《應用英文》再談特別字眼

chubbycat

《應用英文》再談特別字眼（一）

咱們常在報章雜誌看到一些「西式中文」，諸如：「夠大氣」、「怕辣」、「黑羊」、「踢水桶」、「橄欖枝」等等，其實都是來自美語的go Dutch, pot luck, blacksheep, kick the bucket, olive branch。如不加上原文或中文註解，恐怕一般人很難了解。

這裡我再介紹一些「特別字眼」 (即俚語或口語)，盼望翻譯大師們，如再譯成「西式中文」，別忘了附上原文或中文註解。否則一般讀者恐怕會「有看沒懂」啊！

(1) at odds：

意思是爭吵，意見不同或彼此反對 (quarrel, disagree,or oppose one another)(當形容詞用，動詞多用verb to be)odds本指不同的賭注。

例如：

Because of the generation gap, the young and the old may be at odds on many issues.

(由於代溝，年輕人和老年人在許多話題上，意見分歧。)

Shortly after the marriage, Mr. A was at odds with his wife on money matters.

(婚後不久，A先生與太座在金錢上有爭執。)

The Chinese and the Americans can be friends, not at odds for political reasons.

(中國人和美國人可以成為朋友，不必受到政治的干擾。)

Having been at odds on politics for decades, can Taiwan and China solve the problems peacefully？

(為了政治而交惡了幾十年，台灣和大陸能和平解決問題嗎？)

(2) ballpark figure：

意思是大致正確的估計，或八九不離十的衡量。(roughly accurate estimate)(當名詞用)

例如：

If you can’t tell me the exact cost, please give me a ballpark figure.

(假如你不能告訴我準確的價格，請給我一個大約的數字。)

The proposed two percent of salary increase can be only a ballpark figure.

(所建議2%的加薪，只是一個大致的數字。)

This ballpark figure cannot be used in our budget report.

(這個大致的數目，不能用在預算的報告中。)

Do you feel the IRS will accept your ballpark figure for your income tax return？

(你想稅務局能接受你年終報稅的大約數字嗎？)

(3) basket case：

這是指四肢行動不便，處於無助境況，或精神和心理上不穩定的人。(a person who may not function well physically or is emotionally or mentally unstable)(當名詞用)

例如：

If you change your job constantly, you may become a basket case.

(假如你常常更換工作，你的心理會變成不穩定。)

Taiwan’s independence policy has caused the current government to be a basket case.

(台灣的獨立政策，導致目前政府處於癱瘓的境況。)

Being a basket case, John is unlikely to be hired as a permanent employee.

(John是位心理不穩定的人，很難成為固定員工。)

有時也可用複數：As a result of long-time unemployment, the workers are seemingly basket cases.

(因為長期失業的結果，工人們似乎處於無助的境況。)

(4) best bet：

意思是在幾種可以改變的情況下，做出較好的選擇。

(a better choice among several alternatives)(當名詞用)(這本是出自賭場的賭注)

例如：

Living in a small city to raise my children was my best bet years ago.

(住在小城教養孩子，是我多年前較好的選擇。)

Many people feel that the best bet for Taiwan is to maintain the status quo.

(許多人認為台灣保持現狀，是較好的選擇。)

Taiwan’s best bet for future prosperity is to reunite peacefully with China.

(為了台灣未來的繁榮昌盛，其較好的選擇，是與大陸和平統一。)

The best bet in marriage is to pick a woman with inner grace.

(結婚的較好選擇，是挑個有內在美的女士。)

(5) big daddy：

這是指有權威或重要的人物，多半指男人。 (a powerful or important man)(與big shot, big cheese或big wheel意義相似)

例如：

If you want to do this project, you must have permission from the big daddy.

(如果你要從事這個計畫，你需要大老闆的許可。)

Do you agree that if the U.S. does not act as a big daddy, the world can be more peaceful？

(你同意如果美國不這麼強權霸道，世界也許比較和平的看法嗎？)

如果女人很有權威，有人也用big mama＝powerful woman，但不用big mammy因為這是指過去的黑人保母。

另外sugar daddy是指以金錢等方式與年輕女子交往的老年人。(多半用單數)

Miss A wants to make friends with a sugar daddy.

