餡餅(pie)和蛋糕(cake)是老外愛吃的東西。因為與他們的日常生活密切相關(guān),所以被用以喻人喻事也就不足為怪了。
1. take the cake: 名列第一;優(yōu)勝
Of all the hard-hearted women, she takes the cake.
女性中能像她那么鐵石心腸的,恐怕再也沒誰了。
2. eat humble pie: 忍氣吞聲;低頭認罪
I think I'm right, but if I'm wrong, I'll eat humble pie.
我覺得我是對的。不過如果能證明我錯,我甘愿認罪。
3. go/sell like hot cakes: 熱銷,暢銷
I'm sure this new line of coats will go like hot cakes.
我確信這種新款外套一定會暢銷。
4. a piece of cake/as easy as pie: 小菜一碟,小事一樁
Glad to help. It was a piece of cake.
很高興能幫上忙。這一點也不難。
5. eat one's cake and have it too: 得其利而無其害,兩者兼得(多用于否定句中)
Don't buy a car if you want to walk and stay healthy. You can't eat your cake and have it too.
如果你想要走路、想要保持健康,就別買車。魚和熊掌不可兼得。
6. pie in the sky: 渺茫的希望
Their plans to set up their own business are just pie in the sky.
他們創(chuàng)辦自己公司的計劃只不過是空想罷了。
7. cakes and ale: 歡樂,物質(zhì)享受,生活中的好東西(ale是一種酒)
Any reasonable person knows that life is not all cakes and ale.
任何理性的人都知道,生活不可能總是充滿鮮花和美酒。
8. a piece (or slice) of the pie: 一份好處,一杯羹
When the ?business ?started making ?money, everyone in his ?family ?wanted a piece of the ?pie.
他的生意開始賺錢后,家里每個人都想分一杯羹。