集团老总要来,全厂上下忙个不停,又是安排会场,铺上地毯,又是准备盛宴,好不忙乎,这让我想起了一个片语:red carpet treatment(welcome).
先看一个例子:
Wherever the star went, he was given a red carpet welcome by his movie fans.
(那明星的所到之处,都受到他影迷的热烈欢迎。).
Red carpet treatment意思是贵宾式的待遇,而red carpet welcome指贵宾式的欢迎。一般在接见重要人物时,接待单位总是铺上红地毯以表隆重和热烈,所以这种“红地毯待遇”就表示“贵宾式的待遇”了。英文老师这样解释:
In west culture, people rool out a red carpet for an important people to walk on when they arrive. For example, important people such as an embassador, a movie star or an honorable guest. So to give someone the red carpet treatmetnt means that you give them special treatment.
Let’s take a look at the following examples from the internet:
Dr. Taylor Wang, the first Chinese astronaut, was given the red-carpet treatment at his alma mater.
(中国的第一位太空人王赣骏博士在他的母校受到隆重而热烈的欢迎。)
When the president visited the foreign countries, he was given the red-carpet treatment and welcomed by a great crown.
(当总统访问外国时,他得到了隆重的款待及多数群众的热烈欢迎。)
注意,这个片语有时也用作roll out the red carpet to sb. 意思相同,上文中英文老师的解释里就这样用到。
下面来看一看今天要学习的第二个片语:when in Rome, do as the Romans do
你喜欢西方人的就餐习惯吗?在美国,他们总是先上汤,后上主菜,而在我们中国,汤却是最后一道需要上的菜,不管怎样,我们到了一个陌生的国度,总得要“入乡随俗”。对了,这就是when in Rome, do as the Romans do,即conform to the manners and customs of those amongst whom you live.从字面意义上看(literally),这个片语的意思是当身处罗马时,要像罗马人那样做,意思就是你到一个地方时,由于文化传统的差异,你需要按照人家的风俗习惯行事。The sentence “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” means that we should obey its customs when we are entering a country.看个例子:
The differences in customs and cultures in the world are really noticeable. We should learn more about them to avoid them to avoid embarrassment(窘迫). Then, would you please remember: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
(世界上的风俗和文化的不同很值得注意。我们应该多注意一点一,以避尴尬。所以请记住:入乡随俗。)
搞不懂老美为什么老是以Rome来组成一些句子,可能是因为古罗马的发达吧,汉语中不是也有么?像“条条道路通罗马”?
注意由于这个片语实际上是一个完整的句子,所以我们可以根据句子的需要适当的加上一个成分,意思也不会改变。如:
I know you have egg and milk for breakfast at home, but now you are in another country, when in Rome, you will do as the Romans do and take coffee,please.