中英之鑒 中式英語之鑒368

[誤] Being shot in the left leg, the brave soldier knew that he had to bite his teeth silently before getting rescued.

[正] Being shot in the left leg, the brave soldier knew that he had to bite the bullet silently before getting rescued.

注：我們用“咬緊牙關(guān)”來表達(dá)忍受痛苦，而英語中卻用“咬住子彈”(bite the bullet)。據(jù)說它源于以前戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)上條件艱苦，連麻約都沒有，接受手術(shù)的士兵只有靠咬住子彈來使自己不至于疼得叫出聲來。這一說法雖然慘烈了一點(diǎn)，但卻具有極強(qiáng)的感染力。