狗狗是人類最忠實的朋友,8月26日是國際狗狗日 International Dog Day,據調查顯示全台犬貓數量近300萬隻,已超過15歲以下孩童數,其中養狗高達67%,顯示台灣養毛小孩已勝過養小孩風氣。而英文中與「狗 dog」相關片語和諺語不勝枚舉,人類喜歡用狗的形象來比喻各種行為,你知道「dog days、dog's life」是什麼樣的日子?「dog eat dog 狗吃狗」背後含義是?「the tail wagging the dog 尾巴搖狗」是什麼意思?「go to the dogs、dog in the manger」又是指什麼情況?在這特別的國際狗狗日,讓我們一起學習12種跟狗相關的英文片語、諺語及慣用語,一起遛【狗英文】吧!
狗英文片語 1:dog days 酷暑期
該片語起源於古羅馬、希臘或埃及,他們認為酷暑是地球靠近天狼星(大犬座)造成的,羅馬人將夏末時期稱為狗星日。因此 dog days 指大熱天、三伏天。
劍橋字典解釋:the hottest days of the summer
例句:The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in the open. 對那些必須在戶外工作的人來說,夏季的三伏天很難熬。
狗英文片語 2:dog's life 悲慘的生活
這個片語源於16世紀,這個時代的狗,日子過得悲慘。過狗一般的生活,可以用動詞 live/lead a dog's life 指長期憂慮、痛苦、悲傷或單調乏味等的非人生活。
劍橋字典解釋:a very unhappy and unpleasant life
例句:I’ve been working so hard. I’m tired of living a dog’s life.
我一直努力工作,我厭倦這非人的悲慘生活。
狗英文片語 3:work like a dog 勤奮地工作
像狗一樣工作 work like a dog 大多指不知疲倦地工作,或做很多工作卻得到少報酬。相反的,也有人解釋「狗」是比喻懶惰的人,表明他們工作很少,或是暗示「工作」在某種程度上有辱人格。
劍橋字典解:to work very hard
例句:You can work like a dog and still not make ends meet. 你可以拼命工作,但還是不能維持生計。
狗英文片語 4:dog-tired 精疲力竭的
聽到 dog-tired 腦中浮現一隻累癱的狗,可能是剛忙完工作的牧羊犬或獵犬等。該片語源於英國阿菲烈特大帝 Alfred the Great 的故事,他將大量的獵犬釋放,看哪一位兒子能將最多的獵犬帶回,當晚就可以得到他的青睞,坐在他右手邊享用晚餐,而追逐獵犬使他們精疲力盡 dog-tired,所以 dog-tired 意思就是極度疲憊的,也可以說 dead on your feet 或是 dead tired。
劍橋字典解釋:extremely tired
例句:I can safely say, I have never been so dog-tired as that night in Chicago.
我可以肯定地說,我從來沒有像在芝加哥的那個晚上那樣累過。
狗英文片語 5:sick as a dog 病得十分嚴重
狗在 17 世紀被認為是不受歡迎的動物,故衍生許多與狗有關的負面詞彙,sick as dog 是指病得很重,以至於可能會想嘔吐。其他類似的比喻 sick as a parrot 病得跟鸚鵡一樣,指非常失望、非常掃興。
劍橋字典解釋:vomiting a lot
例句:I was sick as a dog after last night's meal. 昨天晚上吃完飯後,我吐得一塌糊塗。
狗英文片語 6:dog eat dog 弱肉強食
連狗都咬狗,自相殘殺,意味著殘酷無情的競爭環境,不惜一切代價取得成功。
劍橋字典解釋:used to describe a situation in which people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do harms other people
例句:It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. 這是一個損人利己的無情世界。
狗英文片語 7:go to the dogs 大不如前
17 世紀狗被視為低等生物,它們野蠻地在郊區吃垃圾,如果一個機構已經 go to the dog出現狗,它就不復往日之盛了。go to the dog 指組織、機構等一蹶不振,大不如前。
劍橋字典解釋:If a country or organization is going to the dogs, it is becoming very much less successful than it was in the past
例句:This firm's gone to the dogs since you took over! 這公司自你接手已大不如前!
