【转】雅思考试典故素材整理(5/9连载完成)_派派后花园

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[Exam] 【转】雅思考试典故素材整理(5/9连载完成)

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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
举报 只看楼主 使用道具 楼主   发表于: 2017-05-04 0


外国典故(1)

 1.a dog in the manger占着茅坑不拉屎的人

  出自《伊索寓言》(Aesop's Fables),有一篇狗站马槽的故事,说的是一头狗躺在堆满稻草的马槽里,狗是不吃草的动物,而当马或牛一走进稻草时,这头狗却朝着马,牛狂哮,不准食草动物享用。因此,“狗站马槽”就成了一个家喻户晓的成语而进入英语中,常用来比喻a person who prevents others from enjoying sth that is useless to himself; a churlish fellow who will neither use a thing himself nor let others use it,讽刺那些占据说职位或某些物质却不做事的人。

  a dog in the manger是个名词性短语,常与系动词连用,充当表语(主语补足语)

  eg:He borrowed a lot of books from the library,but he didn't read a book.He was really a dog in the manger.

  There are some officials who are only the dogs in the manger.

  Smith was a dog in the manger over that roll of wire;it was no use whatever to him,but he wouldn't let us have it.

  2.bell the cat自告奋勇去冒险;老虎头上拍苍蝇

  bell the cat系成语to hang the bell about the cat's neck的简略,愿意是“给猫的脖子上挂铃”。它来自《伊索寓言》(Aesop's Fables)中的《老鼠会议》(The Mice in Council)

  这篇寓言讲的是:一群老鼠在鼠洞里举行会议,讨论如何对付凶狠的猫。白胡须老鼠提出:“我有个方法,在猫的脖子上挂一个铃。这样,猫一走动铃就响,我们就可以闻铃声而逃避了”,群鼠一致同意这个建议,欢呼:“That's a capital idea.We will bell the cat!No more fear of the cat!”但是,谁去给猫挂铃铛呢?没有一只老鼠敢去,一个个都溜掉了。老鼠会议豪无结果,它们不安全的境况当然也无法改善。

  寓言所寄托的意思很明白:遇到困难的问题时候,既需要有出谋献策的人,更需要有挺身而出的实干家。

  bell the cat常用来比喻to do sth dangerous in order to save others;to step forwar bravely to face the danger;to take a risk for the good of others.

  eg:Everybody made suggestion,but no one actually offered to bell the cat.

  We didn't know who would put him this delicate question when my friend offered to bell the cat.

  3.cry wolf虚发警报;慌报险情;危言耸听

  cry wolf来自《伊索寓言》:《牧童和狼》 (The Shepherdboy and the wolf)

  有个牧童在离村子不远的山坡上放羊,有一次,他为了开心作乐,突然大喊:“Help!Help!The wolf!”全村的人都闻声跑来援助他时,才知道这只是开玩笑。如此恶作剧搞了两三次。后来,狼真的来了,那个牧童再呼号求救时,谁也不理会他了。于是,狼把他的羊吃了。

  这篇寓言的意义很清楚:爱说谎话的人,即或在他说真话时,也没人相信他。由此,人们用to cry wolf 来概括这篇寓言的基本情节及其教诫意义,用以比喻to give false alarms;to warn of danger where there is none之意。按其比喻意义,这个成语相当与汉语中出自《东周列国志》的典故:烽火戏诸侯。周幽王为博得宠妃褒泥一笑,竟然把军国大事当儿戏,烽火报警戏诸侯,使各路诸侯仓促发兵,驰援京师,结果收到嘲笑。后来犬戎进犯,幽王再举烽火调兵,谁也不来了,结果周幽王遭到杀身亡国之祸。这2个典故的情节虽不同,寓意却完全不一致,都是表示“一朝说假话,一世无人信”

  eg:Nobody will believe he is in trouble because he has cried wolf so many times.

  Is she really sick of is she just crying wolf?

  The newspaper placards that had cried "wolf" so often,cried "wolf" now in vain.

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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
举报 只看该作者 沙发   发表于: 2017-05-04 0






外国典故(1)

 4.Fish in Troubled Waters浑水摸鱼;趁火打劫;陷于混乱

  Fish in Troubled Waters直译是:“浑水里捕鱼”,出自《伊索寓言·渔夫》

  这篇寓言江的是:有个渔夫在河里张网捕鱼,他把鱼网横栏在河道里,然后拿了一条缚着石块的绳子,不停的拍击河水,使泥沙泛起,河水浑浊,鱼儿在慌乱中纷纷自投罗网,渔夫用这个方法捕得了好多鱼。但住在附近的人指责渔夫说:“我们饮水全靠这条河,你把水搞得这么浑,叫我们到哪里去找清水饮用呢?” 渔夫回答说: “可是,我若不把水搞浑,那就非饿死不可了”

  因此,人们常用to fish in trouble waters 比喻to try to win advantages for oneself from a disturbed state of affairs; to make use of sb's misfortune to serve one's own ends.并因此产生了谚语it’s good fishing in troubled waters(混水好摸鱼)。

  在英语中,to fish in troubled waters 也可写成to fish in the muddy waters,而且water必须做waters。

  eg:The man who interferes in South American politics is fishing in troubled waters

  I refused to let them come here because i knew they only wanted to fish in troubled waters

  Those who made large profits out of illegally selling rationed goods during World War II were fishing in troubled waters.

