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日前筆者接獲友人電郵，內容引述一些名句，其中一項是：「說一句話，說一千句是作家；這叫文采。」這一句，頓然使筆者有所感想：此話實非絕對。因為一句話未必要「說一千句」，也可以有「文采」的。
愚見認為，說話或書寫，除非是文豪大作，否則宜精簡直接，清晰達意。然而，若要較為傳神，增添色彩，則不妨採用英文中慣用而帶有「特色」的詞彙，即筆者曾在此欄提出的「idioms」或「idiomatic English」。以前筆者列舉過此類「特色慣用詞」，現以句子為例，好讓大家見證，就是只說一句話，也可顯現「文采」。
多年不和 難破僵局
The arrogant man is always blowing his own trumpet and bragging about his achievements.
那傲慢的男士經常自稱自讚，誇耀自己的成就。
When he found his colleagues to be taking bribes, he decided to blow the whistle on them and reported to the ICAC.
發現同事們受賄，他毅然決定告密，向廉政公署舉報。
They have been estranged for years but neither would take the initiative to break the ice.
他們多年不和，但各不願主動打破僵局以修好。
The Beatles used to bring down the house everywhere they performed.
披頭四無論在何處演唱，總是博得全場喝彩。
He will soon fall ill, working day and night, burning the candle at both ends.
他快將病倒，晝夜苦幹不息，過勞透支。
He is a spendthrift: money seems to burn a hole in his pocket.
他揮霍成性：總是留不住錢。
To prepare for examination, students often burn midnight oil.
為了備試，學生們常常徹夜不眠不休。
只許成功 不許失敗
He was set on succeeding; so he gave it all, burning his bridges.
他決意取得成果；故此全力以赴，破釜沉舟，只許成功，不許失敗。
It was none of his business: small wonder that he burned his fingers interfering.
事件根本與他無關，插手干預，結果碰釘實不為奇。
Putting money on properties overseas based on a paper plan is like buying a pig in a poke.
單憑圖則落定購買海外物業，有如隔山買牛。
The Ombudaman does not mince words in his reports, calling a spade a spade.
申訴專員在調查報告中，從不含糊其辭，素來坦言，直話直說。
肯花心思 多加應用
從以上的示例可見，只要肯花點心思，納入些英語的慣用「特色詞」，簡單的一句話，也可大放文采。
2012/13學年將結束，我們就此歇息。祝願大家學業有成。但亦勿忘持續進修，須知學無止境，要再接再厲，精益求精。
Let us take a break but do keep on learning, to go from strength to strength.
英語要進步，不外乎多聆聽，多練習，多閱讀，多書寫，多應用，實在可成樂事。希望大家用心研習。 ■前教育署署長 余黎青萍
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