英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)起源87-牛油都不會(huì)融化

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五代蜀國(guó)后主孟昶一天晚上和花蕊夫人在宮中摩呵池上納涼,寫(xiě)了兩句詞描述花蕊夫人容貌:“冰肌玉骨,自清涼無(wú)汗?!泵利惖呐煽雌饋?lái)往往好像玉琢冰雕不染一塵,孟昶以為她們“自清涼無(wú)汗”,英國(guó)人以為butter wouldn't melt in their mouths(牛油在她們嘴里都不會(huì)融化),原因是不難明白的。
    當(dāng)然,butter wouldn't melt in her mouth和“自清涼無(wú)汗”一樣,只是一個(gè)錯(cuò)覺(jué)。從前,這句英文成語(yǔ)大概有贊美含義,贊美少女天真無(wú)邪的樣子;可是,成語(yǔ)意思漸漸改變,現(xiàn)在可以兼言男女,說(shuō)他們“一副正經(jīng)模樣,但是——”那“但是”后面當(dāng)然就是批評(píng)的話了,例如:
    He looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth,but I'am convinced he is behind all this
    他看來(lái)十分老實(shí),但是,我深信這一切都是他挑起的。