top banana
He lost a good opportunity tO become top banana.top banana,源于美國文藝界。在還沒有電影和電視前,美國流行一種雜耍表演。每當雜耍演員演完一個節目后,別人就給他一個香蕉。漸漸地人們便把最滑稽的演員稱為top banana;現在top banana又指電視上演鬧劇的人,還泛指“領導”“總裁”“經理”。上句可譯為:他失去了一次升任總裁的機會。second banana,第二號人物。Hedoesn't like being second banana while his brotherruns the whole show.他不喜歡做第二號人物,而由他哥哥負責全盤事務。
bang for the buck
You get the best bang for the buck right here.bang for the buck字面意思是“一美元的響聲”,原系美國國防預算及國防所形成的軍事威力的戲稱。后喻指“貨真價實”“一分錢一分貨”。上句可譯為:你在這里花錢買東西,貨真值實。
barnburner/bam-burner
Boy,lastnight's game wascertainly a barnburner,wasn't it?barn,谷倉;burner,火爐。谷倉中放一個火爐肯定會引起眾人的注意。barnburner即喻指“轟動一時的事”“激動人心的事”。上句可譯為:好家伙,昨天晚上的比賽的確扣人心弦,不是嗎?
over a barrel
We've got them overa barrel and can call theshots.據說,以前人們在搶救溺水者時往往讓其臉朝下趴在圓木桶上,然后轉動木桶,以使體內的水排出。這時溺水者只能由人擺布。over a barrel即喻指“任人擺布”“陷入困境”“茫然無助”。上句可譯為:我們已使他們俯首帖耳,并且能夠自己做主。
like a bat out of hell
He ran out of the building like a bat out Of hell.逃離地獄的蝙蝠。(a bat out of hell)自然要竭盡全力地飛,以脫離地獄之苦。后從們以like a bat outof hell喻指“如飛地”“不顧一切地”。他飛也似地逃離了那座建筑物。
touch base (s) (with)
I had a really good time in Paris.I touchedbase with some old kiends and made a few new ones.touch base原為棒球用語,指觸壘。后喻指“與某人接觚”“與某人溝通”“與某人商”。上句可譯為:在巴黎我過得的確很愉快,會見了一些老朋友,還結識了幾位新朋友。
[河谷]
雋語錄
We make ourselves a ladder out Of our vices ifwe trample the vices themselves under foot.
倘若我們把罪惡踩在腳下,就能架起一座擺脫罪惡的云梯
——奧古斯丁
Words are also actions,and actions are a kindOf words.
言語也是行動,而行動則是一種語言。
——拉爾夫·愛默生
Justice is the means by which established in-justices are sanctioned.
正義是對業已確立的非正義的制裁。
——阿納托爾·法朗士
The love Of liberty is the love Of others;the love Of power is the love Of ourselves.
愛自由是愛他人,愛權勢是愛我們自己。
——威廉·赫茲利特
There is no sin except stupidity.
愚蠢即罪惡。
——王爾德
A man's manners are a mirror in which heshows his portrait.
一個人的言談舉止是照出自身模樣的鏡子。
——歌德