漢語中有許多習(xí)語都和身體部位有關(guān),英語也不例外,下面一些例子供大家參考。
1. An eye for eye, a tooth for tooth.以眼還眼,以牙還牙。例如:
A: Are you going to tell John’s supervisor what he did?
B: Sure. He told my supervisor when I did the same thing.
A: An eye for eye, a tooth for tooth.
此句源自《漢莫拉比法典》,指用對方做事的同樣方法來報復(fù)。這與漢語中的說法十分相似,很好理解。
2. get cold feet 膽怯;例如:
A: What happened to Jim? I thought he would go skydiving with us.
B: He got cold feet.
有人會因為腳浸入海水覺得冷而放棄游泳,“get cold feet”由“腳變涼“而轉(zhuǎn)到“膽怯”之意,十分形象。
3. I need that like I need a hole in my head.完全不需要。例如:
A: I’m having a hard time deciding what car to get.
B: Look at this one. Why not buy it?
A: I need that like I need a hole in my head.
在頭上除了眼,鼻,口之外,不需要別的“洞”了,因此就轉(zhuǎn)為“完全不需要”的意思。此句生動有趣,在口語中運(yùn)用一下很不錯哦!
4. It’s as plain as the nose on your face.很明白,很清楚。例如:
A: Do you think Nancy is going to quit? She hasn’t said anything.
B: It’s as plain as the nose on your face.
直譯為“就像看你臉上的鼻子一樣,我看得很清楚。”
5. Let’s not split hairs.不要拘泥于細(xì)節(jié)。例如:
A: Well, I don’t agree. I should get $5.02 and you should get $4.48.
B: Let’s not split hairs, OK?
這句話直譯是“不要把頭發(fā)劈開。”本來就很細(xì)的頭發(fā)還要再分開是沒有必要的,實際是指不要過分拘泥于細(xì)小的事情,斤斤計較。
6. The blind leading the blind.盲人指路。例如:
A: Kate asked Henry to help her start a business.
B: The blind leading the blind.
A: Yeah, Henry doesn’t know anything about business.
其實這句話是“If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”的省略形式,源自《圣經(jīng)》。常常指沒有實力的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者進(jìn)行領(lǐng)導(dǎo)是不會有什么好結(jié)果的。