爱看武侠小说的人总被峰回路转的剧情吸引,一口气把它看完,像这样非常好看的书,可以说:It´s a real page-turner.(这真是一本引人入胜的书)。如果内容精采得非看不可,可以说:It´s a must-read book,好看得令你爱不释手,则可说:I couldn´t put it down.(我舍不得把它放下来),另外,口气坐下来把它从头看到尾,可以说:I read it cover to cover in one sitting。
对话
Gordon: You´re reading that fast. 戈登: 你看得这么快。 Lisa: Oh yes. It´s a real page-turner. (Turning pages fast) 莉莎: 对,这真是引人入胜的书。(书翻得很快) Gordon: If it´s that good I must get a copy. I love an interesting book. 戈登: 如果这么好看,我一定也要一本,我爱看有趣的书。 Lisa: Don´t bother, I just read it fast because it´s so bad. Anyway, they just made a movie of it. Want to go and see it? 莉莎: 别麻烦了,我看得这么快是因为它很难看。他们刚把它拍成电影,要去看吗? Gordon: Yeah. 戈登:好的。
《翻过一页》
莉莎拿起一本书来看,觉得乏味,随便翻了翻说:It´s a real page-turner。这当然是反话。 Page-turner是指精采得令你不由自主一页一页翻着看,直到看完为止的书籍,形容词是page-turning,
例如:(1) I never expected the book to be such a page-turner. I could not put it down till I reached the end.(我想不到这本书那么好看。我看到最后一页才舍得放下来)。
(2) The page-turning story of the novel is a tribute to the writer´s imagination.(小说情节引人入胜,足见作者想象力多么丰富)。
像莉莎那样随随便便把书由头到尾翻一遍,英文叫做to page / leaf / thumb through a book,
例如:He paged / leafed through the glossy magazine, looking only at the pictures.(他拿起那本彩色杂志随便翻阅一遍,只看图片)。假如是匆匆看一遍,则多说to flip / flick through a book,例如:He flipped through the book, but did not find what he was looking for.(他匆匆翻阅了那本书一遍,但找不到要找的内容)。
A well-thumbed book就是一本经常翻阅、残旧不堪的书。Thumb是「拇指」,作动词,有「用指头翻书」含义。
说到翻书,有一句成语值得谈谈:to turn over a new leaf。所谓「翻过新的一页」,是指日记簿上的一页,一般有「改过自新」的意思,例如:After coming out of prison, he seems to have turned over a new leaf.(他出狱后,似乎洗心革面了)。
我们念书、做事时,最怕的不是自己念不好、做不好,而是被别人推下去蹚浑水。遇到这种情形,我们一定要坚决表明:Don’t drag me with you!(别拖我下水!)如果别人还是不识相硬要拖你下水,你就可说:I don’t want to be part of it.(我不想参与其中。)、Don’t include me.(别把我算进去。)
A:The boss just asked me to recommend someone to go with me for the business trip on New Year’s Eve.
古语云:「书中自有黄金屋、书中自有颜如玉」,多看书会增进知识,我们称非常爱看书的人做Bookworm,He´s such a bookworm.(他真是个爱看书的人),或者可以说:He´s bookish.(他是书呆子)、He loves reading.(他爱看书),终日埋头苦读的人,可以形容他为:He always has his head in a book,如果博学多才,则可以称为He´s a walking dictionary.(他是本会走的字典),即是非常有学问。
对话
Candy:Brian´s in the bookstore every day. 坎蒂:布莱恩每天都在书店里。 Katherine:He never came before you started working here. 凯思莲:在你没来这里工作前,他从未走过来。 Candy:But he told me he loves reading.He´s such a bookworm. 坎蒂:但他对我说他爱看书、是一只啃书虫。 Katherine:No, he´s just a worm. That book he´s “reading” is upside down. 凯思莲:不,他只是个可悲可鄙的小人,他会把书倒过来看。
《书虫》
坎蒂见布莱恩天天来书局,以为他非常爱读书:He´s such a bookworm。但凯思莲知道布莱恩意在坎蒂而不在书,对他的评语是:He´s just a worm。
Worm是「虫」,但也可用来说「可悲可鄙的人」,例如:He often beats his mother. What a worm!(他经常打母亲,真可鄙!) 凯思莲的He´s just a worm一语就是取这个意思。
Bookworm也是虫,即「蛀书的蠹鱼」,但现在常用来说「爱读书的人」,例如:(1) Bookworms have bored numerous holes in the books(蠹鱼在书上钻了无数小洞)。(2) The bookworm in our class has won a scholarship to Harvard(我们班的那个蛀书大王,赢得奖学金上哈佛大学就读)。用来说人,bookworm这个字不一定有贬意。
说博览群书的人,中文有个生动的称呼。《曲洧旧闻》载:宋朝赵彦若博学,有一次众翰林学士都说不出一味药的出处,问赵彦若,他随口就说出「在几卷附某药下」,时人因此称他为「着脚书楼」。英文也有类似说法:walking library / dictionary / encyclopedia(着脚图书馆 / 字典 / 百科全书),例如:He should be able to answer your question. He is a walking library(他应可回答你的问题。他是座活的图书馆)。
说人爱读书,英文还有bookish一字。My boy is a bookish child即「我的儿子很爱读书」。但一般而言,bookish带贬意,指「书呆子的」,和中文的「书卷气」很不同,例如:He looks weird - rather bookish, to be exact(他看来很怪 — 说准确点,是有些书呆子味道)。
Cooking the books一语字面解作「煮书」,当然不是真的把书拿去煮,而是指「做假帐」,这里的books指Account books(帐簿)或Ledger(总帐)。He´s cooking the books.就是「他在做假帐」,也可说:He´s fiddling the accounts.(他在篡改帐目)/ He´s committing fraud.(他用不正当手段进行诈骗)。
对话
Candice: You know about the owner´s problem don´t you? 坎迪斯: 你知道老板的问题,对吧? Candy: No, what is it? 坎蒂: 不知道,是甚么? Candice: He´s cooking the books. 坎迪斯: 他在煮书。 Candy: He´s stealing from his own company? What a lunatic. 坎蒂: 他偷自己公司的钱吗?真是个疯子! Candice: No, he´s not a thief. He´s gone a bit weird and thinks cookbooks make great meals. 坎迪斯: 不,他不是贼,只是变得有点古怪,以为食谱可以煮成佳肴。 Boss: Mm, needs a pinch of salt. Come on in, want a taste? 老板: 嗯,需要加些盐。进来吧,想尝一口吗?
