編譯/王新語
文/David
中文諺語有「佛要金裝,人要衣裝」,強調注重儀表打扮。相同地,如何漂亮說出動人的話也很重要!
這一次 engoo 將帶你從頭到腳學會與衣服相關的習語!
頭部
A tip of the hat 表達感謝
"tipping a hat" 是指向別人致謝時手扶著帽簷。
這個動作在以前用於打招呼、致謝或認出某人,現在則多用於表達「感謝」。
I have to tip my hat to the many people who helped me throughout my career.我要感謝在我職業生涯幫助過我的人。
Keep something under your hat 保密
把某物藏在帽子下意旨「保守秘密」。
We're planning a surprise party for Marty, but keep it under your hat for now.我們要給 Marty 一個驚喜派對,現在你也要保密了。
在商業裡,如果想表示保密則是用 "keep it under wraps" 這個習語。
We're keeping news about the company merger under wraps until the deal is finalized.在交易確定之前,我們對公司併購這件事要保密。
Throw one’s hat into the ring 接受挑戰、宣布參選
在 19 世紀的拳擊場上,如果有人想要挑戰拳擊手就會把帽子丟上擂台。因此 "throw one’s hat into the ring" 衍伸為「接受挑戰或任務」。
The boss asked for volunteers to lead the project, but no one threw their hat into the ring.老闆詢問有無志願者願意引領這項專案,但沒有人接受挑戰。
Old hat 過時的、不新奇的
"old hat" 表示某事不再新奇,已經不是什麼新鮮事了。
These marketing strategies are old hat. We need some new and exciting ideas.這些行銷策略已經老掉牙了,我們需要一些新策略。
身體
Give the shirt off your back 傾囊相助
這個習語字面意思為「脫掉身上的衣服」,含義為「非常大方,用盡所有家當來幫助他人」。
Don is such a nice person; he'd give you the shirt off his back if you asked for it.Don 人真的很好,如果你開口,他就會幫你到底。
Blue-collar / White-collar 藍領/白領
在中文裡,我們有時候會表示藍領和白領表示一個人的工作。這兩個英文單字作形容詞。
藍領:身穿藍色工作服,從事勞動工作。
白領:身穿白襯衫,從事需付出知識的工作。
It's hard to afford this on a blue-collar worker's salary.藍領階級的薪水很難負擔這個。
The young employee had ambitions to join the white-collar staff members in the top levels of the company.這位年經員工抱有成為這間公司高層白領員工一員的野心。
Hot under the collar 生氣的、惱火的
人在生氣時都會變得異常燥熱,在英文當中則有這句習語來表示「一個人因為某件事生氣、惱火」。
Talking about politics usually gets people hot under the collar. I suggest you avoid that topic.談論政治通常會讓人不爽,我建議你不要講到政治。
Keep one’s shirt on 冷靜、有耐心
在足球場上,有些球員踢進絕殺球會脫衣服慶祝(來黃牌一張 🟨),那「不要脫衣服」意思就是「冷靜」、「有耐心」。
Keep your shirt on — everyone will get their turn, so please be patient.冷靜點,每個人都會輪到,所以有點耐心。
Keep something in your back pocket 留一手備用方案
在後面口袋放東西,等到有需要拿出來用。
The coach kept his team's special strategy in his back pocket until late in the game.教練將球隊的特殊策略留到比賽接近尾聲時才使用。
Ride someone’s coattails 沾別人的光
"coattails" 就是燕尾服後面長長的尾巴,坐在別人衣服的尾巴引申為「沾別人的光、搭便車」
It's clear Jim is just riding his partner's coattails. He hasn't done anything to contribute to the company's success.很明顯 Jim 只是在沾他伴侶的光,他對公司的成功毫無貢獻。
手部
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve 沾別人的光
當某人把心都放在袖子上,那就表示他的心情都表現在臉上。
Sid always wears his heart on his sleeve, so you never have to guess what he's feeling.Sid 總是把情緒放在臉上,所以你完全不用猜他在想什麼。
Fit like a glove 完全適合、完美融入
像手套一樣合身就表示「完全適合、完美融入」。
Ooh, this jacket fits like a glove. I'll take it!這件外套很合身欸,我要了!