  5.cat's paw 被他人利用的人;受人愚弄者

  cat's paw 也坐cat's-paw或catspaw,字面意思“猫爪子”,出典17世纪法国著名的寓言作家拉·封丹的《猴子与猫》。讲的是狡猾的猴子哄骗头脑简单的猫儿,替它从炉火中取出烤熟的栗子来。猫儿应命去做,结果猫爪子被火烧伤了,而取出的栗子却被猴子吃光了。

  追根嗍源,远在公元前3世纪的《伊索寓言》中就有这个故事,不过没有题目。

  cat's paw常用来比喻a person used as a tool by another;one who is used merely for the convenience of a cleverer or stronger person之意。按其内涵,这个成语与汉语成语“为虎作伥”所比喻的意义相似,仅是动物的形象不同

  cat's paw除了单独做复合名词使用外,还构成to make a cat's paw of sb(利用某人做为工具或爪牙)

  eg:It is easy for him to be used as a cat's paw of evil-doing.

  I am afraid that he is making a cat's paw of you.

  6.Pull the chestnuts out of the fire火中取栗;替别人冒险

  Pull the chestnuts out of the fire来自法国著名的寓言作家拉·封丹的《猴子与猫》。

  cat's paw与Pull the chestnuts out of the fire是同源成语,但两个成语无论在结构上或意义上都不相同,前者比喻充当别人的工具或爪牙,后者常用来表示to do sth dangerous for others的意思。

  这个成语也作to pull sb's chestnuts,或者to put the chestnuts for sb.

  eg:I had pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for him on several occasions and was unwilling to do it again.

  They are pulling chestnuts out of the fire for the imperialists without knowing it

  You can't make me your catspaw to pull your chestnuts out of the fire...

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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
举报 只看该作者 板凳   发表于: 2017-05-04 0






外国典故(1)

 7. attic salt优雅的俏皮话;妙语

  attic salt的字面意思是“阿提卡的盐”。阿提卡洲(attica)是希腊东南部的一个州,其首府是雅典。阿提卡州是个半岛,工商业发达,特别盛产海盐,相传,阿提卡州的盐比希腊其他地方出产的盐精细有味,深受欢迎。阿提卡人机智风趣,善于说俏皮话,以幽雅的诙谐著称于世。

  这个成语出自古罗马著名的作家和演说家西塞罗 (Marcus Tullius Cicero,公元前106-前43)。他的论文和演讲词,都是文体和标准拉丁语的典范,在其作品中论述了古希腊人精心研究的雄辩术理论,特别提到以口齿锋利著称的阿提卡人。公元前55年,西塞罗以文艺对话形式写的主要著作《辩论》(De oratore),探讨了演讲艺术中的诙谐问题。他说,妙语应当含有“盐味”,象“阿提卡的盐”那样有味。

  在现在英语中,salt一词含有“风趣”,“兴味”等转义。成语attic salt常用来表示poignant delicate wit;wit of a refined quality。因此也可写attic wit.

  eg: Yesterday Mrs Williams gave a talk to the Women's Institute on her travels in Asia.It was full of Attic Salt.

  A talk full of attic salt is worth listening to.

  They are in the habit of speaking with attic wit.

  8.one's pound of flesh残酷榨取;割肉还债

  相信大家都看过莎士比亚的《威尼斯商人》。这里就不加以介绍。one's pound of flesh比喻to insist cruelly on repayment of what was borrowed,常用在have,demand,exact,want,ask for 等之后。

  《《《《小马独家奉献托福、托福机经、雅思、SAT、SSAT更多资料点击下载》》》》

  eg:If you borrow from the scoundredl,you may be sure he'll demand hhis pound of flesh.

  Their boss pays the highest wages,but he wants his pound of flesh in return and makes them work very hard.

  9.john bull(s)约翰牛;英国佬

  “约翰牛”是英国人的绰号,意义是english nation,the typical englishmen.这个雅号是英国人自己取的,出自16世纪英国著名作家兼宫廷御医约翰·阿布斯诺特(John Arbuthnot,1667--1735)的政治讽刺作品。

  阿布斯诺特在1712年写了一本讽刺小说,名叫《约翰牛的生平》(The History of John Bull),该书的主人公约翰牛就是英国的人格化、形象化。

  作者笔下的约翰牛,是个英国“自由民”,为人粗暴冷酷,桀骜不逊,颇有些牛劲。他盛气凌人、欺辱弱者,如果谁流露出对他稍微表示不满的反抗情绪,他立即摆出一副格斗的架势。作者通过这个赳赳武夫的形象,暗喻当年英国的专横跋扈,抨击“民权党”(英国自由党的前身)的好战策略。显然,这个绰号最初含贬斥色彩。

  这个形象的出现,绝非作者凭空捏造,而是与当时英国的社会经济状况紧密相连。在英国资产阶级革命胜利后的17世纪,英国毛纺工业迅速发展,资本的原始积累不断扩大,资产阶级政权对内实行“圈地运动“,对外实行殖民地的掠夺政策,以便积累大量的工业资本。“约翰牛”的形象正是这个时期英国的体现这。

