教你用英语形容“马屁精”
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2009-04-02 01:50 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

 “良药苦口利于病,忠言逆耳利于行”的道理大家都懂,不过现实生活中我们都喜欢听顺耳的话。有些话是衷心的赞美,有些则是另有目的的恭维。这次我们就来讲两个形容马屁精的习惯用语。

  1 sweet talk

  Sweet就是甜的;talk就是讲话。Sweet talk里面的sweet这个字就已经把意思点出来了。Sweet talk听起来很顺耳,但是实际上是拍马,或过份的赞扬。Sweet talk可以作为名词,也可以作为动词。

  下面是一个例句。在这个例句里sweet talk用做动词。

  一个爸爸在说他的女儿:

  You know, I think my youngest daughter was born with honey in her mouth! She cansweet-talk me into doing just about anything she wants me to do.

  你可知道,我想我那最小的女儿生来嘴巴就甜。她会用甜言蜜语来让我做几乎任何她要我做的事。

  这句话中的"was born with honey in her mouth"直译是:她生来嘴巴里就有蜂蜜;意译就是:生来嘴巴甜。

  有的人说,人人都爱听好话。这是人性。这话也许不错,但是也有一些脑子很清醒,不被好话所左右的人。我们来举一个例子。这是一个公司的主管在说他手下的一个雇员。在这个句子里 sweet talk是用做名词。

  这个主管说:Alex has been working for me over a year. He never misses a chance to say what he thinks I want to hear. He hopes I'll assign him nice jobs and eventually promote him. But I don't buy that kind of sweet talk so I guess he'll be disappointed.

  亚历克斯在我手下工作已经一年多。他从来不放过机会说他认为我要听的话。他是希望我指派他好的工作,最后提拔他。但是,我可不吃这种拍马奉承。我想他会失望的。

  2 to butter up someone

  Butter这个字可能大家都早已知道,就是西方人经常吃的黄油。但是,在 to butter up someone这个习惯用语里,butter用做动词。To butter up someone并不是真的在某人身上涂黄油。作为俗语,to butter up someone是指对人不寻常地客气,过份地奉承,目的是在于赢得此人的好感,或者是要他给你一种特别的好处。To butter up someone这个习惯用语的形成可能是因为面包上涂了黄油味道就好多了,或者是因为黄油很滑溜,就像那些奉承别人的话听起来很顺耳那样。

  下面是一个公司的雇员在说一个会拍马的同事。

  Harry1 is working hard to butter up the boss to get that promotion2. The funny thing is if he worked as hard at his job as he does at buttering up people, he'd have a better chance to get what he's after.

  哈里为了被提升,正在想方设法地对老板拍马奉承。有趣的是,要是他干活也能像他溜须拍马那样下功夫的话,他想得到提升的机会就会更多。

  有的人很善于讲别人爱听的话,但是有的人就是缺乏这方面的才能。下面这个例子里说话的人就是属于后面这类人的。

  I believe some people are simply born with the talent of buttering up people. Don't you think I haven't tried. I did, but I felt so awkward about flattering people. So I've given up a long time ago.

  我相信有的人生来就有拍马奉承的本领。你别以为我没有试过。我试过,但是要我去说那些奉承别人的话,我总觉得很难受。所以,我早就放弃了。 



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1 harry heBxS     
vt.掠夺,蹂躏,使苦恼
参考例句:
  • Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天,人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
  • Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。
2 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
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