“nose”习语趣谈
NSEFCModule5 Unit 4 Make the news 的reading part 中出现了一个短语“have a good nose for”,这个短语有两层意思,第一层是嗅觉(a sense ofsmell),如:a dog with a goodnose 即嗅觉灵敏的狗,第二层意思是探查和发现某事物的能力(an ability to find anddetect something),如:a reporter with a goodnose for news, scandal, etc. 即善于搜寻新闻、丑闻等的记者。该篇课文中当然是第二层意思, 是指作为一名好的记者要有对新闻的敏锐的“嗅觉”,非常形象。“nose”一词看似非常普通,但还有很多有趣的习语,有些还与汉语有异曲同工之妙,如:. as plain as the nose onone’s face 显而易见
can’t see beyond (the length of) one’s nose 鼠目寸光
fuddle one’s nose酩酊大醉
keep one’s nose to thegrindstone 埋头苦干
但有些不能望文生义:
a flatnose 塌鼻子
a Roman nose 鹰钩鼻
a snub nose 狮子鼻
a nose to light candlesat酒糟鼻子
a dog’s nose 一种杜松子酒掺啤酒的混合饮料
a nose of wax没有主意的人;容易塑捏的东西
另外还有很多:
1. be no skin off one’snose 事不关己
It’s no skin off my nose if Ilose this job; I can always get another one.
失掉这份工作也没有关系,我随时都能找到工作。
2.bite /snap sb’s noseoff 气势汹汹地对某人说
I was only five minutes late butshe really bit my nose off.
我仅仅迟到五分钟,可她就对我大发雷霆。
3.blow one’s nose擤鼻涕
He caught such a bad cold thathe had to blow his nose from time to time.
他的感冒这么重,只得不停地擤鼻涕。
4.by a nose以极微之差
He passed the examination by anose.
他差一点不及格。
The team won the gameby a nose.
他们队以微弱优势险胜。
5.count/tell noses清点人数
Each time the troop assembledthe leader counted noses.
部队每次集合时队长都清点人数。
6.cut off one’s to spite one’sface 与人赌气为自己招来不利
If you refuse her help becauseyou’re angry with her, you’re cutting off your nose to spite yourface.
如果你是因为跟她赌气而拒绝她的帮助,那你是自讨苦吃。
7.follow one’s nose一直走,凭直觉
If you follow your nose, youcan’t miss it.
如果你一直向前走,不会看不到它。
It had been many years since mylast visit, but I found the house by following my nose.
我上次去该地是许多年前的事,但我还是凭直觉找到了那所房子。
8.get up one’s nose惹恼某人 使人生厌
Her cheeky remarksreally got up my nose!
她那些不要脸的话真惹我生气!
9.have one’s nose insth 专心的阅读某物
Peter’s always havinghis nose in a book.
彼得总是专心看书。
10.keep one’s noseclean 不做讨厌违法的事
If you keep your nose clean, theboss might promote you.
你若是规规矩矩的,老板就可能提拔你。
11.lead sb by thenose 牵着某人的鼻子走, 完全支配某人
He lets his wife lead him by thenose.
他对太太惟命是从。
12. look down one’s nose atsb/sth 轻视某人/某物
I gave the dog some lovelysteak, but it just looked down its nose at it.
我给了那只狗一些挺好的牛排,可它却看不上。
13.make a long nose做蔑视手势(把拇指放在鼻端,其余四指分开)
He made a long nose when he sawthe young man.
当他看到那个年轻人时他做了一个蔑视手势。
14. on the nose直接地;十分正确地
His estimate was righton the nose.
他的估计十分正确。
15. puy through thenose 被敲竹杠
They patronized small andexclusive shops where they cheerfully pay through thenose.
他们光顾规模小而货物高档的绅士商店,在那里心甘情愿地当冤大头。
16. poke/ stick one’s nose intosth 管闲事
Don’t go poking your nose intoother people’s business.
少管闲事。
17. put sb’s nose out ofjoint 使某人难堪,冒犯或惹恼某人
He is so conceited that when sherefused his invitation, it really put his nose out ofjoint.
他那么自负,她没接收他的邀请可把他的鼻子气歪了。
18. turn one’s nose upat 看不上
My friend turns up his nose atanyone who hasn’t had a college education.
我的朋友对没受过大学教育的人一律看不起。
19.(right) under one’s (very)nose 就在某人面前;当着某人的面
The thief took Mrs. Smith’sjewels right from under her nose.
那个小偷就在 史密斯夫人眼前偷取了她的珠宝。
20. with one’s nose in theair 非常傲慢
She walked past us with her nosein the air.
她从我们身边走过,神气得鼻孔朝天。