在上次的文章里,英语君和大家分享了由莎翁创造,比较实用的七个表达,现在给大家奉上本系列的第二篇,赶快学起来吧。

1.The be all and end all.
最重要/唯一重要的事;全部;根本

英文解释:The only important thing in your life, or the only important feature of a particular activity.

出自:Macbeth 《麦克白》

当麦克白考虑要暗杀苏格兰国王时,他的心理活动如下:

If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly. If th' assassination

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch

With his surcease, success: that but this blow

Might be the be-all and the end-all ... ...

要是干了以后就完了,那么还是快一点干;要是凭着暗杀的手段,可以攫取美满的结果,又可以排除了一切后患;要是这一刀砍下去,就可以完成一切、终结一切、解决一切... ...

E.g. We all agreed that winning was not the be-all and end-all.
我们都知道,获胜并不是最重要的事情。

2.Green-eyed monster
嫉妒

英文解释:jealousy

出自:Othello 《奥赛罗》

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy !It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on; 
哦!君上您要留心嫉妒啊, 那是一个绿眼的妖魔。谁做了它的牺牲,就要受它的玩弄。

E.g. He was bitten by the green-eyed monster. (=He became jealous.)
他心生妒意。

3.(to) give the devil his due
平心而论,说句公道话

英文解释:Said when you admit that someone you don’t like or admire does have particular good qualities.

出自:Henry IV 《亨利四世》

注释:这个短语的字面意思是pay the devil what you owe him(将你欠魔鬼的归还给他),可以理解成哪怕是魔鬼,该是他的也要给他。在今天的用法中多取引申义,指哪怕对于自己不喜欢的人,也不得不承认他的一些优点。

E.g. I don’t like the man but—give the devil his due—he works incredibly hard.
我不喜欢那个人,可是平心而论,他工作起来真的很卖力。

4.Heart’s content
尽情地

英文解释:to one's complete inner satisfaction - until one's heart is content.

出自:Henry VI 《亨利四世》

Her grace in Speech, Makes me from Wondring, fall to Weeping ioyes, Such is the Fulnesse of my hearts content.

The Merchant of Venice 《威尼斯商人》

I wish your Ladiship all hearts content.

注释:在今天的用法中,我们常说to one’s heart’s content 表示尽情地做某事

E.g. You’ve got a whole week to yourself and you can read to your heart’s content.
你有整整一周的时间自由支配,可以尽情的阅读了。

5.Household words/name
家喻户晓的名字

英文解释:Words or sayings that are in common use; names that are familiar to everyone.

出自:Henry VI 《亨利四世》

What feats he did that day: then shall our names.

Familiar in his mouth as household words

E.g. The business she founded made her into a household name.
她创立的一番事业使她成为家喻户晓的人物。

6.I have not slept one wink
我彻夜未眠

英文解释:I have not slept at all

出自:Cymbeline 《辛白林》

PISANIO:

O gracious lady,

Since I received command to do this business

I have not slept one wink.

注释:wink在这里作名词,是眨眼的意思。这是一个非常形象的表达,表示一夜都未合眼,还可以表达为not get/have a wink of sleep。

E.g. I didn’t get a wink of sleep./ I hardly slept a wink.
我一夜未合眼。

7.A tower of strength
无上的权力;精神支柱,靠山

英文解释:supreme authority; a person who gives you the courage and determination to continue when you are in a bad situation.

出自:Richard III 《查理三世》

注释:这个词组过去表示至高无上的权力,在今天的表达中,作为“困难时的精神支柱”的用法较为常见,且一般指人,也可以表达为a pillar of strength

E.g. My wife has been a tower of strength during my illness.
在我生病期间,我妻子就是我的精神支柱。

声明:本内容为沪江英语原创,严禁转载。