今天還是要繼續(xù)講在大選期間新聞界常用來報(bào)道競(jìng)選運(yùn)動(dòng)的兩個(gè)習(xí)慣用語。今天要說的習(xí)慣用語來自《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》上的同一篇文章,這篇文章報(bào)導(dǎo)的是2000年大選的總統(tǒng)候選人戈?duì)栠x定參議員利伯曼為爭(zhēng)取副總統(tǒng)職位的競(jìng)選伙伴,我們要學(xué)的第一個(gè)習(xí)慣用語是:go by the board。
Board這個(gè)詞有很多 不同的意思。其中之一是帆船的船舷側(cè)邊,所以go by the board當(dāng)初的意思是把什么從船側(cè)拋到船外去;那就是徹底拋棄這件東西了。久而久之, 人們開始用go by the board來泛指徹底拋棄什么了。
我們聽聽《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》的這篇文章是怎么應(yīng)用go by the board這個(gè)習(xí)慣用語的。
例句-1:The New York Times report says that several traditions went by the board when Gore picked Lieberman as his vice-presidential running mate. One was the tradition of matching a liberal with a conservative: both men are close to the political center.
他說:《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》報(bào)導(dǎo)說,戈?duì)枓仐壛藥醉?xiàng)傳統(tǒng)而選擇利伯曼為爭(zhēng)取副總統(tǒng)職位的競(jìng)選伙伴,其中的一個(gè)是讓自由派和保守派搭配成競(jìng)選伙伴。而他倆都靠近政治中間派。
從這段話可見go by the board是拋棄的意思。
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在美國(guó)的兩百多年歷史上,美國(guó)的政治體制屢經(jīng)變革,以便跟上時(shí)代變遷的步伐。例如美國(guó)憲法原先規(guī)定國(guó)會(huì)中代表每一州的兩名參議員由本州立法機(jī)構(gòu)推選,不由州內(nèi)選民直接選舉。
我們聽聽第十七憲法修正案是如何改變這個(gè)做法的。
例句-2:In 1913 the old law went by the board. That was when the 17th amendment changed the Constitution to provide that senators be elected directly by the people.
他說:在1913年那條老規(guī)定被廢棄了。當(dāng)時(shí)第十七憲法修正案改變了美國(guó)憲法,規(guī)定參議員由選民直接選出。
這段話里的went by the board有同樣的意思,就是廢棄、或者徹底拋棄。
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這篇報(bào)導(dǎo)戈?duì)栠x擇利伯曼作競(jìng)選伙伴的文章還用了一個(gè)習(xí)慣用語。它是:fall into line。這篇文章這樣報(bào)導(dǎo)說:
例句-3:After the choice was made, the two men got together to make sure that Mr. Lieberman would fall into line with positions that Mr. Gore takes on campaign issues.
要明白fall into line是什么意思,你先可以想象一下一群士兵聽從口令整隊(duì)立正。這個(gè)過程用英文來表示就是:The soldiers fall into line. 實(shí)際上,要大家集合整隊(duì)的口令就是 'fall in,' 那么fall into line作為習(xí)慣用語是什么意思呢?
我們聽個(gè)例子來琢磨它的含義。利伯曼在幾個(gè)有爭(zhēng)議的問題上曾經(jīng)跟戈?duì)柕牧?chǎng)不一致。例如, 有一項(xiàng)提議是向子女在教學(xué)質(zhì)量差的公立學(xué)校就學(xué)的家長(zhǎng)發(fā)補(bǔ)貼票券。這些家長(zhǎng)可以送子女上私立學(xué)校, 并以這種補(bǔ)貼票券來為子女交付私立學(xué)校的部分學(xué)費(fèi)。
例句-4:Mr. Lieberman used to support the proposal of 'school vouchers', which Mr. Gore opposes. However, after the meeting with Mr. Gore, Mr. Lieberman showed he would fall into line with Mr. Gore on some campaign issues. Now, he indicated he didn't think 'school vouchers' would work.
他說:利伯曼過去曾經(jīng)支持學(xué)費(fèi)補(bǔ)貼票券的提議,而戈?duì)枀s反對(duì)這個(gè)提議。但是利伯曼在跟戈?duì)枙?huì)面后卻明確表示,他認(rèn)為學(xué)費(fèi)補(bǔ)貼票券的做法行不通??梢娎谝恍﹩栴}上隨從了戈?duì)柕姆较颍淖冏约旱某踔?,跟戈?duì)柦y(tǒng)一了立場(chǎng)。
所以fall into line這個(gè)習(xí)慣用語的意思就是和某人統(tǒng)一立場(chǎng), 跟他步調(diào)一致。