The Stories of the "Monkey"

何苗

Monkeys are very similar to us in many ways—most have ten fingers and ten toes， and brains much like ours. We enjoy watching them because they often act like us. In fact， Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution （进化论） says that monkeys and humans share a common ancestor （祖先）.

猴子在许多方面与我们很相似，它们大多有十个手指和十个脚趾，还有着与我们类似的大脑。我们喜欢看猴子，因为它们的举止常常与我们的相似。实际上，达尔文进化论认为，猴子和人类拥有共同的祖先。

Songwriter William Gilbert， in the musical “Princess Ida，” wrote： “Darwinian （达尔文主义的） man， though well-behaved （行为端正的;乖的）， at best （至多;充其量） is only a monkey shaved （修剪;剃毛）.”

歌曲作家William Gilbert在歌剧《艾达公主》中写道：“达尔文派的人虽然乖巧，但充其量只是一只剃掉毛的猴子。”

His words—sung to Sir Arthur Sullivans music—make listeners smile. Well， monkeys make us smile， too， because they are creatures full of playful tricks.

他的歌词，配上Arthur Sullivan的音乐，让听众们发笑。当然，猴子也能引我们发笑，因为它们是花样百出的动物。

This is why many monkey expressions are about tricky people or playful acts. One of these expressions is “monkeyshines” which means tricks or foolish acts. The meaning is clear if you have ever watched a group of monkeys playfully （好玩地;戏谑地） chasing each other—pulling tails， stealing food， doing tricks. So， when a teacher says to a group of students “Stop those monkeyshines right now！” you know that the boys and girls are playing instead of studying.

这就是为什么很多与猴子相关的表达是与狡猾的人或者搞笑的行为有关的。其中有一种表达叫做“猴子的把戏”，意思是诡计或愚蠢的行为。如果你曾看到过一群猴子嬉戏着相互追逐——扯尾巴、偷食物、耍把戏，你就很清楚这个词的意思了。因此，如果老师对学生们说“立即停下你们的猴把戏！”，你就知道这些学生们是在玩耍而不是学习。

You might hear that same teacher warn a student not to “monkey around” with a valuable piece of equipment. You “monkey around” with something when you do not know what you are doing. You are touching or playing with something you should leave alone.

你可能听到该老师提醒一位学生，不要对一件昂贵器材“胡闹”。当你不知道自己在做什么的时候就是在“胡闹”。你正在触碰或倒弄一些你不该碰的东西。

Also， you can “monkey around” when you feel like doing something， but have no firm idea of what to do. For example， you tell your friend you are going to spend the day “monkeying around” with your car. Well， you do not have any job or goal in mind—it is just a way to pass the time.

同样，当你想做点事但不知道做什么好的时候，你是在“闲混打发时间”。比如，你告诉朋友你会准备花一天时间来“折腾”你的车。而你没有任何任务或目的，这只是打发时间的方式而已。

“Monkey business” usually means secret （maybe illegal） activities. A news report may say there is “monkey business” involved in building the new airport， with some officials getting secret payments from builders.

“猴子的业务”常指秘密的（也许是非法的）活动。新闻报道可能说，新机场建设中有人搞鬼，因为某些官员暗中收取建筑商的贿赂。

You may “make a monkey out of someone” when you make that person look foolish. Some people “make a monkey out of themselves” by acting foolish or silly.

当你愚弄某人时，你可能在“把某人当猴耍”。有人行为愚蠢可笑，结果愚弄了自己。

If one monkey has fun， imagine how much fun “a barrel （桶） of monkeys” can have！If your friend says he had “more fun than a barrel of monkeys” at your party， you know that he had a really good time.

如果你觉得一只猴子有趣，可以想象“一堆猴子”又该多有趣！如果你朋友对你说他觉得你的聚会“比一堆猴子还有趣”，你就知道他真的玩得很开心。

“Monkey suits” are common names for clothes or uniforms soldiers wear. In earlier years in many American cities， you would find men playing musical hand organs （手风琴） on the street. Dancing to the music would be the mans small monkey dressed in a tight-fitting （紧身的）， colorful jacket similar to a military uniform. So， people began to call a military uniform （军装） a “monkey suit”.

“猴子装”是士兵所穿衣服或制服的通用名称。早些年，在美国很多城市，有人会当街演奏手风琴。他会有一只小猴子，穿着类似军装的紧身迷彩夹克，随着音乐起舞。因此人们逐渐称军装为“猴子装”。