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Post by 溪山 on Nov 30, 2020 19:33:23 GMT -5
聚沙成塔,集腋成裘。多听多读,持之以恒,必有收获。
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Post by 溪山 on Nov 30, 2020 19:37:39 GMT -5
zt: who will bell the cat: Who will undertake or agree to perform a risky, dangerous, or impossible job or task? 虎口拔牙? yeah, 虎口拔牙 bell the cat, take the bear by the tooth, take the bull by the horns more?
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 5, 2020 20:22:29 GMT -5
Nor'easter 这英文比中文更容易造新字? 维基: A nor'easter (also northeaster) is a macro-scale extratropical cyclone in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The name derives from the direction of the winds that blow from the northeast. The original use of the term in North America is associated with storms that impact the upper north Atlantic coast of the United States and the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. 今晚 风雪交加
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 5, 2020 23:55:43 GMT -5
nor'easter --- interesting to know. Thank you for sharing. Nor'easter storm on the East Coast, unseasonably warm weather on the West Coast, aren't we having bipolar weather? www.reddit.com/r/DoesAnybodyElse/comments/1851cl/dae_hate_the_word_noreaster/The term "nor'easter" is actually a 18th century nautical term, not something made up by a weatherman. Also, it is a term for a specific type of storm, much like the distinctions between hurricanes and typhoons.
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 11, 2020 11:13:10 GMT -5
Apple-polish; bootlicker ; 拍马屁
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 11, 2020 23:49:03 GMT -5
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 12, 2020 1:30:47 GMT -5
刚听完 NPR Classic Driveway Moments。最后一个是 搭车的故事。 结尾是这么一句话: Don't tempt fate. 别玩命,别蔑视/挑战命运,别把命运不当回事? tempt fate:to do something that is very risky or dangerous 冒险,玩命 Race car drivers tempt fate every time they race.
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 15, 2020 2:12:00 GMT -5
有可能马屁拍到马蹄上, 惹人烦 rub the wrong way: irritate, annoy ------------ 反义 rub the right way His remarks about welfare rubbed a great many people the wrong way. ruffle someone's feathers: to cause them to become very angry, nervous, or upset. -------- 反义 smooth one's feathers His direct, often abrasive approach will doubtless ruffle a few feathers.
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 15, 2020 16:50:23 GMT -5
Christmas idiomsA white ChristmasYou might have heard this phrase in a popular Christmas song. This idiom came about because there is usually snow on the ground on Christmas day in many parts of the world. However, that’s not the case in Australia in December because of the summer season. In fact, it can be scorching hot on Christmas day. What are the chances of a white Christmas this year? Do you know? We can never have a white Christmas here in Australia. Christmas came early this yearThis idiom is used when something really good happens but it was completely unexpected. The gifts we ordered are already here well ahead of time. Christmas has come early! Good things come in small packagesChristmas is a time where people exchange a lot of gifts or packages, big and small. This idiom says that we should not judge a package by its size. The size of something does not indicate its value. Just because a package is small, it doesn’t mean it’s not good or the best. We were hoping to foster a guard dog this Christmas but instead, we ended up fostering a few puppies and it’s the best thing that happened to us. I guess good things do come in small packages. Deck the hallsTo deck the halls means to decorate one’s home with Christmas decorations. This idiom is from a famous Christmas carol. My neighbours go all out every Christmas. They put up their tree and deck the halls well in advance Tis the season to be jollyAlso from a popular Christmas carol, this means to be very, very happy during Christmas. It is often written on Christmas cards or someone might say it at a party when addressing guests. Tis the season to be jolly, everyone! Merry Christmas to all of you! Lit up like a Christmas treeIf someone is lit up like a Christmas tree, it means they are overly dressed. Just like Christmas trees which are usually bright, sparkly and full of decorative items. Although this idiom makes reference to the Christmas season, it can be used at any time. You can also say ‘done up like a Christmas tree’. He’s always dressed like a Christmas tree so it’s not hard to spot him in a crowd. The band members were done up like a Christmas tree for their performance. The proof is in the puddingThis idiom means that the success of something can only be judged by testing or using it. You might also hear another version of this idiom which is: the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Pudding is a popular dish during Christmas around the world. If you think this industry is going to shut down, take a look at the profits it’s making. The proof is in the pudding. Don’t be left out in the coldTo be left out in the cold can mean to be forgotten or left out. Make sure you’re on top of the project plan and what you’re meant to do. Eat, drink and be merryTo eat, drink and be merry is used when telling others to enjoy themselves in the moment especially in a festive occasion like Christmas. Thank you all for coming to our party today. Please eat, drink and be merry! Like turkeys voting for ChristmasThis idiom is used when someone accepts a situation that will have a bad outcome for them. Turkeys are usually eaten for Christmas and if you think about it, turkeys wouldn’t be voting for Christmas in the first place because of this. It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas if we are asked to work over the Christmas break too.
