谈及eat,大家都会联想到吃,在英语中与eat有关的词语并非都有吃的含义。下面列举数例。
1.eat sb.''s salt(做某人的客人,受某人的款待)
相传在阿拉伯人中,吃了某人的盐,意味着在主人和客人之间产生了神圣的契约。一个人只要吃了别人的盐,就不应该再说他的坏话或恩将仇报。
One has no business to eat a man''s salt and then say nasty things about him.一个人没有权利一面享受人家的款待,一面又讲人家的坏话。
2eat crow(被迫认错,忍辱含垢)
此语源自年英美双方停战期间。一美国兵误入英方警戒区打落一只乌鸦,一英国军官闻声赶来,决意要惩罚来犯者。但苦于未带武器,只得夸奖美国兵的枪法,以骗取其枪支。枪支一到手,便逼美国兵咬一口乌鸦,等到他把枪支还给美国兵后,美国兵又逼英国军官把他咬剩下的乌鸦吃下去。
Whenever his boss reprimands him,he eats crow with no resistance.无论老板何时责骂他,他都忍气吞声,毫不反抗。
3eat,drink and be merry(吃喝玩乐,人生短暂,及时行乐)
Let''s leave the restofthis work for another day.I''m in the mood to eat,drink and be merry and the rest of you had better be too.剩下的工作改日再做吧。我现在想快乐享受一番,你们最好也和我一样。
4eat humble pie(忍气吞声,低头谢罪)
He tolerated Mr.Morse,wondering the while how it felt to eat such humble pie.他忍受了摩斯先生的态度,一边心想,不知道这低声下气究竟是什么味儿。
eat sb.out of house and home(吃穷某人,吃得倾家荡产)
John''s family was likely to be eaten out of house and home.约翰一家很可能要被吃得倾家荡产。