盘点:和“鱼”有关的英语习语
英语课
今天我们要讲的习惯用语都有fish这个词。大家都知道fish是“鱼”,但是fish可以作动词。
1. Fish or cut bait 1 要么全力以赴,不然就干脆放弃
Fish作动词意思是钓鱼,bait是系在钓鱼线上的鱼饵。所以这个习惯用语如果直译就是要么钓鱼,要么干脆切断鱼饵。 Fish or cut bait最初出现在十九世纪,一名议员在国会就一项议案进行表决前对与会者说了这句话,敦促大家当机立断,做出是或否的明确表态。
这个习惯用语从此广为流传,用来促使对方做一抉择:要么好好干,不然就干脆别干,尤其用来敦促某人迅速决定究竟是否参与。让我们来听个例子。这是一个作风强硬的商人正试图了断一笔交易。他要求对方迅速拿定主意。
例句-1:Charlie, you've had two weeks to decide whether you want in on this deal. Now it's time to fish or cut bait. I need your answer by six o'clock tonight -- otherwise we'll leave you out of it!
Charlie,对于要不要参与这笔生意你斟酌了有两星期了。现在你务必当机立断。我必须在今晚六点前得到你的答复,否则我们就把你排除在外。
2. Fishing expedition 以搜罗不利于某人证据为目的的调查行动
Expedition意思是“调查、考察”。这个习惯用语可能来自出海探寻鱼群行踪的远征。鱼儿潜游在茫茫大海里,可真是捉摸不定,要找到他们得靠机遇。Fishing expedition像所有的习惯用语一样,意义已经引伸到其它方面。例如为找寻罪证而做的调查。让我们来听一个例子,说的是一名参议员被调查是否有不端行为。他对这一调查作出了反应。
例句-2:The senator 2 says the investigation 3 is a fishing expedition by his enemies to see if they can find anything he has ever done that might hurt his political career.
那位参议员声称,这次调查是他政敌的蓄意盘查,目的是搜罗挖掘他是否有不端行为,以便损毁他的政治生涯。
3. Other fish to fry 另有更重要或者更有利可图的事情得办
Fry是油煎的意思。这个习惯用语从字面来解释就是另有一条鱼要煎。这句话非常口语化,常用在非正式场合。它表达什么意思呢? 让我们通过一个例子来体会。有的人把事业放在生活的首要地位;事业的重要性甚至超越了家庭和亲人。我们要听的例子说的就是这样一个人。
例句-3:I can't believe it! his only son was hurt in an accident and he told his wife he couldn't go to the hospital until later because he had other fish to fry -- a million-dollar deal he was closing.
我实在难以想象!他的独生子遭到意外受了伤,而他却对太太说,他要晚些时候才能去医院,因为他另有要事得办,有一笔百万美元的大生意在等着他拍板呢。
n.饵,引诱物;vt.用饵引诱,折磨,奚落
- The fish took the bait.鱼吞饵了。
- They are too knowing to bite at such a bait.他们很老练,不上这种当。
n.参议员,评议员
- 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。
n.调查,调查研究
- In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
- He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
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