格言和俗语怎么用?(2)(在线收听

    7.A penny saved is a penny earned. 据说这是Ben Franklin 的引语。照字面意义是:能存一分钱,就是赚了一分钱。後来有人改口说: Take care of your pennies(=pence)and the pounds (=dollars)will take care of themselves. 说白些,就是: If you save small amount of money, you will eventually have a large sum of money. 就是中国人所谓「积少成多,集腋成裘」。(这句话也可指小事谨慎,大事自成。)


    8.When in Rome, do as the Romans do.意思是说:当在罗马时,就照罗马人的(生活)方式去做。所以有人也改口说: When in America, do as the Americans do. 就是「入国问禁,入乡随俗。」


    9.What is done cannot be undone.意思是:做过的事,不能再还原。(动词时态:undo, undid, undone)。这与另一句谚语 「Don't cry over spilt milk.」或「It is no use crying over spilt milk.」意义相似。也就是说:What is done is done或What has taken place, nothing can be done about it.(take place=happen)就是「覆水难收」、「往者已矣」。


    10.Don't(或Never)cross a bridge till(或until)you come to it. 照字面的意义是:不等到桥边,就不必过桥。也有人说:We have to go across the bridge when we come to it. (it 指桥;bridge也指问题或困难),换句话说:不必为将来顾虑太多「Don't worry too much in advance.」劝人当问题出现时再设法解决不迟。「You have to face the problem or difficulty when the time comes.」这与所谓「船到桥头自然直」,颇有相似之处。


    11.All good things must come to an end. 意思是说:一切好事,总会结束的。也就像咱们所谓「天下没有不散的宴席」或「好景无常」。换句话说:人生的道路是崎岖不平的(Life is bumpy.)或(Road bumps in our life.)但也不必悲观,生命也有光明的一面(There is light at the end of the tunnel.)


    12.Beauty is but (=only) skin-deep. 意思是:美貌只是一层皮或外表的美是肤浅、短暂的。「Beauty is just as deep as skin.」这与其他两句格言:「Don't judge a book by its cover.」(评价一本书不是只看书的包装)「Appearances are deceiving.」(外表是骗人的)意义相近,所以唯有内在的品格才是永久的重要的,(Personality Counts),不可以貌取人,否则就成为所谓的「绣花枕头」了。

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