第一篇：英语谚语大全
英语谚语大全
1.爱屋及乌 Love me, love my dog.2.百闻不如一见 Seeing is believing.3.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.4.笨鸟先飞 A slow sparrow should make an early start.5.不眠之夜 white night
6.不以物喜不以己悲 not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses
7.不遗余力 spare no effort;go all out;do one's best 8.不打不成交 No discord, no concord.9.拆东墙补西墙 rob Peter to pay Paul
10.辞旧迎新 bid farewell to the old and usher in the new;ring out the old year and ring in the new
11.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
12.大开眼界 open one's eyes;broaden one's horizon;be an eye-opener 13.国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace
14.过犹不及 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 15.功夫不负有心人 Everything comes to him who waits.16.好了伤疤忘了疼 once on shore, one prays no more
17.好事不出门恶事传千里 Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide.18.和气生财 Harmony brings wealth.19.活到老学到老 One is never too old to learn.20.既往不咎 let bygones be bygones
21.金无足赤人无完人 Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect.22.金玉满堂 Treasures fill the home.23.脚踏实地 be down-to-earth 24.脚踩两只船 sit on the fence
25.君子之交淡如水 the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal;a hedge between keeps friendship green 26.老生常谈陈词滥调 cut and dried, cliché
27.礼尚往来 Courtesy calls for reciprocity.28.留得青山在不怕没柴烧 Where there is life, there is hope.29.马到成功 achieve immediate victory;win instant success 30.名利双收 gain in both fame and wealth 31.茅塞顿开 be suddenly enlightened
32.没有规矩不成方圆 Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.33.每逢佳节倍思亲 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.34.谋事在人成事在天 The planning lies with man, the outcome with Heaven.Man proposes, God disposes.35.弄巧成拙 be too smart by half;Cunning outwits itself 36.拿手好戏 masterpiece
37.赔了夫人又折兵 throw good money after bad
38.抛砖引玉 a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions;throw a sprat to catch a whale
39.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 40.抢得先机 take the preemptive opportunities
41.巧妇难为无米之炊 If you have no hand you can't make a fist.One can't make bricks without straw.42.千里之行始于足下 a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
43.前事不忘后事之师 Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.44.前人栽树后人乘凉 One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.One sows and another reaps.45.前怕狼后怕虎 fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind hesitate in doing something
46.强龙难压地头蛇 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.47.强强联手 win-win co-operation
48.瑞雪兆丰年 A timely snow promises a good harvest.49.人之初性本善 Man's nature at birth is good.50.人逢喜事精神爽 Joy puts heart into a man.51.人海战术 huge-crowd strategy
52.世上无难事只要肯攀登 Where there is a will, there is a way.53.世外桃源 a fictitious land of peace away from the turmoil of the world;54.死而后已 until my heart stops beating 55.岁岁平安 Peace all year round.56.上有天堂下有苏杭 Just as there is paradise in heaven, ther are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
57.塞翁失马焉知非福 Misfortune may be an actual blessing.58.三十而立 A man should be independent at the age of thirty.At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.59.升级换代 updating and upgrading(of products)60.四十不惑 Life begins at forty.61.谁言寸草心报得三春晖 Such kindness of warm sun, can't be repaid by grass.62.水涨船高 When the river rises, the boat floats high.63.时不我待Time and tide wait for no man.64.杀鸡用牛刀break a butterfly on the wheel
65.实事求是seek truth from facts;be practical and realistic;be true to facts 66.说曹操,曹操到Talk of the devil and he comes.67.实话实说speak the plain truth;call a spade a spade;tell it as it is
68.实践是检验真理的唯一标准Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.69.山不在高，有仙则名'No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy;'
70.韬光养晦hide one's capacities and bide one's time 71.糖衣炮弹sugar-coated bullets
72.天有不测风云Anything unexpected may happen.a bolt from the blue 73.团结就是力量Unity is strength.74.“跳进黄河洗不清”'eve if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean--there's nothing one can do to clear one's name ' 75.歪风邪气unhealthy practices and evil phenomena 76.物以类聚，人以群分Birds of a feather flock together.77.往事如风'The past has vanished(from memory)like wind.;What in past, is pas
78.望子成龙hold high hopes for one's child
79.屋漏又逢连阴雨Misfortunes never come singly.When it rains it pours.80.文韬武略military expertise;military strategy 81.唯利是图draw water to one's mill
82.无源之水,无本之木water without a source, and a tree wiithout roots 83.无中生有make create something out of nothing
84.无风不起浪There are no waves without wind.There's no smoke without fire.85.徇私枉法bend the law for the benefit of relatives or friends 86.新官上任三把火a new broom sweeps clean
87.虚心使人进步,骄傲使人落后Modesty helps one go forward, whereas conceit makes one lag behind.88.蓄势而发accumulate strength for a take-off 89.心想事成May all your wish come true
90.心照不宣have a tacit understanding;give tacit consent;tacit understanding 91.先入为主First impressions are firmly entrenched.92.先下手为强catch the ball before the bound 93.像热锅上的蚂蚁like an ant on a hot pan
94.现身说法warn people by taking oneself as an example 95.息事宁人pour oil on troubled waters 96.喜忧参半mingled hope and fear 97.循序渐进step by step
98.一路平安，一路顺风speed somebody on their way;speed the parting guest 99.严以律己,宽以待人be strict with oneself and lenient towards others 100鱼米之乡
101.有情人终成眷属'Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.'
102.有钱能使鬼推磨Money makes the mare go.Money talks.103.有识之士people of vision
104.有勇无谋use brawn rather than brain
105.有缘千里来相会Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.106.与时俱进advance with times
107.以人为本people oriented;people foremost
108.因材施教teach students according to their aptitude
109.欲穷千里目，更上一层楼'to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further;Ascend further, were you to look farther;Would eye embrace a thousand miles? Go up, one flight.' a land of milk and honey 110.欲速则不达Haste does not bring success.111.优胜劣汰survival of the fittest
112.英雄所见略同Great minds think alike.113.冤家宜解不宜结Better make friends than make enemies.114.冤假错案'cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced;unjust, false or wrong cases'
115.一言既出，驷马难追A real man never goes back on his words.116.招财进宝Money and treasures will be plentiful 117.债台高筑become debt-ridden 118.致命要害Achilles' heel
119.众矢之的target of public criticism
120.知己知彼,百战不殆Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.121.纸上谈兵be an armchair strategist
122.纸包不住火Truth will come to light sooner or later.123.左右为难between the devil and the deep blue sea
第二篇：英语谚语
谚语
1.A clean hand wants no washing.身正不怕影子斜
2.A clear conscience laughs at false accusations.白日不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。
3.Actions speak louder than words.事实胜于雄辩。
4.A fair face may hide a foul heart.人不可貌相。
5.A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.吃一堑，长一智。
6.A fool may give a wise man counsel.愚者千虑，必有一得。
7.A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难朋友才是真朋友。8.A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.广交友，无深交。9.After death, the doctor.放马后炮。
10.A good fame is better than a good face.好的名望胜于好的相貌。
11.A good healthy body is worth more a crown in gold.健康的身体贵于黄金铸成的皇冠。
12.A life without a friend is a life without a sun.人生在世无朋友，犹如生活无太阳。13.A little leak will sink a great ship.千丈之堤溃于蚁穴。
14.A little of everything, nothing at all.每事浅尝辄止，结果将一事无成。
15.A little neglect may breed great mischief.小不忍则乱大谋。16.A little wind kindles, much puts out the fire.适可而止，过犹不及 17.All good things came to an end.天下无不散之宴席。
18.All is fair in war.兵不厌诈。
19.All things are difficult before they are easy.凡事都是先难后易。
20.All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy;all play and no work makes Jack a mere boy.只工作，不玩耍，聪明孩子要变傻；尽玩耍，不学习，聪明孩子没出息。
21.Beauty lies in lover's eyes.情人眼里出西施。
22.Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is as a flower without perfume.美而无德犹如花之无香。
23.Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.口蜜腹剑。24.Behind bad luck comes good luck.塞翁失马，焉知非福。25.Be slow in choosing a friend;slower in changing.选择朋友要审慎，摒弃更要审又慎。
26.Better an empty purse than an empty head.宁可钱袋瘪，不要脑袋空。27.Better be alone than in bad company.交损友不如无友。
28.Better an open enemy than a false friend.明枪易躲，暗箭难防。29.Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.宁为犬首，不作狮尾。30.Better die with honor than live with shame.与其忍辱偷生，不如光荣而死。
31.Better wear out shoes than sheets.宁可(经常运动)穿破鞋子，也不(因病长卧)磨破床单。
32.Birds of a feather flock together.物以类聚，人以群分。33.Birth is much, but breeding is more.出身固然重要，教养更且重要。
34.Bitter pills may have wholesome effects.良药苦口利于病。
35.By reading we enrich the mind;by conversation we polish it.读书可以使我们的思想充实，谈话使其更臻完美。
36.Choose an author as you choose a friend.选书如择友。37.Constant dropping wears away a stone.滴水穿石。
38.Do business, but be not a slave to it.要做事，但不要做事务的奴隶。39.Do not wash dirty linen in public.家丑不可外扬。
40.Don't climb a tree to look for fish.勿缘木求鱼。
41.Don't have thy cloak to make when it begins to rain.切莫临时抱佛脚。
42.Don't keep all your eggs in one basketball.勿孤注一掷。
43.Don't put off till tomorrow what should be done today.今日事，今日毕。
44.Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.不要自寻烦恼。
45.Drop by drop the oceans are filled;stone by stone the walls are built.滴水汇大海，垒石诛高墙。
46.Drunkenness reveals what soberness conceals.酒后露真言。
47.Do not wash dirty linen in public.家丑不可外扬。
