http://www.yellodyno.com/graphics/dogs_three.jpg 做事、看人,首先得找定目标。找目标很伤脑筋,找错目标更伤脑筋。汉语中,我们常戏谑看走眼的“他”:“找错人了”;英语中相应的说法是:He is barking at the wrong tree。 http://storage.msn.com/x1pbglk-vqL4BtZMBD3iiR1gc4DZ3-IE9-z65WneNHxYK1veKEpsSaB_Whwp4XDZiwUxYT8AlU17jz6fXPjbQHRcIfJJpKloVQ4Shan2kcP2d0-7_cTQJtkyyCD83d8O2lHDSAU4SPOX3Di-Z4T87Uavw 单凭字面意推其渊源,“to bark up the wrong tree”(在不该吠的树前狂吠)似乎与狗有联系。 http://storage.msn.com/x1pbglk-vqL4BtZMBD3iiR1gc4DZ3-IE9-z65WneNHxYK3e2Hg5FloCe2sD2eOaKnPgI-IQavv2Ax0rMKD3QzVKHY0I-nEGdmlxWR7ko2blue7m3rbtOLRen_VIhDtZMmitAWyqFUQi5eFku6hR6FVYcg 据记载,该短语源于17世纪美国殖民地时期。当时的美洲人烟稀少,开发西部的拓荒者靠打猎为生。狩猎自然需要猎狗,不过,聪明的猎狗有时也会被猎物耍弄。比如,浣熊常常昼眠夜出,黑暗中它会误导猎狗,让其误以为自己躲在已经空了的树洞里。结果,猎狗对着错误的目标狂吠不已(to bark up the wrong tree)。 http://www.goenglish.com/GoEnglish_com_BarkingUpTheWrongTree2.gif 随着时间的推移,“to bark up the wrong tree”逐渐被公众所接受,借喻“精力或目标集中在错误的地方”。 http://storage.msn.com/x1pbglk-vqL4BtZMBD3iiR1gc4DZ3-IE9-z65WneNHxYK19n8gVTiyu_cp02px8K4op9JXsj2qKX_d3oTMK0aKb2CxEQtQKwHdElM0pEewD5dHD5PLnPQIQefJdrkSmyu4ZhILreQE6uPcoa0gJmlZicg 看下面一个例句: If you think I can come up with more money, you're barking up the wrong tree.(如果你指望我拿出更多的钱,那你找错人了。) http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/epa1614l.jpg 纠正:To bark up the wrong tree,除了指”找错了人”之外还可以解释为“错怪了人“。 例句:"Hey man, if you think I was the guy who robbed that bank today, you're barking up the wrong tree! I was nowhere near the place."
他说:“喂,要是你认为我是今天抢银行的那个人,那你就错怪我了。我根本就没上那儿去。” |