口语步步高

◎供稿：Momo

一 感恩节词汇

今年的感恩节是在2018年11月22日，它是美国最盛大的传统节日之一，到底它是个什么样的节日呢？让我们通过简单的复习来了解它并学习一些相关的词汇吧！

Thanksgiving Day［感恩节］is the most truly American of the national Holidays in the United States and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country. On this day, Americans of all faiths and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year’sbounty［馈赠］and reverently ask for continuedblessings［恩典］.

In 1960, thePuritan［清教徒］leftSouthampton［南安普顿市］because of thereligious persecution［宗教迫害］and sailed to America on theMayFlower［五月花号］. They landed inPlymouth［普利茅斯］in November and they signed theMayFlower Compact［五月花号公约］.

During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation. With the help ofIndians［印第安人］, those who survived learnedhunt［狩猎］,fishing［捕鱼］and plantingcrops［作物］. They got used to the new life and built their new home.

Thanksgiving Day in America is a time forfamily reunions［家人团聚］and holiday meals. For theThanksgiving dinner［感恩节正餐］, turkey is theentree［主菜］, whilepumpkin pie［南瓜派］,cranberry sauce［蔓越橘酱］,sweet potatoes［红薯］,cornbread［玉米面包］,pudding［布丁］, andversion［鹿肉］are also on the menu. Nowadays, the president of America wouldpardon［赦免］a turkey the day before Thanksgiving.

二 俚语

说起火鸡，还有几个和它相关的俚语呢，让我们一起来学习一下吧！

1.have a turkey on (one’s) back

【本义】背上有只火鸡

【喻义】喝醉酒, 吸毒

e.g. A: The dinner is ready. Tim has not made it.Can anybody give him a call?

B: There is no need. He has got turkey on his back.

A: But we had a deal. And he promised to dine here.

B: Never ever believe what he said.

2.red as a turkey cock

【本义】红得像雄火鸡

【喻义】（因发怒、尴尬等）满脸通红

【文化说明】人发怒、尴尬时脸涨得通红，和turkey的红色有可比性，由此该习语转喻“（因发怒、尴尬等）满脸通红”。

e.g. When he was blamed for his mistake, he was as red as a turkey cock.

当他因错误被责备时，羞得满脸通红。

3.swell like a turkey cock

【本义】像雄火鸡一样踱步/高傲

【喻义】大摇大摆地走，趾高气扬地

【文化说明】turkey cock可喻指“自负的人”“妄自尊大的人”，因为它走路的样子显得趾高气扬，非常傲慢

4.say turkey to one and buzzard to another

【本义】对一个谈火鸡，对另一个谈红头美洲鹫

【喻义】厚此薄彼

【文化说明】buzzard（红头美洲鹫）产于美国东部，橙红色和紫蓝色颈项与雄火鸡相似，但小得多。字面意思是“对一个谈火鸡，对另一个谈红头美洲鹫”，对待不同的人采取不同的方式，即“厚此薄彼”。

5.talk turkey

【本义】谈火鸡

【喻义】坦率认真地谈话地谈，直截了当

【文化说明】习语talk turkey源于美国民间传说。相传北美殖民时期，一个白人和一个印第安人一同打猎，事先商定要平分猎物。他们打到了两只火鸡和三只乌鸦（另一说是红头美洲鹫（buzzard）。白人把乌鸦都给了印第安人，把火鸡全留给了自己。印第安人反对，白人说：“You have three birds, I have only two.”（你分了三只鸟，我只有两只。）印第安人回答说：“Stop talking birds. Talk turkey.”（别说鸟，说火鸡。）

e.g.①If you are willing to talk turkey, the dispute between us can be easily settled.

如果你愿意实实在在地说话,那么我们之间的争端就可以很容易地解决。

②Generally, he is an easy-going person, but when it comes to religious belief he talks turkey.

一般来说,他是一个随和的人,但一谈到宗教信仰,他就正经起来。

6.turkey shoot

【本义】射火鸡比赛

【喻义】易如反掌，（战争中）所向披靡

【文化说明】turkey shoot指19世纪的射火鸡比赛，以火鸡等活物为目标，火鸡系在原木后，射中的火鸡就是给射手的奖品。由于距离近，目标大，这种射击比赛并不困难。因此，turkey shoot转喻“易如反掌”“所向披靡”等意思。

三 感恩节祝福语

Thanksgiving Day is a time to offer thanks, please express your gratitude and blessings to your family and friends with the help of the following expressions on this special day!

1.Though we are not with you, we all miss you on this Thanksgiving Day.

虽然感恩节你不能和我们在一起，但是我们会想念你的。

2.Thanksgiving wishes for you and your family.

给你们全家感恩节的祝福。

3.May your life be blessed with joy, love and miracles.

希望你的生活里充满了欢乐、关爱和奇迹。

4.God bless you and your family at Thanksgiving and always!

上帝会保佑你和你的家人。

5.Have a full Thanksgiving Day!

感恩节快乐！好好吃一顿吧！

6.What a wonderful time to be together.

在一起的时光多么快乐。

7.Wish you a very special Thanksgiving Day for you and your family.

愿你们有一个特别的感恩节。

8.I am so grateful that I have you all with me on this Thanksgiving Day.

盼望能和你一起共度感恩节。

9.Season’s greetings to you all straight from our hearts.

感恩节里献上最诚挚的祝福。

10. Warm wishes at Thanksgiving.

在感恩节里，衷心地祝福你们。