容易被误解的英语俚语：千万别“望文生义”

俚语篇已经写过多次了，今天依然延续“望文生义”风格，看看这些容易被误解的表达。

前两天看到一篇文章里出现了for a song，但是上看下看都觉得这主题跟音乐没有一毛钱关系。“为了一首歌”?完全对不上意思，查询之后才发现for a song表示“廉价的”。

这大概就是语言学习的乐趣之一，熟悉的词在一起组成全新的意思，了解它们不仅有助于日常交际，还更显地道。

1

CHANGE YOUR TUNE / SING A DIFFERENT TUNE

改变了看法或主意。

You've definitely changed your tune since the last time I saw you! You used to hate this town!

自从上次见面以后，你的态度就变了!原来你很讨厌这个城市的!

2

FACE THE MUSIC

不得不接受负面后果

I'm not ready to face the music. I need to figure it out for myself before I speak to them.

我还没准备好面对这一切。和他们说话之前，我自己要弄清楚。

3

PLAY BY EAR

随机应变，在没有指南或规定的情况下，即兴处理某事。

I don't know what I'm going to say when she gets here, I'll just play it by ear.

待她来时，我不知道自己要说些什么，随机应变吧。

4

SEE YOU ON THE BIG DRUM

用来对孩子说晚安。

Okay, get some sleep now. See you on the big drum.

好啦，该休息啦。晚安。

5

AS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

指某物非常干净。

He may come across as someone who could’ve been involved in that robbery, but I have checked his records and they’re as clean as a whistle.

他让人觉得极像上次参与劫案的劫匪，可我查了他的档案，并没有什么不良记录。

6

CALL THE TUNE

发号施令，用于描述做重大决定之人。

I'm afraid I can't help you sir. Barbara calls the tune around here, so you'd have to speak to her.

恐怕我帮不上什么忙，先生。这里芭芭拉说了算，你可以跟她谈谈。

7

WHISTLE FOR IT

痴心妄想：如果有人对你说这句话，那么这意味着他们认为你一定得不到自己想要的东西。

You can whistle for it as much as you like, this is an heirloom of our family and will stay with us!

随便你怎么想，这是我们的传家宝，你休想得到!

8

CLEAR AS A BELL

形容某事十分清楚、便于理解。

His instructions were as clear as a bell, everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do.

他的指示十分清楚，每个人都知道自己应该做什么。