乌龟脖子的特殊结构和功能让它无论在哪种语言里都和怯懦，胆小之类的词语挂钩。比如今天我们要介绍的这个习语，stick one’s neck out。把脖子缩回去是胆小，那非得把脖子伸出来，就有冒险；处于危险之中的意思了。

我们来看一个老人和律师的小对话：

A: I will leave all my money for Paul. 我会把所有的钱都留给Paul。

B: Not your spouse or children? 不给你的配偶和孩子们吗？

A: No. When I was in trouble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck out to help me. 不。我遭难的时候，Paul是唯一愿意冒险帮助我的人。

再比如下面两个例子：

We all know he is going the wrong way. But no one is going to stick his neck out and tell him the truth because he will blame everything on you. 我们都知道他的路子不对，但是没人愿意冒风险去告诉他实情。他会把一切过错都赖到你头上。

I think my boss is completely wrong about hiring his son-in law, but I’m not going to stick my neck out and tell him! 我认为我的老板雇佣他的女婿是绝对错误的。但是我才不愿意冒风险告诉他呢！

大家要是都抱着这样的心态那就很难听到真话了。好在总有敢于冒险的人。比如：

I admire him a lot. He’s one of the politicians who is not afraid to stick neck out and say what he really thinks, even if it costs him some votes. 我很钦佩他。他是一个敢于冒风险说自己心里话的政治家，尽管这样会使他失去一些选票。

勇敢令人钦佩，但缩脖子有时候也是技巧甚至智慧。就看用在什么地方了。好了。今天的内容我们就说到这里。