关于猫的英语习语
Curiosity killed the cat 好奇害死猫
如果去看验尸报告的话,这个论断怕是无法让人信服。最初,好奇心本该是会耗掉猫之九命,但在惯用法上,这个短语有更多用处。它表达的是一种警告,过分好奇很有可能让你陷入困境。
例句:I can tell that he really needed that information, for a reason that I really didn't want to know but you know what they say… curiosity killed the cat.
Like a cat on a hot tin roof 热锅上的蚂蚁
这个比喻性短语生动地描绘出一个场景,用来表达非常激动或焦虑。在英式英语中还有一个变体,即 like a cat on hot bricks。该短语当然也因为普利策获奖作品田纳西•威廉斯的剧作Cat on a Hot Tin Roof(《热铁皮屋顶上的猫》)而广为流传。
例句:The jury has been out since Wednesday, so he has been like a cat on a hot tin roof here.
No room to swing a cat 无立锥之地;狭小逼仄
每当我们整理家里生活物品时,最为忧心的问题大多是“厨房有足够的橱柜吗?”或“有能放下书柜的地方吗?”Swinging cats(挥一挥猫咪)看起来是完全没什么用处的打发时间的行为,但这种表达方式仅仅形容一个封闭狭小的空间。其实这是出于 cat-o’-nine-tails 一词,指水手曾经普遍使用的一种鞭子,九尾鞭。
例句:We have a splendid cabin and there's plenty of room - but in most places there isn't room to swing a cat.
[Put / set the] cat among the pigeons 引起轩然大波,引发混乱
这也是阿加莎•克里斯蒂的一部小说名,它是英式英语中的一个习语,用来形容说的话/做的事引起麻烦或争议。如果仍是用鸟类来做比喻,可能与 ruffle feathers(得罪人;激怒)有相近之处。当我坐在满是鸽子的公园里静度时光,我是不会愿意看到普通家猫和一群鸽子打斗的。
例句:‘If you didn't grant permission again it would really set the cat among the pigeons,’ he said.
Has the cat got your tongue? 你的舌头被猫叼走啦?
这个问题性成语是在质问在应该说话时保持沉默的人。如果细想,这个短语就是你能够想象到的令人不愉快的表达方式之一。同一类别的短语,如 touched a raw nerve / 触到痛处,keep your eyes peeled / 保持警惕,睁大眼注意等。
例句:So what happened to you now, cat got your tongue?
A cat has nine lives.
猫有九条命。(英国迷信, 指猫的生命力强)
A cat in gloves catches no mice. (=Muffled cats catch no mice.)
[谚]带手套的猫捉不到耗子; 四肢不勤, 一事无成; 怕沾污手指的人做不出什么事。
A cat may look at a king.
[谚]猫也可以看国王(指小人物也应有些权利)
agree like cats and dogs
[口]像猫和狗一样合不来, 完全合不来
All cats are grey in the dark. (=At night all cats are grey; when candles are out, all cats are grey.)
[谚]猫在暗中都是灰色; 黑暗中难分丑妍
as weak as a cat (=as weak as water)
身体非常虚弱
copy cat
盲目的模仿者
enough to make a cat [horse] laugh
极其可笑; 让人笑掉大牙
enough to make a cat speak
[口]令人惊讶; 事情太出奇
fat cat
美国政治运动的出资人, 捐献大宗政治款项的富人; 安于现状的懒汉; 以权谋私的人, 享受特权的人
Has the cat got your tongue?
[口]猫把你的舌头叼去了吗?为什么不吭声?
It rains cats and dogs.
下倾盆大雨, 大雨滂沱
let the cat out of the bag
说走了嘴, (无意中)泄露秘密
like a cat on hot bricks
局促不安, 如热锅上的蚂蚁
live like cat and dog
[口]整天吵架
old cat
脾气坏的老太婆
see [watch] how [which way] the cat jumps (=wait for the cat to jump)
观望形势然后行动; 看风使舵, 随机应变
That's like putting the cat near the goldfish bowl.
引狼入室; 等于把猫放在金鱼缸旁。
The cat did it.
[口谑]是猫打破的; 不是我搞的。(推托责任的话)
The cat is out of the bag.
[口]秘密泄露; 真相大白。
The cat jumps.
[口]形势清楚了。
The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream.
[谚]掩耳盗铃; 猫偷吃奶油的时候, 总是闭着眼睛。
The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet.
猫儿想吃鱼, 又怕湿了脚(想吃鱼又怕腥; 想得到某种东西又怕麻烦或担风险)。
The scalded cat fears cold water.
[谚] 被烫过的猫, 连冷水也怕(一朝被蛇咬, 三年怕井绳)
Watch sb. as a cat watches a mouse.
象猫盯耗子般地盯着某人。
When the cat's away, the mice will play.
[谚]猫儿不在,老鼠成精(大王外出, 小鬼跳粱)。
关于猫的英语|习语
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