|
——首屈一「指」 二之一
人的身體構造非常奇妙，簡單如我們的十隻指頭，各有長短，各施其職，巧奪天工。在中國文化裡，手指象徵著靈活、變通和成功。英文裡也有很多關於手指的說法，現舉例說明如下：
Be all fingers and thumbs：笨手笨腳
John gets very nervous today and he is all fingers and thumbs.
約翰今天非常緊張，做事笨手笨腳。
Burn your fingers：蒙受損失/「損手」
My uncle burns his fingers when he is tempted by get-rich-quick schemes.
我的叔叔被那個賺快錢的計劃吸引而招致「損手」。
Have a finger in every pie：好管閒事
My mother always wants to have a finger in the pie.
我的媽媽總是好管閒事。
Have your fingers in the till：偷竊
Peter had his fingers in the till, that's why he lost his job.
難怪彼得失業了，因為他偷竊。
Lay a finger on：觸碰
My supervisor said: "If a boy lays a finger on you, you have to scream."
我的上司說：「假如有男孩觸碰你，必須大聲呼救。」
Point the finger：指控
Don't point the finger at me! I didn't take the purse.
不要指控我！我沒有拿你的銀包。
Work your fingers to the bone：勤勞工作
My father works his fingers to the bone as a breadwinner.
作為一家之主，我的父親勤勞工作。
下期，筆者將繼續和大家介紹拇指的表達方式及其「非同凡響」的地位，敬請留意。
Glossary :
Be all fingers and thumbs 笨手笨腳
Burn your fingers 蒙受損失/「損手」
Have a finger in every pie 好管閒事
Have your fingers in the till 偷竊
Lay a finger on 觸碰
Point the finger 指控
Work your fingers to the bone 勤勞工作
香港專業進修學校語言傳意學部講師 廖尹彤、鍾麗珊
聯絡電郵：clc@hkct.edu.hk
學部網站：http://clc.hkct.edu.hk
逢星期三見報
|
