时间:2018-12-01 作者:英语课 分类:美国习惯用语


英语课

to hold water


water off a duck's back


it makes my mouth water


这一课里我们再要讲两个和水,也就是和 water 这个字有关的词汇。第一个是 to hold water。


To hold water 按字面解释当然可以说是"不让水漏出来"。但是,它的另外一个意思是指某一个人找的借口、提出的理由、或说的话是确实的,站得住脚的。美国人经常说:"That excuse simply doesn't hold water."意思是:那个借口根本站不住脚。我们来举个例子:


例句-1:"The accused man claimed that he'd been in another city the night of the murder. But his story didn't hold water after three different witnesses testified 1 in court that they had seen him running from the scene of the crime."


这句话的意思是:"这个被控告的人说,发生谋杀案的那天晚上他出门去了,不在当地。但是,有三个不同的证人都出庭作证说,他们看见他从作案的地点逃跑。因此,他说出事那天他不在当地的说法根本是靠不住的。"


今天要讲的另外一个和water这个字有关的习惯用语是 water off a duck's back。


鸭子身上的毛就像雨衣一样,水在上面呆不住,一下全滑掉了。因此,water off a duck's back 是指毫无作用。就像下面这句句子所说的:


例句-2:"I keep telling my friend it's foolish to gamble 2 all of his money, but it's like water off of a duck's back."


这是说:"我一直告诉我的朋友,不要那么傻,把所有的工资都用在赌博上。可是,我的话对他全然不起作用。"


另外一个例子是:


例句-3:"The doctors tell us it`s dangerous to smoke, but such good advice rolls off of some people like water off of a duck's back."


这是说:"医生都告诉我们抽烟对身体是有害的。可是,这种劝告对于有些人来说就像耳边风一样,毫无作用。"


水对人的身体来说是非常重要的。可是,在英语里,这些和water有关的成语都含贬意好像有点奇怪。不过,至少有一个和water有关的习惯用语是让人高兴的。那就是:to make my mouth water 顾名思义,这个说法的意思是"让我流口水"。


例句-4:"The roast duck that restaurant serves is my favorite dish. Every time I think about it, it makes my mouth water."


这个人说:"我最喜欢吃那个饭馆的烤鸭。每当我想起它我就会流口水。"


今天我们讲了to hold water,water off a duck's back和 it makes my mouth water这几个同water有关的习惯用语。


好,「美国习惯用语」第五讲就到里。欢迎下次再一起来学习美国习惯用语。再见。



1 testified
作证,证明( testify的过去式和过去分词 ); 证明,证实; 炳炳凿凿
  • His look testified his guilt. 他的神态表明他有罪。
  • Her red face testified to her guilt. 她脸红证明她内心有愧。
2 gamble
n.冒险;v.赌博,孤注一掷
  • Setting up this business was a bit of a gamble.开办这样的公司有点冒险。
  • Drive carefully and don't gamble with your life.小心驾驶,别拿你的生命冒险。
学英语单词
'speaking
-metric
absolute specificity
Acer ukurunduense
acetylbenzoyl peroxide
air-hanging
airlift
alembications
all purpose
almond paste bonhons
anti-japan
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come out of the little end of the horn
configuration record list
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dissolved air
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early maturing soybean
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efram
engine gas dynamics
etange
federal court of arbitration
feeler blade
feeling of confidence
figarde
finding chart
fire-hearth
genus Rhinoptera
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handprinted character recognition
hax
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Houskeeper seal
impact bending strength
in patches
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knock in the night
Lamorocystis
lie in bed
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moneygram
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nwoes
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observingly
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offer subject to prior sale
organic optical waveguide fiber
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Phragmites communis
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pyrrolocarbazole
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rayon fabric
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RORSAT
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underregulated
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worth the effort
Zhezkazgan