|
曾於本欄介紹過兩系列的英語慣用語(Idioms),第一系列是與「眼、耳、口、鼻」有關的,第二系列是與「頭、手、心、髮」有關。今天再介紹一組慣用語,轉移到人體下肢各部分!
下列各詞都是用 foot(腳)、heel (腳後跟)、toes(腳趾)和leg(腿)來組成的:
On one's feet (病後復原) —例句:He contracted tuberculosis and it took him half a year to get back on his feet.(他患上了肺結核,半年後才復原過來。)
Have one foot in the grave (行將就木) —例句:The old man seems to have one foot in the grave.(那老人家怕不成了!)
Achilles' heel (致命傷) —例句:Vanity is her Achilles' heel. (虛榮自負是她的致命傷。)(註:Achilles 是《木馬屠城記》中一員猛將,刀槍不入,只有腳跟是致命傷,故有此Achilles' heel 之說法。)
Kick one's heels (無聊等待) —例句:John had to kick his heels for hours because the train was so late.(火車誤點,約翰在車站無聊等候了數小時。)
Tread on somebody's toes( 冒犯某人) —例句:Don’t tread on anybody's toes or you'll be in trouble !(切勿冒犯他人,以免自找麻煩!)
On one's toes (準備行動) —例句:The enemy's constant gunfire kept the soldiers all on their toes.(敵人不斷的炮火聲令士兵不敢怠慢,隨時準備作戰。)
Pull somebody's leg (開玩笑) —例句:“I have inherited ten billion dollars ! Are you pulling my leg ?”(「別跟我開玩笑了!我哪兒有繼承十億元遺產?」)
Have one's tail between one's legs (夾著尾巴)—例句:They were completely defeated and left the battlefield with their tails between their legs.(他們被徹底打敗,夾著尾巴離開戰場。) ■韓Sir
|