狗係人類最好嘅朋友,亦可以係英文 idioms 嘅「好朋友」!皆因唔少 idioms 都有個 “dog” 字,一齊睇睇:
1. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion
意思係寧願做一個不重要/小型組織或公司嘅主管/高層;都唔去做大公司/機構嘅小職員/成員。
中文嘅相應成語就係「寧為雞口,不為牛後」。
e.g. Don’t you think it’s better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion? I would rather work as a manager here than to start with an entry-level position at ABC Bank.
你不覺得寧為雞口,不為牛後嗎?我寧願在這裡當一個經理,也不要在 ABC 銀行做入門級別的職位。
2. Every dog has his day
意思係每個人都總有出人頭地,成功嘅一日/機會。
所以如果有朋友因為其他人現今嘅際遇比自己好而沮喪,可以咁講去勉勵佢:
e.g. I know your frustration, but every dog has his day! Your turn will come.
我明白你的挫敗感,但風水輪流轉,人人都會有成功之時!你的機會會來的。
3. Shaggy dog story
意指一個十分冗長,雜亂,冇重點嘅故事;通常係囉嗦嘅敘述後帶有一個令人意外嘅結尾。
e.g. John spent one hour telling this shaggy dog story about his friend.
John 花了一個小時講述這關於他朋友的冗長故事。
4. Let sleeping dogs lie
字面意思係「唔好驚動瞓著咗嘅狗」。其實唔難理解:意思就係唔好招惹不必要嘅麻煩/別無事生非/節外生枝/重提往事/打草驚蛇。
e.g. Don’t try to stir up trouble — it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.
不要惟恐天下不亂 – 過去的事就最好不要再提了。
5. Like a dog with a bone
意思係對某件事十分堅持/固執,直到完事前都唔肯放手或唔再諗/講有關嘅嘢。
e.g. Mary is like a dog with a bone when it comes to talking about human rights.
Mary 談到人權時就十分固執。