《篡改帐目》
坎迪斯说:The boss is cooking the books。同事一听,想到的就是:老板要犯法了。 本辑第二课说过复数形式的books可当作「帐簿」。至于cook,除了有「煮」的意思,还可解作「编造(借口、理由等)」,一般和up字连用,例如:She cooked up an excuse(或a story / an explanation) to avoid punishment(她编造借口为自己脱罪)。To cook the books是成语,意思就是「篡改帐目」,例如:To push up their share prices, some American companies do not scruple to cook the books.(为了把他们的股票价格推高,有些美国公司不惜篡改帐目)。
Cook(烹饪)既可引申作「伪造」,然则厨子似乎不大可靠;同样,医生恐怕也有点不大老实,因为doctor在俚语里也有「篡改」的意思,例如:He doctored the evidence by removing the most important documents.(他在证据中做了手脚,把最重要的文件拿走了)。To doctor / falsify / fiddle the accounts都有「篡改帐目」的意思;He must have doctored the accounts.即「他一定是篡改了帐目」。
「篡改帐目」四字很难听,假如你不喜欢,不妨改称为creative accounting(具创意的会计法)。这当然可以指聪明而合法地钻税务条例漏洞,但一般是指伪造帐目,例如:By means of creative accounting, he does not have to pay any profits tax.(凭着创意会计法,他一毛钱所得税都不必缴纳)。
Candy: Did you like the book Kate gave you? 坎蒂: 你喜欢凯伊给你的书吗? David: No it´s awful. I had to stop reading it. 戴维: 不喜欢,它很糟糕,我没有再看了。 Candy: What´s wrong with it? I don´t believe you even opened it. 坎蒂: 它有甚么不好?我猜你根本还未翻阅过。 David: I..I.. I did too. It´s badly written. 戴维: 我……我……我,有呀,那本书写得太差劲了。 Candy: But it´s a book of photographs, there are no words. You liar. I´m telling Kate. 坎蒂: 但那是本相片集,没有文字的,你说谎,我要告诉凯伊。
《字体和文章》
戴维说凯伊给他的那本书写得不好:It´s badly written。Write字可以有两个意思:一是指「写字」,一是指「写作」,所以He writes well / badly可以指「他字写得好/ 不好」,也可以指「他善于 / 不善于写作」,句子确实是甚么意思,须凭上下文决定。
假如你要讲的是字体,可以说He writes a good / a poor hand(他写字写得好/不好)、He writes a legible / an illegible hand(他字体清楚易读/潦草难读)等。那hand不是指「手」,而是指「书法」。The slogan was written in a beautiful hand即「那标语写得很秀丽」。
说到文章和字体的好坏,英文还有readable和legible、unreadable和illegible等字。Readable、legible都可译做「可读的」,unreadable、illegible则译做「不可读的」。但legible是指字体易读,readable则是指文章明白可读、精采可读等;同样,illegible是指字体,unreadable是指文章。说残碑上的字模糊难读,应说The letters are almost illegible,不宜说almost unreadable;说书本写得不好,可说It´s unreadable,不得说illegible。
大家也许会问:查《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》等,readable不是有「读起来令人愉快的」、「(笔迹等)能辨认的」两个意思吗?这话没错,但多数英语学者,包括著名的Usage and Abusage作者Eric Partridge,都认为以readable、unreadabe来说笔迹是不对的。而严辨readable和legible等的意思,就一定可免「错别字」之讥。
送礼和收礼同样都是个大学问。有些人收礼后,迫不及待拆开,查看价钱、批评一番,是很不礼貌的行径。遇到这种人,不妨回对方:Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.(对礼物不要挑剔)。这句话源于古人买卖马匹时,会掰开马嘴检查牙齿,以便知道其年龄及健康状况,喻意人家送你马儿当礼物,别看马口和太挑剔计较。 所以最好 Gladly accept it. (欣然接受它)或Accept it graciously. (宽容有礼地收下它) 。 而 Trojan horse (特洛伊木马) 则比喻一些表面上看来很好,但内在很坏的东西。它源自史诗「木马屠城记」,一匹巨型木马表面看来是战利品,但原来内藏敌方士兵,夜里敌军从木马走出来反击。
对话
Katherine: What’s this? 凯思莲: 这是甚么? Adrian: Oh, just a little something for you for dinner tonight. Check it out, it was my catch of the day. 阿德里恩 : 噢,小小心意用来做晚餐。看看吧,它可是我今天的鱼获。 Katherine: No thanks. You keep it. 凯思莲: 不用了,谢谢。你留着吧。 Adrian: Come on. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. 阿德里恩: 来吧,获人赠马,休看马口,对礼物不要挑剔。 Katherine: A horse I would accept but I’m not looking a dead fish in the mouth or anywhere else. Pooh! Cook it yourself. 凯思莲: 我会接受一匹马,但我不会查看一条死鱼的嘴或任何部位。 呸!你自己煮吧。 Adrian: What about sashimi? 阿德里恩: 那作成生鱼片如何?
《马和礼物》
凯思莲不接受阿德里恩送上的死鱼。阿德里恩说:Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. It was my catch of the day。
It was my catch of the day即「这是我今天的鱼获」。Catch作名词,可解作捕获的动物,常用来说鱼获,例如:The trawler brought back a good catch (of fish)(那拖网渔船满载而归)。引申其义,catch也可作「值得追求的对象」或「理想的配偶」,例如:He will make a good catch for some lucky woman(女人嫁给他,会有好福气)。留意make这里不解作「制造」,而应解作「可以成为」或「会是」。She will make a good teacher即「她会是一个好老师」。
Don’t/Never look a gift horse in the mouth直译是「获人赠马,休看马口」,那是甚么意思呢?按马的牙齿随年龄添换,所以中文以「马齿徒增」来说蹉跎岁月。「获人赠马,休看马口」,就是「对礼物不要挑剔」的意思,例如:She told us she would like to have cash instead of a wedding gift - so much for never looking a gift horse in the mouth!(她告诉我们说,想要现金,不要礼物-还说甚么「礼宜乐受,不要挑剔」!)
