博愛座

英文:priority seat/seating (n.)

說明:priority seat 為可數名詞,而 priority seating 為不可數名詞。在若干英語系國家,除了博愛座外,有些大眾運輸工具上還設有 courtesy seating (禮貌座)。博愛座是給身障人士坐的,而禮貌座是給年長者、孕婦、抱著嬰兒或帶著幼童的成人坐的。

例句:

  • You can see priority seats on most public transportations in Taiwan. (你可以在台灣的大多數大眾交通工具上看到博愛座)
  • Priority seating is for the use of passengers with a disability. (博愛座是給身障乘客使用的)
  • In Ontario , the courtesy seating is provided in addition to the priority seating for passengers who may benefit from a seat, but do not have a disability. (在加拿大安大略省,除了博愛座外還有禮貌座,係提供給可能需要坐下來但並非身障的乘客使用)

獅子大開口;搶錢

英文:highway robbery; daylight robbery (n.)

說明:highway robbery 為美式英語,而 daylight robbery 為英式英語。

例句:

  • The amount of money that the company is charging for its services is sheer highway robbery. (那家公司索取的服務費金額完全是獅子大開口)
  • Two hundred NT dollars for a black tea? That’s just highway robbery! (紅茶一杯 200 塊台幣?簡直就是搶錢!)
  • It was just daylight robbery for the price of the concert tickets! (音樂會門票的價格簡直是搶錢!)

當電燈泡

英文:play gooseberry (v.)

說明:我們亦可用 to be a gooseberry 來表達相同的意思,但比較少用。Gooseberry 本身的意思為「醋栗」。

例句:

  • Jason and Anna are lovebirds, so I don’t want to play gooseberry joining them in any social contexts. (傑森和安娜是一對恩愛情侶,所以在任何社交場合我都不想當他們的電燈泡)
  • Amy and Bill asked me to go with them, but I refused because I didn’t want to play gooseberry. (艾美和比爾邀我和他們一起去,但我謝絕了,因為我不想當電燈泡)
  • I’m not going to the movies with you guys tonight, because I don’t want to be a gooseberry. (今晚我不跟你們去看電影,因為我不想當電燈泡)

落枕

英文:get/have a crick in one’s neck (v.)

說明:crick 意為「扭傷」,可當名詞和動詞用。To get/have a crick in one’s neck 字面意思為「頸部扭傷」。若將動詞 get/have 拿掉,則 a crick in one’s neck 就變成了名詞。

例句:

  • I got a crick in my neck from sleeping in a mat yesterday. (我昨天睡在墊子上而造成落枕)
  • John read on the plane and had a crick in his neck the other day. (約翰幾天前在飛機上看書,結果落枕)

該到的都到了;該來的都來了

英文:all present and accounted for (美);all present and correct (英) (phr.)

說明:按理說,這裡的 and 應改為 or,但口語都是這樣用,這片語可指人或事物。

例句:

  • Is everyone ready to run the marathon? All present and accounted for. (每個人都準備好跑馬拉松了嗎?該來的都來了)
  • Are all students here? Nearly all present and correct. (所有學生都到了嗎?該到的幾乎都到了)

媽寶

英文:mama’s boy, momma’s boy, mummy’s boy (n.)

說明:mama’s boy 和 momma’s boy 為美式拼法,而 mummy’s boy 為英式拼法。除了媽寶的意思外,它們還意為「沒有男子氣概的男人」,使用時須從上下文判斷意思。

例句:

  • I thought I loved him so much until I realized he was a mama’s boy who can’t do anything without his mother’s permission or approval. (我認為,在我知道他是個媽寶之前,我一直深愛著他。沒有他媽媽的許可或同意,他什麼事也不能做)
  • Tommy, I received a phone call from Daniel’s parents last night. Please don’t pick on him anymore at work, because he is a momma’s boy. (湯米,昨晚我接到丹尼爾父母打來的電話。請別在工作上再挑他的毛病、跟他過不去,因為他是個媽寶)
  • You’re such a mummy’s boy. (你真是個媽寶)

想抓住男人的心,先抓住男人的胃

英文:The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

說明:這是道道地地的英文俗諺。

例句:

  • Amy: I want Kevin to notice me, but he doesn’t even know I’m alive. Mother: Invite him over and cook him a good meal. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. (艾美:我想要凱文注意到我,但他甚至不知道我的存在。母親:邀他到家裡來,煮一頓美食給他吃。想抓住男人的心,先抓住男人的胃)

想開了;想通了

英文:be over it (phr.)

說明:英文還有一句含意相近的口語 to get over it,同樣表示對痛苦或難過的事情會「想通的」、「撐下去」、「熬過去」或忘了那些不愉快的事情。

例句:

  • I suffered for days after Hilary broke up with me, but I’m over it now. (希拉蕊跟我分手後,我難過了好幾天,但現在我想開了)
  • A: “Sorry about standing you up last night” (抱歉,昨晚放你鴿子)
    B: “Whatever, I’m over it.” (無所謂,我想開了)
  • Amy was so heartbroken when her parents split up, but she said she would get over it. (艾美父母離異時,她傷心欲絕,但她說她會熬過去的)