如今互联网这么发达,什么东西只要一放到网上,就会一发不可收拾。如果你突然发现,朋友没有经过允许,就把你的一张很丑陋的照片放到了网上,你会怎么做?我的朋友Jennifer就被同事这么捉弄过一回。她也不示弱,立即找出一张同事更丢人的旧照片,发给了更多的人。这种做法在英语里叫:Beat someone at their own game.
beat在中文里是打击的意思,game是比赛,游戏。beat someone at their own game,就是以其人之道,还治其人之身的意思。我的朋友Jennifer如法炮制,把同事一些见不得人的照片放到网上,让更多的人都看到,就可以说是She beat?her at her own game.
如果说这是一场搞笑的恶作剧的话,那么在下面这个例子里两家餐馆之间的血拼大降价,就没有这么好笑了。让我们听听看。
"The restaurant across the street from ours was running a special. Guests who ordered a dinner entrée could receive another at half price. So we introduced an even better deal: buy one entrée, get the other free. Now our place is packed. We're BEATING THE COMPETITION AT THEIR OWN GAME."
其中一位老板说:“街对面的餐馆推出特价活动,点一道主菜,第二道菜半价。我们以其人之道,还治其人之身, 决定买一送一,结果现在我们餐馆里的生意特别红火。我们在这次较量中战胜了对手。
如果是我,我也会光顾这家餐馆的。经济不好的时候,商家就更要想方设法地吸引顾客。商业竞争真是英语里常说的“Dog-Eat-Dog残酷无情。
刚才我们谈到了商业竞争的残酷无情。不过有的时候,beat someone at their own game也会给生活增添不少乐趣。让我们一起来听听下面这对夫妻之间的小故事。
"I thought taking my wife sailing was a pretty cool birthday surprise. But, for my big day, she took me skydiving in Mexico. Every year is the same. No matter what gift ideas I come up with, hers are cleverer. She BEATS ME AT MY OWN GAME all the time."
这个人说:“我本来以为带妻子去航海是一个绝妙的生日礼物,但是我过生日的时候,她却计划好了一起到墨西哥去跳伞。每年都是这样,她总能想出更棒的生日礼物来,让我自愧不如。
去年冬天,我跟老公学下国际象棋,怎么也赢不了他,结果我正好有机会采访了一位象棋高手,跟他学了几招,回家就把老公打败了。I finally beat him at his own game.
最近美国经济不景气,很多公司都在裁员。我前些天做了一个梦,梦见早上去上班,结果接到通知,说我们被另外一家电台取代了。They beat us at our own game. 一下子惊醒过来,好在是个梦。
从上面的例子大家肯定已经看出,to beat someone at their own game这个习惯用语里的game可以用来指任何努力和工作。这个习惯用语可以追溯到十三世纪中叶,真可以说是历史悠久了。
上一篇: 看《唐顿庄园》学英式俚语:天涯何处无芳草
下一篇: 看《唐顿庄园》学英式俚语:睡到自然醒
体坛英语资讯:Moldova wins opening World Cup futsal European zone Group A match
体坛英语资讯:China wins mens team title in gymnastics worlds
体坛英语资讯:Flamengo beat Ceara 1-0, Figueirense continue to impress
体坛英语资讯:Conferderations Cup locations defined for Brazil in 2013
体坛英语资讯:South Africas dethroned rugby World Champions welcomed home
体坛英语资讯:Amateur sprinter of Hong Kong dominates mens 100m heats
体坛英语资讯:Easy win for Barca in Champions League
体坛英语资讯:China retain mens foil team title at Worlds
体坛英语资讯:Botafogo and Bahia battle to 2-2 draw, Gremio snaps winning-streak
体坛英语资讯:Berdych, Radwanska into China Open finals
体坛英语资讯:Algerian soccer star to become UN Goodwill Ambassador
体坛英语资讯:Irans Paykan out of FIVB Club World Championship
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Zou wins gold at World Boxing Championships
体坛英语资讯:China-Mongolia-Russia Auto Rally kicks off in Inner Mongolia
体坛英语资讯:Hanover draw with Copenhagen 2-2 at Europa League
体坛英语资讯:16th Pan American Games to open in Mexico on Oct. 14
体坛英语资讯:Corinthians remains leader, Vasco da Gama close behind
体坛英语资讯:Vezzali wins World Championship title in womens foil
体坛英语资讯:Record champions Bayern dominate Bundesliga
体坛英语资讯:Japan wins 2011 AFC U-19 Womens Championship
体坛英语资讯:Sao Paulo fires head coach Adilson Batista
体坛英语资讯:Ghana national soccer team to receive state honors
体坛英语资讯:Radwanska survives 154-minute battle to lift China Open title
体坛英语资讯:Vladimir Klitchko to face Jean-Marc Mormeck
体坛英语资讯:Danes beats Portugal 2-1 to qualify for Euro 2017 Finals
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: White House beefs up security ahead of Trumps acceptance speech, protests
体坛英语资讯:Allegri sure of Ibras desire
体坛英语资讯:NBA star Yi Jianlian back to China
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Huang wins mens Nanquan gold medal in 11th WWC
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Su wins mens Qiangshu at WWC