每个国家都有自己独到的俚语和歇后语,这是在本国学习语言的时候很难能够学到的,而以下10个俚语想必只有在英国学习生活的华人才有机会听过,不过你知道它们是什么意思吗?
Pop one’s clogs
被誉为是最英国的一句俚语,有超过50多年的历史,意思是死亡或去世。
例子:By all means enjoy a partnership with a popular celebrity but if said famous person’s clogs decide to pop, you may want to consider cancelling that scheduled post.
That went down a treat
一般很少用于美国的俚语,多用来形容食物值得一试,而且treat一般只用单数。
例子:We are grateful that she has forked out for the baby’s blanket/gonk needs, and so won’t bother to question why she has failed to give me the boxset of classic episodes of The Banana Splits, which I had specifically hinted would go down a treat.
Take the mickey out of someone
也是一个在美国很少见到的俚语,意思是开某人的玩笑或者取笑某人。
例子:That phrase has come back to haunt me on many mickey-taking occasions since.
Itchy feet
这句俚语多用来形容一个人想要尝试新鲜的事情。
例子:I tend to get itchy feet after 18 months so there must be something special about Football Focus – we’re here today and I’ve still got butterflies in my stomach.
At a loose end
这句话可以形容你很闷或者没有任何事情可以做。
例子:He’s been at a loose end ever since he retired.
Another string to your bow
用于形容你有另一样求生或者生存技能,特指可以帮到你求职方面的技能。
例子:I’m learning French so I’ll have another string to my bow.
As the actress said to the bishop
等同于英语中另一个短语‘That’s what she said’的意思,多使用于英国,用来做强调之用。
例子:Heavens, that’s a big one – as the actress said to the bishop.
Cheap as chips
字面意思就容易理解,用来形容遇到再便宜不过的东西时候的激动,多半用在感叹某样东西已经便宜到家了。
例子:Only a fiver for a ticket — cheap as chips mate!
Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
与其说是俚语,不如说这句话是老一辈经常教育年轻人所用的一句经典,字面意思其实已经很明确,就是不要浪费一分一毫,因为这些钱省下来都会是很可观的一笔费用。其实也有点像中国的一句老话:积水成渊,积土成山。
Nosy parker
这个词是形容那些喜欢管人家闲事的人,如果你实在受不了有些人嘻嘻歪歪喜欢嚼舌头,那么你就可以说他们是nosy parker。
例子:Stop being such a nosy parker! They’re having a private conversation!
推荐阅读: