馅饼(pie)和蛋糕(cake)是老外爱吃的东西。因为与他们的日常生活密切相关,所以被用以喻人喻事也就不足为怪了。
1. take the cake: 名列第一;优胜
Of all the hard-hearted women, she takes the cake.
女性中能像她那么铁石心肠的,恐怕再也没谁了。
2. eat humble pie: 忍气吞声;低头认罪
I think I'm right, but if I'm wrong, I'll eat humble pie.
我觉得我是对的。不过如果能证明我错,我甘愿认罪。
3. go/sell like hot cakes: 热销,畅销
I'm sure this new line of coats will go like hot cakes.
我确信这种新款外套一定会畅销。
4. a piece of cake/as easy as pie: 小菜一碟,小事一桩
Glad to help. It was a piece of cake.
很高兴能帮上忙。这一点也不难。
5. eat one's cake and have it too: 得其利而无其害,两者兼得(多用于否定句中)
Don't buy a car if you want to walk and stay healthy. You can't eat your cake and have it too.
如果你想要走路、想要保持健康,就别买车。鱼和熊掌不可兼得。
6. pie in the sky: 渺茫的希望
Their plans to set up their own business are just pie in the sky.
他们创办自己公司的计划只不过是空想罢了。
7. cakes and ale: 欢乐,物质享受,生活中的好东西(ale是一种酒)
Any reasonable person knows that life is not all cakes and ale.
任何理性的人都知道,生活不可能总是充满鲜花和美酒。
8. a piece (or slice) of the pie: 一份好处,一杯羹
When the business started making money, everyone in his family wanted a piece of the pie.
他的生意开始赚钱后,家里每个人都想分一杯羹。