这个习惯用语听来又长又复杂,其实意义简单易懂。six当然是六,half a dozen是半打,也是六,所以six of one and half a dozen of the other就是一个是六,另一个也是六吗?
换句话说,相当于中国俗语“半斤八两”。我们通过例子来进一步领会它的确切含义吧。这是个数学老师在启发学生Tommy解一道数学题。
例句:Tommy, it doesn't really matter which way you solve the problem. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. The important thing is for you to understand the principle here.
他说:Tommy, 你用什么方法解题其实并不重要。这种或那种方法都没区别,而重要的是你得理解其中的原理。
显然这里的six of one and half a dozen of the other用来描述两者之间相同、没有区别。