下面我们再来讲一个以thin这个字为主的习惯用语,Thin-skinned. 要注意的是在thin和skinned这两个字之间有一个连接号。Skinned是来自skin这个字。skin就是“皮肤”。那么,thin-skinned就是“皮肤很薄”的意思。当做习惯用语的时候,它的意思就是“脸皮很薄,对别人的批评比一般人更为敏感。”有时别人明明没有批评他的意思,而他也以为人家在指责他。我们来给大家举一个例子。
1)The trouble with Harry is that he is so thin-skinned. He does good work, but he must feel very unsure of himself. Ask him a friendly question about how his work is going and he thinks you're criticizing him.
说话的这个人肯定是在说他的同事。他说:哈里的问题是他太敏感,脸皮太薄。他的工作很好,但是他肯定对自己缺乏自信。你要是很善意地问他他的工作进展如何,他就会认为你是在批评他。
这种人肯定很难相处,但是,有这种习性的人,他们本人恐怕也是很痛苦的。
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下面是一个爸爸在对他的儿子说话。
2)You shouldn't be so thin-skinned. You've changed jobs three times in three months and every time it was because somebody tried to correct your mistakes. Son, everyone has to listen to criticism sometimes. It's the only way to learn and grow.
这位爸爸说:你不能这么敏感。你看,你三个月里换了三个工作,每次换工作都是因为别人要纠正你的错误。儿子,每个人在某个时候都得听一些批评。这是学习和成长的唯一道路。