说到马和礼物,不妨谈谈另一句成语:Beware of Greeks bearing gifts。这直译是「提防带着(bearing)礼物的希腊人」。当年希腊人给特洛伊人遗下木马(the Trojan horse),一夜之间反而攻取了特洛伊;所以,这成语是说「提防献殷勤的敌人」。His voluntary offer to help may be a Greek gift即「他自动提议帮忙,可能有诈」。
Hold your horses.一語直譯是 「勒著你的馬」,引申作「等一等」。其他相近的說法還有:Whoa !(站住!),源自古時西方馬夫喝令馬兒停住說的話 , 還有Wait ! (等一下!)和 Stop!(停下來!)。順便多介紹一些跟馬有關的用語,A one-horse town 是個非常小、不太重要的城鎮,小得只有一匹馬,而Stop horsing around. 就是 叫人:「別搗蛋,嚴肅一點」。
對話
Helen:David, David, where are you going ? 海倫:大衛,大衛,你要去哪裡 ? David:Out with the boys. See you later. 大衛:和我的兄弟們出去,待會兒見。 Helen:Hold your horses. I’m coming with you. You never include me in your plans. I don’t mind what it is, a drinking session, girl watching, anything. So where are we off to? 海倫:等一等。我要跟你一起去,你的計劃永遠不包括我。我不介意是甚麼,喝酒、看女生,任何活動。那麼我們會去哪裡? David:Football practice and you’ll need this. (Throws jockstrap to her) Hurry up ! 大衛:足球訓練,你還需要這個 (把護具拋給她),快點吧!
《勒馬》
英國作家Dane Chandos的小說Abbie有這樣一句:Hold your horses, lest you repent at leisure。這使人想起中文成語「臨崖勒馬」。
Hold your horses「勒馬」,英文口語常用來說「等一等」或「別倉卒行事」,例如:(1) Hold your horses. We can’t leave before he arrives(等一等,他到來之前,我們不可以離去)。(2) “Just hold your horses.” Tom said as Peter reached for his gun(彼得伸手去拿槍,湯姆說:「不要鹵莽!」)Hold your horses三字一般帶命令語氣,不宜用於長輩或上司。
Abbie那一句,後半套用了成語Marry in haste, and repent at leisure(擇偶不審慎,將後悔莫及)。Lest是連接詞(conjunction),有「以免」、「唯恐」的意思,其後動詞應和should連用,但should字可略去,所以lest之後常見原形動詞(infinitive),例如:I took an umbrella lest it (should) rain(我帶了雨傘,以防下雨)。Hold your horses, lest you repent at leisure即「你不要鹵莽,否則恐怕後悔莫及」。
叫人「等一等」,說hold on也可以,例如丈夫約了朋友外出,妻子可以說:Hold on ( a moment), I’m coming with you(等一等,我和你一起去);接到找某人的電話,你也可以說:Hold on please, I’ll find him for you(請等一等,我去找他)。Wait a mo或Half a mo也是「等一等」的意思:mo是moment的縮寫,例如:Half a mo - I’m getting dressed(等一等,我在穿衣服)。
在竞争激烈的社会,选举、各式竞赛的胜负往往只是一线之差。要形容一个人险胜,可以说:He won by the skin of his teeth. (他以牙皮之差胜出),牙皮是比喻很薄的珐琅质。其它说法还有:He won by a nose. (他赢个鼻头而已) / He won by a narrow margin. (他赢的幅度很少) 。另外,A photo finish(看录像定名次)在赛跑或赛马很常见, The winner was decided by a photo finish. 就是因为冲过终点时,几个参赛者的成绩太接近,胜利者要由现场录像片决定。
对话
Lisa:Hey congratulations. I hear you won the tug- of- war. 莉萨:嗨,恭喜你,听说你赢得拔河比赛。
Candy:That’s right. I was there. He won by the skin of his teeth. 坎蒂:是的,我当时在场,他是险胜。
Lisa:The competition was stronger this year then? 莉萨:今年的竞争比往年激烈?
Brian:No, it was a walkover. I got so bored. I used my teeth instead of my arms. Piece of cake. 布莱恩:不是,今年轻易获胜。 我觉得太乏味,所以用牙齿代替手臂去拔河,轻而易举。
Lisa:Oh really stud ? Why don’t you give this a try? 莉萨:噢,你真那么强壮?那为何你不试试这个?
Brian:No problem. (Tries to open a bottle of drink with teeth but fails) Does anyone know a good dentist ?
布莱恩 : 没问题。(尝试用牙齿打开一瓶饮料但失败了) 谁认识好牙医啊?
《牙齿之皮、从容走过》
坎蒂说布莱恩拔河只是险胜:He won by the skin of his teeth。布莱恩却夸言自己轻易取胜:It was a walkover。莉萨说:Oh really stud ?
Stud是种马,俗语引申作「健硕的男人」,有强烈的「性能力特强」含义,例如:The women say that Tom is a bit of a stud(那些女人说汤姆是个做爱高手)。莉萨那一句是讥讽布莱恩:「你真那么强壮?」
By the skin of one’s teeth一语出自《圣经-乔布记》第十九章。被魔鬼考验饱受折磨的乔布(Job)说:My bones cleave to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth(我的骨头紧贴皮肉;我以牙皮之差逃脱了)。牙齿没有皮;假如有,其薄不难想象。所以,by the skin of one’s teeth有「间不容发」、「勉强」的意思,往往和escape连用,但也可用于其它情况,例如:(1) He passed the examination by the skin of his teeth(他考试只勉强及格)。(2) I escaped bankruptcy by the skin of my teeth(我差一点就破产了)。
勉强逃脱,英文还可叫a close shave,以刮脸(shave)比喻危险之接近,例如:It was a close shave: the truck just missed me(真险,卡车差点把我撞倒)。
最后说walkover。不必竞争,慢条斯理的走过,叫做walk over,也就是「轻易取胜」,名词是walkover, 例如: (1) The match is likely to be a walkover for our team(这场比赛我队当可轻易获胜)。 (2) The presidential candidate walked over his opponents(那总统候选人轻易击败了对手)。
Spit it out ! 有两个不同的解释:第一个意思是把口里如食物、痰之类的东西吐出来;第二个意思叫人家不要吞吞吐吐,赶快把话说出来。要表达第二个意思还有其它说法:Get it out of your mouth. (把你的话从口里说出来) / Just say it. (尽管说吧) / Tell me now. (现在跟我说吧) 。
对话
Brian: I… I… 布莱恩: 我……我…… Candice : What is it? Tell me. What? Spit it out! 坎迪斯: 甚么事?告诉我。甚么?有话快说出来吧! Brian: I…I can’t, I’m choking. 布莱恩: 我……我不能,我窒息了。 (Candice thumps Brian on back, Brain spits ping pong balls out) (坎迪斯拍打布莱恩的背部,布莱恩吐出乒乓球)
《说吧,别吞吞吐吐》
坎迪斯见布莱恩说话吞吞吐吐,叫他Spit it out。
Spit本来是「吐(口水、痰)」,过去式和完成式都是spit,也可写作spat,但不可说spitted。Don’t spit on the ground即「别把痰吐在地上」。Spit out一般解作「把东西吐出来」或「以愤恨的声音说话」,例如:(1) If the food tastes queer, spit it out(假如食物味道古怪,就吐出来吧)。(2) He struggled and spit out curses at me as he was handcuffed(他被戴上手铐时,一边挣扎,一边骂我)。
Spit it out是俚语,意思是「快说吧」或「大胆说吧」,例如:Spit it out, man. I’ve to know the truth(快说吧,老兄,我得了解真相)。
叫人把话说出来,英文还有两个常用语:out with it和give,例如:(1) Out with it. I haven’t got all day(说吧,我没有很多时间)。(2) Come on, give. You’re taxing my patience(快说吧,你令我不耐烦了)。
Out with it、give、spit it out等,常用于祈使句(imperative),句子不用主词(subject)。一般和主词连用的,有speak one’s mind,即「坦白把所想的说出来」,例如:Now that you have come to me, I may as well speak my mind(现在你既然来找我,我不妨直言)。
和「直言」相反的,是to hem(或hum)and haw,即吞吞吐吐,欲言又止。那hem、haw都是象声字,例如:When I asked him what had happened, he just hemmed and hawed(我问他发生了甚么事,他只是支吾以对)。
It costs an arm and a leg.一句直译是「它要用我一只手、一条腿来换」,真正寓意是「这件东西花掉了很多钱 」,要留意这里的动词cost 是过去式。形容一件东西非常昂贵还有很多表达方式,例如:It cost a bomb. (它有一颗炸弹的价值),至于It was very expensive .和 It was very pricey. 都有「它很昂贵」的含意。
对话
Candy: Is this yours ? 坎蒂: 是你的吗? Helen: Yes, beautiful isn’t it. 海伦: 对,它很漂亮,不是吗? Candy: How could you afford it ? It looks like it cost an arm and a leg. 坎蒂: 你怎么负担得起?它看来要用一只手、一条腿来换,很昂贵啊。 Helen: Oh yes I had to mortgage the house to pay for it and then some. 海伦: 噢,是的,我要把房子抵押了才买得起它。 Candy: Wow, so how much did it cost then ? (Breaks the antique plate) I’m sorry. 坎蒂: 哇,那么它到底值多少钱? (摔破古董盘) 我很抱歉。 Helen: You owe me an arm and a leg. 海伦: 你欠我一只手臂和一条腿。 Candy: I’m sorry. 坎蒂: 我很抱歉。
《昂贵得很》
海伦买了个古董盘,坎蒂说:It looks like it costs an arm and a leg。这直译就是「它看来要用一只手、一条腿来换呢」。 以一只手、一条腿换取某些东西,代价当然沉重,所以俚语常用an arm and a leg来说「奇高的价钱」,例如:”That’s a beautiful skirt.” “It should be. I paid an arm and a leg for it.”(或It costs me an arm and a leg)(「裙子很好看呢。」「应该要好看,它可是贵得很呢。」)
留意cost这个字的用法。Cost是及物动词(transitive verb),其后须用受词(object),例如:It costs (me) a fortune to furnish the house(买家具布置房子,花了(我)很多钱)。Cost可以有两个受词,但和一般及物动词不同的,是不可用被动语态(passive voice),例如不可说A fortune was cost me之类。
和to pay an arm and a leg同义而且同样带点血腥味道的,是to pay through the nose。「经由鼻子付款」和「奇高的价钱」有甚么关系?这有几个解释,其一是:rhino希腊文解作「鼻子」,在英文俚语中则当作「钱」。被人敲竹杠,有如鼻孔大出血,例如:I got a ticket, but had to pay through the nose for it(票我是买到了,但价钱奇高)。
此外还有a pretty penny这说法。Penny是「便士」,价值甚低,但加上pretty一字,就是「高价」了,例如:A tour round the world is going to cost you a pretty penny(环游世界,得花不少钱)。
老外喜歡用麻雀形容食量很少的人 (You eat like a sparrow.) ,麻雀體積嬌小,吃的份量自然不多。一個人食量小有很多不同原因,例如: I’m on a diet. (我正在減肥) / I have a small appetite . (我的胃口很小) / I’m a picky eater. (我對食物很挑剔) / Too much food is bad for my digestion.(我腸胃不好,吃得太多會消化不良)。
對話
Helen: These pants don’t fit, I must have put on weight. 海倫: 這些褲子已經不合身,我一定胖了。 Candy: Maybe you have, but that seems impossible. 坎蒂:或許你有,但那似乎是不可能的。 Helen: I need to go on a diet. 海倫: 我需要節食減肥。 Candy: You don’t need to diet. You eat like a sparrow as it is. 坎蒂: 你不需要節食減肥。看你現在這樣,吃得已經夠少了。 Helen: Yeah the trouble is, I eat like a sparrow ten times a day. 海倫: 問題是,我每天吃的是麻雀的十倍。 Candy: That’s one big bird. 坎蒂: 那依舊只是一隻大鳥的食量。
《目前食量之少》
海倫說要減肥,坎蒂認為沒有必要:You eat like a sparrow as it is 。 Sparrow是麻雀。說「吃得少」英文有to eat like a bird(吃得像鳥兒一樣少)一語;把bird改為sparrow,意思沒有分別,例如:I’m worried about my daughter. She eats like a bird and is getting very skinny(我為小女擔心。她吃得很少,日漸消瘦)。
You eat like a sparrow不難明白,as it is 卻是甚麼意思?
