英语俚语习语小对话第22期："昙花一现"英语怎么说？(mp3和文本下载)

习语：a nine day's wonder

讲解：wonder作为名词，意指“奇迹”或“奇观”。A nine day's wonder的字面意思是“一个只持续了九天的奇迹”，比喻“轰动一时即被遗忘的人或物”。

英语情景对话：

A: John seems to be in high cotton. He may well become a big shot.
John走红起来了，他有可能成为个大人物。

B: I bet my button dollar that he won't. He is no more than a nine day's wonder.
我敢打赌他成不了大人物，他只不过是昙花一现而已。

A :What is your idea?
那你怎么看？

B: Many people like him get a flying start but soon disappear.
很多向他这样的人只是有个开门红，然后便销声匿迹了。

英语学习笔记：

1.bet one's button dollar：（= be very sure）完全相信，打赌

You know, Senator Clark keeps telling the press that he won't run for president in 1996. But I'd bet my bottom dollar that two years from now he'll announce he's a candidate.
你知道，克拉克参议员不断地对新闻界说，他在1996年不会参加总统竞选。但是，我可以跟你打赌，两年以后，他会宣布他参加竞选的。

2.a big shot：大人物，重要人物

He acts like a big shot, but he is just a small potato.
他行事像个大人物,但实际上他却微不足道。

She is a big shot in merchant banking.
她是商业银行界的大亨。

3.no more than：仅仅，不过是

I had no more than 2 or 3 mistakes on my English assignment.
我的英文作业中只有两三处错误。

Fee cast her no more than a passing glance before leaving.
Fee 在离开时仅给了她匆匆一瞥。

4.a flying start：开门红，顺利的开始

He's got off to a flying start in his new job.
他兴致勃勃地开始他的新工作。

Our holiday got off to a flying start because the weather was good and the trains were on time.
我们度假一开始就大吉大利，天气很好，火车也都准点。