  John Bull这个颇古的典故成语,19世纪 的著名作家狄更斯(Charles Dickens,1812--1870)就曾引用过。随着时间的推移,“约翰牛”的形象发生了耐人寻味的变化,由最初那个身强力壮、满脸横肉的中年船长想象,变成了一个年过半百、五短身材的矮胖子。于是漫画上出现的”约翰牛“,是个头戴宽边礼帽,足蹬翻口皮鞋,身穿茄克衫的绅士摸样。当年那种杀气滕滕的气概收敛不少,其原来的贬义似乎变成了褒义。”约翰牛“逐渐变成了一位饱经事故的实干家形象,他的行为成了英国的人的标准行为。这样一来,john bull这个成语就成了英国人或者英国的代名词了;而与之相关的john bullism 就指”英国精神“”英国习气“或”英国的典型性格“,john bullist则常指”英国迷“

  eg:By some he is called..."a thoroughbred englishman",by some,"a genuine john bull"...

  John bulls belong to the white race.

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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
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外国典故(1)

 10.Grin like a cheshire cat咧嘴傻笑;露齿嬉笑

  Grin like a cheshire cat字面意思是“象柴郡猫那样咧开嘴笑”,这个成语也可写成 to wear/have a grin like a Cheshire cat,或to smile like a Cheshire cat。关于这个成语有2种说法

  Cheshire是英格兰西部的一郡,当地出产一种颇有特色的干酪,叫“柴郡干酪”(Cheshire cheese),曾经一度作成象笑脸猫的形状。另一种说法是:柴郡有位画家,他给当地旅馆绘画的招牌上,都画了一只咧着嘴笑的狮子。

  艾里克·帕特里奇先生(Mr. Eric Partridge)认为,这个成语大约从1770年开始就作为贬义词使用。英国《朗曼英国成语词典》等辞书,认为这个成语源自维多利亚女王时代 (1835--1901),英国数学家和童话作家刘易斯·卡洛尔(Lewis Carroll,1832--1898)在他所写的童话《阿丽思漫游奇境记》(Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)中详细的描述了公爵夫人家中的一只柴郡猫。《阿丽思漫游奇境记》第6章有段这样的对话:

  "Please,would you tell me,"said Alice a little limidly..."why your cat grins like that?"

  "It's a Cheshire cat,"said the Duchess,"and that's why."

  卡洛尔的童话,通过虚幻离奇的情节,嘲讽了19世纪后半期英国的社会现象。《阿丽思漫游奇境记》在1865年7月问世后,轰动了全英国。作者由此一举成名。 “柴郡猫”的生动想象,是否他所创造,有待于进一步考证,但to grin like a Cheshire cat是随着该书的风行而被广泛使用,应无疑义。根据书中的描述,这个成语常用来表示to grin broadly,showing great amusement; to laugh at nothing that is amusing;to smile widely,in such a way that on shows all one's teeth.

  eg:Poor little Hans only grinned like a Cheshire cat when he was scolded.

  Mamma is smiling with all her might.In fact Mr. Newcome says..."that woman grins like a Cheshire cat."Who was the naturalist of the cats in Cheshire?

  It is no good smiling at me like a Cheshire cat,Mr.Lubin.

  11.A storm in a Teacup杯水风波;小题大做;大惊小怪

  《《《《小马独家奉献托福、托福机经、雅思、SAT、SSAT更多资料点击下载》》》》

  A storm in a Teacup字面意思“茶杯里的风暴”;美国英语为“a tempest in a teapot/barrel”,也作tea-pot tempest.

  A storm in a Teacup出自法国著名作家巴尔扎克(Honore de Balzac,1799-1850)记述,这句话出自18世纪法国哲学家和思想家孟德斯鸠的名言。有一次,他听说圣马力诺发生了政治动乱,就用“茶杯里的风暴”来评论。因为圣马力诺是欧洲最小的共和国,只有一万人口,孟德斯鸠认为那里的动乱对整个欧洲局势无足轻重。

  探源搠流,远在公元前古希腊了罗马的名人著作中就有过类似的形象比喻。如古罗马著名作家和演说家西塞罗(Cicero)在其著作《论法律》中就有这样的话:excitare fluctus in simpulo,意即to stir up waves in a ladle。此外,还有a storm in a cream-bowl;a storm in a wash-hand basin等说法。尽管它们比喻的形象不同,但都是用来表示much excitement about something trivial;a lot of fuss about a trifle之意。按其比喻意义,相当与“小题大做”大惊小怪。

  The people next door are continually quarreling ,but it is usually a storm in a teacup.

  What is it all about?Nothing serious,just a tempest in a teapot.

  12. a tower of ivory 或an ivory tower象牙之塔;世外桃源

  a tower of ivory常用来比喻一种与世隔绝的梦幻境地,即the place of seclusion or retreat from realisties of life.

  She lives in a tower of ivory apart from her friends.

  They view college as an ivory tower.

