流利美语脱口出

范琳琳　孙文龙

1. a hangdog look 羞愧的神态；垂头丧气的样子

注解：在中世纪的欧洲，给人类造成死亡或伤害的动物，像人一样，也要受到起诉和审讯。有记载说，1595年在荷兰西部城市Leyden，有个小孩被狗咬伤手指致死，这条狗因此被人们吊死。狗被吊死之事在莎士比亚的剧作中曾提到5次。A hangdog look 一语可能由此而来。现多用来喻指拖着尾巴的丧家之犬。

情景例句：

A: Did you appear in the court?

B: Yeah, he has been punished according to the law.

A: Its good news for all of us.

B: Right. When the criminal appeared in the court with a hangdog look, all the people were standing up excitedly.

A：你去法庭旁听了吗？

B：去了。他被绳之以法了。

A：这可真是个好消息。

B：是呀。当他带着愧疚的神态出现在法庭时，所有在场的人都激动地站了起来。

2. hard cash价高而稳定的货币

注解：此语指notes and coins only（纸币和硬币），一般指可换黄金等价高而稳定的货币，如：In terms of hard cash,weve raised over 200 pounds and in pledge about 8500 pounds.（就现金而言，我们已经筹集了200多英镑，抵押品价值约为8500英镑。）cash down 为动词短语，表示“用现金支付”。

情景例句：

A: I bought a villa with a very beautiful garden.

B: Wow! How comfortable!

A: After we make decorations, welcome to drop in.

B: Thanks. Did you pay it hard cash?

A: Yes.

B: But where the hell did you get the money?

A: Thats a secret.

A：我买了一栋带漂亮花园的别墅。

B：哇，真舒服啊！

A：等装修好之后，欢迎来参观。

B：谢谢。你是用现金买房的吗？

A：是的。

B：你从哪搞来的钱？

A：这是个秘密。

3. hard science硬科学

注解：此语与natural science基本同义，指物理学、化学、生物学、地质学等自然科学。hard scientist则指“自然科学家”。与之相对的是soft science“软科学”，指政治学、经济学、社会学和心理学等人文科学。

情景例句：

A: In my opinion, the development of hard science and soft science is unbalanced at all.

B: Yeah,its true.Most of people just pay attention to the hard science.

A: But the soft science is more important in my eyes. Especially psychology, today, a lot of people live a tense life, feel tired and are easily upset as well.

B: I think we all think we can change everything, desire more than we can obtain.

A：依我看，现在硬科学和软科学的发展一点也不平衡。

B：就是。很多人只关心硬科学。

A：可是在我眼中，软科学更为重要，尤其是心理学。现在人们大多生活在紧张的生活状态中，身体疲惫，内心脆弱。

B：我觉得我们都认为自己可以改变一切，我们的欲望比我们能得到的要多得多。

4. harp on the same string/tune老调重弹

注解：乔叟（1340？~1400）在1033年所写的《特罗勒斯和克丽西德》中用过这条习语，但与现在的形式稍有出入：keeping on one string or harping on the same song。目前的形式是在乔叟之后两个世纪的李利（1554~1606）首先使用的。莎士比亚在《哈姆雷特》等6个剧本中也都用过这条习语。

情景例句：

A: Are you free now?

B: What?

A: Can you lend me some money?

B: Ive already told you that Im broke myself. I wish youd stop harping on the same string.

A: You miser.

A：你现在有空吗？

B：有事吗？

A：能借我点钱吗？

B：我已经告诉过你，我自己也身无分文。你别总是老调重弹。

A：你可真是个吝啬鬼。

5. have up ones sleeve留有一招、锦囊妙计

注解：此语最早形式为have a card/an ace up ones sleeve,表示“玩牌作弊，先把好牌藏起来”，比喻指“留后手”。也可写作keep...up ones sleeve或have...in ones sleeve。

情景例句：

A: He suspects youre having something nasty up your sleeve for him.

B: What a man he thinks that I would be?

A: Dont be so angry. I think maybe someone says something to him behind you.

B: Who does such a senseless thing?

A: Who knows? But you must know there are really such people.

A: 他怀疑你对他藏奸。

B：他把我想成什么人了？

A: 别发火。我想也许有人在你背后对他说了些什么。

B：谁干的这种无聊事？

A: 谁知道？但你必须明白的确有这种人存在。

6. have a bone to pick with对……有意见

注解：出自动物争夺猎物的习性。例如：两只狗为争抢一根骨头而相互撕咬。此语始见16世纪中期，现一般喻指“与某人有争端；对某人不满”。

情景例句：

A:I have a bone to pick with you.

B: Okay. Lets clear the air. What are you getting at?

A: You always have a chip on your shoulder.

B: Im sorry. But I dont mean to get your goat.

A：我对你有点意见。

B：好吧，让我们来消除误会。你指的是什么事呢?

A：你总是容易动怒。

B：我很抱歉，可我并非有意惹你生气。

7. have a field day玩得分外高兴

注解：field day原是军事用语，指“野外演习日”，以后喻指“有重大事或重要活动的日子”“特别愉快的时刻”等。因此have a field day 表示“玩得分外开心”，通常用于口语。

情景例句：

A: I havent seen you for a long time, where have you been?

B: I paid a visit to South Korea.

A: Wonderful! Im sure you have a field day.

B: Yeah, you got it. The scenery was very beautiful.

A: Oh, I think Ill have a travel there when I have such a chance.

A：好长时间没见你，去哪了？

B：我到韩国玩了一圈。

A：真好！我想你肯定玩得十分高兴。

B：就是，你说对了。风景真是漂亮。

A：要是有机会我一定要去转上一圈。

8. have a finger in the pie 参与某事

注解：此处的in the pie 是in making the pie 的省略。pie 是一种西式点心，译作“馅饼”，亦偶见音译作“攀”“排”。此语多用作“多管闲事”或“干涉他人事务”之义。此语亦可作have ones finger in the pie.

情景例句：

A: How much have you yet to do?

B: A lot of things are at hand. Im at my wits end with them.

A: Dont worry. What's the deadline for handing all of them?

B: Next Monday.

A: Well, Ill have a finger in the pie and that will help you out.

A：你还有多少没做？

B：手头的事太多了，我简直都无力招架。

A：别急。什么时候是上交的最后期限？

B：下星期一。

A：我来帮你做点吧。那样你就能早点完成工作了。

9. have a grudge against 对……怀恨在心

注解：此语中的动词have还可由hold ,bear ,harbor ,carry ,nurse 等词代替。与之相应的词组有bear/own sb. a grudge (对某人怀有积怨)。grudge 一词作为动词时，形成词组grudge doing sth，则表示“勉强地，不情愿地做某事”。

情景例句：

A：Some employers seem to have a grudge against women.

B：Where can you see that?

A：They dont want to employ women.

B：But sometimes they are employed, too.

A：Even if they do, they pay them less.

B：Thats unfair.

A：有些雇主似乎对女性有偏见。

B：你哪儿看出来的？

A：他们不愿意雇用女性。

B：但有时她们也被雇用啊。

A：即使如此，工资待遇也相对比较低。

B：那真的不公平。