大家都知道英语中很多短语我们是不能直译的,我们就必须知道多多积累其本土文化,才能真正地了解它的内在含义。
比如这句“birthday suit”如果小航不来纠正一下,是不是很多小伙伴都会搞错呢!
People said to be in their birthday suit are as naked as the day they were born.
所谓的生日西装是指“赤*身*裸*体”,就像我们出生那天一样。
没错,birthday suit = nakedness
举个例子
The towel fell off, and there he was in his birthday suit!
浴巾掉了,他一丝不挂地出现在那里。
知识点扩展:
1. Fold like a cheap suit
Fold 作为动词,意思是“折叠”,
而作为名词的意思是“褶痕”。
也许因为便宜的西装由于其材料薄而更容易起皱,
fold like a cheap suit 的意思是“没什么阻力便服从、屈服或放弃”。
(To offer little resistance; to submit, yield, or give up very easily)
举个例子
The suspect folded like a cheap suit after some pressure from the prosecution,
signing a full confession for the crime.
在检方的压力下,
嫌疑人轻易便屈服了,
签署了认罪书。
2. Suit down to the ground
上面两种用法中,suit 的意思都是“西装、套装”,
而 suit 还有“合适”的意思。
Suit down to the ground 指“情况非常理想,
非常合适”。(to be ideal for one)
举个例子
I'm cold all the time,
so this hot weather really suits me down to the ground.
我经常感觉很冷,
所以这种炎热的天气真的很适合我。
3. Clothes make the man
我们常说的“人靠衣装”,
在英语中相应的说法是 clothes make the man 。
举个例子
You can judge a man's character based on his clothing and appearance.
你可以根据一个人的衣着和外表来判断他的性格。
《哈姆雷特》中,莎士比亚笔下的波洛尼乌斯(Polonius)说过:"The apparel oft proclaims the man."
Apparel指“(尤指正式场合穿的)衣服,(商店出售的)服装”。
前缀 pro + claim = proclaim 意为“宣告、宣扬;明确显示”。
虽然与 clothes make the man 用词并不完全一样,
但意思都是相通的。
举个例子
I'm not surprised John was fired for cause—he never dressed professionally,
and the clothes make the man.
我对约翰被解雇的原因并不感到惊讶——他从来不穿正装,
而人靠衣装。