习语背后的故事

 

［本站整理 2007-04-22]

　
　1、Push the envelope (超越潜力，革新)
　Meaning: To approach or exceed known performance boundaries.
　[Origin] 此表达来自于20世纪40年代的一项美国空军飞行员测试项目。 它指飞行员的驾驶达到或超过了预先设想的极限。
　e.g. He is pushing the envelope, and he keeps on working three days without rest.
　
　2、A wing and a prayer (有一定希望，但成功率不高)
　Meaning:Hopeful but unlikely to succeed.
　[Origin] 此表达出自于第一次世界大战时期。一个美国飞行员驾驶一架机翼严重受损的飞机安全着陆。他说：“我自始至终都在祈祷”。
　e.g.With scarcely any funding and a staff of six, they operate on a wing and a prayer.
　
　3、Pass the buck (推卸责任)
　Meaning:Pass off responsibility to someone else.
　[Origin] 在纸牌游戏中有一种被称为“buck”的记分器，用来记录当前玩家中的发牌者。当“buck”传递给下一位玩家的时候，此发牌者的职责就结束了。
　e.g.Parents often try to pass the buck to teachers when children misbehave in school.
　
　4、The buck stops (here) (承担责任)
　Meaning:To take responsibility for something.
　[Origin] 与“推卸责任”的意思相反。
　e.g.The police authorized the raid and they must accept that the buck stops with them.
　
　5、Ducks in a row (把事情安排得井井有条)
　Meaning:To have things in order.
　[Origin] 此表达来源于鸭子的一种习性。池塘里的小鸭子们总是游成一条直线，跟在妈妈身后。
　e.g.The government talks about tax changes but they won't fix a date or an amount — they just can't get their ducks in a  row.
　
　6、Face the music (接受现实)
　Meaning:To accept the truth.
　[Origin] 此表达来自于英国军队里的一项习俗——当某人被军事法庭押走时，军队里将会奏乐击鼓，而被押走的人也就只能face the music了。
　e.g.When the missing money was noticed, he chose to disappear rather than face the music.

 

　7、Egg on your face (困窘不堪)
　Meaning:To be embarrassed.
　[Origin] 如果你吃完鸡蛋后不擦嘴，鸡蛋黄就会清清楚楚地沾在你的脸上，除非你是一个对此视而不见的“厚脸皮”，否则一定会感到尴尬不已。
　e.g.You'll be the one who has egg on your face if it goes wrong.
　
　8、Crocodile tears (鳄鱼的眼泪)
　Meaning: Phony(虚假的) tears, usually shed to manipulate or exploit.
　[Origin] 通常情况下，鳄鱼们喜欢张着大嘴曝晒于阳光之下，这一行为致使其泪腺被压迫而流下眼泪。大家认为这是虚假的眼泪，并认为这种眼泪是为了促进鳄鱼的消化，而不是来自其情感反应。
　e.g.Don't weep crocodile tears with his misfortune. I know you have always detested him and are only too happy to see him get into trouble.
　
　9、A flash in the pan (昙花一现)
　Meaning:A thing of great promise that doesn't live up to expectations.
　[Origin] 此表达来自于19世纪中期美国的Gold Rush days(“淘金热时期”)。指某一成功来得快也去得快，就像昙花一现。
　e.g.We're hoping that this is a long-term opportunity, and not just a flash in the pan.
　
　10、When the chips are down (郁闷无助的时候)
　Meaning: Bleak times.
　[Origin] 此表达来自于赌博用语。筹码在赌博中通常代表金钱——假如你赢了，你就会拥有很多筹码；如果输了，你将失去它们。这时对你来说就是“when the chips are down”，十分郁闷。
　e.g.When the chips are down, you need people around you that you can depend on.