但也有人用複數：Not all young women can find their sugar daddies.／懷中（下期待續）

chubbycat

《應用英文》再談特別字眼（二）
（文接上期）

(6) brown nose :

這是指過分拍馬屁的人。 (to flatter someone in an excessive way)照字面本意是用嘴去親別人的屁股，而鼻子沾上棕色的大便。很不禮貌，但現在仍然通用，不過是句較粗暴的表達方式。 (rough expression) (多半當動詞用)

例如：

Mr. A is trying to brown nose his boss for a promotion, but it’s not working.

(A先生為了晉升而極度對上司拍馬屁，但行不通。)

Brown nosing can reveal a person’s character and integrity.

(奉承拍馬也能顯示一個人的品格。)

但指拍馬屁的人，多半用brown noser，當名詞用。

例如：

It seems that more Chinese people are brown nosers with their higher ranking officials than Americans.

(向高官顯要諂媚討好的，中國人似乎比美國人多。)

Too many brown nosers will make it difficult for government officials to carry out the policies fairly.

(太多奉承拍馬者，會使政府官員很難公平推行政策。)

(7) burning question :

這是指商討極度緊急迫切的問題 (a crucial or urgent question under discussion) (當名詞用)(原意是像著火一樣的問題，需要滅火)

例如：

Whenever the U.S. and China talk, the Taiwan issue becomes a burning question.

(中美兩國每次會談，台灣都變成一個極度迫切的討論議題。)

If the burning question about Taiwan cannot be solved, Chinese and American relations are unlikely to improve.

(假如極度迫切的台灣問題不能解決，中美關係難以改善。)

To keep peace in Asia, the burning Taiwan question cannot be ignored.

(為了維持亞洲的和平，迫切的台灣問題，不能漠視。)(把Taiwan加入burning question之中，當形容詞，有時亦可)

As a super power in the world, America has to deal with several burning questions.

(做為世界的超強，美國必須面對幾個急迫的問題。)

(8) count sheep :

這是指一個人睡不著時，躺在床上，數著想像中的羊，以求入睡。(try to get to sleep by counting imaginary sheep)(當動詞用)

例如：

A study shows that more and more Americans are counting sheep.

(一項研究顯示，愈來愈多的美國人睡不著。)(名詞sheep，單複數都一樣)也就是：More and more American people have trouble falling asleep.

After drinking too much coffee, my wife was counting sheep at 2 a.m.

(太座喝了太多咖啡，到了清晨兩點還睡不著。)

Do you think to count sheep will really help a person sleep well?

(你認為想像中數羊的方法，真能幫助入睡嗎？)

也可用動名詞：

If counting sheep won’t help, you may need to take sleeping pills.

(如果想像中數羊的方法行不通，你也許要用安眠藥。)

(9) cut corners :

這是指為了節省金錢和人力而走捷徑，或是不按常規而用簡便的方法辦事。(try to do things in an easy way or act without following the rules)(當動詞用)

例如：

If you try to cut corners, you will lose the quality of your products.

(假如你想省錢省力走捷徑，你會損害產物的品質。)

To keep your good business image, never cut corners in making merchandise.

(為了保持良好的商業形象，不可不按常規製造商品。)

Cutting corners will eventually lead you to business failure.

(不按常規而用簡便的方法行事，最後會導致您的經商失敗。)

The Chinese government should crack down on some dishonest merchants who are cutting corners.

(中國政府對一些不按常規的欺詐商人，應採取嚴厲的制裁。)

(10) duty bound :

意思是理所當然，義不容辭或責無旁貸。(to have a responsibility or to be obliged to do something)(當形容詞用)

例如：

Every citizen is duty bound to do something meaningful for society.

(每位國民為社會做些有意義的事，是責無旁貸的。)

The rich should be duty bound to help the poor.

(富人幫助窮人是義不容辭的。)

Mr. J feels duty bound to help poor students if he saves enough money.

(J先生如果存夠錢，幫助貧窮學生，也是理所當然的。)

With a strong sense of being duty bound, many American youngsters want to go to the war.

(許多美國年輕人，出於強烈的責任感，要上戰場。) ／懷中（下期待續）

chubbycat

《應用英文》再談特別字眼（三）
(11) dead wood :

這是指一個機構裡，無所貢獻，沒有用的人。 (useless persons who don’t contribute anything in an organization) (多半當名詞用)

例如：

No one is happy to be considered dead wood.

