no holds barred
to let one's hair down
對(duì)人坦率,無(wú)保留地說自己的看法,有的時(shí)候是以友好和輕松的態(tài)度出發(fā)的,但是在某種情況下也可能是語(yǔ)氣強(qiáng)硬,情緒對(duì)立。我們今天要講的兩個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)就反映了這兩種不同的氣氛。我們先來(lái)講第一個(gè):no holds barred。 No holds barred 這個(gè)說法是來(lái)自摔交運(yùn)動(dòng)。但是,在人們爭(zhēng)論的時(shí)候, no holds barred是指不顧對(duì)方的面子和情緒,毫不遲疑地把自己的想法說出來(lái)。比如說,一個(gè)美國(guó)朋友可能會(huì)對(duì)你說:
例句-1: My wife and I had a real no holds barred talk last night about all the things wrong with our marriage.
他說:"我和我的妻子昨晚可真是毫不留情地談了一談,把我們婚姻方面的所有問題不管三七二十一都說了出來(lái)。"
No holds barred也可以形容那些政客們之間進(jìn)行的辯論。下面就是一個(gè)例子:
例句-2: That TV debate between those two guys running for senator was sure a no holds barred affair. They spent more time saying nasty things about each other than they did talking about their plans.
這句話的意思是:"那兩個(gè)競(jìng)選參議員的人在電視上進(jìn)行辯論時(shí)真是毫不留情。他們花在互相攻擊方面的時(shí)間比介紹他們方針的時(shí)間還多。"
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下面我們要介紹的一個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)是:to let one's hair down。 To let one's hair down描繪出一幅可愛的畫面。過去,西方女子很多都留長(zhǎng)頭發(fā),出去應(yīng)酬時(shí)把頭發(fā)盤在頭上梳出各種式樣來(lái)。晚上回家后,她們就把發(fā)卡一個(gè)個(gè)地從頭發(fā)里拿出來(lái),讓頭發(fā)很自然地披在肩上。 To let one's hair down的實(shí)質(zhì)意思也就是解除表面的裝飾,使一切顯得很自然、真實(shí)和放松。 To let one's hair down不一定用于女子,也可以用在男性。下面的例子就可以說明問題:
例句-3: The president has to make so many official appearances that he seldom gets a chance to let his hair down and enjoy life like ordinary people.
這句話是說:"總統(tǒng)要出席許多公開場(chǎng)合,因此他很少有機(jī)會(huì)像普通老百姓那樣輕松地享受生活。"
To let one's hair down 也可以用在朋友之間,就像下面這個(gè)例子一樣:
例句-4: Sally, we've been good friends for a long time. But lately I get the idea you are very much upset with me. I wish you'd let your hair down and tell me what's wrong to make you feel this way.
這個(gè)人對(duì)他的朋友說:"薩莉,我們多年來(lái)一直是好朋友,可是最近我感到你對(duì)我非常不高興。我希望你能夠坦率地告訴我,到底是哪些事讓你這么不高興。"
今天我們講了兩個(gè)表示坦率的習(xí)慣用語(yǔ),雖然它們都具有坦率的意思,可以在含義方面有所不同。我們講的第一個(gè)俗語(yǔ)是:no holds barred,這是指在爭(zhēng)論或其他場(chǎng)合毫不客氣地對(duì)別人說自己的想法。今天我們講的第二個(gè)俗語(yǔ)是:to let one's hair down。 To let one's hair down是指輕松、自然,或把心里的話說出來(lái)。