習(xí)語(yǔ)起源109-縮回蝸角

字號(hào):

對(duì)中國(guó)人來(lái)說(shuō),蝸牛觸角向來(lái)都有渺小而狂妄的含義;《莊子·則陽(yáng)》篇里分據(jù)蝸牛兩角的觸氏國(guó)、蠻氏國(guó)常常爆發(fā)爭(zhēng)地戰(zhàn),使人看到發(fā)動(dòng)侵略戰(zhàn)的野心家其實(shí)多么渺小,有一點(diǎn)蝸角虛名就自高自大的人又是多么可笑。
    英國(guó)人顯然也認(rèn)為蝸角有點(diǎn)狂妄意味,所以,他們說(shuō)收斂傲氣、不再狂妄、臨陣退縮等,會(huì)用draw/pull in one's horns(縮回蝸角)這個(gè)成語(yǔ)。我們都知道,蝸牛一感覺(jué)到危險(xiǎn),就會(huì)把觸角甚至全身向后縮,一直縮回殼里。這給人當(dāng)做由輕浮變得比較慎重的表現(xiàn)。所以,人們就用draw/pull in one's horns來(lái)說(shuō)退縮或收斂了,例如:
    When he saw that I had the support of the majority, he drew in his horns and admitted he might have made a mistake.
    他見(jiàn)我獲得多數(shù)人支持,就軟了下來(lái),承認(rèn)自己可能錯(cuò)了。