As it is/was是「照目前/當時情況來說」或「像目前/當時那樣」。坎蒂是說:「看你現在這樣,吃得已經夠少了。」此外,英文還有as things are/were的說法,意思也差不多,例如:(1) I was dying for a rest, but as it was(或as things were) I had to go on working(我很想休息,但限於當時情況,只有繼續工作)。(2) As it is (或As things are), I advise you to help(看目前情況,我認為你應請人幫忙)。
留意as it were和as it is / was意思完全不同,可解作「不妨這樣說」,it之後用were,表示所言未必絕對符合事實,但也和事實差不多。
As it were可用來說過去或現在的事,例如:(1) Macao is, as it were, the Las Vegas of the East(澳門可說是東方的拉斯維加斯)。(2) He became his country’s spiritual leader, as it were(他可以說成了國家的精神領袖)。
很多人身處陌生的環境,例如移民他鄉或新的工作,便會感到渾身不安。 I´m trying to find my feet. 一語直譯是 「我正在尋找我的雙腳」,其真正含意是「我正在努力適應新環境」,也可以有其他類似說法:I´m trying to orientate myself. (我引導自已朝向正確方向) / I´m trying to settle in.(我嚐試安定下來) / I´m learning the ropes. (我正在學習新事物) 。
對話
Gordon: US 8, UK 42. Ferrare Cavallo. Heel…(Lying on couch & examining a pair of shoes) 戈登: 美國碼8號、英國碼42號、意大利真皮、鞋後跟…(躺在沙發並反覆觀看一雙皮鞋) Katherine: Hurry up! You´ll be late for work. What are you doing? 凱思蓮: 快點!你快遲到了,你在幹甚麼? Gordon: I´m a little bit worried about my new job. I´m trying to find my feet. 戈登: 我只是有點擔心新工作,我正嘗試適應新環境。 Katherine: That´s the trouble then you deserve the boot. 凱思蓮: 問題就是這裡,你該被解僱。 Gordon: Why ? 戈登: 為甚麼? Katherine: You work in a shoe shop and if you don´t even know where your feet are, then there´s no future for you there. Now get a move on before I put my foot in your… 凱思蓮: 你在鞋店工作,但居然不知自己腳踏何地。呆在這裡是沒有前途的,你再不動身,我就把腳塞進你的… Gordon: Alright, alright, I´m leaving. 戈登: 好的,好的,我馬上出門。
《腳的成語》
戈登在鞋店找到工作,卻懶洋洋躺在沙發上不上班,拿著鞋反覆觀看,說I´m trying to find my feet;凱思蓮對他說:You deserve the boot. Now get a move on before I put my foot in your...。
Your 之後應是mouth一字。To put one´s foot in one´s mouth是成語,意思是「說了不得體的話」或「不自覺的說了令人難堪、不滿的話」,例如:You put your foot in your mouth when you said to him that homosexuals were “perverted animals”. He is gay(你不應該跟他說同性戀者是「變態動物」。他有斷袖之癖)。凱思蓮那一句,當然不是指說錯了話,只是套用和腳有關的成語警告戈登:「你再不動身,我就把腳塞進你嘴巴裡!」
You deserve the boot直譯是「你應得到長靴」。成語to get the boot是「被炒魷魚」或「被驅逐」,to give someone the boot則是「炒人魷魚」或「把人驅逐」, 例如: (1) The boss has given him the boot for his rudeness to customers(老闆見他對顧客無禮,就炒他魷魚)。 (2) If you are not decently dressed, you may get the boot(假如你衣著不得體,可能會被逐離出場)。
最後說to find one´s feet。「找到自己雙腳」本來是指嬰兒學會獨立走路,引申解作「能夠獨立處事」或「習慣新環境」, 例如: Our boy gradually found his feet at the kindergarten(我們的兒子漸漸習慣幼稚園的環境)。To stand on one´s own (two) feet則等於獨立:To stand on my own feet, I must get a job即「要獨立,我必須先找到工作」。
He´s such a card. (他是个有趣的怪人) ,这种人可能是个怪人或喜欢做逗人发笑的事情。 在每套扑克牌(Card)里,必包括绘有丑角的Joker牌。古代西方皇宫常设有小丑表演,为皇室成员提供娱乐。所以可形容这类人为 He´s a joker in the pack.,或者说 He´s jovial. (他是个开心果)。至于把人形容为:He´s a laughing stock. (他是众人的笑柄),就含有负面意思 。
对话
Lisa: Look at Brian, he´s always such a laugh. He´s such a card. 莉莎: 瞧瞧布莱恩,他常常引人发笑,是个有趣的怪人。 Candy: Really ? 坎蒂:当真? Lisa: Oh yeah. He really is the joker of the pack. 莉莎: 噢,是的。他的确很难捉摸。 Candy: Well I don´t think he´s playing with a full deck. He´s the king of insane. 坎蒂: 嗯,我认为布莱恩头脑有问题,他是张疯狂的王牌。
《纸牌成语》
莉莎说布莱恩:He´s such a card. He really is the joker of the pack。坎蒂说:I don´t think he´s playing with a full deck. He´s the king of insane。
Pack、deck都是指「一副(纸牌)」,你可以说a pack / deck of cards。俚语往往以card说古怪或有趣的人,例如:You´re a card; you keep everyone amused(你真有趣,令大家笑开怀)。
纸牌中有坎蒂说的国王(king)牌,也有丑角牌,叫joker,上面会画个jester或fool,即古代西方王侯家中专责逗笑的小丑。丑角牌有时可以当作最大的王牌或任何点数的牌,所以,the joker in the pack是指「影响或行为出人意料者」,例如:He´s the joker in the pack. You never know what he´ll do next(他很难捉摸,你永远不知道他接下来会做甚么)。莉莎那两句话是说:「布莱恩这人很有趣,你绝对想不到他会干甚么。」
