今天我们要讲的习惯用语都有fish这个词。大家都知道fish是鱼,但是fish可以作动词。
1. Fish or cut bait 要么全力以赴,不然就干脆放弃
Fish作动词意思是钓鱼,bait是系在钓鱼线上的鱼饵。所以这个习惯用语如果直译就是要么钓鱼,要么干脆切断鱼饵。 Fish or cut bait最初出现在十九世纪,一名议员在国会就一项议案进行表决前对与会者说了这句话,敦促大家当机立断,做出是或否的明确表态。
这个习惯用语从此广为流传,用来促使对方做一抉择:要么好好干,不然就干脆别干,尤其用来敦促某人迅速决定究竟是否参与。让我们来听个例子。这是一个作风强硬的商人正试图了断一笔交易。他要求对方迅速拿定主意。
例句-1:Charlie, youve had two weeks to decide whether you want in on this deal. Now its time to fish or cut bait. I need your answer by six oclock tonight -- otherwise well leave you out of it!
Charlie,对于要不要参与这笔生意你斟酌了有两星期了。现在你务必当机立断。我必须在今晚六点前得到你的答复,否则我们就把你排除在外。
2. Fishing expedition 以搜罗不利于某人证据为目的的调查行动
Expedition意思是调查、考察。这个习惯用语可能来自出海探寻鱼群行踪的远征。鱼儿潜游在茫茫大海里,可真是捉摸不定,要找到他们得靠机遇。Fishing expedition像所有的习惯用语一样,意义已经引伸到其它方面。例如为找寻罪证而做的调查。让我们来听一个例子,说的是一名参议员被调查是否有不端行为。他对这一调查作出了反应。
例句-2:The senator says the investigation is a fishing expedition by his enemies to see if they can find anything he has ever done that might hurt his political career.
那位参议员声称,这次调查是他政敌的蓄意盘查,目的是搜罗挖掘他是否有不端行为,以便损毁他的政治生涯。
3. Other fish to fry 另有更重要或者更有利可图的事情得办
Fry是油煎的意思。这个习惯用语从字面来解释就是另有一条鱼要煎。这句话非常口语化,常用在非正式场合。它表达什么意思呢? 让我们通过一个例子来体会。有的人把事业放在生活的首要地位;事业的重要性甚至超越了家庭和亲人。我们要听的例子说的就是这样一个人。
例句-3:I cant believe it! His only son was hurt in an accident and he told his wife he couldnt go to the hospital until later because he had other fish to fry -- a million-dollar deal he was closing.
我实在难以想象!他的独生子遭到意外受了伤,而他却对太太说,他要晚些时候才能去医院,因为他另有要事得办,有一笔百万美元的大生意在等着他拍板呢。
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