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发信人: bookworm (认识我自己), 信区: English
标 题: 汉语习语英译(转载)
发信站: 紫金飞鸿 (2004年06月30日19:56:16 星期三), 站内信件
【 以下文字转载自 FLA 讨论区 】
从网上下的， 与大家共享！
【不妙】something is to pay
经理感到事情有些不妙。
The manager had a hunch that something was to pay.
汉语的“有些不妙”或“有点不对头”的概念常可用something is to pay的句式来表示
。这一短语常和feel或have a hunch that连用。
Dialogue
Bob: Didn't you see the writing on the wall?
Sue: I even didn't have the slightest hunch.
Bob: But you should be prepared for such an outcome.
Sue: I had too much confidence in him.
Bob: But he ruined your business.
Sue: Well, if I knew there would be something to pay, I wouldn't should chal
k it up to experience.
Bob: Well, you should chalk it up to experience.
Sue: You're right.
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【眼中钉】a thorn in someone's flesh
不知为什么我成了他们的眼中钉了。我可从未错待过他们。
I wonder why I become a thorn in their flesh. I've never harmed them.
我们说的“眼中钉”与英美人讲的a thorn in someone's flesh指的是一回事，虽比喻
有异，但意思相同。与此说法相似的还有“刺耳的话”（a flea in someone's ear）。
Dialogue
Frank: I don't know why I should become a thorn in the John's flesh.
Betty: You mean your boss?
Frank: Yeah. He seems to bear me a grudge.
Betty: That's because you are too much on the ball.
Frank: But why should that make him hate me?
Betty: That's because you put him in the shade.
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【馋得流口水】make someone's mouth water
桌上的美味佳肴馋得他直流口水。
The delicacies on the table make him mouth water.
“使某人流口水”指“使某人垂涎”，是地道的汉语口语。这一概念一般是用make som
eone mouth water的句式来表达的。
Dialogue
Sue: Wow! What a gracious table! Everything looks so beautiful.
Bob: This might be the best dinner you've ever had.
Sue: Surely it is. I can hardly wait. They make my mouth water.
Bob: I feel itching, too. Let's start and try these delicacies.
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【胡说八道】shooting from the hip
他说我迷恋上李丽了？这简直是胡说八道！
He thinks I've got the hots for Lily? It's shooting from the hip!
汉语口语中的"胡说八道"曾被译成break wind。其实，英美人更习惯用shoot from the
hip来表示这一说法。
Dialogue
Rose: I didn't know Joe was two-faced. He stabbed me in the back.
Mark: What did he do?
Rose: He told my boyfriend that I had affairs with several men, which, of co
urse,
made my boy friend very suspicious of me.
Mark: I didn't believe he would shoot from the hip like that! It was very vi
cious of him. You must not put up with him.
Rose: Of course not! He will soon know what he deserves!
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【各奔东西】drift apart
毕业后我们班的同学就各奔东西了。
After graduation my classmates drifted apart.
“各奔东西”指的是“散开”或“不在一起”的意思，但“散开”或“分散开”的英语
是disperse，常
指“分散精力”，“疏散人群”或“驱散云雾”等概念。因而，“各奔东西”不宜使用
disperse，而应该用drift apart。此语中的drift 是漂流的意思。
Dialogue
John: What have you been doing these days, mark?
Mark: I've been trying to track down some of our old friends.
John: I haven't been keeping in touch with them. We simply drifted apart.
Mark: We lost track of each other somehow after we graduated.
John: Did you ever bump into any of them?
Mark: A few Some have settled down, some are tied down, some are living it u
p and
others are in a rut.
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【呕吐】shoot the cat
他刚吃完饭就吐了。
He shoot the cat right after the meal.
Shoot the cat 是一条俚语，意即vomit。表示"呕吐"的概念时，除了用shoot, 还可以
用jerk,形成jerk the cat的说法。
Sample Sentences
1、他告诉医生说他一吃完饭就吐，不知道是为什么。
He told the doctor that he would shoot the cat right after meals without kno
wing why.
2、他又吐了，肯定又喝多了。
He's shooting the cat again. He must have drank too many again.
3、她说吃牛肉就吐，但是还特别想吃。
She says she would shoot the cat after eating beef and she doesn't seem to b
e able
to resist eating it.
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【打嗝】make a belch
孩子打嗝儿了，让他喝口水吧。
The kid is making a belch. Give him a drink.
