no spring chicken “spring chicken”一词是指年轻人,或者某人在某方面还很年轻,缺乏经验或资历。这个短语源于一只仍然是小鸡的鸟,因为它们通常在春季孵化,也就是“春天的小鸡”,所以被用来形容年轻人。“老大不小”可以用“no spring chicken”来表示,这个表达指的是某人不再年轻(Not young)。
举 例 You're not a spring chicken anymore. 你也老大不小了。
She may be a bit of a spring chicken, but she's one of the brightest minds I've ever worked with. 她可能比较年轻,但她是我曾经合作过的最聪明的人之一。
除此之外,“你也老大不小了”还可以说成: . You're not getting any younger, you know. . As you're not exactly in the first flush of youth... . "Let's face it, you're not exactly a young pup. 这里的“in the first flush”跟“spring chicken”有异曲同工之妙,都是代指年轻人。“flush”作为动词有“绽出新芽”的意思,“in the first flush”表示某人仍然年轻或在某方面还很新鲜的短语。
举 例 Even though he's in his 50s, he still has that first flush of enthusiasm when it comes to his work. 尽管他已经50多岁了,但是当谈到工作时,他仍然有着那种初入职场时的热情
这个短语同样可以用来形容一个事物处于早期、新兴阶段。
举 例 The company is still in the first flush of success, but there are already signs of trouble on the horizon. 公司还处于成功的早期阶段,但是远处已经出现了危机的征兆。
chicken out “chicken out”这个词用于描述某人因害怕或缺乏勇气而在某个时刻退缩或放弃。
举 例 Don't chicken out now, we're almost at the top of the mountain! 别现在就不干了呀,我们快爬到山顶了! I had never ridden on a motorcycle before. But it was too late to chicken out. 那以前我从没骑过摩托车。不过,想退缩已经来不及了。
play chicken “play chicken”是一个美式俚语,用于形容两个或多个人或团体之间的风险赌博游戏,谁先“退缩”或“撤下”谁输。
举 例 The two drivers were playing chicken, heading straight for each other on a narrow road, until one finally swerved away to avoid a crash. 这两个司机正在比试胆量,在一条狭窄的道路上直冲而来,直到其中一个终于避让才避免了相撞。
好了,今天的内容到这里就结束啦,大家学会了吗?最后留下一个问题:“run around like a chicken with its head cut off”是什么意思?