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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
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外国典故(1)

13.have an axe to grind别有用心;另有企图;怀有私心

  have an axe to grind是个源自美国的成语,字面意思是“让斧头磨一磨”,寓意是to have private interests to serve;to have sth to gain for oneself;to have a selfish reason等之意。

  据英国《朗曼英国成语词典》等记述。这个成语出自美国著名的政治家、科学家本杰明·富兰克林(Benjamin Franklin,1706--1790)所写的一则故事。富兰克林幼年时,在院子里遇到一个带有斧头的陌生人,那人称赞院子里那个磨石 (grindstone)很好,想看看它好不好使,便花言巧语的让他转动磨石,而那人就在上面磨利自己的斧头。

  据“美国之音”英语广播节目《词汇掌故》说,这个成语出自1810年美国宾夕法尼亚(Pennsylvania)一家报纸上首次刊登的一则故事。故事说的是有个陌生人手持一把斧头,想找磨石来磨利他的斧头。他在街上遇到一个男孩,就问道:“好孩子,你爸爸有磨石吗?”那男孩就带他到家里来,帮他转动磨石磨斧头。这对一个孩子来说是件艰苦的活,男孩把手都磨破了,累个半死才把斧头磨得闪闪发光。那个人见目的达到,不仅没向小孩道谢,反而教训孩子快点去上学,以免迟到.

  2个出典实质上讲的是同一件事。富兰克林作为一位杰出的资产阶级革命家,担任的最后一项公职就是宾夕法尼亚州废奴委员会会长,为废除奴隶制而奔忙,直到生命的最后一息。宾夕法尼亚州一家报纸在富兰克林逝世20周年发表那篇小故事,应该就是他生前所讲的故事。这个故事的寓意很清楚:“持斧待磨者” 用恭维的话来达到个人目的,人们不要上当受骗。

  He may offer you a post in his firm,but he has an axe to grind, he wants to stand well with your father.

  His interest in our venture cannot be sincere,because i knew he has an axe to grind.

  In the first place,let me assure you,gentlemen,that i have not an axe to grind

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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
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标题

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent of laws for establishing judiciary powers.

  他拒绝批准建立司法权利的法律,以阻挠司法的执行。

  He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their office, and the amount and payment of their salary.

  他迫使法官为了保住任期、薪金的数额和支付而置于他个人意志的支配之下。

  He has erected a multitude of new officers, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out our substances.

  他滥设新官署,委派大批官员到这里骚扰我们的人民,吞噬他们的财物。

  He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.

  他在和平时期,未经我们立法机构同意,就在我们中间维持其常备军。

  He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.

  他施加影响,使军队独立于文官政权之外,并凌驾于文官政权之上。

  He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation.For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;

  他同他人勾结,把我们置于一种既不符合我们的法规也未经我们法律承认的管辖之下,而且还批准他们炮制的各种伪法案,以便任其在我们中间驻扎大批武装部队;

  For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murder which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States.

  不论这些人对我们各州居民犯下何等严重的谋杀罪,他可用加审判来庇护他们,让他们逍遥法外;

  For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;

  他可以切断我们同世界各地的贸易;

  For imposing taxes on us without our consent;

  未经我们同意便向我们强行征税;

  For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury;

  在许多案件中剥夺我们享有陪审制的权益;

  For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses;

  以莫须有的罪名把我们押送海外受审;

  For abolishing the free systems of English laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule these Colonies;

  他在一个邻省废除了英国法律的自由制度,在那里建立****政府,扩大其疆域,使其立即成为一个样板和合适的工具,以便向这里各殖民地推行同样的****统治;

  For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments;

  他取消我们的许多特许状,废除我们最珍贵的法律并从根本上改变我们各州政府的形式;

  For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

  他终止我们立法机构行使权力,宣称他们自己拥有在任何情况下为我们制定法律的权力。

  He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

  他们放弃设在这里的政府,宣称我们已不属他们保护之列,并向我们发动战争。

  He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

  他在我们的海域里大肆掠夺,蹂躏我们的沿海地区,烧毁我们的城镇,残害我们人民的生命。

  He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely parallel in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

  他此时正在运送大批外国雇佣兵,来从事其制造死亡、荒凉和暴政的勾当,其残忍与卑劣从一开始就连最野蛮的时代也难以相比,他已完全不配当一个文明国家的元首。

  He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

  他强迫我们在公海被他们俘虏的同胞拿起武器反对自己的国家,使他们成为残杀自己亲友的刽子手,或使他们死于自己亲友的手下。


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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
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He has excited domestic insurrection amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.

  他在我们中间煽动内乱,并竭力挑唆残酷无情的印地安蛮子来对付我们边疆的居民,而众所周知,印地安人作战的准则是不分男女老幼、是非曲直,格杀勿论。

  In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petition have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

  在遭受这些压迫的每一阶段,我们都曾以最谦卑的言辞吁请予以纠正。而我们一次又一次的情愿,却只是被报以一次又一次的伤害。一个君主,其品格被他的每一个只有暴君才干的出的行为所暴露时,就不配君临自由的人民。

  Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpation, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them., as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

  我们并不是没有想到我们英国的弟兄。他们的立法机关想把无理的管辖权扩展到我们这里来,我们时常把这个企图通知他们。我们也曾把我们移民来这里和在这里定居的情况告诉他们。我们曾恳求他们天生的正义感和雅量,念在同种同宗的分上,弃绝这些掠夺行为,因为这些掠夺行为难免会使我们之间的关系和来往中断。可他们对这种正义和同宗的呼声也同样充耳不闻。因此,我们不得不宣布脱离他们,以对待世界上其他民族的态度对待他们:同我交战者,就是敌人;同我和好者,即为朋友。

  We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled , appealing to the supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United States Colonies and Independent States; that they are absolved by from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

