PETS-2語法講解(223)

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    That's right up my alley.
    對話   James: Where are you going for your holidays?
    Harry: I'm going mountain walking with my brother.
    James: Mountain walking? That's right up my alley.
    Harry: Well why don't you join us? You'll have a great time.
    James: Thanks a lot. I will. I just can't wait to get going.
    詹姆斯:你放假會去哪里?
    哈利:我會和弟弟一起去登山。
    詹姆斯:登山?這正合我的興趣。
    哈利:那么,為什么不和我們同行?你可以玩?zhèn)€痛快。
    詹姆斯:謝謝,我會跟你們一起去的,現(xiàn)在已覺得急不及待了。
    詹姆斯和哈利談到登山,說That's right up my alley。這為什么有‘正合我興趣’的意思?Alley是小巷。一般人對自己居住的街道(street)都十分熟悉,所以,說up someone's street(在某人的街道中)可解作‘為某人所熟悉’、‘是某人所長’或‘是某人興趣所在’。這句英文成語在美國漸漸變成up/down one's alley。要加強語氣,可用right或just這兩個解作‘正好’的字,例如:(1) If you need someone to fix your computer, I'm sure John can help you. That kind of thing is just up/down his alley(假如你要找人修理計算機,約翰一定可以幫忙。這種工作是他的拿手好戲)。(2) I will refer the patient to you. He has a heart condition ,which is more up/down your alley(我會叫病人轉(zhuǎn)到你那兒。他患心臟病,由你診治比較適合)。
    你居住的街道,不但是你了如指掌的地方,還可顯示你所屬的社會階層,所以產(chǎn)生了另一句成語:not in the same street (with/as someone)?!ê湍橙耍┎蛔≡谕粭l街’,即‘遠遠不能和某人相比’或‘遠遠不如某人’,例如:(1) Napoleon I and Napoleon III were simply not in the same street(拿破侖一世和拿破侖三世根本不能相提并論)。(2) Militarily, Iraq is not in the same street as the US(軍事上,伊拉克不可能和美國相比)。留意這句成語的street不可用alley取代,當然更不可用road(路)、avenue(大街)等。