反复不定
To blow hot and cold反复不定Ken: There are rumours going around that your consultancy is likely to sign up a really important client.
肯﹕听说，你的咨询公司可能跟一个大客签约。Indira: Oh, so you've heard about that.
英迪拉﹕啊，你也听到了。Ken: Well, not in any detail. Only that if it's the company I think it is, then it could almost double your business.
肯﹕我可不知道详情，但假如那客户是我猜想的那家公司，你的生意可以增加一倍。Indira: I can't be specific at the moment, but it certainly could. But there's a problem.
英迪拉﹕我暂时不能讲详情，但生意的确可以倍增。不过，目前有个问题。
Ken: What's that?肯﹕什么问题？Indira: They keep blowing hot and cold. They've got to the point of signing a contract more than once, but then they've drawn back and said they have to reconsider.
英迪拉﹕他们反复不定，曾经不止一次将近要签约，但每次都临时退缩，说要再考虑。Ken: That must be very frustrating.
肯﹕那一定很令人丧气。To blow hot and cold直译是「吹热吹寒」，为什么却解作「反复无常」？按《伊索寓言》有《森林之神与旅人》故事，说有一天，天寒地坼，森林之神（satyr）在树林里碰到一个旅人，邀他到山洞避寒，见那旅人频频呵手，问为什么，那旅人说是要双手暖一点；森林之神请旅人喝热汤，又见他把汤凑到嘴唇吹，问为什么，那旅人说是要汤凉一点。森林之神很不高兴，下逐客令说﹕I will have no part with a man who can blow hot and cold from the same mouth（我不要跟一张嘴既可吹热又可吹冷的人来往）。To blow hot and cold这说法，从此广泛流传，比喻「反复无常」或「拿不定主意」，例如﹕They blew hot and cold about where to go on holiday（他们拿不定主意往哪里度假）。留意Only that if it's the company I think it is这一句，那个only解作「但是」，和but或however意思差不多。这个意思的only，多见于口头英语，例如﹕I would like to go on a world tour, only (that) I have no money（我想环游世界，只是没有钱）。最后不妨谈谈Oh, so you've heard about that的so字。So用来起句，可以带「原来如此」的意思，表示发现了某种情况；但有时也可以没有意思，和用来起句的well字相似，例如﹕(1) So, that is what he wants（啊，原来他要的是这个）。(2) So, what are you going to do?（嗯，你会怎样做？）
页:
[1]