Hi, 可可英语的网友们大家好。我们都知道习语是人们经过长期使用后提炼出来的短语或短句,它是语言中的核心和精华。它们读来顺口,听来易记,语言生动活泼,虽寥寥数字却可传神达意。如高尔基所说:习语能很好地教我们学会文字的节约,语言的压缩和使语言更加形象。比如,本期我们将很多有关天气的习语用在了一段文字中,天气好坏和我们的感受息息相通,所以,相信您也可以在第一时间就能领会它们的引申意义。
For some folks, everything is easy. Life is a breeze. They're always healthy. They're never under the weather. If they walk into a room full of strangers, they make friends in five minutes. They have no trouble breaking the ice. They earn enough to save some money every week. They're saving money for a rainy day. So if trouble ever does come, they'll be able to weather the storm. Yes, some people have no problems if times are good or bad. They're okay come rain or shine.
For some folks,对于一些人来说,做什么都易如反掌。生活就是a breeze. Breeze “微风”,微风拂面的感觉大家都体验过,舒适,惬意的,因此,我们常常用breeze来形容something easy for person to do,对于某个人来说很容易做的事情。比如:Because I studied English every day, the exam was a breeze. 因为我每天都学英语,所以考试是很轻松的一桩事情。
这样的人似乎never under the weather。Under the weather意思基本相当于uncomfortable,不舒服的。即便满屋子都是陌生人,这样的人还是会很快交到新朋友。这样的人擅长break the ice。电视中,特别是新闻报道中常常将某国的领导人到另一个国家访问称为“破冰之旅”其实就源于这个短语。Break the ice指begin a conversation with a stranger和陌生人开始交谈,开启交流通道。
这些人还颇具远见,赚足够的钱并积累起来,save money for a rainy day,从字面意思上大家可以猜测到rainy day其实指代trouble,整个短语意思是prepare for trouble, usually by saving money,相当于汉语中的“未雨绸缪”。
没有问题的时候积极准备,问题来了也能够weather the storm。这个短语从字面上不好猜测,它的意思是to wait and be patient until things get better,耐心等到事情有转机的时候。再比如:Our business has had a lot of problems this year. But I'm sure things will be okay if we can weather the storm for just a few more months. 今年我们的生意出了很多问题。但是我确信一切都会好起来的,如果我们能再耐心等待几个月。
文中说,有些人are okay come rain or shine,按说,总能做到不管风雨还是晴天都安之若素的人一定是不多的,这需要相当的经历和悟性吧。不过,are okay come rain or shine,也就是no matter how hard it is,不管多么艰难,都保持okay的状态是我们每个人都该努力的目标。
好了,来听本期的小问题:If you're under the weather, how do you feel? 我们下期再见吧。