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职场英语口语 第28期:批评

2010-09-22来源:和谐英语

与智慧有关的习语

  英语中与智慧有关的习语十分普遍,了解它们对于提高我们的英语水平很有帮助。下面就是一些常见的相关习语。

  1. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
  直译为“一盎司的预防胜过一英镑的治疗”。其意思就是从一开始就细心准备,考虑周全的话,就不会失败。这句话十分地道,形象。下面有一个例子:
  A: Don’t you think you should deal with this problem now?
  B: I will do something about it tomorrow.
  A: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

  2. Appearances are deceiving.
  这则典故出自伊索寓言中《老鼠与狮子》中的教训,告诫人们外表是欺骗人的东西。同样这句话也可以说成“Looks are deceiving.”下面是一个例子:
  A: How’s Alice doing? Are you going to fire her?
  B: Appearances are deceiving. She’s the best assistant I have.
  A: Really? I didn’t think she could do anything.

  3. Brevity is the soul of wit.
  这是莎翁名著《哈姆雷特》中的人物尼斯的著名台词,意思是“简洁是智慧的精髓。”这句话对人说话,写作等都有重要的启迪。
  A: I’m supposed to give a speech today. Do you have any advice?
  B: Just remember, brevity is the soul of wit.

  4. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
  按照字面意思来看,这句话是说一次被骗是骗者的羞耻;两次被骗是受骗者的羞耻。其实是在告戒人们要善于吸取教训,引以为戒,否则一再受到损失就是自己的问题。下面给大家一个例子:
  A: I did a stupid thing. I lent John some money.
  B: Again? This is the third time.
  A: I know. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

  5. Rules are made to be broken.
  这句话源自1953年Arthur C. Clarke的 Expedition to Earth中的话告诫人们要摆脱思想的束缚敢于创新和挑战。
  A: Let’s order a pizza for meeting.
  B: But there’s a rule against eating in the office.
  A: Rules are made to be broken.

  6. The best thing comes in small packages.
  这是用于送礼物的说法,意思是放在小箱子里的礼物总是珍贵的。有时也可以说“Precious diamonds come in small packages.”
  A: What did George give you?
  B: I don’t know, but this package is so tiny.
  A: The best thing comes in small packages.

  当然这只是有关智慧的习语的一部分,平时学习中我们可以多加积累,不仅对提高英语水平有帮助,而且可以帮助我们深入了解英语国家的文化。