|
一、常见知识点1. 羊可分为绵羊（sheep单复同）和山羊（goat）。又可细分为：绵羊 山羊公羊 ram he-goat母羊 ewe she-goat小羊 lamb kid2. a flock of sheep 一群羊3. wool 羊毛，（woolen）sweater/cardigan 羊毛衫，cashmere sweater 羊绒衫，mutton 羊肉， sheepskin 羊皮。4. scapegoat 替罪羊，sheep and donkeys 懦夫和笨蛋，sheep's heart 胆小二、习语1. as well be handed for a sheep as （for） a lamb 一不做，二不休。2. a wolf in sheep's clothing 披着羊皮的狼3. a sheep in a tiger's skin — outwardly strong 羊质虎皮4. cast sheep's eyes at sb. 对某人抛媚眼5. follow like sheep 盲从6. sheep without a shepherd 乌合之众7. the sheep and the goats 好人与坏人8. black sheep 败家子，害群之马9. stand out like a camel in a flock of sheep 鹤立鸡群10. After all, the wool still comes from the sheep's back— in the long run, whatever you're given,you pay for it. 羊毛出在羊身上。11. One scabbed sheep inflects the whole flock.（谚）一只羊生疮，整群羊遭殃。12. It's never too late to mend. / It is not too late to mend the fold even after some of the sheep have been lost. 亡羊补牢，犹未为晚。三、典故1. black sheep 意译：害群之马源于英国古代的迷信传说。英国人总认为黑羊是魔鬼的化身。另外，黑羊毛也不及白羊毛值钱，常被视为“无用的次品”，因此，“黑羊”（black sheep）在英语中便有了“无用之人”、“不孝之子”、“败家子”、“害群之马”等转义。例如：There are black sheep in every flock. （谚）一群马中有劣种，一方水土有坏人。2. separate the sheep from the goats 区分好人与坏人源于《新约·马太福音》第25章。当耶稣随天使来到万民面前时，他要把他们分开，就像牧羊人把绵羊和山羊分开一样，他把绵羊（好人）置于右边，山羊（坏人）置于左边。右边的人将受到天父的祝福而永生，左边的人则会遭受炼狱的折磨。总之，羊的善良被人称颂，羊的软弱由人贬损，正体现了这个世界的矛盾性。连耶稣也称作“好的牧羊人” （the Good Shepherd），足见羊在英语中的地位。 |
