英语谚语的语言特点

     谚语是人们在长期使用语言的实践中提炼出来的语言精华。 往往用简单通俗的话反映出深刻的道理。 学习英语谚语不仅可以学到真实地道的英语表现形式 ，提高言语技能，更能够学到其中丰富的文化内涵、增强使用英语的实际能力。现将英语谚语的一些语言特点归纳如下，供大家在学习中参考。

    一、 使用倒装句。把要强调的部分提前,而把主语部分后置。

    Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

    (=He who expects nothing is blessed, for he shall never be disappointed.)寡欲者欢。

    In the deepest water is the best fishing.

    (=The best fishing is in the deepest water.)水深好钓鱼。

    To err¹ is human.

    (=Human is to err.)人必有过。

    Sweet are the uses of adversity.

    (=The uses of adversity are sweet.)祸兮福之所倚。

    Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

    (=The head that wears a crown lies uneasy.)为王者难安。

    二、 修饰主语的定语从句后置,强调前面部分。

    All are not thieves that dogs bark at.

    (=All that dogs bark at are not thieves.)狗所吠的不一定都是小偷。

    He gives twice who gives quickly.

    (=He who gives quickly gives twice.)帮人帮及时,等于帮双份。

    He laughs best who laughs last.

    (=He who laughs last laughs best.)笑到最后,笑得最好。

    They brag² most who can do least.

    (=They who can do least brag most.)做得最少的人，最会吹牛。

    三、省略主语和谓语动词,或省略其中之一。

    Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.

    (=An egg today is better than a hen tomorrow.)今天一个蛋,胜过明天一只鸡。(把握现在,不要空想未来。)Easier said than done.

    (=This is easier when it is said than when it is done.)说起来容易做起来难。

    The worse luck now, the better another time.

    (=If you have the worse luck now, you will have better luck another time.)这次倒了霉,下次必走运。

    Everything is good when new, but friends when old.

    (=Everything is good when it is new, but friends are good when they are old.)物莫如新,友莫如旧。

    四、省略定语从句的先行词。

    Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.

    (=He who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.)与狼为伍者会学嗥;近墨者黑。

    Who chatter³ to you will chatter of you.

    (=The person who chatters⁴ to you will chatter of you.)对你论人是非者,必将对人论你是非。

    Who shows mercy to an enemy denies it to himself.

    (=He who shows mercy to an enemy denies it to himself.)对敌人仁慈,就是对自己残忍。

    五、直接用not否定实义动词。

    Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs.

    (=Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.)不要杀鸡取卵。

    Judge not from appearance.

    (=Don’t judge from appearance.)不要以貌取人。

    Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your fence.

    (=Love your neighbour, yet don’t pull down your fence.)邻居无论多好,围篱不可推倒

1 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

2 brag   

v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的

参考例句：

• He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
• His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。

3 chatter   

vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战

参考例句：

• Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
• I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。

4 chatters   

（人）喋喋不休( chatter的第三人称单数 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤

参考例句：

• The dabbler in knowledge chatters away; the wise man stays silent. 一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡。
• An improperly adjusted tool chatters. 未调好的工具震颤作响。