試金,正如黃金能試人。
10. Courage and resolution are the spirit and soul of virtue. 勇敢和堅決是美德的靈魂。 11. The path to glory is always rugged. 光榮之路??部?。
12. Nothing is difficult to the man who will try. 世上無難事,只要人肯試。 13. The fire is the test of gold;adversity of strong man. 烈火試真金,困苦煉壯士。
14. Great hopes make great man. 遠大的希望造就偉大的人物。 15. No way is impossible to courage. 勇士面前無險路。
16. A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner. 平靜的大海決不能造就出熟練的水手。 17. The good seaman is known in bad weather. 壞天氣下才能識得出良好的海員;要識好海員,須憑壞天氣。
18. The best hearts are always the bravest. 行為最勇敢的人心地總是最善良。 19. We must not lie down,and cry,God help us. 求神不如求己。
20. He that falls today may be up again tomorrow. 今天跌倒的人也許明天就會站起。 21. Rome was not built in a day. 羅馬并非一日可建成;堅持必成。
22. Success belongs to the persevering. 勝利屬于堅忍不拔的人。 23. We must repeat a thousand and one times thatperseverance is the only road to success. 我們要多次重申:不屈不撓是取得勝利的唯一道路。
24. Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth. 十九次失敗,到第二十次獲得成功,這就叫堅持。 25. Step by step the ladder is ascended. 登梯需要逐級登。
26. Adversity leads to prosperity. 困苦通向昌盛。 27. Patience and application will carry us through. 忍耐和專心會使我們度過難關(guān)。
28. Fortune often rewards with interest those that have patience to wait for her. 做事只要有耐心,到頭總會有好運;耐心候好運,好運常會來。 29. All things will come round to him who will but wait. 只要肯等待,一切都會按時來。
30. Constant dropping wears the stone. 滴水不絕可穿石。 31. Omelets are not made without breaking of eggs. 雞蛋不打破,蛋卷做不成;不甘愿吃苦,則預(yù)期效果達不到。
32. The world is a ladder for some to go up and others to go down. 世界好似一把梯,有人上去有人下。 33. There needs a long apprenticeship to understand the mystery of the world's trade. 要知世事奧秘多,須要長期作學徒。
34. Life is sweet. 生活是可愛的;人無不好生(惡死)。 35. Where there is life,there is hope. 生命不息,希望長在。
36. Life is not all beer and skittles. 人生并不全是吃喝玩樂。 37. Much water runs by the mill that the miller knows not of. 眼前發(fā)生許多事,有些我們并不知。
38. Fortune knocks once at least at every man's door. 人人都有走運的一天。 39. If you are too fortunate,you will not know yourself; if you are too unfortunate,nobody will know you. 運氣太好,見人不睬;運氣太壞,無人理會。
40. Every man is the architect of his own fortune. 每一個人都是自身幸福的建筑師。 41. Happy is he who knows his follies in his youth. 記得年輕時所作蠢事的人是幸福的。
42. Misfortunes never (seldom) come alone (single). 禍不單行。 43. Misfortune is a good teacher. 不幸是良好的教師。
44. Misfortunes come at night. 禍常生于不測。 45. Misfortunes tell us what fortune is. 惡運臨頭后,才知幸運貴。
46. Adversity makes a man wise,not rich. 患難能使人聰明,但不能使人富有。 47. Live and learn. 活到老,學到老。
48. It is never too old to learn. 為學不怕年高。 49. A man becomes learned by asking questions. 要長學問,就得多問;多問則業(yè)精。
50. There is no royal road to learning. 學問無坦途。
1、The Wolf and the Lamb A WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him: "Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying,"Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute everyone of my imputations." The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny. 2、The Bat and the Weasels A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped. It is wise to turn circumstances to good account. 3、The Lion and the Mouse A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by st ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaim "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; I now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion." 4、The Father and His Sons A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks." 5、A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The Fuller replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal." Like will draw like.。
Plug one's ears while stealing a bell(掩耳盜鈴)完整的英語,后面有中文意思:)~ In the Spring and Autumn period, a thief had stolen a bell and intended to carry it away on his back, but the bell was too bulky and heavy to be carried, so he tried to break it into pieces with a hammer to make it easier for carrying. On his first hit, however, the bell made a loud noise. He thus feared that the ringing sound might be heard by someone, who would come to rob him of his bell. His fright made him plug his own ears, while hitting the bell with the hammer. The bell sound was, nevertheless, audible to others and therefore to stuff his ears for the purpose of stealing a bell was a stupid action it is as foolish as burying one's head in the sand. from Huai Nanzi(淮南子著) 掩耳盜鈴 在春秋戰(zhàn)國時期,有一個小偷偷了一只鐘。
他準備把鐘扛在背上帶走??墒晴娪执笥殖粒茈y扛走。
因此他想用錘子把鐘敲成碎片,這樣運起來就能多了??墒?,他敲了一下,那只鐘發(fā)出巨大的響聲。
他怕別人聽到了鐘聲會來搶他的鐘,于是他在錘子敲鐘時捂上了自己的耳朵。不過,即使他這樣做,別人還是聽得到鐘聲的。
所以掩耳盜鈴是非常愚蠢的行為,就像把頭埋在沙子中一樣。 (淮南子著)。
Happy as a sand boy是一條英國諺語,其起源可以追溯到19世紀初期。其實sand boy不一定專指賣沙子的“小男孩”,因為在過去,boy多為對社會地位較低的成年人的愛稱,因此sand boy多半指代那些為謀生計,挨家挨戶叫賣沙子的成年人。賣沙子今天聽起來有些好笑,但在19世紀確實是一項有利可圖的買賣,人們需要沙子來打磨地板,吸收水漬,很多小酒館還流行用沙子來鋪地,營造一種舒適浪漫的效果。
那么這些賣沙子的窮人為什么這么快樂呢?一種可能是:他們販賣的貨物是不需要多少本錢的,只要找到一塊干凈的沙地,就有了充足的免費貨源,因此他們每賺到一點錢都非常開心。
另一種理論來自一種傳說:賣沙子的人對酒精有特殊的偏好。19世紀的英國著名現(xiàn)實主義小說家查爾斯·迪更斯在他1841年的小說《老古玩店》(The Old Curiosity Shop)中描寫了一個叫“The Jolly Sandboys”的酒館,門口掛著一個標志牌,上面畫著三個賣沙人舉著大杯啤酒開懷暢飲,看上去非常開心。
然而,到了19世紀中期,鋸屑逐漸取代了沙子,成為酒館和商店風行的鋪地用品,所以sand boy們就無法再像以前那么開心了。
“to let the cat out of the bag”,它的意思是“揭露一個秘密”,尤其是很重要、關(guān)鍵的那種。關(guān)于這個詞組的記載可以追溯到1760年,但據(jù)說此前一兩百年就有這種說法了。
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