我们今天要讲的三个习惯用语里都有同样一个词——old,old的意思就是“老,例如年纪老了,东西老了。
1. old chestnut 陈腔滥调;听腻了的笑话或故事
Nut就是果仁,如花生、腰果、核桃仁等都属于nut。Chestnut就是栗子。说起栗子,你肯定会想起秋天马路上闻到的糖炒栗子的香味吧。Chestnut就是让你口水直流的栗子。那old chestnut又是什么意思呢?难道是老的栗子吗?不是,old chestnut是一个习惯用语。它的意思是,一个笑话或一个故事由于许多人都说,说得太多了以后就变得没有意思了。我们来举个例子吧。
例句-1:Did you hear that new comedian on TV last night? He is not very funny. He takes too long to tell his jokes and they are all old chestnuts that I heard at least a dozen times before.
昨天晚上你有没有在电视上看到那个讲笑话的新演员?他并不怎么滑稽,说了半天才说到他要说的笑话,而那些笑话我过去都已经听了几十次了,听都听腻了。
2. old college try 尽最大努力去做一件事
College就是大学;try在这里就是努力的意思。把old college和try三个字组合在一起就成了一个习惯用语。它的意思是,尽最大努力去做一件事。在三十年代的时候有一些描述大学足球队的电影非常受欢迎。 Old college try是学校里的学生为自己的球队加油时说的话;也就是鼓励正在场上比赛的队员尽力踢好这场球。很快这个说法就变成了日常用的口语。
下面是一个例句。这是一个爸爸对女儿说话。他的女儿正准备去上大学,还想参加女子篮球队。
例句-2:Barbara, think seriously about trying out for the basketball team. In high school your team went to the final for the state championship and if you make the old college try, I am sure the coach will pick you for the team.
芭芭拉,你好好想一想加入篮球队的事。在中学的时候,你们的球队在州内比赛时,最后参加了决赛。要是你尽最大努力的话,我肯定教练会挑中你参加球队。
3. comfortable as an old shoe 令人轻松愉快的
Comfortable在中文里的意思就是舒服;shoe大家知道就是一只鞋子。要是你有一双鞋子,虽然已经穿得很旧,但是因为你穿得很合脚让你感到很舒服,所以你还是很喜欢它。你大概可以猜到这个习惯用语的意思了吧。Comfortable as an old shoe就是指你已经很熟悉的人或一样东西,因此让你感到很放松很自如。我们来举个例子,例句里说话的人在讲多年来住在他隔壁的邻居。
例句-3:Joe is a good neighbor, as comfortable as an old shoe. He is always cheerful and friendly and on summer evenings, we like just sitting around on his porch, enjoying the fresh air.
Joe是一个很好的邻居,我跟他很合得来。他总是高高兴兴,态度很友好。夏天晚上,我们都喜欢坐在他门口的走廊上享受新鲜空气。
上一篇: “零碎”的“小摆设”
下一篇: 你有“直升机父母”吗?
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