英语口语 | 用It was Greek to me表达“我全然不知,我一窍不通”

在英语口语中,常常会使用与国家或语言来进行特定意思的表达,像我们之前给大家讲的 英语口语表达:go Dutch. 今天我们再来说说Greek.

本文要和大家分享的口语表达是:It's all Greek to me。来自于莎士比亚的戏剧。在莎士比亚的历史剧《凯撒大帝》中,古罗马著名演说家西塞罗正在面对人群讲话。一个叫卡斯卡的人在倾听,由于西塞罗说的是当时受过一定教育的人才懂的希腊语,卡斯卡并没有听懂,他说道:“听懂他言语的人时而相视一笑,时而摇头;但对我来说,却只是希腊语而已 - It was Greek to me”。

英语口语 | 用It was Greek to me表达“我全然不知,我一窍不通”

现代英语中这个表达已演变成 It's all Greek to me,而且不仅仅是指语言,它表示“我全然不知,我一窍不通”的意思。相当于:I don't understand it at all.

  • I tried reading the instructions, but it's all Greek to me.
    我尝试看说明书,但是我完全看不懂。
  • He tried to explain how the system works, but it's all Greek to me.
    他努力解释系统如何运作,可你怎么也弄不明白。

下面我们再来看几个和这个口语表达有关的例句:

  • - Would you mind helping me with this math problem? It's all Greek to me.
    - 你可以教我这道数学题吗?我完全搞不懂。
    - Sure, my pleasure.
    - 当然可以。
  • I don't like his classes because it's all Greek to me.
    我不喜欢他的课,因为我完全不知所云。
  • I read an article about American football in the magazine, but it's all Greek to me.
    我在杂志上读了一篇介绍美式橄榄球的文章,但对此还是一窍不通。