Per aspera ad astra.
前几天,拜登发推提到枪支问题时,说了一句这样的话:
△我们都希望我们的孩子有学习文化的自由,而不是学习在教室里如何 duck and cover。
何谓 duck and cover?
就连我家隔壁的幼儿园小盆友都知道 duck 是鸭子,你不会不知道吧?
△北京烤鸭
不过,这里的 duck 显然并非此义,而是一个动词:
△迅速把头或者上身低下,以避免被击打或者被看见。
想象一下,如果你去抓一只鸭子的脖子或者拍打它的头,它的第一反应就是把头缩起来,于是,这个单词就有了这个形象义。
所以,duck and cover 指遇到危险时蹲下并用手抱头的躲避动作:
Louderspeakers broadcast messages warning residents to duck and cover.
广播提醒市民躲避危险。
duck and cover 也可以引申为为了避免危险,责任或者尴尬,而刻意去躲避某人或者某物:
I think I'll just duck and cover and stay out of his way.
我想我还是躲着他,别跟他正面遇见比较好。
其它近义的短语
1. duck and dodge
dodge 原义就是"躲避",这个短语指"屈身躲避",为美式说法,英式的为 duck and weave。
同时,它也有与 duck and cover 一样的引申义。
Ducking and dodging, he escaped with a few scratches from the beast.
他成功的躲过了这头野兽的几次抓挠。
Again and again, he ducked and dodged and refused a straight answer.
他一再躲着我们,拒绝直接答复。
2. duck and dive
dive 原指"潜水",duck and dive 指(不同方向反复)屈身躲避,如拳击运动。
Charlie defended himself well, ducking and diving, using every skill he had learned at the Boxing Club.
查理防守的不错,左躲右闪,把在拳击俱乐部学到的动作都用上了。
3. duck out of...
"躲藏,逃避"之意。
Don't try to duck out of your responsibilies.
别试图逃避责任。
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