英語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)典故(求:有趣的英語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ),要有解釋和相關(guān)故事)
1.求:有趣的英語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ),要有解釋和相關(guān)故事
嘮嗑： Chew the fat 北方話(huà)把“閑聊”稱(chēng)作“嘮嗑”，chew the fat是個(gè)俗語(yǔ)，和“嘮嗑”的意思很相近。
不過(guò)，也有人對此產(chǎn)生異議：chew the fat明明是“細嚼肥肉”，似乎和“聊天、嘮嗑”八桿子打不著(zhù)！呵呵，尋答案還得細查辭源。 Fat在短語(yǔ)中指“咸腌肉”，所以，談到“chew the fat”往往會(huì )讓人想到這樣一幅畫(huà)面：幾個(gè)朋友，幾瓶啤酒，幾個(gè)家常小菜（牛肉干，豆腐干，煙熏肉），于是乎，大家伙酒勁兒足，話(huà)頭兒興，喝酒、吃菜、談天說(shuō)地幾不誤……而從辭源上講，短語(yǔ)“chew the fat”確實(shí)由此而來(lái)。
所以，若邀朋友到家中嘮嗑您可這么說(shuō)：“Hey, John, why not come over and chew the fat？” 另外，chew（咀嚼）在英語(yǔ)中常用來(lái)比喻“沉思，抱怨，閑談”等一些行為，如短語(yǔ)chew the cud（深思）；chew the rag（聊天，爭論，發(fā)牢騷）。 惡有惡報惡有惡報惡有惡報惡有惡報 “善有善報，惡有惡報，不是不報，時(shí)候未到。”
一看到這句話(huà)，就想起武俠劇里一位面無(wú)表情、修行頗深的方丈在開(kāi)導某位施主。那么，這個(gè)“惡有惡報”該怎么用英語(yǔ)表達呢？那就是：“chickens come home to roost”。
進(jìn)退兩難進(jìn)退兩難進(jìn)退兩難進(jìn)退兩難 鄭中基在《左右為難》里唱道：“我的決定，會(huì )有怎樣的傷害？面對著(zhù)愛(ài)人和朋友，那一個(gè)我該放開(kāi)？一邊是友情，一邊是愛(ài)情，左右都不是，為難了自己。”相信很多人都遇到過(guò)左右為難、進(jìn)退兩難的情境吧。
那么，英語(yǔ)中如何表達呢？請看：“between a rock and a hard place”。 做個(gè)做個(gè)做個(gè)做個(gè)“得力助手得力助手得力助手得力助手” 一個(gè)朋友，剛進(jìn)一家公司沒(méi)多久，就成了上司的得力助手。
有一次他胃疼，上司都特地打電話(huà)來(lái)慰問(wèn)。我們趕緊套他的秘訣，結果他說(shuō)：其他人都懶，我比較勤快而已。
哪個(gè)上司不喜歡能干活的員工呀。看來(lái)，我們要向他學(xué)習了，做上司的“man Friday”。
堅持堅持堅持堅持！！！！ 一直很佩服一個(gè)大學(xué)同學(xué)，那是一個(gè)非常有個(gè)性的人。當時(shí)，大家上選修課都是能不選就不選，騰出時(shí)間玩。
而人家卻不管別人怎么做怎么說(shuō)，把課排得滿(mǎn)滿(mǎn)的，一直堅持到畢業(yè)。這樣的人用英語(yǔ)說(shuō)就是：“stick to his guns”。
留個(gè)好印象留個(gè)好印象留個(gè)好印象留個(gè)好印象！！！！ 還記得小品《英雄母親的一天》里一個(gè)很搞笑的鏡頭：電視臺的記者來(lái)給老太太錄象，讓她從門(mén)外走進(jìn)來(lái)。結果，老太太一緊張，不知道該邁哪只腳，就一直把右腳放前面，像螃蟹一樣橫著(zhù)就進(jìn)來(lái)了。
顯然，老太太知道要把最好的那只腳放前面（put your best foot forward）。 你是不是我那杯茶你是不是我那杯茶你是不是我那杯茶你是不是我那杯茶？？？？ 網(wǎng)絡(luò )上流行著(zhù)一部小說(shuō)，名字叫《你是不是我那杯茶》，講的是一個(gè)漂在上海的女子尋找愛(ài)情的故事。
從名字可以看出，她在尋找的那杯茶就是她理想的意中人。其實(shí)，這個(gè)浪漫的名字是來(lái)自英語(yǔ)中的“my cup of tea”。
“搖錢(qián)樹(shù)搖錢(qián)樹(shù)搖錢(qián)樹(shù)搖錢(qián)樹(shù)”！！！！ 小時(shí)候，自從看了神筆馬良，就夢(mèng)想著(zhù)自己也有一支神筆，畫(huà)一棵搖錢(qián)樹(shù)。想吃零食、買(mǎi)玩具的時(shí)候就搖一下，錢(qián)就掉手里了。
那么，搖錢(qián)樹(shù)用英語(yǔ)怎么說(shuō)呢？請看：“cash cow”。 口語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)：：：：“改天吧改天吧改天吧改天吧！！！！” 在美國，棒球用語(yǔ)種類(lèi)繁多，棒球文化更是融入于美國的社會(huì )文化生活之中。
繼續剛講過(guò)的俚語(yǔ)“有一手有一手有一手有一手 ”，我們再來(lái)看個(gè)源于棒球的口語(yǔ)“Rain check”（字面意：“雨票”；引申義：“改天再赴約吧！”） 想個(gè)語(yǔ)境：朋友邀你看電影或共進(jìn)晚餐，偏你有事不能赴約，這時(shí)就可用婉謝的口吻告訴他：“May I take a rain check（改天可以嗎）？” 或者，簡(jiǎn)單來(lái)句：“Rain check?”“Rain check”出現于19世紀80年代，最初指“棒球賽因下雨延期舉行時(shí)觀(guān)眾得到的‘未來(lái)’入場(chǎng)券”。 隨著(zhù)時(shí)間的推移，“rain check”的語(yǔ)義范圍逐漸擴大，可用來(lái)形容不同情況下對未來(lái)的許諾，如：“比賽改期舉行時(shí)的‘展期入場(chǎng)券’”、“缺貨商品未來(lái)出售時(shí)的‘不漲價(jià)保證’”或“謝約時(shí)的‘改天建議’”。
看個(gè)例句： A:How about a cup of coffee？ （一起去和咖啡？） B:Rain check.（改天吧。） 俚語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)：：：：“在行在行在行在行、、、、有一手有一手有一手有一手” [ 2006-11-07 08:48 ] 棒球有“美國國球”之稱(chēng)。
或許，一本“棒球百科全書(shū)”比一本簡(jiǎn)單的字典更能反映美國文化。據《迪克遜新棒球詞典》（Paul Dickson所著(zhù)）記載，俚語(yǔ)“have on the ball”源于棒球運動(dòng)，指的是“某人有一手，做某事很在行”。
