让语言“像”点什么：明喻解析

SIMILES 明喻（中英对照全文翻译）What is a simile?什么是明喻？A simile uses figurative language to compare two things which are different. We use ‘as’ or ‘like’ with similes. The word ‘simile’ means ‘similar to’.明喻是用比喻性语言把两个不同事物进行比较，通常会用 as 或 like。simile 这个词本身就表示 “相似”。Example:例：He can swim like a fish.他游得像鱼一样。He can swim so well that we compare him to a fish.他游泳游得特别好，所以我们把他比作鱼。Many similes have deeply rooted origins and many others are used based on the sound. Alliteration is common in similes.很多明喻都有很深的渊源，还有一些是因为发音好听而流传。头韵在明喻里很常见。What is alliteration?什么是头韵？Alliteration is a grammatical term meaning two or more words in a row starting with the same sounds.头韵是一个语法术语，指两个或多个单词连续出现、开头发音相同。Example:例：In the“Wizard of Oz”, we had the“Wicked Witch of the West”.在《绿野仙踪》里有 Wicked Witch of the West（西方女巫）。Similes with “like and as”用 like 和 as 构成的明喻To be like a bear with a sore headMeaning: When you are tired and irritable and nobody can say anything to you without you getting upset and snapping at them.意思： 脾气暴躁、心情极差、一点就炸Example:The boss is like a bear with a sore head today. It is better not to approach him. Wait until tomorrow when he’s in a better mood.例句： 老板今天脾气臭得要命，最好别去招惹他，等明天他心情好点再说。*Snap at someone = to reply angrily to, usually for trivial matters.意思： 冲某人发火、对人凶巴巴Like death warmed upMeaning: When someone looks terrible, maybe because he or she is ill or maybe they haven’t slept well, then we describe them by using this simile.意思： 脸色差到极点、病恹恹的、憔悴不堪Example:Person A: “John looks like death warmed up today.”A： 约翰今天看起来糟透了。Person B: “Yes I know. He’s got a terrible hangover. He was at a party last night and overdid it with the drink.”B： 我知道，他宿醉得很厉害，昨晚派对喝多了。*overdid it with the drink = Exaggerated with the alcohol意思： 喝酒过量To cut like a knifeMeaning: When something ‘cuts like a knife’, it causes you great emotional pain.意思： 像刀割一样难受、心痛不已Example:It really cuts like a knife to know that my boyfriend doesn’t love me anymore.例句： 知道男朋友不再爱我，我心痛如刀割。To croak like a frogMeaning: When you have a really sore throat and it affects your voice, we compare the croaking noise to that of a frog.意思： 嗓子哑得像青蛙叫、喉咙痛得说不出话Example:“How is Jill?”“吉尔怎么样了？”“She is not very well at all. She was croaking like a frog on the phone this morning. I couldn’t understand a word of what she was saying.”“她很不舒服，早上打电话时嗓子哑得跟青蛙叫似的，我一句都没听懂。”Drink like a fishMeaning: This refers to someone who is on their way to becoming an alcoholic.意思： 狂饮、酗酒、喝起酒来没完没了Example:Person A: “I saw John in the pub last night. He was staggering all over the place. He had had a lot to drink.”A： 我昨晚在酒吧看见约翰了，走路都摇摇晃晃，喝得烂醉。Person B: “Yes I know. He’s been drinking like a fish since he lost his job.”B： 我知道，他自从失业就一直酗酒。To eat like a birdMeaning: This refers to someone who doesn’t eat much. Just like a bird that pecks at its food.意思： 吃得极少、饭量像小鸟一样小Example:Person A: “John looks so thin these days.”A： 约翰最近看起来好瘦。Person B: “Yes I know. He’s been eating like a bird since the day he lost his job.”B： 我知道，他从失业那天起就吃得特别少。To eat like a horseMeaning: This has the opposite meaning to ‘eat like a bird’. When someone has a large appetite we often use this simile.意思： 饭量极大、吃得像马一样多（与 eat like a bird 相反）Example:Person A: “Margaret’s put on a lot of weight since the last time I saw her.”A： 玛格丽特比我上次见她胖了好多。Person B: “She’s been eating like a horse, that’s why.”B： 因为她饭量特别大。*Put on weight = gain weight / become fatter.意思： 长胖、体重增加To eat like a pigMeaning: This simile is used to describe a person who is always eating everything he/she sees. There is no stopping them.意思： 贪吃、吃相难看、见什么吃什么Example:My daughter is getting fatter and fatter. She eats like a pig. Last night she devoured about four bars of chocolate and three packets of crisps whilst watching the TV, and that was after she had had her dinner.例句： 我女儿越来越胖，贪吃极了。昨晚吃完晚饭，看电视时又一口气吃了四块巧克力、三包薯片。To fit like a gloveMeaning: When something fits you so well (a perfect fit) that it seems to have been tailored made especially for you.意思： 非常合身、恰到好处、简直量身定做Example:In the shoe shop:（在鞋店）Shop assistant: “Are the shoes the right size madam?”店员： 女士，这双鞋尺码合适吗？Customer: “Yes, I’ll take them. They fit like a glove.”顾客： 合适，我买了，太合脚了。To have eyes like a hawkMeaning: This means that you quickly notice what is going on around you.意思： 目光锐利、眼神像鹰一样敏锐A hawk is a bird with exceptionally good eyesight. When we use this simile, we compare a person’s eyesight to that of a hawk.鹰的视力特别好，所以用这个比喻形容人眼神犀利。Examples:You need eyes like a hawk when looking after my two year old grandson. He’s always up to something. Yesterday he nearly threw my keys down the drain while I was talking to my neighbour. Luckily I noticed just in time.例句： 照看我两岁的孙子必须眼神特别尖，他总在搞小动作。昨天我跟邻居说话时，他差点把钥匙扔进下水道，幸好我及时发现。You need to have eyes like a hawk to be a good body guard.要当好保镖，就得目光如鹰。We can also use ‘to watch someone like a hawk’.我们还可以说 to watch someone like a hawk。This means you watch them very closely without taking your eyes off someone or something for a moment.意思：紧紧盯着、寸步不离地看守Example:Person A: “Can you take my puppy to the park this afternoon. I am working. Please make sure he doesn’t run away.”A： 你今天下午能带我小狗去公园吗？我要上班，别让它跑丢了。Person B: “Don’t worry; I’ll watch him like a hawk.”B： 别担心，我会死死看好它。My boss watches us all like a hawk. We can’t even go to the toilet without him noticing.例句： 我老板把我们盯得死死的，我们连去趟厕所他都能发现。