❷Eight slangs of dogs

陈丽梅（译）

◆语篇导读

千百年来，人与狗的关系一直相当密切，狗对人们的生活、文化、传统和风俗都有很大的影响。因此，英语和汉语里都出现了许多和狗有关的俚语。英国广播公司网站盘点了八个和狗有关的俚语，并与汉语做了比较，中英文化的差异可见一斑。

1.Top dog

Head dog.It refers to the powerful boss in the organization,or the person who uses facial value,charm to dominate(主宰)the circle of friends.They are often social and professional leaders.Traditionally,they are usually males,but some females in recent years.

2.One's bark is worse than one's bite

Barking fiercely(猛烈地),biting without pain.Its meaning is like the Chinese saying“A knife mouth makes a soft heart”.With such a boss or colleague,we need more communication to avoid misunderstanding.

3.Working like a dog

Working like a dog.It is described(描述)as hard work.After the morning and evening rush,they rush to the company and start the hard work immediately.

4.Fighting like cats and dogs

It sounds like a fight between cats and dogs.It usually means a serious dispute (纠纷)between acquaintances(熟人).This must be avoided in order to maintain professionalism(职业风度)and build team spirit.

5.Dog's dinner

Dog food.It's a mess.The result could be another saying—“going into a dog's house”.

6.Barking up the wrong tree

Barking around the wrong tree.It describes the wrong person,the wrong road,or the wrong choice.It is hard to avoid mistakes in your daily work.It should be helpful to prepare more and study more.

7.Let sleeping dogs lie

Don't wake the sleeping dog.It is similar to Chinese saying—“Don't lift a rock to hit your own foot”.It means“Don't ask for trouble”.

8.You can't teach an old dog new tricks

An old dog can not learn new tricks.It's difficult to make old people accept new things.With the rapid development of technology today,we can't be“old dogs”,have a try at least.

◆词语积淀

mess/mes/n.麻烦；困境；混乱

technology/tek΄nɒlədʒi/n.科技；技术学

traditionally/trə΄dɪʃənəli/adv.传统地；守旧地

avoid/ə΄vɔɪd/v.避免；避开

maintain/meɪn΄teɪn/vt.保持；维持

◆典句赏析

1.It refers to the powerful boss in the organization,or the person who uses facial value,charm to dominate(主宰)the circle of friends.它指团体里有权有势的老板，或者利用颜值、魅力等主宰朋友圈的人。

refer to是固定词组，意为“指的是；提及”，后接名词或代词；“who uses facial value,charm to dominate the circle of friends”是who引导的定语从句，修饰先行词person。

【即时尝试】你的话是指我们所有人吗？

2.It's difficult to make old people accept new things.让因循守旧的人接受新事物很难。

“It+be+形容词+不定式(to+动词原形)”是it作形式主语的常见句型。此句型中，其真正的主语是动词不定式短语。“It's difficult to make old people accept new things.”等同于“To make old people accept new things is difficult.”。“make sb.do sth.”是一种固定的结构形式，意为“让某人做某事”。

【即时尝试】让他接受我的邀请很容易。

译文助读

1.顶头的狗

领头狗。它指团体里有权有势的老板，或者利用颜值、魅力等主宰朋友圈的人。他们在社交和职场游刃有余，通常是领军人物，传统上多形容男性，近年来也用于形容女性。

2.乱叫的狗不咬人

不叫的狗暗下口。它的意思很像汉语的“刀子嘴豆腐心”。和这样的老板或者同事相处时，我们需要更多的沟通来避免误会。

3.像狗一样工作

像狗一样工作，形容人很勤奋、努力。指他们经历上下班、早晚高峰，赶到公司立刻投入繁重的工作。

4.吵到像猫狗打架的地步

听起来像猫和狗在吵架。这通常指熟人之间发生严重纠纷，这个在公司必须避免，这样才能保持职业风度，构筑团队精神。

5.狗宴

狗食，形容事情办得一团糟。因此衍生了另一个俗语——进了狗窝。

6.朝着错误的树狂吠

围着错误的树乱叫不停，形容找错了人，走错了路，或者做错了选择。日常工作中很难避免出错，多做准备、深入研究应该有所帮助。

7.让睡着的狗躺着

别吵醒睡着的狗。类似的中国俗语“不要搬起石头砸自己的脚”，指不要自找麻烦。

8.你教不会老狗新把戏

老狗是学不会新把戏的，用来比喻让因循守旧的人接受新事物很难。科技突飞猛进的今天“，老狗”心态要不得，至少要去尝试。