学了很多的习语后,大家有没有发现,除了个别比较生僻的习语,如 put your feet up,我们猜不到它的寓意外,其他习语的意思我们比较容易猜到,就像 between a rock and a hard place, 字面意思“在石头与硬的地方中间”,那不就是“左右为难,进退维谷,陷入困境”的意思吗,它寓意:
having two very bad choices有两个非常糟糕的选择 in a very difficult situation在非常困难的情况下 facing a hard decision面临艰难的决定 having two equally unpleasant or unacceptable options有两个同样令人不快或不可接受的选择
例如: I hate my job but cannot quit owing to my economic condition. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place我讨厌我的工作,但由于我的经济状况,我不能辞职。我进退两难。 I can't make up my mind whose side I am on; I'm caught between a rock and a hard place我无法决定我站在谁的一边,我左右为难。 He was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he accepted the offer, he would have to work long hours with low pay, if he didn't, he would lose his livelihood.他左右为难。如果他接受了这份工作,他将不得不长时间低薪工作,如果他不接受,他将失去生计。
Our company was caught between a rock and a hard place. If we made the deal, we would make a monetary loss and if we didn't, we would lose our reputation.我们公司陷入困境。如果我们达成协议,我们将蒙受金钱上的损失,如果我们不这样做,我们将失去我们的声誉。 They are both my brothers! I can't go against either of them. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.他们都是我的兄弟!我不能反对他们中的任何一个。我左右为难。 人的一辈子总会遇到两件事不如意,一是这件事,二是那件事,经常令我们左右为难,但是我始终相信只要思想不滑坡,办法总比困难多,遇到困难我们不要害怕,要冷静,要 look before you leap.