俗语:败家子,害群之马
英语课
俗语:败家子,害群之马
谜语里迸出的“词汇”:“俄亥俄州”的别名 跳蚤市场败家子,害群之马“love”为“零蛋”
还记得我们“词海拾贝”之谜语系列?今天,再来一个脑筋急转弯,看看单词如何从谜语里跳出来。做好准备—— Why do black sheep eat less 1 grass than white sheep?(为什么“黑羊”吃的草比白羊少?)
呵呵,谜底是—— There are fewer 2 black sheep than white sheep.(黑羊比白羊少。) “黑羊”比白羊少,确实是不争的事实。此外,如若细细品味,这世上的“败家子”终究是少数嘛。英语中,“black sheep”表示“败家子、败类、害群之马”。 据记载,“black sheep(of the family)”(败家子)最早出现于19世纪早期。关于它的渊源,一种观点认为,早期的牧羊人不喜欢混杂在白色羊群中的黑羊,认为其是邪恶的象征。此外,从商业价值来看,黑绵羊的毛不如白色羊毛珍贵,不像白色羊毛那样容易染色。 说到“黑色代表邪恶”,这里有必要列举一个例外:如若在商业报道中看到短语“in the black”,可要注意了,它极可能表示“(公司)盈利”。据说,公司的帐簿上,通常用“in the red”(红色的字)表示赤字,由此,“in the black”(黑色的字)则表示“盈利”。 看下面两个相关例句:Since 3 he became 4 manager 5, the company 6 has been running 7 in the black.(自从他任经理以来,公司就一直赢利。) Dick is a black sheep, always bringing trouble 8 to his family.(迪克是个败家子,总给家里招惹麻烦。)
“替罪羊”和“黑马”
趣解“替罪羊”
注意!“黑马”不“黑”
adj.更少的,更小的;adv.更少地,更小地;n.少量,次要;prep.减
- I read much less now than I did at school.我现在看书远比我上学时少。
- You can't buy the dress with less than 50 yuan.买这件衣服没有50元钱下不来。
int.较少数;adj.较少的
- We need more apples and fewer oranges.我们需要多些苹果,少些橘子。
- Now I meet with fewer difficulties in my work.现在我工作中困难少些了。
adv.后来;conj.既然,因为,自从;prep.自从
- He's been working in a bank since leaving school.自从毕业后,他就一直在一家银行工作。
- I have known him ever since I was a child.我自孩提时代起就已经认识他了。
v.(become的过去式)成为
- He became a doctor at the age of 27.他27岁时成了一名医生。
- He became a millionaire when he was still young.他还年轻时就成了百万富翁。
n.经理;负责人
- The manager believes in him.经理信任他。
- In our company the manager has the last word.在我们公司经理有最后决定权。
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