源于寓言故事的英语习语

2017-03-10

源于寓言故事的英语习语篇一：Bell the Cat 自告奋勇去冒险;老虎头上拍苍蝇

bell the cat是成语to hang the bell about the cat’s neck的简略，原意是“给猫的脖子上挂铃”。它来自《伊索寓言》中的《老鼠会议》(The Mice in Council)。

这篇寓言讲的是：一群老鼠在鼠洞里举行会议，讨论如何对付凶狠的猫。白胡须老鼠提出：“我有个方法，在猫的脖子上挂一个铃。这样，猫一走动铃就响，我们就可以闻铃声而逃避了。”群鼠一致同意这个建议，欢呼：“That’s a capital idea. We will bell the cat!No more fear of the cat!”但是，谁去给猫挂铃铛呢?没有一只老鼠敢去，一个个都溜掉了。老鼠会议毫无结果，它们不安全的处境当然也无法改善。

寓言所寄托的意思很明白：遇到问题和困难的时候，既需要有出谋划策的智者，更需要有挺身而出的实干家。

bell the cat常用来比喻to do sth.dangerous in order to save others;to step forward bravely to face the danger;to take a risk for the good of others.

例：1、Everybody made suggestion, but no one actually of fered to bell the cat.

2、We didn’t know who would put him this delicate question when my friend offered to bell the cat.

源于寓言故事的英语习语篇二：A Dog in the Manger 占着茅坑不拉屎的人

出自《伊索寓言》，说的是一条狗躺在堆满稻草的马槽里，狗是不吃草的动物，而当马或牛一走近稻草时，这条狗却朝着马或牛狂吠，不准食草动物享用。

因此，“狗占马槽” 就成了一个家喻户晓的成语进入英语中，常用来比喻a person who prevents others from enjoying sth.that is useless to himself;a churlish fellow who will neither use a thing himself nor let others use it，讽刺那些占据某职位或某物品却不做事、不使用的人。

a dog in the manger是个名词性短语，常与系动词连用，充当表语(主语补足语)。

例：1、He borrowed a lot of books from the library, but he didn’t read a book. He was really a dog in the manger.

2、Smith was a dog in the manger over that roll of wire;it was no use whatever to him，but he wouldn’t let us have it.