點滴英語天天學第195期:雅思詞彙(34)
1.表述：see the elephant
釋義： Gaining true and valuable life experience of the world, whether negative or positive. （見過世面，飽經風霜，經歷世故）
例句：A: I've never understood those people who go to college, get jobs, and get married in the same town where they grew up.
我一直以來都搞不懂那些在他們長大的地方上大學、找工作、結婚的人。
B: Surely you'd want to get out and see the elephant a bit, don’t you?
你肯定想出去見見市面，不是嗎？
I've seen the elephant in my day, Kid, so don't talk to me about making sacrifices or having a hard life.
Kid，我小時候見過世面，所以不要跟我說要做出犧牲或過艱苦的生活。
2.表述：talk turkey
釋義：To discuss something in a frank, straightforward, and serious manner.（坦率地說，認真地談，直接地說）
例句：We don't have much time so let's dispense with the formalities and start talking turkey.
我們沒有多少時間了，所以讓我們不要拘泥於形式，開始認真地談吧。
Your proposals so far have been completely laughable, so why don't you get back to me when you're ready to talk turkey?
到目前爲止，你的建議完全是可笑的，所以你準備好要談正事時，爲什麼不給我回電話呢?
Okay, Bob, we have business to discuss. Let's talk turkey.
好了，鮑勃，我們有事要談，我們就認真談吧。
John wanted to talk turkey, but Jane just wanted to joke around.
John想談正經事，但Jane只想開開玩笑。
3. 表述：when pigs can fly ( when pigs fly)
釋義：At a time that will never come to pass.（絕不，絕不可能）
例句：Bob: If we could just get Democrats and Republicans to agree on a tax reform bill, we could bring the deficit down in no time.
如果我們能讓民主黨人和共和黨人就稅收改革法案達成一致，我們就能在短時間內減少赤字。
Dave: Sure, when pigs can fly!
情況當然會使這樣，但是絕不可能。
I'm sure that David would be happy to pay for everyone—when pigs fly, that is.
我相信大衛會很樂意爲每個人買單，那是不可能的事情。
John wants me to marry him, when pigs can fly.
John想讓我嫁給他，那時不可能的事情。
A: Do you think Mary will quit her job now that she's pregnant？
你認爲瑪麗會因爲懷孕而辭職嗎？
B: When pigs fly! There is no way she is giving up her career!
不可能的事情，她絕不可能放棄自己的事業！
