书城外语汉英英语谚语手册
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第21章 处 世 Life Skills (5)

撒谎者以骗人开始,以骗己告终。

Liars begin by imposing upon(强加于)others but end deceiving themselves.

赛毕方知输赢。

At the end of the game you’ll see who’s the winner.

舌头不是钢,一动把人伤。

The tongue is not made of steel, yet it cuts.

The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts.

舌头只有三寸长,却能杀害六尺汉。

The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet high.

三思而后行。

Draw not your bow till your arrow is fixed.

First think, then speak.

Look before you leap.

Measure thrice before you cut once.

Measure thrice before you cut once.

Score twice before you cut once.

Second thoughts are best.

There came never ill of good advisement.

Thought runs before action.

When one is about to act, one must reason first.

三思而后言。

First think and speak.

Consider the end.

Think today and speak tomorrow.

Turn your tongue seven times before talking.

杀鸡给猴看。

Beat the dog before the lion.

善游者溺。

Good swimmers are oftenest drowned.

The best swimmers are oftenest drowned.

少管闲事!

It is none of your business.

Keek(偷看)in my kail(钱)pot, glower(怒视)in my ambry(橱柜).

Keep your breath / wind to cool your broth / porridge.

Put your hand between the bark and the tree.

少说多看。

Shut your mouth, open eyes.

少说多听。

Speak less and listen more.

少说多听。两只耳朵一个舌,故应多听而少说。

Two ears to one tongue, therefore hear twice as much as you speak.

少说话,多干活。

Few words, many deeds.

少说失意事,莫夸好运道。

Speak little of your ill luck and boast not of your good luck.

少说为妙。

The east said the better.

The least said, the soonest mended.

身在福中不知福。

Fools never know when they are well off.

身正不怕影子斜。

A man of moral integrity(完整)does not fear any slanderous(诽谤性的)at tack.

身着好衣衫,到处无阻拦。

Good clothes open all doors.

失去方知可贵。

A good thing is known when it is lost.

Good fortune is never good till it is lost.

The cow knows not what her tail is worth until she has lost it.

失去理智的人就像一头发情的野兽。

A man without reason is a beast in season.

拾人牙慧无意义。

A borrowed cloak does not keep one warm.

食言者失信。

A man that breaks his words, bids others to be false to him.

事虽未成,心意领了。

Take the will for the deed.

手中一件礼胜于两个诺言。

A gift in the hand is better than two promises.

睡不着觉赖枕头。

A bad workman quarrels with / complains of his tools.

Bad workmen find fault with their tools.

He who can’t write says pen is bad.

The fault of the ass must not be laid upon the packsaddle(驮鞍).

The fault of the horse is put on the saddle.

说别人坏话的人也会说你的坏话。

A dog will fetch a bone will carry a bone.

说大话者很少实际行动。

Big words seldom accompany good deeds.

说得越少弥补的就越快。

Least said, soonest mended.

The least said, the soonest mended.

说和做是两回事。

Saying and doing are two different things.

说话和气没坏处。

To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue.

说是一回事,做是另一回事。

Saying is one thing and doing another.

说者无意,听者有心。

When the word is out it belongs to another.

随波逐流。

Follow the river, and you’ll get to the sea.

His mill will go with all winds.

天外有天楼外楼,莫在人前夸海口。

Among the strong there is always a stronger; so don’t brag about yourself before others.

同在困境中,不可互相拆台。

He that has a house of glass must not throw stones at each other.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

同舟共济。

Those are in the same boat should row together.

玩笑过极必生悲。

Jesting brings serious sorrow.

玩笑要适可而止。

A joke should not be carried too far.

我们都是舆论的奴隶。不要受舆论的支配。

We are all slaves of opinion.

我能分辨出好与坏。

I know the difference between chalk and cheese.

无法可治就得忍耐。

What can’t be cured must be endured.

无能莫逞强。

Never make threats you cannot carry out.

无所得,必有所失。

He who does no gain loses.

无所事事就会堕落。

Without business, debauchery(道德败坏).

希腊人带礼物来,没安好心。

I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts.

瞎子不谢馈镜人。没用的礼物得不到感谢。

A blind man will not thank you for a looking-glass.

像猫和狗一样合不来。

They agree like cats and dogs.

小不忍则乱大谋。

Every misfortune is to be subdued by patience.

He is unfortunate who cannot bear misfortune.

He that can have patience, can have what he will.

He who can suppress a moment’s anger may prevent a day of sorrow.

小错不改,大错难免。

He that corrects not small faults, will not control great ones.

小错不计较。

Wink at small faults.

小错易改。

A little fire is quickly trodden out(踩灭).

小事明白,大事糊涂。尽力捉小虫,容忍大骆驼。

Men strain at gnats(叮人小虫)and swallow camels.