美國(guó)文化脫口秀 第662期:美國(guó)人最常用的俚語(yǔ)有哪些

The most quintessential American idioms

不同的文化環(huán)境里有不同的文化習(xí)俗和傳統(tǒng)。因此，也會(huì)衍生出一些極具本國(guó)特色的俚語(yǔ)表達(dá)。

Idiom: 俚語(yǔ)

Quintessential: /?kw?nt??s?n?(?)l/ 典型的，精髓的

#1.A piece of cake

When a task is easy or straightforward, Americans say it's "a piece of cake."

如果一件事情非常簡(jiǎn)單易做，美國(guó)人會(huì)說(shuō)它：

a piece of cake: 小菜一碟

#2.It's not rocket science

When something is easy to understand, they might say "it's not rocket science."

當(dāng)一件事情非常容易理解，美國(guó)人會(huì)說(shuō)：

it's not rocket science：不是火箭科學(xué)，指不是什么復(fù)雜的事情。

或者用另一種說(shuō)法：

It's not brain surgery: 不是腦部手術(shù)，指不是什么難事。

#3.Beat around the bush

美國(guó)人非常地直接，不喜歡拐彎抹角，所以這句俚語(yǔ)也很常用：

Beat around the bush: to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant. 拖延或一直不說(shuō)重點(diǎn)，拐彎抹角

它經(jīng)常以否定句使用:

Don't beat around the bush. 不要拐彎抹角。

#4.Shoot the breeze

When Americans "shoot the breeze," they talk about unimportant things for a long time.

當(dāng)美國(guó)人“shoot the breeze”，表示他們一直在談?wù)撘恍o(wú)關(guān)緊要的事情。

怎么用：

A: What are you guys talking about?你們?cè)诹氖裁?

B: We are just shooting the breeze. 我們只是隨便閑聊。

#5.Break a leg

"Break a leg" is a superstitious phrase that originated in the American theatre. It's now used to wish someone good luck.

“Break a leg”是一個(gè)源于美國(guó)劇院的迷信說(shuō)法。現(xiàn)在被用來(lái)祝他人好運(yùn)。它的使用已經(jīng)不僅僅局限于戲劇演出，考試、面試都可以用它來(lái)送出祝福。

You'd better leave now if you want to arrive early for the exam. Break a leg! 如果你想早點(diǎn)到考場(chǎng)你最好現(xiàn)在就出發(fā)。祝你好運(yùn)!

#6.Monday-morning quarterback

美式橄欖球是美國(guó)最流行的運(yùn)動(dòng)之一，很多與之相關(guān)的俚語(yǔ)也被廣泛使用在生活中。

A "Monday-morning quarterback" is a person who criticizes things in hindsight. Professional football games in the United States are often played on Sundays.

在美國(guó)，Quarterback(四分衛(wèi))是一個(gè)重要的得分角色，而專業(yè)的美式橄欖球比賽一般都會(huì)放在周日晚上，所以“周一早上的四分衛(wèi)”就會(huì)用來(lái)形容那些“事后諸葛亮”“放馬后炮”的人。

#7.Ballpark figure

還有一個(gè)源自棒球運(yùn)動(dòng)的俚語(yǔ)：

Ballpark figure : a rough estimate. 一個(gè)粗略的估計(jì)。

怎么用：

I don't need an exact number. A ballpark figure will do.我不需要準(zhǔn)確地?cái)?shù)字，一個(gè)粗略的估計(jì)就夠了。

#8.The cat's out of the bag

和“貓”相關(guān)的俚語(yǔ)：

The cat's out of the bag: something has happened and you can't change it.

這個(gè)俚語(yǔ)表示事情已經(jīng)發(fā)生了，沒(méi)有辦法再改變。

#9.Spill the beans

還有一個(gè)相似的短語(yǔ)：

Spill the beans: to let out something 把某事泄露出來(lái)，多指秘密。

怎么用：

There is a surprise party for her on Wednesday. Please don't spill the beans. 周三要給她舉辦驚喜派對(duì)，千萬(wàn)不要泄密。

#10.Don't cry over spilt milk

還有一個(gè)和spill相關(guān)的俚語(yǔ)：

Don't cry over spilt milk: someone might say if you're upset over something you can't fix.

如果你面對(duì)一件無(wú)法改變的事情而煩惱，別人會(huì)說(shuō)這句話來(lái)安慰你。

#11.Jump on the bandwagon

When you "jump on the bandwagon,"you're joining a popular activity or supporting a popular cause.

這個(gè)俚語(yǔ)表示加入了某項(xiàng)很流行的活動(dòng)，或支持某項(xiàng)大勢(shì)的事業(yè)。

怎么用：

A: "I thought your mom hated thatcandidate." 我以為你媽媽討厭那個(gè)候選人。

B: "Well, he's the president now, soshe decided to jump on the bandwagon."他現(xiàn)在是總統(tǒng)了，所以我媽媽決定跟隨大勢(shì)。

#12.Cold turkey

最后這個(gè)俚語(yǔ)和火雞有關(guān)：

When you quit something "cold turkey," you abruptly withdraw from an addictive substance or behavior,like smoking.

這個(gè)俚語(yǔ)表示你突然停止某個(gè)上癮的東西或行為，例如吸煙。