编译/王新语
文/David
中文谚语有「佛要金装,人要衣装」,强调注重仪表打扮。相同地,如何漂亮说出动人的话也很重要!
这一次 engoo 将带你从头到脚学会与衣服相关的习语!
头部
A tip of the hat 表达感谢
"tipping a hat" 是指向别人致谢时手扶著帽簷。
这个动作在以前用于打招呼、致谢或认出某人,现在则多用于表达「感谢」。
I have to tip my hat to the many people who helped me throughout my career.我要感谢在我职业生涯帮助过我的人。
Keep something under your hat 保密
把某物藏在帽子下意旨「保守秘密」。
We're planning a surprise party for Marty, but keep it under your hat for now.我们要给 Marty 一个惊喜派对,现在你也要保密了。
在商业里,如果想表示保密则是用 "keep it under wraps" 这个习语。
We're keeping news about the company merger under wraps until the deal is finalized.在交易确定之前,我们对公司并购这件事要保密。
Throw one’s hat into the ring 接受挑战、宣布参选
在 19 世纪的拳击场上,如果有人想要挑战拳击手就会把帽子丢上擂台。因此 "throw one’s hat into the ring" 衍伸为「接受挑战或任务」。
The boss asked for volunteers to lead the project, but no one threw their hat into the ring.老板询问有无志愿者愿意引领这项专案,但没有人接受挑战。
Old hat 过时的、不新奇的
"old hat" 表示某事不再新奇,已经不是什么新鲜事了。
These marketing strategies are old hat. We need some new and exciting ideas.这些行销策略已经老掉牙了,我们需要一些新策略。
身体
Give the shirt off your back 倾囊相助
这个习语字面意思为「脱掉身上的衣服」,含义为「非常大方,用尽所有家当来帮助他人」。
Don is such a nice person; he'd give you the shirt off his back if you asked for it.Don 人真的很好,如果你开口,他就会帮你到底。
Blue-collar / White-collar 蓝领/白领
在中文里,我们有时候会表示蓝领和白领表示一个人的工作。这两个英文单字作形容词。
蓝领:身穿蓝色工作服,从事劳动工作。
白领:身穿白衬衫,从事需付出知识的工作。
It's hard to afford this on a blue-collar worker's salary.蓝领阶级的薪水很难负担这个。
The young employee had ambitions to join the white-collar staff members in the top levels of the company.这位年经员工抱有成为这间公司高层白领员工一员的野心。
Hot under the collar 生气的、恼火的
人在生气时都会变得异常燥热,在英文当中则有这句习语来表示「一个人因为某件事生气、恼火」。
Talking about politics usually gets people hot under the collar. I suggest you avoid that topic.谈论政治通常会让人不爽,我建议你不要讲到政治。
Keep one’s shirt on 冷静、有耐心
在足球场上,有些球员踢进绝杀球会脱衣服庆祝(来黄牌一张 🟨),那「不要脱衣服」意思就是「冷静」、「有耐心」。
Keep your shirt on — everyone will get their turn, so please be patient.冷静点,每个人都会轮到,所以有点耐心。
Keep something in your back pocket 留一手备用方案
在后面口袋放东西,等到有需要拿出来用。
The coach kept his team's special strategy in his back pocket until late in the game.教练将球队的特殊策略留到比赛接近尾声时才使用。
Ride someone’s coattails 沾别人的光
"coattails" 就是燕尾服后面长长的尾巴,坐在别人衣服的尾巴引申为「沾别人的光、搭便车」
It's clear Jim is just riding his partner's coattails. He hasn't done anything to contribute to the company's success.很明显 Jim 只是在沾他伴侣的光,他对公司的成功毫无贡献。
手部
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve 沾别人的光
当某人把心都放在袖子上,那就表示他的心情都表现在脸上。
Sid always wears his heart on his sleeve, so you never have to guess what he's feeling.Sid 总是把情绪放在脸上,所以你完全不用猜他在想什么。
Fit like a glove 完全适合、完美融入
像手套一样合身就表示「完全适合、完美融入」。
Ooh, this jacket fits like a glove. I'll take it!这件外套很合身欸,我要了!
