第599期:别人对你说go to the dogs, 不是让你去找狗子玩

 2018年在中国的农历年的中狗年。狗作为人类忠诚的朋友，大量的出现在我们的语言中，这一点不仅仅体现在中文中，如“单身狗”“舔狗”“小狼狗”，还有成语“猪狗不如”等等。在英语中， “dog”的出现频率也很高，今天分享几个在英语中和狗相关的俚语，不过这些俚语中 “dog”的境遇就比较悲催了。

New Words:

trick n.花招；把戏；
Manger n. 马槽；牛槽

1. go to the dogs：堕落、垮台、完蛋、毁灭
something is becoming worse than it normally¹ was

Many things in our home have gone to the dogs during the last 3 months.
过去三个月我们家很多事都变得很糟。

2. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks:老狗学不了新把戏;
you cannot make others change their habits

I tried to make my grandmother learn how to use a smartphone but it was just like you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
我试着教我奶奶用智能手机，不过老年人真的很难适应新事物（意译）。

3. dog in the manger:占着茅坑不拉屎
a person who selfishly² keeps something that he or she does not really need or want so that others may not use or enjoy it

Stop being³ such a dog in the manger and let your sister ride your bike if you’re not using it.
别再占着茅坑不拉屎了，如果你不骑的话，就让你妹妹骑你的自行车吧。

1 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

2 selfishly   

adv.自私地，任性地

参考例句：

• I have never known him behave other than selfishly. 我知道他一向自私自利。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have never known him to behave any other than selfishly. 我就没见过他不自私的时候。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 being   

n.存在；生存；生命存在，生命，人， 本质；art.在，有，是

参考例句：

• Can you explain to me the purpose of being?你能对我解释一下存在的目的吗？
• What is the purpose of our being?我们生存的目的是什么？