  因此我们这些在大陆会议上集会的美利坚合众国的代表们,以各殖民地善良人民的名义,并经他们授权,向世界最高裁判者申诉,说明我们的严重意向,同时郑重宣布:我们这些联合起来的殖民地现在是,而且按公理也应该是,独立自由的国家;我们对英国王室效忠的全部义务,我们与大不列颠王国之间大不列颠一切政治联系全部断绝,而且必须断绝。作为一个独立自由的国家,我们完全有权宣战、缔和、结盟、通商和采取独立国家有权采取的一切行动。我们坚定地信赖神明上帝的保佑,同时以我们的生命、财产和神圣的名誉彼此宣誓来支持这一宣言。

  【说明】

  杰斐逊起草了《独立宣言》的第一稿,富兰克林等人又进行了润色。大陆会议对此稿又进行了长时间的、激烈的辩论,最终作出了重大的修改。特别是在佐治亚和卡罗来纳代表们的坚持下,删去了杰斐逊对英王乔治三世允许在殖民地保持奴隶制和奴隶买卖的有力谴责。这一部分的原文是这样的:

  他的人性本身发动了残酷的战争,侵犯了一个从未冒犯过他的远方民族的最神圣的生存权和自由权;他诱骗他们,并把他们运往另一半球充当奴隶,或使他们惨死在运送途中。

  托马斯·杰斐逊(1743-1826),生于弗吉尼亚的一个富裕家庭。曾就读于威廉-玛丽学院。1767年成为律师,1769年当选为弗吉尼亚下院议院。他积极投身于独立运动之中,并代表弗吉尼亚出席大陆会议。他曾两次当选弗吉尼亚州长。1800年当选美国总统。

  杰斐逊在为自己的墓碑而作的墓志铭中这样写到:这里埋葬着托马斯.杰斐逊,美国《独立宣言》的作者,弗吉尼亚宗教自由法规的制定者和弗吉尼亚大学之父。


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Re:【转】雅思考试典故素材整理(连载完成)



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Helen of Troy 直译"特洛伊的海伦",源自源自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事。

  Helen是希腊的绝世佳人,美艳无比,嫁给希腊南部邦城斯巴达国王墨涅俄斯(Menelaus)为妻。后来,特洛伊王子帕里斯奉命出事希腊,在斯巴达国王那里做客,他在爱与美之神阿芙罗狄蒂的帮助下,趁着墨涅俄斯外出之际,诱走海伦,还带走了很多财宝

  此事激起了希腊各部族的公愤,墨涅俄斯发誓说,宁死也要夺回海轮,报仇雪恨。为此,在希腊各城邦英雄的赞助下,调集十万大军和1180条战船,组成了希腊联军,公推墨涅俄斯的哥哥阿枷门农(Agamemnon)为联军统帅,浩浩荡荡,跨海东征,攻打特洛伊城,企图用武力夺回海轮。双方大战10年,死伤无数,许多英雄战死在沙场。甚至连奥林匹斯山的众神也分成2个阵营,有些支持希腊人,有些帮助特洛伊人,,彼此展开了一场持久的恶斗。最后希腊联军采用足智多谋的奥德修斯(Odusseus)的“木马计”,里应外合才攻陷了特洛伊。希腊人进城后,大肆杀戮,帕里斯王子也被杀死,特洛伊的妇女、儿童全部沦为奴隶。特洛伊城被掠夺一空,烧成了一片灰烬。战争结实后,希腊将士带着大量战利品回到希腊,墨涅俄斯抢回了美貌的海轮重返故土。这就是特洛伊战争的起因和结局。正是由于海轮,使特洛伊遭到毁灭的悲剧,真所谓“倾国倾城”,由此产生了Helen of Troy这个成语。

  特洛伊战争的真实性,已为19世纪德国考古学家谢里曼在迈锡尼发掘和考证古代特洛伊古城废墟所证实。至于特洛伊城被毁的真正原因,虽然众说纷纭,但肯定决不是为了一个美女而爆发这场战争的,与其说是为了争夺海轮而打了起来,毋宁说是为了争夺该地区的商业霸权和抢劫财宝而引起战争的。所谓“特洛伊的海伦”,实质上是财富和商业霸权的化身。中国历史上也有过“妲己亡商”,“西施沼吴”等传说,以及唐明皇因宠杨贵妃而招致“安史之乱”,吴三桂“冲冠一怒为红颜”等说法。汉语中有个“倾国倾城”的成语(语出《汉书?外戚传》:'一顾倾人城,再顾倾人国’。)这里的“倾”字一语双光,既可指美艳非凡,令人倾倒;也可纸倾覆邦国。其含义与Helen of troy十分近似。

  在现代英语中,Helen of Troy这个成语,除了表示a beautiful girl or woman;a beauty who ruins her country等意义外,还可以用来表示a terrible disaster brought by sb or sth you like best的意思。

  eg:It is unfair that historians always attribute the fall of kingdoms to Helen of Troy.

  She didn't think of the beautiful umbrella bought the day before should become a Helen of Troy in her family.Because of this she and her husband quarreled for a long time.

