【英语习语】
get cold feet
【习语注释】
该习语的字面意思是“两脚发冷”,主要用来喻指“to become disheartened or timid, losing one’s previous enthusiasm or courage”,即“变得沮丧或胆怯,失去以前的热情或勇气”,相当于汉语里的“临阵退缩;临阵软脚;临阵脱逃;临阵畏缩”。
【习语运用】
I had agreed to give a speech, but as the time approached, I began to get cold feet.
我已经答应进行一次演说,但随着时间的逼近,我开始胆怯了。
You are likely to get cold feet about being president when you understand the situation.
当你明白这个处境时,你很有可能临阵畏缩,不想再出任负责人了。
Learning about idioms in a language and culture can be difficult, but don't get cold feet. Just be careful when using these expressions.
学习一个语言和文化中的成语可能相当困难,但是也不要临阵畏缩,只要在用的时候小心一点就是了。
If a few buyers get cold feet, that sentiment can spread rapidly to others, and minor doubts become a crisis of confidence.
一旦少数买方开始动摇信心,这种情绪会迅速扩散至其他领域,微小的疑虑也可能引发信心危机。
【闲话习语】
关于该习语的确切来源,为什么cold feet和临阵畏缩之间存在某种关联,尚不清晰。但是,早在1896年就有该习语的诸多用法,比如斯蒂芬·克莱恩(Stephen Crane)的小说《街头女孩玛吉》(Maggie, a girl of the streets,1896年)中的这句话:
“I knew this was the way it would be. They got cold feet.”
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那么,你还知道英语里“临阵退缩”的其它说法吗?欢迎留言探讨。