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cover of episode 【绝望的主妇】英文中,slippery还可以用于描述人?

【绝望的主妇】英文中,slippery还可以用于描述人?

2024/12/17
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英语老师瑶瑶

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Yao老师: 单词 "slippery" 除了表示“光滑的,滑溜的”,还可以表示“靠不住的,狡猾的,滑头的”。在口语中,"slippery" 常与 eel(鳗鱼)或 snake(蛇)等动物形象联系在一起,比喻狡猾的人。这与中文用狐狸比喻狡猾有所不同。此外,"slippery customer" 指的是狡猾、滑头的人或事物、组织,而不一定是顾客。 在日常生活中,我们可能会在一些提醒大家小心地滑的牌子上看到 "slippery" 这个词,因为它有形容词“光滑的;滑溜溜的;易滑落的”这样的词义。但是,在今天视频当中,"slippery" 的用法明显是形容词性的另外一个意思,表示“靠不住的,狡猾的,滑头的”。这个词用来形容人时,带有贬义,指那些聪明但又不诚实,让人无法信任的人。 中英文表达“狡猾”的意象不同,英文常用鳗鱼或蛇,中文常用狐狸。 "slippery customer" 指的是狡猾、滑头的人或事物、组织,而不一定是顾客。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What does 'slippery' mean when used to describe a person?

When used to describe a person, 'slippery' means someone who is clever but dishonest, making them untrustworthy. It often carries a negative connotation and is associated with being deceitful or cunning.

How is 'slippery' commonly used in everyday contexts?

In everyday contexts, 'slippery' is commonly used to describe something that is smooth or slick, such as a slippery sidewalk. It warns of potential hazards like slipping or falling.

What cultural differences are highlighted when comparing 'slippery' in English and Chinese?

In English, 'slippery' is often associated with animals like eels or snakes to describe someone as deceitful (e.g., 'as slippery as an eel'). In Chinese, the equivalent expression typically uses the fox ('as cunning as a fox'), reflecting cultural differences in metaphorical imagery.

What does the phrase 'slippery customer' imply?

The phrase 'slippery customer' implies someone or something that is deceitful, cunning, or difficult to deal with. It doesn't necessarily refer to a literal customer but rather to a person or entity that is untrustworthy.

Can you provide an example of 'slippery' used in a sentence to describe a person?

An example is: 'He's as slippery as an eel—you can never get a straight answer out of him.' This sentence illustrates how 'slippery' is used to describe someone who is evasive and untrustworthy.

Chapters
本集节目开头以《绝望的主妇》第二季第八集中的台词“Honey, you know how slippery they are.” 开篇,引出主题单词slippery。
  • 讲解了《绝望的主妇》中一句台词的含义和发音技巧。

Shownotes Transcript

【句子】Honey, you know how slippery they are.   【Desperate Housewives S2E8】

【发音】/ˈhʌn.i/ /ju:/ /nəʊ/ /haʊ/ /ˈslɪp.ər.i/ /ðeɪ/ /ɑː(r)/

【发音技巧】暂无;

【翻译】亲爱的,你知道他们有多狡猾。

【适用场合】

今天节目中我们一起来看看slippery这个单词的用法。大家日常生活中可能会在一些提醒大家“小心地滑”的牌子上看到slippery这个词,因为它有形容词“光滑的;滑溜溜的;易滑落的”这样的词义;

比如说:

eg: a slippery sidewalk

一条打滑的人行道

 

而今天视频中,slippery的用法,明显是形容词性另外一个意思:“靠不住的;狡猾的;滑头的;”

这个词经常用来描述人,而且充满了贬义色彩。

someone who is slippery is clever but dishonest, so that you cannot trust them;

在口语中,当slippery当作这个意思理解,一般经常还会跟eel鳗鱼或者snake蛇这样的动物形象联系在一起,我们会说as slippery as an eel,或者as slippery as a snake字面意思是:“像一条鳗鱼一样狡猾”;“像一条蛇一样狡猾”;

在中文当中,我们通常会说“像狐狸一样狡猾”,这个时候就能体会出来中英文文化当中的表达差异了。

 

eg: He's as slippery as an eel—you can never get a straight answer out of him.

他啊,狡猾得跟狐狸一样,你从他嘴里套不出来一句直率的答案。

大家从这句话中就能看出来同样表达“狡猾的;滑头的;不可信赖的”这样的意思,但是中英文中选择的意象明显不同。

 

eg: Their embezzling CEO has been slippery as a snake, but we've finally got some hard evidence on him now.

他们那个挪用公款的首席执行官狡猾得很,但是我们终于拿到了一些他犯罪的铁证。

 

eg: Of course that guy took everyone's money and left town—he's as slippery as a snake.

当然,那家伙拿走了所有人的钱,离开了小镇。他特别狡猾。

 

eg: Don't sign a lease with that landlord. I think he's as slippery as an eel.

别跟那个房东签租约,他太狡猾了。

 

而当别人说slippery customer的时候,其实此时的customer也不一定就是“顾客”的意思;

slippery customer 就是指“一个狡猾、滑头的人或者事物、组织”;

 

eg: Don't believe what he says—he's a slippery customer.

别相信他说的话,他这个人啊,狡猾得很!

 

【尝试翻译以下句子,并留言在文章留言区】

Companies like this are slippery customers, coming up with all sorts of elaborate means of getting around regulations.