英语学了很多年,单词背了N多遍,可是碰上每个单词都认得的句子,你还是不明白它的真正含义,甚至是翻译错误。下面上海剑桥文理国际高中就为大家准备了最容易被误解的十句英文句子,考验英语学霸的时刻终于来到了,看看你是否翻译正确了。
1、Do they plan to start a family?
误解:他们准备结婚吗?
正解:他们准备要小孩吗?
马上学: Family在这里不是指家庭,而是指子女孩子。例如:He's devoted to his wife and family.(他对老婆孩子一心一意。)
2、He was forced to say uncle.
误解:他是被迫要喊叔叔的。正解:他是被迫认输的。
马上学: Say uncle或者cry uncle不是让你“喊你叔”,而是表示“认输”、“投降”的意思。例如: I never say uncle.(我从不认输。)
3、You have me there.
误解:你找到我了。
正解:被你问倒了。
马上学: 千万别一看到there就想到地点。You have me there.在英文里是个固定说法,表示“我不知道啊!”例如:—Why did she leave?(她为什么走了?) —You have me there.(我也不知道啊。)
4、I couldn't care less what they do.
误解:我很在意他们做什么。
正解:我一点儿也不在乎他们做什么。
马上学: Couldn't care less是个固定说法,用来形容冷漠,毫不在乎,比如:I started to get irritated by this couldn’t-care-less attitude. (这种蛮不在乎的态度惹恼了我。)
5、The fence is in excellent repair.
误解:栅栏修好了。
正解:栅栏很完好。
马上学: In good repair或者in excellent repair不是说真的有东西被修理了,而是指当前的情况或状态良好。比如:The house is not in good repair.(这房子的状况不好。)
6、Nothing of the sort.
误解:没有这一类。
正解:没有这回事儿。
马上学: Of the sort指的是之前提过的某个人或某件事,nothing of the sort则表示不是某个意思、没有这回事儿。例:—You said you didn't like him.(你说过不喜欢他。) — I said nothing of the sort.(我没说过这话。)
7、He has athlete's foot.
误解:他跑得快。
正解:他有脚气。
马上学: Athlete's foot不是夸别人有运动员一般的脚,而是指真菌感染的足藓,俗称“香港脚”或“脚气”。
8、His word is as good as gold.
误解:他说的都是金玉良言。
正解:他说话靠谱。
马上学: As good as gold通常用来形容孩子很乖,但形容一个人说的话时,则表示这个人很靠谱,值得信任,会说到做到。
9、They spent a small fortune on redecorating their house.
误解:他们装修房子没花太多钱。
正解:他们装修房子花了好多钱。
马上学: 虽然small有小的意思,但是a small fortune是个固定说法,表示一大笔钱。例如:This house cost hardly anything when we bought it but now it's worth a small fortune.(这房子我们当年买时没花多少钱,但现在可值一大笔钱了。)
10、Likely as not we'll never be told what really happened.
误解:不可能永远不告诉我们事情的真相。
正解:很可能,我们永远也无法知道事情的真相。
马上学: (As) likely as not意指“很可能”,如:I won’t take their pills because as likely as not they’d poison me.(我不会吃他们给的药,因为他们很可能是想毒害我。)表达绝不可能,英文可说not likely。