Neither here nor there這個習慣用語的意思是無關緊要。我之所以這么說,是因為在電影院里保持安靜是最起碼的禮貌,先來后到其實并不重要。
在下面這個例子中,一名政客擅自挪用稅款,欺騙選民。讓我們一起聽聽他在為自己做出辯護的時候是怎么說的。
例句-1:Our senator was found guilty of taking tax money to pay for his summer home. When confronted, he reminded reporters that he had been serving the citizens for over 40 years. That remark was neither here nor there; he'd broken the law! Did he think that he could divert our attention from his crime?
這段話說:我們的參議員已經被認定有罪,罪名是挪用稅款,給自己蓋夏季別墅。被問到這個問題時,他居然提醒記者說,他已經為大眾服務四十多年了。從政多少年并不重要,重要的是,他違反了法律。他難道以為這樣說,就能讓我們不再注意他的罪行嗎?
這倒讓我想到一件好笑的事情。每次我老公做錯事,只要我嗓門稍微一升高,他馬上就會夸我看上去年輕漂亮。What he's saying is neither here nor there. 他這么說明擺著就是在轉移視線,避重就輕。
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我有好幾個朋友的孩子都曾前往伊拉克作戰(zhàn)。最近,我跟一個馬上準備回來的孩子聊天,才發(fā)現(xiàn),在這些軍人的心目中,什么才是最重要的。讓我們一起聽聽他是怎么說的。
例句-2:My tour of duty is nearly over and my mom's busy planning my favorite meals. I really appreciate her thinking of me. But whatever she makes seems neither here nor there. It just isn't that important. What I care about is being home with my family again.
這個人說:我駐防的任務馬上就要結束了,媽媽正在準備做那些我最喜歡吃的菜。她能這么惦記我,我當然高興,可其實,她做什么飯菜并不重要,最讓我高興的是,我又能跟家人團聚了。
看來,戰(zhàn)場的磨煉還真能讓人成熟。
說到年紀,neither here nor there,這個習慣用語最早出現(xiàn)是在1583年。