生活環(huán)境的不同,文化上的差異決定了我們語言上的差異。學(xué)英文時(shí)經(jīng)常按中文思路,直接翻譯每個(gè)單詞的意思。實(shí)際上,這是錯(cuò)誤的英文學(xué)習(xí)方式,今天來說幾個(gè)非常簡單,但你不一定都能答對(duì)的實(shí)用表達(dá),馬上來看!
A word
A word中“Word”是“詞、字”沒錯(cuò),但是連起來“A word”就不是“一個(gè)單詞”。
“A word”是“私下里溝通,悄悄話,也可指商談,談話”的意思。
舉個(gè)例子:
Can I have a word with you?
可以借一步說話嗎?
I don't think she's interested but I'll have a word with her.
我想她不會(huì)感興趣,但是我會(huì)和她聊聊的。
- Tom, can I have a word with you? It won't take long.
- Sure. I'll be with you in a minute.
-湯姆,我能和你說句話嗎?不會(huì)占用你太多時(shí)間。
-好的,我一會(huì)兒過來。
Have words
Have words難道是“有話說”?如果你這么理解,那就錯(cuò)了。
Have words是“拌嘴,爭論,吵架”的意思。
舉個(gè)例子:
Parents had words last night.
爸媽昨晚吵架了。
In a word
漢語中,我們經(jīng)常說一句話“總而言之、言而總之”是不是“To make a long story short”呢?
“總之、總而言之”是“In a word”或者“All in all”的意思。
舉個(gè)例子:
In a word, they can do everything they like with, money.
總之,他們用金錢能做到他們喜歡做的一切。
In a word, I am tired of everything.
總之,我對(duì)一切都很煩。
Eat one's word
Eat one's word并不是真的把文字吃下去,不是“食言”!
以前聽過一個(gè)小笑話:兒子的債主拿著欠條找上門時(shí),父母把欠條當(dāng)面包一樣吃了!
在這里“Eat one's word”,不是吃文字,是指“收回前言,承認(rèn)自己說錯(cuò)了話”!
舉個(gè)例子:
What he said proved wrong, so he had to eat his words.
事實(shí)證明他說錯(cuò)了,所以他只好收回前言。
I never thought Clare could handle this job, but I have to eat my words now.
我一直以為Clare無法勝任這份工作,看來我錯(cuò)了。
What's the good word?
What's the good word?并不是“有什么好話”!
What's the good word?等同于How are you,是一種更加地道的美式口語!
舉個(gè)例子:
Haven't seen you for a long time.
What's the good word?
好久不見,你近來好嗎?
From the word go
From the word go不是“從這個(gè)單詞走”,如果你這么理解,那真的會(huì)鬧笑話的!
“From the word go”是指“始終,從一開始;完全,徹底”的意思!
舉個(gè)例子:
Again, your readers will have to buy my book for the whole story, but there is no question that Dumbledore took an unnatural interest in Potter from the word go.
讀者也需要購買我的書才能知道全部故事,但是毫無疑問,鄧布利多從一開始就對(duì)波特有一種不正常的興趣。
Yes, it was love from the word go.
是的,我們從一開始就互相愛上了。
by word of mouth
嘴巴里的詞?好像沒有這種說法。
但是你要仔細(xì)想想,這也沒錯(cuò),因?yàn)閎y word of mouth就是通過口頭來傳播。也就是一個(gè)消息經(jīng)過一傳十,十傳百以后,許許多多人都知道了這件事。
舉個(gè)例子:
I think the best form of advertising is by word of mouth. People don't believe a lot of what they hear or see in paid-for advertisements, but when they hear a recommendation directly from a friend, they are far more likely to act on it.
我認(rèn)為最好的廣告方式是口口相傳。人們不太相信他們聽到的或看到的那種付錢做的廣告。當(dāng)他們直接從朋友那兒聽到推薦,他們就很可能會(huì)采納。
(來源:英語四六級(jí)備考)