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What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
【英文學習】
很多字詞並非表面所見的意思，字詞的組合會產生不同的解釋。這樣的慣用法，我們稱之為「比喻」。一個成功的比喻，作者本身必須相當瞭解字詞的源起。以下的句子為讀者介紹一個比喻及其來源。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed word or set of words is called a “figure of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the word or phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“When the provocative suggestion was made a second time, the committee voted to sidestep the entire issue by leaving the matter to the discretion of the chairman.”
「當議會面臨某項具爭議性的提案第二次提出時，議會成員採取投票制來規避整個議題，將此事交由主席裁決。」
When an object too large to ignore suddenly appears in the path of a walking person, the person “sidesteps” it. Sometimes this movement necessarily occurs suddenly because the object—a rolling ball—appears without warning and the walker must dart to the side, as agile bodies are capable of doing. Sometimes the object has been there all along—say, a hole—but the person only notices it at the last minute and must step sideways to avoid it. The idea is to continue in the same general direction by momentarily changing direction in an evasive movement.
當行人在行走時，有個極其明顯的龐然大物擋在路中央，這時行人會「sidesteps」(繞道而行)。有時避開阻擋物的行為會不期然的發生。當有毫無預警出現的物體時，可能是顆滾球，行人只要夠敏捷，就可以閃到路旁；有時物體會一直存在路中央，可能就是個大洞，行人只能在最後一刻發現，然後趕緊閃到一旁避開。本句的概念就是持續往同方向前進，但會不期然的暫時改變行進方向。
When the writer refers to a committee that “sidesteps” an issue, he alludes to this physical act. The committee didn’t stand up from the boardroom table and in unison take a step to one side or the other. Rather, it figuratively avoided addressing an awkward matter by voting to go around it temporarily. The issue was handed (again, figuratively) to the committee chairman for resolution outside the meeting. The vote accomplished two things: (1) The committee was able to continue ahead with its discussion, and (2) the issue was addressed tangentially. Sidesteps are convenient.
作者提到議會成員「sidesteps」（避開）議題的這個行為，也就是倘若議會在討論時並未挺身而出，甚至全體避免傾向某個立場或選邊站，他們會象徵性的避免直接面對某項難決的議題，而是採取投票制來暫時避開此議題。這項議題又(再度象徵性的)回到主席身上，等待會議外來解決。投票的行為意味著兩件事: 1.議會可以繼續進行討論議程。2.這項議題被輕描淡寫的帶過。遇到難解的議題，先避開它是非常便利的手法。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed word or set of words is called a “figure of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the word or phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“When the provocative suggestion was made a second time, the committee voted to sidestep the entire issue by leaving the matter to the discretion of the chairman.”
「當議會面臨某項具爭議性的提案第二次提出時，議會成員採取投票制來規避整個議題，將此事交由主席裁決。」
When an object too large to ignore suddenly appears in the path of a walking person, the person “sidesteps” it. Sometimes this movement necessarily occurs suddenly because the object—a rolling ball—appears without warning and the walker must dart to the side, as agile bodies are capable of doing. Sometimes the object has been there all along—say, a hole—but the person only notices it at the last minute and must step sideways to avoid it. The idea is to continue in the same general direction by momentarily changing direction in an evasive movement.
當行人在行走時，有個極其明顯的龐然大物擋在路中央，這時行人會「sidesteps」(繞道而行)。有時避開阻擋物的行為會不期然的發生。當有毫無預警出現的物體時，可能是顆滾球，行人只要夠敏捷，就可以閃到路旁；有時物體會一直存在路中央，可能就是個大洞，行人只能在最後一刻發現，然後趕緊閃到一旁避開。本句的概念就是持續往同方向前進，但會不期然的暫時改變行進方向。
When the writer refers to a committee that “sidesteps” an issue, he alludes to this physical act. The committee didn’t stand up from the boardroom table and in unison take a step to one side or the other. Rather, it figuratively avoided addressing an awkward matter by voting to go around it temporarily. The issue was handed (again, figuratively) to the committee chairman for resolution outside the meeting. The vote accomplished two things: (1) The committee was able to continue ahead with its discussion, and (2) the issue was addressed tangentially. Sidesteps are convenient.
作者提到議會成員「sidesteps」（避開）議題的這個行為，也就是倘若議會在討論時並未挺身而出，甚至全體避免傾向某個立場或選邊站，他們會象徵性的避免直接面對某項難決的議題，而是採取投票制來暫時避開此議題。這項議題又(再度象徵性的)回到主席身上，等待會議外來解決。投票的行為意味著兩件事: 1.議會可以繼續進行討論議程。2.這項議題被輕描淡寫的帶過。遇到難解的議題，先避開它是非常便利的手法。
