完整版英语翻译易错语句.docx

1、完整版英语翻译易错语句 1. Nobody will be the wiser.谁也不会更为聪明。（误）谁也不懂得。（正）注：英语形容词 wise 有三个基本意思：(1) 聪明的，如 You were wise not to go.(你不去是聪明的）。(2) 饱学的，如 He is wise in the law.（他精通法律）。（3）知道的，如 We are none the wiser for his explanations.(听完他的解释，我们还是不明白）。上例便是第三义，等于说 Nobody will know it. 通常比较级，意为“至今不知道的事，现在知道了”，所谓 none

2、the wiser= no wiser than before= as wise as before,照旧。 2.Dont you see the writing on the wall?你看不见墙上的字吗？（误）难道你看不到灾难的迫切吗？（正）注：The writing on the wall (or sometimes handwriting on the wall) is an expression that suggests a portent of doom or misfortune. It originates in the Biblical book of Daniel - w

3、here supernatural writing fortells the demise of the Babylonian Empire, but it has come to have a wide usage in language and literature.3.Truth lies at the bottom of the decanter.真相从玻璃酒瓶地下看出来。（误）酒后吐真言。（正）4.Dont tell him home truths.不要告诉他家里的真相。（误）不要对他讲逆耳的事实。（正）注:Home truths are unpleasant facts that

4、you learn about yourself, usually from someone else. (BRIT) 5.This will go a long way in overcoming the difficulty.在克服困难上要走很远的路。(误）这在突破难关时是很有帮助的。（正）注：go a long way = will be helpful. 又，go a little way with a person, 意为对那人一点效果也没有，对他影响很小。 6.He has a yellow streak in him.他身上有一条黄色的纹路。(误）他有胆小的气质。（正）7.One

5、 or two of the jewels would never be missed.一两粒宝石是决不会不见的。（误）失去一两粒宝石是决不会知道的。（正）8.know he meant business.我知道他的用意在生意。（误）我知道他不是开玩笑的。（正）注：口语用法的 mean business = be serious；be earnest。做生意的人是要认真的，讲求信用的，因此引伸出上面这种意思来了。9.This failure was the making of him.这次失败是他造成的。（误）这次失败实为他成功的基础。（正）注：动词 make 原是“造成”的意思，又可作“发展

6、或发达的过程。成功的原因或手段”解，例句中所用的便是这个意思。 making 还可以加复数，而构成“要素”，“素质”之意，如 He has in him the makings of a poet.(他有诗人的素质。）10.He has never recovered her loss.他永为能补偿她的损失。(误）他用含失恃之悲。（正）注：这是英语中最容易弄错意思的一种表现法。英语属格分主格作用和宾格作用两种。李据说的是宾格作用，所谓 her loss = the loss of his mother, 而不是 his mothers loss, 不是他母亲的损失，而是他失去母亲。如果说成 S

7、he has never recovered her loss. 就是主格作用，因为 She 和 her是同一人，her loss就是她的损失。从及物动词变来的名词，就能有这两种作用。11.I could do with more leisure time.有更多的闲暇我就能做好了。（误）要再多一些闲暇就好了。（正）注：can do=be satisfied with; be content with, 满足，忍受。在 do 之前用can的过去could 时，便有“要能得到就好了”，“想要”的意思，不过常出于戏言。That man could do with a shave.(那人要把胡子剃光

8、就好了。）12.She is now in a delicate condition.她现在是在一种微妙的状态中。(误）她现在是在怀孕中。(正）注：分辨 a delicate condition 和 a delicate situation, 后者意为“困难的局势“。 13.He is brave like anything.他像任何东西一样的勇敢。（误）其勇无比。（正）注：like anything,意为拿任何东西来譬喻都不相称，引申而成“非常”，“不劣于任何东西”之意。14.It is said that his days are numbered.据说他的日子都计算好了。（误）据说他的死

9、期已近。（正）注：number 用作被动是，有“为数可数”之意，即“有限”，“无多”，“迫切”的意思。传说人寿有定，当生命将尽时，可以说 His hour has come. 或 His course is run.15.It is time he began to work.这时他已经开始工作了。(误）现在是他应该开始工作的时候了。（正）注 It is time+主语+过去分词 就和 It is time for+宾语+不定式 一样的意思。句中的过去动词是一种假设语气的用法，例如 It is time I was going.(我早应该告辞了。）16.He may be drowned fo

10、r all I care.不顾我怎样当心，他或许仍然会溺死的。（误）他也许会溺死，但我毫不介意。（正）注：for all I care= I dont care if. 英语说的for all 或 with all, 实有不顾（notwithstanding)之意，如 For all his wealth, he is unhappy.(他虽有那么多的钱还是不快乐。）17.There is no love lost between them.他们之间并未失掉爱情。（误）他们非常不和。（正）注：这是委婉的说法，意为他们之间根本无爱情可言，换言之，There is hatred between t

