属于同一文化的人们必然会形成共同的特定用语和用词,例如今天我们要讲的就是美国人用来描述人神志不佳、举止不正常的习惯用语。这几个习惯用语都十分口语化,是用在非正式场合的,在使用这几个习惯用语的时候得特别小心,以免无意中伤害了他人。
1. Not playing with a full deck 失魂落魄、神志不清
Deck这里指的是一副扑克牌,所以not playing with a full deck从字面解释就是在打一副缺牌的扑克。你想一副缺牌的扑克打得成牌吗? 当然不成,这就跟缺心眼的人办不成事儿一样。当然,not playing with a full deck这个习惯用语是用作比喻意义的,表示不是处于完好无缺的状态。
例句-1:Have you noticed that old man who sits on a park bench all day talking to himself? I overheard him today and he's just talking nonsense. I'm afraid the poor guy isn't playing with a full deck.
你有没有注意到整天坐在公园长凳上喃喃自语的那个老人?我偶然听到他说的全是毫无意义的废话,恐怕那可怜的家伙有点神志迷糊了。
2. Not having both oars in the water 举止笨拙、头脑不平衡
Oar是划船的桨。大多数非机动船都需要在水里划动双桨来推进。如果划船的人没把双桨都放下水中一齐划动,只有一把桨下水地乱划一气,那只船就会在原地团团转,进退不得,可见这个划船人有多笨拙。当然not having both oars in the water这个习惯用语现在不只是用来说笨拙的划船人,它的应用范围扩大了。
例句-2:Professor Blank is so absent-minded you think he doesn't have both oars in the water. But when you go to his class and listen to his lecture, you know why everybody says he's a genius in his field.
Blank教授老是那么心不在焉、丢三拉四的,你会觉得他头脑不正常。但是如果你去上他的课,听他的讲座的话,你会发现他在自己的学术领域内可真是才华出众。
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