英文藏在細節裡,例如「費用」的說法有fee, charge, fare;「笑」也有laugh, smile, crackle, giggle。生氣也有各種不同程度,但我們大多只會說:「I am so angry!」「I am truly mad!」 。事實上,「生氣」的英文慣用語非常多,像中文裡我們有氣壞了、火冒三丈,咬牙切齒,以下逐一介紹,學會的話,萬一生氣,你仍然可以把英文說得很有深度!
As mad as hell(氣壞了)
說明:生氣的感覺像掉入地獄一樣難受。
例:When I found my car had been towed away, I was as mad as hell.(我發現車子被拖走時氣壞了。)
Foam at the mouth(氣憤不已、火冒三丈)
說明:foam是「泡沫」的意思,嘴裡冒泡沫,有生氣的意象哦!
例:When informed of the news, I foamed at the mouth in anger.(我得知消息時感到氣憤不已。)
Hit the ceiling/roof(氣得發火)
說明:顧名思義就是「撞到了屋頂」,形容一個人氣得暴跳如雷,甚至都撞到了屋頂。
例:I hit the ceiling when I knew that he would be late again.(我得知他可能又要遲到時氣得發火。)
As mad as a wet hen(氣得哇哇叫)
說明:就像被弄濕的母雞一樣生氣。
例:I was as mad as a wet hen when I realized that my sister had eaten my strawberry cake.(我發現我的草莓蛋糕被妹妹吃掉時氣得哇哇叫。)
Choke with rage(氣得說不出話)
說明:choke是「窒息、噎住、說不出話來」的意思,所以是指被胸中一團怒火卡得說不出話來。
例:My colleague made me choke with rage.(我被同事氣得說不出話。)
Champ with rage(氣得咬牙切齒)
說明:champ是「咬嚙、咀嚼」的意思,所以是指一個人氣得用力咬牙的樣子。
例:Each time I am called “chicken”, I will champ with rage.(每次我被叫作膽小鬼,我都氣得咬牙切齒。)
Get hot under the collar(氣得臉紅脖子粗)
說明:collar是衣服的領子,氣到臉紅脖子粗時,領子底下當然會很熱!
例:If anyone bothers me, I get hot under the collar.(如果有人煩到我,我就會氣得臉紅脖子粗。)
文章轉自{商業週刊}