1. Drive sb. bananas
别搞错!随然有 bananas,但指的可不是为某人载来一堆香蕉,而是让某人抓狂! Drive 这个单字除了「运送」以外,也有「驱使」的意思,应用在这个片语中,就是指「让某人⋯」。
那么,为什么这个俚语是让人抓狂的意思呢?
想像一下,在一群猴子兴奋地跳上跳下时,把一串香蕉摆在它们面前,不就会 drive them (to eat) bananas,让它们为了吃到香蕉而疯狂吗?
A: What’s wrong?
A:怎么了?
B: Johnson’s been humming songs from his new collection of seventies disco hits all morning, and it’s really driving me bananas.
B:强森整个早上都在哼他新买的 70 年代迪斯可畅销曲,真的很令我抓狂。
*另外,这俚语中的 banana 也可以替换成 nuts(坚果),或直接改成大家熟悉的 crazy。
2. Fat chance
机会⋯很肥?不是啦,可别傻傻的照字面翻译!
许多人可能会误以为 fat chance 指的是大好机会,其实意思恰恰相反。它是用来表示,机会太肥了,连你家大门都挤不进,基本上可解读为「机会渺茫」、「机会很小」。
除了 Fat chance 外,Not a chance! 或更狠一点的 Not in a million years!(一百万年后也不会有机会)也表达了强烈的拒绝意味。另外还有一个用法:In your dreams! 则可以翻成「你作梦」或是「做你的春秋大梦」。
A: Can I have a car when I graduate, Dad?
A:老爸,我毕业时可不可以买辆车送我?
B: Fat chance! I’m still driving a second-hand car.
B:你想得美!老子开的还是二手车呢。
Aussie = Australian 澳洲人
Barbie = Barbecue 烧烤
Bikkie = Biscuit 饼干
Bloke = Man, guy 男人
Bottle shop = Liquor shop 卖酒的店
Brekkie = Breakfast 早餐
Chook = Chicken 鸡
Crook = Sick (feeling crook), bad (crook weather), difficult (crook job), also dishonest person
Cuppa = A cup of tea or coffee 一杯茶/咖啡
Footy = Australian football 澳式橄榄球
G’Day (Good Day) = Hello
Not bad, mate = Fine, thank you
Jackaroo = A man in training on a station in Australia 牧场雇用的新手(男)
Jillaroo = A woman in training on a station in Australia 牧场雇用的新手(女)
Lollies = Sweets, candy 糖果
Mozzi = Mosquitoes 蚊子
Push bike = Bicycle 单车
Roo = Kangaroo 袋鼠
Smoko = Smoke or coffee break = 休息时间
Ta = Thank you 谢谢
Tea = Supper 晚餐
Tucker = Food 食品
Veggies = Vegetables 蔬菜