干货丨11个不可望文生义的习语表达
Today's Idioms
今天给大家带来的是英语翻译中可能会遇上的问题——习语的释义与运用,在我们翻译过程中,应避免按字面意思来翻译,以免造成贻笑大方的局面。
1. Have a nice ring to it
英文释义:Something sounds appealing
中文释义:听起来不错
After so many years of hard work, "Jane Smith, Vice-President of Marketing" sure has a nice ring to it.
2. Can't put my finger on it
英文释义:Can't figure out something
中文释义:某件事说不上来
- Something is different about you but I can't put my finger on it.
- I got a haircut.
- That's it! You look fabulous.
3. Chew the fat
英文释义:To talk with somebody in an informal and friendly way
中文释义:闲聊
We used to meet at weekend and chew the fat over coffee and sunflower seeds.
4. All talk and no trousers
英文释义:Someone who talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take action
中文释义:光说不干
The team's manager keeps promising title after title, but he's seeming like all talk and no trousers at this point.
5. Cat got your tongue
英文释义:Unable to speak, not talking
中文释义:你怎么不说话了
What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?
6. Bob's your uncle
英文释义:It's simple as that
中文释义:就这么简单
Press here and bob's your uncle! It's disappeared.
7. Heart in someone's mouth
英文释义:Feeling nervous or scared
中文释义:极度紧张,心悬在嗓子眼上
Hallie got up to make her first speech with her heart in her mouth.
8. A storm in a teacup
英文释义:A big fuss about a trifle
中文释义:小题大做
I really think you're making astorm in a teacup over this. It's just a tiny scratch on the car!
9. Hold your horses
英文释义:To wait a minute
中文释义:悠着点
Whoa, hold your horses, kids. We're going to sing before we start eating cake.
10. Head in the clouds
英文释义:Living in a fantasy
中文释义:想入非非
He has his head in the clouds while the rest of us are trying to figure out how to fix this!
11. Do a runner
英文释义:To leave a place in order to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation
中文释义:开溜
The new trainee did a runner after the first day - I don't think he could cope with the high-pressure environment.