美国习惯用语-第864:force one's hand

 　　今天我收到了园艺俱乐部主席的电子邮件。邮件里说，很遗憾我们今年的资金不足，所以要减少很多有趣的活动。我很奇怪为什么她不等下次见面时告诉我们，后来才知道原来是有人看到了财务报表，去质问主席了。这也让我想到一句习惯用语，那就是： force one's hand。

　　大家都知道，force意思是强迫，而hand是手，force one's hand, 意思就是强迫某人做某事，特别是在没有准备好的情况下。

　　在上面的例子里, 我们的俱乐部成员质疑园艺俱乐部的财政情况，迫使主席马上发邮件跟大家说明。She forced the president's hand.

　　在下面的例子里，一名员工还没准备好，就不得不告诉大家他要退休的消息。我们一起来听一听:

　　例句-1：I didn't intend to announce my retirement¹ quite yet. I've told my buddy² at work not to say anything to anyone. But after a few too many drinks, he accidentally³ mentioned that I would soon be leaving the company. I know he didn't mean to force my hand. But I had no choice but to confirm the news.

　　这段话是说: 我本来没想公布退休的消息。我告诉我办公室的好友要为我保密。可是几杯酒下肚，这位老兄就提到了我马上要离开公司。我知道他并不是这个意思，但我不得不跟大家证实了这个消息。

　　******

　　这就是酒精会带来的问题，它会让你做出一些愚蠢的举动。我记得我奶奶就曾经告诉我，如果你想保守秘密，就不要告诉任何人。就像有些惊喜派对，有时候很难做到保守秘密， 搞不好的话，The honoree will figure out what you're up to and forces your hand，有时被派对主角发现秘密筹备的事，你没办法只好承认。

　　小孩子淘气，弄坏家里东西是常事。不知道大家小时候有没有类似的经历? 下面这两个小孩就干了件坏事。我们来听听他们受到了怎样的惩罚。

　　例句-2：We shouldn't have been playing basketball in the house. That's how we broke a window in the living room. We must have looked guilty. As soon as mom and dad came home, they asked us what was wrong. We never had time to invent a story because they succeeded in forcing our hand. Now we'll have to do extra chores for a month!

　　这段话是说：我们不该在屋里打篮球，就因为这样打碎了客厅的窗户。我们看起来肯定是干了错事的样子。爸爸妈妈一进门，就问我们到底出了什么事情。我们还没有足够时间编故事，他们把我们抓了个正着! 现在我们要多做一个月的家务!

　　这听起来还真有些耳熟，我记得原来我妈妈眼睛就特别尖，我干了什么错事，她都能一下子发现！

1 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。

2 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！

3 accidentally   

adv.偶然地；意外地

参考例句：

• Mary accidentally let out that her mother had telephoned.玛丽无意中说出她的母亲来过电话。
• As I turned around,I accidentally hit him in the face.我转身时不经意撞了他的脸。