VOA慢速英语:Expressions From the World of Bugs

There are many American expressions about insects -- like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They always appear to be busy, moving around in their homes, or hives. So you might say you were as busy as a bee if you spent your weekend cleaning your house.
在美国有很多关于昆虫的表述，比方说蜜蜂。大家知道蜜蜂是一种非常勤劳的动物。他们总是非常繁忙，在蜂巢中忙来忙去。当周末在家大扫除时，你可能会说自己忙得团团转（as busy as a bee）。

In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for something if you went there right away. When we go to see a movie, my friend always makes a beeline for the place where they sell popcorn.
事实上，如果全家人都在帮你打扫就可以说你家跟蜂窝一样气氛活跃。当你迅速出现在某地时，你也可以说你是直奔某物而去（make a beeline for something）。当我们去看电影时，我朋友总是直奔卖爆米花的地方。

Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee's knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees!
还有一种关于蜜蜂的表述现在已不多用，但是我们仍然很喜欢这么说。我们认为这种表述最初出现在20世纪20年代。如果某种事物是同类中最出类拔萃的，你就可以用蜜蜂的膝盖来比喻。我们承认现在已经无法追究这种表述如何形成。实际上，我们甚至都不知道蜜蜂是否有膝盖。

If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say she has a bee in her bonnet. If someone asks you a personal question, you might say "that is none of your beeswax." This means none of your business.
如果你朋友一直不停地说些她认为重要的事情，你可以说她一心一意做一件事a bee in her bonnet）。当别人问你私人问题时，你可以说“不关你的事（none of your beeswax）”，意思就是这与你无关。

Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression people sometimes use when their children ask, "where do babies come from?" Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say this is talking about the birds and the bees.
人们常常用含有昆虫的词汇来回答孩子们诸如“婴儿从哪里来”这样的私人问题。当父母谈及性与生殖时，他们常说我们在谈鸟和蜜蜂（两性的基本常识）。

Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. If you are really angry, you might say you are mad as a hornet. And if you stir up a hornet's nest, you create trouble or problems.
大黄蜂是一种类似蜜蜂的昆虫，它们有时候会攻击人类。当你真的很生气的时候，你可以说你像大黄蜂一样生气，也就是你非常生气。如果你说你捅了马蜂窝，那就说明你惹麻烦了。

Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also not want to have ants in your pants. That is, to be restless and unable to sit still.
虽然蝴蝶是一种美丽的昆虫，但你肯定不希望蝴蝶出现在你的胃里。这表示你对做某件事感到紧张，比如说在众人面前演讲。你也不会希望你的裤子里有蚂蚁，这表示你感到坐立不安。

Here are some expressions about plain old bugs, another word for insects. If a friend keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, you might ask him to leave you alone or "stop bugging me." A friend also might tell you again and again to do something. If so, you might say he put a bug in your ear.
这里还有些表达方式与老臭虫有关，老臭虫也就是昆虫的另一种说法。如果你的朋友一直要求你做一些你不想做的事，你可以说你想自己一个人呆会儿，或者是说“你不要像臭虫一样烦我了”。或许，你的朋友会一遍一遍地告诉你去做什么事。如果那样，你可以说他放了一只臭虫在你耳朵里，也就是他“让你心烦”。

If you were reading a book in your warm bed on a cold winter's day, you might say you were snug as a bug in a rug. And if you wish someone good night, you might say, "sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite."
假如在冬日的某一天，你躺在暖暖的被窝里看书，你可以说自己像臭虫躺在毯子里一样舒服。如果你向某人说晚安，你可以对他说说“美美地睡一觉，别让虫子吵你睡觉”。

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