动物成语修辞手法

语音

Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me. Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚，人以群分

A dog will not howl if you beat him with a bone. 骨头打狗狗不叫。 Dog does not eat dog. 狗不吃狗；同类不相残。

Better are small fish than an empty dish. 有胜于无。

Don't let the cat out of the bag. 不要让猫从袋子里出来，要保密

When the weasel and the cat make a marriage, it is a very ill presage. 黄鼠狼和猫结亲，不是好事情。

The calf, the goose, the bee: the world is ruled by these three. 三样东西治天下，并不是指牛犊、鹅和蜜蜂，而是指羊皮纸(parchment)、鹅毛笔(quill-pen)和蜂蜡(bee-wax)，亦即“文治天下”

When the cat is away the mouse (or mice) will (or may) play. 山中无老虎，猴子称大王。 A lion among sheep and a sheep among lions. 在羊群中是狮子，在狮子中是绵阳（自欺欺人）

A man has his hour, and a dog has his day. 人有称心时，狗有得意日。

An ape’s an ape，a varlet’s a varlet，though they be clad in silk or scarlet尽管衣绸穿红，猿猴还是猿猴，侍从还是侍从、

While the dog gnaws bone， companions would be none 狗啃骨头无同伴 When the fox precheth，then beware your geese 每逢狐狸讲道，当心鹅儿遭殃。 The ox is never woe，till he to the harrow go 挂耙去耕地，牛才知辛苦。

重复

A good dog deserves a good bone. 有劳得奖。

Little birds that can sing and won't sing must be made to sing. 生来能唱的鸟，不愿唱也得叫它唱。

The best horse needs breaking， and the aptest child needs teaching 最好的马儿要人驯，最伶俐的孩子要人训。

A little bird is content with a little nest. 君子安贫，达人知命；小鸟安于微巢，寡欲让人常乐。

He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.

One for wind and one for crow; one to die and one to grow.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the man was lost. 因为少了个钉子掌丢了。因为少了个鞋子马丢了。因为少了马人丢了。因小失大

No bees, no honey; no work, no money. 无蜂则无密，不劳则无酬。

An ass endurs his burden，but not more than his burden 驴子能负重，过重也难负。 Big fish eat little fish.

A leap year is never a good sheep year. 闰年是从来没有一个好的羊年

All his own geese are swans as the swans of others are geese. 自己一朵花,别人豆腐渣。

1.排偶： 例如：

Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me. (勿做自不量力之事。但能

依本分，终须无烦恼)

An army of stags led by a lion would be more formidable than one of lions led by a stag. (狮帅鹿兵比鹿帅狮兵更可怕)

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. （富人死后难升天）

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the man was lost. 因为少了个钉子掌丢了。因为少了个鞋子马丢了。因为少了马人丢了。因小失大

If you would be happy for a week take a wife; if you would be happy for a month kill a pig; but if you would be happy all your life plant a garden.

A lion at home, a mouse abroad. 在家凶如狮，在外却如鼠。

No bees, no honey; no work, no money. 无蜂则无密，不劳则无酬。

Take heed of an ox before; an ass behind, and a monk (or priest) of (or on) all sides. （见牛防牴，逢驴防踢，碰上僧侣，谨防被欺）

A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk. 闻其歌知其鸟，听其言知其人。

Old wood is best to burn, old horse to ride, old books to read, and old wine to drink. 旧木最好

烧，老马最易骑。旧书好读，老酒好喝。

A dog in the morning, sailors take warning; a dog in the night is the sailor's delight. （朝虹出天际，水手心思重；夜间见彩虹，水手乐呵呵。）这里的dog并非指动物，而是sun-dog，彩虹。

The best horse needs breaking， and the aptest child needs teaching.（最好的马也要受训，最聪明的孩子也要受教）

A woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they be. 其他常见的还有：

Like cow， like calf.（有什么样的母牛，就有什么样的牛犊）

An ox is taken by the horns， and a man by the tongue.（牛因角被执，人因舌而遭殃） A man has his hour， and a dog his day. (人有得意时，狗有得意日) 排偶类的也有少数，例：

The best horse needs breaking, and the aptest child needs teaching. 最好的马儿要人驯，最伶俐的孩子要人训。

A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk. 闻其歌知其鸟，听其言知其人

A swarm in May is worth a load of a hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly. 的确就是“一只苍蝇也不值”，或者是类似的意思。

这首诗想要说明的是相同的劳动与付出，在不同的时间与境况下意义会有所不同。“一群五月的蜜蜂与一堆干草的价值相等”，这时是蜜蜂采蜜的起始时段；“一群六月的蜜蜂与一只银汤匙的价值相等” ，六月是蜂蜜被采的黄金时期，因为此时的蜂蜜味道最为鲜美；“一群七月的蜜蜂甚至无法比拟一只蚊蝇的价值”，原因便是七月已不再是蜂蜜的采摘时节，蜜蜂的辛勤劳动也无法再创造利润了。

One man may steal a horse, while another may not look over the hedge. Take heed of an ox before; an ass behind， and a monk on all sides. （见牛防牴，逢驴防踢，碰上僧侣，谨防被欺）

No bees， no honey; no work， no money. （不劳无获） 2. 对照）

英语中的反衬是用平行或对称的结构来表示两种相反的意思，其结构特点是整齐匀称，相反的意思相互衬托，显得更加鲜明突出。例： Illness come on horseback， but go on foot. （病来如山倒，病去如抽丝） (come→go， on horseback→on foot)

You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink 牵马河边易，逼马饮水难。强扭的瓜不甜。

There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse. Diseases come on horseback, but go away on foot. Better an egg today than a hen (or pullet) tomorrow.

Better be the head of a cat (or dog; or fox; or mouse) than the tail of a lion. 宁为鸡头不为虎尾

The life of the wolf is the death of the lamb. 有活的狼就有死的羔羊。

Go to bed with the lamb and rise with the lark. 日出而作,日入而息.

The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail. 猴子爬得越高，尾巴越加暴露.是说做什么事情时间越长，缺点越容易被人发现。

One beats the bush, another catches the bird. .[谚]坐享别人的劳动成果 Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.

A little body often harbors a great soul. （燕雀也有鸿鹄志）(a little body →a great soul) The life of the wolf is the death of the lamb. （有活的豺狼，就有死的羔羊 ）(life →death， wolf→lamb)

Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse.

England is the paradise of women, the hell of horses, and the purgatory of servants.

A black hen lays a white egg， a foul woman brings forth a fair child. （黑鸡下白蛋，丑妇生俊儿）(black hen →white egg， foul woman →fair child) A man has his hour, and a dog his day.

A live dog is better than a dead lion. 死狮不如活狗 Love me, love my dog.

二、 词义修辞格 1. 比拟。

1）明喻(simile) 例：

as slippery as an eel （似鳝鱼般滑溜。指人狡猾，难以控制） as wise as an owl （比喻人很聪明）

Trouble runs off him like water off a duck’s back.（鸭子不怕水，好汉不怕难） Men live like fish， the great ones devour the small. (弱肉强食)

Laws are like cobwebs， which may catch small flies， but let wasps， and hornet break through. Or : Laws catch flies but let hornets go. （法律如蛛网，捉得住苍蝇，但捉不住黄蜂。用来比喻小人物绳之以法，大人物逍遥法外。）

There are (or There is) as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it. 海中好鱼取不尽。（指：虽然失去一个机会，还有很多机会）

Sailors get money like horses, and spend it like asses.

He is like a fish out of water. 他就像鱼离开了水，不自在。

The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail. 猴子爬得越高，尾巴越加暴露.是说做什么事情时间越长，缺点越容易被人发现。

The lion is not so fierce as he is painted (or as they paint him). [谚]狮子没有人们画得那么凶猛；传闻往往言过其实。

One may as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.

A woman's tongue wags like a lamb's tail. 女人 的 舌头 像 羊羔 的 尾巴 一样 摇摆不停 ...

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. 三月来如雄狮，去如绵羊 2）暗喻

例：Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse. （盲目的狂热犹如脱缰之马） Every dog is a lion at home. （狗是百步王，只在门前狠。） Man is a wolf to man. （人心狠，人吃人）

A good surgeon must have an eagle's eye, a lion's heart, and a lady's hand. 一个好外科医生要有鹰的眼、狮子的胆和女性的手。

Go to bed with the lamb and rise with the lark. （早睡早起）

Fish begins to stink at the head. （鱼烂头先臭，比喻上梁不正下梁歪） The dog that fetches will carry. （来说是非者，会是是非人）

暗喻中，往往一个本体会有许多不同的喻体，但这又不同于博喻，因为这些喻体不是在同一句子中出现。例如在比喻老人，有经验的人时，常用的一些词有： old dog， old cat， old cow， old ox等等。例如：

A lamb is as dear to a poor man as an ox to the rich. 穷人的一只羔羊比富人的一头牛还要珍贵。

An old dog bites sore.（老狗咬人痛，老人反击凶）

No playing with a straw before an old cat. （猫儿面前玩稻草，骗得了小猫，骗不了老猫，指老年人不容易上当受骗）

Old birds are not caught by new nets. （新网逮不住老鸟） The old cow thinks she was never a calf. （人老不体童稚心） An old ox makes a straight furrow. （老马识途） 3）拟人，拟物

（1）最常见的拟人手法，就是把非人的事物当成人来写，即把人的形体和感情赋予动物，或者把生命与人的特性赋予无生命物等。例：

When foxes pack the jury box， the chicken is always found guilty.（狐狸当陪审团，小鸡就肯定有罪）

The crow thinks her own bird fairest.（孩子都是自己的好）

When the fox preaches， take care of your geese.（狐狸讲道时，要留心看护你的鹅群） A dog has his (or a) day.

Where there are women and geese, there wants no noise. 有女人有鹅,把耳朵都能吵破. A cat has nine lives.

A cat may look at a king. 猫也有权晋见国王。 （2）拟物（包括以人拟人和以物拟物）例： A woman’s tongue wags like a lamb’s tail.（羔羊摇尾，女人饶舌）(woman’s tongue →lamb’s tail)

It is no more pity to see a woman weep than a goose go barefoot.（司空见惯，没人理会） (a woman weeps → a goose go barefoot)

（3）在这种拟人、拟物手法中，还有一种比较特殊的现象，那就是在这类习语中表示人的名词和动物名词并列，形成“互拟”（让我们暂且这样称呼）。例： Kings and bears often worry their keepers.（伴君如伴虎）

Daughters and dead fish are no keeping waves.（女大当嫁，鱼死难留） Fish and company stink in three days.（鱼放三天变臭，客住三天招嫌）

A whistling maid and a crowing hen is fit for neither God， nor man.（女像男，招人嫌） An ape’s an ape， a varlet’s a varlet， though they be clad in silk or scarlet.（尽管穿绸挂红，猢狲依然是猢狲，侍从仍然是侍从。或沐猴而冠）

Where there are women and geese， there wants no noise.（哪里有鹅和女人，哪里就不缺喧闹声）

从以上例句我们可以看出，与（1），（2）两点中不同的是，（3）中的两类名词都有某些相似的特性，可在某种程度上形成互拟；由于它们在句中作并列成分，任取其一也可和句中其他成分构成一个完整的句子，而（1），（2）中本体、喻体位置固定，不可互换，也不能形成互拟。

