英语习语起源22-上了当铺的吊车
一生穷苦的大诗人杜甫说自己曾经「朝回日日典春衣」,分明是当铺的常客了。事实上,进当铺的人,多数处境都很困难,所以英文也有up the spout这个说法。
按spout是从前当铺(pawnshop)把典押品传送到收藏处的吊车,所以,put something up the spout就是「把一件东西当了」,例如:He has put his watch up the spout(他把手表当了)。此外,up the spout也往往引伸为「处境困难」或「完蛋了」的意思,例如︰He was convicted of bribery and his political career was up the spout(他被裁定犯了贿赂罪,政治生涯就告完蛋了。)
留意up the spout这个成语也可解作「怀孕」,所以用时必须小心,以免人家误解。至于up the spout之所以有「怀孕」意思,是因为孕妇处境困难还是暗喻精子的传送,却没有人可以断言了。
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