這個習(xí)慣用語聽來又長又復(fù)雜,其實意義簡單易懂。six當(dāng)然是六,half a dozen是半打,也是六,所以six of one and half a dozen of the other就是一個是六,另一個也是六嗎?
換句話說,相當(dāng)于中國俗語“半斤八兩”。我們通過例子來進(jìn)一步領(lǐng)會它的確切含義吧。這是個數(shù)學(xué)老師在啟發(fā)學(xué)生Tommy解一道數(shù)學(xué)題。
例句:Tommy, it doesn't really matter which way you solve the problem. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. The important thing is for you to understand the principle here.
他說:Tommy, 你用什么方法解題其實并不重要。這種或那種方法都沒區(qū)別,而重要的是你得理解其中的原理。
顯然這里的six of one and half a dozen of the other用來描述兩者之間相同、沒有區(qū)別。