see the elephant
see the elephant 也可说成 get a look / sight at the elephant,意思是“开眼界”、“长见识”。
“看到了大象”就等于“看到了世界”,就是“见过世面了”?因为“see the elephant”这句俚语诞生的年代,只有在非洲和亚洲才能看到大象,对当时的人来说能看见大象就真的是相当于是见过世面的了,算是开了眼界了。就这样,“see the elephant”就成了“见见世面”的意思了。
例:
The boy came and saw the elephant in the city.
男孩到城里来大开了眼界。
see red
to become very angry
非常生气;暴怒
see red 源于斗牛,公牛看到红色就会发怒。因此,see red意思是“怒不可遏”、“火冒三丈”。
例:
When Jim realized that he had been duped, he started to see red.
当吉姆意识到受骗,他立即火冒三丈。
see the back of sb/sth
If you are pleased to see the back of someone or something, you are pleased that you no longer have to be involved with him, her, or it
巴不得…早点结束;再也不愿见到(某人)
例:
The hotel staff were glad to see the back of such a difficult guest.
宾馆员工很高兴把这么难伺候的客人打发走。
see stars
If you see stars, you are partly unconscious because you have been hit on the head.
(头部受撞击而)眼冒金星
想一想,除了抬头望天之外,你还能在什么时候看到星星?就是被撞倒或是打到眼冒金星的时候了。所以see stars又有“眼冒金星”的意思。
例:
I bumped my head on the door, and saw stars for some five minutes afterwards.
我一头撞在门上,接下来的5分钟里,眼前金星直冒。