坎蒂却不大欣赏布莱恩。俚语to play / operate / deal with a full deck,直译是「用一副完整的纸牌来玩」,意思是「诚实的」、「不欺诈的」或「头脑健全的」、「有普通智慧的」,一般会用于否定句,即not to play with a full deck(不诚实的、头脑不健全的),例如:He tried to make me believe that he was playing with a full deck(他想让我相信他没有使诈)。坎蒂那两句,则是取「头脑不健全」的意思:「我认为布莱恩头脑有问题,是张疯狂的王牌。」
做人太心直口快,在不当的时候冲动乱说话,很容易得罪别人,所以要懂得在适当时候「保持缄默」:I had to bite my tongue. (我只好咬着我的舌头 )/ I had to hold my tongue.(我要按着我的舌头), 也可直接说:Stop myself from saying something.(阻止自已说出某些话)。不想令人难堪,有时要强忍不说真相,但有些情况却是因想不起而说不出口,可以这样形容:It´s on the tip of my tongue. (话到嘴边或几乎想起)。
对话
Candy: Guess what. Vanessa just told me that she´s in a pageant. 坎蒂: 猜我听到甚么,凡内莎刚告诉我她去选美。 Lisa: She told me the same thing. What could I possibly say to that? 莉莎: 她同样也告诉过我,我对此有甚么好说呢? Candy: That´s right. Imagine her in a pageant. I had to bite my tongue. 坎蒂: 对,一想到她去选美,我只好不说话。 Lisa: Forget you. Somebody should bite her tongue… right off. That would stop her lies. (Vanessa approaches) Hi Vanessa, you look great. (They are as fake as Vanessa is) 莉莎: 算了吧,有些人应咬断自己的舌头,以免说谎。(凡内莎走近)嗨,凡内莎,你美极了。(两人如凡内莎般虚假 ) 。 Candy : Yeah, I told you, you looked great. Look at your hair, it´s so gorgeous. 坎蒂: 是啊,我之前就说过,你真的很漂亮,瞧瞧你的秀发,真亮丽。 Lisa: Oh your hair and your physique. 莉莎: 噢,你的秀发,还有你的身材。
《失言和说谎》
莉莎听说凡内莎参加选美,很不以为然:What could I possibly say to that?(我对此有甚么好说呢?)坎蒂说:I had to bite my tongue(我只好不说话)。 舌头(tongue)是说话用的,「失言」就叫做a slip of the tongue,例如:I should have said “Dr Chen” instead of “Mr Chen” : it was just a slip of the tongue(我应说「陈博士」而不是「陈先生」:那是一时说错了)。为免失言,最好bite one´s tongue(把舌头咬着);所以,这成语是「保持沉默」的意思,例如:I was going to tell him, but I bit my tongue when I saw you wink at me(我本来要告诉他,但看见你向我使眼色,就忍住不说)。留意吃东西时,不慎咬到舌头,英文也叫做to bite one´s tongue。
但有时舌头未及时咬住就失言了,使人恨不得bite one´s tongue off(把舌头咬断):加off一字,有「后悔失言」的意思,例如:When I saw how she was hurt by my inadvertent remark, I could have bitten my tongue off(我见自己一句无心的话令她那么难过,深悔失言)。莉莎说Vanessa should bite her tongue right off to stop her lies(凡内莎应自己咬断舌头以免说谎),则当然和「后悔失言」无关,只是照字面意思用字。
其实莉莎说话也不老实。她在凡内莎面前大赞凡内莎漂亮,这种行为叫做with (one´s) tongue in (one´s) cheek,即「说话不老实」或「话中带刺」,例如:Lisa praised Vanessa with her tongue in her cheek(莉莎言不由衷的赞美凡内莎)。
称赞别人打扮新潮,可以说:You always look so trendy或You always look so fashionable(你总是看来很时髦新潮 )。那些潮流一族英文叫做The in-crowd,勇于创新潮流的人叫A trendsetter,而追随潮流者则称为A trend follower。
对话
Joe:I really admire your dress sense. You always look so trendy. 乔:我很欣赏你的衣着品味,你穿着总是那样入时。 Anna:Thank you, I try to stay ahead of the trends obviously it works. 安娜:谢谢,我尝试走在潮流尖端,明显地它很奏效。 Joe:How do you do it? Do you fly to Paris every season? 乔:你怎么做到的?每季都飞去巴黎吗? Anna:No, I´m a model. I always keep the clothes from backstage after a show. Thanks for the compliment. 安娜:不,我是模特儿,做完时装秀后我总会保存那些衣服,谢谢你的赞赏。
《品味与潮流》
乔告诉安娜:I really admire your dress sense. You always look so trendy(我很欣赏你的衣着品味,你穿衣总是那样入时)。
Dress sense是对衣着的品味。有些人一身名贵衣服,但由于和年纪、身材、相貌等不配合,非常难看,就是因为没有品味。你可以说:To be beautifully dressed, you don´t need lots of money, but you must have a good dress sense(要穿得漂亮,不必很有钱,但必须有衣着品味)。
Trendy是俗语,意思是「时髦的」或「赶时髦的」,有时带贬义,例如:(1) She spends thousands of dollars on trendy clothing every month(她每个月都花几千元买时髦衣服)。(2) Somehow it seems to me that trendy people have no ego(我总觉得赶时髦的人似乎没有自我)。Trendy还可作名词,指赶时髦的人;这样的人也可叫swinger,例如:You can hardly recognize in him the trendy/swinger he was thirty years ago(在他身上,很难看到三十年前那个时髦家伙的影子)。
说到潮流,有一个字不可不识:vogue。这个字和fashion同义。「入时」是in vogue/fashion,「过时」是out of vogue/fashion。说潮流兴甚么,可用for字带出,
例如: (1) Clothes that are in vogue/fashion this year may go out of vogue/fashion next year(今年流行的衣服,明年就可能不流行了)。 (2) I don´t like the vogue for unisex clothes(我不喜欢服装男女不分的潮流)。