汉语口语中的“打嗝儿”可以用动词belch来表示，也可以用make a belch的形式。作为
动词使用，
belch 有“猛烈喷射”、“阵阵冒出”以及“打嗝”等意。在日常口语中，英美人一般
使用make a belch的说法。
Sample Sentences
1、有人说当你打嗝儿时，想想别的事就会好的。
It's said that when you are making a belch, think of something else and the
belch
will be off.
2、你快给他多穿点衣服吧。他都打嗝了。
He's making a belch. Give him more clothes to make him warm.
3、有人说打嗝时喝点儿热水就会好的。
It's said drinking some warm water can help get over the belch.
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【久等】cool one's heels
汉语口语中“久等”或“足足等了”之类的概念可以用Cool one's heels来表示。比如
：I have left
cooling my heels since seven o'clock.此语源于古时，人们一般骑马外出，当马走的
路程太长或
太疲惫时，马蹄就会发热，骑马的人必须停下来，让马休息，一直到马蹄凉下来再走。
Sample Sentences
1、报社记者必须学会久等，这也是他们的一个任务。
Newspaper reporters must learn to accept cooling their heels as part of thei
r job.
2、他们让我在经理办公室的门外等了好外。
I was left cooling my heels outside the manager's office.
3、让他久等？他是耐不住这个性子的。
Asking him to wait ? He had no patience in cooling his heels.
注：但值得注意的是，英语cool one's heels作为“久等”或“足足等了”的地道表示
法，只能用于“白
白等了”的情景之中，若“久等”而“白等”时就应该用be kept waiting来表示。比如
：对不起，让
您久等了。I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
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【各有利弊】cut both ways
在国营企业或合资企业工作各有利弊：在国营企业工作比较安定，但工资较少；在合资
企业工业挣钱多一
些，可是又不稳定。
It cuts both ways to work in a state-run enterprise or a joint venture :the
pay from
a state-run enterprise is relatively lower but you feel more stable while in
a joint
venture you feel unassured, though the pay is relatively higher.
“各有利弊”一般是用have both advantages and disadvantages的片语来表示的。但
作为口
语，用cut both ways似乎更好些。此语直译为“两面都砍”。这也就如同在说，事物既
有好的一面，
也有其坏的一面；有有利的一面，也有不利的一面，与汉语的“各有利弊”相吻合。
Dialogue
Li Ming: I head that you have found a new job in a joint venture. What about
the pay?
Zhao Hua: 2,000 yuan a month.
Li Ming: 2,000 yuan a month? That's four times the pay I get! No wonder many
people are crazy about finding a job in a joint venture.
Zhao Hua: Well, it cut both ways. When you work in a state-run enterprise as
the
one you do now, you feel safe and stable. But those who are working in a joi
nt
venture do not have that feeling, you know what I mean.
Li Ming: Sure, But most people still prefer to have a job that has a higher
pay.
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【吃闭门羹】to a locked door
我昨天去他家看他，不想吃了闭门羹。
I went to see him yesterday, but unfortunately I was to a locked door.
汉语口语中“吃闭门羹”的说法指登门拜访某人而某人不在家。在大多数的场合，是用
to a locked door
的片语来表示的。
Dialogue
Mark: Did you went to see her last week?
Mike: Yes, I did. But she was out when I called.
Mark: But you could tell her mother about that.
Mike: How could I? I was to a locked door.
Mark: Did you try again?
Mike: No. I don't feel comfortable running to a locked door. I would rather
wait till
she appears.
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【哪儿都找了】look high and low
我哪儿都找遍了，可还是没找到那反钥匙。
I looked high and low for the key, but I couldn't find it any where.
有人曾把“哪儿都找遍了”译成looked everywhere似乎也说得过去，但英美人还有个l
ook high and
low的说法，十分接近“哪儿都找遍了”所表达的语气。但请注意，有时人们会用searc
h high and low
来替代look high and low。在这种情况下，search后面一般跟宾语。
Dialogue
Mary: Have you found your watch?
John: No. I looked high and low in the house but I couldn't find it.
Mary: Where on earth did you put it?
John: I remember putting it on the bookshelf, but it's not there.
Mary: Maybe you have put it somewhere else.
