汉语习语的英文说法
英语课
1.【不妙】something is to pay
The manager had a hunch 1 that something was to pay.
经理感到事情有些不妙。
汉语的“有些不妙”或“有点不对头”的概念常可用something is to pay的句式来表示。这一短语常和feel或have a hunch that连用。
Dialogue
Bob: Didn't you see the writing on the wall?
Sue: I even didn't have the slightest hunch.
Bob: But you should be prepared for such an outcome.
Sue: I had too much confidence in him.
Bob: But he ruined your business.
Sue: Well, if I knew there would be something to pay, I wouldn't should chalk it up to experience.
Bob: Well, you should chalk it up to experience.
Sue: You're right.
2.【眼中钉】a thorn in someone's flesh
I wonder why I become a thorn in their flesh. I've never harmed them.
不知为什么我成了他们的眼中钉了。我可从未错待过他们。
我们说的“眼中钉”与英美人讲的a thorn in someone's flesh指的是一回事，虽比喻有异，但意思相同。与此说法相似的还有“刺耳的话”（a flea 2 in someone's ear）。
Dialogue
Frank: I don't know why I should become a thorn in the John's flesh.
Betty: You mean your boss?
Frank: Yeah. He seems to bear me a grudge 3.
Betty: That's because you are too much on the ball.
Frank: But why should that make him hate me?
Betty: That's because you put him in the shade.
3.【馋得流口水】make someone's mouth water
The delicacies 4 on the table make him mouth water.
桌上的美味佳肴馋得他直流口水。
“使某人流口水”指“使某人垂涎”，是地道的汉语口语。这一概念一般是用make someone's mouth water的句式来表达的。
Dialogue
Sue: Wow! What a gracious table! Everything looks so beautiful.
Bob: This might be the best dinner you've ever had.
Sue: Surely it is. I can hardly wait. They make my mouth water.
Bob: I feel itching 5, too. Let's start and try these delicacies.
4.【胡说八道】shooting from the hip 6
He thinks I've got the hots for Lily? It's shooting from the hip!
他说我迷恋上李丽了？这简直是胡说八道！
汉语口语中的"胡说八道"曾被译成break wind。其实，英美人更习惯用shoot from the hip来表示这一说法。
Dialogue
Rose: I didn't know Joe was two-faced. He stabbed me in the back.
Mark: What did he do?
Rose: He told my boyfriend that I had affairs with several men, which, of course,
made my boy friend very suspicious of me.
Mark: I didn't believe he would shoot from the hip like that! It was very vicious of him. You must not put up with him.
Rose: Of course not! He will soon know what he deserves!
n.预感，直觉
- I have a hunch that he didn't really want to go.我有这么一种感觉，他并不真正想去。
- I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.我有预感和苏珊共事会很融洽。
n.跳蚤
- I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
- Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。
n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做
- I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
- I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。
n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到
- Its flesh has exceptional delicacies. 它的肉异常鲜美。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- After these delicacies, the trappers were ready for their feast. 在享用了这些美食之后，狩猎者开始其大餐。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 )
- The itching was almost more than he could stand. 他痒得几乎忍不住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- My nose is itching. 我的鼻子发痒。 来自《简明英汉词典》