【英语习语】

cut and run

【习语注释】

该习语的字面意思是“cut the rope and run off”，原本是指匆忙出发，主要用来喻指“to run away”，即“逃跑”，相当于汉语里的“落荒而逃；仓皇逃走；撒手不管；仓皇逃窜；临阵脱逃；溜之大吉”。

【习语运用】

Hearing footsteps in the doorway, the thief cut and run, not even remembering to take his hat.

听到门廊外的脚步声，那个贼仓皇逃走，甚至忘了拿他的工具袋。

The government had obviously decided to cut and run when they called an election six months early.

显然政府是想溜之大吉，把选举提前了六个月。

They are capable of the nature's laws, but always want to avoid; the result is to cut and run, and finally they just can't escape.

他们深谙着自然的规律，却总想躲避，结果是落荒而逃，却最终没能逃离。

【闲话习语】

该习语其实是早期短语cut and run off和cut and run away的缩略形式，据说是源于航海领域，意指“ships making a hasty departure by the cutting of the anchor rope and running before the wind”，即“船只剪断锚绳、在起大风前匆忙驶离”。

此来源的说法虽然未经最终实证，但英国文艺复兴时期的伟大诗人埃德蒙·斯宾塞（Edmund Spenser）在其作品《The Faerie Queene》（1590年）中曾经这么写道：

“It [a ship] cut away upon the yielding wave.”

最早使用习语“cut and run”的书面记录出现在《波士顿新闻通讯》（Boston News Letter，1704年）中：

“Cap. Vaughn rode by said Ship, but cut & run.”

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那么，你还知道英语里“落荒而逃”的其它说法吗？欢迎留言探讨。