The Stories of the "Monkey"

何苗

Monkeys are very similar to us in many ways—most have ten fingers and ten toes， and brains much like ours. We enjoy watching them because they often act like us. In fact， Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution （進化論） says that monkeys and humans share a common ancestor （祖先）.

猴子在許多方面與我們很相似，它們大多有十個手指和十個腳趾，還有著與我們類似的大腦。我們喜歡看猴子，因為它們的舉止常常與我們的相似。實際上，達爾文進化論認為，猴子和人類擁有共同的祖先。

Songwriter William Gilbert， in the musical “Princess Ida，” wrote： “Darwinian （達爾文主義的） man， though well-behaved （行為端正的;乖的）， at best （至多;充其量） is only a monkey shaved （修剪;剃毛）.”

歌曲作家William Gilbert在歌劇《艾達公主》中寫道：“達爾文派的人雖然乖巧，但充其量只是一只剃掉毛的猴子。”

His words—sung to Sir Arthur Sullivans music—make listeners smile. Well， monkeys make us smile， too， because they are creatures full of playful tricks.

他的歌詞，配上Arthur Sullivan的音樂，讓聽眾們發(fā)笑。當然，猴子也能引我們發(fā)笑，因為它們是花樣百出的動物。

This is why many monkey expressions are about tricky people or playful acts. One of these expressions is “monkeyshines” which means tricks or foolish acts. The meaning is clear if you have ever watched a group of monkeys playfully （好玩地;戲謔地） chasing each other—pulling tails， stealing food， doing tricks. So， when a teacher says to a group of students “Stop those monkeyshines right now！” you know that the boys and girls are playing instead of studying.

這就是為什么很多與猴子相關(guān)的表達是與狡猾的人或者搞笑的行為有關(guān)的。其中有一種表達叫做“猴子的把戲”，意思是詭計或愚蠢的行為。如果你曾看到過一群猴子嬉戲著相互追逐——扯尾巴、偷食物、耍把戲，你就很清楚這個詞的意思了。因此，如果老師對學生們說“立即停下你們的猴把戲！”，你就知道這些學生們是在玩耍而不是學習。

You might hear that same teacher warn a student not to “monkey around” with a valuable piece of equipment. You “monkey around” with something when you do not know what you are doing. You are touching or playing with something you should leave alone.

你可能聽到該老師提醒一位學生，不要對一件昂貴器材“胡鬧”。當你不知道自己在做什么的時候就是在“胡鬧”。你正在觸碰或倒弄一些你不該碰的東西。

Also， you can “monkey around” when you feel like doing something， but have no firm idea of what to do. For example， you tell your friend you are going to spend the day “monkeying around” with your car. Well， you do not have any job or goal in mind—it is just a way to pass the time.

同樣，當你想做點事但不知道做什么好的時候，你是在“閑混打發(fā)時間”。比如，你告訴朋友你會準備花一天時間來“折騰”你的車。而你沒有任何任務(wù)或目的，這只是打發(fā)時間的方式而已。

“Monkey business” usually means secret （maybe illegal） activities. A news report may say there is “monkey business” involved in building the new airport， with some officials getting secret payments from builders.

“猴子的業(yè)務(wù)”常指秘密的（也許是非法的）活動。新聞報道可能說，新機場建設(shè)中有人搞鬼，因為某些官員暗中收取建筑商的賄賂。

You may “make a monkey out of someone” when you make that person look foolish. Some people “make a monkey out of themselves” by acting foolish or silly.

當你愚弄某人時，你可能在“把某人當猴耍”。有人行為愚蠢可笑，結(jié)果愚弄了自己。

If one monkey has fun， imagine how much fun “a barrel （桶） of monkeys” can have！If your friend says he had “more fun than a barrel of monkeys” at your party， you know that he had a really good time.

如果你覺得一只猴子有趣，可以想象“一堆猴子”又該多有趣！如果你朋友對你說他覺得你的聚會“比一堆猴子還有趣”，你就知道他真的玩得很開心。

“Monkey suits” are common names for clothes or uniforms soldiers wear. In earlier years in many American cities， you would find men playing musical hand organs （手風琴） on the street. Dancing to the music would be the mans small monkey dressed in a tight-fitting （緊身的）， colorful jacket similar to a military uniform. So， people began to call a military uniform （軍裝） a “monkey suit”.

“猴子裝”是士兵所穿衣服或制服的通用名稱。早些年，在美國很多城市，有人會當街演奏手風琴。他會有一只小猴子，穿著類似軍裝的緊身迷彩夾克，隨著音樂起舞。因此人們逐漸稱軍裝為“猴子裝”。