英语中有些词汇是有一定的文化背景的,因此其真实的含义与字面含义往往是差之毫厘谬以千里。因此这些词汇的理解经常会成为重要考察点,这就是考官故意设置的文化陷阱。为了帮助同学们更好的掌握地道英语,小编将推出系列词汇精讲!
Putsomebody to sleep
我去洗衣服的时候,通常会路过隔壁德国老太太的门口,她开门出来打招呼。她由于单身一个人,非常孤独,看见我女儿会"Honey(宝贝)长,Honey短的"。一个周日的晚上,她见到我, 便问:"Where is your little girl? I did notsee her today." 我答说:"Oh, I just put her to sleep."她听罢,突然惊叫起来, "Ashley(我的名字),What did you say?"不等她说完,我立即意识到我说了一句天大的错话。我马上补充说: "I am sorry. I mean that Ijust put her to bed."(我的意思是我刚哄她入睡了).英语中 "put somebody to sleep"是指终止某人生命,是一种委婉的表达,也可以用作"(为动手术而用麻醉剂)使人失去知觉"的意思。常听老美说:"Oh, I had to put my dog to sleep. Hesuffered too much from his sickness"(我只好让我的狗安息,它饱受病痛的折磨!)