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【敷衍搪塞】give someone the runaround
别拿话儿搪塞我们。我们只想知道你到底是同意还是不同意。
Don’t give us the runaround. We’d just like to know whether you agree or n
ot.
“拿话儿搪塞”或“敷衍搪塞”的说法可用give someone the runaround的句式来表示
。give
someone the runaround实际上指“使某人到处乱转”，即在“找借口”或“托辞”。这
也就相当
于“搪塞”所要表达的意思了。请看下述例句：
Sample Sentences
1、不要拿话搪塞我，告诉我你到底想不想和我结婚！
Don’t give me the runaround. Just tell me if you would marry me or not.
2、我跟他借钱，他只是拿话搪塞却分文未借。
I asked him to lend me some money, but I got nothing except the runaround.
3、希望这次你能给我个确切的答复，别再拿话搪塞我了。
I’ve come to know the definite answer this time, not the runaround again.
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【哭穷】to poor-mouth
别跟我哭穷了，我还不知道你的底细？
Don’t poor-mouth to me . I have your number.
汉语中“哭穷”的说法实际上是指一种“掩盖钱财实力”，“装寒酸”的掩饰行为，可
用俚语poor-mouth
来表示。例如：每当我要跟他借钱的时候他就跟我哭穷。He would poor-mouth to me
whenever
I come to borrow money. 此语是个多义词，有时也可用来表示“说话留有余地”的意
思。另外，
在特定场合，poor-mouth几乎还与bad- mouth（说坏话）同义。
Dialogue
Mark: I can’t understand why you should believe her story and lent her the
money.
Jack: She seemed to be in great need of the money . That’s why I ……
Mark: Well, you were fooled by her. Each time she borrows money, she will
poor-mouth to her target.
Jack: But what would you do if you were in place?
Mark: If were in your place, I wouldn’t lend a single cent to her.
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【白吃白喝】 a freeloader
我可不愿意白吃白喝别人。我不是那种爱占便宜的人。
I wouldn’t freeload. I’m not a freeloader.
有人把“白吃白喝”说成：eat and drink without paying, 这种说法很不准确。To e
at without
paying岂不成了强盗？“白吃白喝”不是不pay，而是自己不用pay，让别人去pay。表达
这一概念
可以用to freeload, 其意思是：利用别人之慷慨而占便宜。另外，to make use of 、
to take
advantage of 在某些场合也可用来表示这种概念。
Dialogue
Tom: I feel like having a ball after the exam was over. What about eating ou
t?
Sue: Eating out?
Tom: Yes.
Sue: Well, forget. I’m broke.
Tom: No worries. Everything is on this time. I’ll pick up the tab and treat
you .
Sue: No, thanks. But I’m not a freeloader.
Tom: Well, you can treat ME when you are in the chips again.
Sue: I prefer going Dutch.
Tom: All right. I’ll follow yours.
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【牵线搭桥】pull the strings
听说你公司有个空位，我很想去试一试。但你能先为我牵线搭桥吗？
I hear there’s an opening in your company and I would like to fill it. But
will you pull
some strings for me ?
英语的pull the strings所表示的意思几乎完全等于汉语中“牵线搭桥”的意思。有时
，人们为了得到
某种职位或建立某种联系，常常会求助于别人，让人先给搭搭桥。在这种情况下，人们
便会说：Will you
pull some strings for me ?例如：我不认识你们的老板，你能先为我拉拉线搭个桥吗
？Your boss
doesn’t know me. Would you pull some strings for me ? 请看下列对话：
Dialogue
John: Are you still hunting for a job. Mark?
Mark: Yes. I’m still pounding the pavements.
John: Listen. There is a job opening in my company. It would suit you to a T
.
Mark: Thank you for the information. Could you pull some strings to get me h
ired?
John: I wish I could , but my hands are tied.
Mark: Do you know anyone who could throw his weight around for me ?
John: Let me see…well… you can turn to Joe . He’s a big hot. Maybe he cou
ld put in
his two cents worth.
Mark: Asking him for help? I’ll be wasting my breath.
John: How come?
Mark: I asked him once, but he only gave me lip service.
John: Don’t worry. I’ll see what I can do.
注：I throw one’s weight around for …的意思相当于汉语“为某人使劲儿”的说法
。2、put in
one’s two cents worth的意思是“发表意见”，但在这里的意思是“请某人说句话”
。
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【甩掉】palm off
他让你赶紧把手中的次品都甩掉。
He urged you to palm off all the shoddy goods immediately.
