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英语中的十个“陈词滥调”

2009-01-20来源:和谐英语
  英语中有一种短语叫做“cliche”,和这个词的本义“陈词滥调”差不多,这种短语是被过度使用的普通短语。通常,这种短语是应该被避免的,但实际上是避免不了的,所以他们才叫做cliche。因为这种短语被使用的很广泛,比如写信、电影、文章中都会用到,对于英语学习者来说,这种短语是你应该明白它的含义但是尽量少用的。
  首先我们来说说cliche和idiom的区别。
  idiom指英语中的成语或者惯用语,idiom的含义通常和组成idiom的词的本义不同,通常会有比喻在里面。比如:to get under someone's skin,这个idiom的意思是to bother someone惹人烦,如: She's getting under my skin these days!
  cliche是那种滥用的短语,意思可以是词的本义的,也可以是比喻的,比如the good old days,这个短语的意思就是“从前的好时候”, 如I remember my years at college. Yes, those were the good old days.
  下面是十个流行的cliche,大家可以了解一下这些cliche的含义。
  1.The writing on the wall = something that is about to happen, something that is obvious
  The writing on the wall意思是即将发生的、很明显的事情,明摆着的。
  Example: Can't you see the writing on the wall! You need to get out of that business.
  明摆着的事情你都看不出来!你需要从那桩生意中脱身。  
  2.To pull an all-nighter = to study or work all night
  To pull an all-nighter意思是熬通宵
  Example: We had to pull an all-nighter to get the work finished on time.
  为了按时完成工作,我们要熬通宵了。
  3.Pearls of wisdom = wise words or advice
  Pearls of wisdom意思是智慧的话或者建议。
  Example:I'm not really interested in his pearls of wisdom. He lived in a different period.
  我对他的人生箴言不感兴趣,他生活在不同的时代。
  4.Too much of a good thing = generally used when saying that's impossible to be too happy, or lucky
  Too much of a good thing通常用来说不可能开心过头或者太走运。
  Example: Enjoy it! You can't have too much of a good thing.
  见好就收吧,你不可能太走运了。
  5.Fit as a fiddle = to be ready and able
  Fit as a fiddle意思是准备好了,有能力了
  Example: I'm fit as a fiddle. Let's do this thing!
  我准备好了。咱们开始干吧。
  6.Curiosity killed the cat = Don't be too inquisitive, it can be dangerous!
  Curiosity killed the cat意思是不要太寻根问底了,这可能有危险。  
  Example: Remember curiosity killed the cat. You should just forget about it.
  记住,好奇害死猫,你应该忘了它。
  7.Don't do as I do, do as I say. = Used when someone points out that you are being hypocritical (doing one thing while insisting that others that thing differently)
  Don't do as I do, do as I say通常是有人指出你现在很虚伪的时候说的。
  Example: Stop talking back! Don't do as I do, do as I say!
  不准在背后议论,照我说的做!
  8.Let sleeping dogs lie = don't look into (investigate) something that was troublesome in the past, but in which people are not currently interested
  Let sleeping dogs lie 意思是大家现在不感兴趣的麻烦事就不要翻出来调查了。
  Example: I'd let sleeping dogs lie and not re-open the investigation into the crime.
  我会让睡着的狗就这么躺下去的,我不会把这个案子重新调查立案的。
  9.A cat has nine lives = someone might be having problems now, but they are many chances to do well or succeed
  A cat has nine lives意思是一些人可能现在有麻烦,但是他们仍然有很多机会东山再起获得成功。
  Example: His career reminds that a cat has nine lives!
  他的事业证明了猫有九条命。
  10.Moment of truth = the moment in which something important will be shown or decided
  Moment of truth意思是将要公布重要的事情或者做重要的决策的时候
  Example: It's the moment of truth. Either we'll get the contract or we won't.
  决定的一刻到了,要么我们拿到合同,要么拿不到。