to be swept off one's feet
Don't let the grass grow under one's feet
今天我們?cè)賮?lái)講兩個(gè)和 foot 或 feet 有關(guān)的俗語(yǔ)。我們?cè)?jīng)講過(guò): to stand on one's own two feet,這是獨(dú)立自主,依靠自己的意思。我們還講過(guò): to throw oneself at someone's feet,這是公開(kāi)表示對(duì)某人的愛(ài)慕之情,或是拍馬奉承、百般討好某人??墒牵粣?ài)慕或討好的對(duì)象往往會(huì)突然感到非常興奮而不由自主地變得飄飄然起來(lái)。這種情景在英文里是這么說(shuō)的: to be swept off one's feet。下面我們要舉的一個(gè)例子就可以看出一個(gè)人在 throwing himself at someone's feet 以后所可能產(chǎn)生的后果:
例句-1: "Dick was so crazy about Jane that he threw himself at her feet. Jane was swept off her feet and they're getting married next Tuesday."
這句話的意思是:"迪克實(shí)在是愛(ài)簡(jiǎn),他完全拜倒在她的石榴裙下。這一下使得簡(jiǎn)感到飄飄然,不由自主了。他們竟然決定下星期二就結(jié)婚。"
這種閃電式的結(jié)婚確實(shí)有點(diǎn)過(guò)于匆忙。下面一個(gè)例子就是一個(gè)人在勸他的朋友不要草率從事。這也說(shuō)明 to be swept off one's feet 這個(gè)俗語(yǔ)不一定完全適用于被愛(ài)慕的人,也可以用在其他場(chǎng)合:
例句-2: "Hal, I know how anxious you are to get married and start a family. But don't let yourself get swept off your feet by a pretty face: think about what you are doing before you get caught."
他說(shuō):"海爾,我知道你是非常急于結(jié)婚成家。但是,你不要被一張漂亮的臉弄得昏昏然的。在問(wèn)題還沒(méi)有發(fā)生前,你得腦子清楚一些,明白自己到底在干什么。"
像結(jié)婚這樣的事確實(shí)應(yīng)該慎重考慮,不能操之過(guò)急。但是有的時(shí)候,我們處理事情也不能拖拖拉拉,浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。這在英文里就是: Don't let the grass grow under one's feet。 Grass 是指草。 Don't let the grass grow under one's feet 從字面上來(lái)解釋,這句話的意思是:不要讓草在你腳底下長(zhǎng)出來(lái),實(shí)際上也就是說(shuō),你不要什么事也不干,浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。我們來(lái)舉一個(gè)例子吧:
例句-3: "Right now the house is a real bargain. Don't let the grass grow under your feet -- sign the agreement today before somebody grabs it."
這是一個(gè)房產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀(jì)人在對(duì)一個(gè)買(mǎi)主說(shuō)話。他說(shuō):"現(xiàn)在房產(chǎn)價(jià)格實(shí)在是非常便宜。你不要浪費(fèi)時(shí)間,最好今天就簽合同,免得給別人把這棟房子搶走。"
Don't let the grass grow under your feet 是推銷產(chǎn)品的人經(jīng)常說(shuō)的話。下面的例子是一個(gè)汽車(chē)商在對(duì)顧客說(shuō)話:
例句-4: "I tell you, don't let the grass grow under you feet -- this is the last day of this sale and the price on this model goes up a thousand dollars tomorrow!"
他說(shuō):"我告訴你,今天是這次減價(jià)的最后一天。這種型號(hào)的車(chē)子,明天就要上漲一千美元。所以你不要猶豫不決,浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。"
上面我們給大家介紹了兩個(gè)和 foot 或者 feet 這個(gè)字有關(guān)的習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)。第一個(gè)是: to be swept off one's feet,這是指一個(gè)人由于一件使他興奮的事而感到不由自主。今天我們講的另一個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)是: Don't let the grass grow under one's feet,這是勸人不要停止不前,浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。
[美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)」第五十講就到里。歡迎下次再一起來(lái)學(xué)習(xí)美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)。再見(jiàn)。