有句俗话说,要从胃才能通到人心。也许正是这个原因,美国人的语言中有许多同食品相联的表达法。
例如,一个不够成熟的设想被形容为“half-baked”(未完全烘烤熟的/半生不熟的);而一个特别好的主意被称为“the best thing since sliced bread”(自从有切片面包以来的最大好事/最妙的新主意)。
以下是美国人常用的另外五个跟食物相联的习惯用语:
Pie in the sky(天上的饼)

含义: 不现实的或者无法实现的事。
对话举例: “The salesman promised Amy that the wrinkle cream would make her skin as soft as a baby’s, but she knew not to believe him. It was pie in the sky.”(推销员向艾米保证,去皱霜会让她的皮肤变得婴儿般细嫩,但她不会信他的话。那是不可能兑现的。)
Cry over spilled milk(为打翻的牛奶哭泣)
含义: 为过去无法改变的事而忧伤。
对话举例: “There’s no use worrying about a test you didn’t pass. You can’t make it up, so stop crying over spilled milk.”(为没通过的考试而心烦意乱毫无意义。你不可能改变结果,所以不要再无益地后悔了。
Piece of cake (一块糕饼)

含义: 轻松容易的事情。
对话举例: “When Roger studied Spanish, it was a piece of cake. But he found that learning Japanese was very hard.”(罗杰学西班牙语的时候,轻而易举。但他发现学日语很难。)
Bring home the bacon(给家里带回腊肉)
含义: 挣钱养家/养家糊口。
对话举例: “Leo became ill and couldn’t work anymore, so his wife went back to work. Now she’s the one who brings home the bacon.”(利奥生病了,无法继续工作,所以她太太重新出门做事。现在是她在挣钱养家。)
Have egg on one’s face (脸上挂鸡蛋)

含义: 丢脸,出丑。
对话举例: “Andy sure had egg on his face when he realized he had made a fool of himself at the party.”(安迪意识到他在聚会上现丑了,感到很没面子。)
更多资料
“连线美国”提供学习美国英语资料,包括美国英语日常对话,以及多种习惯用语。
American English 网站也有可供英语学生和教师免费使用的多种英语资源。