鸡年话"鸡"
作者:马旭
英语知识 2005年05期
按照中国的十二生肖文化,公元2005年是我国传统的鸡年。作为十二生肖中的一员,鸡已不再是单纯的动物,而是被赋予了丰富深刻的象征意义(如守信、准时、勇敢、善斗)。同其他动物一样,其象征意义也有褒有贬,视其不同的语境和场合而定。英语中有关鸡的习语比较多,通过看下面的例句不难发现这些习语的象征意义基本上都是人们从鸡的动物特性中演绎、联想出来的。以下是一些东西方文化中最常见的和鸡有关的习语。
一、含有cock的英语习语
1.live like fighting cocks:(像斗鸡一样)吃最好的东西;享受最佳的食物;过奢侈的生活;养尊处优。例:
(1)They are both very good cooks,and we live like fighting cocks whenever we stay with them.他俩都很会做饭,我们在他们家做客的日子过得舒服极了。
(2)Probably it is not a good thing for children from one.child families to live like fighting cocks.独生子女过着养尊处优的生活未必是件好事。
2.a cock-and-bullstory:荒诞的故事;无稽之谈;胡说八道。例:
(1)The jury did not believe the witness's cock-and-bull story.陪审团不相信证人的无稽之谈。
(2)The tramp told a cock-and-bull story about finding the money hidden in a bottle behinda tree in the zoo.流浪汉编了一个荒诞的故事,说他在公园的一棵树后面发现了藏在瓶子里的钱。
3.cockofthe walk:在小天地中称王称霸的人;土皇帝。例:
(1)He thinks he is the cock of the walk just because he was the captain of the village basketball team.他以为自己当过村里篮球队队长,便算是个有头有脸的人物了。
(2)Peter was the cock of the walk until my brother beat him in a fight las year.彼得原来是个小霸王,后来我弟弟打赢了他,这才杀了他的威风。
4.cock a snook at:(以拇指抵鼻摇动其余四指)对……表示轻侮,看不起。例:
(1)AS a painter,she cocks a snook at the traditional techniques.作为一名画家,她瞧不起传统画法。
(2)The boy cocked a snook at the policemen's back after being scolded.男孩在被训斥之后在警察背后作蔑视的手势。
5.the/that cock won't fight:那一套不中用;那种话讲不通;那计划行不通。例:
(1)I was looking forward to taking Tom'smanager to court,but then Tom refused to testify against him;when the cock won't fight,there isnothing you cando.我希望把汤姆的老板告上法庭,可是汤姆偏偏拒绝在法庭上作出对其老板不利的证词,这计划行不通,我也没办法。
(2)The king said,“Do not talk your loyalty to me any more.That cock won't fight with me.”国王说:“别再谈你对我的忠诚,这对我是毫无用处的。”
6.cock one's ears:竖起耳朵;专心听;激发对所听到之物的兴趣。例:
(1)It’s so noisy in the room that he had tocock his cars to hear the phone.房间里乱哄哄的,他不得不竖起耳朵来听电话。
(2)Jack immediately cocked his ears assoonas he heard his parents talking about the summer traveling plan.听到爸爸妈妈在谈论暑期旅行计划,杰克立刻竖起了耳朵。
7.cock sparrow:爱闹事、好吵架的人,矮小而强悍的人。例:
(1)He is a cock sparrow,so nobody likes tomake friends with him.他是个爱闹事的家伙,所以没有人愿意跟他交朋友。
(2)Only the policeman can control that disgusting cock sparrow.只有警察能管住那个讨厌的暴汉。
8.Cock is bold on his own dunghill.公鸡总是在自己的粪堆上称雄;地头蛇在自己的地盘上称王称霸;窝里横;狗是百步王,只在门前狠。
二、含“鸡”字的汉语成语英译
1.呆若木鸡
as dumb as a wooden chicken,to be stupefied with fear or surprise
2.鹤立鸡群
a crane standing among chickens,(hg.)aperson outstanding in appearance,figure,ability,etc.
3.鸡飞蛋打
the chickens have flown and the eggs are broken,(fig.)a dead loss,all is lost and come out emptyhanded
4.鸡毛蒜皮
trifles,trivialities,odds and ends
5.鸡鸣狗盗
ability to crow like a cock and snatch like a dog,skill of little significance,small tricks
6.鸡犬不惊
even chickens and dogs are not disturbed
7.鸡犬不留
utter extermination even chickens and dogs are not spared
8.鸡犬不宁
great disorder even chickens and dogs aregreally upset,general turmoil
9.鸡犬升天
(fig.)If a man becomes immortal,even his cocks and dogs become immortal too.Or when aman becomes powerful,those near him get powerful with him.
10.杀鸡取卵
to kill the cock to get her eggs,(fig.)sacrifice future gains to satisfy the present needs,be after only immediate interest
11.闻鸡起舞
get up to practice sword at heating the cock crow in the night,(fig.)people ofnoble aspirations rising to take actions to serve the country
12.嫁鸡随鸡
marry a cock and follow the cock,(fig.)advice to be contented with the man a woman has married
13.偷鸡摸狗
steal a fowl or dog,(fig.)do things stealthily,engage in crooked dealings
14.杀鸡儆猴
kill a chicken to teach a monkey,(fig.)punish somebody as a warning to others,make an example of a few to frighten all the rest.
15.鸡犬相闻
live nearby or in the neighorhood
由上面的例子不难发现,无论是在英语中还是在汉语中,有关“鸡”的习语是很多的,掌握好这些习语对于丰富英语学习者的词汇和帮助提高阅读水平都是大有裨益的。
作者介绍:马旭 北京师范大学外文学院英语专业