Not a pushover/Not put a foot wrong
不久前,新西蘭基督城清真寺發生槍擊案,五十人死亡,多人受傷。新西蘭女總理阿德恩在悲劇過後的各種反應和言行,獲得國內外不少讚賞和認同,我們可以從中學習一些用語。
其中一位評論家稱讚阿德恩是個溫文的人,但不是容易擊倒的人。
"There is not a nasty cell in her body, but she is not a pushover." (她體內完全沒有強悍細胞,但她是個不容易被擊倒的人)。句中的pushover意思是一個容易被人征服說服、很易受人影響的人,或是一個容易擊敗的對手。
I am sure she will change her mind. She is such a pushover.
我肯定她會改變主意。她是個易受人影響、被人說服的人。
They finally discovered that the gentle young lady is no pushover.
他們終於發現這位溫文爾雅的年輕女子不是好欺負的。
It won't be an easy game for the team. Their opponent is not a pushover.
對球隊來說,這不會是一場輕易的賽事。他們的對手不易對付。
除了指一個人,pushover亦可指一件事,一件容易做到或贏到的事。
The examination is an absolute pushover.
這場考試絕對是易如反掌。
面對具爭議的慘劇,身為領袖要作出適當的言行當然不是容易的事,對於阿德恩的處理手法和言論,各界大都予以肯定。有網站說她在危機時處事穩妥。
"Having been confronted with the worst news a leader can receive, Ms Ardern has yet to put a foot wrong." (面對一個對領袖來說是最壞的消息,阿德恩並沒有犯任何錯誤。)
put a foot wrong常用否定式
短語put a foot wrong(踏錯腳),其實就像中文的「行差踏錯」,即是做錯事、說錯話、犯錯。不過,這句短語通常用否定式,not put a foot wrong、hardly put a foot wrong、yet put a foot wrong等,特別指在工作上,每件事都做得很好,沒有差池或錯誤。
The World No. 1 player did not put a foot wrong in the final match. His championship is well-deserved.
這個世界排名第一的球員在決賽中沒有犯任何錯誤,贏得冠軍是實至名歸。
Since he became the chairman, he hardly put a foot wrong in the public.
自從他成為主席後,他在公眾場合的表現沒有做錯事、說錯話。
He is an excellent accountant. So far he has never put a foot wrong.
他是個出色的會計師。至今從未出錯。
這個否定式的not put a foot wrong其實有讚美的意思,說人沒有出錯,亦即是讚他處事得體、成功、傑出。輿論用了 not a pushover, yet to put a foot wrong都是讚賞阿德恩,新西蘭國內反對黨亦在國會說".. the prime minister had been outstanding..."就是稱讚首相表現傑出。■Lina CHU
linachu88@gmail.com