48.Do not to others what you do not wish them to do to you.己所不欲，勿施于人。
49.Diamond cut diamond.强中更有强中手。50.Deliver not your words by number but by weight.言不在多，而在有物。
51.Each man is the architect of his own fate.命运掌握在自己手中。
52.Each day brings its own bread.天无绝人之路。
53.Eat to live, but not live to eat.吃饭是为了生存，但生存不是为了吃饭。
54.Elbow grease gives the best polish.只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针。
55.Even Homer sometimes nods.人非圣贤，孰能无过。
56.Even the walls have ears.隔墙有耳。
57.Every bullet has its billet.无风不起浪。
58.Every cloud has a silver lining.山穷水尽疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。
59.Every heart has its own sorrow.人人都有伤心处。
60.Every Jack has his Jill.有情人终成眷属。
61.Every man is the son of his own works.种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。
62.Feed a pig and you'll have a hog.种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。
63.Every mother's child is handsome.老王卖瓜，自卖自夸。
64.Every potter praises his own pot.老王卖瓜，自卖自夸。65.Every salesman boasts of his own wares.老王卖瓜，自卖自夸
66.Every one's faults are not written in their foreheads.知人知面不知心。
67.Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.以牙还牙，以眼还眼。
68.Experience without learning is better than learning without experience.有经验而无学问，胜于有学问而无经验。
69.Faith will move mountains.精诚所至，金石为开。70.Far from eye, far from heart.离远而情疏。
71.Faults are thick where love is thin.一朝情意淡，样样不顺眼
72.Fear not the future;weep not for the past.不要为未来担忧，不要为过去悲泣。73.Fish begins to stink at the head.上梁不正下梁歪。
74.Fool's haste is no speed.欲速则不达。
75.Forget others' faults by remembering your own.想想自己的错，就会忘却别人的过。76.Forgive others but not yourself.待人宽，对己严。
77.Friends are like fiddle-strings, they must not be screwed too tight.朋友像琴弦，不能太拧紧。78.Friendship cannot stand always on one side.来而不往非礼也。
79.Friendship----one soul in two bodies.友谊是两人一条心。80.From a little spark may burst a mighty flame.星星之火可以燎原。81.Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.有花堪折直须折。82.Give a dog a bad name and hang him.欲加之罪，何患无词。83.God helps those who help themselves.自助者天助之。
84.God never shuts one door but he opens another.天无绝人之路。
85.Grasp the shadow and let go the substance.舍本逐末。
86.Great boast, small roast.说得天花乱坠，成事微乎其微。
87.Hasty love is soon hot and soon cold.草草率率谈恋爱，热得快也冷得快。
88.Heaven's vengeance is slow but sure.天网恢恢，疏而不漏。
89.He is not fit to command others that cannot command himself.正人先正己。
90.He laughs best who laughs last.谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好。
91.He that climbs high falls heavily.爬得高，跌得重。
92.He that deceives me once, shame fall him, if he deceives me twice, shame fall me.受骗一次，别人可耻；受骗二次，自己该死。
93.He that lies down with dogs must rise up with fleas.近朱者赤，近墨者黑。
94.He who does no good, does evil enough.好事不做，坏事做绝。
95.He who does not advance falls backward.不进则退。
96.He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick.欲加之罪，何患无辞。
97.He who plays with fire gets burned.玩火者必自焚。
98.He who risks nothing, gains nothing.不入虎穴，焉得虎子。
99.His heart cannot be pure whose tongue is not clear.嘴不净者心不纯。
100.Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.作最好的希望，作最坏的打算。
101.I am not now that which I have been.(I am not what I used to be.)今日之我已非昔日之我。
102.Idle young, needy old.少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。103.I am caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.进退维谷。
104.If we cannot get what we like, we have to like what we can get.随遇而安。
105.If you confer a benefit, never remember it;if you receive one, remember it always.施恩勿记，受恩勿忘。
106.If you have no hand, you cannot make a fist.巧妇难为无米之炊。
107.Industry if fortune's right hand, and frugality her left.勤勉是幸福的右手，节俭是幸福的左手。
108.In for a penny, in for a pound 一不做，二不休。
109.It is as well to know which way the wind blows.识时务者为俊杰。110.It is good to learn at another man's cost.前车之覆，后车之鉴。111.It is not the gay coat that makes the gentleman.君子在德不在衣。
112.It is no use crying over spilt milk.泼水难收。
113.Jack of all trades is of no trade.万事皆通，一无所长。
114.Joy shared with others are more enjoyed.与人同乐，其乐无穷。
习语/俚语：1.Dressed to kill 精细打扮
Pete usually wears jeans and a T-shirt.But last night it was hard to recognize him--he was dressed to kill because he finally got a date with that blond he's admired for so long.皮特平时老穿牛仔裤和T恤，但是昨晚我简直没认出他来。他打扮得帅极了，因为他倾心已久的那位金发美女终于同意跟他出去约会了。2.What is the fuss? 吵什么？ 3.Don't take ill of me.别生我气。4.Go done to business.言归正传 5.Is a long story.一言难尽。6.Don't play possum.别装蒜。7.Close--up 特写镜头 8.Make it up!不计前嫌！9.Watch you mouth.注意言辞。10.December heartbeat.黄昏恋。11.Follow my nose.凭直觉做事。12.Gild the lily.画蛇添足
13.I might hear a pin drop.非常静寂。14.Don't get high hat.别摆架子。15.That rings a bell.听起来耳熟。16.Sleeping on both ears.睡的香。17.It's up in the air.尚未确定。
18.He is the pain on neck.他真让人讨厌。19.The line is engaged.占线
20.Absence makes the heart grow fonder.小别胜新欢 21.Shoot the breeze.闲谈
22.What brought you hear? 什么风把你吹来了？ 23.Why so blue.怎么垂头丧气？ 24.Chin up 振作些 25.Hit the ceiling 大发雷霆 26.None of you keyhole 不准偷看
27.It was something that happens once in the blue.这是千载难逢的事。28.It can be a killer.这是个伤脑筋的问题。29.Dead end.死胡同 30.You ask for it.活该 31.Burn the boat 破釜沉舟 32.Hang by a hair 千钧一发
33.Set sb' s hair on end/ ones' s hairs stands on end 毛骨悚然 34.Fish in the air 白费力气 35.A drop in the ocean 沧海一栗 36.Be out at elbows 捉襟见肘 37.Lay heads together 集思广益
38.Know sth like the back of one's hand 对某事了如指掌 39.laugh off one's head 笑破肚皮 40.Wake a sleeping dog 招惹是非 41.Cast pearls before swine 对牛弹琴 42.As poor as job 家贫如洗
43.Carry coals to Newcastle 多此一举 44.Be all thumbs 笨手笨脚
45.A fly in the ointment 美中不足之处 46.Help a lame dog over a stile 雪中送炭 47.Have an axe to grind 别有用心 48.apple of the eye(掌上明珠，宝贝)49.armed to the teeth(全副武装)
50.bee's knees(最最了不起的人或事物；顶尖儿)51.between cup and lip(在将成未成之际)52.bring someone to heel(使某人就范)
53.burn one' s fingers(由于多管闲事或愚蠢行为而吃苦头)54.chance one's arms(冒险一试；碰碰运气)55.hand to mouth(仅够糊口地)
56.fall on one's feet(特别走运；化险为夷)
57.A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk.听音识鸟，闻言识人。
58.A gloved cat catches no mice.戴手套的猫，老鼠抓不到。（不愿吃苦的人成不了大事业。）59.All cats are grey in the dark..黑暗之中猫都是灰色的。（人未出名时看起来都差不多。）
60.Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.鸡蛋未孵出，先别数小鸡。（不要过早乐观。）61.A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often.江山易改，本性难移。62.Dog does not eat dog.同类不相残。
63.A son never thinks his mother ugly,and a dog never shuns its owner’s home however shabby it is.儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫。
64.Don’t be a dog(lying)in the manger.莫学狗占马槽不吃草。（不要占着茅坑不拉屎。）65.Never offer to teach fish to swim.不要班门弄斧。66.Go to the sea, if you would fish well.不入虎穴，焉得虎子。
67.If water is noisy, there are no fish in it.咆哮的水中无鱼。（夸夸其谈者无真才实学。）
68.You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds(猎狗).不能既和野兔一起跑又和猎狗一起追。（人不应两面讨好。）69.A speck of mouse dung will spoil a whole pot of porridge.一粒老鼠屎，坏了一锅粥。70.One swallow does not make a summer.一燕不成夏。71.One swallow does not make a spring.孤燕不报春。
72.If you don’t enter a tiger’s den, you can’t get his cubs.不入虎穴，焉得虎子。73.blind as a bat 看不见 74.pass the buck 推卸责任
75.let the cat out of the bag 泄露秘密 76.chicken out 因害怕而放弃
77.Cannot say boo to a goose 非常胆怯；胆小如鼠 78.White elephant 昂贵而无用之物 79.Theow sb to the lions / wolves 牺牲他人 80.Bell the cat 替别人冒险 81.Beer and skittles 吃喝玩乐 82.Wax and wane 盛衰 83.Weal and woe 祸福
84.Worse off than some, better off than many 比上不足，比下有余 85.White night 不眠之夜
86.Not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personal losses 不以物喜，不以己悲 87.No discord, no concord 不打不成交 88.Harmony brings wealth 和气生财 89.Let bygones be bygones 既往不咎
90.Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect.金无足赤，人无完人 91.Be down-to-earth 脚踏实地
92.The friendship between gentlemen is s pure as crystal.君子之交淡如水 93.Achieve immediate victory 马到成功
94.Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.无规矩不成方圆 95.A thousand-li journey begins with the first step.千里之行始于足下。96.Win-win co-operation 强强联手
97.A timely snow promises a good harvest.瑞雪兆丰年 98.Huge-crowed strategy 人海战术 99.Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth.上有天堂，下有苏杭
100.Time and tide wait for no man.时不我待。101.Talk of the devil and he comes.说曹操曹操到。
102.No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy.山不在高，有仙则名。
103.Sugar-coated bullets 糖衣炮弹 104.What in past, is pas.往事如风 105.A green han 生手
106.Easier said than done.说起来容易，做起来难 107.In the pink 身体健康；精力充沛 108.Dear John letter 绝交信
109.Actions speak louder than words.事实胜于雄辩
110.Clock in 打卡
111.Come on to sb 吃豆腐
112.Don't have a cow.别大惊小怪 113.Keep one's shirt on 保持冷静 114.Joy ride 兜风
115.Go up in smoke 成为泡影 116.Shape up 表现良好 117.Pull strings 运用关系 118.Come clean 和盘托出 119.Spring for 请客
120.Stick in the mud 保守的人 121.Jump the gun 草率行事 122.Flip out 乐死了
123.Third wheel 电灯泡；累赘 124.Get the boll rolling 开始 125.Get on the ball 用心做
126.Roll with the punches 逆来顺受 127.Kick around 讨论；多考虑一下 128.Put one's ass on the line 两肋插刀 129.Let sb have it 让某人好看 130.Chip in 出钱
131.A big shot 重要的人
132.A blue woman 有学问的妇女 133.Sunday painter 业余画家 134.Friday face 神色不佳之人 135.Blue Monday 沮丧，闷烦（相对于欢乐的周末而言）136.Big Apple 纽约
137.Go bananas 发疯，神经错乱；狂怒 138.Bean brain 笨蛋
139.A bowl of cherries 精彩的，绝妙的 eg: Life isn't always a bowl of cherries.生活并不总是美好的。Cool as a cucumber 十分冷静，镇定自若 例：Although he's guilty of the crime ,he sure as cool as a cucumber.尽管他犯了罪，却还是那么镇定自如。
140.Compare apples and oranges 比较两个无法相比的事物 例：That's ridiculous.Now you're comparing apples and oranges.
