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2010年商务英语之流行美语 5

2010-09-01来源:和谐英语
导读:BEC流行美语:burn one's boat/bridges、burn one's bridges、burn the candle at both ends、bury one's head in the sand、button up one's lips。   1.burn one's boat/bridges 自绝退路,破釜沉舟
  据说恺撒在公元前49年率兵越过卢比孔河与政敌庞培决战时,烧毁船只,使士兵不能后退,只能战胜或战死,该习语就由此而来。从字面上看,它的意思是"把身后的桥、船全都烧了",由此引申为"自断一切退路"或"义无反顾",相当于汉语中的"破釜沉舟".
  A: Have you found a new job? 你找到新工作了吗?
  B: It is settling into shape. 有一点眉目了。
  A: Why don't you tell your boss the truth? He knows nothing about it. 你为什么不把真相告诉你的老板呢? 他对此事还一无所知。
  B: I don't want to burn my bridges at this time. I'll tell when all is set. 我不想自绝后路,一切妥当了之后我再告诉他。
  2.burn one's bridges 自断一切退路,义无反顾
  习惯用语burn one's bridges或burn one's bridges behind one直接翻译成汉语就是"把自己身后的桥全给烧了",此语比喻"自断一切退路"或"义无反顾".
  A: Have you made up your mind to quit your present job? 你决定辞去你现在的工作了吗?
  B: Yeah. I'm determined to become a boss of my own. 是的。我决心要自己做老板。
  A: Why? Nobody would sacrifice such a good job nowadays. 为什么?现在没有人愿意放弃这么好的工作机会。
  B: Even if I burn my bridges behind me, I will not change my mind. I wouldn't be led by the nose by someone else. 即使我切断了一切退路,我也不会改变主意。我不想让别人牵着我的鼻子走。
  3.burn the candle at both ends 胡乱消耗精力;劳累过度
  该习语直译为"蜡烛同时点两头",用来比喻人"胡乱消耗精力、劳累过度".
  A: You're burning the candle at both ends again. You'd better get a person to help you. 你又劳累过度了。你最好找个人帮帮你。
  B: That's what I want. But you know, it's difficult to find a reliable person in a short time. 我也是这么想的。但是你知道,现在想在短期内找一个可靠的人有多难。
  4.bury one's head in the sand 不敢正视现实,驼鸟政策
  据说,驼鸟遇到危险时就会把头钻到沙子里去,认为这样就能避开危险。bury one's head in the sand常用来指"不正视现实"或"逃避现实"的"驼鸟政策".
  A: Try to hurry a little bit more, will you? 再快一点好吗?
  B: I'm too exhausted to walk any faster. 我太累了,走不快。
  A: Cheer up. It's no use burying your head in the sand. 振作起来,在困难面前采取驼鸟政策是没用的。
  5.button up one's lips 闭口不言,守口如瓶
  button作名词是"扣子",此处用作动词意为"扣紧上".Button up表示"扣紧",比如:button up one's coat.(把外衣纽扣扣紧。)button up one's lip常用于美国俚语中,表示"住嘴,闭口".
  A: Did they find a way at last? 他们最后找到办法了吗?
  B: Yes, they worked out a plan. 是的,他们制定出一项计划。
  A: I'm most curious about what the plan is. 我很想知道是什么计划。
  B: But they buttoned up their lips about it. 可他们对此守口如瓶