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日常生活中，有時免不了會被人責駡、訓斥、批評甚至懲罰。如果用英文表達，會聯想到scold、reprimand、criticize或 punish這些字眼。若說某些人被人責備，就會用上這些動詞的被動式。
譬如說scold，一般指人受到責罵。通常是對某人的行為不滿而作出口頭責罵，如父母罵子女，老師罵學生。例如：
The boy was scolded by his teacher for not doing his homework properly.
那男孩沒有做好功課，因而被老師責罵。
Reprimand則一般用於地位較高的對地位較低的人作出正式的譴責。例如：
The secretary was reprimanded because she had made quite some mistakes in the report.
那秘書在報告中出了不少錯誤，故此受到譴責。
Criticize語氣沒有公私之分
另外，criticize指批評，當然是有責難的意味，沒有級別或公私語氣之分，任誰都可以批評誰。例如：
They were criticized for behaving improperly in the public.
他們因為在公眾場合行為不檢而被批評。
Punish（受罰）自然是犯事的人被掌權者懲罰，這就不僅僅是譴責的意思，而是有行動的。例如：
A number of students were punished for they had been late to school many times.
多名學生因為經常遲到而受罰。
「頸痛」指麻煩事 「觸頸」指批評
以這些動詞的被動式表示譴責或懲戒，不免嚴肅了一點。如果想說得輕鬆一些，又想用主動式，可以用「get it in the neck」（觸及頸部）。這表示被嚴厲責備或被罰。雖然不知道為甚麼是頸部表達嚴厲責備，但頸痛「neck pain」或「a pain in the neck」，可比喻麻煩人或麻煩事。大抵「get it in the neck」就等於惹了麻煩、犯了事，故此遭人譴責或批評。例如:
I'll probably get it in the neck from mom if I don't get home before midnight.
如果我在午夜前不回到家，很可能被母親痛斥一番。
The government will for sure get it in the neck if they do not take actions immediately.
如果政府不立即採取行動，必會被人責難批判。
Though the coach knew that he would get it in the neck, he insisted on dismissing the player from the team.
教練雖然知道會被各方批評譴責，但仍然堅持開除那球員出隊。
Poor John got it in the neck yesterday for being late to school. He had a detention.
可憐的約翰昨天因上學遲到受罰。他放學後要留堂。
這短語既包含了受責罵或受懲罰的意思，又可以在不同的環境使用，較為輕鬆靈活。■Lina CHU
[ linachu88@netvigator.com ]
逢星期三見報
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