美式慣用語(2): bone up on sth. (American Idioms (2): bone up on sth.)

美式慣用語(2): bone up on sth.
American Idioms (2): bone up on sth.

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免責聲明：本站所提供之音檔，除非另外註明出處，係皆由站長錄製而成，然站長既非英語母語人士、亦非英語教師，故此處之音檔僅供學習參考之用。

Disclaimer:  The audio files provided on this site were made of and by me unless otherwise indicated. Nevertheless, I am neither a native speaker nor a teacher of English. The sound samples are meant for reference only.

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bone up on sth.

中文：臨時抱佛腳；重新複習
English: study sth. hard, usually in preparation for a test; brush up on sth.

[例句] (Example)
Why not just bone up on the French or Russian I’d already studied years ago? (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert)
[翻譯]
為什麼不乾脆複習一下我幾年前就學的法語或俄語就好了？（《享受吧！一個人的旅行》，伊莉莎白．吉兒伯特著）

[說明]
這個慣用語的來源主要有兩種說法，但至今都尚未被證實。第一種是說因為古代用獸骨（bone）來磨亮（polish）皮革，因此便將bone當動詞使用，以「bone up on某件事物」表示精進（polish）對該事物的認識。第二種說法是認為與維多利亞時代的一位名叫Henry George Bohn的書商有關係，由於他製作了大量的教學用書，因此後人便取他的姓Bohn的諧音bone，以「bone up on某件事物」來表示認真念書。

[Explanation]
"There are two chief theories as to the origin of this phrase. One is that it derives from the practise of using bones to polish leather. So, to 'bone up' on a subject was to polish or refine one's knowledge. The second theory relates to the Victorian bookseller Henry George Bohn (1796-1884). He produced a large catalogue of books, including many study texts.” (The Phrase Finder)

[網路例句] (Examples from the web)

• I have to bone up on the state driving laws because I have to take my driving test tomorrow. (The Free Dictionary)
• David Cameron vows to bone up on his history after Letterman show gaffe. (Sep 27, 2012, Guardian by Nicholas Watt)

[翻譯]

• 我得複習一下州立交通法規才行，因為我明天就要去考筆試了。
• (英國首相)大衛卡麥隆在《萊特曼秀》上出糗後誓言重讀歷史。

[參考工具](References)

• The Free Dictionary
• The Phrase Finder
• McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

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美式慣用語(1): get up the juice (American Idioms (1): get up the juice)

美式慣用語(1): get up the juice
American Idioms (1): get up the juice

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免責聲明：本站所提供之音檔，除非另外註明出處，係皆由站長錄製而成，然站長既非英語母語人士、亦非英語教師，故此處之音檔僅供學習參考之用。

Disclaimer:  The audio files provided on this site were made of and by me unless otherwise indicated. Nevertheless, I am neither a native speaker nor a teacher of English. The sound samples are meant for reference only.

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get up the juice

中文：提起勁、拿出精神、鼓起勇氣
English: get up the energy, pluck up the courage

[例句] (Example)
I think if I were to stay in Italy for another three years, he might actually get up the juice to kiss me. (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert)

[翻譯]
我想如果我在義大利再待個三年的話，他也許會真的鼓起勇氣來親我。（《享受吧！一個人的旅行》，伊莉莎白．吉兒伯特著）

[說明]

相信大家都知道，get up當不及物動詞時，意思是「起床、起身」，然而在這個慣用語當中，get up後接受詞the juice，當及物動詞用，意思是「使...升起、鼓起...」。而一般意思是「果汁、汁液」的juice在這裡指的是「活力、精力、能量」。juice在美式口語還有其他許多意思，包括「權力、燃料、電流、錢財、酒精飲料」等。

[Explanation]

In its intransitive use, “to get up” most commonly means “to arise from bed” or “to stand up”. However, “to get up” in this idiom, where it is followed by the object “the juice”, means “to cause something to arise”, which is a transitive use. In this case, “juice” does not refer to the fluid content of a plant, but rather to energy or spirits. In American English, “juice” is also a slang term for various things, including “influence”, “fuel”, “electric currents”, “money”, and “alcohol”.