11、hem.（他们之间只有憎恨。）18.He had words with her.他和她谈过话了。（误）他和她口角了。（正）注： have words with 或 exchange words with，为互相争论或口角之意。本例也可说成 They had words together. 英文的words，常有吵嘴的意思，如 proceed from words to blows(由争论而至打斗）。19. He was laid up for a few days.他被安插好几天了。（误）他病倒两三天了。（正）注：因病或伤睡在床上，英文说 lay up, 如 be laid up with i

12、llness(卧病）；be laid up with a broken leg(因折腿不能起床）。20. He took my advice in good part.他接受了我的忠告最好的部分。(误）他嘉纳了我的忠言。（正）注：take sth in good part,意为“善意地接受”或“顺受”。相反的说法有 in bad(或ill）part，则为“不悦”或“逆受”。21.It is a wise man that never makes mistakes.聪明人从来不做错事。（误）智者千虑必有一失。（正）注：此句照字面解释，似应照误句的译法，不过这是一句古来的谚语，凡“it is .t

13、hat (who)的构造，都含有“无论怎样都不免”的意思。参考下列各句：It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.(害于此者利于彼。人病医生喜。人死和尚乐。）It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.(自诽其家者未之有也。家丑不可外扬。）It is a good workman that never blunders.(无论怎样好的工人有时都不免做错。）It is a long lane that has no turning.(否极泰来。）It is a wise mother who knows her ow

14、n child.(为母者不知其子之恶。）It is a good divine who follows his own instructions.(能说者不能行。）22.We parted the best friends.我们和最好的朋友别离了。(误）我们在分别时是极好的朋友。（正）注：part 是一个不及物动词，the best friends 为补语。23.Twenty failed, myself among the rest.有二十人落第，但我自己不在内。（误）落第者二十名，我自己也是其中之一。（正）注： the rest, 原意为“其余”，如 as for the rest(至于其

15、他之点）。但among the rest, 则系一个成语，意为 among the number(就在那个数目之中）。24.He is dead, as I live.他死了，我还活着。（误）他的的确确是死了。（正）注：as I live 在此意为indeed，是加重前面主句的。英语还有其他类似的说法，如 as I am here, as the sun shines, as you stand here, as my nose is on my face 等等。25.She will make you a good wife.她将是你做一个好妻子。（误）她将成为你的好妻子。（正）注：这个ma

16、ke 是完全及物动词，采用了两个宾语，前面的 you 为间接宾语， 后面的good wife为直接宾语。 “母亲要替我买一只表”一语，如不译为 Mother will buy a watch for me.时，也可译为 Mother will buy me a watch. 所以上举例句就是 She will make a good wife for you 的另一种说法。 利用 make这个及物动词，我们还可以造出这样的妙句 She made him a good husband because she made him a good wife. 第一个made 为不完全几无动词；第二个 m

17、ade 为完全及物动词。26.His pictures does credit to a professional.他的画可增加专家的信用。（误）他的画较之专家所做亦无逊色。（正）注：does credit to =be worthy of,意为“有成为的价值”，“为之增光”，如 She does credit to the educational system pursued here.(Thackeray)她为这里所追求的教育制度增光不少。27.I am staying with a friend.我和一个朋友同住。（误）我现在住在一个朋友家里。（正）注：stay with =stay a

18、t ones home. 用 with 时后接“人物”，用 in 时后接“地方”，用 at 时后接“房屋”。28.They made an example of the boy.他们以此童为模范。（误）他们惩罚此童以儆其余。（正）注： make an example of one = punish one as an example to others = make am example of the first offender as a warning to to others.(惩初犯折以儆效尤）。注意：如说 set an example, 就是“示范”了,如 He set an exa

19、mple to his inferiors.(他为玩呗示范。） You should set an example for the future.(你应以身作则，垂法于后。）29. We found them at table.我们发现他们在打牌。（误）我们发现他们在用餐。（正）注：green table 指赌博，普通单说 table 一词，多半是说用餐，如 lay the table 摆刀叉准备用餐。 Keep a good table 餐食丰美。keep an open table 广纳食客。30.I will make myself obeyed.我要使自己服从。（误）我自己说过的话必将

20、恪守。（正）注： 参考：I made myself understood in English.(我使别人能听懂我用英语说的话。）例句中的 obeyed 的用法，与上例中的 understood 相同。如说 I made you understand me.(我使你了解我。）则与说ill make others obey me.(我要使别人服从我。）用法相同， understand 和 obey 二词，都是略去了 to 的不定式。31.But for hope, life would be short.但是因为希望，人生是短促的。（误）如果没有希望，人生苦短。（正）注：but for = if

21、 it were not for 或 If it had not been for (如果没有），可作为过去或过去完成的省略。 这个 but 有否定之意，后面如不接 for，而接 that 也是一样的，如 Life could be short, but that hope prolongs it. （人生是短促的，若非希望去延长它的话。）32. He is ignorant to a proverb.他不懂得这句谚语。（误）他的无知是有名的。（正）注: 这句话又可说成 His ignorance is a proverb. 或 He is a proverb for ignorance. 所

