(单词翻译:单击)
几年春晚都安排了魔术节目,虽然你知道魔术师的手里,袖子里,衣服里,道具里到处是机关,可就是不太容易找出破绽。英语里就用something up your sleeve来表示秘而不宣的计划;锦囊之计。其实,这个短语原本指打牌的时候在袖子里藏牌。先来看一个小对话。
A:If you attend a social function, it is always advisable to have something up your sleeve, in case you are called upon to speak at short notice. 如果你要参加什么盛大的社交集会,最好事先有有所准备,以防临时让你发言。
B:I’m used to being invisible. Nobody will notice me. Anyway, thank you. 我都习惯当空气了。不会有人注意到我。不过,还是谢谢你。
一个不是太自信的人。在这个小对话中,something up your sleeve不算什么锦囊妙计,算一个社交tip还差不多。所以,根据具体语境,我们翻译为提前准备。
再来看两个例子:
If I had stopped to think, I’d have known you had a lone hand up your sleeve. 假如我停下来想想,就能明白的你锦囊妙计了。a lone hand 原本指带单枪匹马,这里指只有自己知道的计策。
Keep your plans up your sleeve and put your points across in random order so that your opponent is left guessing where you’re going till the very end. 隐藏你的计划,随机的说出自己的观点,这样你的对手就猜不到你的意图,直到最后时刻。
好了。Something up one’s sleeve秘而不宣的计划;锦囊之计,短语的用法您掌握了吗?本期我们的内容就介绍到这里。下期再见。