谯丽
狗是人类的亲密朋友。在西方国家,人们会将狗作为宠物,也有些家庭养狗用以防盗,在牧羊区则用牧羊犬来帮助管理羊群。因此dog被称为人类最亲密的朋友,也衍生出很多和狗相关的短语表达。
dog-ear / dog-eared
我们应该都遇到过这样的情况——书本翻看的次数多了,书角通常会卷起来,看起来就像狗耳朵。这个书页的折角就叫作“dog-ear”。“dog-eared”是它的形容词:“(书页)折角的,(书)翻旧了的,破旧的”。例如:
I dislike a book full of dog ears. 我不喜欢滿是折角的书。
He lent me some dog-eared novels. 他借给我一些翻旧了的小说。
You can see a dog-eared grey tower at the top ofthe mountain.在山顶,你可以看到一座破旧的灰色高塔。
be like a dog with two tails
小狗摇尾巴表示很开心,那么摇两条尾巴就等于双倍开心。所以 “be like a dog with two tails"用来形容人很开心。例如:
She was like a dog with two tails when she got 100in the math examination.她数学测试考了100分,她高兴极了。
Is he pleased with his new job?He is like a dog with two tails.他对新工作还满意吗?非常满意,他开心极了。
better be the head of the dog than the tail of the lion
宁做狗头不做狮尾”。这句英语谚语和我们中国谚语 “宁为鸡头不做凤尾” 有异曲同工之妙,用来比喻宁愿在一个等级次一点的环境里崭露头角、锋芒毕露,也不愿在一个高于自己能力的环境里默默无闻,依附他人。例如:
Last week, our class held a debate whose theme was whether it is better to be the head of the dogthan the tail of the lion. All students took part in it and expressed their opinions actively.上周,我们班举行了“想当鸡头还是凤尾”的辩论赛。同学们积极参与,各抒己见。
in the dog house
丈夫半夜醉酒回家,妻子很生气,他会受到什么待遇呢?通常会被赶出屋子,打入狗窝,可怜的丈夫只能和他们家的狗狗一起睡在狗屋里。“in the dog house ”表示“失宠,挨训,处境困难”。例如:
I have been in the dog house since my parentssaw my grade of last English exam.自从我父母看了我上次的英语成绩,我就一直被他们训斥。
She was caught driving without a license by thepolice yesterday. I guess she is in the dog house.她昨天被警察逮到无证驾驶。我想她陷入大麻烦了。
it rains cats and dogs
来看一则大家都很熟悉的成语—— "It rains catsand dogs",倾盆大雨。……