现在信息发达,传媒争相报导内幕消息,当一些名人、艺人或政要人物被问及敏感话题时,大多会回答一句:“我无可奉告。”那么“无可奉告”用英语要怎么说呢?我们来看一段对话:
Adrian: Is that a new dress?
阿德里恩: 那是新衣服吗?
Candy: I have no comment.
坎蒂: 我无可奉告。
Adrian: You've had a makeover haven't you?
阿德里恩: 你有精心打扮过哦,没有吗?
Candy: No comment.
坎蒂: 无可奉告。
Adrian: I bet you've done this for a guy you like. Right?
阿德里恩: 我想你一定是为了心上人才这样做,对吗?
Candy: Well actually, yes. I have strong feelings for you. Do you like me?
坎蒂: 其实,是的。我对你有强烈好感,你喜欢我吗?
Adrian: Eh, eh. No comment.
阿德里恩: 呃,呃,无可奉告。
对话中共出现了3次 no comment,没错,它就是我们常常中文里所说的“无可奉告、不予置评”。再举个例句:I have no comment to make on what is said about her.(关于她的传言,我不予置评。)除了 no comment,还可以说:I have nothing to say.(我无话可说。)例:I have nothing to say in reference to that incident.(关于那次事件,我无可奉告。)另外在口语里,一个 nothing 也可以表示“无可奉告”的意思。例:When asked what the company was planning to do, the chairman repeated "nothing".(当被问及公司计划做什么时,董事长重复道:“无可奉告”。)
对话中 Adrian 问,You've had a makeover, haven't you? 动词词组 make over 有“修改”、“改造”的意思,例如:The tailor has made the dress over, so that it looks fashionable now.(那件衣服经裁缝修改后,现在看起来很时髦。)两个词合在一起变成名词 makeover,就是“非常用心的打扮”或“(机构等)形象的彻底改变”,例如:(1) Every woman likes a good makeover once in a while.(女人总喜欢偶然非常用心的好好打扮。) (2) The bank decided that it was time for a complete makeover, and launched an advertising campaign emphasizing its investment functions.(这家银行决定改变形象,展开了宣传运动,强调其投资功能。)
当你不想把消息告诉别人时说:I have no comment. 那么如果你有些小道消息想向别人“爆料”,却又不想别人引用你的名字,这该怎么说呢?这时你可以告诉他:Don't quote me on that.(不要引述我的名字。)或 Can I say something off the record?(我可否私底下告诉你一些消息?)