EAT的三種在英語中的習慣用語
Eat one’s cake and have it(或have one’s cake and eat it)同時做兩件不相容的事而雙收其利
這個比喻多用在否定句,意指“兩者不能兼得”,或用在諷刺性的句子中而意指“想雙收其利”,強調在兩件不相容的時間中不可能雙收其利。
【例】the clerk was disagreeable because everyone was on holiday during August except himself; but as he had had a holiday in June we told him he couldn’t eat his cake and have it.這個職員很不滿意,因為在八月份,除了他,大家都休假;但他在六月里已休了假;我們告訴他,他不可能雙收其利。
EAT的第一種英語培訓中的習慣用語
Eat (或tear) one’s heart out苦惱,憔悴;憂傷過度,憂心如焚
最早使用這個比喻的是荷馬.李麗在一五七九年說過:“別憂傷過度。”(not to eat our heartes .)這里的out是后來加上去的,在英國桂冠詩人埃德蒙.斯賓塞的《仙女昆妮》中,在托馬斯.德雷克斯的一六一六年收集的諺語中,在伯頓的《憂郁癥分析》中以及在培根的雜文中引用這條成語時都不用out.這個表達形式可于cry one’s eyes out相比。
【例】he was eating his heart out because he could not go with the expedition, but his health was not good enough to stand the hardships.他因不能參加探險隊而苦惱,可是他的身體不太好,不適于探險。
EAT的第二種英語培訓中的習慣用語
Eat (或swallow) one’s words收回前言,認錯道歉,自食其言
這條成語含有貶義,諷人說話不算數。
【例】after all his boasting that would drive the other company out of business, mr.angus had to eat his words for the other company flourished more than his did.安格斯先生大言不慚地說他要迫另一家公司停業,但他不得不收回自己的話,因為這家公司比他的公司更興隆。
EAT的第三種英語培訓中的習慣用語
Eat out of someone’s hand順從地聽命于人,無條件地受人支配
這個引喻可能來自極端馴服的狗。有時這句成語又作have someone eating out of one’s hand.
【例】the beautiful lady made him eat out of her hand.這個美麗的小姐使他完全受她支配。