每日习语 英语习语 英语谚语
2008-10-08来源:和谐英语
Ups and downs
今天我们要讲的习惯用语就是:Ups and downs.
在一般情况下,up 和down都用做副词,但是在这个习惯用语里,它们都是名词,后面都还加上了s , 表示多数。
Up的意思就是向上,在上面;down的意思就是向下,或在下面。
Ups and downs作为俗语就是指一个人的运气时好时坏,或是在某件事上成功和失败不断循环。
换句话说,ups and downs就是起伏、波折。这是每个人都难免会遇到的。
下面就是一个例子。
Mister White sure has had his ups and downs. He's made a fortune three times and then lost it all. But he doesn't have to worry - his wife is rich. When her father died last year, she inherited two million dollars.
这句话的意思是:白先生一生经历了不少起伏。他三次发了财,可是后来又全亏损了。但是,他不用担心,他太太很有钱。去年她爸爸去世的时候,她继承了两百万美元。
Carol has had all sorts of ups and downs preparing for her wedding - problems with the wedding gown and so on. Then on the big day, the flowers and the cake didn't arrive on time. She's very upset - these aren't lucky signs for a marriage.
这位父亲说:卡罗尔在为婚礼做准备的过程中遇到许多波折,结婚礼服出了问题,以及其他不顺利的事。举行婚礼的那天,鲜花和蛋糕又没有准时送到。她非常不高兴。这些对婚姻来说都不是好的象征。