rat someone out 打某人小报告
rat这个字不只是指「大老鼠」而已,它还有「叛徒,告密者」的意思,甚至还可以当做动词,指「背叛,告密」,rat someone out就是「出卖某人」啰,这下场可是会像老鼠一样,人人喊打啊。
相信大家都或多或少有被「出卖」的经验,英文可以用betray(背叛、出卖)这个动词:「He betrayed me.」(他出卖我)或者「He sold me out.」另一个类似说法是「He ratted me out.」rat out同样是「出卖;打小报告」之意。你还可以说:「He screwed me.」screw是「欺骗;诈骗」,同样有「他出卖我」之意。
例:
A:Why did you ignore James when he said hi to you?
B:Oh,because he sold me out! We cheated together on a test, and he told the teacher on me!
A:刚刚詹姆士跟你打招呼,你为什么理都不理他?
B:因为他出卖我啊!我们一起考试作弊,结果他竟然去跟老师打小报告!
另一种说法:
rat在这作动词用,表「告密」、「背叛」,因此本俚语即指「出卖某人」。此外,也可用 rat on someone 表同样的意思。
例:Someone in my department must have ratted on me.(我部门里一定有人出卖了我。)
多学一点:
另外,介绍一个与老鼠相关俚语:
like rats deserting a sinking ship 像老鼠弃沉船
例:As soon as the theater had financial problems, all of the staff began to quit, like rats deserting a sinking ship.(这家剧场在发生财务问题后,所有员工都纷纷辞职,就像船沉鼠先逃一样。