七零八落:At sixes and sevens
& P2 I; ~' }& V 一看到这个短语,聪明的读者可能立刻联就想到汉语中类似的表达如“乱七八糟”、“七上八下”、“七零八落”等等,这些词语大多都是杂乱无章乱糟糟之意。说来人类思维还真有相通的成份,作为思维载体的语言就表现出在表达上的相似性,英语中以数字组成的词语也有相似的含意。 8 B$ A. {) d& L# i- p) p/ A* e
At six and sevens 的英文释义为:not in order; in confusion; in a mess, 和汉语中的“七零八落”、“乱七八糟”如出一辄。 ' `5 t0 r% h+ w
例如:
/ l% B" Q7 q% {" b They held a party last night and everything was at sixes and sevens when the guests left.
, e6 ~8 \1 n F7 p: i& y* l C* _ 昨晚他们开了一个家庭聚会。当客人散尽之后,一切物品都挪了位置。 % M6 w) |3 M. \" Q
另外,在具体的上下文中,该片语的实际含意也有所变化。 " i; N0 Z: [- O# I. D1 v
例如: 6 \$ h) r9 n( M3 a& F9 O' L3 v
After the captain of the team broke his leg, the other players were at sixs and sevens. + Y/ U$ k/ q+ x8 x$ ^+ f# W# t, I
球队队长摔断了腿,其他队员陷入了一片混乱。
3 D4 [* V) U3 s l% {, _ The members couldn't come to an agreement. They were at sixes and sevens.
! ~6 {5 i' v& y2 I6 ~ 委员们不能达成一致意见。他们各持己见。+ I* f5 s( m. V6 m1 Q8 J3 f
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