Jenny, our newest employee, fits our team like a glove.我们新的员工 Jenny 完全融入我们的团队。
Off the cuff 即兴地、毫无准备的
"cuff" 是袖口的地方,在演出、考试的时候,如果没有准备的话,有些人会把小抄放在袖口。所以 "off the cuff" 表示「未经准备就做某事」。
The experimental band performed the entire concert off the cuff.这支迷幻乐团即兴演出整场演唱会。
The politician's off-the-cuff comments have gotten him into trouble on several occasions. 这个政客出其不意的言论让他在数个场合身陷麻烦。
Have something up one’s sleeve 暗中留一手、压箱宝
在袖子里藏东西这个场面很常在《赌神》这种电影里出现,我们称之为「出老千」,这句英文习语相较负面,也有这层含义。
Don't believe everything Chad tells you. He's always had something up his sleeve.不要相信 Chad 跟你讲的所有事,他每次都会自己留一手。
腿部
Wear the pants 掌权当家
在一段关系中穿裤子的那个人为「一家之主」,有这个说法是因为以前穿裤子的男生通常为一家之主,而当时女性只能在家穿裙子照料家务。
Don't be fooled by Marie's sweet face and manners; she wears the pants in her house.不要被 Marie 甜美的外表和礼貌给骗了,她可是家里的一家之主。
Put your pants on one leg at a time 平凡人
不管是比尔盖兹还是黄仁勋,谁穿裤子不是一次穿一只脚?这个习语意为「无论是谁,都是平凡人」
Don't think she's so different from you and I; even though she has millions of followers, she still has to put her pants on one leg at a time.不要觉得你我和她很不一样,即使她有几百万名粉丝,她一样是平凡人。
Waiting for the other shoe to drop 祸不单行、不安地等待结果
脱鞋应该都是一只脚脱完换脱另一只,在英文中这个说法表示「坏事接二连三」。
Many workers in the company have already been laid off. The rest of us are safe for now, but we're waiting for the other shoe to drop.公司很多人都遭到裁员,我们剩下的人目前安全,但我们也正焦虑地等待最后结果。
In someone else’s shoes 换位思考
站在别人的鞋里表示「站在他人的角度思考」。这个习语有很多不同的用法:
Put yourself in his shoes
Put yourself in his shoes — he's been working overtime all week. He's probably very tired.换位思考一下,他整个礼拜都加班,他可能很累。
If I were in your shoes …
She's always so confident. If I were in her shoes, I'd be terrified.她总是很有自信,如果我是她,我一定怕爆。
Walk a mile in someone’s shoes
Don't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes.没有经历过我的处境前,不要评判我。
If the shoe fits, wear it. 接受事实、接受评论
这句习语和灰姑娘的故事很相近,在故事中继姐需要接受鞋子不合脚的事实;但是在现实生活中,如果「鞋子合脚就穿上去」表示要接受事实或评论。

Irene
My tutor says my English hasn't improved because I don't speak it enough.
我的老师说我的英文没有进步,因为我开口说英文的次数不够多。

Ruby
Well, if the shoe fits, wear it.
接受指教吧。
Knock your socks off 跌破眼镜、大为震惊
把袜子震掉用来形容「某件事物让你叹为观止、耳目一新」,毕竟要怎么把袜子震惊到掉下去!
I wasn't expecting to enjoy the movie, but it absolutely knocked my socks off! It's my favorite film of the year.我完全不期待这部电影,结果它让我跌破眼镜!变成我年度最爱电影。
Pull your socks up 重新振作
当跑者在起跑线拉好袜子就代表他们准备好要出发了,而如果有人让你把袜子拉起来就代表要你「振作、加把劲」!
If you want to get the first place, pull your socks up right now.如果你想要得第一名,现在就加把劲。
其他与衣服相关习语
Dress to impress 好好打扮
"impress" 表示「给人留下深刻印象」,要打扮到让人记得你就要下点功夫了。
The party starts at 8 p.m. Dress to impress!派对在晚上八点开始,好好打扮!
Dressed to kill 好好打扮
这一句话与上句相同,但是更为强烈。通常表示女生穿著很性感、漂亮。
Angelina dressed to kill, and everyone in the room noticed.宴会上所有人都注意到 Angelina 艳杀四方的打扮。
Rags to riches 暴富、白手起家
"rags" 是指「肮脏破烂的旧布料」;而 "riches" 是指「有钱人」。从破布料到有钱表示「暴富」或「白手起家」。
He went from rags to riches overnight.他一夜暴富。
Many people were inspired by her incredible rags-to-riches story.很多人都受她白手起家的故事启发。
这一次从头到脚介绍与衣服相关的习语,大家应该有从头看到尾吧?
把这些单字学起来去 impress 你的英文老师或朋友,让他们知道你的厉害。
也欢迎和 engoo 老师来场自由谈话,用英文吓吓他们!