英语奇闻异趣之“衣着”习语

杨春吉

衣、食、住、行是人们基本的生活需求。“衣”位列四项基本需求之首，可见“衣着”对人们生活的重要性。由于“衣着”与人们的日常生活息息相关，与“衣着”有关的英语习语也就相伴而生。本期就让我们一起来了解一些有关“衣着”的习语吧！

1.throw down the gauntlet/glove挑战。在中世纪的欧洲，gauntlet是骑士戴的用皮革和金属片制作的铁手套。骑士向别人挑战时就摘下手套仍在地上，如果对方接受挑戰就从地上捡起手套。后来人们用glove代替gauntlet。pick up the gauntlet/glove就是“迎战；接受挑战”之意。

例如：You should pick up the glove andyou will make…你应该接受挑战，你必定会成功！

2.dress to kill漂亮极了。

例如：Susan was dressed to kill at the party last night and was envied by everyone.苏珊在昨晚的聚会上美极了，惹得大家都羡慕她。

3.knock one's socks off兴奋不已：兴高采烈。

例如：That our team won the match madeus knock our socks off.我们队赢得比赛的消息令我们兴奋不已。

4.10se one's shirt输掉一大笔钱。

例如：Tom lost his shirt last night and hadto sell his house to pay off the debt.汤姆昨晚输了一大笔钱，不得不卖掉房子还债。

5.burn a hole in one's pocket花钱如流水。

例如：I'm sure he'll spend all his wages in a few days because the money is burning a hole in his pocket.我敢肯定他几天就能把工资花光了，因为他花钱如流水。

6.tighten the belt节约，节俭。

例如：In those days he had to tighten the belt，for he had a big family to support.在那段时间里，他不得不省吃俭用，因为他有一大家人需要养活。

7.too big for one's boots自命不凡；洋洋自得。

例如：You are getting much too big for your boots，but there are also people who are evencleverer.你太自命不凡了，但是人外有人啊！

8.a stuffed shirt爱摆架子的人，神气十足的人。

例如：John was a stuffed shirt，so he hasfew friends.约翰是个爱摆架子的人，所以朋友极少。

9.keep one's shirt on保持镇静，别紧张，相当于take it easy。

例如：Keep your shi rt on，and you willsucceed.别紧张，你会成功的。

10.eat one's hat不会发生的事情；不可能的事。

例如：Don't eat your hat about it.Youd better get preparations for it ahead Of time.不要认为这事不会发生。你还是提前做好准备为好。

11.pass the hat帮别人解困，相当于helpout。

例如：We should try our best to help them pass the hats.我们应当尽力帮助他们摆脱困难。

12.common as an old shoe平易近人：虚怀若谷。

例如：The old professor is common as an old shoe，and we should learn from him.这位老教授虚怀若谷，我们应当向他学习。endprint