Lesson 52 - NO HOLDS BARRED / LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN
时间:2019-01-09 作者:英语课 分类:美国习惯用语
no holds barred
to let one's hair down
对人坦率,无保留地说自己的看法,有的时候是以友好和轻松的态度出发的,但是在某种情况下也可能是语气强硬,情绪对立。我们今天要讲的两个习惯用语就反映了这两种不同的气氛。我们先来讲第一个:no holds barred。 No holds barred 这个说法是来自摔交运动。但是,在人们争论的时候, no holds barred是指不顾对方的面子和情绪,毫不迟疑地把自己的想法说出来。比如说,一个美国朋友可能会对你说:
例句-1: My wife and I had a real no holds barred talk last night about all the things wrong with our marriage.
他说:"我和我的妻子昨晚可真是毫不留情地谈了一谈,把我们婚姻方面的所有问题不管三七二十一都说了出来。"
No holds barred也可以形容那些政客们之间进行的辩论。下面就是一个例子:
例句-2: That TV debate between those two guys running for senator 1 was sure a no holds barred affair. They spent more time saying nasty 2 things about each other than they did talking about their plans.
这句话的意思是:"那两个竞选参议员的人在电视上进行辩论时真是毫不留情。他们花在互相攻击方面的时间比介绍他们方针的时间还多。"
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下面我们要介绍的一个习惯用语是:to let one's hair down。 To let one's hair down描绘出一幅可爱的画面。过去,西方女子很多都留长头发,出去应酬时把头发盘在头上梳出各种式样来。晚上回家后,她们就把发卡一个个地从头发里拿出来,让头发很自然地披在肩上。 To let one's hair down的实质意思也就是解除表面的装饰,使一切显得很自然、真实和放松。 To let one's hair down不一定用于女子,也可以用在男性。下面的例子就可以说明问题:
例句-3: The president has to make so many official appearances 3 that he seldom gets a chance to let his hair down and enjoy life like ordinary people.
这句话是说:"总统要出席许多公开场合,因此他很少有机会像普通老百姓那样轻松地享受生活。"
To let one's hair down 也可以用在朋友之间,就像下面这个例子一样:
例句-4: Sally, we've been good friends for a long time. But lately I get the idea you are very much upset with me. I wish you'd let your hair down and tell me what's wrong to make you feel this way.
这个人对他的朋友说:"萨莉,我们多年来一直是好朋友,可是最近我感到你对我非常不高兴。我希望你能够坦率地告诉我,到底是哪些事让你这么不高兴。"
今天我们讲了两个表示坦率的习惯用语,虽然它们都具有坦率的意思,可以在含义方面有所不同。我们讲的第一个俗语是:no holds barred,这是指在争论或其他场合毫不客气地对别人说自己的想法。今天我们讲的第二个俗语是:to let one's hair down。 To let one's hair down是指轻松、自然,或把心里的话说出来。
- The senator urged against the adoption of the measure.那参议员极力反对采取这项措施。
- The senator's speech hit at government spending.参议员的讲话批评了政府的开支。
- She got a nasty knock on the head when she fell.她跌倒时头部受到严重碰撞。
- When this material burns,it flings off a nasty smell.这种物质燃烧时发出一股难闻的气味。
- To all appearances, they are very much in love. 显然他们正处在热恋之中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Here he fell into the common error of judging by appearances. 在此他又犯了一般以貌取人的通病。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》