2.美式英語(yǔ)的部分俚語(yǔ)的由來(lái)?
俚語(yǔ)及其由來(lái)~ 英語(yǔ)中的成語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)為數頗多，有的源自《圣經(jīng)》，有的出自古典文學(xué)名家如莎士比亞、喬叟等的名著(zhù)，有的源自古希臘或羅馬的神話(huà)，有的來(lái)自拉丁語(yǔ)或法語(yǔ)等等，在這些成語(yǔ)的后面都蘊藏著(zhù)一段饒有趣味的故事或典故。
這些成語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)為文章或話(huà)語(yǔ)增色不少，但它們其中有不少的表面詞意與其特定含義相差甚遠，所以掌握成語(yǔ)的來(lái)龍去脈是恰當運用的前提d's years 多年，很久 布魯爾說(shuō)，這個(gè)引喻來(lái)自一個(gè)古老的傳說(shuō)：從前沒(méi)有人看見(jiàn)過(guò)死驢子。另有人說(shuō)，這條成語(yǔ)是從d's ears變來(lái)的文字游戲，因驢的耳朵是很長(cháng)的。
有時(shí)也可以見(jiàn)到如下的用語(yǔ)：d's years ago. [例] I met him d's years ago.我在很久以前遇見(jiàn)過(guò)他。go west[俚]上西天；死；（某計劃）失敗；（某種物品）被破壞而不能用。
弗里曼先生說(shuō)，這條成語(yǔ)是在第一次世界大戰時(shí)產(chǎn)生的；那時(shí)傷員以及不在當地埋葬的尸體都從前線(xiàn)向西運送。另一種說(shuō)法是指太陽(yáng)從西邊落下，以次比喻人的死亡。
[例如]Poor John was one of those who went west in the explosion.可憐的約翰是在這次爆炸中魂歸西天的人之一。happy-go-lucky樂(lè )天知命，無(wú)憂(yōu)無(wú)慮，逍遙自在 這個(gè)引喻指人相信命運而生活得愉快。
可作為名詞、形容詞和副詞用。做名詞時(shí)喻樂(lè )天知足的人。
[例]Yong Jones is a happy-go-lucky lad; he doesn't worry about anything 年輕的瓊斯是個(gè)樂(lè )天知命的小伙子，他什么事也不擔憂(yōu)。bad egg： 壞蛋；流氓，騙子，二流子；沒(méi)出息的人 此語(yǔ)大約于上世紀中葉在美國出現，十年后傳到英國。
在比喻上，"壞蛋"也可作為腐敗的象征，因為壞蛋從外表看不出來(lái)，里面卻已氣味難聞。[例] Trust him nothing; he is a bad egg. 別相信他，他是個(gè)壞蛋。
burn one's boats (bridges)： 破釜沉舟，自斷退路，有進(jìn)無(wú)退 這句成語(yǔ)源自某些軍事家的行動(dòng)。相傳古羅馬愷撒等名將出征時(shí)，常燒毀船只，士兵們后退無(wú)路，只有勇往直前，戰勝敵人。
[例] "That's done it" said Manby, tearing up the agreement. "Now we've burned our boats behind us and we've no option but to go forward with the project.""事已如此，"曼貝一邊說(shuō)，一邊撕掉協(xié)議書(shū)，"現在我們已破釜沉舟，除按計劃前進(jìn)外，別無(wú)選擇。"castle in Spain (the air)空中樓閣，白日做夢(mèng) 來(lái)自法語(yǔ)chateauxen Espangne.為什么提到西班牙？可能因為西班牙一度被認為是個(gè)富于浪漫色彩的國家。
當時(shí)西班牙縉紳無(wú)城堡及別墅可居而群居于城市。這條成語(yǔ)要遠溯到十三世紀的一首詩(shī)《玫瑰花的浪漫史》（The Romaunt of the Rose）：你要造空中樓閣，白日做夢(mèng)空歡喜。
（Thou shalt make castle thanne in Spain, And dream of joie alle but in vayne.） [例]I am less hopeful now… my Highland mansion may prove to be a castle in Spain after all. 我現在希望很少……我在蘇格蘭高原的大廈可能只不過(guò)是座空中樓閣。 down and out ：精疲力盡；窮困潦倒；無(wú)能為力；完蛋 這個(gè)比喻來(lái)自拳擊，拳擊手被對手擊倒，不能在數完數字前站起來(lái)就等于被擊敗而 不能再比賽。
[例] Smith was down and out in the first round. 史密斯在第一回合就被擊敗。Polish the apple 拍馬屁；阿諛?lè )畛?過(guò)去，美國學(xué)生為了討好老師而把擦得閃閃發(fā)光的蘋(píng)果給老師送去。
這一習語(yǔ)即從此種風(fēng)俗而來(lái)。有時(shí)在apple前加上old， 或在apple 后加or two，別無(wú)意義，只是為了調整語(yǔ)調。
An apple polisher：馬屁精。[例] He is promoted very quickly because he is good at polishing the apple. 他善于拍馬屁所以升遷很快。
Go through fire and water 赴湯蹈火；冒一切危險 源出盎格魯撒克遜時(shí)期的中世紀判罪法（又稱(chēng)神裁法）：將嫌疑犯的手浸在沸水中，手無(wú)損，則定為無(wú)罪。1534年，希臘將軍兼歷史家色諾芬（Xenophon, 434?-355B.C.）在其《奧克諾密克斯》（Oeconomicus）一書(shū)中引用了這條成語(yǔ)的譯文。
莎士比亞在其劇本《溫莎的風(fēng)流娘兒們》第三幕第四場(chǎng)也用到這條成語(yǔ)。到上世紀中葉，這條成語(yǔ)已成為陳詞濫調。
[例]I would go through fire and water to find out the truth of that matter. 我愿赴湯蹈火來(lái)查明那件事的真相。Open sesame 開(kāi)門(mén)咒；過(guò)難關(guān)的秘訣；關(guān)鍵，敲門(mén)磚 源出《天方夜譚》中的《阿里巴巴和四十大盜》：一個(gè)山洞內藏有無(wú)數金銀財寶，但洞門(mén)緊閉，須用咒語(yǔ)"芝麻"（sesame）才能把門(mén)打開(kāi)，故云。
[例]Wealth is an open sesame to much society. 財富是許多社交活動(dòng)的開(kāi)門(mén)咒。