  4.The Trojan Horse木马计;暗藏的危险;奸细

  The Trojan Horse直译"特洛伊木马",是个国际性成语,在世界各主要语言中都有。来自拉丁语equns Trojanus.这个成语甚至还进入到汉语词汇中,**同志在《矛盾论》中,谈到《水浒传》中宋江三打祝家庄时,就用了“木马计”这个典故。

  这个成语出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》。希腊人和特洛伊人交战10年之久,胜负未决。最后,希腊著名的英雄奥德修斯(Odusseus)想出了一个木马计,用木头做了一匹巨马,放在特洛伊城外。全体希腊将士伪装撤退,乘船隐藏在附近的海湾里,而奥德修斯率领20名勇士事先藏进妈肚。特洛伊人误认为希腊人已经败退,大开城门,看到城外的巨大木马,以为这是希腊人敬神的礼物,就把它当作战利品拖进城来,大摆宴席,欢庆胜利。到了半夜,特洛伊人好梦正在酣,毫无戒备的时候,藏在木马里的希腊英雄们都爬了出来,打开城门,发出信号,与附近海湾里返回的希腊大军里应外合,一举摧毁了特洛伊城。

  因此,The Trojan Horse经过不断引用而成为一个广泛流传的成语,常用来比喻the hidden danger;the covert wreckers(内奸);to engage in underhand activities等的意义。

  eg:The superpowers are always sending the Trojan horses to many countries in the world.

  They are defeated only because of the Trojan horse in their country.



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Re:【转】雅思考试典故素材整理(连载完成)




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Greek Gift(s)阴谋害人的礼物;黄鼠狼拜年,不安好心

  Greek Gift(s)直译是“希腊人的礼物”,出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》以及古罗马杰出诗人维吉尔(Publius Virgilius Maro,公元前70-前19年)的史诗《伊尼特》(Aeneis)中关于特洛伊城陷落经过的叙述。

  据《奥德赛》卷8记述:许多特洛伊人对如何处置希腊人留下的大木马展开了辩论,“他们有三种主张:有的主张用无情的铜矛刺透中空的木马;有的主张把它仍到岩石上;有的主张让它留在那里作为京观,来使天神喜悦”。结果是后一说占优势,把那匹木马拖进城里来,终于遭到了亡国之灾。

  维吉尔的史诗《伊尼特》,写的是特洛伊被希腊攻陷后,王子伊尼斯从混乱中携家属出走,经由西西里、迦太基到达意大利,在各地漂泊流亡的情况。史诗第2卷便是伊尼斯关于特洛伊城陷落经过的叙述,其中情节除了模拟荷马史诗的描述外,还做了更详细的补充。当特洛伊人要把大木马拖进城的时候,祭司拉奥孔(Laocoon)劝说不要接受希腊人留下的东西。他说:“我怕希腊人,即使他们来送礼”这句话后来成了一句拉丁谚语:“Timeo Danaos,et dona ferenteso."(原文的达奈人Danaos,即泛指希腊各部族人)译成英语就是:I fear the Greeks ,even when bringing gifts.其简化形式就是Greek Gifts.可惜特洛伊人不听拉奥孔的警告,把木马作为战利品拖进城里。木马里藏着希腊的精锐部队,给特洛伊人带来了屠杀和灭亡。由此,Greek gift成为一个成语,表示a gift with some sinister purposes of the enemy;one given with intent to harm;a gift sent inorder to murder sb等意思,按其形象意义,这个成语相当与英语的俚谚:When the fox preaches,take care of your geese;也与汉语“黄鼠狼给鸡拜年--不安好心”十分类似

  eg:He is always buying you expensive clothes,I'm they are Greek gifts for you.

  Comrades,be on guard against the Greek gifts!

  To meet Waterloo(倒霉,受毁灭性打击,灭顶之灾)

  滑铁卢是一代天骄拿破仑遭受残败的地方。遭遇滑铁卢,对一个人来说,后果不堪设想。无怪据说二战期间,在准备诺曼底反攻时,温斯顿?丘吉尔和随员冒雨去某地开会,其随员因路滑而摔了一跤,脱口说一句“To meet Waterloo!”丘吉尔竟联想到拿破仑兵败滑铁卢的典故,恼怒地斥责他:“胡说!我要去凯旋门呢!”

  It's Greek to me.(我不知道)

  英国人一般都不懂希腊语。这句话的直译是:对于我这是希腊语。自然是不明白的意思。

  Greek Kalends(幽默,诙谐方式表达的永远不)

  Kalends是罗马日历的第一天。古希腊不用罗马日历,永远不会有这一天。

  Castle in Spain(西班牙城堡,幻想,梦想。相当于汉语中的空中楼阁)

  中世纪某一时期,西班牙是一个颇富浪漫色彩的国家,这句成语是和Castle in air(空中城堡)相齐名的。

  Set the Thames on fire(火烧泰晤士河,这是何等伟大的壮举)

  但是这句成语经常是反其义应用,指那些人对某事只是夸下海口,而不是真正想去做。

  From China to Peru(从中国到秘鲁)

  它的意义非常明白,指从世界的这一边到世界的那一边,相当于汉语的远隔重洋。

  Between Scylla and Charybdis(锡拉和卡津布迪斯之间―――在两个同样危险的事物之间:一个人逃出一种危险,而又落入另一种危险)

  锡拉是传说中生活在意大利岩石的怪兽,卡津布迪斯是住在海峡中一端经常产生旋涡的另一个怪兽。水手为了躲避其中一个的危害,而常又落入另一个灾难。意大利这一方的海角叫凯尼斯(Caenys),西西里岛那一方的海角叫皮罗鲁姆(Pelorum)。

