趣味英语起源论第183期:butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
日期:2013-04-04 12:28
(单词翻译:单击)
世间万物的存在,必定有其存在的价值和意义,每一个事物的产生必定有其产生的根源,并非凭空而降。
butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
五代蜀国后主孟昶一天晚上和花蕊夫人在宫中摩呵池上纳凉,写了两句词描述花蕊夫人容貌:“冰肌玉骨,自清凉无汗。”美丽的女郎看起来往往好像玉琢冰雕不染一尘,孟昶以为她们“自清凉无汗”,英国人以为butter wouldn't melt in their mouths(牛油在她们嘴里都不会融化),原因是不难明白的。
当然,butter wouldn't melt in her mouth和“自清凉无汗”一样,只是一个错觉。从前,这句英文成语大概有赞美含义,赞美少女天真无邪的样子;可是,成语意思渐渐改变,现在可以兼言男女,说他们“一副正经模样,但是——”那“但是”后面当然就是批评的话了。
例如:
He looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, but I'm convinced he is behind all this.
他看来十分老实,但是,我深信这一切都是他挑起的。