2. 借代(Metonymy)。了解这种修辞手法，对于风趣、地道而又忠于原文地翻译动物习语是必不可少的。

A dog in the morning， sailors take warning; a dog in the night is the sailor’s delight.（朝虹出天际，水手心思重；夜间见彩虹，水手乐呵呵。）这里的dog并非指动物，而是sun-dog，彩虹。

A good surgeon must have an eagle’s eye， a lion’s heart， and a lady’s hand.（鹰眼，狮心，女人手，外科医生必须有。）这里并不是说外科医生必须拥有鹰眼，狮心，女人手这三样实物，而是暗示他必须眼明手巧，胆大心细。

The calf， the geese， the bee; the world is ruled by these.三样东西治天下，并不是指牛犊、鹅和蜜蜂，而是指羊皮纸(parchment)、鹅毛笔(quill-pen)和蜂蜡(bee-wax)，亦即“文治天下” 3. 夸张（Hyperbole）

夸张是为了强调，故意夸大事实，给人以深刻的印象。这和前几种修辞手法相比，使用频率要少一些。例如：

A growing youth has a wolf in his belly.（小伙子正发育，吃起饭来像恶狼） Bleed like a pig（血流如注）

To talk the hind leg off a donkey.（夸夸其谈，用于指唠叨的人） He daren’t say “Boo” to a goose.（胆小如鼠） rain cats and dogs（大雨倾盆）

三、动物习语除了运用以上各种修辞手法外，还较多地运用了典故（allusion）。因为典故概括性强，大多形象生动，恰当地运用典故能使语言精练，给人以深刻的印象，收到较好的效果，这点在英语学习中也是不容忽视的。这里我们仅从习语的三个主要来源，以及一些名家名言来举几个例子：

A living dog is better than a dead lion.（活着的狗比死了的狮子强。即：好死不如赖活）（出自《旧约.传道书》的第九章第四节）

Never cast your pearls before swine.（切勿明珠暗投）（出自《新约.马太福音》第七章第六节：Neither cast ye your pearls before swine.也不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前）

The camel going to seek horns lost his ears.（骆驼想要角，结果连耳朵都失掉了。）《伊索寓言》有则故事说，骆驼见牛有角非常羡慕，就到主神宙斯跟前祈求赐角，宙斯怒其愚求，便把它的耳朵去掉了一截。见《骆驼和宙斯》，它用来讽刺贪心不足反而吃亏之人。

Fat hens lay few eggs.（肥鸡不下蛋）（出自《伊索寓言》中的《寡妇和母鸡》）

If one sheep leaps over the ditch， all the rest will follow.（榜样的力量是无穷的）（出自司各特的《老死》）

The swan sings before his death.（鸟之将死，其鸣也哀）（出自古罗马雄辩家，政治家和哲学家西塞罗之口）

Both of you are birds of self-same feather.（你和你的国王是一丘之貉）（出自莎士比亚《亨利六世下篇》第三幕第三场）

除以上我们所讨论的各类动物习语以外，还有一种比较特殊的与天气变化和农业生产有关的动物习语。这是广大劳动人民在日常的生产生活中通过动物习性与天气变化之间的联系，细心观察、长期实践的结果。这类习语生动有趣，又便于记忆，可运用到农业生产中指导实践，促进农田保收。例：

If the cock crows on going to bed， he’s sure to rise with a watery head.（公鸡进窝啼不停，早起大雨头上淋）

Pigs see the wind.（猪若烦躁，风暴要到）

When the peacock loudly bawls， soon we’ll have both rain and squalls.（孔雀高声叫，风暴就要到）

The porpoise plays before a storm.（海豚戏水，风暴要起） March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.（三月来如猛狮，去如羔羊）或March comes in with adder heads， and goes out with peacock tails.（三月来如毒蛇头，去如孔雀尾）两句均指三月初天气不好，经常狂风暴雨；到了三月底，天气变好，风和日丽。

本文来源：https://www.bwwdw.com/article/593t.html