?Eight slangs of dogs

陳麗梅（譯）

◆語篇導讀

千百年來，人與狗的關系一直相當密切，狗對人們的生活、文化、傳統和風俗都有很大的影響。因此，英語和漢語里都出現了許多和狗有關的俚語。英國廣播公司網站盤點了八個和狗有關的俚語，并與漢語做了比較，中英文化的差異可見一斑。

1.Top dog

Head dog.It refers to the powerful boss in the organization,or the person who uses facial value,charm to dominate(主宰)the circle of friends.They are often social and professional leaders.Traditionally,they are usually males,but some females in recent years.

2.One's bark is worse than one's bite

Barking fiercely(猛烈地),biting without pain.Its meaning is like the Chinese saying“A knife mouth makes a soft heart”.With such a boss or colleague,we need more communication to avoid misunderstanding.

3.Working like a dog

Working like a dog.It is described(描述)as hard work.After the morning and evening rush,they rush to the company and start the hard work immediately.

4.Fighting like cats and dogs

It sounds like a fight between cats and dogs.It usually means a serious dispute (糾紛)between acquaintances(熟人).This must be avoided in order to maintain professionalism(職業風度)and build team spirit.

5.Dog's dinner

Dog food.It's a mess.The result could be another saying—“going into a dog's house”.

6.Barking up the wrong tree

Barking around the wrong tree.It describes the wrong person,the wrong road,or the wrong choice.It is hard to avoid mistakes in your daily work.It should be helpful to prepare more and study more.

7.Let sleeping dogs lie

Don't wake the sleeping dog.It is similar to Chinese saying—“Don't lift a rock to hit your own foot”.It means“Don't ask for trouble”.

8.You can't teach an old dog new tricks

An old dog can not learn new tricks.It's difficult to make old people accept new things.With the rapid development of technology today,we can't be“old dogs”,have a try at least.

◆詞語積淀

mess/mes/n.麻煩；困境；混亂

technology/tek?n?l?d?i/n.科技；技術學

traditionally/tr??d???n?li/adv.傳統地；守舊地

avoid/??v??d/v.避免；避開

maintain/me?n?te?n/vt.保持；維持

◆典句賞析

1.It refers to the powerful boss in the organization,or the person who uses facial value,charm to dominate(主宰)the circle of friends.它指團體里有權有勢的老板，或者利用顏值、魅力等主宰朋友圈的人。

refer to是固定詞組，意為“指的是；提及”，后接名詞或代詞；“who uses facial value,charm to dominate the circle of friends”是who引導的定語從句，修飾先行詞person。

【即時嘗試】你的話是指我們所有人嗎？

2.It's difficult to make old people accept new things.讓因循守舊的人接受新事物很難。

“It+be+形容詞+不定式(to+動詞原形)”是it作形式主語的常見句型。此句型中，其真正的主語是動詞不定式短語。“It's difficult to make old people accept new things.”等同于“To make old people accept new things is difficult.”。“make sb.do sth.”是一種固定的結構形式，意為“讓某人做某事”。

【即時嘗試】讓他接受我的邀請很容易。

譯文助讀

1.頂頭的狗

領頭狗。它指團體里有權有勢的老板，或者利用顏值、魅力等主宰朋友圈的人。他們在社交和職場游刃有余，通常是領軍人物，傳統上多形容男性，近年來也用于形容女性。

2.亂叫的狗不咬人

不叫的狗暗下口。它的意思很像漢語的“刀子嘴豆腐心”。和這樣的老板或者同事相處時，我們需要更多的溝通來避免誤會。

3.像狗一樣工作

像狗一樣工作，形容人很勤奮、努力。指他們經歷上下班、早晚高峰，趕到公司立刻投入繁重的工作。

4.吵到像貓狗打架的地步

聽起來像貓和狗在吵架。這通常指熟人之間發生嚴重糾紛，這個在公司必須避免，這樣才能保持職業風度，構筑團隊精神。

5.狗宴

狗食，形容事情辦得一團糟。因此衍生了另一個俗語——進了狗窩。

6.朝著錯誤的樹狂吠

圍著錯誤的樹亂叫不停，形容找錯了人，走錯了路，或者做錯了選擇。日常工作中很難避免出錯，多做準備、深入研究應該有所幫助。

7.讓睡著的狗躺著

別吵醒睡著的狗。類似的中國俗語“不要搬起石頭砸自己的腳”，指不要自找麻煩。

8.你教不會老狗新把戲

老狗是學不會新把戲的，用來比喻讓因循守舊的人接受新事物很難。科技突飛猛進的今天“，老狗”心態要不得，至少要去嘗試。