單詞背后的故事

2008-12-31 00:00:00ｂｙＳｈｅｌｌｅｙＧｏｌｌｕｓｔ

瘋狂英語·中學版 2008年8期

Wowrds ＆ Their Stories

“單詞背后的故事”是一個電臺節目，通過講故事和舉例子，讓英語學習者更系統地了解英語習語的意思與用法。當然，要學以致用才能真正掌握這些習語哦。“兩只小蜜蜂，飛到花叢中”，想必很多人小時候都聽過媽媽講小昆蟲的故事。關于昆蟲的習語你又知道多少呢？跟著小編一起學習本期的蟲蟲物語吧。Ready? Go!

There are many American expressions aboutinsects–like bees， for example. Bees are knownas very hard workers. They always appear to bebusy， moving around in their homes， or hives^[蜂箱].So you might say you were ¹⁾as busy as a bee ifyou spent your weekend cleaning your house. Infact， you might say your house was a ²⁾beehive ofactivity if your whole family was helping youclean. You also might say you ³⁾made a beeline forsomething if you went there right away. Whenwe go to see a movie， my friend always makes abeeline for the place where they sell popcorn.

Here is an expression about bees that is notused much any more， but we like it anyway. Wethink it was first used in the 1920s. If somethingwas the best of its kind， you might say it was the⁴⁾bee’s knees. Now， we admit that we do not knowhow this expression developed. If fact， we do noteven know if bees have knees!

If your friend cannot stop talking aboutsomething because she thinks it isimportant， you might say she ⁵⁾has abee in her bonnet. If someone asks youa personal question， you might say“⁶⁾that is none of your beeswax.” Thismeans none of your business.

Speaking of personal questions，there is an expression peoplesometimes use when theirchildren ask， “wheredo babies comefrom? ”Parentswho discuss sexand reproductionsay this is talkingabout ⁷⁾the birdsand the bees.

Hornets^[大黃蜂]are bee-like insectsthat sometimesattack people. If you are really angry，you might say you are ⁸⁾mad as a hornet.And if you ⁹⁾stir up a hornet’s nest， youcreate trouble or problems.

Butterflies are beauti-ful insects，but you would notwant to ¹⁰⁾have butterflies inyour stomach.That means to benervous about having to do something，like speaking in front of a crowd. Youwould also not want to ¹¹⁾have ants inyour pants. That is， to be restless^{[不安寧的]}and unable to sit still.

Here are some expressions aboutplain old^{[指常見的，平常的]} bugs， another wordfor insects. If a friend keeps asking youto do something you do not want to do，you might ask him to leave you alone orstop ¹²⁾bugging me. A friend also mighttell you again and again to do something.If so， you might say he ¹³⁾put a bugin your ear.

If you were reading a book in yourwarm bed on a cold winter’s day， youmight say you were¹⁴⁾snug as a bug in arug. And， if you wishsomeone goodnight， you mightsay，“¹⁵⁾sleeptight–don’tlet the bed bugsbite.”

Notes

1) as busy as a bee 像蜜蜂一樣忙碌，非常忙

2) beehive 蜂箱，擁擠的場面，亂哄哄的場面

3) make a beeline for（口）一直奔向……，抄近路向……走去（beeline 直線）

4) bee’s knee（英，非正式）（某一活動、某一地方等的）最佳的人或物

5) bee in one’s bonnet（非正式）（對某事物的）固執想法，死心眼的想法

6) that is none of your beeswax與你無關，不是你的管轄范圍

7) the birds and the bees 隱晦語，指父母常用鳥兒與蜜蜂的例子來避免直接談及性愛問題。

8) (as) mad as a hornet（口）氣得暴跳如雷

9) stir up a hornet’s nest 招惹麻煩

10) have butterflies in the stomach 害怕得發抖，神經質地發抖

11) have ants in one’s pants（因焦急、氣憤等而）坐立不安