谋事在人,成事在天--casting pearls before swine
大家好,欢迎来到小强英语。在生活中,跟别人交谈,最崩溃的情况莫过于对牛弹琴了。自己说了很多,别人却一点儿都没听进去。在英语当中,“对牛弹琴”可以是:Casting pearls before swine,在猪面前撒珍珠。这句话的意思就是你给一个人看了一个很有价值的东西,但是这个人既不会,也不懂得欣赏。我们来看一下例句:
Giving him advice is just like casting pearls before swine.
给他建议,就像对牛弹琴。
事实上,casting pearls before swine这个说法比较古雅,因为它出自《圣经新约》:
Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
不要把神圣的东西给狗,也不要在猪面前撒珍珠,以防他们将其践踏,并把你撕碎。
“对牛弹琴”更日常的表达是talking to a brick wall。对着砖墙讲话。比如说:
I tried to discuss it with him, but it's like talking to a brick wall.
我试着跟他讨论,但就像对牛弹琴一般。
好了,我们今天学习了“对牛弹琴”,古雅一点的说法是casting pearls before swine,日常一点的则 talking to a brick wall。本期的节目就是这样,我们下期再会。与小强互动,请上新浪微博@小强英语。
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