宝子们!有没有遇到过老外突然说一句让你摸不着头脑的英语?放大杠杆炒股
比如,某天夸你"You have green fingers",难道是说咱手指染绿了?
NONONO!
这是个英语习语陷阱——今天咱们就来拆解那些「颜色+身体部位」的神奇表达,顺便挖挖背后的文化小秘密,保证让你边笑边记住,下次听到再也不懵圈~
01
「Green fingers」≠ 绿手指
green fingers
含义:a natural ability to make plants grow well(天生擅长让植物茁壮成长的能力)
翻译:园艺天赋(字面直译“绿手指”,但实际指“擅长园艺”)
例句:My grandma has amazinggreen fingers—every plant in her garden blooms like magic!我奶奶简直是园艺天才,她花园里的每株植物都像施了魔法一样绽放!
展开剩余85%为啥是「green」?
西方文化里,绿色和植物生长息息相关(毕竟叶子大多是绿的~)。以前英国人夸人种花厉害,就说“手指沾了绿”,慢慢就变成「green fingers」啦!
类似的还有美国人说「green thumb」(thumb是拇指),意思一模一样~
举一反三
如果想夸别人“擅长某件事”,可以说:You really have a green finger for [某事]!
Example:You have a green finger for cooking—this dish is incredible!
Translation:你简直是烹饪天才,这道菜绝了!
02
「Blue blood」不是“蓝血”
是贵族的“高贵血统”
1. blue blood
含义:a person from a family with a high social rank(出身于高社会地位家庭的人)
翻译:贵族血统(字面“蓝血”,实际指“贵族身份”)
例句:She may have blue blood, but she’s the kindest person I’ve ever met.她虽然出身贵族,但却是我见过最善良的人。
冷知识:贵族为啥是“蓝血”?
中世纪欧洲贵族长期养尊处优,皮肤白到能看清血管,而静脉血在皮肤下看起来偏蓝色,于是大家就用「blue blood」代指贵族啦~
后来也延伸为“高贵的出身”,但注意!现在更多是中性词,别随便用来说别人哦(万一人家不喜欢炫耀家世呢~)
03
「Red eye」不只是“红眼病”
还能是“熬夜神器”航班
red eye
含义:
a medical condition where the white part of the eye becomes red(眼睛充血,俗称“红眼病”)
a late-night flight that departs at night and arrives in the morning(深夜起飞、清晨到达的航班,因乘客熬夜后眼睛通红得名)
a medical condition where the white part of the eye becomes red(眼睛充血,俗称“红眼病”)
a late-night flight that departs at night and arrives in the morning(深夜起飞、清晨到达的航班,因乘客熬夜后眼睛通红得名)
翻译:
① 红眼病 ② 红眼航班(通宵航班)
例句:
I can’t go to work today—I think I caught a red eye from the swimming pool.我今天没法上班了,好像在游泳池感染了红眼病。
Taking a red eye is tiring, but it saves a night’s hotel cost!坐红眼航班好累,但能省一晚住宿费!
I can’t go to work today—I think I caught a red eye from the swimming pool.我今天没法上班了,好像在游泳池感染了红眼病。
Taking a red eye is tiring, but it saves a night’s hotel cost!坐红眼航班好累,但能省一晚住宿费!
实用场景:出国必备!
如果和老外聊旅行,提到“通宵航班”,直接说「red eye flight」超地道~ 比如:
Example:Did you take a red eye? You look a bit tired—let me grab you a coffee.
Translation:你坐了通宵航班吗?看起来有点累,我给你买杯咖啡吧~
小提醒:“红眼病”更正式的说法是「pink eye」,但日常说「red eye」大家也懂~
04
「Black sheep」不是“黑羊”
是家族里的“显眼包”
black sheep
含义:a member of a group who behaves badly or differently, bringing shame or embarrassment(群体中行为不当或格格不入,带来尴尬的人)
翻译:害群之马(字面“黑羊”,实际指“群体中的另类/不体面者”)
例句:In his big family, he was always seen as theblack sheep because he quit his job to travel.在他的大家庭里,大家总觉得他是个“另类”,因为他辞了工作去旅行。
背后的小插曲:羊为啥怕“变黑”?
以前西方牧场里,绵羊大多是白色的,突然出现一只黑羊,不仅羊毛卖不上价(染色麻烦),还显得“格格不入”。
后来就用「black sheep」比喻“群体里的异类”,不过现在含义变宽松啦,有时也带点调侃——比如朋友做了件大胆的事,你可以半开玩笑说:
Example:You’re the black sheepof our group, but that’s why we love you!
Translation:你是咱们组的“显眼包”放大杠杆炒股,但我们就喜欢你这样!
发布于:北京市