正在考虑选择一种新的爱好或转向一个新的职业吗?如果你跟美国人谈起来,他们可能会告诉你先“试试水”(test the waters)。别担心,这不是说你要把自己弄湿。这是美国人的一个习惯用语,意思是在决定做某事之前,更多地了解一下。
以下是另外六个与“水”有关的习惯用语:
Water under the bridge (桥下流水)
含义: 发生在过去且无法改变的事,但已不会再造成影响。
对话举例: “Maria and Janice did not like each other in high school, but that’s water under the bridge. Now, they are good friends.” (玛利亚和简妮丝上高中时相互没有好感,但那已经是过去的事了。现在她们是好朋友。)”

Troubled waters (波涛汹涌的水域)
含义: 感情上的艰难时刻或混乱不安的状态。
对话举例: “I’ve noticed that you and your parents have been fighting a lot these days. I would like to help calm the troubled waters if I can.” (我注意到你和你父母最近常常争吵。如果可能的话,我愿意帮助平息一下。)
Like water off a duck’s back(犹如从鸭背上落下的水珠)
含义: 对某人不产生影响,若无其事。
对话举例: “Patricia never takes criticism personally. She accepts it and doesn’t feel hurt — it’s like water off a duck’s back.”(帕特丽夏从来不介意批评。她接受,不难受,好像若无其事。)

Keep (one’s) head above water(坚持让头露出水面/避免没顶)
含义: 在财务、工作或者责任等方面勉强维持。
对话举例: “Peter is having a difficult time at the university because he wasn’t very well prepared academically, but he is somehow managing to keep his head above water.”(彼得因为学业基础比较差,在大学里学得很吃力,但是他居然一直坚持住。)
In hot water(在热水中)
含义: 陷入麻烦。
对话举例: “Cheryl borrowed her mother’s best silk blouse without permission and spilled soda on it. She knew she’d be in hot water when she got home.”(谢丽尔未经许可把妈妈最好的丝绸上衣拿去穿,可不小心将汽水洒在上面。她知道回家后会遇到大麻烦。)
Hold water(不漏水)
含义: 可信可靠的;经得起检验;有道理。这个短语用于指论点或观点,不用于指人。
对话举例: “Two scientists claimed that they had achieved fusion at room temperature. Other scientists wanted to test the theory to see if it would hold water.”(两位科学家声称他们在常温下完成了熔合。其他科学家想测试他们的说法,看看是否成立。)

更多学习资源
ShareAmerica提供美国英语学习材料。欢迎浏览每日对话或学习一些习惯用语,例如与天空、与逗笑、与动物有关的习语。
American English网站为学英语的学生和英语教师提供多种免费学习资源,包括解释美国常用习惯用语来源与含义的材料In the Loop。American English Facebook提供每天更新的英语学习材料。