英文中,有許多口語句子的意思往往不能從字面上去理解,下面我們來看看有哪些容易誤譯的句子吧。
5.speak of the devil
說曹操,曹操就到解析:中文歇后語單純指“提到某人,某人就出現(xiàn)在面前”,沒有負(fù)面意味;英文里雖用devil(魔鬼)一詞,但也是褒貶皆可用。
例:I hadn't seen Michael for quite a long time. However,I was just talking about him and he appeared. Speak of the devil!
?。ㄎ液瞄L一段時(shí)間沒見到邁克爾了,然而我才剛談到他,他就出現(xiàn)了。說曹操,曹操就到!)
6.two heads are better than one
三個(gè)臭皮匠勝過一個(gè)諸葛亮解析:中文說“三個(gè)臭皮匠”,英文里只要“兩個(gè)頭”(twoheads)即可!
例:There's a saying,“Two heads are better than one.”You may consult others when making big decisions.(有句話說:“三個(gè)臭皮匠勝過一個(gè)諸葛亮?!碑?dāng)你做重大決定時(shí),不妨咨詢他人。)
7.I will show you the door.
?。阋詾槭牵┪宜湍愕介T口。
?。ǖ鋵?shí)是)我想請你滾蛋。這句英文的原意是“大門就在那里”,有對人下逐客令的意思,是很不客氣的說法。
例:Be quiet, or I will show you the door.(安靜,否則我會(huì)叫你滾出去。)
送客的正解:I will show you to the door.或I will walk you out.
8. Were you out to lunch?
?。阋詾槭牵┠愠鋈コ晕绮土藛??(但其實(shí)是)你是瘋了嗎?
out to lunch是俚語用法,意指瘋狂或心不在焉,擺明是在教訓(xùn)別人。
例:It seems that you were out to lunch in class.(你上課時(shí)似乎心不在焉。)
問別人吃飽沒,正解:Did you eat yet?
9.I am a confidence man.
?。阋詾槭牵┪沂莻€(gè)有自信的人。
?。ǖ鋵?shí)是)我是個(gè)騙子。
confidence是“自信、信任”沒錯(cuò),但confidence man卻是俚語用法,專指詐騙錢財(cái)?shù)尿_子或欺詐者。
例:We finally realized that he was a confidence man.(最終我們發(fā)現(xiàn)他是個(gè)騙子。)
“有自信的人”正解:
I am a confident man.
10.have a weakness for something
其實(shí)不是指弱點(diǎn),而是“完全沒有招架能力”的意思。
如果有人說I have a weakness for chocolate,就是指他對巧克力喜愛得不得了。這里的weakness(名詞)意為“嗜好、癖好”,而不是“弱點(diǎn)、缺點(diǎn)”。have a weakness后面還常常加人,例:John has a weakness for Mary.
11.You're not even close!
(×)你還沒有關(guān)門。
(○)你還差太遠(yuǎn)。
這句話在美劇中常常出現(xiàn),有時(shí)更簡略,用not even close也可以。close是“近”的意思,not even close便是“差得遠(yuǎn)”的意思。
對話例子:
A:Did I give you the right answer?
B:Not even close.