英语口语练习小对话 第892期:多此一举,徒劳无益

carry coals to Newcastle

1. 解词释义

carry coals to Newcastle字面上看是“运煤倒纽卡斯尔”，实际它指的是“徒劳无益；多此一举”。

纽卡斯尔(Newcastle)是英国的一个港市，位于英格兰北部泰因（Tyne）河口附近，素以产煤著称，早在1932年就获得了英国国王亨利三世授予的挖煤特许权，是世界上最早的煤炭输出港。因此，向纽卡斯尔运煤，无异于白费力气。由此产生的习语carry coals to Newcastle就用来比喻do something which is completely unnecessary (做完全不必要做的事)。

2. 拓展范例
e.g. Tom is so infirm of purpose that you carry coals to Newcastle, asking him for advice.

汤姆这人优柔寡断，向他征求意见是徒劳无益的。

e.g. American managers tried to persuade their British employees to drop their tea-break habit but in the end they found that they had carried coals to Newcastle.

美国的经理们试图说服他们的英国雇员改掉吃茶点的习惯，但通常是徒劳无益。

e.g. You’re really carrying coals to Newcastle. She has many a diamond rings.

你真是多此一举。她有的是钻石戒指。

e.g. You tried to pull the wool over my eyes, which was that you carried coals to Newcastle. I knew exactly what was going on.

要想瞒我是多此一举的，我对所发生的事一清二楚。