学典故记单词：和猫有关的俚语
[align=left]Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are many expressions about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries. If someone looks very proud or satisfied with himself, we say he [b]looks like the cat that ate the canary. [/b]
Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches.
So if you[b] play cat and mouse with someone[/b],you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example, a child might offer something sweet to her little brother and then take it away when he reaches for it.
A cat will often catch a small animal and present it to its owner. The saying [b]that looks like something the cat dragged in [/b]describes something in bad condition.
Two old and funny expressions describe something that is the best or finest. Americans might say that something is [b]the cat's meow[/b] and [b]the cat's pajamas. [/b]
Children might call a child who is easily frightened a [b]fraidy cat[/b] or a [b]scaredy cat[/b]. A [b]copycat [/b]is someone who acts just like someone else or copies another person's work. A[b] fat cat [/b]is a person with a lot of money.
You may have known that cats spend most of their time sleeping. Sometimes people sleep for a short time during the day. This is called a [b]cat nap.[/b]
If you tell about something that was supposed to be a secret, we say you [b]let the cat out of the bag[/b]. If you are not able to speak or answer a question someone might ask if [b]the cat has got your tongue.[/b]
Have you ever watched children in a classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? [b]When the cat's away, the mice will play [/b]means people sometimes misbehave when there is no supervision.
You may have heard this expression: [b]curiosity killed the cat[/b].This means being too concerned about things that are not your business might cause problems.
If your home is very small, you might say [b]there is not enough room to swing a cat. [/b]But you probably should not try this at home!
If you ever had cats as pets, you know it is difficult to train them or to get them to do something. Cats are not like sheep or cows that can be moved in a group. So we say a difficult or impossible job is [b]like herding cats. [/b]
We leave you with a song from the musical play, "Cats."
(MUSIC)
This VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES was written by Shelley Gollust. I'm Faith Lapidus.
[/align] 现在是VOA特别英语，词语典故时间。
在美国，猫是最受欢迎的宠物。所以，有许多关于猫的短语就不足为奇了。有些猫喜欢抓小鸟，比如金丝雀。如果有人看上去非常自豪，或者说对自己非常满意，我们可以说，他非常得意洋洋，像抓住金丝雀的猫一样(looks like the cat that ate the canary)。
有时，猫喜欢跟它抓住的小动物玩耍。
所以，如果你对某人欲擒故纵(play cat and mouse with someone) ，也就是说你在和某人打交道时行为反复。例如，一个小朋友可能给他的小兄弟一些糖果，但是小兄弟刚刚伸手够到的时候他就拿开了。
猫通常抓到小动物之后会拿给主人看。looks like something the cat dragged in这个短语描述的就是一些状态不好的东西。
两个古老而且有趣的短语描述了一些最好的东西。美国人可能会说某件东西不同凡响，非常时尚(cat's meow和the cat's pajamas)。
孩子们可能会把一个很容易受到惊讶的孩子叫做fraidy cat或者scaredy cat。copycat指的是盲目的模仿他人的举动或工作的人。fat cat是指很有钱的人。
你可能知道，猫的大部分时间都在睡觉。有时，人们白天会小睡一会儿，这叫做cat nap。
如果你说出了原本应该保密的事情，我们说你let the cat out of the bag(泄漏秘密)。如果你不能说话或者不能回答某个问题，人们会问你哑巴了？为什么不吭声？(if the cat has got your tongue?)
你有没有见过老师离开教室几分钟的时候孩子们的状况呢？When the cat's away, the mice will play 意思是，当没有监管的时候，人们会做不恰当的事情，也就是通常所说的猫儿不在，老鼠成精。
你也可能听说过这个短语：curiosity killed the cat(好奇害死猫)。这个短语的意思是说，过于关心与自己无关的事情会造成麻烦。
如果你的家非常小，你可能会说，there is not enough room to swing a cat(连摇摆猫的空间都不够，窄的难以转身)。当然你可不能在家里尝试着摇摆猫哦！
如果你曾经养猫作为宠物，你知道要训练它们或者让它们做某件事非常困难。猫不像羊或者牛一样群体行动。所以，我们通常会称一件困难或者不可能完成的工作为like herding cats。
最后，让我们以音乐剧《猫》中的一首歌曲结束今天的节目。
与猫相关的英语谚语和短语
A cat has nine lives.
猫有九条命。(英国迷信, 指猫的生命力强)
A cat in gloves catches no mice. (=Muffled cats catch no mice.)
[谚]带手套的猫捉不到耗子; 四肢不勤, 一事无成; 怕沾污手指的人做不出什么事。
A cat may look at a king.
[谚]猫也可以看国王(指小人物也应有些权利)
agree like cats and dogs
[口]像猫和狗一样合不来, 完全合不来
All cats are grey in the dark. (=At night all cats are grey; when candles are out, all cats are grey.)
[谚]猫在暗中都是灰色; 黑暗中难分丑妍
as weak as a cat (=as weak as water)
身体非常虚弱
copy cat
盲目的模仿者
enough to make a cat [horse] laugh
极其可笑; 让人笑掉大牙
enough to make a cat speak
[口]令人惊讶; 事情太出奇
fat cat
美国政治运动的出资人, 捐献大宗政治款项的富人; 安于现状的懒汉; 以权谋私的人, 享受特权的人
Has the cat got your tongue?
[口]猫把你的舌头叼去了吗?为什么不吭声?
It rains cats and dogs.
下倾盆大雨, 大雨滂沱
let the cat out of the bag
说走了嘴, (无意中)泄露秘密
like a cat on hot bricks
局促不安, 如热锅上的蚂蚁
live like cat and dog
[口]整天吵架
old cat
脾气坏的老太婆
see [watch] how [which way] the cat jumps (=wait for the cat to jump)
观望形势然后行动; 看风使舵, 随机应变
That's like putting the cat near the goldfish bowl.
引狼入室; 等于把猫放在金鱼缸旁。
The cat did it.
[口谑]是猫打破的; 不是我搞的。(推托责任的话)
The cat is out of the bag.
[口]秘密泄露; 真相大白。
The cat jumps.
[口]形势清楚了。
The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream.
[谚]掩耳盗铃; 猫偷吃奶油的时候, 总是闭着眼睛。
The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet.
猫儿想吃鱼, 又怕湿了脚(想吃鱼又怕腥; 想得到某种东西又怕麻烦或担风险)。
The scalded cat fears cold water.
[谚] 被烫过的猫, 连冷水也怕(一朝被蛇咬, 三年怕井绳)
Watch sb. as a cat watches a mouse.
象猫盯耗子般地盯着某人。
When the cat's away, the mice will play.
[谚]猫儿不在,老鼠成精(大王外出, 小鬼跳粱)。
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