  Spoil Egyptians(掠夺埃及―――迫使敌人提供自己所需要的东西)

  源于圣经:上帝答应摩西,埃及人必须借给以色列他们所需要的东西。

  Do in Rome as Romans Do(在罗马,就按罗马人的方式办)

  和我们的入乡随俗的意思一样。

  Carry Coals to Newcastle(把煤送到纽卡斯尔)

  把某种东西送到一个人们根本不需要的地方。纽卡斯尔盛产煤,送煤到那里,岂不是多此一举。有趣的是法国也有类似的成语“del'eau a la riviere(送水到大河里)。”

  6.A Penelope's Web亦作The Web of Penelope故意拖延的策略;永远做不完的工作

  A Penelope's Web或The Web of Penelope,直译为“珀涅罗珀的织物”,典故出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》卷2。

  这部史诗的主人公奥德修斯是希腊半岛西南边伊大卡岛(Ithaca)的国王,他有个美丽而忠诚的旗子,名叫珀涅罗珀。奥德修斯随希腊联军远征特洛伊,十年苦战结束后,希腊将士纷纷凯旋归国。惟独奥德修斯命运坎坷,归途中又在海上漂泊了10年,历尽无数艰险,并盛传他已葬身鱼腹,或者客死异域。正当他在外流浪的最后三年间,有一百多个来自各地的王孙公子,聚集在他家里,向他的妻子求婚。坚贞不渝的珀涅罗珀为了摆脱求婚者的纠缠,想出个缓宾之策,她宣称等她为公公织完一匹做寿衣的布料后,就改嫁给他们中的一个。于是,她白天织这匹布,夜晚又在火炬光下把它拆掉。就这样织了又拆,拆了又织,没完没了,拖延时间,等待丈夫归来。后来,奥德修斯终于回转家园,夫妻儿子合力把那些在他家里宴饮作乐,胡作非为的求婚者一个个杀死,终于夫妻团圆了。

  由于这个故事,英语中的Penelope一词成了a chaste woman(贞妇)的同义词,并产生了with a penelope faith(坚贞不渝)这个短语。而A Penelope's Web这个成语比喻the tactics of delaying sth on purposel;the task that can never be finished的意思

  eg:Mr Jones made a long speech at the meeting.Everyone else thought it a Penelope's web.

  My work is something like the Penelope's web,never done,but ever in hand.


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Re:【转】雅思考试典故素材整理(连载完成)




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Swan Song最后杰作;绝笔

  Swan Song字面译做“天鹅之歌”,源于希腊成语Kykneion asma.

  天鹅,我国古代叫鹄,是一种形状似鹅而体形较大的稀有珍禽,栖息于海滨湖畔,能游善飞,全身白色。因此,英语成语black swan,用以比喻稀有罕见的人或物,类似汉语成语“凤毛麟角”之意。

  在古希腊神话中,阿波罗(Apollo)是太阳神、光明之神,由于他多才多艺,又是诗歌与音乐之神,后世奉他为文艺的保护神。天鹅是阿波罗的神鸟,故常用来比喻文艺。传说天鹅平素不唱歌,而在它死前,必引颈长鸣,高歌一曲,其歌声哀婉动听,感人肺腑。这是它一生中唯一的,也是最后的一次唱歌。因此,西方各国就用这个典故来比喻某诗人,作家,作曲家临终前的一部杰作,或者是某个演员,歌唱家的最后一次表演。即a last or farewell appearance;the last work before death之意;偶尔也可指某中最后残余的东西。

  Swan Song是个古老的成语,源远流长。早在公元前6世纪的古希腊寓言作家伊索(Aisopos)的寓言故事中,就有“天鹅临死才唱歌”的说法。古罗马政治家、作家西塞罗(Cicero,公元前106-前43)在其《德斯肯伦别墅哲学谈》等论文中,就使用了“天鹅之歌”来比喻临死哀歌。在英国,乔叟,莎士比亚等伟大诗人、剧作家,都使用过这个成语典故。如:莎翁的著名悲剧《奥噻罗》(othello)中塑造的爱米莉霞的形象,她在生死关头勇敢得站出来揭穿其丈夫的罪行。她临死时把自己比做天鹅,一生只唱最后一次歌。

  eg:All the tickets have been sold for the singer's performance in London this week--the public clearly believes that this will be her swan song

  The Tempest was W.Shakespeare's swan song in 1612。

  8.Win/Gain Laurels获得荣誉;赢得声望

  Look to One's Laurels爱惜名声;保持记录

  Rest on One's Laurels坐享清福;光吃老本

  Laurel(月桂树)是一种可供观赏的常绿乔木,树叶互生,披针形或者长椭圆形,光滑发亮;花带黄色,伞形花序.laurels指用月桂树叶编成的"桂冠".古代希腊人和罗马人用月桂树的树叶编成冠冕,献给杰出的诗人或体育竞技的优胜者,作为奖赏,以表尊崇.这种风尚渐渐传遍整个欧洲,于是laurels代表victory,success和distincion.

