11.这个教授教得很烂。
[误] The professor teaches badly。
[正] The professor is so terrible。
注:有人认为第二句的意思是“这个教授很可怕”,其实不然。英语中 terible 意思很灵活,例如:feel terrible 指身体“不舒服”; The food is terrible 则是说食物“难吃极了”。而第一句纯属中文式的表达。
12.北京申奥成功的消息令我们热血沸腾。
[误] Beijing's winning the bid for the Olympics makes our blood boil。
[正] Beijing's winning the bid for the Olympics makes us excited。
注:make one's blood boil 是指“激怒某人”,而非“使人激动”。英语中“使人激动”的说法除了 make one excited,还有较为口语化的 make one's spine tingle。
13.别听他们胡说八道,根本就没那回事。
[误] Don't listen to their babbling. Nothing of the sort。
[正] Don't be fooled by their babbling. Nothing of the sort。
注:原文中的“听”不能用 listen to 来表示,因为 listen to 指“听”的动作,而原文中的“别听”不是不让他“听”,而是劝告他“不要听信”,因此,用 not be fooled by 才更达意。
14.我们这儿的人都觉得他有婚外恋。
[误] Pepple around here all feel that he has affairs outside his own marriage。
[正] Pepple around here all feel that he is leading a double life。
注:affair 本身就指“私通”或“暧昧关系”,当然是“婚外”的事,所以 outside one's own marriage 无疑是多此一举了。英语中“有婚外恋”的地道说法应该是 lead a double life。
15.别看别人不把她当回事,在家里她可是父亲的掌上明珠。