口語步步高

◎供稿：Momo

一 感恩節詞匯

今年的感恩節是在2018年11月22日，它是美國最盛大的傳統節日之一，到底它是個什么樣的節日呢？讓我們通過簡單的復習來了解它并學習一些相關的詞匯吧！

Thanksgiving Day［感恩節］is the most truly American of the national Holidays in the United States and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country. On this day, Americans of all faiths and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year’sbounty［饋贈］and reverently ask for continuedblessings［恩典］.

In 1960, thePuritan［清教徒］leftSouthampton［南安普頓市］because of thereligious persecution［宗教迫害］and sailed to America on theMayFlower［五月花號］. They landed inPlymouth［普利茅斯］in November and they signed theMayFlower Compact［五月花號公約］.

During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation. With the help ofIndians［印第安人］, those who survived learnedhunt［狩獵］,fishing［捕魚］and plantingcrops［作物］. They got used to the new life and built their new home.

Thanksgiving Day in America is a time forfamily reunions［家人團聚］and holiday meals. For theThanksgiving dinner［感恩節正餐］, turkey is theentree［主菜］, whilepumpkin pie［南瓜派］,cranberry sauce［蔓越橘醬］,sweet potatoes［紅薯］,cornbread［玉米面包］,pudding［布?。? andversion［鹿肉］are also on the menu. Nowadays, the president of America wouldpardon［赦免］a turkey the day before Thanksgiving.

二 俚語

說起火雞，還有幾個和它相關的俚語呢，讓我們一起來學習一下吧！

1.have a turkey on (one’s) back

【本義】背上有只火雞

【喻義】喝醉酒, 吸毒

e.g. A: The dinner is ready. Tim has not made it.Can anybody give him a call?

B: There is no need. He has got turkey on his back.

A: But we had a deal. And he promised to dine here.

B: Never ever believe what he said.

2.red as a turkey cock

【本義】紅得像雄火雞

【喻義】（因發怒、尷尬等）滿臉通紅

【文化說明】人發怒、尷尬時臉漲得通紅，和turkey的紅色有可比性，由此該習語轉喻“（因發怒、尷尬等）滿臉通紅”。

e.g. When he was blamed for his mistake, he was as red as a turkey cock.

當他因錯誤被責備時，羞得滿臉通紅。

3.swell like a turkey cock

【本義】像雄火雞一樣踱步/高傲

【喻義】大搖大擺地走，趾高氣揚地

【文化說明】turkey cock可喻指“自負的人”“妄自尊大的人”，因為它走路的樣子顯得趾高氣揚，非常傲慢

4.say turkey to one and buzzard to another

【本義】對一個談火雞，對另一個談紅頭美洲鷲

【喻義】厚此薄彼

【文化說明】buzzard（紅頭美洲鷲）產于美國東部，橙紅色和紫藍色頸項與雄火雞相似，但小得多。字面意思是“對一個談火雞，對另一個談紅頭美洲鷲”，對待不同的人采取不同的方式，即“厚此薄彼”。

5.talk turkey

【本義】談火雞

【喻義】坦率認真地談話地談，直截了當

【文化說明】習語talk turkey源于美國民間傳說。相傳北美殖民時期，一個白人和一個印第安人一同打獵，事先商定要平分獵物。他們打到了兩只火雞和三只烏鴉（另一說是紅頭美洲鷲（buzzard）。白人把烏鴉都給了印第安人，把火雞全留給了自己。印第安人反對，白人說：“You have three birds, I have only two.”（你分了三只鳥，我只有兩只。）印第安人回答說：“Stop talking birds. Talk turkey.”（別說鳥，說火雞。）

e.g.①If you are willing to talk turkey, the dispute between us can be easily settled.

如果你愿意實實在在地說話,那么我們之間的爭端就可以很容易地解決。

②Generally, he is an easy-going person, but when it comes to religious belief he talks turkey.

一般來說,他是一個隨和的人,但一談到宗教信仰,他就正經起來。

6.turkey shoot

【本義】射火雞比賽

【喻義】易如反掌，（戰爭中）所向披靡

【文化說明】turkey shoot指19世紀的射火雞比賽，以火雞等活物為目標，火雞系在原木后，射中的火雞就是給射手的獎品。由于距離近，目標大，這種射擊比賽并不困難。因此，turkey shoot轉喻“易如反掌”“所向披靡”等意思。

三 感恩節祝福語

Thanksgiving Day is a time to offer thanks, please express your gratitude and blessings to your family and friends with the help of the following expressions on this special day!

1.Though we are not with you, we all miss you on this Thanksgiving Day.

雖然感恩節你不能和我們在一起，但是我們會想念你的。

2.Thanksgiving wishes for you and your family.

給你們全家感恩節的祝福。

3.May your life be blessed with joy, love and miracles.

希望你的生活里充滿了歡樂、關愛和奇跡。

4.God bless you and your family at Thanksgiving and always!

上帝會保佑你和你的家人。

5.Have a full Thanksgiving Day!

感恩節快樂！好好吃一頓吧！

6.What a wonderful time to be together.

在一起的時光多么快樂。

7.Wish you a very special Thanksgiving Day for you and your family.

愿你們有一個特別的感恩節。

8.I am so grateful that I have you all with me on this Thanksgiving Day.

盼望能和你一起共度感恩節。

9.Season’s greetings to you all straight from our hearts.

感恩節里獻上最誠摯的祝福。

10. Warm wishes at Thanksgiving.

在感恩節里，衷心地祝福你們。