Jenny, our newest employee, fits our team like a glove.我們新的員工 Jenny 完全融入我們的團隊。
Off the cuff 即興地、毫無準備的
"cuff" 是袖口的地方,在演出、考試的時候,如果沒有準備的話,有些人會把小抄放在袖口。所以 "off the cuff" 表示「未經準備就做某事」。
The experimental band performed the entire concert off the cuff.這支迷幻樂團即興演出整場演唱會。
The politician's off-the-cuff comments have gotten him into trouble on several occasions. 這個政客出其不意的言論讓他在數個場合身陷麻煩。
Have something up one’s sleeve 暗中留一手、壓箱寶
在袖子裡藏東西這個場面很常在《賭神》這種電影裡出現,我們稱之為「出老千」,這句英文習語相較負面,也有這層含義。
Don't believe everything Chad tells you. He's always had something up his sleeve.不要相信 Chad 跟你講的所有事,他每次都會自己留一手。
腿部
Wear the pants 掌權當家
在一段關係中穿褲子的那個人為「一家之主」,有這個說法是因為以前穿褲子的男生通常為一家之主,而當時女性只能在家穿裙子照料家務。
Don't be fooled by Marie's sweet face and manners; she wears the pants in her house.不要被 Marie 甜美的外表和禮貌給騙了,她可是家裡的一家之主。
Put your pants on one leg at a time 平凡人
不管是比爾蓋茲還是黃仁勳,誰穿褲子不是一次穿一隻腳?這個習語意為「無論是誰,都是平凡人」
Don't think she's so different from you and I; even though she has millions of followers, she still has to put her pants on one leg at a time.不要覺得你我和她很不一樣,即使她有幾百萬名粉絲,她一樣是平凡人。
Waiting for the other shoe to drop 禍不單行、不安地等待結果
脱鞋應該都是一隻腳脫完換脫另一隻,在英文中這個說法表示「壞事接二連三」。
Many workers in the company have already been laid off. The rest of us are safe for now, but we're waiting for the other shoe to drop.公司很多人都遭到裁員,我們剩下的人目前安全,但我們也正焦慮地等待最後結果。
In someone else’s shoes 換位思考
站在別人的鞋裡表示「站在他人的角度思考」。這個習語有很多不同的用法:
Put yourself in his shoes
Put yourself in his shoes — he's been working overtime all week. He's probably very tired.換位思考一下,他整個禮拜都加班,他可能很累。
If I were in your shoes …
She's always so confident. If I were in her shoes, I'd be terrified.她總是很有自信,如果我是她,我一定怕爆。
Walk a mile in someone’s shoes
Don't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes.沒有經歷過我的處境前,不要評判我。
If the shoe fits, wear it. 接受事實、接受評論
這句習語和灰姑娘的故事很相近,在故事中繼姐需要接受鞋子不合腳的事實;但是在現實生活中,如果「鞋子合腳就穿上去」表示要接受事實或評論。

Irene
My tutor says my English hasn't improved because I don't speak it enough.
我的老師說我的英文沒有進步,因為我開口說英文的次數不夠多。

Ruby
Well, if the shoe fits, wear it.
接受指教吧。
Knock your socks off 跌破眼鏡、大為震驚
把襪子震掉用來形容「某件事物讓你歎為觀止、耳目一新」,畢竟要怎麼把襪子震驚到掉下去!
I wasn't expecting to enjoy the movie, but it absolutely knocked my socks off! It's my favorite film of the year.我完全不期待這部電影,結果它讓我跌破眼鏡!變成我年度最愛電影。
Pull your socks up 重新振作
當跑者在起跑線拉好襪子就代表他們準備好要出發了,而如果有人讓你把襪子拉起來就代表要你「振作、加把勁」!
If you want to get the first place, pull your socks up right now.如果你想要得第一名,現在就加把勁。
其他與衣服相關習語
Dress to impress 好好打扮
"impress" 表示「給人留下深刻印象」,要打扮到讓人記得你就要下點功夫了。
The party starts at 8 p.m. Dress to impress!派對在晚上八點開始,好好打扮!
Dressed to kill 好好打扮
這一句話與上句相同,但是更為強烈。通常表示女生穿著很性感、漂亮。
Angelina dressed to kill, and everyone in the room noticed.宴會上所有人都注意到 Angelina 艷殺四方的打扮。
Rags to riches 暴富、白手起家
"rags" 是指「骯髒破爛的舊布料」;而 "riches" 是指「有錢人」。從破布料到有錢表示「暴富」或「白手起家」。
He went from rags to riches overnight.他一夜暴富。
Many people were inspired by her incredible rags-to-riches story.很多人都受她白手起家的故事啟發。
這一次從頭到腳介紹與衣服相關的習語,大家應該有從頭看到尾吧?
把這些單字學起來去 impress 你的英文老師或朋友,讓他們知道你的厲害。
也歡迎和 engoo 老師來場自由談話,用英文嚇嚇他們!