第三篇：英语谚语
eg.She is the apple of her father's eye.她是她父亲的掌上明珠。2.Big Apple（the）:New York 大苹果城「即纽约」 eg.I live in the Big Apple.我住在大苹果城。
3.comepare apples and oranges（to）:to compare two things that simply cannot be compared.比较两个无法相比的事物
eg.That's ridiculous.Now you're comparing apples and oranges.真可笑。你是在那两种无法相比的东西作比较，就好像苹果和桔子。4.“How do you like the apples?”：“What do you think of that ?” *注：这是对某种冒犯性行为做出报复后说的话。Banana（香蕉）
1.bananas（to be）:to be crazy 发疯的，神经错乱的 eg.That guuy's bananas!那家伙真是疯了！
*注意：to go bananas:1.to become crazy.发疯，神经错乱
eg.I'm so bored I'm going bananas.我厌烦的要死，都快发疯了。2.to become wild with anger狂怒，气得发疯
eg.She went bananas when she found him cheating.她发现他欺骗时气得要命。3.play second banana（to）:to be second choice第二选择，次要人物 eg.I always play second banana to her.我总是做她的后补。4.top banana:main boss领袖，头头，大老板
eg.He's（the）top banana in this company.他是这家公司的大老板。Bean（豆）
1.bean brain :idiot 白痴，笨蛋
eg.He is such a bean brain.他是个大笨蛋。
2.beans about sth.（not to know）:not to know anything about sth.对某事物一无所知，一窍不通
eg.I don't know beans about computers.我对电脑一窍不通。*注意：此词语只有否定形式，“to know beans about sth.”这种说法不存在。3.Bean Town :Boston,Massachusetts 豆城「指麻萨诸塞州波士顿市」 *注：波士顿市以其特产烘豆而闻名。Beet（甜菜）
1.beet red（to be）:to be extremly red from blushing ,embarrassment,etc.[因窘迫，羞愧等]脸红
eg.She was so embarrased she turned beet red.他窘迫得满脸通红。2.Cabbage（洋白菜，甘蓝菜）3.cabbage:money钱，金钱
*注：这个词语尽管已不在常用，但偶尔也会在老影片或玩笑中听到。carrot（胡萝卜）
carrot in front of someone（to danglea）
ex.to tempt someone with an unobtainable offer开空头支票[以实践不了的诺言诱惑某人] eg.The boss told me lf I perform well on the job ,we 'll talk about a salary increase next year.But I think he's just dangling a carrot in front of me.老板告诉我，如果我工作表现出色，明年加工资就有商量了。但我想他这不过是开了一张空头支票。
Cauliflower（花椰菜，菜花）cauliflower ears:swollen ears usually resulting from a boxing match[拳击运动员因多次受击而肿起的]开花耳朵
eg.That boxer has cauliflower ears.那位拳击运动员的耳朵被打开花了。Cherry（樱桃）
bowl of cherries（to be a）:to be wonderful 精彩的，绝妙的 eg.Life isn't always a bowl of cherries.生活并不总是美好的。Corn（谷物；谷粒）“For corn sake!”：“Oh,my goodness!” “噢，天哪！” *注：这个词语虽然已相当过时，但中老年人仍在使用。
corn :n.melodrama,overemotional drama情节剧；感情表现夸张的戏剧 eg.What a bunch of corn!这一连串的情节剧真精彩啊！adj.melodramatic 情节剧的；夸张的
eg.That movie was so corny!这部电影表现得太夸张了！cornball:adj.ridiculous 荒唐的，可笑的
eg.Where did you buy that cornball hat?你从哪儿买来那顶滑稽的帽子？ cucumber（黄瓜，胡瓜）
cool as a cucumber（to be）:to be calm and composed 十分冷静，镇定自如
eg.Although he's guilty of the crime ,he sure as cool as a cucumber.尽管他犯了罪，却还是那么镇定自如。222 低调英语怎么说
今天介绍的是low profile，意思是不引人注目的形象，做事不爱引起他人太多的注意。俚语词典解释：
low profile: a persona or character that does not draw attention.keep(a)low profile或者maintain(a)low profile: to behave in a way that does not attract attention 例句
I try to be quiet and keep a low profile.It's hard because I just love attention.我尽量安静并保持低调，对我来说很难，因为我喜欢被关注。
The government tries to keep low profile about this issue.政府力图在这个问题上保持低姿态。
You should keep a low profile until the trouble passes.在麻烦过去之前，你做事要保持低调。3 333333城里人瞧不起农村人，农村人看不上城里人，城里人和农村人总是互相瞧不起。乡巴佬、土包子、官迷、大爷......这些个称呼都带有明显的贬义色彩。
美国的城里人和乡下人也会互起贬低对方的称呼。住在像纽约这种大城市的居民往往把乡下人看成是一些土里土气、脑子很简单，而且容易上当受骗的人。他们认为，乡下人只会跟猪和牛打交道，可是不善于和人打交道。这些城里人经常把乡下人称为：hick。Hick这个字和中文里的乡巴佬差不多。
例如：See that well-dressed man across the room? That's Mr.Green.When he came to New York 20 years ago, he was only a hick fresh out of the cornfields of Kansas.But he turned out to be a lot smarter than he looked;they say he made ten million dollars last year trading in the stock exchange.你瞧屋子那边那个衣着很讲究的人。那是格林先生。二十年前他来纽约之前，只不过是勘萨斯州种玉米的乡巴佬。他当时虽然看起来不怎么样，但是脑子却非常灵活。他们说，去年他通过买进卖出 股票就赚了一千万美元。
又如：My roommate in my freshman year was a real hick.He came from a town so small it didn't have a stop light, a building with an elevator or a movie theater.大学一年级时和我住一个房间的那个同学真是个乡巴佬。他的老家是一个非常小的镇，那里连红绿灯都没有，没有一个楼里有电梯的，甚至连电影院都没有。
美国农民的人数现在越来越少了。一百年前，美国有百分之四十二的人生活在农村。可是，随着城镇的发展和农业机械化，美国农民的人数现在已经下降到只占总人口的百分之二点二。在二十世纪，由于交通、收音机和电视的发展，城市和农村的区别已经在很大程度上消除了。可能正是因为这个原因，乡下人用来贬低城里人的名词很有限。他们常用的一个是：city slicker。Slick这个字的意思是很滑溜。所以，一个city slicker 也就是说话很圆滑，衣着很时髦，但是很可能是一个不老实、不可信任的家伙。
例如：Yep, I told Susie not to go out with any of them city slickers with their smooth talk and fancy clothes.If she has to go out, look for a farm boy.He may be a hick, but she can trust him a whole lot more.是的，我告诉苏琦不要和那些圆嘴滑舌、衣着讲究的城里人出去玩。要是她一定要出去玩，找一个农村来的男孩。他也许是个乡巴佬，但至少是可以信得过的。
又如：Sure, a city slicker looks smart as long as he stays in a place like New York.But you put him down on a farm and he won't do much better than a newborn baby!
