例句-1:We used to meet after work, and chew the fat over coffee and doughnuts.
例句-2:Most of the older women meet and chew the fat with their neighbors every morning.
接招:在我們剛才聽到的2個(gè)句子中都可以聽到同一個(gè)詞語(yǔ):chew the fat。Chew是“咀嚼”的意思,fat是“肥肉”的意思。Chew the fat字面意思就是吃肥肉。作為習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)它的意思是have a relaxed conversation or to talk idly and wast time talking,它也是閑聊、隨聊的意思。Chew the fat有如今的這個(gè)意思起源于英美鄉(xiāng)下人嚼肥肉的習(xí)慣:在還沒有口香糖的年代,鄉(xiāng)下人閑來(lái)沒事習(xí)慣在嘴里嚼一塊肥咸肉,就像現(xiàn)代人嚼口香糖一樣,只是無(wú)聊時(shí)想動(dòng)動(dòng)嘴巴。因此,這一習(xí)俗便有了今天的引申義,chew the fat是用動(dòng)動(dòng)嘴巴說些話來(lái)消磨時(shí)間、打發(fā)時(shí)間。
下面我們回到剛才聽到的2個(gè)例句中來(lái)看看它們的意思,再來(lái)好好體會(huì)這個(gè)習(xí)語(yǔ)的意思。
例句-1:We used to meet after work, and chew the fat over coffee and doughnuts.
這句話的意思是:我們過去常常在下班后見面,一邊喝咖啡,吃炸面包圈,一邊聊天。
注解1:used to do something:過去常常做某事 used to doing
something:習(xí)慣做某事
注解2:chat the fat over something:邊吃什么東西邊閑聊
例句-2:Most of the older women meet and chew the fat with their neighbors every morning.
這句話的意思是:大多數(shù)上了年紀(jì)的婦人喜歡每天早上總要和鄰居聚在一起閑聊。
下面我們通過更多的例句來(lái)熟悉這個(gè)習(xí)語(yǔ)的意思以及運(yùn)用這個(gè)習(xí)語(yǔ)。
例句-1:Hey, come in! We're just taking it easy and chewing the fat. Pull up a chair and sit down. Do you know any good, juicy gossip to pass along to us?
進(jìn)來(lái)吧,我正悠閑著在閑聊,你也拉把椅子過來(lái)坐下來(lái)。你知道一些既生動(dòng)又有趣的小道消息講給我們聽聽嗎?
注解1:pass along:傳遞 pass along to sb:傳給某人
Eg . Is there anything you wish me to pass along. 需要我捎些話嗎?
注解2:take it easy:放松,不要緊張
注解3:juicy:有趣的 juicy gossip:有趣的小道消息
例句-2:Uncle George likes to come over to chew the fat every Sunday afternoon.
喬治叔叔每星期天的下午都會(huì)過來(lái)閑聊一番。
注解:come over:從遠(yuǎn)處來(lái),順便來(lái)訪
例句-3:I hope one day you'll be able to chew the fat together.
我希望有一天你們能一塊聊聊天。
例句-4:It was good to chew the fat with you, Mary.
Mary,能和你一起聊天真高興。