As black as thunder(sin)臉色陰森,面帶怒容
雷是看不見而聽得見的,但打雷時(shí)天色陰沉可怕,因此有時(shí)再加cloud而成as black as thunder cloud.
【例】“I’m done,” thought Robinson, “there he is as black as thunder.” “我完了,”魯濱遜想,“他臉色如此可怕。”(Reade: It Is Never Too Late To Mend)
As cold as charity 極其冷淡;冷冰冰
這里的charity 既不是《圣經(jīng)。哥林多前書》第十三章第十三節(jié)所說的“其中最大的是愛”,也不是熱心人士助人的慷慨,而是暗諷一些人像某些慈善機(jī)關(guān)那樣,對(duì)求助者總是冷冰冰的
【例】my parents are both as cold as charity towards me.我的雙親對(duì)我極其冷淡。
As different as chalk from chess 外貌相似而實(shí)質(zhì)不同
為何要用chalk 和 cheese 作為典型例子?也許是兩個(gè)詞開頭都是ch而課押頭韻。
【例】the two brothers resembled each other physically, but were as different in their natures as chalk from cheese.這兩兄弟外表挺相像,但是品格卻絕不相同。
As easy as pot 非常容易,輕而易舉
這個(gè)引喻來自燒菜;把肉和其他佐料往鍋里一扔,很快就可把菜燒好。
【例】the work is as easy as pot for him.這工作對(duì)他來說是輕而易舉的。
As fit as a fiddle精神奕奕,十分健康
這條成語在一五九八年首次出現(xiàn)。用小提琴象征健康,頗有深意。由于fit和fiddle 押頭韻,念起來容易上口,所以這條成語很流行。
【例】the doctor pronounced her(as) fit as a fiddle. 醫(yī)生宣傳她的健康良好。
As lean(或thin)as a rake 骨瘦如柴,瘦骨嶙峋
源出喬叟的《坎特伯雷故事集序言》中的一句:“他的馬骨瘦如柴。”(as lean was his horse as is a rake.)因?yàn)轳R瘦的連肋骨也可以看得見,可與草耙相比。
【例】the old man was as lean as a rake.這老人瘦骨嶙峋。
As like as two peas in a pod一模一樣
這條成語有時(shí)略去“in a pod”;最早在一五八零年出現(xiàn)于李利的小說《尤富埃斯》中。
【例】the twin girls are as like as peas in a pod.這對(duì)孿生女長(zhǎng)得一模一樣。
As merry as a cricket (或grig)非常高興,非常快樂
蟋蟀之所以被看作快活的象征,是因?yàn)樗慕新晞?dòng)聽,因此從前人們認(rèn)為家中有蟋蟀是幸福的事。這條成語在一五四六年首先出現(xiàn)于海伍德的《諺語集》中。
【例】though I am poor, I am as merry as a cricket. 我雖然窮,可是卻很快樂。
As plain as a pikestaff顯而易見,一目了然,一清二楚
這里的pikestaff(尖頭杖)是貨郎站下來休息時(shí)用來支撐擔(dān)子的手杖,因此以前有人不說pikestaff而說packstaff(撐擔(dān)杖)。至于plain(無花紋的),據(jù)《牛津諺語集》解釋,是指沒有裝飾的表面。
【例】The course of action is as plain as a pikestaff.訴訟程序一清二楚。
As proud as a peacock不可一世,非常高傲
孔雀開屏?xí)r,總是昂首闊步,一派洋洋自得的樣子。頗像有些人趾高氣揚(yáng),不可一世之貌。
【例】he is as proud as peacock.他非常高傲