  欧洲人这种习俗源远流长,可上朔到古希腊神话.相传河神珀纳斯(Peneus)的女儿达佛涅(Daphne)长的风姿卓约,艳丽非凡.太阳神阿波罗为她的美所倾倒,热烈追求她,但达佛涅自有所爱,总是逃避权利很大的太阳神的追求.一天,他俩在河边相遇,达佛涅一见阿波罗,拔腿就跑,阿波罗在后边穷追不舍,达佛涅跑得疲乏不堪,情急之下只好请她父亲把她变成一株月桂树.阿波罗非常感伤,无限深情地表示:"愿你的枝叶四季长青,装饰我的头,装饰我的琴,让你成为最高荣誉的象征".他小心得将这株月桂树移植到自己神庙旁边,朝夕相处,并取其枝叶遍成花冠戴在头上,以表示对达佛涅的倾慕和怀念.

  因此,古希腊人把月桂树看做是阿波罗的神木,称为"阿波罗的月桂树"(The Laurel of Apollo).起先,他们用月桂枝叶编成冠冕,授予在祭祀太阳神的节目赛跑中的优胜者.后来在奥林匹亚(Olympia)举行的体育竞技中,他们用桂冠赠给竞技的优胜者.从此世代相传,后世欧洲人以"桂冠"作为光荣的称号.

  由于阿波罗是主管光明.青春.音乐和诗歌之神,欧洲人又把源自"阿波罗的月桂树"的桂冠,献给最有才华的诗人,称"桂冠诗人".第一位著名的"桂冠诗人"就是欧洲文艺复兴时期人文主义的先驱者.意大利诗人彼特拉克(Francesco Petrarch,1304-1374).他的代表作,全部为14行诗体,系诗人献给他心中的女神劳拉的情诗(彼特拉克喜欢了劳拉一辈子,但是劳拉从来都不知道),抒发他对恋人的爱情,描写大自然的景色,渴望祖国的统一.这部被称为西方"诗三百'的诗集,虽不能与我国古代相提并论,但不失为世界文学的瑰宝.


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[忆1012 1113——/6.29] [婚礼8.29][周年11.04]Ugly people and more troubl.
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Re:【转】雅思考试典故素材整理(连载完成)




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每年7月4日是美国的独立日,1776年7月4日,大陆会议在费城正式通过托马斯·杰佛逊起草的《独立宣言》。以下为美国独立宣言的全文内容:

  The Declaration of Independence

  IN CONGRESS, JULY 4,

  1776 THE UNANIMOUS

  DECLARATION OF THE

  THIRTEEN UNITED

  STATES OF AMERAICA

  When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws Nature and Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

  在人类事务发展的过程中,当一个民族必须解除同另一个民族的联系,并按照自然法则和上帝的旨意,以独立平等的身份立于世界列国之林时,出于对人类舆论的尊重,必须把驱使他们独立的原因予以宣布。

  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that they are among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among them, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than t right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity, which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is usurpations, all having in direct object tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

  我们认为下述真理是不言而喻的:人人生而平等,造物主赋予他们若干不可让与的权利,其中包括生存权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。为了保障这些权利,人们才在他们中间建立政府,而政府的正当权利,则是经被统治者同意授予的。任何形式的政府一旦对这些目标的实现起破坏作用时,人民便有权予以更换或废除,以建立一个新的政府。新政府所依据的原则和组织其权利的方式,务使人民认为唯有这样才最有可能使他们获得安全和幸福。若真要审慎的来说,成立多年的政府是不应当由于无关紧要的和一时的原因而予以更换的。过去的一切经验都说明,任何苦难,只要尚能忍受,人类还是情愿忍受,也不想为申冤而废除他们久已习惯了的政府形式。然而,当始终追求同一目标的一系列滥用职权和强取豪夺的行为表明政府企图把人民至于****暴政之下时,人民就有权也有义务去****这样的政府,并为其未来的安全提供新的保障。这就是这些殖民地过去忍受苦难的经过,也是他们现在不得不改变政府制度的原因。当今大不列颠王国的历史,就是屡屡伤害和掠夺这些殖民地的历史,其直接目标就是要在各州之上建立一个独裁暴政。为了证明上述句句属实,现将事实公诸于世,让公正的世人作出评判。

  He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

  他拒绝批准对公众利益最有益、最必需的法律。

  He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend them.

  他禁止他的殖民总督批准刻不容缓、极端重要的法律,要不就先行搁置这些法律直至征得他的同意,而这些法律被搁置以后,他又完全置之不理。

  He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

  他拒绝批准便利大地区人民的其他的法律,除非这些地区的人民情愿放弃自己在自己在立法机构中的代表权;而代表权对人民是无比珍贵的,只有暴君才畏惧它。

  He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

  他把各州的立法委员召集到一个异乎寻常、极不舒适而有远离他们的档案库的地方去开会,其目的无非是使他们疲惫不堪,被迫就范。

  He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasion on the rights of the people.

  他一再解散各州的众议院,因为后者坚决反对他侵犯人民的权利。

  He has refused for a long time, after such dissolution, to cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsion within.

  他在解散众议院之后,又长期拒绝另选他人,于是这项不可剥夺的立法权便归由普通人民来行使,致使在这其间各州仍处于外敌入侵和内部骚乱的种种危险之中。

  He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws of naturalizing of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the condition of new appropriations of lands.

  他力图阻止各州增加人口,为此目的,他阻挠外国人入籍法的通过,拒绝批准其他鼓励移民的法律,并提高分配新土地的条件。


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