汉语中的“甩掉”有很多用法，其英语表示法也各不相同。先请看下述例句：
Sample Sentences
1、他们终于把跟踪的警察给甩掉了。
They had finally managed to get rid of the following police.
2、当他发现很难甩掉尾巴时，就干脆坐在树下了，看到底会怎么样。
When realizing it difficult to throw off the pursuers, he sat down under a t
ree,
waiting to see what would happen.
3、你为什么不赶紧甩掉手中的存货？
Why don’t you palm off the stocked goods now?
从上述例句中可以看出，“甩掉”可以用get fid of ,也可用throw off 或者abandon等
词来表示。
但在“甩掉”手中的物品时，英美人则习惯用paim of .
Dialogue
John: It seems to me that you believe whatever that guy told you.
Mark: I couldn’t see through him. He set me up by telling me a sob story.
John: Did you buy the whole kit and caboodle from him?
Mark: Yes, I did. He said I could have it for peanuts.
John: And he palmed off all his shoddy goods on a fool like you.
Mark: I didn’t realize it until the trap was sprung.
John: Don’t be so down. Wit once bought is worth twice taught. You can try
and
palm them off on another guy.
Mark: But I don’t want to cheat somebody else.
John: Then you will have to hold the bag.
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【得罪某人】get in Dutch with someone
张明得罪了他的上司，几个月后就被开除了。
Zhang Ming got in Dutch with his boss and in a few months he was sacked.
“得罪某人”的说法一般可用offend someone 的片语来表示。但是在口语中，还是用g
et in Dutch
with…的句型更合适。例如：很少有人敢得罪他。There are few people who dare to
get in
Dutch with him.
Dialogue
Lucy: Why does Sally want to switch to another job ?
Lisa: She doesn’t want that, actually.
Lucy: But why did she told me that she wanted to work in another place?
Lisa: That’s because she got in Dutch with her boss. She no longer feels it
proper to
go on working there.
Lucy: I now get it . But she doesn’t have to leave just because of that.
Lisa: I can understand her. I would do the same if I were in the same situat
ion.
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【说别人的闲话】dish the dirt about…
她特别喜欢说别人的闲话，是我们这儿出了名的长舌妇。
She is a notorious gossiper here, who is very fond of dishing the dirt about
others.
“说别人的闲话”可以用gossip about的片语来表示。但是作口语，英美人更喜欢用di
sh the dirt
abort.此语中的dish是动词，意思是“把做好的菜盛到盘子里”；the dirt的意思是“
泥土”，合在
一起的字面意思是“把泥土盛到盘子里”，意指“说玷污他人的话”。
Sample Sentences
1、我可不愿意和那些爱说别人闲话的人在一起聊天。
I hate to talk with those who are so fond of dishing the dirt about other pe
pole.
2、你不相信她的话，她那个人就喜欢说人家的闲话。
Don’t believe her. She is the sort who is very fond of dishing the dirt abo
ut other
people.
3、我经常看到她和其他的女人在一起东家长，西家短地说人家的闲话。
I often see her talking with other women and dishing the dirt about someone
.
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【挂个电话】give a buzz
在来之前请先给我挂个电话，以免让你扑空。
Give me a buzz before coming so that you won’t come to a locked door.
打电话的表示法大家很熟悉，一般都会用give me a call 或phone me的片语来表示。但
很少人知
道give a buzz是嗡嗡的声音，而give sb . a buzz就是给某人挂个电话的意思了。请看
下述对话。
Dialogue
Sam: I Just feel like having a talk with you one of these days.
Sue: I’d love it , too. We haven’t had a good chat for a long time.
Sam: What about your former classmates? Are you keeping in touch with them?
Sue: Some are in touch, and some are not.
Sam: Why don’t you ask some of them to come over and have a talk together?
Sue: That’s a good idea. But I’ll to phone them and make a arrangement.
Sam: When you have made it , give me a buzz.
Sue: Sure. I’ll let you know as soon as we have made it .
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【写封信】 drop me a line
有空了给我写封信。
Drop me a line when you have time.
同“挂个电话”一样，口语中“写封信”是用drop me a line来取代write me a lette
r的。请看下
面的对话：
Dialogue
Lucy: I feel sick at the thought that we’ll soon part.