是的，一个油滑的城是的，一个油滑的城里人在像纽约这种地方看起来都很精明。但是，你要是把他送到农村去，他肯定什么也不会干，比一个新生婴儿好不了多少。333平常人，普通人。An average Joe refers to someone who is just like everyone else;a normal person.'Average' means 'in the middle' or 'not extreme', and 'Joe' is a common male name.So 'average Joe' refers to a man who is not extremely different from everyone else.www.xiexiebang.com Average意思是“平均的，一般水平的”，而Joe又是一个极其常见的名字，所以人们就用average Joe来表示很普通的一个人。例如我们会说，雷?罗马诺是这个时代全美最受欢迎的电视明星之一，可他却似乎不把自己当成什么大人物，仿佛就是与你生活在同一座城市里的“average Joe”。not know Jack about 对某事一无所知。如： I don't know jack about fishing意思就是I don't know anything about fishing（我对钓鱼一无所知）。而I don’t know Jack的意思就是“我什么也不知道”。关于Jack，还有两个常见的句子。Do you know jack shit? 意思就是问别人, “你知不知道什么叫无知? 在美国的口语中，jack shit 算是一句粗话，意思是什么也没有。4 John Q.Public 普通人。在美语中，John Q.Public也是指“普通人，民众”。类似的词组是：John Q.Citizen.美语里还有很多与John有关的词组，如：big John（新兵），cheap John（乱杀价的商人;叫卖小贩），honest John（诚实的人;容易上当的人），square John（诚实可靠的人;奉公守法的人）。5 Jeez Louise 表示惊讶。如：One million? Jeez-Louise!You get any of that?(一百万？老天！有你的份吗？)Jeez Louise, don't you know that all banks are closed today? It is Saturday.（天啊，你难道不知道今天银行不营业吗？今天可是周六）。6 For Pete’s sake 感叹词，用以强烈表达情绪，意为“哎呀，天哪”，有些地方也译作“看在上帝面上；千万；务必”等。在这个短语中，Pete是耶酥大弟衣物，其中一子St．Peter的昵称。常在恳求或请求他人时使用。如：For Pete's sake，stop making so much noise．(哎呀，天哪！别弄出那么讨厌的声音啦!)此外，它还应用于其他种种不同的场合。假设你向别人道了歉，他还没完没了，这时你可以说：I said I was sorry．What else do you want me to do, for Pete's sake?(我已经说对不起了，拜托，你还想叫我怎样啊?)类似的表达方式还有for Christ sake，for heaven's sake，for mercy’s sake，for pity’s sake，for God’ sake.For Christ's sake和for God's sake有亵渎神明之嫌，一般避免使用。但在重大事件的场合是可以使用的，不受限制。
正因为在严重事件的场合使用。所以for Christ's sake和for God's sake语气最强，其次是for Pete's sake，其余的大致相同。另外，在使用时，男女有别。for Pete's sake和for God’sake多为男性使用。for goodness’sake，for heaven's sake，以及for pity's sake的使用者以女性居多，但男性在表示特别强烈的感情时也可以使用。但for mercy's sake几乎只有女性使用。7 a doubting Thomas 生性多疑的人。源自《圣经?新约?约翰福音》第20章。该篇讲到耶稣复活后出现在众人面前，十二门徒之一托马斯没有亲眼见到，声称除非看到他手上的钉痕，用手探入他的肋旁，否则不信他已复活。后来人们用“doubting Thomas”指那些不肯轻易相信别人的人。
He’s a real doubting Thomas — he simply wouldn’t believe I’d won the car until he saw it with his own eyes.他是一个真正的怀疑主义者—在没有看到之前他就是不相信我赢得那辆车。8 a plain Jane 长相不起眼，外貌平凡的女人。这里的plain是“不惹人注目的，朴素的”，而Jane是一般女人名，plain与Jane合辙押韵。如：I wonder why a handsome man like Jeff married such a plain Jane.我很奇怪像杰夫这样出色的男子怎么与一个不怎么起眼的姑娘结婚。9 Joe Blow 老百姓，普通人。Joe Doakes也可以表示这个意思。美国口语中，Joe College指典型的美国大学生，Joe Miller则指滑稽书，笑话集。www.xiexiebang.com 10 Sheila 在口语中表示少女，年轻貌美的女子。一般为女子英文名，译为希拉，类似于Shelly, Cecilia.11 No way, Jose “不可能的荷西”，常用于熟人之间拒绝做某事。Jose并不表示叫这个名的人，而是跟way押韵，说起来响亮，好听。这种说法始于20世纪60年代美国乡村。12 not know a person from Adam 不知（某人）模样如何，与（某人）素不相识。源自《圣经?旧约?士师记》第2、3章。上帝创造了世界上的第一个男人，取名为亚当（Adam）。因为亚当非女人所生，所以没有肚脐，是最容易辨认的人，“not know somebody from Adam”就表示“完全不认识某人”。Mrs.Smith is a friend of mine, but I don’t know her husband from Adam.史密斯太太是我的朋友，但我完全不认识她丈夫。13 Jack of all trades 万事通。一般指杂而不精，也就是我们平时所说的“三脚猫”。Jack of all trades and master of none.门门精通，样样稀松。14 Uncle Sam 美国。它源自1812-1814年间美英战争时期的一个历史传说。相传在纽约州的特洛伊城（Troy)）有位年长的肉类加工商，名叫山缪尔?威尔逊(Samuel Wilson)。他勤劳、诚实、能干，很有威信，人们亲切地叫他山姆大叔(Uncle Sam)。他也是一位爱国者，与父兄曾参加过美国独立战争。在1812年的美英战争中，他的工厂与政府签了一份为军队生产桶装牛肉的合同，美国政府每当收到他交来的经其亲自检验合格的牛肉，就将肉装入特制的木桶，并在桶上盖上US的记号。由于Uncle Sam的首字母是US，而美国(The United States)的缩写也是U.S.，于是人们便把这两个名称合二为一了。当地的人们就把“山姆大叔”当成美国的绰号，并逐渐流传开来。15 John Hancock 亲笔签名。John Hancock是在The Declaration of Independence(美国独立宣言)上署名的独立战士中,将自己的名字签得又好又大的一个人，他的签名美观大方而且个头也比别的签名大。所以美国人常把John Hancock当作signature(署名,签名)的意思.。如：I need your John Hancock.我需要您的签名。16 Johnny One Note 五音不全的人。也可以指思想狭隘，看问题片面的人。Note在这里的意思是音符。444猜疑伤害莫逆之交。
5.Speed is the soldier's asset。兵贵神速。
6.Sweet discourse makes short days and nights。言语投机恨时短。
7.Soft words butter no parsnips。画饼充饥。
8.Set a thief to catch a thief。以毒攻毒。
9.Well fed, wed bred。衣食足，知荣辱。
10.Laugh at your ills, and save doctors' bills。生病不忧虑，节省医药费。
11.Sloth is the key of poverty。惰能致贫。
12.Among the blind the one eyed man is the king。山中无老虎，猴子称大王。13.To err is human。
犯错是人之常情。/ 人谁无过。
14.You can't judge a book by its cover。不能以外表来判断本质。/ 不要以貌取人。15.Gut no fish till you get them。勿操之过急
555 To look two ways to find Sundays——斜着眼看。
2、与Monday有关的英语俚语：
black Monday（学俚）放假后的开学第一天；执行死刑之星期一；黑色礼拜一（即复活节之后一日，因1360年的当天，天气严寒，爱德华三世之士兵都冻死于巴黎附近）。Blue Monday——沮丧，闷烦（相对于欢乐的周末而言）。
Saint Monday——（特指交易所）懒散，工作很少的星期一。Mad Monday ——忙乱的星期一。
Monday morning feeling , Monday feeling——美国人在周末休假后星期一不想工作的那样一种心情。
Monday morning quarterback——放马后炮的人。Monday morning quarterbacking——放马后炮。
3、与Friday有关的：
Friday——忠仆，随从（源自鲁滨逊漂流记）。Man Friday——男忠仆。
Girl Friday——得力助手（尤指女秘书）。Pal Friday——极受信赖的女秘书。Friday face——神色不佳之人。
Black Friday——不幸的礼拜五，即有任何灾难发生的礼拜五；复活节前之礼拜五（神职人员于此日着黑装）。
Good Friday——耶酥受难节；
T.G.I.F(Thank God it’s Friday)——报纸上刊出招聘一名能干的女职员的广告。
4、与Saturday有关的：
Saturday-to-Monday——周末休假；周末的。
Black Saturday——黑色星期六（指工人已预借工资无钱可领的星期六）。Saturday night special——便于周末作案的小手，现在应该把枪。Saturday night massacre——星期六夜晚大屠短袖，单件掺杀（指尼克松任总统期间白宫在1973年10月20日，周六晚上宣布解除水门时间特别检查官考克斯的职务，并解除拒绝把考克斯解职的司法部长理查森和副部长拉克尔职务）。
5、与“星期”名称有关的几个名谚：
He that sings on Friday , shall weep on Sunday;He who laughs on Friday will weep on Sunday.乐极生悲。
Choose a wife on a Saturday rather than a Sunday.节日假期，不宜选妻。（意指平时女子穿便服，故能更好地对之进行观察）。Come day , go day , God send Sunday.过了一天又一天，上帝快给个星期天。（此乃懒惰者的愿望，亦指懒惰的佣人盼望工作时间快快过去，休息和发工钱的日子快快到来）。附几个句子：
1、Mary , a well-known Sunday painter's girl Friday , went to the art exhibition in her Sunday best yesterday and made a hit with all the gentlemen there who seemed to have Sunday-go-to-meeting manners.2、Joe slumped into his chair at the breakfast table , “monday morning feeling again , dear ? ” asked his wife.3、——I know it must be the battery.——yeah , why didn’t you tell me earlier ? Monday morning quarterback.4、Friday , September 24 , the day the financial panic of 1869 began , has since been known as black Friday.5、He bought a Saturday night special from a Sunday driver.6、On the average they receive about five or six hundred calls a day , but this rises to close to a thousand calls after occasions like Richard Nixon's “saturday night massacre ” 666 英语文章网
英语文章
? 英语新闻Blair is best paid speaker 英语语法Since 和For的辨析 ? 电影中的美国俚语50句 电影中的美国俚语50句 Be in the air 将要发生的事情
The feeling or idea that something new is about to happen or is going to change.Example: From the arguments going on at the meeting, it seems that a change in policy is in the air.Clear the air 消除误会
To settle a dispute and restore good relations
Example: We had a meeting with the workers, and I think we’ve cleared the air now.Cost an arm and a leg 极其昂贵
To be very expensive
Example: I love that fur coat.However, I don’t think I’m going to buy it because it costs an arm and a leg.A bad egg 缺乏道德的人
Somebody who has no moral principles and should be avoided
Example: You mustn’t lend Tim money, he’s a bad egg.You’ll never see him or your money again!In the Bag 稳操胜券
Said of an achievement which is secure
Example: We have the deal in the bag.The client came in this morning to sign the agreement.In the balance 未知的,不可预测的
Said when the outcome of a situation is unknown or unpredictable
Example: His career as a pilot is in the balance, as his eyesight does not seem good enough.Drive a hard bargain 极力讨价还价
To have the negotiating strength and skills to get the most advantageous price and conditions
Example: Amanda is negotiating the best price from the suppliers.She drives a hard bargain.Ring a bell 看上去或听起来非常熟悉
To look, sound or seemfamiliar
Example: That face rings a bell, where have I seen him before? Tighten one’s belt 节衣缩食
To cut down on spending because there is less income than before
Example: Now you are out of work, you’ll have to tighten your belt and give up buying new clothes and going out so often.Kill two birds with one stone 一石二鸟
To complete two tasks together, with less effort than doing them separately
Example: Since I’d gone to the store to buy some bread, I thought of killing two birds with one stone and invited Mr.Biggs to the party.11 Be in a black mood 情绪极差
To be so negative about everything that it is impossible for anyone to reason with him/her
Example: My father has been in a black mood for days, we dare not say anything to him.New blood 新成员
New people brought into an organization to introduce different and original ideas
Example: It was decided to bring new blood into the school by employing teachers with the latest training.Feeling blue 感到无精打采
Feeling sad or depressed
Example: She’s feeling blue, because the man she loves is far away.Get to the bottom of something 弄清真胶线，悬挂昨相
To find out the truth about something
Example: I’m trying to get to the bottom of why David left without saying goodbye.A piece of cake 轻松的事
Something which is very easy to do
Example: Here„let me put the batteries in for you.It’s a piece of cake.Pay a call 拜访
To visit somebody
Example: As we’re in this neighborhood, we might as well pay the Jacksons a call, we haven’t seen them for ages.By chance 偶然, 意外的
Unexpectedly;with no prior planning
Example: By chance, I bumped into my wife in the shopping mall Round the clock 夜以继日的
To do something continuously, without a break or pause
Example: The ambulance services worked round the clock hauling people trapped in the building to safety.Keep one’s cool 保持冷静
To stay calm in a difficult situation
Example: If the traffic is jamed, the only thing to do is keep your cool, or get out of the car and walk!In a tight corner 处于困境
In an extremely difficult situation
Example: Whenever I get into a tight corner, I try to rely on quick thinking to get out of it.21 Keep in the dark 隐瞒
To keep something secret
Example: We know my brother has a new girlfriend, but he's keeping her name in the dark.Fall on deaf ears 不加理睬的, 不听取
Not to take any notice of what is said
Example: The city council’s order that garbage should be put in the bins fell on deaf ears;the sidewalks are still littered with trash!Take things easy 放轻松
To relax
Example: It's better for our health to take things easy than to worry about problems all the time.Eat like a horse 吃得很多
To eat a lot;to have a very big appetite
Example: Fred eats like a horse.When I was a growing lad like him, I used to eat a lot, too.Catch one’s eye 吸引某人注意
To attract somebody’s attention
Example: A movement behind the curtain caught my eye – I thought it was a burglar and rushed out of the room!Have an eye for something 对某事(某物体)了解得非常清楚
To be very good at doing something, or have a great understanding of something.Example: As a botanist, he has to describe and draw plants accurately, so he must have an eye for detail.Turn a blind eye.熟视无睹
To ignore an action, even though one should do something about it
Example: Parents will spoil their children if they constantly turn a blind eye to their bad behavior.Keep an eye on 照看, 密切注视
To watch carefully;to look after
Example: Keep an eye on my purse – I'm just going to the bathroom.Lose face 丢脸
To have one's reputation spoiled;to be embarrassed
Example: The large drug houses have lost face, because smaller companies are selling similar products at a cheaper price!Lead the field 处于领头地位
To be the most successful person or group in an activity
Example: For decades, the House of Dior led the field in elegant fashion design.31 Get out of hand 失去控制
To be out of control
Example: The problem of suicide bombings is getting out of hand;there seems to be no way to stop them.32 Give a hand 提供帮助
To help somebody with something
Example: Please give me a hand and hold this board while I paint it.33 Learn by heart 牢记
To memorize something;to have learned something word for word or very precisely.Example: At school we often learned Shakespeare’s sonnets by heart and recited them in front of the class.34 On hold 尚未办理的事情
Something set aside and waiting to be dealt with
Example: Our vacation plans are on hold right now;because my Dad’s just been admitted to hospital with a stomach ulcer.35 A dark horse 出乎意料的嬴家
An unexpected winner.Example: A dark horse in this year’s basketball cup was Japan!
