7句最常说的中文俗语的英文说法.

　　1. 人山人海：有人直译为：People mountain people sea.

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　　这就是「中国英文」，老外很难理解。他们指「人多」时，通常只说：「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到电影院门前大排长龙，也只说：「There is (was) a long movie line.」

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　　不过在诗词用语 (poetic expression) 里，老外也有使用：「a (the) sea of faces」，颇有咱们「人山人海」的味道。例如：

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　　Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片人山人海的听众， A先生发表一篇动人的演说。)

　　Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。)

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　　可见，说话者通常要在台上或高处，才有「人海」的感觉。因此，可以说：I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中，就不说：「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说：「There is a sea of faces.」只说：「I saw a large crowd of people.」

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　　2. 家家有本难念的经：有人译成：Every family cooking - pot has a black spot. (意思是：每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)

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　　这样说法，老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是：

　　Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)

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　　或者说：

　　Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)

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　　说白些，就是：

　　Every family has its own problem.

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　　3. 天下无不散的宴席：有人直译为：There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.

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　　老外听后，也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法，也许更易理解：

　　All good things come to an end. (意思是：所有好的事情，总有结束的一天。)

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　　假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天，那么可以说：

　　Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)

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　　4. 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚：有人照字直译为：When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.

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　　这种说法，老外也会「一知半解」。美语里一般说法是：

　　Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神，不是只在困难时。)

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　　对学生也可以说：

　　If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功，考试就不会形成压力。)

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　　5. 挂羊头，卖狗肉：有人照字直译为：He advertises mutton, but sells dog&aposs flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheep&aposs head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.

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　　这两种译法，恐怕老外都难理解，尤其谈到「狗肉」，他们更会「反感」，因为狗是他们最爱的宠物，不过老外倒有相近的说法：

　　He applied bait-and-switch tactics in business. (他经商的策略是先引诱顾客来，再改变货物的品质。)

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　　(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)

　　This store uses bait and switch policy.

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　　或者简单的说：

　　Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或 Say one thing and do another.

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　　6. 一言既出，驷马难追：有人译成：One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.

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　　这两种说法，中文味道嫌重，老外未必理解。不过他们倒有类似的说法：

　　A word once let go cannot be recalled.

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　　或者说：

　　You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话，就不能再收回来。)

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　　7. 祸从口出，言多必失：有人译为：The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.

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　　老外听了，恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成：

　　Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话，会带来麻烦); 或 The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)

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　　甚至也可以说：

　　Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说，张眼多看。)