Lisa: Me, too. But we must be in touch with each other.
Lucy: Surely I will . When I miss you, I will call you and talk with you on
the phone.
Lisa: You can also drop me a line when you have any news.
Lucy: Yeah. I like writing letters and I will certainly often write you .
Lisa: I’ll do the same. I think that’s best way to keep in touch.
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【榨干血汗】bleed one white
他们是在设法榨干你身上所有的钱。
They are trying to bleed you white.
汉语“榨干血汗”指“耗尽某人的钱财”。这一概念在英语中有个很好的表示方法：bl
eed someone white.
此语中的bleed 是个动词，意思是“使流血”，与someone white合在一起的字面意思是
“让某人
的血流光”，相当于我们所说的“榨干血汗”。
Dialogue
Jack: You have been hooked by the guys
Mark: What do you mean?
Jack: I mean the other guys are ganging up on you. And you must stop.
Mark: But I've already lost 3,000 dollars.
Jack: And they are trying to bleed you white, you know?
Mark: Bleed me white? How can that be true?
Jack: You'll soon have it coming on you if you don't listen to me and stop.
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【崭新的】brand new
他买了一台崭新的轿车。
He bought a brand new car.
当形容某种物品很新，和从商店刚刚买回来的一样时，其英语的表示法是：be brand n
ew。此语的字
面意思是“还带着商标呢”。请看下面的对话：
Dialogue
Mark: How much is this car, sir?
Sir: This car? Oh, it's 3,000 dollars.
Mark: Three thousand for a used car?
Sir: Oh, no. It's brand new. I bought it only a couple of months ago.
Mark: But 3,000 is still a bit too much for a used car.
Sir: Then you make a price?
Mark: What about 2,500?
Sir: 2,500? Then I'd keep it.
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【太便宜了】be dirt cheap
这块手表你才花了30美元？真太便宜了！
You bought this watch only for 30 dollars? It's dirt cheap.
汉语口语中“没法再便宜了”、“太便宜了”这类的说法除了用我们已经讨论过的be f
or a song 之类
的说法外，还可以用dirt cheap 的片语来表示。dirt cheap 的字面意思是“便宜如土
”，也就是“不
能再便宜了”。
Dialogue
Sue: How much did you pay for the car?
Bob: I bought it for 800.
Sue: 800 for a Toyota car? It's dirt cheap.
Bob: Yeah. It can't be cheaper for a three-year-old car like this.
Sue: Does it work well?
Bob: Yeah. I tried it out on the high way and it worked just as other cars.
Sue: It's really a good bargain.
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【费事儿】 take a lot of doing
做鱼特别费事儿，我可不愿意洗呀、淹呀、炖呀什么的。
It takes a lot of doing to cook a fish. I wouldn't like to spend a lot of ti
me washing,
salting, stewing and whatnots for the cooking of it.
在日常生活中我们常讲的“费事儿”的说法有人曾用take a lot of time 或take a lo
t of trouble
之类的片语来表示。虽说这样的说法也能不同程度地表达“费事儿”的概念，但仍不如
用take a lot of
doing更符合口语习惯。
Dialogue
Kate: What are you going to cook for the guests?
Lucy: I've no idea. Maybe we can get some ready-made food.
Kate: Some ready-made food? Didn't you promise to cook something for them?
Lucy: Yes, I did. I promised to cook them some beggar's chicken. But it take
s a lot
of doing, you know?
Kate: I know. I also know you should keep your words.
Lucy: What do you mean?
Kate: I mean you must cook what you have promised.
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【知道底细】 have someone's number
别跟我瞎吹了，我又不是不了解你的底细。
No big talk with me. I have your number.
汉语“底细”用途很广：既可以指一个人全部的所做所为，也可以指一个人某些不光彩
的经历；既可以指
一个人的家庭情况，也可以指一个人能力的大小。有些人曾用details 来表示“底细”
并把“我知道她
的底细”说成I know her details。虽然不能说此译有多大的谬误，但听起来总觉得词
不达意。其实，
英语口语中有个have someone's number 的片语，其意思就是“知道某人的底细”。
Sample Sentences
1.警方已经掌握了嫌疑犯的底细。
The police have already got the suspect's number.
2.她说在未了解他的底细之前是不会答应与他结婚的。
She said that she wouldn't promise to marry him before she had his number.
