漢語中,帽子常被用來象征加給某人的罪名或壞名義。如,“高帽子”象征對人的吹捧奉承。英語中也有許多關(guān)于hat的習(xí)語,這些習(xí)語形象生動,蘊(yùn)涵著英美民族豐富而深厚的文化風(fēng)情,下面就給大家列舉一些。
1.at the drop of a hat立即,馬上
He’s willing to cancel the order at the drop of a hat.他愿意馬上取消定貨。
2.hang on to / hold your hat聽著(表示有驚人的消息)
Hang on to your hat—you won’t believe this but last night Bill asked me to marry him!告訴你一個特大消息,你肯定不會相信。可是,昨天晚上比爾向我求婚啦!
3.eat one’s hat (指說話的人十分肯定自己所說的話)如果錯了就把自己的帽子吃了(即漢語中不姓張、不姓王之意);也有十分驚奇之意
She is always late. If she gets that train, I will eat my hat.她總是遲到。如果她能趕上那趟火車,我會非常驚奇的。
4.keep sth under one’s hat 保密
(1) I’ll tell you the real story, but keep it under your hat.我會告訴你事情的真相, 但是你要保密。
(2)You can trust Beth to keep anything you tell her under her hat.你可以信賴貝絲,她不會將你告訴她的話對別人說。
5.knock into a cocked hat 徹底挫敗,駁得體無完膚
(1)His findings knocked our theory into a cocked hat.他的發(fā)現(xiàn)徹底挫敗了我們的理論。
(2)You may be only an amateur painter, but your pictures can knock mine into a cocked hat.你也許只是位業(yè)余的畫家,但是你的畫比我的強(qiáng)多了。
6.pass round the hat 募捐, 湊錢物(指為幫助生活困難的人)
At the club’s annual dinner we always pass round the hat to raise money for the various scholarships which the club sponsors.在俱樂部一年一度的宴會上,我們照例要為俱樂部主辦的各種獎學(xué)金募捐。
7.take one’s hat off to sb 向某人表示敬意,佩服
We took off our hats to their courage and daring.對他們的勇氣我們表示敬佩。
8.talk through one’s hat 瞎說, 吹牛, 說大話
Come on! Don’t talk through your hat any more!拜托!別再信口開河了!
9.throw / toss one’s hat in the ring 準(zhǔn)備加入比賽(競選, 戰(zhàn)斗)
People at first thought that the Governor of New York would throw his hat in the ring. But he waited and waited and announced at the last minute that he would not run for president.人們開始都以為紐約州州長會參加競選。可是,他遲遲不作決定,直到最后一分鐘才宣布他決定不參加總統(tǒng)競選。
10.hat in hand 畢恭畢敬,謙恭的
He approached the boss,hat in hand.他畢恭畢敬地走近老板。
11.pull a rabbit out of one’s hat 十分聰明,出其不意地解決問題
The governor pulled a rabbit out of his hat by putting together a budget without increasing taxes.在沒有增加賦稅的情況下,州長通過整和政府預(yù)算,十分巧妙地解決了這個問題。
12.wear two hats (at a time)(指一個人)同時擔(dān)任兩個職務(wù)
Since Mike’s wife passed away, he’s been wearing two hats at home as both father and mother. Not only is he the breadwinner of the family, he also takes care of the children’s food and clothes and helps them with their homework. 自從麥克的妻子去世以后,他在家既當(dāng)父親又當(dāng)母親。他不但要出去工作維持家庭的生活,而且還得料理孩子們的飯食和衣服以及幫助他們做家庭作業(yè)。
13.hang up one’s hat 辭職
When I stop enjoying my work, that’ll be the time to hang up my hat.當(dāng)我不再喜歡我的工作的時候,也就是我該辭職的時候了。