3.英語(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)發(fā)展史
One use of slang is to circumvent social taboos, as mainstream language tends to shy away from evoking certain realities. For this reason, slang vocabularies are particularly rich in certain domains, such as sexuality, violence, crime and drugs. An interesting fact about the word slang is that it was originally a slang term for the old french phrase "sale langue", which translated into english means "dirty language". Alternatively, slang can grow out of mere familiarity with the things described. Among wine connoisseurs, Cabernet Sauvignon might be known as "Cab Sav", Chardonnay as "Chard" and so on;[2] this means that naming the different wines expends less superfluous effort. It also serves as a shared code among connoisseurs.Even within a single language community, slang tends to vary widely across social, ethnic, economic, and geographic strata. Slang sometimes grows more and more common until it becomes the dominant way of saying something, at which time it is regarded as mainstream, acceptable language (e.g. the Spanish word caballo), while at other times it may fall into disuse. Numerous slang terms pass into informal mainstream speech, and sometimes into formal speech, though this may involve a change in meaning or usage.Slang very often involves the creation of novel meanings for existing words. It is very common for such novel meanings to diverge significantly from the standard meaning. Thus, "cool" and "hot" can both mean "very good", "impressive" or "good looking".Slang terms are often only known within a clique or ingroup. For example, Leet ("Leetspeak" or "1337"), originally was only popular among certain Internet sub-cultures, such as hackers and online video gamers. During the 1990s and 2000s, however, Leet became increasingly more commonplace on the Internet, and has even spread outside of Internet-based communication and into spoken languages.[3] Another type of slang, with roots in Internet culture, is texting language (txt or chatspeak), which is widely used in instant messaging on the Internet (AOL speak) and mobile phones (SMS language).。
4.英語(yǔ)的俚語(yǔ)
愛(ài)屋及烏 Love me, love my dog. 百聞不如一見(jiàn) Seeing is believing. 比上不足，比下有余 "worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst 笨鳥(niǎo)先飛 A slow sparrow should make an early start. 不眠之夜 white night 不以物喜，不以己悲 not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses 不遺余力 spare no effort; go all out; do one's best 不打不成交 "No discord, no concord. 拆東墻補西墻 rob Peter to pay Paul 辭舊迎新 bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old year and ring in the new 大事化小，小事化了 try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all 大開(kāi)眼界 open one's eyes; broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener 國泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace 過(guò)猶不及 going too far is as bad as not going far enough; beyond is as wrong as falling short; too much is as bad as too little 功夫不負有心人 Everything comes to him who waits. 