3.在你了解她的底细之前怎能如此地相信她呢？
How could you place too much trust in her before you have had
her number?
注：汉语“底细”有时还可以用其它的说法来表示。比如：
1. 我很了解他们成功的底细。I know the true story behind their success.
2. 我很了解她到底是个什么样的人。I know her from A to Z.
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【精品】the choicest goods
这家商店卖的手表都是精品，而且种类还特别多。
This shop sells a wide range of watches, all of which are the choicest.
在谈到商品质量时，我们常说讲的“精品”或“上等品”一般都是用the choicest 来表
示的。但是在
英国，“精品”的概念还有其它的表示方法：of the Saville Row quality 或of the
Bond Street
quality. Saville Row 是英国伦敦的一条街道。此街荟萃了许多服装行业的精品店，专
门出售高档精
制的男子服装。因此，of the Saville Row quality 指的就是“精品”。Bond Street
是以销售高
档女子精品服装而著称的另一条伦敦的大街。对于中国学生来说，还是用the choicest
来表示“精品”
概念为宜。
Sample Sentences
1 这家商店的丝绸都是精品。
This shop sells the choicest silk and satin.
2 这些手表都是来自各国的精品。
These watches are all the choicest from different countries.
3 这是一家专营精品的商店。
This shop specializes in all the choicest goods.
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【了解一下情况】get the lay of the land
经理说他想让我们先去海南了解一下那里的情况，然后再决定投资的事。
The manager said that he would like us to go to Hai Nan and get the lay of t
he land
there before deciding on the investment.
汉语“了解一下情况”多指先作一番调查。此语有很多的表示方法：make a study of,
make a survey
of, make research on 以及get the lay of the land 等等。其中当属get the lay o
f the land
最富有口语色彩，而且可用于表示很多情景中的“了解一下情况”。此语中的land 原指
“地形”，后转
喻“状况”、“情势”、“情况”等。
Sample Sentences
1 当他们了解了对方的情况以后，总司令命令部队马上向那个地区发起进攻。
After getting the lay of the land of the enemy's side, the commander-in-chie
f
ordered an immediate attack on their land.
2 在了解情况以前，你们不应该采取任何行动。
Before getting the lay of land, you should not take any actions.
3 我们最好先了解一下那里的情况，然后再决定投资的数额。
We'd better get the lay of the land there before deciding on the sum of the
investment.
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【掌上明珠】the apple of someone's eye
玲玲是她爷爷的掌上明珠。
Ling Ling is the apple of her grandpa's eye.
汉语“掌上明珠”的说法一般是用the apple of someone's eye 的片语来表示的。此语
源出圣经《旧
约》，古人把apple 视为眼睛的瞳孔，而把某人视为自己瞳孔的意思当然不言而喻。尽
管瞳孔的现在用
法是pupil，而不再是apple，但这一用法一直延续至今。
Sample Sentences
1 老王很宠爱他的女儿，那是他的掌上明珠。
Lao Wang dotes on his daughter. She is the apple of his eye.
2 你千万别得罪她，她可是咱们老板的掌上明珠。
Take care never offend her. She is the apple of our boss's eye.
3 别看别人不把当作一回事，在家里她可是她父亲的掌上明珠。
Although other people never take her seriously. She is the apple in her fath
er's eye
at home.
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【让人恶心】turn one's stomach/make one sick
听她讲话，看她和男人讲话的那股劲头儿真让我恶心。
Listening to her and seeing the way of her talking with men really turns my
stomach.
有人曾把“让人恶心”直译成make somebody vomit，听来使人感到很别扭。其实，英语
中有个类
似的说法：turn one's stomach。此语直译为“让人翻胃”，与汉语“让人恶心”的意
思相同。
Dialogue
Lisa: You seem upset. There must be something wrong.
Lena: I can't seem to get on with Joe. My marriage with him seems to be a mi
stake
and being in the same house with him turns my stomach.
Lisa: How come? You two used to get on like a house on fire, but...
Lena: But he turns out to be a liar.
Lisa: You mean he's unfaithful?
Lena: Worse than that! Well...better to talk about something else. I feel si
ck of
mentioning him.
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【惹麻烦了】be in a jam
小张这次可惹麻烦了。昨天他又让警察给逮住了。
Xiao Zhang's in a jam now. He was copped out again by the police yesterday.
