粉色属暖色调,蓝色属冷色调,明亮的粉色和沉静的蓝色恰是一组对比色。而由pink构成的习惯用语的含义和由blue发展成的习惯用语的含义也恰恰相反。Pink用语表达的是喜气洋洋的良好感觉,而blue用语比喻低落忧郁的情绪。
1. feel in the pink 健康有力
这个短语的出典可能是健康人的脸颊往往是红扑扑的,而脸色苍白却是虚弱无力的迹象,所以人们用in the pink来表示in good health 健康有力。
例句:Today I sure feel in the pink! I had a good night's sleep, a walk in the fresh air this morning, a good breakfast, and I feel like I can get a whole lot accomplished today!.
今天我感觉精力充沛!我昨晚睡了个好觉,一早又在清晨的新鲜空气里散了步,好好吃了顿早餐,所以我觉得自己今天能完成好多工作。
2. tickled pink 感到万分高兴
Tickled 除了大家都知道的“被弄得发痒或者咯咯笑”的意思外,也有“给逗得高兴”的意思。Tickled pink的意思就是:Very pleased; delighted 感到万分高兴。
例句:I'm tickled pink to hear that Bob's asked Susan to marry him. They're both my good friends and I've always thought they were made for each other. I know they'll be very happy together.
听到Bob向Susan求婚的消息我感到万分高兴。他俩都是我的好朋友,而且我一向觉得他们是天生的一对。我知道他们在一起会非常美满。
3. feel blue 心情闷闷不乐
人的情绪时起时伏,feel blue 的意思是:be depressed or sad 心情闷闷不乐,情绪郁郁寡欢。
例句:I woke up feeling blue and I've been feeling blue all day. I don't know why: everything's okay with me. Maybe it's this terrible weather--cold and rainy for five whole days in a row!
我一早醒来就心情不好,接着一整天都闷闷不乐。我都不知道是什么缘故,因为我的一切情况都正常。也许是由于这讨厌的气候;整整一连五天都是没完没了的阴雨天气!
4. sing the blues ; cry the blues诉苦
有一种情调感伤的美国黑人歌曲,就称为the blues蓝调,但习惯用语sing the blues或者cry the blues 不能按照字面意思解释为吟唱蓝调或者大唱蓝调,而是to complain 诉苦的意思。
例句:I just spent two hours listening to Bill sing the blues about his girl friend leaving him for some other guy. I feel sorry for him but he ought to forget it: after all, it happened two years ago.
他刚花了整整两小时听Bill诉说女朋友怎么甩掉他跟了别人的伤心事。他当然为 Bill 感到难过,但是他觉得Bill该把这事丢在脑后了,因为这毕竟是两年前的往事了。
Sing the blues和cry the blues意思都是诉苦,一吐胸中的愁闷,而feel blue和它们不同的是烦恼压抑在胸中。