時尚雙語:英國逾三分之一女性爲減肥買小號衣服

【英文原文】

摘要：一項最新調查發現，數百萬英國女性購買尺寸過小的衣服，以此作爲減肥的動力。

Millions of Britain's women buy under-size clothes as an incentive to help them lose weight, a survey has found.

More than a third of women deliberately buy clothes which are too small for them because they are determined to slim down enough to fit into them one day, it found.

The research found that on average these women confessed to buying three under-size items of clothing each.

This means about 24 million dresses, skirts, blouses and trousers hanging idly in the country's wardrobes --- as their owners battle to fit into them.

The research uncovered Scots as the biggest purchases women make, with one in six claiming to own ten or more items they have bought knowing they are too small.

Christine Evans, Lloyds pharmacy's weight management specialist, which conducted the research, said: "If slipping into a little black dress or a smaller jean size is something someone finds motivating, then buying an under-size garment could be a very sensible investment.

"Many people, women especially, have a daily reminder of their size in the form of an item of clothing they want to fit into one day.

"Deliberately buying these clothes could be an effective strategy."

She added: "Taking control of weight loss is all about setting realistic goals and then taking action to achieve them".

【中文譯文】

一項最新調查發現，數百萬英國女性購買尺寸過小的衣服，以此作爲減肥的動力。

調查發現，超過三分之一的女性故意購買穿不下的瘦小衣服，因爲她們下定決心減肥到能穿下去爲止。

調查發現，這些女性平均每人承認購買過三套尺寸過小的衣服。

這意味着在英國，有2400萬件套裝、裙子、上衣和褲子閒置在衣櫥裏，而此時它們的主人正開展減肥大戰，以便有一天可以將它們派上用場。

調查表明，蘇格蘭女性最愛購買尺寸過小的衣服，有1/6的女性稱購買過10件或以上明知尺寸過小的衣服。

開展此項調查的勞埃德醫藥公司體重控制專家克里斯廷·埃文斯說：“如果對有些人而言，能夠穿下小號黑色禮服或者小號牛仔褲可以激勵自己減肥的話，那麼買一套小號衣服就是一種相當合理的投資。”

“對很多人，尤其是女性而言，一件想在以後穿下去的衣服可以每天激勵自己減肥。”

“故意買小號衣服是減肥的有效方法。”

她補充道：“控制體重就要制定現實可行的目標，並付諸行動。”

【詞彙講解】

1. incentive n.激勵某人做某事的事物；刺激；誘因，動機

A little bonus will give the employees an incentive to work harder.
一點獎金可以刺激僱員更加努力地工作。

2. deliberately adv. 故意地

They wrote words which were deliberately intended to shock.
他們寫的歌詞，經過精心推敲，有意使人震驚。

3. idly adv. 懶惰地，空閒地

He was idly turning the pages of a magazine.
他在無聊地翻看一本雜誌。

4. garment n.(一件)衣服

This shop sells garments of all kinds.
這個商店出售各種衣服。

5. strategy 戰略，策略
By careful strategy she negotiated a substantial pay rise.
她精心策劃後，談妥了大幅增加工資的事。

【語法和詞組】

1. More than a third of women deliberately buy clothes which are too small for them because they are determined to slim down enough to fit into them one day, it found.
調查發現，超過三分之一的女性故意購買穿不下的瘦小衣服，因爲她們下定決心減肥到能穿下去爲止。

slim down表示“消瘦”，例如：

She tries to get fit and slim down.
她努力使身體健康體形苗條。

slim down還有“裁員，削減”的意思，例如：

The Marine Corps began to slim down under budget restrictions.
由於預算的限制，海軍陸戰隊開始裁員。

You have to slim down your holiday plans since costs have risen so much.
既然費用上漲得這麼厲害，你們必須削減假日計劃安排。

2. The research found that on average these women confessed to buying three under-size items of clothing each.
調查發現，這些女性平均每人承認購買過三套尺寸過小的衣服。

confess to 表示“承認，坦白”，例如：

I confess to some suspicion of your honesty.
我承認對你的誠實有所懷疑。

還可以表示“ 〈宗〉向……懺悔”，例如：

He confessed to the priest before he died.
他臨終前向神父懺悔。

3. If slipping into a little black dress or a smaller jean size is something someone finds motivating
如果對有些人而言，能夠穿下小號黑色禮服或者小號牛仔褲可以激勵自己減肥的話

slip into 表示“ (使)滑進，塞進；(使)滑行撞上(某物) ”，例如：

The car turned on the wet road and slipped into the fence.
汽車在那條泥濘的道路上打滑, 接着撞上了柵欄。

How can you slip me into the concert without a ticket?
沒有票你怎麼帶我混進音樂會上去聽音樂?

4. Taking control of weight loss is all about setting realistic goals and then taking action to achieve them
控制體重就要制定現實可行的目標，並付諸行動。

take control of 表示“控制”，例如：

Take control of the situation instead of feeling overwhelmed or powerless.
控制局勢，而不應被它左右或束手無策。