在中国,与狗有关的词语大都不是特别好的意思。
比如:狗屁不通、狗仗人势、狗急跳墙、人模狗样、狗尾续貂、狼心狗肺、鸡犬升天…… 好像,一提到狗,整个世界都是满满的恶意。
然而,在西方,“dog”的身份绝对不仅仅只是宠物这么简单,大多数的情况下,他们扮演的甚至是家人的角色。
狗狗死后,人们会为它立墓碑;
狗狗生病了,有专门的宠物医院和医生照顾;
在俄罗斯,打狗狗和在中国酒驾量刑差不多,是要被监禁的。
而狗狗在西方文明中受到的尊重,通过语言,就已经展示出来了。
大量使用“dog”的词组和句子都是充满了褒义和善意的表达。
比如:
a lucky dog 幸运者;
a big dog 大款;
a top dog 身居要职的人。
可见,在西方,狗有着仅次于人的地位,它是可以用来形容人的。
如果你不了解,别人跟你讲:a lucky dog, 你或许还以为别人在骂你,那笑话可不是闹的一点两点的了。
除了人以外,与狗狗有关的词汇还可以用来形容天气。
The dog days of summer 是指一年中最热的三伏天。
Rain cats and dogs。是指倾盆大雨,而不是雨淋猫狗。
当然,还有更多的在日常生活中会用到dog的句子。
今天我们举例一些经常会见到的句子,希望大家不要在沟通中闹笑话咯!
1. to lead a dog's life 形容人过着贫困潦倒、惨不忍睹的生活
Tom’s been leading a dog's life since he got divorced.
汤姆自离婚后一直过着混沌潦倒的日子。
2. dog-eat-dog 残酷、竞争激烈
Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world.
有人说,我们生活在一个竞争激烈的世界。
3. work like a dog 指一个人努力、卖命地工作
They say that to be successful, a person has to work like a dog.
他们说,一个人想要成功就得拼命工作。
4. dog-tired 筋疲力尽
Such hard work can make him dog-tired.
如此艰辛的工作使他疲惫不堪。
5. sick as a dog 病得严重
The situation would be even worse if she became sick as a dog.
如果她病得厉害,情况会更糟。
6. Every dog has its days。每个人都有属于自己的运气/每个人都有时来运转的一天
Don't give up and try your best I believe every dog has its day..
不要放弃,继续努力,我相信每个人都会有成功的时候。
7. You can never teach an old dog new tricks. 老古董学不会新东西
You're never going to teach your father at the age of 79 to use a computer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, you know.
不要指望教你79岁的老父亲学会电脑。年长的人学不会新事物。
8. meaner than a junkyard dog 冷漠,不友好
He is a man meaner than a junkyard dog.
他是一个残酷、冷漠的男人。
9. His bark is worse than his bite. 刀子嘴、豆腐心
I wouldn't be scared of her if I were you. Her bark's a lot worse than her bite.
如果我是你,我不会怕她。她是个刀子嘴,豆腐心的人。
10. let sleeping dogs lie 不要自找麻烦、自讨苦吃
Green is trying to let sleeping dogs lie.
格林在努力避免招惹是非。
11.the dog days of summer 一年中最热的三伏天
I can do nothing except for swimming in the dog days of summer.
在三伏天里,除了游泳,我什么事也做不成。
12.to rain cats and dogs 下倾盆大雨
In the middle of the picnic it started to rain cats and dogs, and everybody got soaked.
野餐进行到一半时,天开始下起大暴雨,弄得每个人都湿透了。