英文中的貓言貓語 | KOMMIT學外語

英文中的貓言貓語 | KOMMIT學外語

人類養貓的歷史可以追朔到一萬年前,近年來更成為許多人家中寵愛的毛小孩!貓不只出現在我們的生活周遭,甚至在文化層面(例如文學和藝術)也能時常看見牠的身影。英文中就有不少和貓有關的成語,有些讓人一目了然,有些卻讓人滿頭問號⋯⋯下面一系列與貓有關的常用英文片語,你知道幾個呢?

► Be the cat’s whiskers/pajamas (informal)

To be the best thing, person, idea, etc.
● He thinks he’s the cat’s whiskers (= he has a high opinion of himself).

► Raining cats and dogs (informal)

To be raining heavily.

► (Has the) cat got your tongue? ​(informal)

Said to somebody, especially a child, who stays silent when expected to speak, for example after being asked a question.
● What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?

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► Curiosity killed the cat (saying)
Used to tell somebody not to ask questions or try to find out about things that do not concern them.

► Let the cat out of the bag
To tell a secret carelessly or by mistake. I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.
● I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

► Like a cat on hot bricks (British English)
Very nervous.
She was like a cat on hot bricks before her driving test.

► Like a cat that’s got the cream (British English)

Very pleased with yourself.
● She looked like a cat that’s got the cream. She was almost purring with pleasure.

► Like herding cats (informal)

Used to describe a very difficult task, especially one that involves organizing people.
Managing a political party is a lot like herding cats.

► Look like something the cat brought/dragged in (informal)

A person that looks look dirty and untidy.

► No room to swing a cat (informal)

When somebody says there’s no room to swing a cat, they mean that a room is very small and that there is not enough space.

► Not have/stand a cat in hell’s chance (of doing something)

To have no chance at all.

► Play (a game of) cat and mouse with somebody, play a cat-and-mouse game with somebody

To play a cruel game with somebody in your power by changing your behavior very often, so that they become nervous and do not know what to expect.
He thought the police were playing some elaborate game of cat and mouse and waiting to trap him.

► Put/set the cat among the pigeons (British English)

To say or do something that is likely to cause trouble.
● Then she told them she was dropping out of college. That really set the cat among the pigeons.

► There’s more than one way to skin a cat (saying, humorous)

There are many different ways to achieve something.

► When the cat’s away the mice will play (saying)

People enjoy themselves more and behave with greater freedom when the person in charge of them is not there.

和貓有關的英文片語/成語大家都了解了嗎?不妨在合適的生活情境下試著使用這些句子,讓自己記得更牢,說起來也更順!

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