The bottom line 本质内容
The most essential part of something
Example: We’ve talked a lot about taxation and immigration, but the bottom line is that we have to create more jobs.37 Live it up 狂欢一场
To enjoy a high standard of living and lead a carefree life
Example: The neighbors having been living it up ever since they won the sweepstakes.38 Look forward to 期待着
To relish some future prospect;to eagerly await meeting somebody.Example: You can tell Jake is looking forward to his vacation – he keeps telling us how many days there are left until he finishes college.39 Bear in mind 记住
To remember something which can be of help in the future.Example: Before you start your perspective drawing, bear in mind you should first establish a vanishing point.40 Have a mind to 想做某事, 计划做某事
To be decided on;to intend to
Example: The service in our hotel was terrible.I have a mind to write a letter of complaint.41 Be in the mood 想要做某事
To feel like doing something
Example: She is not in the mood for playing cards and says she should really be preparing her lecture notes.42 Over the moon 欣喜若狂
Extremely happy
Example: She’s over the moon about her promotion – she really wasn’t expecting it.43 Get a move on 赶快
To hurry up
Example: Get a move on!The train is about to leave.44 Over and above 除„这外, 额外的 In addition to
Example: Over and above our salary, we are getting a large bonus, because business has been very profitable this year.45 Get the picture 了解某事
To understand something, to grasp some meaning
Example: When they started cutting back and laying people off at work, I got the picture and starting looking for another job.46 Be out of pocket 花光了钱的 To be without money
Example: He’s complaining because he spent all of his money on slot machines and now he’s out of pocket.47 Keep somebody posted 传达消息
To regularly give somebody up-to-date information or details of the progress being made.Example: I phoned in at the end of each working day to keep my boss posted about developments at the trade conference.48 In the long run 最终, 最后
Over a long period of time, once a process has matured
Example: The grocery store is making a loss right now.In the long run, however, we hope to achieve a situation of stable profit.49 On a shoestring 生活拮据
In a thrifty manner;with costs or spending down to a bare minimum
Example: She lives on a shoestring – she gets a tiny pension and has to budget very tightly.50 Lose track of 失去消息, 失去线索
To lose contact with somebody to not know where something is
Example: I lost track of Fran when she moved to Boston.I’ve even tried to locate her on the Internet.This entry was written by , posted on 星期四 04月 30 2009at 11:04 pm , filed under 英语谚语 and tagged 美国俚语.Bookmark the permalink.Post a comment below or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.发表评论
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6666intelligence;he is just using his memory.(Da Vinci, Italian painter)一个借着引经据典来辩论的人，不是在运用自己的才智，他是在运用自己的记忆力。(意大利画家 达·芬奇)Art is a lie that tells the truth.(Picasso, Spanish painter)美术是揭示真理的谎言。(西班牙画家 毕加索)Art is long, and time is fleeting.(Longfellow, American poet)艺术是永恒的，时间则是瞬息即逝的。(美国诗人 朗费罗)Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it!(Robert Motherwell, American painter)艺术远没有生活重要，但是没有艺术生活是多么乏味呀！(美国画家 马赦韦尔 R)Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling theorist has experienced.(Len Tolstoy, Russian writer)艺术不是手艺，它是艺术家的体验到的感情的传递。(俄两天它都区别国作家托尔斯泰。L)Art is the mold of feeling as language is the mold of thought.(Susanne Langer, American philosopher)艺术是感情的模制品，犹如语言是思想的模制品。(美国哲学家 兰格 S)Art is the object of feeling, and the subject of nature.(S.K.langer, American philosopher and educator)艺术是情感的客观表现。也是本性的主观反映。(美国哲学家、教育家 兰格 S K)Art is the right hand of nature.The latter only gave us being, but the former made us men.(Friedrich Schiller, German poet)艺术是自然的右手。自然只让我们存在，而艺术创造我们的人类。(德国诗人 席勒 F)Art is the stored honey of the human soul, gathered on wings of misery and travel.(Theocore Dreser, American novelist)好画犹如佳肴，只可意会，不可言传。(法洗衣粉放在红国画家 弗拉曼克 M)Good painting is like good cooking;it ca n be tasted, but not explained.(Maurice de vlaminck, French painter)简单地说，伟大的文学就是包涵极其丰富意义的语言。(美国诗人 庞德 E)Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree(Ezra Poud, American poet)幽默被人正确地解释为“以诚挚表达感受，寓深思于嬉笑”。(美国诗人 庞德 E)Humor has been well defined as thinking in fun while feeling in earnest.(Mark Twain, American novelist)我写作只是为了增加自身的美。(美国作家 杰克·伦敦)I write for no other purpose than to add to the beauty that now belongs to me.(Jack London, American writer)音乐要用心灵去听，用头脑去感觉。(法洗衣粉放在红国作家 雨果 V)In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brains.Victor Hugo, French writer Jazz tickles your muscles, symphonies stretch your soul.(PaulWhiteman, American conductor)爵士乐使你的肌肉发痒，交响乐能舒展你的灵魂。(美国指挥家 怀特曼 P)iterature is a kind of intellectual light which, like the light of the sun, may sometimes enable us to see what we do not like.(Samuse Johnson, British writer and critic)文学是一种理智之光，它和阳光一样，有时能使我们看到我们不喜欢的东西。(英国作家、批评家 约翰逊 S)Love and scandale the best sweeteners of tea.(HenryFielding, British writer)风流韵事与丑闻是品茶聊天时的最佳话题。(英国作家 菲尔丁 H)Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak.(William Congreve.British dramatist)音乐有着抚慰粗野的胸怀、软化顽石或使千年老树弯腰的魅力。(英国剧作家 康格里夫 W)Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing.(John Erskine, American educator)音乐是唯一不能用及表达卑鄙的或讽刺的事物的语言。(美国教育家 厄斯金 J)Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is a apeaking picture.(Simonides, ancient Greek writer)画是无言之诗，诗是有声之画。(古希腊作家 西蒙尼特斯)Rules and modesty destroy genius and art.(William Hazlitt, British essayist)规则与谦逊会毁掉天才和艺术。(英国散文家 哈兹里特 W)Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face their own.(Jonathan Swift, British writer)讽刺是一面镜子，观看者通常从中看到每一个人的面容却看不到自己。(英国作家 斯威夫特 J)Some people pretend to despise the things they cannot have.(Aesop, ancient Greek fable writer)吃不到葡萄的人说葡萄酸。(古希腊寓言作家 伊索)Speech is a mirror of the soul;as a man speaks, so is he.(Ephraem Syrus, American writer)语言是心灵的镜子；一个人只要说话，他说的话就是他的心灵的镜子。(美国作家 塞拉斯 E)Sunshine can burn you, food can poison you, words can condemn you, pictures can insult you;music cannot punish----only bless.(Arthur Schnabel, Austrian pianist)阳光可能炙烤你，食品可能毒害你，言语可能诅咒你，图画可能侮辱你——音乐不会处罚你只会祝福你。(奥地利钢琴家 施纳贝尔 A)The art of giving presents is to give something which others cannot buy for themselves.(Alan Alexander Milne, British humorist)送礼的艺术在于送别人不能给自己买的东西。(英国幽默作家 米尔恩 A A)The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation;the two keep in their downwad tendency.(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe German poet)文学的衰落表明一个民族的衰落。这两者走下坡路的时候是齐头并进的。