关于猫猫的俚语
关于猫猫的俚语来源:《英语学习》
在距今五千年前的古埃及,人们发现野外的猫捕食老鼠,就开始在家中驯养野猫。古埃及成为最早养猫的国家。猫在古埃及享有极高的地位,被奉为月亮女神巴斯特的化身。从那时起,猫和狗一样,一直是人类最亲密的朋友,关于猫的比喻和成语也特别多,尤其是在英语国家。今天就来给大家介绍几个有意思的\"猫语\"。
1. Cats hide their claws.
\"猫藏利爪而不露\",意思是,告诫那些与人交往毫无戒备之心的人,意思与\"知人知面不知心\"差不多。
2. The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream.
这一句是嘲笑那些掩耳盗铃者。(猫咪喜欢偷奶油吗?这好像是老鼠喜欢做的事情哦。)
3. The cat did it.
做错了事情,用\"这是猫干的\"来推卸责任。可能是因为猫咪喜欢到处乱跑吧,难免会造成一点小乱子啦!
4. When the cat's away, the mice will play.
猫是老鼠的天敌。没有猫,老鼠就会肆意妄为。在中世纪的欧洲,基督教徒曾认定猫是魔鬼附身的动物,数以万计的猫因此被处死。不料,猫的厄运招致老鼠的猖獗。很快,鼠害成灾,黑死病一波接一波的横扫欧洲大陆。这段惨痛的历史教训充分证明\"狸猫不在,老鼠闹债\"--When the cat's away, the mice will play。
类似谚语也出现在其他欧洲语言中。在法国,人们说\"只要猫上了房,老鼠就在地上忙\"--When the cat runs on the roofs, the mice dance on the floors.
德国人则说\"家里没了猫,老鼠伸懒腰\"--Cat outside the house, response for the mouse.
5. A cat may look at a king.
\"猫也可以傲视国王\",意思是,\"既然猫都可以傲视国王,那么人人平等更是理所当然,小小老百姓也应该有说话的权利。\"这一成语来源于德国。据说16世纪巴伐利亚国王马克西米利安一世曾造访一家木雕作坊。作坊主的猫一直懒洋洋地卧在桌上看着这个国王,脸上满是猜疑的神情。这只猫能肯定想不到,一句谚语会因它而生--\"猫也能傲视皇帝\"(Darf doch die Katze den Kaiser ansehen. \"Even a cat may look at an Emperor.\")。到了法国,这句话成了\"狗也能傲视主教\"(Un chien regarde bien un eveque. \"Even a dog may look at a bishop.\")
6. A cat has nine lives.
英语国家的人相信,猫这种动物命大,福大,造化大。2001年,美洲动物医疗协会杂志刊登过一份研究报告,研究人员调查了132起猫从高空坠地的事件,坠地的平均高度是六层楼,结果百分之九十的猫坠地后都存活下来了。它们在空中灵活地翻转身体,四肢着地,爪子上的肉垫大大缓解了坠地时的冲力。古人对此肯定也有所了解,认为\"猫有九条命\"(A cat has nine lives.)。下面这段故事讲一条名叫\"船长\"的小猎狗如何命大,就以\"猫有九条命\"做对照:
Mischief was Captain's middle name. One time, I remember he decided to take a look at the roof of the conservatory. Portly little Captain found his way out on to the roof much to Mr Woolley's dismay. He then followed in the Captain's foot-step, or should I say paw prints, in order to rescue his poor hound. Unfortunately Mr Woolley slipped and spent the next a few days unconscious in hospital. But Captain was fine. Talk about a cat's nine lives!
7. He's like a cat; fling him which way you will. He'll light on his legs.
猫之所以摔不死,是因为它们高超的着地本领。过去形容一个人大难不死或逢凶化吉,就说\"他像一只猫,不管怎么扔,都会以腿着地\"(He's like a cat; fling him which way you will. He'll light on his legs.)。
8. There are more ways of killing a cat than by choking it with cream.
\"杀猫的方法很多,不必非用奶油呛死它\",有点类似于中国的\"不要非在一棵树上吊死\"。
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