日積月累學口語:自遊自在魚兒的英語表達

Everybody else at the party ended up in the swimming pool. But I was a fish out of water because I can't swim.
參加聚會的每個人最後都到游泳池去游泳了，我覺得特別彆扭，因爲我不會游泳。

When I ask my friend if she likes my new dress, I was fishing for a compliment.
我問她是否喜歡我的新衣服時，其實是想讓她誇我幾句。

Charlie, you've had two weeks to decide whether you want in on this deal. Now it's time to fish or cut bait. I need your answer by six o'clock tonight—otherwise we'll leave you out of it!
查理，對於要不要參與這筆生意你斟酌了有兩星期了。現在你必須做出抉擇了。我必須在今晚六點前得到你的答覆，否則我們就把你排除在外。

The senator says the investigation is a fishing expedition by his enemies to see if they can find anything he has ever done that might hurt his political career.
那位參議員聲稱這次調查是他政敵的蓄意盤查，目的是蒐羅挖掘他是否有不端行爲，以損毀他的政治生涯。

I can't believe it! His only son was hurt in an accident and he told his wife he couldn't go to the hospital until later because he had other fish to fry—a million-dollar deal he was closing.
我真是不能理解！他的獨子遭到意外受了傷，而他卻對太太說，他要晚些時候才能去醫院，因爲他另有要事得辦：有一筆百萬美元的大生意在等著他拍板呢。

This story is a red herring to divert public attention from this issue.
這故事不過是用來轉移公衆的注意力的。

herring n. 鯡（又稱青魚）

Holy mackerel! What's this? A new car?
好傢伙！這是什麼？你買了輛新車？

mackerel n. 鯖（產於北大西洋）；馬鮫魚