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标题: 美国习惯用语讲解:说话“滴水不漏” [打印本页]

作者: chinin    时间: 2009-12-5 15:25     标题: 美国习惯用语讲解:说话“滴水不漏”

to hold water
water off a duck's back
it makes my mouth water
  
这一课里我们再要讲两个和水,也就是和 water 这个字有关的词汇。第一个是 to hold water。
To hold water 按字面解释当然可以说是"不让水漏出来"。但是,它的另外一个意思是指某一个人找的借口、提出的理由、或说的话是确实的,站得住脚的。美国人经常说:"That excuse simply doesn't hold water."意思是:那个借口根本站不住脚。我们来举个例子:
例句-1:"The accused man claimed that he'd been in another city the night of the murder. But his story didn't hold water after three different witnesses testified in court that they had seen him running from the scene of the crime."
这句话的意思是:"这个被控告的人说,发生谋杀案的那天晚上他出门去了,不在当地。但是,有三个不同的证人都出庭作证说,他们看见他从作案的地点逃跑。因此,他说出事那天他不在当地的说法根本是靠不住的。"
  
今天要讲的另外一个和water这个字有关的习惯用语是 water off a duck's back。
鸭子身上的毛就像雨衣一样,水在上面呆不住,一下全滑掉了。因此,water off a duck's back 是指毫无作用。就像下面这句句子所说的:
例句-2:"I keep telling my friend it's foolish to gamble all of his money, but it's like water off of a duck's back."
这是说:"我一直告诉我的朋友,不要那么傻,把所有的工资都用在赌博上。可是,我的话对他全然不起作用。"
  
另外一个例子是:
例句-3:"The doctors tell us it`s dangerous to smoke, but such good advice rolls off of some people like water off of a duck's back."
这是说:"医生都告诉我们抽烟对身体是有害的。可是,这种劝告对于有些人来说就像耳边风一样,毫无作用。"
水对人的身体来说是非常重要的。可是,在英语里,这些和water有关的成语都含贬意好像有点奇怪。不过,至少有一个和water有关的习惯用语是让人高兴的。那就是:to make my mouth water 顾名思义,这个说法的意思是"让我流口水"。
例句-4:"The roast duck that restaurant serves is my favorite dish. Every time I think about it, it makes my mouth water."
这个人说:"我最喜欢吃那个饭馆的烤鸭。每当我想起它我就会流口水。"
  
今天我们讲了to hold water,water off a duck's back和 it makes my mouth water这几个同water有关的习惯用语。




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