英语讲义【68】英语惯用语的简化

　　语言是社会的产物。任何语言都在随着社会的发展而发展。其中一个突出的倾向，就是简化。例如英语有些惯用语中的小小成分就可以省略不用，趋向于较简单的形式。

　　以下便是些惯用语某些成分可以被合法省略的例子:

　　⒈定冠词 the 的省略，如：

　　● pull the stringspull strings：通过人事用其影响力

　　● the long and the short ofthe long and short of：总而言之

　　● if the worst comes to the worstif worst comes to worst ：大不了

　　● to go through the proper channelsto go through proper channels：通过正常渠道

　　⒉不定冠词的省略，如：

　　● in a great measurein great measure：在很大程度上

　　● at a breakneck speedat breakneck speed：以惊险速度

　　⒊名词复数符号的省略，如：

　　● to rack ones brainsto rack ones brain：绞尽脑汁

　　● in the interests ofin the interest of：为了利益起见

　　⒋所有格代名词的省略，如：

　　● to save ones faceto save face：保存面子

　　● to take ones leave ofto take leave：请假

　　⒌返身代词的省略，如：

　　● to stand oneself aloof fromto stand aloof from：远离

　　● to adapt oneself toto adapt to：适应

　　⒍形容词的省略，如：

　　● to make both ends meetto make ends meet：收支平衡

　　● to take ones own lifeto take ones life ：牺牲自己

　　● to hit the right nail on the headto hit the nail on the head：做对、答对

　　● at long lastat last：终于

　　⒎介词的省略，如：

　　● to take to flightto take flight：逃之夭夭

　　● at full lengthfull length：详细地

　　⒏副词的省略，如：

　　● to have too many irons in the fireto have many irons in the fire：要做的事太多

　　● to put out to seato put to sea：启航

　　⒐As及其他词语的省略，如：

　　● as regular as clockworkregular as clockwork：很准时地

　　● as blind as a batblind as a bat：视力不良

　　● his word is as good as his bondHis word is his bond：重视诺言