句子:
Emily really went to town for her birthday party.
误译:
艾米莉为自己的生日派对真的进城了。
正译:
艾米莉为了举办自己的生日派对花了很多钱。
翻译加油站:
从误译看,这个派对好像是到城里去开的。问题是这里的go to town并不是其本义“进城”的意思,而是一则由俚语发展成的美国常用习语。人们进城的目的无非是买东西、吃饭,或娱乐,由此,这则俚语在不同的上下文中发展出了许多意思,可以表示:
1、挥霍,大量花钱,如:
They have really gone to town on decorating their new home.他们真舍得花大价钱装修房子。
2、做事起劲,如:
The hungry boys really went to town on the pie.孩子们饿慌了,见了馅饼就狼吞虎咽起来。
3、顺利进行,如:
The engineers really went to town on those plans.工程师们执行那些计划真的很快/将那些计划完成得很顺利。
4、(语言或行为)放肆,毫无顾忌,如:
When you make a complaints you don't spare their feelings, do you? You really go to town!你提意见时弄得他们很难堪,对吗?你太放肆了!