(沒有人喜歡被認為是無用的人。)

Being dead wood, Mr. A has never been promoted for twenty years.

(A先生被稱毫無貢獻，20年沒有晉升過。)

By learning and working hard you will not be treated as dead wood.

(憑你的努力學習和苦幹，你不會被認為是無用的人。)

The company has to get rid of some dead wood because of a business downturn.

(由於生意走下坡，公司必須解雇幾位沒用的人。)(這裡的wood，是集合名詞，故仍用單數)

至於fifth wheel，多半指在特別情況下，不需要的人，未必是不能幹或沒有用。

Mr. A was a fifth wheel at the committee meeting.

(委員會的開會，A先生是不必要的。)

(12) elbow room :

這是指伸展臂肘的空間，也就是僅有足夠活動的餘地。(having space to move about) (當名詞用)

例如：

Living in a small house with seven people makes it hard to find elbow room for each.

(七個人住在一棟小房子，很難讓每一位都有足夠活動的空間。)

China has to abide by its “ one child ” policy because accommodating even elbow room for 1.3 billion people is a difficult job.

(中國必須堅守一胎政策，因為提供13億人口足夠空間，是很困難。)

After his business failure, Mr. C has to move from a mansion to a place with little elbow room.

(C先生經商失敗後，必須由高樓大廈搬到很小空間活動的地方。)

Financial burdens have squeezed many Chinese immigrants into spaces with little elbow room.

(經濟的負擔，使許多中國移民擠在很小的活動空間。)

(13) gung ho :

意思是對某事十分熱心或賣力。 (quite enthusiastic or dedicated about something) 據說二次世界大戰美國陸戰隊用這口號，訓練士兵，是否出自中文，無法確定。(當形容詞用)(動詞多半verb to be)

例如：

Mr. A was gung ho about his new job.

(A先生對他的新工作，非常賣力。)

Whatever Mr. B does, he will always be gung ho about it.

(B先生不管做什麼，都很熱心。)

John has been gung ho all the time since his promotion.

(John升官以來，雄心勃勃。)

Generally speaking, Chinese people are not so gung ho on charitable contributions as Americans (are).

(一般而言，中國人對慈善方面的奉獻，不如美國人那麼熱心。)

(14) in limbo :

這是指情況不定或是暫時性的情形。(an uncertain condition or temporary situation) (當形容詞用)這本是來自基督教，意謂人在死後，未受上帝審判前，是徘徊在天堂和地獄之間。

例如：

For 60-plus years, the Taiwan issue has been in limbo.

(六十多年來，台灣問題還在不確定狀態。)

If your editor leaves the publishing company, your new book may be in limbo.

(假如編者離開出版公司，你的新書可能處在不確定的情況。)

Do you think the Taiwan issue would be in a“no war - no peace” limbo?

(你想台灣問題會在「不戰不和」的暫時性狀態嗎？)

Without your official documents, your visa application will be in limbo.

(如果沒有官方文件，你的簽證申請，將會處於不確定狀況。)

(15) lock horns :

意思是對某事的爭吵、衝突或打鬥。 (to engage in conflict or fight over something) (當動詞用)這本指牛或鹿等相鬥時，雙方角絞纏在一起。

例如：

The couple locked horns with each other over the subject of parenting.

(這對夫婦，為管教孩子問題而爭吵。)

The legislators in Taiwan lock horns quite often over political issues.

(台灣的立法委員，為了政治議題，常常衝突打鬥。）

For the past 41 years, I have seldom seen American officials locking horns during a meeting.

(過去41年來，我很少見到美國官員在開會中打鬥。)

Well-educated persons will look bad locking horns with each other.

(受過良好教育的人，如果彼此爭吵打鬥，很不體面。)（下期待續）

/懷中

ritaclin

够大气，怕辣。。。是go dutch 和pot luck 港式中文果然恐怖。。。

nizi

127

it seems to me 'go Dutch' & '够大气' are actually contrary in their respect language contexts. I strongly hold the opinion that guys making such translations have actually LOST their linguistic capability in Chinese.