這倒讓我想起了一個習慣用語,那就是:put the kibosh on。
Kibosh,的來歷我們先不去管它。Put the kibosh on,這個習慣用語的意思是防止一件事情,一項計劃的發(fā)生。我是鐵了心要去渡假,所有即使刮風下雨,也不會改變計劃。Even lousy weather won't put the kibosh on my visit,你說什么?颶風?那就要另當別論了。我給大家講個故事,這可是真事,就發(fā)生在我朋友身上。
例句-1:I was walking my dog in the park when it happened. A big dog got excited and leapt toward us, pushing me hard against a light pole. My back hurt so badly for the next two weeks, I could hardly get in and out of bed. That accident put the kibosh on all my normal activities.
他說:我當時在公園里溜狗。一條大狗不知為什么,忽然間向我們沖過來,結(jié)果我撞在了電線桿子上,后背肌肉扭傷,過去兩星期,上下床都困難。這件倒霉事讓我停止了一切日常活動。
Ouch! 好在他現(xiàn)在感覺好多了,不僅已經(jīng)回去上班,而且還準備重新開始到健身房去鍛煉。
說到受傷,今年是我父母的金婚。大姐一直在籌備家庭聚會,給老倆口好好熱鬧熱鬧,但是媽媽就要手術(shù),That is putting the kibosh on the party. 我們只好等她老人家康復以后再說。
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你見過能載人的氫氣球嗎?一百年前,這種本來前途無量的氫氣球,因為一場事故的發(fā)生,一下子被打入了冷宮。事故發(fā)生在一艘名叫“興登堡”的飛艇的身上。
例句-2:On May 6, 1937, a German airship had made another successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. As it was docking in New Jersey, it suddenly burst into flames. That tragedy effectively put the kibosh on such travel. But now the development of airships is once again being encouraged.
這位歷史學家說:1937年5月6號,一艘德國飛艇再次成功飛越大西洋,停在新澤西后突然起火。這場事故給飛艇旅行劃上了句號。但是如今,飛艇的研制和開發(fā)再次受到了鼓勵。
我聽說,現(xiàn)在有人考慮,用飛艇提供短程和中程的交通服務,其中也包括旅游。我想,能在大峽谷上空滑翔,一定美不勝收,但是我老公卻執(zhí)意要去做直升飛機,我已經(jīng)明確告訴他,我絕對不會擠到狹小的直升飛機里去。You've put kibosh on that idea!
說了半天,大家一定想知道,put the kibosh on,這個習慣用語里的kibosh一詞的來源。有人說,這個詞是猶太語,意思是壓迫。也有人說,這個詞最早來自德語。也許,We should put the kibosh on further speculation. 真的沒必要繼續(xù)猜測了,最重要的是學會這個習慣用語的用法。