看美剧,看电影过程中,我们经常会遇到一些只看得懂字面意思,却无法的词组或句子,这些往往是“俚语”。
什么是俚语?
俚语就是美国人生活里常用的语言,“非正式”语言。
俚语可以让说话变得更“生动”更“流利”。俚语比喻一般比较“夸张”,所以很适合用来表达自己的心情和想法。就像中文里的“哇塞”、“不靠谱”等,这类的语言都是学校里不会教的,因为他们不够正式。
接下来,就为大家介绍美国人最常用的10个俚语!
1.In The Nick Of Time
Meaning: At the last moment, just before something bad happens
意思:在最后一刻,来的正是时候。
例句:
1. The accident victim was near death, but the ambulance arrived in the nick of time and the paramedic saved her.
这个伤者已经奄奄一息了,但是救护车在最后一刻赶到了!护理人员把他从死亡边缘拉了回来。
2. We ran as fast as we could toward the bus stop and got there just as the bus was pulling to a stop. We got there in the nick of time.
我们以最快速度朝汽车站跑去,当我们到了车站时,汽车正好停了下来,我们到的正是时候。
Tips:
①这个俚语常用在情况非常紧急的时候。
②“nick”还有一个很常见的词组“nick name”,意思是昵称。
2.Take a Hike
Meaning:used for rudely telling someone to go away
意思是:哪儿凉快哪儿歇着去吧
例句:
1. please take a hike while I’m drawing, don’t interrupt me!
我画画的时候请走开,不要打扰我!
2. Our teacher told Jack that if he did n’t learn to be quiet in class , he could take a hike .
我们老师告诉杰克,如过他不学著在课堂上安静下来,他就可以滚出去了。
Tips:
用于感觉对方比较烦人的时候,希望别人赶紧走开。
3.Jack Of All Trades
Meaning:a person who knows a little about a lot of different subjects or activities, but not a lot about any one of them
意思:杂而不精的人,万事通。
例句:
1. Walt is good at so many things: he can fix the plumbing and wiring in his house, he fixed his roof when it leaked, he installed his washer and dryer, and he paints the house when it needs it. He’s really a jack of all trades.
Walt擅长做那么多事情:修理家里的管道和电线、修漏水的屋顶,他也会安装洗衣机和烘干机,甚至他可以自己粉刷新房子,他真是一个万事通!
2. The position in the company required someone who knew everything about a very narrow subject. They weren’t looking for a jack of all trades.
公司里的这个位置需要那种对一个学科有所专研的人,而不是一个杂而不精的人。
Tips:
①trade:本意是“行业”、“贸易”。因此all trade
②Jack:这个人名在这里是虚指某人。其他人名类似用法,还有“uncle sam”和美国的缩写都是U.S. 因此就被用来指“美国政府”;“Jane Doe”指“无名氏(女)”。
4.Break a Leg
Meaning:used for wishing sb. good luck
意思是:<非正式>祝你好运
例句:
1. I understand you have a job interview tomorrow. Break a leg!
我知道你明天上午有个面试,祝你好运!
2. Break a leg in your test today.
祝你今天考试顺利。
Tips:
①本意为演出成功后,演员行屈膝礼向观众致谢时,腿“折叠”起来的动作。
②和五官相关的俚语:
run off at the mouth 信口开河
goo-goo eyes 暗送秋波
5.Keyed Up
Meaning: Full of nervous anticipation; anxious; tense
意思是:紧张不安的;焦躁的
例句:
1. Stop pacing the floor. Relax. Why are you so keyed up?
不要来回走了,放松!你为什么如此不安?
2. Charles was so keyed up waiting for the wedding to begin that when it finally did, he dropped the wedding ring.
Charles在婚礼开始前太激动了,以至于在婚礼开始时,他把结婚戒指弄掉了!
Tips:
①常用要发生重要事情前。