英语词汇实用小百科 源于希腊神话的英语短语

 

Heyang: 欢迎收听这周的英语词汇小百科，我是赫扬。

John: Yeah, so this week we are looking at idioms in the English language related to Greek and Roman mythology¹. A lot of these are used quite often in English. It’s similar to成语 I suppose. Just because it’s a huge part of our culture, that for many people, we don’t even necessarily question where they come from. So the first one is Pandora’s Box, for example to open a Pandora’s Box means to invite trouble.

Heyang: 潘多拉的魔盒，你一定听说过，其实它的意思是灾祸之源，也许不是一个非常吉利的说法。It’s that a little bit unfortunate to say it？

John: Definitely. The problem with Pandora’s Box is you never know exactly what’s going to be in there. Some of them might be good, but most of it is probably going to be bad.

Heyang: And also isn’t that the name of the planet in the movie Avatar, I wonder if there is any association there.

John: And the next one is the Oedipus Complex. This was actually coined by Sigmund Freud. Basically it was the psychological concept that all men want to kill their father and marry their mother and this is basically what ended up happening to Oedipus, even though he did not know it.

Heyang: 欧狄浦斯情结，也就是恋母情结，是常常来形容这种让人觉得有一点点乱伦的感觉的一种男女之间的关系。

John: Yeah, and so really these days it’s used more just to describe perhaps a bit of an unhealthy relationship between a mother and her son. And the opposite or perhaps the complementary complex for girls, called the Electra Complex, very, very similar, you know that somehow the girl wants to replace the mother in the father’s relationship.

Heyang: 那这个就是恋父情结了。

John: And there is the Trojan Horse. I think most people are publicly familiar with this term already. Trojan Horse, basically, it is a threat that is wrapped up in some type of present or something like that.

Heyang: Trojan Horse就是内部的破坏集团的意思，同时也有隐藏的危险的意思。And in the modern world, is it used to describe the computer virus as well?

John: Those are Trojan. Trojan viruses are viruses that get on to your hard drive or your computer somehow and don’t do anything until they are triggered by certain events or just maybe like a time bomber² or something like that. And there is Achilles’ Heel, so the weakness of an individual which ends up leading to his downfall.

Heyang: 这个词的意思是致命的弱点。

John: Then the Midas Touch. We don’t use it so often any more, but certainly everyone knows what you are talking about if you do use this. So the Midas Touch means basically a person who is always lucky and is said to have the Midas Touch. So Midas was a king who wished that everything he touched turned to gold. It’s actually a bit of tragic³ story, but the way we use it these days is more positive.

Heyang: 这个意思就是点石成金术，而且同时形容某些人十分的幸运，但是现在使用率并不是那么高了。

John: And then there is the Sword of Damocles, so it’s imminent⁴ and ever-present peril⁵ faced by those in positions of power. So the idea is the Sword of Damocles hanging above your head and might drop down at any moment.

Heyang: 达摩克利斯之剑, 同时也意味着时刻存在的危险。

John: And there is the Gordian Knot, which is an extremely perplexing puzzle or problem. Very, very interesting story behind this one: Alexander the Great, came upon the Gordian knot, it was fame throughout the entire world that no one could actually untie⁶ this knot. And you know how he solved this problem?

Heyang: How did he do it?

John: Just cut it in half with a sword.

Heyang: That sounds very much like something that Alexander the Great would do. 戈耳迪之结就是非常难解之题。

John: And then there is the apple of discord⁷. It can be any subject of disagreement and contention⁸.

Heyang:不和的根源、发生纠纷的事端就是apple of discord的意思。

John: And the last but not least, Swan Song, a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement⁹.

Heyang:天鹅挽歌，也就是最后的杰作的意思。这个是个很简单的词，可以把它记起来哟。

1 mythology   

n.神话，神话学，神话集

参考例句：

• In Greek mythology,Zeus was the ruler of Gods and men.在希腊神话中，宙斯是众神和人类的统治者。
• He is the hero of Greek mythology.他是希腊民间传说中的英雄。

2 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

5 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

6 untie   

vt.解开，松开；解放

参考例句：

• It's just impossible to untie the knot.It's too tight.这个结根本解不开。太紧了。
• Will you please untie the knot for me?请你替我解开这个结头，好吗？

7 discord   

n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐

参考例句：

• These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
• The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。

8 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

9 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。