-
1.
Nobody will be the wiser.
谁也不会更为聪明。(误)
谁也不懂得。(正)
注:英语形容词
wise
有三个基本意思:
(1)
聪明的,如
You
were
wise
not
to
go.(
你不去是聪明的)
p>
。
(2)
饱学的,
如
He is wise in the law.
(
他精通法律)
。
(
3
p>
)
知道的,如
We are none the wiser for his explanati
ons.(
听完他的解释,我们还是
不明白)
< br>。
上例便是第三义,
等于说
Nobody will know it.
通常比较级,<
/p>
意为
“至
今不知道的事,
现在知道了”
,
所谓
none the wiser= no wiser than before=
as wise
as
before,
照旧。
't you see the writing on
the wall?
你看不见墙上的字吗?(误)
难道你看不到灾难的迫切吗?(正)
注:
The writing on the wall
(or sometimes 'handwriting on the wall') is an
expression
that suggests a portent of
doom or misfortune. It originates in the Biblical
book of
Daniel
-
where supernatural writing fortells the demise of
the Babylonian Empire, but
it has come
to have a wide usage in language and
literature.
lies at the bottom of the decanter.
真相从玻璃酒瓶地下看出来。(误)
酒后吐真言。(正)
't tell
him home truths.
不要告诉他家里的真相。(误)
不要对他讲逆耳的事实。(正)
注
:Home
truths
are
unpleasant
facts
that
you
learn
about
yourself,
usually
from
someone else.
(BRIT)
will go a long way in overcoming the
difficulty.
在克服困难上要走很远的路。
(
误)
这在突破难关时是很有帮助的。(正)
注:
go a long way = will be
helpful.
又,
go a little way
with a person,
意为对那人一
点效果也没有,
对他影响很小。
has a yellow streak in him.
他身上有一条黄色的纹路。
(
误)
p>
他有胆小的气质。(正)
or two of the jewels would
never be missed.
一两粒宝石是决不会不见的。(误)
失去一两粒宝石是决不会知道的。(正)
8.
I
know he meant
business.
我知道他的用意在生意。(误)
我知道他不是开玩笑的。(正)
注:
口语用法的
mean business = be
serious
;
be earnest
。
做生意的人是要认真的,
讲求信用的,因此引伸出上面这种
意思来了。
failure
was the making of him.
这次失败是他造成的。(误)
这次失败实为他成功的基础。(正)
注:动词
make
原是“造成”的意思,又可作“发展或发达的过程。成功的原
因或手段”
解,
例句中所用的便是这个意思。
making
还可以加复数,
而构成
“要
素”,
“素质”之意,如
He has in him the makings of a
poet.(
他有诗人的素质。)
has never recovered her
loss.
他永为能补偿她的损失。
(
误)
他用含失恃之悲。(正)
注:
这是英语中最容易弄错意思的一种表现法。
英语属格分主格作用和宾格
作用
两种。李据说的是宾格作用,所谓
her
loss
=
the
loss
of
his
mother,
而不是
his
mother's
loss,
不是他母亲的损失,而是他失去母亲。如果说成
She
has
never
recovered
her
loss.
就是主格作用,因为
She
和
her
是同一人,
her
loss
就是她
的损失。从及物动词变来的名词,
就能有这两种作用。
11.I
could do with more leisure time.
有更多的闲暇我就能做好了。(误)
要再多一些闲暇就好了。(正)
注:
can do=be satisfied with;
be content with,
满足,忍受。在
do
之前用
can
< br>的
过去
could
时,便有“
要能得到就好了”,“想要”的意思,不过常出于戏言。
That man could
do with a
shave.(
那人要把胡子剃光就好了。)
is now in a delicate
condition.
她现在是在一种微妙的状态中。
(
误)
她现在是在
怀孕中。
(
正)
注:分辨
a delicate
condition
和
a
delicate situation,
后者意为“困难的局势“。
is brave like
anything.
他像任何东西一样的勇敢。(误)
其勇无比。(正)
注:
like
anything,<
/p>
意为拿任何东西来譬喻都不相称,引申而成“非常”,“不劣
于任
何东西”之意。
is said
that his days are numbered.
