第740期:捧腹大笑的英文竟然和缝衣服有关?

 

为什么英语“捧腹大笑”竟然和缝衣服有关？

昨天我们分享的关于猫咪的笑话，有不少粉丝留言说最后一个“Dogs have owners, cats have staff.”实在太过真实生动。哈哈，这些关于猫咪的段子，相信看完之后你肯定忍不住会笑吧？在英语中，除了 “make sb. laugh” 是逗某人笑的意思外，还有一个非常地道的到表达 “in stitches”. 比如昨天的推文，就可以用这句： These cat jokes are sure to have you in stitches.

in stitches 捧腹大笑; 大笑不止;

In stitches means to laugh so hard that you are not able to control yourself.

捧腹大笑意思就是你笑的太厉害，完全控制不住自己。

这个习语的来源：

A stitch is a stab of pain. It is generally used to describe a pain in your side from over exertion¹ during exercise. It makes you bend over from pain, much the same as laughing can.

扎一针就会疼。通常用来用来描述运动时过度劳累引起的疼痛。它让你从痛苦地弯下腰，（而弯腰的这个动作）和你笑的很厉害的时候一样。这个习语最早出现在莎翁的《第十二夜》。

如何将这个短语用在口语中呢？我们看下下面这些例句哦！

1. The movie had everyone in the theatre in stitches.

这部电影把剧院里的每个人都逗得捧腹大笑。

2. My brother is always coming up with ways to prank² our sister. He has me in stitches.

我弟弟总是想方设法戏弄我们的姐姐。他总是逗得我捧腹大笑。

3. I heard the best joke yesterday. It has me in stitches.

我昨天听到了最好的笑话。它让我笑个不停。

1 exertion   

n.尽力，努力

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

2 prank   

n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己

参考例句：

• It was thought that the fire alarm had been set off as a prank.人们认为火警报警器响是个恶作剧。
• The dean was ranking the boys for pulling the prank.系主任正在惩罚那些恶作剧的男学生。