22、谓 proverb,是指尽人皆知的事，故 to a proverb,意即尽人皆知，达到尽人皆知的程度。参考：He is ignorant to a wonder.(他的无知令人吃惊）改用形容词也是一样，如 His generosity is provobial=He is proverbial for his generosity.(他的大量是人所共知的。）33.The man was generous to a fault.那人宽恕过失。（误）他过于慷慨。（正）注：to a fault = to excess；excessively，过度的，极端地。例如，He is kind to a fa

23、ult.(他几段亲切。）用上 fault一次，原意为即令有缺点也满不在乎。34.I have no opinion of that sort of man.我不赞成那种人的意见。（误）我对那种人毫无好感。（正）注：句中的 opinion 一字，不是“意见”，而是“评价”的意思，又可作“信用”解，如 I have no opinion of him.(我不相信其人。）他例如 I have a very high opinion of him.(我尊敬他。）35.He is equal to any task whatever.他对任何事情都是同等看待的。（误）他对任何工作都可胜任愉快。（正）注：

24、be equal to the work = be able to de the work, 胜任愉快，应付裕如。例如 He was equal to the occasion.(他应付那种局势，能随机应变。）She is very weak and not equal to a long journey.(她身体很弱，不堪长途跋涉。） She does not feel equal to receiving so many visitors.(她觉得力有未逮，不能接纳这么多的客人。）36.He has to answer to me for the letter.他必须回答我那封信。（误）关

25、于那封信他必须对我负责。（正）注：answer for,有“负责”的意思，如 answer for a crime （对一种罪行负责。） answer for his safety.(负责他的安全。） You will have to answer for your wrongdoing one day.(将来有一天，你会自食恶果的。）I cant answer for his honesty.(我不能保证他的诚实。） 37. They did not answer to your explanation.他们对你的解释没有回答。（误）那些和你的解释不相符合。（正）注：“回答”只能用 answ

26、er 一词，不能加 to。英语说的 answer to= correspond，即“符合”之意。主语的 they，是指事不指人。38. They were killed to a man.他们被杀得只剩下一个人了。(误）他们被杀的片甲不留。（正）注；（all）to a man= all without exception,(一个人都不留，全部），实连最后一个人也包括在内，并无例外。 例如 Though we excepted some absences, the staff were there to a man.(我们以为有人缺席，实则都到齐了。） 39.The village is on

27、the side of the mountain.那村庄在山旁。（误）那村庄在山腰。（正）注：山有阴阳两面（two sides），说在一面上，自然是在半山上，若说在旁边，则是指在山下的意思，英语为 by the side of.40.She can paly on the piano after a fashion.她能随时俗的所尚弹奏钢琴。（误）她能稍许弹弹钢琴。（正）注: after a fashion = not satisfactorily but somehow or other, 乃委婉的贬义，意为“稍许”，“略为”。例如 She has a rough manner, but s

28、he is kind after a fashion.(她态度粗鲁，但人还和善。）如把不定冠词改变为定冠词，就变成“追逐时髦”的意思了：after the fashion = in accordance with the prevailing style of dress,etc.例如 This kind of hat is after the fashion.（这种帽子正在流行。）41.He is worn out with comany.他已倦于交游了。（误）来客太多使他疲于应接。（正）注：company 在此作“客人”或“友伴”解，例如 He is fond of company.(他好

29、客。） Will you favour me with your company at dinner?(敬备菲酌，恭候台光。）42. It is the man behind the gun that tells.说话的是在大炮后面的人。（误）胜败在人而不在武器。（正）注：动词 tell= produce marked effect(见效，奏效）。如 Money is bound to tell.(钱到效生。）Every shot tells.(百发百中。）Years begin to tell upon him.(年老使他开始显得虚弱起来。） 43.He never calls a spad

30、e a spade.他从来不把锄头叫做锄头。（误）他从不说直话。（正）注：call a spade a spade= speak quite plainly(直言无隐。）原是打桥牌的用法，因为玩牌时手上什么牌常不直说，分明手上是一张spade，却故意说成club，或heart，或diamond，以乱视听。44.That picture flatters her.那是逢迎她而画的。（误）那画像实美过她本人。（正）45.She is the sort of woman who likes to be very much in evidence.她是那种喜欢求证的女人。（误）她是属于爱出风头的女人。

31、（正）注：in evidence =conspicuous 显然可见。例如 Smith is nowhere in evidence.(史密斯不见了。）46.He doesnt know any better.他不知道任何更好的。（误）他居然有这样笨。(正）注：know better=be wiser47. He is one of the institutions of the place.他是当地机构之一。（误）他是当地知名人物之一。（正）注：institution 俗语有名人之意。例如 John W. Gardner 说的，Self-congratulation should be taken in small doses. It is habit-forming, and most human institutions are far gone in addiction.(自歌自颂只可偶一为之，多必成瘾，而大多数的达官贵人都已经成为瘾君子了。）48.Ill eat my hat if I do.如果我做的话，我就要吃掉我的帽子。（误）我决不做。（正）49.I can make nothing of what he says.我认为他说的话一文不值。（误）他说的话我一点也不懂得。（正）注：make.of,普通是作 consid