:::
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.
“The moth fluttered from elsewhere in the darkened room and danced around the lamp’s bulb until the annoyed student swatted it.”
「不知從何而來的飛蛾在黑暗的房間裡鼓動翅膀，圍繞燈泡飛舞，直到不耐煩的學生用力撲打飛蛾為止。」
Dancing is one of the universal attributes of man and really needs no explanation. It is a common human response to rhythmic sound produced by musicians or, in some cases, by machinery or nature. The impulse to move in concert with the percussive noise or music produces dancing, which harmonizes with the accompanying sound and is appealing to the eyes of those witnessing it. Dancing can be subdued or performed with virtual abandonment, and is identifiably different from other human movement because of the coordinated grace with which a dancer moves.
不需多說，我們都知道舞蹈是人的天性，會對音樂家創作的節奏或是機器、自然的聲音產生反應。像是在音樂會時，聽見嘈雜的噪音或音樂會有股衝動，想與音律和諧共舞，而觀者也無一不受到吸引。跳舞可以是低調的，也能奔放不已；而舞蹈和一般的人類動作不同，是因為舞者的動作蘊涵魅力。
By saying the moth “danced” around the light source, the writer is commenting on two qualities of the movement. First, it is uninterrupted. A dancer typically does not stop dancing until the music ends. In the same way, a moth begins to “dance” at the sight of the light and continues until a light is shut off, the moth simply becomes exhausted, or its flight is terminated for it. And, like a dancer, the moth’s movement is lively. Even slow dancers move in a way that is enlivened by simple grace. Of course, it also is true that they can move slowly without fear of being swatted.
作者提到蛾圍繞光源「danced」(飛舞)，用意是描寫動作的兩個特點。首先是連續不間斷的動作。舞者通常是音樂結束才會停止動作。同樣地，蛾在看到光線的一剎那開始「飛舞」，一直持續到光線滅了或是蛾累了才會停下。飛蛾的動作是靈活生動的，就像舞者一樣，就連慢舞時，舞步也蘊含優雅與生氣。當然，這也是因為舞者不需戰戰兢兢的跳舞或是害怕被人撲打。
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.
“The moth fluttered from elsewhere in the darkened room and danced around the lamp’s bulb until the annoyed student swatted it.”
「不知從何而來的飛蛾在黑暗的房間裡鼓動翅膀，圍繞燈泡飛舞，直到不耐煩的學生用力撲打飛蛾為止。」
Dancing is one of the universal attributes of man and really needs no explanation. It is a common human response to rhythmic sound produced by musicians or, in some cases, by machinery or nature. The impulse to move in concert with the percussive noise or music produces dancing, which harmonizes with the accompanying sound and is appealing to the eyes of those witnessing it. Dancing can be subdued or performed with virtual abandonment, and is identifiably different from other human movement because of the coordinated grace with which a dancer moves.
不需多說，我們都知道舞蹈是人的天性，會對音樂家創作的節奏或是機器、自然的聲音產生反應。像是在音樂會時，聽見嘈雜的噪音或音樂會有股衝動，想與音律和諧共舞，而觀者也無一不受到吸引。跳舞可以是低調的，也能奔放不已；而舞蹈和一般的人類動作不同，是因為舞者的動作蘊涵魅力。
By saying the moth “danced” around the light source, the writer is commenting on two qualities of the movement. First, it is uninterrupted. A dancer typically does not stop dancing until the music ends. In the same way, a moth begins to “dance” at the sight of the light and continues until a light is shut off, the moth simply becomes exhausted, or its flight is terminated for it. And, like a dancer, the moth’s movement is lively. Even slow dancers move in a way that is enlivened by simple grace. Of course, it also is true that they can move slowly without fear of being swatted.
作者提到蛾圍繞光源「danced」(飛舞)，用意是描寫動作的兩個特點。首先是連續不間斷的動作。舞者通常是音樂結束才會停止動作。同樣地，蛾在看到光線的一剎那開始「飛舞」，一直持續到光線滅了或是蛾累了才會停下。飛蛾的動作是靈活生動的，就像舞者一樣，就連慢舞時，舞步也蘊含優雅與生氣。當然，這也是因為舞者不需戰戰兢兢的跳舞或是害怕被人撲打。