美国习惯用语:806 beat someone at their own game
时间：2018-12-16 作者：英语课 分类：美国习惯用语
如今互联网这么发达，什么东西只要一放到网上，就会一发不可收拾。如果你突然发现，朋友没有经过允许，就把你的一张很丑陋的照片放到了网上，你会怎么做?我的朋友Jennifer就被同事这么捉弄过一回。她也不示弱，立即找出一张同事更丢人的旧照片，发给了更多的人。
这种做法在英语里叫：beat 1 someone 2 at their own 3 game. Beat在中文里是打击的意思，game是比赛，游戏。Beat someone at their own game，就是以其人之道，还治其人之身的意思。
我的朋友Jennifer如法炮制，把同事一些见不得人的照片放到网上，让更多的人都看到，就可以说是, she beat them at their own game.
如果说这是一场搞笑的恶作剧的话，那么在下面这个例子里两家餐馆之间的血拼大降价，就没有这么好笑了。让我们听听看。
例句-1：The restaurant across 4 the street from ours was 5 running 6 a special. Guests 7 who ordered 8 a dinner entrée could 9 receive 10 another at half price 11. So we introduced 12 an even 13 better deal 14: buy one entrée, get the other free 15. Now our place is packed 16. We're beating 17 the competition 18 at their own game.
其中一位老板说：街对面的餐馆推出特价活动，点一道主菜，第二道菜半价。我们以其人之道，还治其人之身， 决定买一送一，结果现在我们餐馆里的生意特别红火。我们在这次较量中战胜了对手。
如果是我，我也会光顾这家餐馆的。经济不好的时候，商家就更要想方设法地吸引顾客。商业竞争真是英语里常说的"Dog-Eat-Dog"，形容这种商业竞争真是恰如其分。
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刚才我们谈到了商业竞争的残酷无情。不过有的时候，beat someone at their own game也会给生活增添不少乐趣。让我们一起来听听下面这对夫妻之间的小故事。
例句-2：I thought 19 taking my wife 20 sailing 21 was a pretty cool birthday surprise. But, for my big day, she took 22 me skydiving in Mexico 23. Every year is the same. No matter what gift ideas I come up with, hers are better. She beats 24 me at my own game all the time.
这个人说：我本来以为带妻子去航海是一个绝妙的生日礼物，但是我过生日的时候，她却计划好了一起到墨西哥去跳伞。每年都是这样。她总能想出更棒的生日礼物来，让我自愧不如。
去年冬天，我跟老公学下国际象棋，怎么也赢不了他，结果我正好有机会采访了一位象棋高手，跟他学了几招，回家就把老公打败了，I finally 25 beat him at his own game.
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最近美国经济不景气，很多公司都在裁员。我前些天做了一个梦，梦见早上去上班，结果接到通知，说我们被另外一家电台取代了。They beat us at our own game. 一下子惊醒过来，好在是个梦。
从上面的例子大家肯定已经看出，to beat someone at their own game，这个习惯用语里的game可以用来指任何努力和工作。这个习惯用语可以追溯到十三世纪中叶，真可以说是历史悠久了。
- You can fight him,but can you beat him?你可以打他，但是你能击败他吗？
- The dry grass caught fire, but we beat it out.干草着火了，但我们将它扑灭了。
- He walked across the road carefully.他小心地过马路。
- You can go across the bridge.你可以越过这座桥。
- The hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests. 这家旅馆可供500位旅客住宿。
- The guests left in an alcoholic haze. 客人们醉醺醺地离去了。
- Could I open the window?我可以打开窗子吗？
- I could wait ten minutes.我可以等十分钟。
- He went to the door to receive his visitors.他到门口去迎接客人。
- I like to receive presents on my birthday.我喜欢在生日那天收到生日礼物。
- The goods have gone up in price.这些商品的价格已经上涨。
- They are selling the bikes off the market price.他们按低于市价卖出自行车。
- There are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced. 引进新系统后一定会发生变化。
- Ian, our host, introduced us to the other guests. 主人伊恩把我们介绍给了其他客人。
- It was cold yesterday,but it's even colder today. 昨天冷，今天更冷了。
- He's the best teacher even though he has the least experience.尽管他经验最少，但教得最好。
- Be careful. She is very difficult to deal with.可得当心，她很难对付。
- Deal with a man as he deals with you.以其人之道，还治其人之身。
- I don't have much free time.我没有多少空闲时间。
- There really is no free lunch.天下果然没有免费的午餐。
- The game was played to a packed grandstand. 比赛时大看台上座无虚席。
- The train was jam-packed with commuters. 火车上挤满了上下班的旅客。
- to give sb a beating 把某人揍一顿
- The patient's heart stopped beating for a few seconds. 病人的心跳停顿了几秒钟。
- It's a friendly competition.这是一场友谊赛。
- I shall enter for the singing competition.我将报名参加歌咏比赛。
- It was just a thought.这仅仅是一个想法。
- She thought he had a cold.她认为他感冒了。
- She is my wife.她是我妻子。
- He is a tall man but his wife is a short woman.他是个子很高的男人，但他妻子很矮。
- Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
- The operation was plain sailing.手术进行得顺利。
- I took my dog for a walk along the river.我带着狗沿那条河散步。
- It took me about two hours to cook the meat.我花了大约两个小时来煮这些肉。