我们在看书或在看电视的时候,会对一些表达产生困惑,不懂得为何这样应用或者字幕为什么要这样翻译~原因是我们不知道表达源头,就如同在汉语用的典故和成语,外国人可能也看不明白,是一样的道理~
今天我们给大家介绍的是
can't hold a candle to somebody
我们先来看美剧《绝望的主妇》中的片段~
了解语境,请戳视频 《绝望主妇》
Renee以为Ben出轨,来找Karen看看有没有线索(不过这说话方式也是显得格外亲切了😂😂开口就是you are old...)。Karen安慰Renee,说她各方面很好,绝代佳人,就算Ben真的找了其女人,无论那女人是谁,她也没法跟你比啊~~😂😂
Subtitle
Hey, you are old and pretty much housebound. Have you noticed if Ben's been 'entertaining' a lot lately?
This is what I get for not having a pit bull.
I think he's cheating on me.
Ben? No, he... he seems like a great guy.
My ex was a great guy, too. Ask any stripper in New York City. Oh my god, I cannot go through that again. I... I just can't.
Renee, I may not be your biggest fan or ... even like you, but there's one thing no one can argue with——you are hot.
Pardon?
Look at you.
You are a knockout. Those gams, those curves, that killer smile. Basically you are me 35 years ago.
So, this is my future?
The point is, whoever this woman is, she can't hold a handle to you.
Oh, thank you, Karen.
注意了:can't hold a handle to这个表达,初看真的不知道怎么一回事,难道是“不能拿蜡烛?”这样理解就太白了。直接这样应用到日常生活表达中,也容易不地道,我们来学习下吧~
can't hold a handle to
The point is, whoever this woman is, she can't hold a candle to you.
重点是不管这个女人是谁,根本不配和你争。
我们先来看一下来源:
在石油未被利用、电灯尚未发明时,蜡烛是人们主要的照明工具。家中若有人要外出,通常会有专人拿着蜡烛带路,而若是在公共场合,比如在戏院,也专门会有人秉烛为观众带位。
即使是在娱乐场所,比如赌场里,如果把蜡烛点在桌上,可能会碍手碍脚,一不小心会引起火灾,因此也会专门雇用手持蜡烛的人在旁边照明。
在大家看来,手拿蜡烛为人照明是非常简单的事情,如果连这样简单的事情都做不好,能力可见一般般……因此就有了这样的说法:can't hold a candle to somebody的意思指的是“两个人在能力或地位上有着天壤之别”(和“给你提鞋都不配”有着异曲同工之妙),当然如果我们变为肯定can hold a candle to somebody,即表达“两个人能力不相上下,不分伯仲”。
例句:
1. The new assistant can't hold a candle to the previous one.
新来的助理比不上前一个。
2. When it comes to cake-making, Catherine can hold a candle to Bree.
说到做蛋糕,凯瑟琳和布里可是旗鼓相当,不相上下。
这里小编又想起古时候“位低者或者能力不足者都会给权贵、能者提灯照明”,其实也是一个道理~~
所以说,如果再想表达“比得上、比不上”的时候,多想想can/can't hold a candle to的这个表达吧~~
housebound 出不了门的,年迈的
图片截自《朗文词典》
🎓例句:
The visiting service is especially for the housebound, lonely or depressed.
探访服务主要针对那些年迈出不了家门的老人或者孤独困窘的人。
pit bull 斗牛犬,比特犬
cheat on XX 出轨
🎓例句:
Nobody believes that he's cheating on his wife.
没人相信他竟然出轨了。
go through XX 承受,经历
🎓例句:
She's been going through a tough time.
她这段时间太难了。
be XX’s biggest fan 喜欢XX
🎓例句:
I'm Taylor's biggest fan.
我是泰勒的超级粉丝。
there's one thing no one can argue with, ...
有一件事情不可否认
🎓例句:
There's one thing no one can argue with—— I love you.
有一件事情不可否认,那就是我爱你。
You're a knockout. 你是个美人胚子。
Those gams, those curves, that killer smile.
这腿,这线条,还有那迷人的微笑。
拿去赞美他人吧!🤗🤗
killer a. 致命的;迷人的
a. very harmful or dangerous
🎓例句:
They came across a killer hurricane.
他们遭遇了危险的龙卷风。
b. very attractive, good, impressive, etc
🎓例句:
Do you have any idea about building a killer website?
你知道如何才能建立一个具有吸引力的网页嘛?
迷人的也是致命的~~“危险又迷人”😊😊
The point is, ... 我的意思是... /...是重点
🎓例句:
The point is, no matter what you do, he will never believe in you.
重点是,无论你做什么,他都不会相信你。
文中图片|网络
今天的分享就到这里啦~
你学会了多少?
编辑|排版:小美
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