to stand on one's own two feet
to throw oneself at someone's feet
在美國(guó)的成語和俗語中,有不少是圍繞著"腳"這個(gè)字構(gòu)成的,"腳"這個(gè)字在英文里就是 foot ,多數(shù)就是 feet。在美國(guó)的成語和俗語中,以 foot 或 feet 這個(gè)字為主的俗語為數(shù)還不少,它們的意思也各不相同。
今天我們要給大家再介紹兩個(gè)由 foot 或者 feet 這個(gè)字組成的俗語。第一個(gè)是:to stand on one's own two feet。 To stand on one's own two feet 的意思恐怕不難猜到。一個(gè)人如果能站穩(wěn)腳跟的話,他就一定能獨(dú)立自主,靠自己的力量來辦事。我們下面要舉的一個(gè)例子是一位父親擔(dān)心他的兒子吸毒或酗酒,所以在勸告他的兒子:
例句-1: Son, somebody may try to get you to smoke marijuana or drink, just to fit in with the crowd. But I hope you can stand on your own two feet and say no.
這位父親說:"兒子呀,有的人為了要你合群也許會(huì)勸你喝酒或吸毒。但是我希望你能夠獨(dú)立自主,拒絕他們的引誘。"
那些能夠獨(dú)立自主的人的確很令人欽佩。下面就是一個(gè)例子:
例句-2: Bill Brown has managed to stay in Congress now for twenty years. The voters don't always agree with him but they really like the way he stands on his own feet and makes his own decisions on which way to vote, regardless of pressures from all the lobbyists.
這個(gè)人說:"比爾·布朗在國(guó)會(huì)當(dāng)議員已經(jīng)二十年了。選民們不一定都同意他的觀點(diǎn),但是他們倒很欣賞他在對(duì)各種提案投票時(shí)的那種獨(dú)立自主精神。不管那些游說者給他施加多大壓力,他都按自己的決定投票。"
今天我們要講的第二個(gè)習(xí)慣用語是: to throw oneself at someone's feet。 To throw oneself at someone's feet 這個(gè)俗語可以解釋為:公開對(duì)某人表示愛慕。比如說,一個(gè)男子在幻想自己未來的婚事,他對(duì)他的朋友說:
例句-3: I'm still looking for the right girl to marry. And when I find her, I'll throw myself at her feet and ask her to spend the rest of her life with me.
他說:"我現(xiàn)在還在物色一個(gè)我認(rèn)為合適的女孩作為我的妻子。一旦我找到了,我就要拜倒在她的石榴裙下,懇求她作為我的終身伴侶。"
To throw oneself at someone's feet 還可以解釋為:為了得到一些好處而溜須拍馬,或拜倒在某人腳下。下面的例子是說一個(gè)被判了罪的犯人:
例句-4: The prisoner who has been convicted as a traitor threw himself at the feet of the judge and begged for mercy.
這句話的意思是:"那個(gè)被定罪為叛徒的犯人拜倒在法官的面前,求他發(fā)發(fā)慈悲。"