have an axe to grind别有用心;另有企图;怀有私心
have an axe to grind是个源自美国的成语,字面意思是让斧头磨一磨,寓意是to have private interests to serve;to have sth to gain for oneself;to have a selfish reason等之意。
据英国《朗曼英国成语词典》等记述。这个成语出自美国著名的政治家、科学家本杰明富兰克林所写的一则故事。富兰克林幼年时,在院子里遇到一个带有斧头的陌生人,那人称赞院子里那个磨石 很好,想看看它好不好使,便花言巧语的让他转动磨石,而那人就在上面磨利自己的斧头。
据美国之音英语广播节目《词汇掌故》说,这个成语出自1810年美国宾夕法尼亚一家报纸上首次刊登的一则故事。故事说的是有个陌生人手持一把斧头,想找磨石来磨利他的斧头。他在街上遇到一个男孩,就问道:好孩子,你爸爸有磨石吗?那男孩就带他到家里来,帮他转动磨石磨斧头。这对一个孩子来说是件艰苦的活,男孩把手都磨破了,累个半死才把斧头磨得闪闪发光。那个人见目的达到,不仅没向小孩道谢,反而教训孩子快点去上学,以免迟到.
2个出典实质上讲的是同一件事。富兰克林作为一位杰出的资产阶级革命家,担任的最后一项公职就是宾夕法尼亚州废奴委员会会长,为废除奴隶制而奔忙,直到生命的最后一息。宾夕法尼亚州一家报纸在富兰克林逝世20周年发表那篇小故事,应该就是他生前所讲的故事。这个故事的寓意很清楚:持斧待磨者 用恭维的话来达到个人目的,人们不要上当受骗。
He may offer you a post in his firm,but he has an axe to grind, he wants to stand well with your father.
His interest in our venture cannot be sincere,because i knew he has an axe to grind.
In the first place,let me assure you,gentlemen,that i have not an axe to grind
上一篇: 雅思考试辅导:阅读培训类题型1
下一篇: 雅思阅读核心题型及解题技巧:句子完成题
2017年12月英语四级作文范文:海外学历的价值
体坛英语资讯:Stoegers biggest challenge with Dortmund: Teach attackers to defend
每个人都在想 詹皇的巅峰到底还有多长?
国内英语资讯:Chinese procuratorates step up work on pre-litigation procedures
国内英语资讯:China to enhance efforts to keep foreign trade, investment stable
国内英语资讯:UN should become main platform to practice multilateralism: Chinese FM
体坛英语资讯:Ronaldinho planning 2018 farewell tour
2020年海外游去哪里?《孤独星球》:这10个国家最值得一去!
国际英语资讯:Syrian govt, opposition delegations continue indirect peace talks in Geneva
体坛英语资讯:Freiburg shock Cologne 4-3 in German Bundesliga
Sweet tooth hazards 爱吃甜食给健康带来的隐患
体坛英语资讯:Ajax reduce gap with PSV to seven points after convincing win in Dutch league
国内英语资讯:China moves to boost 3D printing
体坛英语资讯:Good news for Barca as Dembele back in training
国内英语资讯:Premier Li calls for reforms to boost market
国内英语资讯:China, Iran to boost military cooperation
国内英语资讯:China calls for joint efforts with Russia, India to maintain intl stability
国内英语资讯:China to tighten up plastic use in schools
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Russia to withdraw majority troops from Syria, keep two bases
国内英语资讯:Chinese government allocates winter disaster relief fund
体坛英语资讯:Top four all win in Spains matchday 15
China’s sandwich generation?
习近平:实施国家大数据战略加快建设数字中国
体坛英语资讯:Zhejiang beat Liaoning 95-92 to end leaders seven-game winning streak
国际英语资讯:Testimony meeting held in Japans Shizuoka in memory of 1937 Nanjing Massacre
拿什么拯救90后的发际线?别急,科学家找到办法啦
国际英语资讯:U.S. policy to isolate Pyongyang doomed to fail: DPRK
国际英语资讯:Spanish Supreme Court judge looks for more evidence over Catalan Independence referendum
国际英语资讯:UN, partners launch 4.4 bln dollars plan to support over 5 mln Syrian refugees
乐视创始人被列入中国“失信”名单