[網路例句] (Examples from the web)

• And I figure, you know, if you can't get up the juice to write while you're taking a writing course, you were -- as Mark Twain said -- meant for cutting wood. (Interview: Gregory Frost by Victoria McManus)
• All right, gang. Can you tell me just *how* one is supposed to get up the juice to get going again after falling into a slump? (Irrelevant Ramblings)

[翻譯]

• 而且你知道嗎，我猜想如果你連上寫作課的時候都缺乏提筆寫作的動力，那麼就像馬克吐溫說的，你注定是生來砍柴的。
• 好吧，大夥們。你們能不能告訴我，在歷經挫敗之後，到底要怎樣才能重振精神再出發呢?

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如何用法語「得寸進尺」 (How to “push your luck” in French)

如何用法語「得寸進尺」 How to “push your luck” in French

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免責聲明：本站所提供之音檔係由站長錄製而成，然站長既非母語人士、亦非法語教師，故此處之音檔僅供學習參考之用。

Disclaimer:  The audio files provided on this site were made of and by me. Nevertheless, I am neither a native speaker nor a teacher of French. The sound samples are meant for reference only.

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pousser le bouchon un peu
pousser le bouchon un peu loin
pousser le bouchon trop loin

"Les lexicographes supposent, sans aucune certitude, que l’expression vient d’un des deux principaux jeux où on utilise un bouchon : le jeu du bouchon, qui date du début du XIXe siècle, où il fallait abattre avec un palet des bouchons surmontés de pièces de monnaie, ou bien la pétanque où le cochonnet s’appelle le bouchon." (Wikitionary)

[說明]

字面上的意思是「把瓶塞推得有點遠（或過遠）」，用以比喻行事超過、要求過多，站長認為「得寸進尺」是相當貼切的翻譯。根據Wikitionary的解釋，這個成語的由來可能跟兩種遊戲有關。其中一種是起源於19世紀的擊塞遊戲，比賽者必須以投擲圓環的方式將壓在銅板下的塞子擊倒。另一種則是跟擲球（或稱地擲球）有關。擲球中的投擲用球尺寸較大，而基準球尺寸較小，因此基準球在法文中稱為cochonnet（意為「小豬」），又稱為bouchon （意為「瓶塞」）。

[Explanation]

Literally, the phrase means “to push the cork a bit (or too far)”. It is used metaphorically to describe cases where someone is doing something beyond the limit of the accepted standard or is asking (often unreasonably) for more than the expected norm when the odds are already in his or her favor. A good equivalent in English, I think, is “to push (or press) your luck” or “to push the envelope”. According to Wikitionary, the phrase allegedly originated from either of the two games involving the use of bouchon. One is a cork game that started in the 19th century, where players would have to knock down corks that are topped by coins with a quoit. The other is the pétanque game, where the jack is alternatively called bouchon (also known as cochonnet).  

[趣聞]

在《蝴蝶》這部電影的同名主題曲裡小女孩愛樂莎和老先生朱利安一同出遊尋找蝴蝶，途中愛樂莎向朱利安要求要看蚱蜢還有蜻蜓，隨後又要求朱利安唱最後一段，於是朱利安就說了這段話：Tu ne crois pas que tu pousses un peu le bouchon? （你不覺得你有點得寸進尺了嗎?）

[Tidbit]

In the namesake theme song of the movie The Butterfly, a little girl Elsa and an old man Julien go on a search for a special species of butterflies. After asking to see grasshoppers and dragonflies, she asks another favor of him, that he sings the last couplet. It is now when he says, “Tu ne crois pas que tu pousses un peu le bouchon? (Don’t you think you’re pushing your luck?).   

[網路例句] (Example from the web)

La famille royale britannique a toujours toléré avec une certaine limite les frasques du prince Harry, mais le scandale de ces photos sur lesquelles il apparaît tout nu, risque de pousser le bouchon un peu plus loin. (le 28 août 2012, Tixup)

[翻譯] 英國皇室對哈利王子的越軌行為向來多所包容，然而裸照風波所釀造的醜聞未免有得寸進尺之嫌。（取自2012年8月28日所刊之Tixup）

[Translation]

The British royal family has been tolerating the escapade of Prince Harry with certain limit , but the nude photo scandal might just have pushed the envelope a little too far. (August 28, 2012, Tixup)

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