17世纪,英国为争夺海上霸主地位,先后与荷兰发生过三次战争,双方各有胜负,英国最终打败荷兰,成为日不落帝国。英国人也将对荷兰人的仇视和轻蔑情绪带入到了语言中,创造了很多丑化荷兰人的表达。当然,现在我们使用这些表达时,已经没有了种族歧视的意味,仅仅是出于习惯。下面就让我们看看这些表达吧。
1. Dutch comfort 不会使人感激的安慰,退一步想而得到的安慰
After all it may have been worse; thats a bit of Dutch comfort.
结果可能更糟也未可知,这总算聊做安慰。
2. Dutch auction(荷兰式拍卖)又称降价拍卖
它起源于17世纪的荷兰,最初以拍卖郁金香而闻名,当时的拍卖方式是出价最高的前几位有权获得郁金香,最后成交价统一为这几个人中出价最低的价格。一般情况下,按照荷兰拍卖的规则,物品由喊价最高的人拥有、但他只要付得标者中喊价最低人所喊出的价格。
All the furniture here is for Dutch auction.
这里所有的家具都降价拍卖
3. Dutch courage 酒后之勇,一时的虚勇
中国人都说酒能壮胆,看来外国人也有这样的共识啊。
He needed some Dutch courage before facing his boss about the pay increase.
他需要喝点酒壮壮胆,才能当老板的面谈加薪的事。
4. Dutch defense 撤退 ,虚张声势的抵抗
前面说过,英荷为争夺海上霸主的地位,发起了三次大规模的战争,各有胜负。反映在语言上,就出现了许多侮辱对方的话,而Dutch defense就是其中一个。
Im afraid our rival maintained a kind of Dutch defense.
我觉得我们对手的防御是在虚张声势。
5. Dutch feast 客人尚未尽兴而主人却已酩酊大醉的宴席
Jim invited us to his birthday party, and it turned out to be a Dutch feast because he got drunk minutes after our arrival.
吉姆邀请我们参加他的生日聚会,结果,我们刚到几分钟他就喝醉了。
6. Dutch treat 各人自己付钱的聚餐或娱乐
英国人认为荷兰人吝啬,又好请客吃饭,却让客人自己掏钱。类似的表达还有Go Dutch和Dutch date。在中文里通常叫做AA制。
Today well have a Dutch treat at the restaurant.
今天在餐馆吃饭我们将实行AA制。
7. Dutch bargain 饮酒时达成的交易,常指不牢靠或不公平
This contract is definitely a Dutch bargain.
这份合同一点都不公平。
8. Dutch uncle 动辄训人的人,唠里唠叨训人的人
Stop talking to me like a Dutch uncle about my duty to my family.
在有关我的家庭责任感这个问题上,用不着你来教训我。
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