跟莎士比亞學口語—莎翁創造的短語(2)
在上次的文章裏,英語君和大家分享了由莎翁創造,比較實用的七個表達,現在給大家奉上本系列的第二篇,趕快學起來吧。
be all and end all.
最重要/唯一重要的事;全部;根本
英文解釋:The only important thing in your life, or the only important feature of a particular activity.
出自:Macbeth 《麥克白》
當麥克白考慮要暗殺蘇格蘭國王時,他的心理活動如下:
If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly. If th' assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease, success: that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all ... ...
要是幹了以後就完了,那麼還是快一點幹;要是憑着暗殺的手段,可以攫取美滿的結果,又可以排除了一切後患;要是這一刀砍下去,就可以完成一切、終結一切、解決一切... ...
E.g. We all agreed that winning was not the be-all and end-all.
我們都知道,獲勝並不是最重要的事情。
n-eyed monster
嫉妒
英文解釋:jealousy
出自:Othello 《奧賽羅》
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy !It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on;
哦!君上您要留心嫉妒啊, 那是一個綠眼的妖魔。誰做了它的犧牲,就要受它的玩弄。
E.g. He was bitten by the green-eyed monster. (=He became jealous.)
他心生妒意。
3.(to) give the devil his due
平心而論,說句公道話
英文解釋:Said when you admit that someone you don’t like or admire does have particular good qualities.
出自:Henry IV 《亨利四世》
註釋:這個短語的字面意思是pay the devil what you owe him(將你欠魔鬼的歸還給他),可以理解成哪怕是魔鬼,該是他的也要給他。在今天的用法中多取引申義,指哪怕對於自己不喜歡的人,也不得不承認他的一些優點。
E.g. I don’t like the man but—give the devil his due—he works incredibly hard.
我不喜歡那個人,可是平心而論,他工作起來真的很賣力。
t’s content
盡情地
英文解釋:to one's complete inner satisfaction - until one's heart is content.
出自:Henry VI 《亨利四世》
Her grace in Speech, Makes me from Wondring, fall to Weeping ioyes, Such is the Fulnesse of my hearts content.
The Merchant of Venice 《威尼斯商人》
I wish your Ladiship all hearts content.
註釋:在今天的用法中,我們常說to one’s heart’s content 表示盡情地做某事
E.g. You’ve got a whole week to yourself and you can read to your heart’s content.
你有整整一週的時間自由支配,可以盡情的閱讀了。
ehold words/name
家喻戶曉的名字
英文解釋:Words or sayings that are in common use; names that are familiar to everyone.
出自:Henry VI 《亨利四世》
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
E.g. The business she founded made her into a household name.
她創立的一番事業使她成爲家喻戶曉的人物。
6.I have not slept one wink
我徹夜未眠
英文解釋:I have not slept at all
出自:Cymbeline 《辛白林》
PISANIO:
O gracious lady,
Since I received command to do this business
I have not slept one wink.
註釋:wink在這裏作名詞,是眨眼的意思。這是一個非常形象的表達,表示一夜都未閤眼,還可以表達爲not get/have a wink of sleep。
E.g. I didn’t get a wink of sleep./ I hardly slept a wink.
我一夜未閤眼。
7.A tower of strength
無上的權力;精神支柱,靠山
英文解釋:supreme authority; a person who gives you the courage and determination to continue when you are in a bad situation.
出自:Richard III 《查理三世》
註釋:這個詞組過去表示至高無上的權力,在今天的表達中,作爲“困難時的精神支柱”的用法較爲常見,且一般指人,也可以表達爲a pillar of strength。
E.g. My wife has been a tower of strength during my illness.
在我生病期間,我妻子就是我的精神支柱。