标题: 容易混淆的口语(4) [打印本页] 作者: fofor 时间: 2001-11-21 14:44 标题: 容易混淆的口语(4) 13. school is open 与 the school is open :
school is open ( 或 schools are open) 是指「学校开学」 (classes are in session) ,这里的 open 是形容词, school 前面不加冠词 the ,意味整个中小学的 school system 。但是 the school is open ,多指学校的建筑物开放著,但没有学生上课。
同理: He goes to school. 是指他去上学读书受教育,而 He goes to the school. 又指他去学校的建筑物(看朋友、参观等)。
但是 The store is open. 是指店 在营业中( = Business is going on. ),而 The store is closed. 又是指店 暂时不营业。
假如店 是永久性的「关门大吉」,就应该说:
The store was closed down. (permanently)
不过 closed 当形容词时,又有「保守」( conservative )或受某种「限制」( restricted )的意思。 例如:
This is a closed community. (这是一个保守的社区。)(由於宗教信仰等原因,美国有的社区不欢迎外来的人。)
14. thick skin 与 thin skin :
thick skin 是指一个人不害羞,冷静,好脾气 (insensitive,calm or good temper) ,但是 thin skin 是指很敏感 (very sensitive) ,易发怒,易激动的人。 例如:
He has thin ( 或 thick) skin. ( 当名词用 )
= He is thin-skinned ( 或 thick-skinnd).( 当形容词用 )
Many American politicians are very thick-skinned. ( 许多美国政客是冷静不易发怒的。 )
turn the tables 意思是扭转局面,作出反击或反告( to turn around or to reverse the accusation toward accuser ),但是 under the table 是指做贿赂等违法的事情( do something illegal )。 例如:
In court she turned the tables of prosecution toward him. (在法院她反而控告他。)
Some politicians accepted brides under the table. (一些政客违法地接受贿赂。)
16. to be attracted to 与 to be attracted by :
这都是指「被吸引住」,不过介系词用 to 时,後面通常不说理由,但介词用 by 时,後面多半说明吸引的原因。 例如:
She was attracted to him. (她被他吸引住。)(但没有说明原因 )
= She found herself attracted to him.
= He attracted her. ; 说白些,就是
= She liked him.;
同理 He was attracted to her.( 他被她吸引住。 )
= He found himself attracted to her.
= She attracted him.; 也就是:
= He liked her.
但是如果说:
She was attracted by his good-look. ( 她被他的英俊外表吸住了。 )
He was attracted by her beauty ( 或 charm 或 body). (always) ( 他被她的美貌或身材而吸引。 )
就是因为用 by 时,後面多半都说明吸引的理由。
17. talk back to (someone) 与 turn (one's) back on (someone) :
to talk back to someone 意思是对某人「回嘴」( to defy ),多半指小孩。而 to turn one's back on someone 系指不喜欢某人( dislike someone )。例如:
the boy talks back to his mother all the time. (这男孩对他母亲老是回嘴。)
至於 to be on ( one's ) back about ( something )又有对某事「唠叨」 (nagging )的意思。 例如:
His mother is always on his back about diet. (他妈妈常为了饮食对他唠叨。)