据说他的日子都计算好了。(误)
据说他的死期已近。(正)
注:
number
用作被动是,有“
为数可数”之意,即“有限”,“无多”,“迫
切”的意思。传说人寿有定,当生命将尽
时,可以说
His hour has come.
或
His
course is run.
is time he began to
work.
这时他已经开始工作了。
(
误)
现在是他应该开始工作的时候了。(正)
注
It is time+
主语
+
过去分词
就和
It is time for
+
宾语
+
不定式
一样的意思。句中
的过去动词是一种假设语气的用法,例如
It
is
time
I
was
going.(
我早应该告辞
了。)
may be drowned for
all I care.
不顾我怎样当心,他或许仍然会溺死的。(误)
他也许会溺死,但我毫不介意。(正)
注:
for
all
I
care=
I
don't
care
if.
英语说的
for
all
或
with
all,
实有不顾
(
notwithstanding)
之意,
如
For all his wealth, he is unhap
py.(
他虽有那么多的钱还
是不快乐。)
is no love lost between
them.
他们之间并未失掉爱情。(误)
他们非常不和。(正)
注:这是委婉
的说法,意为他们之间根本无爱情可言,换言之,
There
is
hatred
between
them.
(他们之间只有憎恨。)
had words with her.
他和她谈过话了。(误)
他和她口角了。(正)
注:
have words
with
或
exchange
words with
,为互相争论或口角之意。本例也
可说成
They
had
words
together.
英
文的
words
,常有吵嘴的意思,如
proceed
from words to
blows(
由争论而至打斗)。
19. He was laid up for a few
days.
他被安插好几天了。(误)
他病倒两三天了。(正)
注:因病或伤睡在床上,英文说
lay up,
如
be laid up with
illness(
卧病);
be laid
up with a broken
leg(
因折腿不能起床)。
20. He took my advice in good
part.
他接受了我的忠告最好的部分。
< br>(
误)
他嘉纳了我的忠言。(正)
注:
take sth in good part,
意为
“善意地接受”
或
“顺受”
。
相反的说法有
in bad(
或
ill
)
part
,则为“不悦”或“逆受”。
is a wise man that
never makes mistakes.
聪明人从来不做错事。(误)
智者千虑必有一失。(正)
注:
p>
此句照字面解释,
似应照误句的译法,
不过
这是一句古来的谚语,
凡
“
it is
...that
(who)
的构造,
都含有
“无论怎样……都不免”
的意思。
参考下列各句:
It is an ill
wind
that blows nobody good.(
害于此者利于彼。人病医生喜。人
死和尚乐。)
It is
an ill bird that
fouls its own nest.(
自诽其家者未之有也。
家丑不可外扬。
)
It is a good
workman
that
never
blunders.(
无
论怎样好的工人有时都不免做错。)
It
is
a
long
lane
that
has
no
turning.(
否极泰来。)
It
is
a
wise
mother
who
knows
her
own
child.(
p>
为
母
者
不
知
其
子
之
恶
。
)
It
is
a
good
divine
who
follows
his
own <
/p>
instructions.(
能说者不能行。)
parted the best
friends.
我们和最好的朋友别离了。
(
误)
我们在分别时是极好的朋友。(正)
注:
part
是一个不及物动词,
the best friends
为补语。
failed, myself among the rest.
有二十人落第,但我自己不在内。(误)
落第者二十名,我自己也是其中之一。(正)
注:
the rest,
原意为
“其余”
,
如<
/p>
as for the rest(
至
于其他之点)
。
但
among the
rest,
则系一个成语,意为
among the
number(
就在那个数目之中)。
is dead, as I
live.
他死了,我还活着。(误)
他的的确确是死了。(正)
注:
as I live
在此意为<
/p>
indeed
,是加重前面主句的。英语还有其他类似的说法,<
/p>
如
as I am here, as
the sun shines, as you stand here, as my nose is
on my face
等
等。
will make you a good
wife.