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 15, 2020 23:14:01 GMT -5
刚听完 NPR Classic Driveway Moments。最后一个是 搭车的故事。 结尾是这么一句话: Don't tempt fate. 别玩命,别蔑视/挑战命运,别把命运不当回事? tempt fate:to do something that is very risky or dangerous 冒险,玩命 Race car drivers tempt fate every time they race. "Race car drivers tempt fate every time they race." I thought so too.
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 15, 2020 23:23:57 GMT -5
We are preparing another nor'easter to blanket region starting from tomorrow afternoon through Thursday, expecting a foot of snow in average. So the white Christmas is under way, I guess.
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 19, 2020 19:54:45 GMT -5
silver lining
John Milton,1634
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night? I did not err; there does a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night, And casts a gleam over this tufted grove.
Wiki: A silver lining is a sign of hope or a positive aspect in an otherwise negative situation. The phrase is often seen as part of the proverb Every cloud has a silver lining, meaning that there's hope or something good to be found in every bad situation.
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 19, 2020 23:09:13 GMT -5
A white Christmas, so cool! "Every cloud has a silver lining" --- absolutely! 塞翁失马焉知非福 -- a blessing in disguise
a blessing in disguise: misfortune which turns out to have advantages good outcome from evil situation an unfortunate event that later leads to an advantageous situation an apparent misfortune that eventually results in a positive outcome something that is bad at first, but later results in something good a misfortune that unexpectedly turns into good fortune Losing that job turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him as it forced him to plunge into business. Source: theidioms.com
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 20, 2020 23:27:45 GMT -5
“削足适履”:The word "Procrustean" is used to describe situations where different lengths or sizes or properties are fitted to an arbitrary standard.
Wiki: In the Greek myth, Procrustes was a son of Poseidon with a stronghold on Mount Korydallos at Erineus, on the sacred way between Athens and Eleusis. There he had a bed, in which he invited every passer-by to spend the night, and where he set to work on them with his smith's hammer, to stretch them to fit. In later tellings, if the guest proved too tall, Procrustes would amputate the excess length; nobody ever fitted the bed exactly. Procrustes continued his reign of terror until he was captured by Theseus, travelling to Athens along the sacred way, who "fitted" Procrustes to his own bed:
He killed Damastes, surnamed Procrustes, by compelling him to make his own body fit his bed, as he had been wont to do with those of strangers. And he did this in imitation of Heracles. For that hero punished those who offered him violence in the manner in which they had plotted to serve him.
Killing Procrustes was Theseus's last adventure on his journey from Troezen to Athens.
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 20, 2020 23:38:42 GMT -5
中文里“软”通常同“弱”联系在一起,所以我刚才看到"soft-headed"时,望文生义,马上联想到"soft-hearted",软心肠,性情温和、老好人,等等。一查,吓我一跳。英文里“软头”不是褒义,它的同义词有:brain-dead; brainless; empty-headed; weak-minded; unintelligent; .......
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 21, 2020 1:00:42 GMT -5
我也常常"望文生义"。 添一个同义词,soft-headed: birdbrain.
哈哈,“削足适履”。 Procrustean,这个词收录在Vocabulary Energizers: Stories of Word Origins by David Popkin 一书中。 同义词: unyielding, inflexible, unbending, drastically rigid, ruthlessly rigid, stringent. 令我想起电影 GattacaLeg Lengthening Scene Gattaca
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 24, 2020 22:36:43 GMT -5
quid pro quo:今年早些时候这个拉丁词风靡了一阵,中文是互利,互换、有来有去的意思。现在可以加一个: pro bono, 也是拉丁词 无偿的意思:for the public good, especially with reference to legal work for a client with a low income without charge. happy holiday to all!
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 25, 2020 1:40:52 GMT -5
Thank you, Mr. Frontier Grass! Merry Christmas to all!
Thank you so much for sharing! wiki: Pro bono publico (English: "for the public good"; usually shortened to pro bono) is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. Unlike traditional volunteering, it uses the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them. 为公众利益(拉丁語:pro bono publico,英語:for the public good、常常缩写为“pro bono”;公益服務)是拉丁语短语,指的是志愿提供专业服务,不收取任何报酬。和传统意义上的志愿服务不同,它通常指的是为无力负担巨额专业服务(尤其是法律辩护、志願法律服務)的人提供无偿服务。
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Post by 边 草 on Dec 26, 2020 10:30:09 GMT -5
刚才听到一个句子里面有“throw a monkey wrench”....... 哦,这个人们通常叫“管子钳”的( pipe wrench) 又叫“monkey wrench”。 The meaning of throw a monkey wrench in(to) (something) To disrupt, foil, or cause problems to a plan, activity, or project. Primarily heard in US. We had everything in line for the party, but having the caterer cancel on us at the last minute really threw a monkey wrench into our plans! It'll really throw a monkey wrench in the works if the board decides not to increase our funding for this project.
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Post by 溪山 on Dec 26, 2020 18:58:36 GMT -5
The pandemic has thrown a huge monkey wrench into people's plans.
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