2009/06/28美国词语典故——昆虫俗语

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

现在是 voa 慢速英语节目——词语典故

There are many American expressions about insects -- like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They always appear to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives. So you might say you were as busy as a bee if you spent your weekend cleaning your house. In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for something if you went there right away. When we go to see a movie, my friend always makes a beeline for the place where they sell popcorn.

许多的美国俗语和昆虫相关 — 像蜜蜂 , 就是一个例子。蜜蜂被公认是勤劳的工人。他们看起来一直是忙忙碌碌的，活跃在家或蜂巢的周围。因此如果你用周末时间打扫房间，你可以说“我像蜜蜂一样忙”。事实上，如果全家都在帮着打扫，你可以说“人人都在忙碌”。如果立刻去某地，你也可以说“迅速直奔”某种东西。我和朋友一起看电影时，他总是径直前往卖爆米花的地方。

Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee's knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. If fact, we do not even know if bees have knees!

这是一个和蜜蜂相关的俗语，现在不是太常用了，然而我们还是喜欢它。我们认为，（人们）最早是在 20 世纪 20 年代使用它。如果某个东西是同类中最好的，你可以说它是“最好的东西”。现在我们承认我们不知这个俗语是如何发展的。事实上，我们都不知道蜜蜂是否有膝盖。

If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say she has a bee in her bonnet. If someone asks you a personal question, you might say "that is none of your beeswax." This means none of your business.

如果因为你的朋友觉得某件事很重要，就一直说，你可以说她“对那件事着了迷”。如果有人问你一个私人问题，你可以说“不关你事”，意思是与你无关。

Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression people sometimes use when their children ask, "where do babies come from?" Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say this is talking about the birds and the bees.

说道私人问题，有这样一个俗语。当孩子问“婴儿从哪里来的”时，人们有时使用它。讨论性和生育话题，父母称这是在谈论关于两性关系的基本常识。

Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. It you are really angry, you might say you are mad as a hornet. Andif you stir up a hornet's nest, you create trouble or problems.

大黄蜂看起来像蜜蜂，有时攻击人。如果你很生气，你可以说“气的暴跳如雷”，如果你“捅马蜂窝”，你就是在制造麻烦和问题。

Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also not want to have ants in your pants. That is, to be restless and unable to sit still

蝴蝶是很漂亮的昆虫，但你不会想让“胃里有只蝴蝶”（做事前紧张忧虑）。意思是因为必须做某事而感到紧张，像要在一大群人面前做演讲这种情况。你也不想“裤子里有蚂蚁”（坐立不安）。它的意思是坐立不安，坐不住。

Here are some expressions about plain old bugs, another word for insects. If a friend keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, you might ask him to leave you alone or "stop bugging me."A friend also might tell you again and again to do something. If so, you might say he put a bug in your ear.

这里是一些关于关于 bug 的俗语，（ bug ）是昆虫的另一个单词。如果一个朋友一直要你做你不想做的事，你可以跟他说：让我自己待会或是“别来烦我”。朋友可能再三要你做某事。如果那样，你可以说他“让你心烦”。

If you were reading a book in your warm bed on a cold winter's day, you might say you were snug as a bug in a rug. And, if you wish someone good night, you might say, "sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite."

寒冷的冬天里，如果你在温暖的床上看书，你可以说“像毡毯臭虫那样舒适”（非常舒适）。如果你祝愿某个人睡个好觉时，你可以说“睡得香点 — 祝一夜好眠。

有的俗语做了点补充，共同学习一下咯 ~

1.have a bee in one's bonnet. (1). 死心眼地只想一件事 . (2). 对某事物入了迷 ; 头脑 有点不正常 , 胡思乱想 .

2.the birds and the bees. ： ( 可向儿童说明的 ) 关于两性关系的基本常识

3.(as) mad as a hornet : 气得暴跳如雷 , 狂怒 .

4. Sleep Tight, and Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite.

tight 作副词表 “ 紧紧地 ” ， bug 指 “ 小蟲 ” ， “Sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.” 面指 “ 睡得紧紧地，別被床上的虫子咬到。 ” 由于古时候床铺是用绳子（ rope ）搭成，須把绳子绑紧才能睡得安稳，因此 sleep tight 指 “ 睡得香甜 ” 。 tight 也有 “ 安稳地（ soundly ） ” 、 “ 酣然地 ” 之意，故 sleep tight 即指 “ 睡得好 ” 。從前的確有小虫子会趁人在睡覺时爬到床上去咬人，吸人血，因此这说法即 “ 祝人一夜好眠 ” ，不會被小虫咬之意。

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 该帖于2009年6月28日被版主推荐为精华帖。