她将是你做一个好妻子。(误)
她将成为你的好妻子。(正)
注:
这个
make
< br>是完全及物动词,
采用了两个宾语,
前面的
you
为间接宾语,
后
面的
good
wife
为直接宾语。
“母亲要替我
买一只表”
一语,
如不译为
Mother will
buy a watch for
me.
时,也可译为
Mother
will buy me a watch.
所以上举例句就是
She will
make a good wife for you
的另一种说法。
利用
make
这个及物动词,我
们还可以造出这样的妙句
She made him a good husband because she
made him a
good wife.
第一个
made
为不完全几无动词;第二个
made
为完全及物动词。
pictures does credit to a
professional.
他的画可增加专家的信用。(误)
他的画较之专家所做亦无逊色。(正)
注:
does credit to =be worthy
of,
意为“有成为的价值”,“为之增光”,如
She
does
credit
to the
educational
system pursued here.(Thackeray)
< br>她为这里所追求的
教育制度增光不少。
27.I am staying with a
friend.
我和一个朋友同住。(误)
我现在住在一个朋友家里。(正)
注:
stay with =stay at one's
home.
用
with
时后接“人物”,用
in
时后接“地
方”,用
at
时后接“房屋”。
made an
example of the boy.
他们以此童为模范。(误)
他们惩罚此童以儆其余。(正)
注:
make
an
example
of
one
=
punish
one
as
an
example
to
others
=
make
am
example of the first offender as a
warning to to others.(
惩初犯折以儆效尤)
< br>。
注意:
如说
set an example,
就是“示范”了
,
如
He set
an example to his inferiors.(
他为
< br>玩呗示范。
)
You
should set an example for the future.(
你
应以身作则,
垂法于后。
)
29. We found them at
table.
我们发现他们在打牌。(误)
我们发现他们在用餐。(正)
注:
green table
指赌博,普通单说
table
一词,多半是说用餐,如
lay
the table
摆刀叉准备用餐。
Keep a good table
餐食丰美。
keep an open table
广纳食客。
30.I will make myself
obeyed.
我要使自己服从。(误)
我自己说过的话必将恪守。(正)
注:
参考:
I
made
myself
understood
in
English.(
我使别人能
听懂我用英语说的
话。
)
例句中的
p>
obeyed
的用法,
与上例中的
understood
相同。
如说
I made you
understand me.(
p>
我使你了解我。
)
则与说
< br>
Iw
ill make others obey m
e.(
我要使别
人服从我。)用法相同,
understand
和
obey
二词,都是略去了
to
的不定式。
for hope, life would be
short.
但是因为希望,人生是短促的。(误)
如果没有希望,人生苦短。(正)
注:
but for = if it were not
for
或
If it had
not been for (
如果没有),可作为过去
或过去
完成的省略。
这个
but
有否定之意,后面如不接
for
,而接
that
也是
一样的,如
Life could be short, but that hope
prolongs it.
(人生是短促的,若非
希望去延长
它的话。)
32. He is
ignorant to a proverb.
他不懂得这句谚语。(误)
他的无知是有名的。(正)
注
:
这句话又可说成
His
ignorance is a proverb.
或
He is a proverb for ignorance.
所谓
proverb,
是指尽人皆知的事,故
to a proverb
,
意即尽人皆知,达到尽人皆知
的程度。参考:
He is ignorant to a wonder.(
他的无知令人吃
惊)改用形容词也是
一样,如
His
generosity is provobial=He is proverbial for his g
enerosity.(
他的大量是
人所共知的。)
man was generous to
a fault.
那人宽恕过失。(误)
他过于慷慨。(正)
注:
to a fault = to excess
;
excessively
,
< br>过度的,
极端地。
例如,
He
is kind to a
fault.(
他
几段亲切。)用上
fault
一次,原意为即令有缺点也满不在乎。
34.I have no opinion
of that sort of man.
我不赞成那种人的意见。(误)
我对那种人毫无好感。(正)
注:句中的
opinion
一字,不是“意见”,而是“评价”的意思,又可作“信用”
解,
p>
如
I have no opinion
of him.(
我不相信其人。
)
他
例如
I have a very high
opinion
of
him.(
我尊敬他。)
is equal to any task
whatever.