时下年青人很喜欢街头时装,如果你也是其中之一,可自我形容说:I love street fashion(我爱街头流行时装)。滑板族、嬉哈族和庞克族等都算是Street fashion的代表。喜欢美国嬉哈文化(Hip hop fashion)的人通常会穿低腰裤(Low-slung trousers),戴有图案的头巾(Bandana)和闪烁的手饰(Bling)。至于70年代在英国流行的庞克族(Punk rock),他们喜欢穿苏格兰格子裤(Tartan trousers)和剪像刺猬的发型(Mohican)。
对话
Rachel:You always look so badly dressed. What´s up with that? 蕾切尔:你常穿得很糟,为甚么会这样? Joe:You are just a snob. I love street fashion. 乔:你真是个势利小人,我爱街头流行时装。 Rachel:That is not fashion from the streets. You have to realize that. 蕾切尔:那不是街头时尚,你要知道喔。 Joe:It is so. It´s just that the street I get my inspiration from is skid row. 乔:这是啊,只是我是从贫民区街头得到的灵感而已。 Rachel:Ok. 蕾切尔:是呀。
《贫民区时尚》
蕾切尔说乔衣着难看,乔说:This is street fashion. The street I get my inspiration from is skid row(这是街头流行时装。给我灵感的是贫民区)。
Skid row指城中低级店铺林立、杂乱肮脏的贫民区。Skid作动词,指「滑行」,常用来说车轮不受控制的打滑,例如:The car skidded on the ice(汽车在冰上不受控制的打滑)。Skid作名词,指铺在地上供重物运输时滚动、拖行的圆木、木板等;用这些圆木、木板铺成的滑道,叫skid road。负责搬运重物者一般是穷人,所以skid road渐渐变成skid row。The authorities are determined to clean up skid row即「当局决心整顿肮脏杂乱的贫民区」。
跟随贫民窟街头的服装时尚,衣着自然难看;但即使跟随所谓高级服装时尚,往往也很难看,所以,英文有fashion victim(时装受害者)一词,指衣着时髦而难看的人,例如:Many women are unknowing fashion victims(很多女人都不知道自己因追求服装时尚而穿得十分难看)。
此外,还有fashion plate。这本来是指时装的图样,往往引申作「衣着入时的人」,例如:He is a fashion plate. Just look at him, and you can tell what the latest fashion is(他是个时装潮流样板。看看他,你就知道最近流行穿甚么了)。Fashion plate的衣着未必难看,跟fashion victim不同。
假若朋友約你去燒烤,你竟穿晚裝赴約,朋友會對你說:You look over-dressed.(你穿得太華麗)或It´s too dressy.(過於講究/華麗)或It´s too fussy.(過份裝飾)。相反,假若穿得太過隨便出席隆重宴會,別人會批評你說:You look under-dressed.(你穿得太隨便)。此外,對於那些一把年紀卻「裝可愛」的人,可以對他們說:You look like mutton dressed as lamb.(你像一頭扮成小羔羊的老羊),就是諷刺人家扮青春。
對話
Brian: Honey, you look over-dressed. 布萊恩: 蜜糖兒,你穿得太華麗了。 Rachel: No I don´t. Everyone dresses up at these events. 蕾切爾: 不會,每個人都盛裝出席這些場合。 Brian: But do you really need all that jewelry and all those fancy clothes? 布萊恩: 但你真的需要那些珠寶和這些昂貴的衣服嗎? Rachel: Of course, this is a fashion show, I have to look the part. 蕾切爾: 當然啦,這是時裝秀,我要配合打扮。 Brian: But it´s a sportswear collection. Go and change, now! 布萊恩: 但這是邉臃阋F在去換衣服吧!
《盛裝》
蕾切爾盛裝出席簡單的邉臃悖y怪布萊恩說:You look overdressed。 Overdress是「穿著隆重得與所出席場合不相稱」,反義詞是underdress,例如:(1) Don´t overdress (yourself), wear something simple but decent(衣著別太過隆重,只須簡單而得體)。(2) Without a dress handkerchief, I felt underdressed(我沒有禮服手帕,自覺寒傖)。
說衣著隆重,英文有兩句常用成語。
一是to be dressed up to the nines,直譯是「穿到第九」。第九和盛裝有甚麼關係?有人說,the nines是the eyes之訛;「衣服穿到連眼睛都幾乎蓋著」,就是盛裝了。也有人說,十級評分制之中,到第九級已近乎完美。無論這兩個解釋哪一個正確,to be dressed up to the nines即「一身盛裝」,例如:I guess he is going to attend a job interview: he is all dressed up to the nines(他穿得那麼隆重,我猜是要參加求職面試)。
另一句常用成語是to be dressed to kill。Kill這裡有「使人傾倒」、「使人著迷」的意思,to be dressed to kill即「刻意穿得很帥,要別人心生愛慕」,往往有「希望吸引異性」含義,例如:Whose affections do you think that dandy is trying to win? He is dressed to kill tonight(你認為那花花公子想贏得誰人芳心呢?他今晚穿得特別講究)。Dandy是講究打扮的男人,也可稱為fop。
到裁縫店訂作衣服時,裁縫師會問你:Can you give me your measurements?(你可以把你的尺寸告訴我嗎?),如果你不太清楚,要勞煩他替你量身,他會對你說:Can I take your measurements?(我可以替你量身嗎?)。量身通常要量三圍,女性的胸圍叫Bust,男性胸圍叫Chest,腰圍(Waist)、臀圍(Hips)。除了三圍外,也有領圍(Neck size),在訂作西裝、中式長馬褂(Cheong-sam)或婚紗(Wedding dress)時需要的。
對話
Darrell: Hi. Can you give me your measurements? 達仁: 嗨,你可否告訴我你的尺寸? Candy: I can´t remember them offhand. You´ll have to measure me. 坎蒂: 我一時間想不起來,要麻煩你替我量度。 Darrell: With pleasure. 達仁: 這是我應該的。 Candy: So how long have you worked here? I haven´t seen you at the shows before. 坎蒂: 你在這裡工作多久了?我從未在表演裡見過你。 Darrell : Oh I don´t work here. I was just waiting for my girlfriend. She´s in the show too. 達仁: 噢,我不在這裡工作,我只是在等我的女朋友,她有參與表演。 Candy: Security! 坎蒂: 保全!
