英語中的十個“陳詞濫調”
首先我們來說說cliche和idiom的區別。
idiom指中的成語或者慣用語,idiom的含義通常和組成idiom的詞的本義不同,通常會有比喻在裏面。比如:to get under someone's skin,這個idiom的意思是to bother someone惹人煩,如: She's getting under my skin these days!
cliche是那種濫用的短語,意思可以是詞的本義的,也可以是比喻的,比如the good old days,這個短語的意思就是“從前的好時候”, 如I remember my years at college. Yes, those were the good old days.
下面是十個流行的cliche,大家可以了解壹下這些cliche的含義。
1.The writing on the wall = something that is about to happen, something that is obvious
The writing on the wall意思是即將發生的、很明顯的事情,明擺著的。
Example: Can't you see the writing on the wall! You need to get out of that business.
明擺著的事情妳都看不出來!妳需要從那樁生意中脫身。
2.To pull an all-nighter = to or work all night
To pull an all-nighter意思是熬通宵
Example: We had to pull an all-nighter to get the work finished on time.
為了按時完成工作,我們要熬通宵了。
3.Pearls of wisdom = wise words or advice
Pearls of wisdom意思是智慧的話或者建議。
Example:I'm not really interested in his pearls of wisdom. He lived in a different period.
我對他的人生箴言不感興趣,他生活在不同的時代。
4.Too much of a good thing = generally used when saying that's impossible to be too happy, or lucky
Too much of a good thing通常用來說不可能開心過頭或者太走運。
Example: Enjoy it! You can't have too much of a good thing.
見好就收吧,妳不可能太走運了。
5.Fit as a fiddle = to be ready and able
Fit as a fiddle意思是準備好了,有能力了
Example: I'm fit as a fiddle. Let's do this thing!
我準備好了。咱們開始幹吧。
6.Curiosity killed the cat = Don't be too inquisitive, it can be dangerous!
Curiosity killed the cat意思是不要太尋根問底了,這可能有危險。
Example: Remember curiosity killed the cat. You should just forget about it.
記住,好奇害死貓,妳應該忘了它。
7.Don't do as I do, do as I say. = Used when someone points out that you are being hypocritical (doing one thing while insisting that others that thing differently)
Don't do as I do, do as I say通常是有人指出妳現在很虛偽的時候說的。
Example: Stop talking back! Don't do as I do, do as I say!
不準在背後議論,照我說的做!
8.Let sleeping dogs lie = don't look into (investigate) something that was troublesome in the past, but in which people are not currently interested
Let sleeping dogs lie 意思是大家現在不感興趣的麻煩事就不要翻出來調查了。
Example: I'd let sleeping dogs lie and not re-open the investigation into the crime.
我會讓睡著的狗就這麽躺下去的,我不會把這個案子重新調查立案的。
9.A cat has nine lives = someone might be having problems now, but they are many chances to do well or succeed
A cat has nine lives意思是壹些人可能現在有麻煩,但是他們仍然有很多機會東山再起獲得成功。
Example: His career reminds that a cat has nine lives!
他的事業證明了貓有九條命。
10.Moment of truth = the moment in which something important will be shown or decided
Moment of truth意思是將要公布重要的事情或者做重要的決策的時候
Example: It's the moment of truth. Either we'll get the contract or we won't.
決定的壹刻到了,要麽我們拿到合同,要麽拿不到。