英语中最不像成语的成语:And then some
和中文一样,英语中的绝大多数成语,或者包含形象的比喻,或者说出了深刻的道理。以这些标准衡量,And then some可以算是英语中最不像成语的成语,3个组成部分都是最常用的词,而且都是虚词,一个连词,一个副词,一个代词。
无论在影视作品,还是在书面文字中,很多人都曾碰到过And then some这个说法。9月份的The Economist,关于欧洲的新闻中,就有这样一段:
ALL they were hoping to do, said the organisers of an art festival in Wiesbaden, a small city on the banks of the Rhine, when they installed a four-metre statue of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the town’s central square in late August, was to spark a debate about the Turkish president.
八月下旬,德国西部的城市威斯巴登举行了一场艺术节,在艺术节期间,市中心的广场上树起了土耳其现任总统的塑像。组织方人声称,这样做的目的,是希望大家讨论这位当代政治人物的是非功过。
They got one, and then some. A woman spat on the statue. Others covered it with graffiti.
这座塑像确实引发了不少讨论,但人们的反应很快就超出了口头讨论的程度。一个女人当众向塑像吐口水,还有人在塑像上面涂鸦。
And then some 的释义
在实际生活中,母语并非英语的人士,很少使用And then some这个说法,甚至注意不到这是一个固定的成语表达。在遇到时,也通常都会对其视而不见,甚至不会去查字典,只是当作别人话没说完就打住了,偶尔会纳闷:and then some what?
严格来说,And then some是个俚语,语气幽默,一般都是用在陈述句的后面,用来表示:实际的程度、要远远超出前面所陈述的程度,相当于中文的“岂止、何止…”。口语中,在使用And then some时,通常会特别在then上面加重语气。
And then some在生活中很常用,也很有用。要想掌握And then some的用法,最好的办法就是集中多看几个例句:
A: "This dessert is very rich."
B: "And then some! I don't think I can finish it."
这道甜点非常油腻。
何止油腻,我恐怕都吃不完。
You will have to train and then some if you want to make the basketball team—there are so many good players this year.
要想入选那支球队,你们必须好好训练,是必须拼命训练。
They were successful in obtaining top positions because when it came to their work, they did what needed to be done and then some.
他们能成功获得高层职位,是有原因的。在工作中,他们不仅会尽到份内的职责,而且会格外地精心努力。
电视剧中的例子
下面是两个电视剧中的例子,分别来自英国和美国。
Forgive me, Lady Vera, but given the fact of where we have just now brought you from and where you were found, this face you offer to the world... some could call it heartless.
我插一句话,男爵夫人,我们的警员是在那样凶险的地方发现你的,而且当时床上满是血污,你身边横陈着一具尸体;考虑到这些,现在你脸上却是这样无动于衷的表情,有些人会认为这是冷酷无情。
I am calm.It is how I was raised.
我只是冷静、处变不惊,从小家里就是这么教育我的。
You are calm, and then some more.
你的确是处变不惊,但你冷静得有些过份。
When you are secretive, it prevents me from being able to do my job.
如果你什么事情都瞒着我,我的工作就没法做了。
And when you cancel meetings, it prevents me from being able to do mine.
你不打招呼就把我和总统的会面取消,也让我没法做工作。
Which is why I wanted to talk, so we can work things out.
所以我要找你谈谈,把话讲清楚。
I will not waste my time, inflating your sense of self-importance!
我没工夫在这儿浪费时间,满足你的虚荣心。
We should be working together… Excuse me?
我们应该彼此沟通…,你刚才说什么?
How many elections have you won?! How many congressional committees have you chaired?! Would you even be working in the White House if I hadn't recommended you during the campaign?
你有什么功劳,你赢过几次选举,你担任过几个国会委员会的主席?如果不是在竞选时我向总统举荐,你现在能在白宫工作吗?
I returned that favor and then some. Look where your desk is now!
可我已经还了你的人情,而且远不止于此。你现在不也在白宫上班,而且当上了副总统。
And I'd say we're even.
行了,那就算你我互不相欠吧。
END.