摆脱中式英语 23|佛山英语培训

文本来源：佛山商务英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语

198. 他三言两语就解释清楚了整件事.
[误] He made the whole thing clear in three or two words.
[正] He made the whole thing clear in one or two words.
注: 虽然英语中的 one or two words 也是虚指,但所用的数字却与中文的不同.又如:三思(think twice),三心二意 (in two minds),百里挑一(one in a thousand)等.

199. 他的恬不知耻让我起鸡皮疙瘩.
[误] His shamelessness gives me chick-pimples.
[正] His shamelessness gives me goose-pimples.
注: 中文的"鸡皮疙瘩"在英语中要用"鹅皮疙瘩"(goose-pimples)表达.这多半由饮食习惯的差异引起,因为鹅在中国可不像在英国那样常见.

200. 十之八九你不能按时完成任务.
[误] Eight or nine out of ten you will not be able to finish the assignment in time.
[正] Ten to one you will not be able to finish the assignment in time.
注: "十之八九"表示"很可能",相当于 probably,与英语的习惯用语 ten to one 意思相同.

201. 爸爸给这张桌子上了一层新漆.
[误] Daddy painted the desk with a layer of paint.
[正] Daddy painted the desk with a coat of paint.
注:layer 和 coat,虽然翻译成中文都是"层",但用法却不同.如nions have layers(洋葱是一层一层的),但涂上一层油漆却要用 coat. A layer of smog settled over the city. The cake has three layers. These seeds must be covered with a layer of earth. A layer of ice on the street. You must put another coat of paint on this door. Two coats of painting were needed to cover the old colour. A coat of dust

202. 他喝起酒来像牛钦,但极少出交通事故.
[误] He drinks like a cattle, but seldom has traffic accidents.
[正] He drinks like a fish, but seldom has traffic accidents.
注:中国是个农业国,自古以来牛就是耕作的主要牲畜,所以中国人喜欢用牛,这一自己熟悉的动物来比喻.英国是个岛国,以渔业和航海业著称,所以那里的人们最为熟悉的动物就是鱼了.

203. 他已经到了山穷水尽的地步了.
[误] They are at the end of their road.
[正] They are at the end of their tether.
注:tether 是用来拴家畜的系绳,这些家畜只能在系绳尽头所能达到的范围内活动,所以 at the end of one's tether 被用来比喻能力等"达到了极限".这里的 tether 有时也用 rope 替代.

204. 国家法律规定,不论贫富,一律征税.
[误] According to the state law, both poor and rich are taxed.
[正] According to the state law, both rich and poor are taxed.
注:两种语言的表达顺序往往存在差异,而且都是约定俗成的,不容改变.又如:前后(back and forth),新旧(old and new),悲欢(joy and sorrow),血肉(flesh and blood),钢铁(iron and steel),兴衰(fall and rise),南北 (north and south)等.

205. 要在那么多书中找到我们想要的那本书简直就是大海捞针!
[误] To find a book we want in so many books is just as difficult as looking for a needle in the sea.
[正] To find a book we want in so many books is just as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack.
注:a needle in a haystack(干草堆里的一根针)确实难找,与我们"大海捞针"的难度应该是半斤八两,而且,它可是英语中约定俗成的用法啊!

206. 面包和黄油是西方人极其喜爱的食品.
[误] Bread and butter are westerners' favorites.
[正] Bread and butter is westerners' favourite. 注:bread and butter 在这里应该被看成一个整体,所以谓语动词要用单数形式.又如:刀叉(knife and folk)等.

文本来源：佛山商务英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语