to hold water
water off a duck's back
it makes my mouth water
這一課里我們?cè)僖v兩個(gè)和水,也就是和 water 這個(gè)字有關(guān)的詞匯。第一個(gè)是 to hold water。
To hold water 按字面解釋當(dāng)然可以說是"不讓水漏出來"。但是,它的另外一個(gè)意思是指某一個(gè)人找的借口、提出的理由、或說的話是確實(shí)的,站得住腳的。美國(guó)人經(jīng)常說:"That excuse simply doesn't hold water."意思是:那個(gè)借口根本站不住腳。我們來舉個(gè)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."
這句話的意思是:"這個(gè)被控告的人說,發(fā)生謀殺案的那天晚上他出門去了,不在當(dāng)?shù)?。但是,有三個(gè)不同的證人都出庭作證說,他們看見他從作案的地點(diǎn)逃跑。因此,他說出事那天他不在當(dāng)?shù)氐恼f法根本是靠不住的。"
今天要講的另外一個(gè)和water這個(gè)字有關(guān)的習(xí)慣用語是 water off a duck's back。
鴨子身上的毛就像雨衣一樣,水在上面呆不住,一下全滑掉了。因此,water off a duck's back 是指毫無作用。就像下面這句句子所說的:
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."
這是說:"我一直告訴我的朋友,不要那么傻,把所有的工資都用在賭博上??墒牵业脑拰?duì)他全然不起作用。"
另外一個(gè)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."
這是說:"醫(yī)生都告訴我們抽煙對(duì)身體是有害的??墒?,這種勸告對(duì)于有些人來說就像耳邊風(fēng)一樣,毫無作用。"
水對(duì)人的身體來說是非常重要的??墒?在英語里,這些和water有關(guān)的成語都含貶意好像有點(diǎn)奇怪。不過,至少有一個(gè)和water有關(guān)的習(xí)慣用語是讓人高興的。那就是:to make my mouth water 顧名思義,這個(gè)說法的意思是"讓我流口水"。
例句-4:"The roast duck that restaurant serves is my favorite dish. Every time I think about it, it makes my mouth water."
這個(gè)人說:"我最喜歡吃那個(gè)飯館的烤鴨。每當(dāng)我想起它我就會(huì)流口水。"
今天我們講了to hold water,water off a duck's back和 it makes my mouth water這幾個(gè)同water有關(guān)的習(xí)慣用語。
好,「美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語」第五講就到里。歡迎下次再一起來學(xué)習(xí)美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語。再見。