《三圍和胸部》
達仁問坎蒂的三圍數字:Can you give me your measurements?女性的三圍,英文還有一個說法:vital statistics。
Vital statistics本來是「生命統計」,指出生、結婚、死亡等關乎人口的統計。但vital除了解作「生命的」還可解作「極重要的」;以vital statistics來說女性身材「極重要的數字」,當然有戲謔意味,例如:Her vital statistics are 36-24-36(她的三圍是36-24-36)。
從前,所謂上流社會連雞胸肉都諱言breast。英國首相邱吉爾曾經作客美國,宴會上說May I have some breast?(給我些胸部好嗎?)不料女主人板著面孔說:Mr. Churchill, in this country we ask for white meat(邱吉爾先生,敝國人會說白肉)。第二天,邱吉爾送她一朵胸花,附字條說:I would be most obliged if you would pin this on your white meat(假如你把這個別在你的白肉之前,將是我的莫大榮幸)。今天,breast已經不是「禁字」,但一般量胸圍,Women are measured round the bust而不是the breasts。
当你看中橱窗里人体模型身上的衣服时,可对售货员说:I´d like the one on the dummy.(我想要人体模型身上的那件衣服)。真人模特儿叫Model, 而 Dummy除指「人体模型」,也可解作「呆子」或「婴儿吃的奶嘴」,不想令人误会,可改用Mannequin(假人体模型)。橱窗陈列英文叫Window display;橱窗布置叫Window dressing。 对话 Brian: I´d like to buy a shirt please. 布莱恩: 麻烦你,我想买件衬衫。 Vivian: Certainly. Which one from the collection would you like? 维维安: 当然可以,你喜欢这个系列中的哪一件呢? Brian: I´d like the one on the dummy. 布莱恩: 我想要人体模型上的那件。 Vivian: Dummy? We don´t have any dummies here, this is a fashion show. 维维安: 假模特儿?我们这里没有人体模型,这是时装秀。 Brian: No, I meant that guy over there. Actually, I´ve always thought that male models were kind of stupid. I´d like it in red. 布莱恩: 不,我意思是在那边的家伙。其实我总觉得男模特儿是呆子,我想要红色的。
《模特儿和人体模型》
布莱恩说想买衬衫:I´d like the one on the dummy。维维安以为他要假人身上那款衬衫,但布莱恩却是要男模特儿穿的那一款:I´ve always thought that male models were kind of stupid(我总觉得男模特儿是呆子)。 Kind of或sort of是「有些」的意思,是口头用语,常略作kinda或kinder、sorta或sorter,其后多用形容词(adjective),有时也用动词,例如:(1) I´m kind of/sort of tired. I need a rest(我有点累,要休息一下)。(2) I kinda/sorta like him(我有些喜欢他)。
Dummy一字,出自dumb(哑的),可以指「人体模型」,俗语也以dummy指「聋哑者」或「呆子」,例如:Why don´t you say anything? Are you a dummy?(你为甚么一言不发?你聋哑了吗?)布莱恩称男模特儿为dummy(呆子),使维维安误会了,是因为一字多义。
展览时装,不用dummy,就用model。Model可以指男性或女性模特儿,但模特儿行业几乎已成为女性专有,男性往往要冠以male一字,以免误会。I saw a male model(我看见一个男模特儿)一语,省略male,你一定会以为是女性。
从前,时装模特儿叫做manne-quin。这本来是法文,但一般会按英文拼法读作MANNikin。现在,模特儿多称model,于是mannequin渐渐由真人沦为假人,和时装店里的dummy没有分别,例如:This suit looks good on the mannequin/dummy(这套西装穿在假模特儿身上很好看)。
冬季來臨,又是女士們出動添置冬裝的時候,I need to shop for my winter wardrobe.解作「我需要購買冬季衣服」。很多女士都喜歡購物,但如果過份迷戀,就會變成購物狂(Shopaholic),對某一事過份沉迷而成狂,除了Shopaholic外,也有Workaholic(工作狂)和Alcoholic(酗酒的人)。此外,當我們不開心的時候用購物來慰藉自己,這種行為叫做Retail therapy(購物治療)。
對話
Rachel:Oh, I´m glad we came to this show. I need to shop for my winter wardrobe. 蕾切爾:噢,真高興我們來看這個秀,我需要購買冬裝。 Vivian:Well then you´re in the wrong place. 維維安:那麼你來錯地方了。 Rachel:No way. This is a fashion show isn´t it? It´s nearly winter now so why am I in the wrong place? 蕾切爾:不會吧。這不是時裝秀嗎?而且現在快要冬天了,為甚麼我來錯地方? Vivian:Fashion works six months ahead so this is the spring / summer show. Unless you´re planning to wear a bikini all winter, I suggest you go to a boutique。 維維安:時裝秀領前潮流六個月,所以這是春 / 夏季時裝展,除非你打算整個冬天穿比基尼泳裝,否則我建議你去時裝店。
《季節和衣服》
冬天來了,蕾切爾說:I need to shop for my winter wardrobe(我需要買冬裝)。 Wardrobe的本義是「衣櫃」,是可數名詞,例如:We bought two wardrobes(我們買了兩個衣櫃)。引申其義,wardrobe可指一個人的所有衣服,例如:(1) She has a large(或an extensive)/small(或limited)wardrobe(她有很多/很少衣服)。(2) His wardrobe includes a pair of white trousers(他的衣物之中有一條白褲子)。 冬裝、夏裝等,除了叫winter wardrobe、summer wardrobe,也可以叫winter clothes / clothing、summer clothes/clothing。Wardrobe和clothes、clothing的分別,是clothes、clothing可以指個人身上的衣服,wardrobe則不可以,例如以下這句就不可用wardrobe一字:I changed my clothes / clothing for the dinner party(我更換衣服準備出席晚宴)。
然則clothes和clothing有沒有分別?一般這兩個字是通用的,主要分別在於clothing著重整體的衣服,clothes則著重身上各式衣服。例如I saw a woman in trendy clothes / clothing一語,是說「我看見一個衣著入時的女人」;但clothing泛指全身衣服,clothes則著重衣服的配搭,包括上衣、裙子、鞋子等。 春夏秋冬衣服之外,兩個季節之交穿的衣服叫甚麼?你可用between-season一詞來說,例如:You need some between-season clothing as winter gives way to summer(寒去暑來的時候,你要一些適合冬夏之交穿的衣服)。