狗英文片語 8:the tail wagging the dog 本末倒置、轉移焦點
有一句話說 a dog is smarter than its tail 狗比尾巴聰明,但如果尾巴更聰明,那麼尾巴就會搖狗。想像一下一隻狗搖尾巴到全身在搖晃,尾巴搖狗 the tail wagging the dog 比喻事物的主次顛倒,次要部分支配或決定全局。這句片語也可簡稱 wag the dog,除了捨本逐末意思,也可以指轉移焦點,或是大群體為小群體服務。
劍橋字典解釋:a situation in which a large group has to do something to satisfy a small group
例句:The prime minister keeps wagging the dog to keep people from actually finding out about the scam and its details. 總理不斷轉移焦點,以防止人們真正了解騙局及其細節。
狗英文片語 9:dog in the manger 占著茅坑不拉屎
manger 是飼料槽,dog in the manger 就是指占著茅坑不拉屎。這個片語出現在伊索寓言故事中,敘述一隻狗跳進牛的飼料槽午睡,並趕走要回來吃草的牛,故事寓意為人們經常嫉妒別人擁有自己不能享受的東西。
劍橋字典解釋:someone who keeps something that they do not want in order to prevent someone else from getting it
例句:Stop being such a dog in the manger and let your sister ride your bike if you’re not using it. 不要占著茅坑不拉屎,如果你不使用它,就讓你妹妹騎你的單車。
狗英文片語 10:fight like cat and dog 爭吵不休
貓狗打架 fight like cat and dog 象徵兩個人就特定問題不斷爭論或爭吵的情況。
劍橋字典解釋:to have angry arguments all the time
例句:The politicians tend to fight like cat and dog during general elections. 大選期間,政客們容易像貓狗一樣爭吵不休。
狗英文諺語 11:you can't teach an old dog new tricks 本性難移
像動物一樣,年老難學藝,你不能教一隻老狗新把戲 you can't teach an old dog new tricks,指無法改變他人的想法、做法或習慣。
劍橋字典解釋:said to mean that it is very difficult to teach someone new skills or to change someone's habits or character
例句:I tried to make my grandmother learn how to use a smartphone but it was just like you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. 我試圖教我的祖母如何使用智慧型手機,但這就像你不能教一隻老狗新把戲。
狗英文諺語 12:every dog has its day 凡人皆有得意日/風水輪流轉
每隻狗都有好運的一天 every dog has its day,也就是每個人都有成功的機會,儘管現在不得志,但風水輪流轉,總有輪到你成功的一天,可以用在鼓勵身邊的人。
劍橋字典解釋:said to emphasize that everyone is successful or happy at some time in their life
例句:I know you're shocked that the dopey kid got a better grade than you, but hey, every dog has its day. 我知道你很震驚那個笨孩子的成績比你好,但凡人皆有得意日。
總結:12種【狗英文】片語/慣用語/諺語
現在我們來總結一下,今天學到12種跟「狗 dog」相關的英文片語及諺語:
dog days 酷暑期
dog's life 悲慘的生活
work like a dog 勤奮地工作
dog-tired 精疲力竭的
sick as a dog 病得十分嚴重
dog eat dog 弱肉強食
go to the dogs 大不如前
the tail wagging the dog 本末倒置、轉移焦點
dog in the manger 占著茅坑不拉屎
fight like cat and dog 爭吵不休
you can’t teach an old dog new tricks 本性難移
every dog has its day 凡人皆有得意日/風水輪流轉
看完今天的【狗英文】後,是不是覺得狗狗各種型態的比喻十分有趣呢?下次就可以用 dog 相關的英文片語、慣用語或諺語跟朋友交談,讓我們一起慶祝國際狗狗日,為毛小孩盡一份心力!