英語講義【68】英語慣用語的簡化
語言是社會的產物。任何語言都在隨著社會的發展而發展。其中一個突出的傾向,就是簡化。例如英語有些慣用語中的小小成分就可以省略不用,趨向于較簡單的形式。
以下便是些慣用語某些成分可以被合法省略的例子:
⒈定冠詞 the 的省略,如:
● pull the stringspull strings:通過人事用其影響力
● the long and the short ofthe long and short of:總而言之
● if the worst comes to the worstif worst comes to worst :大不了
● to go through the proper channelsto go through proper channels:通過正常渠道
⒉不定冠詞的省略,如:
● in a great measurein great measure:在很大程度上
● at a breakneck speedat breakneck speed:以驚險速度
⒊名詞復數符號的省略,如:
● to rack ones brainsto rack ones brain:絞盡腦汁
● in the interests ofin the interest of:為了利益起見
⒋所有格代名詞的省略,如:
● to save ones faceto save face:保存面子
● to take ones leave ofto take leave:請假
⒌返身代詞的省略,如:
● to stand oneself aloof fromto stand aloof from:遠離
● to adapt oneself toto adapt to:適應
⒍形容詞的省略,如:
● to make both ends meetto make ends meet:收支平衡
● to take ones own lifeto take ones life :犧牲自己
● to hit the right nail on the headto hit the nail on the head:做對、答對
● at long lastat last:終于
⒎介詞的省略,如:
● to take to flightto take flight:逃之夭夭
● at full lengthfull length:詳細地
⒏副詞的省略,如:
● to have too many irons in the fireto have many irons in the fire:要做的事太多
● to put out to seato put to sea:啟航
⒐As及其他詞語的省略,如:
● as regular as clockworkregular as clockwork:很準時地
● as blind as a batblind as a bat:視力不良
● his word is as good as his bondHis word is his bond:重視諾言
語言是社會的產物。任何語言都在隨著社會的發展而發展。其中一個突出的傾向,就是簡化。例如英語有些慣用語中的小小成分就可以省略不用,趨向于較簡單的形式。
以下便是些慣用語某些成分可以被合法省略的例子:
⒈定冠詞 the 的省略,如:
● pull the stringspull strings:通過人事用其影響力
● the long and the short ofthe long and short of:總而言之
● if the worst comes to the worstif worst comes to worst :大不了
● to go through the proper channelsto go through proper channels:通過正常渠道
⒉不定冠詞的省略,如:
● in a great measurein great measure:在很大程度上
● at a breakneck speedat breakneck speed:以驚險速度
⒊名詞復數符號的省略,如:
● to rack ones brainsto rack ones brain:絞盡腦汁
● in the interests ofin the interest of:為了利益起見
⒋所有格代名詞的省略,如:
● to save ones faceto save face:保存面子
● to take ones leave ofto take leave:請假
⒌返身代詞的省略,如:
● to stand oneself aloof fromto stand aloof from:遠離
● to adapt oneself toto adapt to:適應
⒍形容詞的省略,如:
● to make both ends meetto make ends meet:收支平衡
● to take ones own lifeto take ones life :犧牲自己
● to hit the right nail on the headto hit the nail on the head:做對、答對
● at long lastat last:終于
⒎介詞的省略,如:
● to take to flightto take flight:逃之夭夭
● at full lengthfull length:詳細地
⒏副詞的省略,如:
● to have too many irons in the fireto have many irons in the fire:要做的事太多
● to put out to seato put to sea:啟航
⒐As及其他詞語的省略,如:
● as regular as clockworkregular as clockwork:很準時地
● as blind as a batblind as a bat:視力不良
● his word is as good as his bondHis word is his bond:重視諾言