当我们中文说:小明每天在外奔波,忙碌的像只蜜蜂。
而在英文也时常用这种明喻 simile 的方式来形容人或事,
另一种比喻的方式是暗喻 metaphor,这又是另一个大主题了,
下次会再用另写一篇文章介绍给大家,
而今天我们要教大家:英文中常用来形容人或事的动物明喻!
首先,我们先来看部有趣的影片练练听力:猫咪是如何照顾人类?
让你了解猫咪的贴心举动,别再误会以为他们不爱你啦~
1. As mad as a hornet 愤怒如黄蜂
mad (adj.) 愤怒的;发疯的
Amy was as mad as a hornet because she discovered that her favorite vase was scratched.
Amy 现在气得火冒三丈,因为她发现她最喜欢的花瓶被刮伤了。
2. As blind as a bat 瞎如蝙蝠
blind (adj.) 瞎的
*延伸*
to turn a blind eye to sb./sth. 对…视而不见
Alex turns a blind eye to his annoying roommate who always turns the music loud without considering others’ feeling.
Alex对他那恼人的室友视而不见,因为他总是不在乎他人感受,把音乐开得很大声。
3. As brave as a lion 勇敢如狮子
brave (adj.) 勇敢的
4. As busy as a bee 忙碌如蜜蜂
busy (adj.) 忙碌的
*延伸*
to be busy with sth/sb 忙着应对某事或某人
Jessica was busy with the final presentations at the end of the semester.
在学期末时,Jessica忙着准备期末报告。
5. As dead as a dodo 不再存在(或流行)如渡渡鸟
dead (adj.) 死亡的
渡渡鸟 dodo 是一种绝种 extinct 的鸟类,他虽然有翅膀但是不会飞,
而当今若我们说一件事情或现象 as dead as a dodo,
就意味着这已经过时了、不再存在、不流行了!
15 years ago, people used to listen to music on a Walkman, but now it’s as dead as a dodo. Instead, people use mobile phones nowadays.
十五年前,人们习惯用CD随身听来听音乐,但现在已经过时了,现今人们都用手机来听音乐。
*延伸*
over my dead body 我绝对不同意、免谈!
Please don’t tell mom that I’m gonna sneak out to a party tonight.
拜托不要告诉妈妈我今晚要溜出家,去参加一个派对。
Over my dead body!
我绝对不同意!
6. As drunk as a skunk 醉如臭鼬
skunk 要怎么念?
drunk (adj.) 喝醉的
7. As eager as a beaver 勤奋如河狸
eager (adj.) 热切的;渴望的
*延伸*
be eager to do sth 渴望做某事
Michael is always eager to get Mary’s attention.
Michael 总是渴望得到 Mary 的注意。
8. As free as a bird 自由如鸟
free (adj.) 自由的;免费的
*延伸*
feel free to do something 自在地做某事
If you see anything you want in the refrigerator, please feel free to take it.
假如你在冰箱看到想吃的东西,请尽管拿。
9. As fierce as a tiger 凶猛如虎
fierce (adj.) 凶猛的
10. As graceful as a gazelle 优雅如瞪羚
gazzelle 要怎么念?
graceful (adj.) 优雅的
11. As gentle/meek as a lamb 温顺如羔羊
gentle (adj.) 温柔的
meek (adj.) 温顺的
12. As happy as a lark 喜如云雀
为什么会说云雀很快乐呢?
因为它们的歌声相当好听,音调很有变化性,
所以听起来会觉得它们很快乐!
happy (adj.) 快乐的
13. As hairy as a gorilla 多毛如猩猩
hairy (adj.) 多毛的
14. As hungry as a horse 饥饿如马
hungry (adj.) 饥饿的
15. As mischievous as a monkey 淘气如猴
mischievous (adj.) 淘气的
16. As playful as a kitten 爱玩如小猫
playful (adj.) 爱玩的;爱开玩笑的
17. As quiet as a mouse 安静如鼠
quiet (adj.)安静的
18. As poor as a church mouse 贫穷如教堂鼠
大家可能会很好奇为什么教堂的老鼠很贫穷呢?
因为通常教堂里不会贮存任何食物,比起家鼠,教堂鼠更不容易找食物。
poor (adj.) 贫穷的;不足的
19. As proud as a peacock 骄傲如孔雀
proud (adj.) 骄傲的;自豪的
*延伸*
be proud of… 对…感到自豪
I’m proud of being a member of the great team.
我很骄傲能成为这个优秀队伍中的一员。
20. As sly/cunning as a fox 狡猾如狐狸
sly (adj.) 狡猾的
cunning (adj.) 狡猾的
21. As strong as a bull 壮如公牛
strong (adj.) 强壮的
22. As tall as a giraffe 高如长颈鹿
tall (adj.) 高的
23. As timid as a rabbit 胆怯如兔
timid (adj.) 胆怯的
24. As weak as a kitten 虚弱如小猫
weak (adj.) 虚弱的
25. As wise as an owl 聪明如猫头鹰
wise (adj.) 聪明的
26. As sick as a dog 病恹恹如狗
sick (adj.) 生病的;对…厌恶的
*延伸*
be sick of sth./ doing sth. 对…厌烦
I’m sick of working together with that mean colleague in my department.
跟那位和我同一部门的刻薄同事一起工作,让我感到很厌烦。
27. As slippery as an eel 滑溜如鳗鱼
slippery (adj.) 滑溜的;棘手的
28. As slow as a snail 缓慢如蜗牛
slow (adj.) 缓慢的
29. As stubborn as a mule 固执如驴子
mule 要怎么念?
stubborn (adj.) 固执的
30. As sleepy as a koala 爱睡如无尾熊
sleepy (adj.) 昏昏欲睡的
Even though I wake up in the midday, I still feel assleepy as a koala.
即使我睡到中午才起床,我依旧觉得昏昏欲睡而且很累。