English Original
1. A Dog in the Manger
Origin: From Aesop's Fables. The story tells of a dog lying in a manger full of hay. Since dogs don't eat hay, it would snarl and snap at any ox or horse that came near to eat, preventing them from enjoying the food that was useless to itself.
Meaning: The phrase "a dog in the manger" has become a common idiom in English. It describes a person who selfishly prevents others from using or enjoying something that they themselves have no use for.
Usage: It is a noun phrase, often used as a subject complement with a linking verb.
Examples:
- He borrowed a lot of books from the library but never read any. He was a real dog in the manger.
- Smith was a dog in the manger over that roll of wire; it was useless to him, but he wouldn't let us have it.
2. Bell the Cat
Origin: This is a shortened form of "to hang the bell about the cat's neck," from the fable The Mice in Council in Aesop's Fables. The mice held a council to decide how to deal with their enemy, the cat. One wise mouse suggested putting a bell on the cat to warn of its approach. All agreed it was a brilliant plan ("We will bell the cat!"), but when it came to the question of who would perform the dangerous task, no mouse volunteered.
Meaning: The idiom "bell the cat" means to undertake a dangerous or difficult task for the common good; to be the one who bravely steps forward to face a risk when others are unwilling.
Examples:
- Everybody made suggestions, but no one actually offered to bell the cat.
- We didn't know who would ask him the delicate question until my friend volunteered to bell the cat.
3. Cry Wolf
Origin: From the Aesop's fable The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf. A bored shepherd boy repeatedly tricked the villagers by falsely crying "Wolf!" for amusement. When a real wolf finally appeared and the boy cried for help in earnest, the villagers, having been deceived before, ignored him, and the wolf ate his sheep.
Meaning: To "cry wolf" means to raise a false alarm, to warn of a danger that does not exist. Consequently, when a real emergency arises, people may not believe the warnings.
Examples:
- Nobody will believe he is in trouble because he has cried wolf so many times.
- Is she really sick, or is she just crying wolf?
- The newspaper placards that had cried wolf so often, cried wolf now in vain.
中文翻译
1. 占着茅坑不拉屎的人 (A Dog in the Manger)
出处： 出自《伊索寓言》。故事讲述一只狗躺在堆满稻草的马槽里。狗不吃草，却对着任何想来吃草的马或牛狂吠撕咬，阻止它们享用对自己无用的食物。
含义： “狗占马槽”已成为英语中的常见习语。它形容一个人自己用不着某物，却自私地阻止他人使用或享受。
用法： 这是一个名词性短语，常与系动词连用，作表语。
例句：
- 他从图书馆借了很多书，但一本也没读。他真是个占着茅坑不拉屎的人。
- 史密斯对那卷电线真是占着茅坑不拉屎；那对他毫无用处，但他就是不让我们用。
2. 自告奋勇去冒险 (Bell the Cat)
出处： 该短语是“给猫的脖子上挂铃”的简略形式，出自《伊索寓言》中的《老鼠会议》。老鼠们开会商讨如何对付敌人——猫。一只聪明的老鼠建议在猫脖子上挂个铃铛以预警它的到来。大家都认为这是个绝妙的主意（“我们要给猫挂铃！”），但当问到谁去执行这个危险任务时，没有一只老鼠自愿前往。
含义： 习语“bell the cat”意为为了共同的利益承担危险或困难的任务；在他人不愿时，勇敢站出来面对风险的人。
例句：
- 每个人都提了建议，但事实上没人愿意自告奋勇去冒险。
- 我们不知道谁会问他这个微妙的问题，直到我的朋友自告奋勇去问。
3. 谎报险情；危言耸听 (Cry Wolf)
出处： 出自《伊索寓言》的《牧童和狼》。一个无聊的牧童为了取乐，多次欺骗村民，虚假地喊“狼来了！”。当狼真的出现，男孩认真呼救时，曾被欺骗过的村民没有理他，狼吃掉了他的羊。
含义： “Cry wolf”意为发出虚假警报，警告并不存在的危险。其后果是，当真正的紧急情况发生时，人们可能不再相信这些警告。
例句：
- 没人会相信他有麻烦了，因为他已经谎报过太多次险情了。
- 她是真病了，还是只是在危言耸听？
- 那些曾频繁危言耸听的报纸标语，如今再喊“狼来了”也是徒劳。