他对任何事情都是同等看待的。(误)
他对任何工作都可胜任愉快。(正)
注:
be equal to the work = be
able to de the work,
胜任愉快,应付裕如。例如
He
was equal to the occasion.(
他
应付那种局势,
能随机应变。
)
She
is very weak and not
equal to a long
journey.(
她身体很弱,不堪长途跋涉。)
She does not feel equal to
receiving so many visitors.(
她觉得力有未逮,不能接纳这么多的客人。)
has to answer to me for the
letter.
他必须回答我那封信。(误)
关于那封信他必须对我负责。(正)
注:
answer
for,
有“负责”的意思,如
answer for a crime
(对一种罪行负责。)
answer
for his
safety.(
负责他的安全。
)
You will have to answer for your
wrongdoing
one day.(
将来有一天,
p>
你会自食恶果的。
)
I can't
answer for his honesty.(
我不能保
证他的诚实。)
37.
They did not
answer to your explanation.
他们对你的解释没有回答。(误)
那些和你的解释不相符合。(正)
注
:
“回答”
只能用
answer
一词,
不能加
to
。
英语说的
answer to= correspond
,
即“符合”之意。主语的
they
,是指事不指人。
38. They were killed to a
man.
他们被杀得只剩下一个人了。
(
误)
他们被杀的片甲不留。(正)
注;(
all
)
to a man= all
without exception,(
一个人都不留,全部),实连最后一
个人也包括在内,并无例外。
例如
Though we
excepted some absences, the staff
were
there to a
man.(
我们以为有人缺席,实则都到齐了。)
village is on the side of the mountain.
那村庄在山旁。(误)
那村庄在山腰。(正)
注:山有阴阳两面(
two sides
),说在一面上,自然是在半山上,若说在旁边,
则是指在山下的意思,英语为
by the side of.
can paly on
the piano after a fashion.
她能随时俗的所尚弹奏钢琴。(误)
她能稍许弹弹钢琴。(正)
注
: after a fashion = not
satisfactorily but somehow or other,
乃委
婉的贬义,意为
“稍许”
,
“略为”<
/p>
。
例如
She
has a rough manner, but she is kind after a fashio
n.(
她
态度粗鲁,但人还和善。)如把不定冠词改变为定冠词
,就变成“追逐时髦”的
意思了:
after the
fashion = in accordance with the prevailing style
of dress,etc.
例如
This kind of hat is after the
fashion.
(这种帽子正在流行。)
is worn out with
comany.
他已倦于交游了。(误)
来客太多使他疲于应接。(正)
注:
company
在此作“客人”或“友伴”解,例如
He is fond of
company.(
他好
客。)
Will you favour me with your company at
dinner?(
敬备菲酌,恭候台光。)
42. It is the man behind
the gun that tells.
说话的是在大炮后面的人。(误)
胜败在人而不在武器。(正)
注:
动词
tell= produce marked effect(
见效,
奏效)
。
如
Money is bound to
tell.(
钱
到效生。)
Every
shot tells.(
百发百中。)
Years
begin to tell upon him.(
年老使他开
始显得虚弱起来。)
never calls a spade a
spade.
他从来不把锄头叫做锄头。(误)
他从不说直话。(正)
注:
call a spade a spade=
speak quite plainly(
直言无隐。)原是打桥牌的用法,因
为玩牌时手上什么牌常不直说,分明手上是一张
spade
,却故意说成
club
,或
heart
,或
diamond
,以
乱视听。
picture
flatters her.
那是逢迎她而画的。(误)
那画像实美过她本人。(正)
is the sort of woman who likes to be
very much in evidence.
她是那种喜欢求证的女人。(误)
她是属于爱出风头的女人。(正)
注:
in evidence =conspicuous
显然可见。例如
Smith is
nowhere in evidence.(
史密
斯不见了。
)
doesn't know
any better.
他不知道任何更好的。(误)
他居然
有这样笨。
(
正)
注:
know better=be
wiser
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