每种语言都有一些特殊的词汇用来形容人的不同特性。例如,在中文里我们把那些只会念书的人叫做"书呆子",把那些老是屈从于别人意志的人叫做"软骨头"等。今天,就给大家介绍英语中类似的习惯用语。
01
turkey
愚蠢无用的人
Turkey指火鸡,美国人在感恩节和圣诞节时家家户户都要吃火鸡。可是,活的火鸡非常难看,行动迟顿,而且笨头笨脑的。所以,如果用turkey来形容人,就等于说那个人是愚蠢无用的。
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He never finished school, he doesn't have a job, he dresses like a bum--he looks like a real turkey to me.
他书没念完,也没有工作,穿得像个叫化子。我看,他真是个愚蠢的,毫无用处的人。
02
wimp
软弱的人
美国人经常用 wimp 这个字来形容一些比较软弱,缺乏勇气,办事无效的人。
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He looks like such a wimp: I'm afraid he doesn't have the guts to handle a real crisis when it comes up.
他看起来像个软骨头。我担心,在真正发生危机的时候,他可能不会有足够的勇气来处理问题。
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I'm afraid my sister married a real wimp. He lets himself get pushed around by everybody.
我看我的妹妹大概是嫁了一个真正的软骨头。他听任周围任何人的摆布。
03
jock
身材魁梧/有男子气概
Jock形容的是那种身材魁梧,长得很帅,很富有男子汉气概的运动员。
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You may call me a nerd, but I think it's more important to study hard than to be a jock and play football or basketball.
你可以叫我书呆子,但是我认为用功念书要比做一个漂亮男子和踢足球、打垒球更重要。
04
girl jock
女运动员
对于积极参加各种体育运动的女同学,我们可以用girl jock来形容。
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My kid sister is only six but it looks like she'll turn out to be a girl jock.
我的小妹妹只有六岁,可是看起来她会成为一个强壮的女运动员。
05
city slicker
油嘴滑舌的人
Slick的意思是油滑的。所以,city slicker 形容的是说话很圆滑,衣着很时髦,但是不老实、不可信任的家伙。
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I told Susie not to go out with any of the city slickers with their smooth talk and fancy clothes.
我告诉苏琦不要和那些油嘴滑舌、衣着讲究的城里人出去玩。
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Sure, a city slicker looks smart as long as he stays in a place like New York. But you put him down on a farm and he won't do much better than a newborn baby!
是的,一个油滑的城里人在像纽约这种地方看起来都很精明。但是,你要是把他送到农村去,他肯定什么也不会干,比一个新生婴儿好不了多少。