(德国诗人 歌德 J W)The lanscope belongs to the man who looks at it.(Ralph Waldo Emerson, American thinker)风景属于看风景的人。(美国思想家 爱默生 R W)The love of beauty is an essential part of all healthy human nature.(John Ruskin, American writer and critic)爱美是健康人性的重要组成部分。(美国作家、批评家 罗斯金 J)The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props , the pillars to help him endure and prevail.(William Fulkner, American writer)诗人的声音不应只是人类的记录，而应是使人类永存并得到胜利的支柱和栋梁。(美国作家福克纳.W.)The value of culture is its effect on character.It avails nothing unless it ennobles and strengthens that.Its use is for life.Its aim is not beauty but goodness.(Somerset Maugham, British noverlist and dramatist)文化的价值在于它对人类品性的影响。除非文化能使品性变为高尚、有力。文化的作用在于裨益人生，它的目标不是美，而是善。(英国小说家和戏剧家 毛姆 S)There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.(Picasso, Spanish painter)有些画家把太阳画成一个黄斑，但有些画家借助于他们的技巧和智慧把黄斑画成太阳。(西班牙画家 毕加索)When a dog bites a man that is not news, but when a man bites a dog that is news.(Charls A.Dana, American journalist)狗咬人不是新闻，人咬狗才是新闻。(美国记者 达纳 C A)When one loves one's art no service seems too hard.(O.Henry, American novelist)一旦 热爱艺术，什么奉献也不难。(美国小说家 欧·享利)Words have a magical power.They can bring either the greatest happiness or deepest despair;can transfer knowledge from teacher to students words enable the orator to sway his audience and dictate its decisions.Words are capable of arousing the strongest emotions and prompting all man's actions.Do not ridicule the use of words in psychotherapy.(Sigmund Freud, German Psychiatrist)言辞具有不可思议的力量。他们能带来最大的幸福，也能带来最深的失望；能把知识从教师传给学生；言辞能使演说者左右他的听众，并强行代替他们作出决定。言辞能激起最大强烈的情感，促进人的一切行动。不要嘲笑言辞在心理治疗当中的的用途。(德国精神分析学家 弗洛伊德 S)777。）
在这里，他运用的是所谓的英语“押韵俚语”（Cockney Rhyming Slang）其中，tit for tat（原义为“针锋相对”）是 hat（帽子）的押韵俚语，同样，crust of bread（面包片）代替 head（头），daisy roots（雏菊花根）代替 boots（靴子），plates of meat（肉盘）代替 feet（脚），apples and pears（苹果和梨）代替 stairs（楼梯）,而 elephant's trunk（大象鼻子）则代替 drunk（喝醉了的）。
押韵俚语（Cockney Rhyming Slang）是英国伦敦下层社会中应用的非正式的口语（Cockney 意思为“伦敦佬”，是对伦敦社会下层人士的蔑称）。这种口语之所以称为押韵俚语，是因为他们用同正式语押韵的词来代替正式语。上面例子中的 tit for hat 就同 hat 押韵，同样，crust of bread 也同 head 押韵。
押韵俚语有一个特点，即代替一个正式词语要用含有两个或两个以上词（element）的词组。其它押韵俚语的例子还有不少。例如：
trouble and strife（原义为“麻烦和冲突”）代替 wife（妻子）
Brussels sprout（原义为“球芽甘蓝”）代替 scouts（童子军）
以上所说的都是完整的押韵俚语，但在实际运用中，伦敦佬们往往用它们的省略形式。值得一提的是，省略的押韵俚语中省略的部分不是其中的第一个词，而是第二个词，即用来押韵的那部分。因此，如果一个人说：My plates are killing me.其实际意义为 My plates of meat are killing me.即 My feet hurt.同样 tit for tat 可以省略成为 tit，crust of bread 可省略成 crust 等等。这样，文章开头的那句话也可以说成：
I put my tit on my crust and my daisy on my plates and fell down the apples because I was elephant's.以上为典型的英语押韵俚语。其实英语中有许多可以接受的非正式用法是由押韵俚语升级而来的，而有时甚至说标准英语的人都不知道它们的来源。例如，英语中有 Use your loaf（动动脑筋）实际上就是由Use your loaf of bread 省略而来，即 Use your head 的押韵俚语。其中 loaf of bread（面包条）是head（脑筋）的押韵俚语。
再如：英国人常说：We must get down to brass tacks.（我们必须讨论实际问题。）其中 brass tacks（黄铜平头钉）是 facts（事实）的押韵俚语，tacks 和facts 押韵。
又如：英语中有一个短语：take a butcher's，它其实是 take a butcher's hook（butcher's hook 原义为“屠夫的钩子”）的省略形式，即take a look（看一眼）的押韵俚语。
同样，英语中还有其它常见的词也出自押韵俚语，而这些词许多人不知其出处，似乎它们可以用于正式场合，而实际上它们却是英语中的“禁忌语”（taboo words）。例如：
Bristols 表示 breasts（“乳房”），来源于 Bristol City，是titty的押韵俚语，titty 是 breast 的禁忌语，复数：Bristols—titties.cobblers 的意思是 testicles（“睾丸”），来源于cobblers' awls（鞋匠的锥子）是 balls 的押韵俚语，ball是 testicles 的禁忌语。
伦敦金融界行话（jargon）中有一种类似押韵俚语，也很有意思。这些行话比起一般的押韵俚语更晦涩难解。例如：
I asked him for a price of a Hawaii but he would only quote me in a lady.一句，局外人很难理解其真实含义。
其中，Hawaii 原义为“夏威夷”，但在这儿代表的是“fifty million”，而 a lady 却代表 five million.这句话的意思是：“我向他要价5，000万（英镑），而他却只出500万。”
在这儿，Hawaii 来自一个电视节目“Hawaii Five-O”，Five-O当然代表50 million；lady 是 Lady Godiva 的省略形式。（Lady Godiva 是著名的 Peeping Tom典故中的女主人公。）Lady Godiva 同fiver（five million）押韵。
英镑同美元的兑换比率称为 cable，来自于英美间的跨大西洋的电缆（cable），因而英镑同美元的兑换比率在伦敦金融行话中也称为 Betty，来自于女演员Betty Grable，因为这个名字同 cable 押韵。
其它情况还有：
货币名称：
yen（日元）— Bill'n Ben
dollar（美元）— Oxford Scholar
guilder（荷兰盾）— boat builder
mark（德国马克）— smudge（smudge 的意思是a small mark）
数目：
one —a Spaniard（Juan）（Don Juan为西班牙一传奇人物）
a pair —Lionel（Blair）（一位舞蹈家）
three — carpet（flea）（地毯跳蚤）
four — Desmond（Tutu）（Desmond Tutu 为南非的大主教，用Tutu来表示four自然是因为Two twos are four）
five — a steep hill（来自于one-in-five 1 : 5的坡度）
eight— a garden（gate）或 John Curry（John Curry是一位花样滑冰运动员，用它显然是因为 skate 的缘故）
ten — Cockle（and Hen）（公鸡和母鸡）
a score — a motor-bike（人们很难将 motor-bike 和20 联系起来，而其中的原因却是骑手双手握住车把手，给发动机加油门两次手指共用 20 个。）
a half — a laugh
seven-eighths— seven Henries（Henry 为 Henry VIII 之略）
three quarters— three farmers（farmers 为 farmers' daughters 之略）
在人类交往中，俚语是一个十分难以理解的成分，而押韵俚语，如果不知其来源，理解起来会更加困难，而一旦了解了，它们又变得如此趣味盎然。了解一些押韵俚语对于熟悉英国社会、文化、风俗习惯以及进行实际交际都会有很大的帮助 8888 英文名人名言 英文名人名言
1.Love lives deep in the mind instead of residing in the lips.([Britain] William Shakespeare)爱情是埋在心灵深处，并不居住在双唇之间。(［英国］莎士比亚)2.Between grief and nothing I will take grief.(William Faulkner, American writer)在悲痛与虚无之间，我愿意选择悲痛。(美国作家 福克纳 W)3.Be wisely worldly, be not worldly wise.(Francis Quarles)要善于处世，不要老于世故。(夸尔斯)4.I don't want to earn my living;I want to live.(Oscar.Wilde)我不想谋生；我想生活。(奥斯卡.王尔德)5.The world has been made by fools that wise men should live in it.(Oscar.Wilde)傻瓜创造了世界，聪明人不得不生活于其中。(奥斯卡.王尔德)6.Anger, like grief is a weakness.(Marcus Aurelius Antonius)愤怒和悲哀一样，也是一种软弱。(马可·奥勒利乌斯)7.Every man is a poet when he is in love.(Plato ancient Creek philosopher)每个恋爱中的人都是诗人。(古希腊哲学家 柏拉图)8.I wept when I was born, and every day shows why.(Jack London, American novelist)我一生下来就开始哭泣，而每一天都表明我哭泣的原因。(美国小说家 杰克·伦敦)9.Truth needs no colour;beauty , no pencil.(William Shakespeare)真理不需色彩，美丽不需涂饰。(W·莎士比亚)10.Sweetest joy ,the wildest woe is love.(Philip Bailey)爱情是最甜蜜的欢乐，最强烈的痛苦。(菲利浦.贝利)
第四篇：英语谚语
五年级上册 Unit You can´t judge a book by its cover.不能以貌取人。Unit For the hard-working, a week has seven days;for the lazy, seven tomorrows.勤奋的人，一个星期有七天；懒惰的人，一个星期有七个明天。Unit An apple a day keeps the doctor away.每天一个苹果，医生远离我。Unit Practice makes perfect.熟能生巧。Unit 5 East or west, home is best.东好西好，不如家好。Unit 6 Seeing is believing。眼见为实。五年级下册
The early bird catches the worm.早起的鸟有虫吃。
Yesterday, today and tomorrow---these are the three
days of
man.人生有三天：昨天、今天和明天 Every season brings its
joy.春有百花秋有月，夏有凉风冬有雪。Let sleeping dogs lie.别惹是生非。Life has seasons.人生有四季。
It's the empty can that makes most noise.半瓶水响叮当。
the 六年级上册
Better to ask the way
than go astray.问路总比迷路好。Horses for
courses.知人善任。
Think
today
and
speak tomorrow.三思而后言。
A friend in
need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。
Like father, like son.虎父无犬子。
No pleasure
without
pain.没有苦就没有乐。
六年级下册 Less is more.少即是多。
All work and no play makes Jack
a dull
boy.只工作不玩耍，聪明杰克也变傻。All's well
that
ends well.结果好，一切都好。
Life is what you make
it.生活是自己创造出来的。
六年级上册Tips for pronunciation 连续、重音
Robin has
GPS.Follow me , please!Is it
far?