单从“麻烦”两个字而言，英语的in hot soup, in hot water, in trouble 都带有这
个意思，但这
些与我们日常讲的“惹麻烦了”的概念还有些差别。我们所讲的“惹麻烦了”往往指“
通漏子”或“出事”，
接近英美人讲的in a jam 的意思。
Dialogue
Linda: It seems to me that you're on pins and needles these days. What's eat
ing
you?
Frank: I'm in a jam. Someone in the company charged me with padding my expen
se
account.
Linda: You shouldn't have done such a foolish thing.
Frank: I know. I only added two other receipts to the account.
Linda: But you can withdraw them and apologize to the boss.
Frank: The trouble is that the one who charged me is his...
Linda: His wife?
Frank: No. His secretary.
注：pad one's account 的意思是“虚报账目”。
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【关系很好】be on good terms with
据说老张和那个部长的关系特别好。
It's said that Lao Zhang is on very good terms with the minister.
“关系很好”的概念比较正式的表达法是have a good relationship with 或have goo
d ties
with 等等。但是在口语中，英美人更习惯用be on good terms with 的句式。如果表示
关系不好的
概念，可以用be not on good terms with 或者be on bad terms with 的片语。
Dialogue
Linda: It seems that Sandra is on very good terms with the boss.
Sandy: Yeah. They're just like a house of fire.
Linda: Does his wife know that?
Sandy: What if she knows it? She's just like a lamb in front of him.
Linda: I wouldn't stand that sort of marriage.
Sandy: Don't boast. We never know what will happen.
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【跟别人要钱】mooch off someone
我最讨厌跟别人要钱的人了。
I feel sick of those who mooch off others.
我们这里讲的“跟别人要钱”指专门为占便宜而向他人索取钱财的行为。这种人当然不
会还钱，但又不同
于诈骗或欺骗。这个说法应该用mooch off的片语来表示。此语中的mooch是动词，含有
“强行讨取”之意。比如：他又跟我要了50元钱。He again mooched 50 yuan off me.
Dialogue
Linda: Did Joe go to borrow money from you?
Sandra: Yeah. He came to me and wanted to mooch me off.
Linda: Did you give him any?
Sandra: of course not, I've been mooched off several times
Linda: I'm sorry you were taken in. He's a big liar!
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【钱挣海了】coin money
这几年老张的钱挣海了。谁也没料到他会发这么大的财。
Lao Zhang is coining money these few years. Who can ever expect he would be
able
to make bundles like this!
汉语“钱挣海了”的概念除了可以用make a killing, make bundles, make a bomb的短
语表示
之外，还可以用coin money，并且这种表示法更形象一些。
Dialogue
Kelly: I don't know why I'm always caught short
Sally: That's because money burns a hole in your pocket Waste not, want not.
You
know？
Kelly: But why are so many other people so fortunate? I know some guys who a
re
rolling in money and they splash their money without thinking twice．
Sally: Maybe they're on the gravy train．
Kelly: Yes. Take Thomas for example, he seems to be coining money and rollin
g init．
Sally: You'll never know. You may run into money one day and coin money, too
.
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【钱多得花不完】have money to burn
老李的钱多得花不完，要不他敢这么挥霍？
Lao Li has money to burn. Otherwise, how could he splash his money about lik
e
anything.
“钱多得花不完”是个夸张的说法，意思是有很多很多的钱。英语中也有个类似的夸张
说法：have money
to burn（有可以供焚烧的钱）。此语的实际意思是说钱多得到了烧了也不心疼的地步。
汉语中的“大肆
挥霍”可以用to splash about或to blew来表示。
Dialogue
Frank: I hear Joe is making a killing out of clothes selling.
Betty: That's true He's his clients eating of his hand．
Frank: There's always someone who rides the gravy train.
Betty: That's the way things are, but he deserves it for the way he work. He
's been
working very hard.
Frank: But Why don't we ask him to invest in out project? We are running sho
rt of
funds, aren't we?
Betty: Yes. But I don't think he's interested, though he has money to burn.
Frank: Why not?
Betty: He wouldn't do anything on the off-chance unless he's so sure of what
he's
doing.
注： do things on the off-chance的意思相当于汉语“干事靠运气”的说法。
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※ 来源:·紫金飞鸿 bbs.njupt.edu.cn·
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※ 转载:·紫金飞鸿 bbs.njupt.edu.cn·