英语植物词汇的文化含义和修辞功能.docVIP

英语植物词汇的文化含义和修辞功能 在汉语语境中，当我们读到古典小说中“樱桃小口，杏眼桃腮，腰若杨柳，指如削葱”这样的描述时，脑海中马上会映出一位古典美人的形象，这当中樱桃、杏、桃、杨柳、葱这些植物词强大的修辞功能功不可没。同样，在英语中，植物词汇也被赋予修辞功能，如用yellow tulip(黄郁金香)象征没有指望的爱情，用zinnia(百日草)喻指离别的朋友，用sour grapes喻指因得不到而故意贬低的事物，用under the rose(玫瑰丛下)指代私下的行为或偷偷摸摸的勾当等。下面列举一些常见的具有文化含义和修辞功能的植物词。 (1)apple(苹果)，喻指受宠爱者。如：He has three sons but his daughter is the apple of his eye.他有三个儿子,但女儿才是他的掌上明珠。另外， upset the apple-cart直译为“打翻苹果车”,常用来指混乱的状况。如: It was a peaceful meeting until the treasure was accused of stealing the club’s funds; that really upset the apple-cart在财务主管被指控盗窃俱乐部的基金以前，会议一直开得很平静;这一指控使会议可真的乱了套。in apple-pie order指整整齐齐,井井有条。如:The house was in apple-pie order even though the guests had only left an hour ago.即使客人才走了一个钟头,屋里也是整整齐齐的。 (2)banana(香蕉)，喻指喜剧演员。如:He is a second banana; the top banana is his father.他只是个二流喜剧演员,他老爸才是一流演员。另外, banana oil指溜须拍马,花言巧语。如:Cutout the banana oil flattery will get you nowhere.别再花言巧语了,溜须拍马之词于事无补。 (3)bean (蚕豆)，喻指伙计，朋友。如:Have a look at this, old bean!看看这个吧，老伙计!另外，not have a bean指身无分文，囊中空空。如: I’d like to make a contribution but I haven’t a bean on me at the moment我很想捐款,但目下身无分文。spill the beans指泄露机密。如:Her present to her husband was supposed to be a secre，t but their little boy spilled the beans to him.她送给丈夫的礼物本来是应该保密的，可是他们的孩子对他走漏了风声。 (4) cherry(樱桃),喻指童男、童女或新兵。如:She confessed she was cherry.她说她童贞未失。Some soldiers who survived long enough earned the right to harass the cherries.一些久经沙场的老兵获得骚扰新兵的权利。 (5)daisy(雏菊),喻指一流人物。如:He is a real daisy.他可是个一流的人物。另外, fresh as a daisy指精神焕发。如:He woke up fresh as a daisy after his long sleep.他睡了一觉醒来感到精神焕发。push up the daisies/under the daisies指被埋葬或死亡。如:He pushed up the daisies in his thirties.他三十几岁就去世了。 (6)flower(花),喻指精英人物。如:The country lost the flower of it’s youth in the war.该国在这次战争中失去了青年中的精英。另外, in the flower of one’s age/strength指年轻力壮之时。如:My grandfather was in the flower of his age at that time.我祖父当时还很年轻。 (7)gooseberry(醋栗)，喻指陪媪(夹在想独处的情侣中间的人，电灯泡)。如:I’ll leave you two young people alone; I’m sure you don’t want me to play gooseberry.我要让你