Where is
the
restaurant? Come and have a look Pictures of Stop at a
red light lesson
dinner
tonight
tomorrow We
can
share.I like dancing.He lives on a farm.What
are Peter's
hobbies? Listen
and
repeat.He is good at football / /,ping-pong / /and basketball.If you like sports / /,you can be a coach / /, a sports reporter / /, or a PE teacher.Next day
cant't go
count to don't be
第五篇：英语谚语
英语谚语大全
英语谚语大多 起源于 民间口语,也有一部分源于 文化典籍或 宗教文献。它们源远流长,在历史长河里兼收并蓄,得到不断的丰富和发展。经过千锤百炼,终成为简洁生动、意味深长、富有哲理的英语的精华。本文主要从 民间口语、文化典籍和 宗教文献3 个方面对英语谚语的 起源进行了探讨,旨在揭示谚语所反映的社会的发展进程、人民群众的思想观念、价值取向及其超越时空的价值和意义。恩格斯在《自然辩证法:劳动在从猿到人转变过程中的作用》中指出:“语言是从劳动当中并和劳动一起产生出来的⋯⋯”[1 ]语言是一种社会存在物,是随着人类的实践而形成发展起来的交流系统,是人类社会实践的共同创造物。作为日常口语的一部分,谚语的 起源十分悠久。其源头是人类先民的生产劳动,他们的实践、感知和经验,经过漫长的历史进程,不断积累、概括和提炼,并随着社会的发展和人们活动范围的扩大,传播开来。始于 民间口语的英语谚语,在传流的过程中,伴随文字的出现,逐渐进入到书面文献中。文化典籍中的“雅谚”有些可追溯到民间流传的“俗谚”,有些已不可考,但萌生于 民间口语或是由某些大众化说法提炼而来应是不争的事实。本文主要从 民间口语、文化典籍、宗教文献3 个方面对英语谚语的 起源进行探讨,旨在揭示谚语所反映的人类生产、生活历程和超越时空的价值和意义。
一、民间口语谚语是在群众中流传的固定语句,用简单通俗的话反映出深刻的道理。英语谚语绝大多数来自民间,是人民群众生活经验的总结,人力资源咨询凝结着人民大众的智慧。英语谚语中有大量关于农业生产、气象、渔牧、狩猎的谚语,如气象谚语、节令谚语、农事要诀等,通常称为“农谚”。Evening red and morning grey are the signs of a fineday.(晚霞红,晨雾蒙,天会晴。)A red sky at night is the shepherds’delight.(向晚天发红,羊倌喜盈盈。)Rain from the east;wet two days at the least.(风雨东方起,至少两天雨。)这几个谚语反映的都是气象常识,如热冷的交替,晚霞、晨雾主晴等,都是从事农业生产的先民长期的经验积累形成的对天气的认识。Ill weeds grow fast.(杂草长得快。)Out of old field comes new corn.(老田出新谷。)A year of snow , a year of plenty.(瑞雪兆丰年。)After a rainy winter follows fruitful spring.(今冬雨水足,来春果满枝。)这几条谚语反映了人民群众对田地、庄稼特点的认识,还表达了他们对五谷丰登的祈盼。先民们生产工具落后,生活条件恶劣,随时面临着毒蛇猛兽的侵袭和疾病带来的死亡,加之当时交通不便,隔山隔水,交流少,活动范围窄,所以“家”的观念在人们心中非常强。面对严酷的大自然,他们唯有在“家”里才能得到慰藉,找到安全感。下面的几条谚语正是“家”或乡土观念的反映。East or west , home is best.(东好西好,家里最好。)There is no place like home.(没有什么地方能像家里一样。)Better at home than a mile away from it.(在家万般好,出门时时难。)Every one seeks his own house.(家是自己的好先民们除从事繁重的农业生产劳动外,还会打猎或捕鱼以弥补生活的匮乏,这方面的经验在英语谚语中也有所反映。Hunger drives the wolf out of the woods.(饥饿引狼出森林。)Great fish are caught in great waters.(要抓大鱼,就下大海。)The fish will soon be caught that nibbles at the everybait.(爱咬钩的鱼逃不掉。)A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.(一鸟在手胜过二鸟在林。)An old fox is not easily snared.(老狐狸难上圈套。)Two dogs will kill a lion.(两狗可杀一狮。)If you run after two hares , you will catch neither.(一人追二兔,难免两手空。)人类早期的生产劳动,由于生产工具原始,完全靠体力,靠长时间的辛苦劳作,翻土、播种、收割都有时间、季节限制,耽误不得,正所谓“农时不可误”;又由于渐渐意识到生命无常,生命短暂,因而感叹时光短促、劝人珍惜时间的英语谚语不少。All time is no time when it is gone.(光阴一去不复返。)Time is money.(时间就是金钱。)Time flies.(时光如梭。)早期的人类势单力薄,无论是农耕或狩猎,都以群体出动、集体协作为主,有些英谚正是反映集思广益、共同协作这方面生活的。So many heads so many wits.(三个臭皮匠,抵个诸葛亮。)Many hands make light work.(人手多,好办事。)Two eyes see more than one.(两只眼睛比一只眼睛看得清。)Drop by drop the oceans are filled;stone by stonethe walls are built.(涓滴之水汇成海;一石一石筑成墙。)英语属于印欧语系,印欧语系的原创型文化滥觞于古希腊文化。古希腊所处的地理位置正居于尼罗河、两河、小亚细亚和南欧之“要冲”,生活在希腊半岛和爱琴海诸岛的先民从海中取食,靠海吃海,久而久之,便形成了海洋型文化特点。后来的英伦三岛又为大海环抱,受之于古希腊的海洋文化因子得以传承、光大。英语谚语中有大量涉及海上航行、经风受雨、捕鱼捉蟹的内容,这正是英语民族,以及整个西语民族地理位置和海洋型文化的反映。In a calm sea , every man is a pilot.(在平静的海上,人人都是领航员。)The good seaman is known in bad weather.(坏天气才能识出好水手。)A great ship asks deep water.(大船行深水。)In the deepest water is the best fishing.(最深的水里好捕鱼。)Hoist sail when the wind is fair.(趁着风好扬起帆。)He that would sail without danger , must never comeon the main sea.(谁在航行时不冒险,就永远不要来到大海上。)The great fish eat up the small.(大鱼吃小鱼。)The sea refuses no river.(江海不拒细流。)这些谚语是濒海居民或水手的经验之谈,有些已超出了航海的经验范围,而具有更为深广的含义,如The sea refuses no river.就有“聚沙成塔,集腋成裘”的内涵。源于 民间口语的谚语,除反应人民群众生产劳动中的经验外,还表现了他们在社会斗争中的经验和道德、伦理、是非等观念。If you would not be cheated , ask the price at threeshops.(货比三家不吃亏。)There is a black sheep in every flock.(害群之马到处有。)Pride goes before a fall.(骄兵必败。)这几条谚语都是人们实际生活斗争经验教训的总结。自然界的所有生物都有求生存的本能,作为有高级智慧的人更是如此。几千年来,丰衣足食、健康长寿一直是人们的追求与渴望。有关饮食、锻炼、健康、长寿方面的英语谚语非常丰富。Eat at leisure , drink with meas ure.(饭菜尽情吃,饮酒须节制。)Gluttony kills more than the sword.(暴食杀人胜刀剑。)He that eats least eats more.(饮食有节可长寿。)Many dishes , many diseases.(猛吃猛喝,疾病必多。)这几则谚语强调饮食节制的重要性。Rest breeds rust.(人不活动,百病丛生。)Difficulties strengthen the mind , as labor does thebody.(劳动强身体,艰难励意志。)Dry feet , warm head , bring safe to bed.(脚干头暖,睡觉平安。)After lunch , rest;after supper , walk.(午饭后要休息,晚饭后要散步。)这几条谚语告诫人们要多运动, 锻炼,要学会自我保健,以强身健体。Good health is above wealth.(健康金不换。)Happiness lies , first of all , in health.(幸福首先在于健康。)Health is jewel.(健康是钻石。)In sickness health is known.(患病方知健康好。)这几条谚语告诫人们要珍惜健康,方能过上高质量的生活,才能享受幸福快乐。有些英语谚语,强调人的精神、心理、环境对身体的重要性。Laugh and grow fat.(笑口常开,心宽体胖。)Care killed the cat.(忧能伤人。)A light heart lives long.(心胸坦荡寿命长。)Cheerfulness is health;its opposite , melancholy isdisease.(欢乐益健康,忧郁致病痛。)欢笑、坦荡的心胸都有利于健康,相反,忧虑、抑郁则对身心有害。当人类的原始积累达到一定程度,随着物质的丰富,人口的增多,交流的频繁,进行物质交换,互通有无,已成为必然,不可或缺。最早的交换应是以物易物,后来慢慢发展到使用钱币。由于金钱的重要价值、作用及其稀缺特点,人们对金钱有着强烈的占有欲望,并产生了独特的感受和认识。在英语谚语中,关于金钱的很多,正是人们深刻的金钱观的反映。Money makes the mare go.(有钱能使鬼推磨。)Money governs the world.(金钱统治世界。)Money is the key that opens all doors.(钱是打开所有门的钥匙。)这些谚语反映的是拜金主义的金钱观。Gold will not buy everything.(金钱并非万能。)Money is the root of all evil.(金钱乃万恶之源。)Riches do not always bring happiness.(金钱不总能带来幸福。)The love of money and the love of learning rarelymeet.(爱财不好学,好学不爱财。)这几条谚语反映了对待金钱的不同的价值观,揭示了人们对客观事物的不同认识和理解。源自 民间口语的“俗谚”,以世态人情为材料,以经验知识为依据,是人民大众生活和生产的缩影,也是他们经验的积累和总结,揭示了他们对客观世界的认识和感悟,也表露了他们的心理诉求和祈望。
