发信人: roy_young(風呂中男子)
整理人: roy_young(2002-02-25 19:08:50), 站内信件
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俚語不作怪 (上)
學習英語時，常常對平時許多的英語句子感到迷糊，甚至鬧出笑話，多半是因為口語、俗語、俚語或是會有特別意義的字眼在「作怪」。以下便是這一方面的例子，希望對某些讀者能有所助益。
1. The devil is in the details：意思是表面看來，似乎很簡單，其實做起來，倒很複雜。也就是「說來容易，做時難」。（Actions are more complicated than words.）例如：
When it comes to writing the project, the devil is in the details. (當寫這個計畫時，其中的複雜性就來了。)
It seemed very easy at first, then we discovered the devil was in the details. (最初看來很簡單，但後來我們發現很複雜。)
The devil is(或will be) in the details if we try to improve our health care system. (假如我們要改進健保制度，實際也有許多困難。)
(註：使用口語、俗語、俚語時，照理應該儘量保持原來的句型，不過，現在許多人也常常改變其中動詞的時態。)
2. take ( it ) with a grain of salt：意思是對別人半信半疑，必須慎重考慮；運用判斷能力；或許不是真實。（have to think about; be cautious and use your judgement because it may not be true.）(it 可指任何事情）例如：
Take what Mr. Chen said with a grain of salt. (對陳先生所說的，必須慎重考慮，他也許不是真心話。)
I will take her story with a grain of salt. (她所說的身世，我還是半信半疑。)
(註：grain 通常只用單數，故不加 s)
3. leave a lot to be desired：意思是不如想像中那麼好 (not as good as I expected) 如果說："It left a lot to be desired." 也就是其中許多事被棄置或忽略了 (a lot of things have been left out) 這是一種比較婉轉客氣的說法 (gentle way to say) 因為不說：「這是很差勁！」(It is awful！) 例如：
The dinner left a lot to be desired. (這個晚餐不如想像中那麼好。)
His welcome leaves a lot to be desired. (他的歡迎，不是預料中那麼熱烈。)
My student's behavior has left a lot to be desired. (我學生的行為不是想像中那麼好)
由於這句話本來含有否定的語氣，所以通常不說："does not leave a lot to be desired."，也不說："leave a little bit to be desired." 也不說："He left me a lot to be desired." 除非說：
This is the first time his behavior has not left a lot to be desired.（他第一次行為表現不錯，令人驚訝！）
有時也用未來式：Based on my previous experience I think his behavior will leave a lot to be desired. (根據我過去的經驗，他將來的行為，不會多好。)
4. The ball is in your court. 意思是說，現在是你出球的時候了。也就是我已做出一切的努力，現在應該輪到你了。你應該採取行動了。(It is your turn to do something；it is your decision now；you have to take next step.) 例如：
I have done everything I can；now the ball is in your court. (我已盡力而為之，現在要看你的了！)
The lawyer has presented this case；now the ball is in judge's court. (律師已經說明了案情，現在就等法官做出決定了。)
I have done my best to explain my position；now the ball is in your court. (我已盡量表明我的立場，現在該你採取下一步的行動了。)
5. Say it with flowers：這本來是一般花店廣告或宣傳時使用的一種標語，意思是：如果你要表達你的感情，你就應該送花。（A slogan used in many flower shops. It means when you want to express your emotion, send flowers.）例如：
All flower shops want you to say it with flowers. (所有的花店都要你用花去表達感情) (it 指 emotion)
In order to express his love to his girl friend, he will say it with flowers. (他用花來表示他對女友的愛)
6. Behave or else！這就是說，你應該規矩些，否則對你不利；或者說，如果你不聽話，你就要為後果負責。本來是：You behave or something else！但是通常都把you 和 something 省去。也可以說是 You will be punished or you will take consequence if you don't listen. 例如：
The father said to his son, “Behave or else！”(老爸對兒子說：「規矩些，不然就會被罰。」)
Normally, the boss will not directly say to the employees, “Behave or else！”(通常老闆不會直接對員工說：「如果你不聽話，就會給你難看！」)
7. crime does not pay：這是說，犯罪是划不來，不值得去冒險，因為最後都會被捉到。(Not worth committing crime because you will get caught eventually.) 例如：
Kids should be told that crime does not pay. (應該告訴孩子，犯罪是不值得、划不來。)
If everyone believes that crime does not pay, then there will be no crime. (如果每個人都相信犯罪划不來，那麼就沒有罪犯了。)
(因為這是事實，真正道理，所以動詞不用過去式，只用現在式 does。）
然而也有人認為 crime does pay，因為也有人犯了罪，卻沒有被捉到。例如：
The bank robber thought that crime did pay.（搶銀行的人認為犯罪划得來）(因為搶了錢，沒有被捉到。)
A very small percent of people feel that crime does pay. (極少數人認為犯罪划得來) (像白領階級的貪汙等，沒有被捉到。)
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