對美國人來說, 這些慣用語也許是有切片麵包以來最棒的表達方式
To American-English speakers, these phrases might be the best thing since sliced bread
有句俗話說, 要從胃才能通到人心。也許正是這個原因, 美國人的語言中有許多同食品相聯的表達法。 例如, 一個不夠成熟的設想被形容為「half-baked」(未完全烤熟的/半生不熟的); 而一個特別好的主意被稱為「the best thing since sliced bread」(有切片麵包以來的最棒的主意)。
以下是美國人常用的另外五個跟食物相聯的習慣用語:
Pie in the sky (天上的派)
含義: 不現實的或者無法實現的事。
對話舉例: The salesman promised Amy that the wrinkle cream would make her skin as soft as a baby’s, but she knew not to believe him. It was pie in the sky. (推銷員向艾米保證,去皺霜會讓她的皮膚變得嬰兒般細嫩, 但她不會信他的話。那是不可能兌現的。)
Cry over spilled milk (為打翻的牛奶哭泣)
含義: 為過去無法改變的事而憂傷。
對話舉例: There’s no use worrying about a test you didn’t pass. You can’t make it up, so stop crying over spilled milk. (為沒通過的考試而心煩意亂毫無意義。你不可能改變結果,所以不要再無益地後悔了。
Piece of cake (一塊蛋糕)
含義: 輕鬆容易的事情。
對話舉例: When Roger studied Spanish, it was a piece of cake. But he found that learning Japanese was very hard. (羅傑學西班牙文的時候,輕而易舉。但他發現學日語很難。)
Bring home the bacon (帶培根回家) 含義: 掙錢養家/養家糊口。
對話舉例: Leo became ill and couldn’t work anymore, so his wife went back to work. Now she’s the one who brings home the bacon. (利奧生病了,無法繼續工作,所以她太太重新出門做事。現在是她在掙錢養家。)
Have egg on one’s face (臉上掛雞蛋)
含義: 丟臉, 出醜。
對話舉例: Andy sure had egg on his face when he realized he had made a fool of himself at the party. (安迪意識到他在聚會上現醜了,感到很沒面子。)
「連線美國」(Share America) 提供學習美國英語資料,包括美國英語日常對話,以及多種習慣用語。
English: https://share.america.gov/talk-like-american-with-language…/