二、文化典籍流传于 民间口语中的谚语,伴随着文字的产生,开始出现在各种文学作品和 文化典籍中。英语谚语有一部分来自书面文献,主要出自希腊罗马神话、寓言故事、莎士比亚戏剧以及一些名家作品中。这些源自 文化典籍的“雅谚”,有些是在 民间口语说法的基础上提炼打磨而成,而有些则属独创,有着鲜明的文化色彩、语体特色和教育警策作用。莎士比亚不愧是语言大师,其戏剧成了产生谚语的沃土,这从一个侧面反映了莎士比亚的作品由于真实地反映了社会现实而为人民所喜爱,也反映了其在文学殿堂上的地位。莎士比亚生活的十六七世纪,正是资本主义兴起的时代,莎剧中的有些谚语正反映了新兴资产阶级的世界观,如物质至上,金钱至上等。The world is an oyster.(世界是一只牡蛎。)这条谚语首见于莎士比亚的喜剧《温莎的风流娘儿们》(The Merry Wives of Windsor),意思是说,如果你有很多钱,你可以想要什么就有什么,整个世界都由你摆布。Lend your money and lose your friend.(借出你的钱,失掉你的朋友。)这条谚语出自《哈姆雷特》(Hamlet)1 幕3 场。出现在莎士比亚戏剧中的谚语,有一部分并非莎翁的独创,而是先前就已存在。这类谚语,莎翁或直接引用,或加以改造,以符合剧中的人物个性。Even a worm will turn.(甚至连一只虫子也会翻翻身。)这则谚语原收录在英国诗人、剧作家约翰•海伍德的《谚语集》里,莎士比亚在《亨利六世》(Henry Ⅵ)中予以引用: The smallest worm will turn being drodden on.(最小的虫子,被踩一脚,也要扭动一下。)All cats love fish but fear to wet their paws.(所有的猫都爱鱼,但又怕湿了猫爪。)这是一句英国古谚,莎士比亚在《麦克白》(Macbeth)1 幕7 场中直接引用。You set an old man’s head on young shoulders.(你不要指望年轻的肩膀上长老年的头。)莎剧中的这条谚语是由下面一条谚语改变而来:You must not expect old heads on young shoulders.Silver will have a sliver sound.(银子发出的是银子的声音。)这则谚语源出于莎剧《罗密欧与朱丽叶》(Romeo and Juliet)4 幕5 场中的一句话: Silver hath a sweet sound.(银子发出甜蜜的声音。)古希腊罗马神话是西方文学的源头之一。与古希腊罗马神话有关或涉及古希腊罗马神话中诸种和英雄的英语谚语有相当数量。There were brave men before Agemenmnon.(阿加门农之前也有勇士。)阿加门农(Agmenmnon)是希腊神话中的迈锡尼王,他在特洛伊战争中担任希腊联军最高统帅,以勇猛善战著。Not even Hercules could contend against two.(即便赫尔克利斯,也是一不敌二。)赫尔克利斯(Hercules)是罗马神话中的英雄,是主神宙斯之子,力大无穷。个别英语谚语,其源头可追溯到古希腊诗人荷马、古罗马诗人奥维德或亚里士多德等古希腊罗马诗人、作家或哲学家的作品。如下面3 则:Choose the lesser of two evils.(两害相权取其轻。)荷马史诗中写有: The most preferable of evils ⋯(更可取的坏事⋯⋯)The grass is often greener on the other side of thefence.(篱笆那边的草总是更绿。)奥维德曾写过这样的诗句:The harvest is alwaysmore fruitful in another man’s fields.(别人地里的庄稼总比自家的多产。)Don’t kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.(不要杀死下金蛋的鹅。)这条谚语可上溯到古希腊寓言作家伊索的一个著名寓言故事《生金蛋的鹅》(The Goose with theGolden Eggs)。有一个农民的鹅突然生出金蛋来,但农夫非常贪心,想一下子得到很多金子。伊索写道:Thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give ,he kill ed it and opened it only to find —nothing.这条英语谚语的含义与汉语成语“杀鸡取卵”十分接近。One may go wrong in many different ways , but rightin one.(歧路万千条,正路只一条。)这条谚语源于古希腊哲学家、科学家亚里士多德的著作。英语谚语来自其他英语诗歌、戏剧、小说、散文等的为数不少。People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throwstones.(住玻璃房子的人不该扔石头。)这则谚语可上溯到英国诗人乔叟的《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》(Troilus and Criseyde)。Make hay while the sun shines.(趁着晴天晒干草。)这句谚语来自英国诗人亚历山大•巴克莱的讽刺作品《愚人船》(The Ship of Fools)。Variety is the spice of life.(变化多姿是生活的调味品。)这则谚语可追溯到英国诗人威廉•柯珀的长诗《任务》(The Task)。The child is father of the man.(三岁看到老。)英国诗人威廉•华兹华斯在《我的雀跃》(MyHeart Leaps Up)一诗中曾使用过这句谚语。这首诗的首句是:My heart leaps up when I behold/ A rainbowin the sky.(每见到彩虹横贯长空,我心涌动不已。)诗中谈到这是诗人从小就有的感受。每个人都由童年而及成年,而成年人性格中美好的一切都来自纯洁的童心。Never say die.(永远不要说“死定了”。)出自英国小说家的《匹克威克外传》(PickwickPapers),表达了一种永不言败的豪情。He that hath wife and children hath given hostage tofortune.(有妻室子女之人已将自己押给了命运。)出自英国哲学家培根的散文《论婚姻与独身》。另有个别英语谚语,源起于某个历史事件,有一定的文化历史背景。如:Nero fiddled while Rome burned.(罗马失火,尼禄弹琴作乐。)这条谚语就与一段罗马历史有关。尼禄是罗马皇帝,恺撒家族的最后一个统治者,自公元59 年后施暴政。在公元64 年,尼禄命人火烧罗马城,以便能看看“特洛伊城陷入火海会是什么样子”,并以大火为背景,朗诵自己的诗篇,还拿着竖琴为自己伴奏。这个谚语比喻一个人在危难中不负责任、不恤民情的行为。源自 文化典籍的“雅谚”,很好地反映了西方社会普遍的社会心理和价值取向,如崇尚独立与个性,崇尚理性,推崇平等观念以及私有财产神圣不可侵犯等。文化典籍类谚语在用词上较“俗谚”更为正式,带有很浓的书卷气,这也正符合文人著作的语言、文体特点。
三、宗教文献西方英语国家主要信仰基督教。基督教在其悠久的发展过程中已经超出了狭隘的宗教意义,形成了一种对西方人的生活方式、价值观念和伦理原则产生巨大影响的文化现象。基督教教典《圣经》,是西方文化的另一个源头,对英语的影响堪比莎士比亚的著作,对英语谚语的丰富和发展起了很大作用。英语中有许多谚语就是源自圣经故事或是反映宗教思想的,这也是宗教思想深入人心,影响并操纵着人们精神世界的体现。基督教的共同人性和博爱思想也都反映在英语谚语中。《圣经•旧约全书》中有一章《箴言篇》(The bookof proverbs),记录的是智者格言,十分丰富,都是规劝警示性的,在流传过程中成为精美的谚语。A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.(贞洁的妇女是她丈夫的冠冕。)A good name is better than riches.(美名胜过财富。)英语谚语还来自《圣经》中的其他篇章,如《约伯记》、《传道书》等。All rivers run into the sea.(条条河流归大海。)(《传道书》)The love of money is the root of all evil.(贪财是万恶之源。)(《提摩太前书》)The price of wisdom is above rubies.(智慧的价值高于珠宝。)(《约伯记》)Love begets love.(爱产生爱。)有些源自《圣经》的谚语,还保留着一些词的古代形式,如thou , thy , doeth , doest 等。When thou doest alms , let not thy left hand knowwhat the right hand doeth.当你施舍的时候,不要让左手知道右手所做的。(《马太福音》)《圣经》最早是用希伯来语写的,后来译成多种语言。英语《圣经》有多个版本,相同的语义内涵有时会有不同的译文变体。比如: Stolen waters aresweet.(偷来的水是甜的。)就有几种变体[2 ] :Stolen sweets are always sweeter.(偷来的糖总是格外甜。)Stolen pleasures are sweet.(偷欢是甜蜜的。)Stolen fruit is sweeter.(偷来的水果分外甜。)某些英语谚语源出《圣经》,但用词已不同于原文,语言形式上有所改变,或利用《圣经》语句的创意,产生出新的谚语。As you row , so shall you reap.(种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆。)这条谚语源自《圣经•加拉太书》中的Whatsoevera man soweth , that shall he also reap.原句中的大词、古词whatsoever 和soweth 已不再出现。《圣经•以西德书》中有一句是这样说的: Thussaith the Lord God :An evil , an only evil , behold , iscome.主耶和华如此说:有一灾祸,独有一灾祸,看哪,它临近了。有几条英语谚语就是由这个句子演化而来。Misfortunes never come single.(祸不单行。)One misfortune rides upon another’s back.(一个灾祸骑在另一灾祸的背上。)Hardships never come alone.(苦难从不单独来。)英语中有些谚语,与圣经故事有关。圣经中的一些含有浓厚宗教色彩的词常出现在英谚中,如cross(十字架),forbidden fruit(禁果), God(上帝),Devil(魔鬼)等。Forbidden fruit is sweet.(禁果是甜的。)Every man must carry his cross.(每个人必须背他自己的十字架。)Evil and good are God’s right hand and left.(善与恶是上帝的左右手。)The Devil take the hindmost.(落后者遭殃。)The cross on the breast , and the devil in the heart.(十字胸前挂,恶念心中藏。)Hell is wherever heaven is not.(不是天堂的地方,即是地狱。)一种民族语言所吸收的来自 宗教文献的词语与他们所信仰的宗教有关,众多英语谚语源自《圣经》,就很好地说明了这一点。除了 民间口语、文化典籍和 宗教文献这3 个主要来源外,英语谚语还有些源自外来语。由于地理位置和历史的缘故,英语在其发展过程中不断受到外来语的影响和冲击,使得英语中吸收了大量来自外国文化的词语,英语谚语也不例外。有相当一部分英语谚语来自拉丁语、法语、德语、西班牙语、汉语等。这部分谚语有些还保留着外文的原形,有些则已译成英语。如cherchez la femme(找出祸水)是一句法文谚语,但却以法文原文形式保留在英文中,译成英语为find the woman ,表示不论发生什么麻烦,其背后总有女
人牵涉其中。其他如: Familiar paths and old friends are the best.(熟路易走,老友易处。)(来自德语)Those who know don’t speak;those who speak don’t know.(知者不言,言者不知。)(源自老子的《道德经》)Give a helping hand to a man in trouble.(对危难者应授之以手。)(来自拉丁语)这些外来的谚语已为英语国家人民所接受,成为其文化宝库中不可分割的一部分。弗兰西斯•培根曾经说过:“一个国家的智慧、风趣和精神均体现在它的谚语之中。”在几千年的形成流变过程中,英语谚语从不同源头汇聚而来,并得到不断的丰富和充实,终成为璀璨的颗颗宝石。这些谚语以其令人们熟知的形象和比喻体现了人们世代积累的经验和形成的价值观,它们作为社会共享的口头文学的袖珍版本,被成百上千次地引用,成为说服他人的论据,并用以指导日常生活。各个民族的文化有其各自的特点和赖以产生的历史背景,所以各自的谚语都带有其自身的文化烙印,反映了不同的思想观念和价值取向。因此,学习英语谚语并了解其产生的源头,有助于正确理解其内在含义,并且有利于了解英语民族,以致整个西语民族的思想方式、风俗习惯和感情品德,这为了解和 研究西方文化打开了一扇窗口,对促进跨文化交际和中西文化的沟通和借鉴都是大有裨益的。
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