容易被誤解的英語俚語：千萬別“望文生義”

前兩天看到一篇文章里出現(xiàn)了for a song，但是上看下看都覺得這主題跟音樂沒有一毛錢關系。“為了一首歌”?完全對不上意思，查詢之后才發(fā)現(xiàn)for a song表示“廉價的”。

這大概就是語言學習的樂趣之一，熟悉的詞在一起組成全新的意思，了解它們不僅有助于日常交際，還更顯地道。

1

CHANGE YOUR TUNE / SING A DIFFERENT TUNE

改變了看法或主意。

You've definitely changed your tune since the last time I saw you! You used to hate this town!

自從上次見面以后，你的態(tài)度就變了!原來你很討厭這個城市的!

2

FACE THE MUSIC

不得不接受負面后果

I'm not ready to face the music. I need to figure it out for myself before I speak to them.

我還沒準備好面對這一切。和他們說話之前，我自己要弄清楚。

3

PLAY BY EAR

隨機應變，在沒有指南或規(guī)定的情況下，即興處理某事。

I don't know what I'm going to say when she gets here, I'll just play it by ear.

待她來時，我不知道自己要說些什么，隨機應變吧。

4

SEE YOU ON THE BIG DRUM

用來對孩子說晚安。

Okay, get some sleep now. See you on the big drum.

好啦，該休息啦。晚安。

5

AS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

指某物非常干凈。

He may come across as someone who could’ve been involved in that robbery, but I have checked his records and they’re as clean as a whistle.

他讓人覺得極像上次參與劫案的劫匪，可我查了他的檔案，并沒有什么不良記錄。

6

CALL THE TUNE

發(fā)號施令，用于描述做重大決定之人。

I'm afraid I can't help you sir. Barbara calls the tune around here, so you'd have to speak to her.

恐怕我?guī)筒簧鲜裁疵?，先生。這里芭芭拉說了算，你可以跟她談談。

7

WHISTLE FOR IT

癡心妄想：如果有人對你說這句話，那么這意味著他們認為你一定得不到自己想要的東西。

You can whistle for it as much as you like, this is an heirloom of our family and will stay with us!

隨便你怎么想，這是我們的傳家寶，你休想得到!

8

CLEAR AS A BELL

形容某事十分清楚、便于理解。

His instructions were as clear as a bell, everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do.

他的指示十分清楚，每個人都知道自己應該做什么。