【英语习语】

(not) get a word in edgeways

英汉互译术语(英汉语习语互译)(1)

【习语注释】

edgeway表示“边缘通道;路边;路侧”,get a word in edgeways的意思是“join a conversation in which another is speaking continually and leaving little opportunity for others”,即“加入一个某人不停地讲话而不给别人留机会的谈话”,即“插嘴;插话”。

英汉互译术语(英汉语习语互译)(2)

【习语运用】

When Mary starts talking, no one else can get a word in edgeways.

玛丽讲起话来,别人谁也插不上嘴。

He spent all the time talking and they could not get a word in edgeways.

他一直说个不停,他们都插不上嘴。

Honestly, that man could talk the hind legs off a donkey. I couldn't get a word in edgeways.

坦率地说,那个男人简直是口若悬河,我一句都插不上。

英汉互译术语(英汉语习语互译)(3)

【闲话习语】

该习语有一个变体说法,即“get a word in edgewise”,源自十九世纪的英国。该习语最早的意思是“edging sideways through a crowd, seeking small gaps in which to proceed through the throng”,即“侧身穿过人群,寻找穿过人群的小空隙”。该习语当前含义的相关用法较早出现在David Abercromby所写的《话语艺术》(Art of Converse,1683)里:

Without giving them so much time as to edge in a word.

而该习语本身的书面运用较早出现在话剧《多佛之夜》(A night at Dover,1821)里:

Sir F. (Aside.) Curse me, if I can get a word in edgeways!

那么,你还知道英语里“插不上嘴”的其它说法吗?欢迎留言探讨。


英汉互译术语(英汉语习语互译)(4)

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