如果你的外国朋友Jay神情沮丧的对你说:
I lost my shirt in Macau.
你会安慰他别难过,买一件新衬衫就好了吗?
接着,他又愁眉苦脸的告诉你:
What’s even worse, my company just gave me the boot.
你还以为老板送他的皮靴是业绩奖励吗?
英文藉由衣物表达的用语还真不少,衬衫靴子不只是件衣服鞋子而已哦,
Jay到澳门赌到输光光,中文通常会说他输到脱裤子,英文不用脱裤子,
而是输到丢衬衫,可是,为什么英文的赌光输光会跟衬衫有关呢?
有~请~英学大师Gordon为读者开讲:
“Because the gambler lost all his money and possessions.
If he lost his shirt, he has nothing left anymore. That is to say, he is broke! ”
哦~原来如此,连身上的衬衫都输掉了,那就是一干二净,一无所有了,
更惨的是公司给Jay一支靴子,但穿着靴子把他踢出去的其实是老板啊,
所以要用英语给朋友拍肩安慰,我们也得听懂衣物背后的含意,
来看看其他跟穿戴衣物有关的英文表达:
1. I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve. I won’t hide my emotions from people.
(我一向开诚布公,我不会对人隐藏我的情绪)
这句话源自于莎翁的奥赛罗一剧,意思是把心情穿戴在袖子外,
你就能直接看见我的喜怒哀乐,表示你尽情吐露,没有隐藏。
2. He is hot under the collar because the waiter is being rude to him.
(他感到气恼,因为服务生正以粗鲁的态度对待他。)
衣领下的脖子发红发热了,表示你高血压你不满的情绪上来了。
3. Put yourself in his shoes, you would understand how he felt.
(设身处地为他着想,你就会了解他的感受)
鞋子穿起来是不是舒适合脚,只有穿鞋人自己知道,
唯有穿上一样的鞋子,你才能体会当事人的感觉。
4. He has 20 years of sales experience under his belt.
(他拥有20年的业务经验)
Have something under one’s belt 也是一种获得的成就,
就像吃喝食物全都进到肚子里,腰部周围也会鼓胀饱满起来,
所以你有实实在在的成就和经验在你的皮带下,谁也抢不走哦。
In the war years, people must learn to tighten their belts.
(在战争时期,人们必须勒紧皮带过生活)
这个用法跟中文一样,相反地,如果吃太饱撑着,
你得 loosen your belt 松开腰(皮)带。
5. Jay is wearing two hats. He works as a clerk in the daytime and moonlights as a security guard.
(Jay身兼两职。白天是店员,晚上兼职当保全)
厨师有厨师帽,警察有警帽,换不同的帽子指的就是不同的职业,
moonlight月光,当动词用,也有夜间兼职的意思。