eat his shirt不是“吃他的衬衫”，意思差远了

01

● eat one's shirt ●

承认说错话；亏本

看到这个短语，也许有的小伙伴第一反应是， 它的意思难道是“吃你的衬衫”？从字面意思看，的确是这样， 但实际上，eat one's shirt 有两种意思哦：

1. 收回前言，承认说错话

在主张、吹嘘或断言被驳斥后，面对不正确的后果；承认说错话。

例句：You'll be eating your shirt if this new engine isn't as fast as you say it is.

如果这台新引擎没有你说的那么快，你就得收回自己的话。

2. 亏本，蒙受损失

例句：I ended up having to eat my shirt on the cost of the lumber for the new shed after it was ruined by the rain.

大雨把新棚子毁了，我最后只能白白损失木材的费用。

02

● keep your shirt on ●

别生气；沉住气，别激动

Keep your shirt on 表面意思是"穿上你的衬衫。" 听起来像是关心儿子的妈妈常唠叨的一句话。

但其实这是一个习惯用语，表示：沉住气，别激动；别生气。

这个说法可追溯到19世纪，当时的人们不像现代人的衣服那么多，衣服也比较昂贵，所以会更爱惜衣服，避免破损。

现在，“keep your shirt on” 被引申为 “不要生气”的意思，以免打架损坏了衣服。

● 例句 ●

Keep your shirt on! Your car isn't even scratched!

别生气！你的车连剐蹭的痕迹都没有。

Honey, keep your shirt on, please. I'm sorry but the boss made me work late.

亲爱的，你别发火。我很抱歉，但是老板要我加班的。

03

● put your shirt on sth ●

确信...会发生

Put your shirt on sth 的英文释义是：to feel very certain that something will happen ，也就是确信某事将会发生的意思。

● 例句 ●

I'd put my shirt on the president being re-elected.

我肯定总统会再次当选。

04

● the shirt off sb's back ●

（某人）仅剩的家当

它的英文释义是：the last thing that someone has left ，也就是某人留下的最后一件东西。引申为仅剩的家当。

● 例句 ●

He's the kind of man who'd give you the shirt off his back.

他是那种能为你付出一切的人。

He is always ready to give the shirt off his back to anyone who is in trouble.

对有困难的人，他总是倾囊相助。

05

● eat humble pie ●

认错；道歉

Humble pie：（贵族狩猎后供仆人吃的）内脏做的煎馅饼，比喻屈辱、丢脸。西方人对动物内脏一般是比较忌讳的，eat humble pie的意思就是指“自我忏悔，反省”。

● 例句 ●

Anson was forced to eat humble pie and publicly apologise to her.

安森被迫认错并公开向她道歉。

Tom is eating humble pie in his room because he broke the vase.

汤姆正在房中忏悔，因为他把花瓶打碎了。

这些英语表达，你学会了吗？学习更多英语小技巧，来蜜蜂词汇营哦！