身体里有这些动物,会是什么样的感觉?
01
have butterflies in one's stomach
大家想像一下butterfly(蝴蝶)在stomach(胃)里飞的滋味吧。这个短语用来表示紧张不安,忐忑的心情,和中文里“好像怀里揣了个小兔子”,“心里有头小鹿撞着”表达是一样的,只是,由于文化差异,用不同的动物来表示。
🌰:Sam had butterflies in his stomach as he went to the boss's office to ask for a raise.
萨姆到经理办公室去要求涨工资的时候,他的心扑通扑通直跳,紧张极了。
02
have a frog in one's throat
同样,喉咙(throat)里有只青蛙,也是很不爽的事。
🌰:I have such a frog in my throat from this cold that I can barely talk.
因为感冒,我的喉咙难受极了,几乎说不出话来。
03
have a bee in one's bonnet
bonnet是帽子的意思,在帽子里有一只蜜蜂(bee),引申义为“某一想法像蜜蜂在脑子里嗡嗡作响,挥之不去”,一般指较脱离实际,毫无根据的奇妙想法。
这个短语还可以写作:have a bee in one's head / brain / mind。
🌰:My husband has a bee in his bonnet about buying an island to live on.
我丈夫脑子里有个古怪的念头,想要买个岛屿居住。
03
put a bug in one's ear
04
have ants in one's pants
05
the cat has someone's tongue
字面意思是猫把某人的舌头(tongue)咬去了。这个短语常常用于大人对孩子的批评和抱怨,意思是“你哑巴了?”。
🌰:Why don't you thank Mrs. Black for the nice gift, Jimmy? Has the cat got your tongue?
吉米,你为什么不谢谢布莱克夫人给了你这么好的礼物?你的舌头被猫叼走了吗?