拳击是一项古老的运动，人们认为它起源于古希腊。英国人在古代拳击的基础上制定了很多新的规则，现代拳击运动便在这里兴起，之后逐渐受到世界各地人们的喜爱。英语中有很多从该运动的规则中衍生出的表达，比如，成语“blow-by-blow 一拳接一拳”表示“详实的”，而“on the ropes 倒在了拦索上”用来形容“事物岌岌可危的状态”。

 

1. In the past, at travelling fairs, a boxing ring would be erected¹ and men from the crowd would be asked to box against the fairground champion in order to win a prize of money. To show that they were willing, men used to ‘throw their hat into the ring’. This idiomatic² phrase is still used today, but what does it mean?

 

a) To show that you want to swap³ hats or other clothing with someone else

 

b) To volunteer for or show your interest in participating in something (e.g. an event)

 

c) To insult someone and cause them to fight you

 

d) When a man reluctantly agrees to get married

 

2. In a boxing ring, the two competing boxers⁵ return to their corners between every match in order to receive aid from their team. From this, we get the idiom: I’m ‘in your corner’. But what does it mean?

 

a) I disagree with what you are doing and want to stop you.

 

b) I disagree with what you are doing but I will allow it.

 

c) I’m on your side/on your team.

 

d) I’m keeping the water and first aid for you.

 

3. In boxing, it is against the rules to punch your opponent below his waistline. From this situation, we get the idiom: That was ‘below the belt’, but what does it mean?

 

a) That was unfair or unnecessarily unkind.

 

b) That was a surprise attack.

 

c) That was a necessary evil.

 

d) That was extremely accurate and well done.

 

4. Many boxing matches end when one opponent knocks out the other – meaning hits them so that they become unconscious and are unable to continue fighting. We can also describe a person as a ‘knockout’, as in: ‘She was a knockout.’ What does it mean?

 

a) She is extremely enthusiastic or energetic.

 

b) She is extremely angry or aggressive.

 

c) She is extremely cold or cruel.

 

d) She is extremely attractive or impressive.

 

5. Boxing involves getting hit in the head and upper body. One of the places many boxers are hit is on the chin. The idiom ‘take it on the chin’ originated from boxing, but what does it mean?

 

a) to receive a very painful injury that could easily have been prevented (such as crashing a bike when not wearing a helmet and getting hurt)

 

b) to become angry because someone has insulted you and seek revenge

 

c) to give in to difficult circumstances and quit

 

d) to accept a difficult situation without complaining

 

6. A boxer⁴ who feels that he cannot continue can signal his forfeit⁶ from the match by throwing his towel into the ring. From this, we get the idiom ‘throw in the towel’, but what does it mean?

 

a) to feel tired and wish to sleep

 

b) to do all your laundry on the same day

 

c) to continue to endure difficult circumstances

 

d) to quit or give up

 

答案

1) b, 2) c, 3) a, 4) d, 5) d, 6) d.

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