俗语:“隔墙有耳!”
古语言:“墙有耳,伏寇在侧。墙有耳者,微谋外泄之谓也。”巧的是,英语中还真的有“walls have ears”(墙壁长耳)。天下没有秘密自是真理,难道这藏不住的秘密,无论国内还是国外,都要从墙洞里钻出不可? 据载,“walls have ears”首见于希腊。传说古希腊国王Dionysius(狄奥尼西奥斯,统治着西西里最富庶的城市Syracuse)实施独裁,其手中至宝 —— 一耳状岩洞(现意大利最为著名的景点之一)—— 可以连通整个皇宫。凭借“耳朵”岩洞,皇宫里自是没有秘密,所有言语全在狄奥尼西奥斯的监听范围之内。 也有说法认为,“walls have ears”始于巴黎卢浮宫。卢浮宫原为法国王宫,据说其墙壁中安装有神秘的传声管道,可供偷听使用。王后凯瑟琳摄政时期,就是发靠这种“有耳”的墙壁来偷听可疑大臣的言谈的。 耳状的岩洞也好,墙壁里的传声管道也罢,总之,秘密是通过墙泄露了出去。大约在17世纪20年代,“walls have ears”正式进入英语词汇,用以比喻秘密也会泄露,或是告诫人们说话留心,免得被偷听。看两个例句: Be careful what you say; the walls have ears! (说话要小心,隔墙有耳啊! ) Hedges have eyes and walls have ears.(篱笆有眼,墙壁长耳。)
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