摆脱中式英语 36|佛山英语培训

文本来源：佛山英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语

371. 他又犯了一个拼写错误.
[误] He made another spelling mistake again.
[正] He made another spelling mistake.
注:another spelling mistake 就有"又犯"的意思,所以句中的 again 应该删去.不能因为汉语中有一个"又"字就在英语句子中加 again.

372. 学生们被告知,任何人都不得把这些书籍带出阅览室.
[误] The students were told that anyone was not allowed to take the books out of the reading room.
[正] The students were told that nobody / no one was allowed to take the books out of the reading room.
注:anybody 作主语时,谓语部分使用否定词不符合英语的习惯,应将 anybody 改为 nobody,并将否定词 not 删去.又如:你喜欢的食物没有一种是适合我吃的(Nothing you like agrees with me).

373. 这是莎士比亚十四行诗的主要特点之一.
[误] This is one of the main characters of Shakespeare's sonnets.
[正] This is one of the main characteristics of Sharkespeare's sonnets. 注:character 是表示某一事物的总体特征(the combination of qualities which make a thing different from others),而 characteristic 则表示事物的具体特征.由此说来,一个事物只有一个 character,但却可以有多个 characteristic.所以在上面的例句中,one of the main characters 是错误的,应该改成 one of the main characteristics.又如:A person's character is always formed in his early years(一个人的性格通常在小时候养成); Carelessness is one of his characteristics(粗心是他的一个特点).

374. 他在艺术界有极高的地位.
[误] He has occupied a prominent position in the art circle.
[正] He has occupied a prominent position in art circles.
注:circle 表示"......界"时习惯用复数形式,而且前面多不加定冠词,如:cultural/academic/theatrical/business circles (文化/学术/戏剧/商界).

375. 大赛在即,每个动力员都在努力训练,以期刷新自己以前的纪录.
[误] The game is at hand and every athlete is training hard to improve their previous records.
[正] The game is at hand and every athlete is training hard to improve on their previous records.
注:improve 指"改善,提高",如 improve one's language ability(提高某人的语言能力).在英国人看来,以前的纪录 (previous records)是既成事实,不可能再加以改变(improve)了,所以应该在 improve 后面加上介词 on,以表示创造新的,更高的纪录.

376. 不要再费口舌了.
[误] Don't waste your words again.
[正] Save your breath.
注:save one's breath 有时也被说成 save one's energy,它对应的中文还可以是"白费力气".你知道"白费心思"用英语怎么说吗是 bother one's head for nothing.

377. 这个看上去很忠实的保姆实际上是一个惯愉.凯文一家真是引狼入室了.
[误] This seemingly honest baby-sitter is actually a habitual thief. The Kevin's do lead the wolf into the house.
[正] This seemingly honest baby-sitter is actually a habitual thief. The Kevin's do put the cat among the pigeons.
注ut the cat among the pigeons 的字面意思是"将猫放进鸽子笼".可以想象,那样的话笼子里一定不得安宁.它与"引狼入室"有异曲同工之妙,而且更地道,更易于西方人理解.

378. 在院足球队里叱咤风云的威廉到了校队却只能坐冷板凳.
[误] William, who was so popular in the department team, is given a cold bench in the university team.
[正] William, who was so popular in the department team, is given a cold shoulder in the university team.
注:give sb. a/the cold shoulder 的字面意思是"给某人一个冷肩膀".当不看重某人和对其冷淡的时候,人们往往会把身体转过去,用背或肩膀对着他.这与"坐冷板凳"的意思相同,而且比直译地道多了.

379. 经过一夜的围捕,警察终于把罪犯逼到了死胡同.
[误] After a night's pursuing, the police finally forced the criminal to a dead alley.
[正] After a night's pursuing, the police finally forced the criminal to a blind alley.
注:"死胡同"的英文表述是 blind alley 或 dead end.

380. 如果你爷爷看到你今天的所作所为,他一定会死不瞑目的.
[误] If your grandpa could see what you're doing now, he wouldn't have closed his eyes when he died.
[正] If your grandpa could see what you're doing now, he would turn over in his grave.
注:"死不瞑目"的意思是"死时尚存遗憾"或"灵魂得不到安息".若将其直译出来西方人很可能感到费解,所以建议采取意译的方式.除了上面的译法,还可以用 die with everlasting regret 或 die discontent 等.

381. 为了配合治疗,大夫不得不撒了个善意的谎,说病情并不严重.
[误] For better treatment, the doctor told him a goodwill lie saying his illness is nothing serious.
[正] For better treatment, the doctodr told him a white lie saying his illness is nothing serious.
注:a white lie 是英语的固定搭配,指"善意的谎言".

382. 最近许多女孩都鬼迷心窍似的一心只想嫁个外国人.
[误] Nowadays, many girls seem to be bewitched by ghosts and they are determined to marry foreigners.
[正] Nowadays, many girls seem to have a bee in their bonnets and they are determined to marry foreigners.
注:have a bee in one's bonnet 的字面意思是"帽子里有只蜜蜂",但它的真正意思是"想得入了迷",与"鬼迷心窍"是一个意思.又如:She never stops talking about dieting---she's got a real bee in her bonnet about it(她不停地谈论节食---完全鬼迷心窍了).

383. 那位顾客同买东西的人讨价还价,嘴皮都磨破了,可那人就是不降价.
[误] The customer bargained with the seller till he had worn out his lips, but the seller didn't change his price.
[正] The customer had worn out his tongue bargaining with the seller, but the seller didn't change his price.
注:中文用"嘴皮",但 tongue 却更符合英国人的习惯.另外,"保持缄默"的英文是 bite the ongue.

384. 现在,有些子女虽然已经成家,却还住在父母家白吃白喝.
[误] Nowadays, some young people still stay at their parents' home eating and drinking free, even after having their own families.
[正] Nowadays, some young people are still freeloaders at their parents' home, even after having their own families.
注:freeloader 指"利用别人的慷慨占便宜的人"或"寄生虫",用在这里十分准确和地道.

385. 梅森的辞职对老板来说是正中下怀,他不仅可以除去梅森这个眼中钉,而且还省去了一大笔赔偿费.
[误] Mason's resignation well fit his boss' mind, because he could not only get rid of Mason, a nail in the eye, but also save a large sum of compensation.
[正] Mason's resignation well played into his boss' hands, because he could not only get rid of Mason, a thorn in his flesh, but also save a large sum of compensation.
注lay into one's hands 源于扑克牌游戏,意指打出的牌正是对方想要的,而且多含"中了对方的圈套"之意,因而用在这里十分贴切."眼中钉"在英语中也有对应的表达,即 a thorn in one's flesh.

文本来源：佛山英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语