2010年商务英语之流行美语 5
日期:2010-09-01
导读：BEC流行美语：burn one's boat/bridges、burn one's bridges、burn the candle at both ends、bury one's head in the sand、button up one's lips。 1.burn one's boat/bridges 自绝退路，破釜沉舟
据说恺撒在公元前49年率兵越过卢比孔河与政敌庞培决战时，烧毁船只，使士兵不能后退，只能战胜或战死，该习语就由此而来。从字面上看，它的意思是"把身后的桥、船全都烧了",由此引申为"自断一切退路"或"义无反顾",相当于汉语中的"破釜沉舟".
A: Have you found a new job? 你找到新工作了吗？
B: It is settling into shape. 有一点眉目了。
A: Why don't you tell your boss the truth? He knows nothing about it. 你为什么不把真相告诉你的老板呢？ 他对此事还一无所知。
B: I don't want to burn my bridges at this time. I'll tell when all is set. 我不想自绝后路，一切妥当了之后我再告诉他。
2.burn one's bridges 自断一切退路，义无反顾
习惯用语burn one's bridges或burn one's bridges behind one直接翻译成汉语就是"把自己身后的桥全给烧了",此语比喻"自断一切退路"或"义无反顾".
A: Have you made up your mind to quit your present job? 你决定辞去你现在的工作了吗？
B: Yeah. I'm determined to become a boss of my own. 是的。我决心要自己做老板。
A: Why? Nobody would sacrifice such a good job nowadays. 为什么？现在没有人愿意放弃这么好的工作机会。
B: Even if I burn my bridges behind me, I will not change my mind. I wouldn't be led by the nose by someone else. 即使我切断了一切退路，我也不会改变主意。我不想让别人牵着我的鼻子走。
3.burn the candle at both ends 胡乱消耗精力；劳累过度
该习语直译为"蜡烛同时点两头",用来比喻人"胡乱消耗精力、劳累过度".
A: You're burning the candle at both ends again. You'd better get a person to help you. 你又劳累过度了。你最好找个人帮帮你。
B: That's what I want. But you know, it's difficult to find a reliable person in a short time. 我也是这么想的。但是你知道，现在想在短期内找一个可靠的人有多难。
4.bury one's head in the sand 不敢正视现实，驼鸟政策
据说，驼鸟遇到危险时就会把头钻到沙子里去，认为这样就能避开危险。bury one's head in the sand常用来指"不正视现实"或"逃避现实"的"驼鸟政策".
A: Try to hurry a little bit more, will you? 再快一点好吗？
B: I'm too exhausted to walk any faster. 我太累了，走不快。
A: Cheer up. It's no use burying your head in the sand. 振作起来，在困难面前采取驼鸟政策是没用的。
5.button up one's lips 闭口不言，守口如瓶
button作名词是"扣子",此处用作动词意为"扣紧上".Button up表示"扣紧",比如：button up one's coat.（把外衣纽扣扣紧。）button up one's lip常用于美国俚语中，表示"住嘴，闭口".
A: Did they find a way at last? 他们最后找到办法了吗？
B: Yes, they worked out a plan. 是的，他们制定出一项计划。
A: I'm most curious about what the plan is. 我很想知道是什么计划。
B: But they buttoned up their lips about it. 可他们对此守口如瓶
据说恺撒在公元前49年率兵越过卢比孔河与政敌庞培决战时，烧毁船只，使士兵不能后退，只能战胜或战死，该习语就由此而来。从字面上看，它的意思是"把身后的桥、船全都烧了",由此引申为"自断一切退路"或"义无反顾",相当于汉语中的"破釜沉舟".
A: Have you found a new job? 你找到新工作了吗？
B: It is settling into shape. 有一点眉目了。
A: Why don't you tell your boss the truth? He knows nothing about it. 你为什么不把真相告诉你的老板呢？ 他对此事还一无所知。
B: I don't want to burn my bridges at this time. I'll tell when all is set. 我不想自绝后路，一切妥当了之后我再告诉他。
2.burn one's bridges 自断一切退路，义无反顾
习惯用语burn one's bridges或burn one's bridges behind one直接翻译成汉语就是"把自己身后的桥全给烧了",此语比喻"自断一切退路"或"义无反顾".
A: Have you made up your mind to quit your present job? 你决定辞去你现在的工作了吗？
B: Yeah. I'm determined to become a boss of my own. 是的。我决心要自己做老板。
A: Why? Nobody would sacrifice such a good job nowadays. 为什么？现在没有人愿意放弃这么好的工作机会。
B: Even if I burn my bridges behind me, I will not change my mind. I wouldn't be led by the nose by someone else. 即使我切断了一切退路，我也不会改变主意。我不想让别人牵着我的鼻子走。
3.burn the candle at both ends 胡乱消耗精力；劳累过度
该习语直译为"蜡烛同时点两头",用来比喻人"胡乱消耗精力、劳累过度".
A: You're burning the candle at both ends again. You'd better get a person to help you. 你又劳累过度了。你最好找个人帮帮你。
B: That's what I want. But you know, it's difficult to find a reliable person in a short time. 我也是这么想的。但是你知道，现在想在短期内找一个可靠的人有多难。
4.bury one's head in the sand 不敢正视现实，驼鸟政策
据说，驼鸟遇到危险时就会把头钻到沙子里去，认为这样就能避开危险。bury one's head in the sand常用来指"不正视现实"或"逃避现实"的"驼鸟政策".
A: Try to hurry a little bit more, will you? 再快一点好吗？
B: I'm too exhausted to walk any faster. 我太累了，走不快。
A: Cheer up. It's no use burying your head in the sand. 振作起来，在困难面前采取驼鸟政策是没用的。
5.button up one's lips 闭口不言，守口如瓶
button作名词是"扣子",此处用作动词意为"扣紧上".Button up表示"扣紧",比如：button up one's coat.（把外衣纽扣扣紧。）button up one's lip常用于美国俚语中，表示"住嘴，闭口".
A: Did they find a way at last? 他们最后找到办法了吗？
B: Yes, they worked out a plan. 是的，他们制定出一项计划。
A: I'm most curious about what the plan is. 我很想知道是什么计划。
B: But they buttoned up their lips about it. 可他们对此守口如瓶