2017考研英语拓展阅读：莎翁10大语言“遗产”

　　考研英语阅读能力提升需要不断地积累练习，通过多阅读来积累词汇，提升阅读速度，强化把握主旨能力。2017考研复习之初，时间相对充裕，新东方在线建议大家每天多做一些阅读，可娱乐也可增长见闻，还能提升能力。下面一篇文章是关于莎翁10大语言“遗产”。

2017考研英语拓展阅读：莎翁10大语言“遗产”

　　Four centuries after William Shakespeare died in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, England, his distinctive vernacular still lives on worldwide.

　　四百年前，莎士比亚在自己的故乡英格兰艾文河畔的斯特拉福德小镇上去世。时至今日，莎翁笔下许多独特的英语表达在全世界仍保持着旺盛的生命力。

　　The beloved playwright wrote at least 37 plays during his lifetime, including "Hamlet," "Othello," "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and "Romeo and Juliet," and gave the English lexicon hundreds phrases we still use today.

　　这位备受爱戴的剧作家一生中写出了包括《哈姆雷特》、《奥赛罗》、《仲夏夜之梦》和《罗密欧与朱丽叶》在内的至少37部戏剧，并为英语词典贡献了上百个沿用至今的词组。

　　Here are 10 Shakespearean terms that have withstood the test of time:

　　以下10个词组都来自于莎士比亚的作品，并流传至今：

　　"Good Riddance"

　　可喜的逃离

　　Meaning, to happily get rid of anything deemed worthless, this phrase originated in Shakespeare’s 1609 play "Troilus and Cressida." The idiom was so durable, it even became the name of a popular Green Day song in 1997.

　　这一说法源自莎翁1609年的作品《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》，表达了对远离毫无价值的人或物的喜悦。因为它实在太常用了，1997年绿日乐队干脆推出了一首以此为名的歌曲。

　　"Break the Ice"

　　破冰

　　Shakespeare wrote this group of words in his 1590 play "The Taming of the Shrew." It means to overcome a socially awkward situation.

　　该词组出自其1590年的作品《驯悍记》，指化解社交场合的窘境。

　　"Wild Goose Chase"

　　徒劳无益的追求

　　First seen in 1597’s "Romeo and Juliet," a person who goes on a "wild goose chase" is searching for something that’s likely not attainable.

　　首次见于1597年的《罗密欧与朱丽叶》，指人们寻找那些自己几乎不可能得到的东西。

　　"Love Is Blind"

　　爱情让人盲目

　　Shakespeare created this phrase -- often said as a warning -- from his play "The Merchant of Venice," first performed in 1605. It means that sometimes one’s feelings for their loved ones can obscure reality.

　　莎士比亚在1605年首演的《威尼斯商人》中创造了这个词汇，指人们有时因所爱的人而难以认清现实，通常认为他的目的在于警告世人。

　　"Brave New World"

　　美丽新世界

　　This expression from Shakespeare’s play "The Tempest," believed to have been written between 1610-1611, refers to a prominent moment in societal history.

　　该说法出自《暴风雨》(据信完结于1610至1611年间)，指社会历史的重要时刻。

　　"Naked Truth"

　　原原本本的事实

　　Shakespeare wrote this phrase in his play "Love’s Labour’s Lost," written in the 1590s. It means what you think: the complete and utter truth.

　　首次出现在1590年写就的《爱的徒劳》中，指一件事的本来面目。

　　"Green Eyed Monster"

　　绿眼怪

　　Seen for the first time in 1603’s "Othello," this idiom was Shakespeare’s way of describing how jealousy looks.

　　出自1603年的《奥赛罗》，是莎翁对嫉妒的一种独到的描写方式。

　　"Bated Breath"

　　屏息

　　This is another phrase from "The Merchant of Venice," which means to be so excited, anxious or nervous that you’re actually holding your breath.

　　依旧出自《威尼斯商人》，指因过于激动，焦虑或者紧张而屏住呼吸。

　　"[Fight] Fire With Fire"

　　以毒攻毒(或以火攻火)

　　Shakespeare wrote this phrase in his 1623 play "King John." It means to use the same tactics as an opponent to beat them, even if you have to play dirty.

　　1623年的《约翰王》中首次出现了这一说法，说的是采取与对手相同的策略去击败他们，即使手段肮脏也在所不惜。

　　"Laughing Stock"

　　笑柄

　　These two words appear in Shakespeare’s play "The Merry Wives of Windsor," published in 1602. It describes a person or thing that is greatly ridiculed.

　　首见于1602 年出版的《温莎的风流妇人》，指极其荒谬的人或事。

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