雙詞短語是用連詞and把兩個單詞連接起來組成的短語,這種短語常常是習語,語序比較固定,比如我們常說的it rains cats and dogs, 是下傾盆大雨的意思。還有trial and error是反復試驗的意思。Odds and ends 則是指零星雜物。
比如:
let’s get the main thing packed; we can do the odds and ends latters. 雙詞短語的語序不能顛倒說。
再有,give and take, 表示互諒互讓,比如:Every relationship needs a bit of give and take to be successful.
有些雙詞短語有一個很有意思的規(guī)律,是從發(fā)音上可以判斷出來。
比如:
Tears are part and parcel of growing up. Part and parcel是part of 的意思,也可以翻譯成“屬于”。
The boss was ranting and raving at us. Rant是咆哮的意思,rave是瘋狂。和在一起表示very angry非常生氣。
The old cottage has gone to rack and ruin. Go to rack and ruin基本已經形成了固定的詞組,表示decayed,走向毀滅,走向滅亡。
有些介詞組合起來同樣構成雙詞短語。
比如:
There are cafes here and there. Here and there表示scattered round到處的意思。
I’ve been running back and forth all day. Back and forth表示“來來回回”。同樣的,to and fro同樣可以表示來來回回的意思。
He is unemployed and down and out. Down and out 表示“窮困潦倒”。
She ran up and down the street. Up and down 表示“上上下下”。