美国习惯用语 783 like a bull in a china shop
2013-08-07来源:和谐英语
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我弟弟13岁左右的时候,有一段时间突然长身体,协调能力特别差,经常会撞到东西上,或是把东西打翻。我妈当时就常说他like a bull in a china shop. 不过他现在好多了,不像下面这个人。
例句-1:I admit it. I'm clumsy. It seems like a day doesn't go by when I knock into, drop or break something. Really, I try to be careful, but I can't help it. I guess I'm like a bull in a china shop, aren't I?
他说:我承认自己确实是笨手笨脚的,好像没有一天不撞上或是打翻什么东西的。我已经很注意了,但就是没办法避免,你说我是不是like a bull in a china shop?
在英语里,我们还把这种人叫做Klutz, 刚才那个笨手笨脚的人,就是典型的klutz.
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除了说一个人笨手笨脚外,like a bull in a china shop还可以用来指一个人的举止、言谈过于直率,根本不注意是否会冒犯别人。让我们听听下面这个老板是如何形容他的销售代理Jenie的。
例句-2:We're about to enter into some delicate negotiations; we can't afford any missteps. That's why I don't want Jenie to run the next meeting. I know her; she's like a bull in a china shop. She'll storm in there and upset the client.
他说:我们马上就要进入微妙的谈判阶段了,不能出任何差错。这就是为什么我不希望让 Jenie 主持下次的会议。我很了解她鲁莽的个性,她会冲进会议室来,把客户惹翻的。
听上去Jenie好像并不是一个善于交际和应酬的人,做销售代理,恐怕不太合适。