中文:

 1. 老师很喜欢这个嘴甜的小姑娘。

翻译:

[误] the teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much.

[正] the teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.

注释:

 中国人喜欢说“嘴甜”,但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的语言习惯。

 

2.同学们都很讨厌他,因为他经常拍老师的马屁。

[误] the student all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's ass.
[正] the students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's boots.

注释
以前在欧洲,臣民见到国王与王后往往要葡匐到在,亲吻他们的靴子。后来,人们将 lick the boots 引申为“为了某种目的而讨好某人”,它与汉语的“拍马屁”含义一样。

在美国英语中,“拍马屁”还有另一种说法,即 polish the apple,它典出以前的学生用擦亮的苹果来讨好老师。

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