英语成语的含义与理解

从文体学来说，广义的英语成语(idiom)包括谚语(proverb)、俚语(slang)、俗语(colloquial)、成对词(twin words)、三词词组(trinomials)、熟语(catchphrase, lexical phrase )和习惯搭配(habitual collocation, restricted collocation)等。如：

一、谚语、格言(proverb)，警句(sentence idiom)

英语有很丰富的谚语、格言和警句。如：

■Good health is above wealth. 健康重于财富。

■Good medicine always tastes bitter. 良药苦口。

■Good news goes on crutches. 好事不出门。

■Good or bad we must all live. 无论生活是悲是喜，我们都须承受。

■Good things require time. 好事多磨。

■Good to begin well, better to end well. 善始好，善终更好。

■Good watch prevents misfortune. 有备无患。

■Good wine needs no bush. 酒好客自来。

二、俚语(slang)

俚语为某些人群和地区所特有，适用范围有严格限制，使用时要注意其使用的得体性和意义的准确性。例如：

■the acid test 决定性考验(=test that gives conclusive proof of the value or worth of sth / sb)

The acid test of a good driver is whether he remains calm in an emergency. 衡量驾驶员水平的决定性考验，就是看他在紧急关头能否保持镇静。

■cop-out逃避的行为或藉口(=act of or excuse for copping out)

The TV debate was a cop-out：it didn’t tackle any of the real issues. 电视辩论不过是虚晃一枪，并未解决任何实际问题。

■not cricket不公正；不光明磊落(=unfair; not honourable)

You can’t do it without telling him; it just isn’t cricket. 你不能不告诉他一声就做那件事，这不够光明磊落。

■be a dead ringer for sb外貌上很像某人(=be very like sb in appearance)

She’s a dead ringer for a girl I used to know. 她酷似以前我认识的一个女孩。

三、口语(colloquial)

■a dead duck被放弃的或将失败的计划等

The plan is a dead duck：there’s no money. 计划告吹了：没有钱。

■wouldn’t be seen dead in, at, with, etc sth / doing sth 绝不涉于某事物

That dress is so ugly I wouldn’t be seen dead in it. 那件连衣裙真难看，我宁死也不穿。

She wouldn’t be seen dead jogging; she hates exercise. 她就是不愿跑步；她讨厌运动。

■a raw / rough deal  不公平的待遇

If she lost her job for being late once, she got a pretty raw deal. 她若只因迟到一次就失去了工作，这样对她未免太不公平了。

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