好了傷疤忘了疼 once on shore, one prays no more 好事不出門(mén)，惡事傳千里 Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide. 和氣生財 Harmony brings wealth 活到老，學(xué)到老 One is never too old to learn. 既往不咎 let bygones be bygones 金無(wú)足赤，人無(wú)完人 Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect. 金玉滿(mǎn)堂 Treasures fill the home 腳踏實(shí)地 be down-to-earth 腳踩兩只船 sit on the fence 君子之交淡如水 the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal; a hedge between keeps friendship green 老生常談，陳詞濫調 cut and dried, cliché 禮尚往來(lái) Courtesy calls for reciprocity. 留得青山在，不怕沒(méi)柴燒 "Where there is life, there is hope." 馬到成功 achieve immediate victory; win instant success 名利雙收 gain in both fame and wealth 茅塞頓開(kāi) be suddenly enlightened 沒(méi)有規矩不成方圓 Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. 每逢佳節倍思親 On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away. It is on the festival occasions when one misses his dear most. 謀事在人，成事在天 "The planning lies with man, the outcome with Heaven. / Man proposes, God disposes. " 弄巧成拙 be too smart by half; Cunning outwits itself. 拿手好戲 masterpiece 賠了夫人又折兵 throw good money after bad 拋磚引玉 a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale 破釜沉舟 cut off all means of retreat; burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end 搶得先機 take the preemptive opportunities 巧婦難為無(wú)米之炊 If you have no hand you can't make a fist./ One can't make bricks without straw. 千里之行始于足下a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step 前事不忘，后事之師 Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future. 前人栽樹(shù)，后人乘涼 One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests. One sows and another reaps. 前怕狼，后怕虎 fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind/ hesitate in doing something 強龍難壓地頭蛇 Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies. 強強聯(lián)手 win-win co-operation 瑞雪兆豐年 A timely snow promises a good harvest. 人之初，性本善 Man's nature at birth is good. 人逢喜事精神爽 Joy puts heart into a man. 人海戰術(shù) huge-crowd strategy 世上無(wú)難事，只要肯攀登 "Where there is a will, there is a way. " 世外桃源 a fictitious land of peace away from the turmoil of the world； 死而后已 until my heart stops beating 歲歲平安 Peace all year round 上有天堂，下有蘇杭 "Just as there is paradise in heaven, ther are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." 塞翁失馬，焉知非福 Misfortune may be an actual blessing. 三十而立 "A man should be independent at the age of thirty. At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself." 升級換代 updating and upgrading (of products) 四十不惑 Life begins at forty. 誰(shuí)言寸草心，報得三春暉 "Such kindness of warm sun, can't be repaid by grass. " 水漲船高 When the river rises, the boat floats high. 時(shí)不我待 Time and tide wait for no man. 殺雞用牛刀 break a butterfly on the wheel 實(shí)事求是 seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts 說(shuō)曹操，曹操到 Talk of the devil and he comes. 實(shí)話(huà)實(shí)說(shuō) speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is 實(shí)踐是檢驗真理的唯一標準 Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. 山不在高，有仙則名 "No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy； " 韜光養晦 hide one's capacities。
