像美国人一样说“美”语(二)

• 作 者: 李美华
• 出 处: 留学生
• 发表日期: 2003年05期
• 关键词: 习惯用语 水漏 字面解释 simply 站得住脚 人说 民主党候选人 think 竞选总统 日常会话

to hold waterwater off a duck’s backit makes my mouth water在这里给大家讲两个和water这个字有关的词汇。第一个是:to hold waterTo hold water按字面解释当然可以说是“不让水漏出来”。但是,它的另外一个意思是指某一个人找的借口、提出的理由、或说的话是确实的,站得住脚的。美国人经常说:“That excuse simply doesn’t hold water.”意思是:那个借口根本站不住脚。我们来举个例子:

To hold waterwater off a duck’s backit makes my mouth water here to talk about two words related to the word water. The first one is: to hold water To hold water The literal explanation is, of course, “don’t let the water leak out.” However, it also means that the excuses, the reasons given, or the words spoken by an individual are correct and tenable. Americans often say: “That excuse simply doesn’t hold water.” Means: That excuse simply does not hold. Let’s give an example: