beat around the bush 原先指捕鳥的時候,有的人負(fù)責(zé)敲打灌木群來喚醒鳥,其他人負(fù)責(zé)捕捉,所以這個習(xí)語的寓意比較明顯,可以意為“聲東擊西,旁敲側(cè)擊,拐彎抹角”,寓意:
avoid talking about the main topic
避免談?wù)撝饕掝}
not speaking directly or precisely
不直接或準(zhǔn)確地說
avoid the important point
避開重點
approach indirectly
間接接近
in a roundabout way, or too cautiously
以迂回的方式,或者過于謹(jǐn)慎
speak in a roundabout, indirect or misleading way
以迂回、間接或誤導(dǎo)的方式說話
還有一種形式:beat about the bushes,例如:
Will you please stop beating about the bush and get to the point?
請你別拐彎抹角,直截了當(dāng)?shù)卣f吧?
解析:stop doing sth 意為“停止做某事”。
When I asked George whether he knew who had taken the files from my desk, he started beating around the bush and refused to give me a direct answer.
當(dāng)我問喬治是否知道是誰從我桌上拿走文件時,他開始拐彎抹角,拒絕直接回答我。
Don't beat around the bush and tell me frankly what you think of my proposition.
別拐彎抹角,坦率地告訴我你對我的提議的看法。
I know this discussion is an uncomfortable one, but instead of beating about the bush, let's come to the point and get over with it.
我知道這次討論很不舒服,但與其拐彎抹角,不如直截了當(dāng)?shù)卣f吧。
解析:instead of 后面的動作或是對象是要被替代的,而 instead 后面的是要去做的。
Quit beating around the bush and tell me what you really want.
別拐彎抹角了,告訴我你真正想要什么。
You will have to learn to speak clearly about what you want. You won't get anywhere if you keep beating around the bush.
你必須學(xué)會清楚地說出你想要什么。如果你繼續(xù)拐彎抹角,就一事無成。
做人要坦率,不要拐彎抹角,待人要真誠,不要試圖算計別人,因為那樣太累了,而且有可能算來算去算自己。
聯(lián)系客服