英语成语故事

篇一：用英语讲成语故事

用英语讲中国成语故事

成语故事之一

对牛弹琴

古时候，有一个人琴弹得很好。一次，他对着牛弹了一段曲子，希望牛也能欣赏他的技巧。曲子虽然很好听，但是牛却丝毫不理会，只顾埋头吃草。这个人只好叹了口气离开了。 “对牛弹琴”这个成语，比喻对不懂道理的人讲道理。也用来讥笑说话的人不看对象。

Playing the Lute to a Cow

In ancient times there was a man who played the

zither(古筝）very well.Once,he played a tune in front of a cow, hopping that the cow would appreciate it. The tune was melodious(悦耳的），but the cow showed no

reaction, and just kept on eating grass. The man signed

and went away.

This idiom is used to indicate(显示；象征）reasoning with stubben(顽固的；固执的）people or talking to the wrong audience.

成语故事之二

刻舟求剑

战国时期有个楚国的人，得到一把宝剑，非常珍爱。一天，他坐船过江，不小心把宝剑掉到江中去了。他急忙在剑掉下去的船舷上刻了一个记号。船靠岸后，他就从刻有记号的地方跳下水去找他的剑。

“刻舟求剑”这个成语讽刺那些办事迂腐，不知道变通情况的人。

Notching the Boat to Find the Sword

In the Warring States Period, a man in the State of Chu had a sword which he cherished(珍爱；珍惜）very much. One day, when he was crossing a river in a boat, the sword suddenly fell into the water. The man the made a mark on the side of the boat at the spot where the sword had fallen overboard. When the boat reached the shore, he jumped from the spot he marked into

the water to look for his sword.

This idiom satirizes(讽刺）those who stick to rigid rules instead of taking changed circumstances(情况）into account.

一箭双雕

南北朝时代，有个名叫长孙晟的人，聪明敏捷，特别善于射箭。一天他同朋友一起去打猎，忽然看见两支雕在空中争夺一块肉。他的朋友立即给了长孙晟两只箭，说：“你能把两只雕都射下来吗？”长孙晟不慌不忙拉开弓，只射了一箭，就把两只雕同时射下来了。朋友直夸他好箭法。 英语小故事尽在英语学习网

这个成语比喻用一种办法同时得到两种收获或效果。 英语小故事尽在英语学习网 Killing Two Birds with One Stone 英语文章尽在

In the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties(420-589) there was an expert archer named Zhan sun Shang. One day he went hunting together with a friend. Suddenly they saw two vultures fighting for a piece of meat high in the air. His friend handed him two arrows, and said, “Can you shoot down both vultures?” Zhangsun Sheng effortlessly killed both vultures with only one arrow. Mao Sui Recommending Himself

in the Warring States Period, the State of Qin besieged the capital of the State of Zhao. Duke

Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Chu personally for assistance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. A man called Mao Sui volunteered. When the negotiate-actions between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitated to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. At that, the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao, against Qin.

毛遂自荐

战国时代，秦国军队攻打赵国的都城。赵国的平原君打算亲自到楚国去请救兵，想挑选一个精明能干的人一同前去。有一个名叫毛遂的人，自告奋勇愿意同去。平原君到楚国后，与楚王谈了半天，没有一点结果。毛遂怒气冲冲地拿着宝剑，逼近楚王，终于迫使楚王答应出兵，与赵国联合共同抵抗秦国。

“毛遂自荐”这个成语用来比喻自己推荐自己，不必别人介绍。

Amazing the World with a Single Feat

In the Warring States Period, Duke Wei of Qi neglected state affairs, for the first three years of his reign, giving himself over to dissipation. One of his ministers, Chun Yukun who had a good sense of humor, said to him:” There is a big bird which has neither taken wing nor sung for three years.” The duke answered, “Once that bird starts to fly and sing, it will astonish the world.” The duke thereupon devoted himself to his duties and built his state up into a powerful one.

This idiom is used to indicate that a person may rise from obscurity and achieve greatness. 不鸣则已一鸣惊人

战国时代，齐威王即位后作了三年国君，只顾享乐，不理政事。有个善于说笑话的人叫淳于髡，一天对齐威王说：“城里有一只大鸟，三年不飞也不叫，你知道这是什么道理？”齐威王说：“这鸟不飞则罢，一飞就冲天；不鸣则罢，一鸣就惊人。”在淳于髡的激发下，齐威王开始治理国家，取得很大成绩，齐国的声威一直保持了几十年

篇二：英语成语故事

天衣无缝

Divine Garments Without Seams

There was a man called Guo Han in the Tang Dynasty(618-907).One summer night,

when the moon was very bright he suddenly saw a girl descending slowly from the sky. He observed the girl closely, and found that the dress she was wearing was seamless. He was puzzled, and asked why. The girl answered,"Heavenly clothes are not sewn with needle and thread."

This idiom is used metaphorically to indicate the flawless handling of things. It can

also be used to indicate a perfectly written poem or other literary article.

唐朝有个人教郭翰。一个夏天的晚上，月光非常明亮，他忽然看见天空中有个女

子轻盈而缓慢地飘落下来。他仔细地观察那个女子，发现她身上穿的衣服连一条缝也没有，感到非常奇怪，便问那个女子。女子回答说：“天衣本来就用不着针线缝合的呀！”

这个成语用来比喻处理事情十分周密，不露一点痕迹。也比喻诗文写得很精辟，

找不出一点毛病。 黔驴技穷

从前，贵州没有驴子，有人从外地带回一头驴子，拴在山下，一只老虎看到了，以为是什么怪物，急忙躲到树林中去头头地瞧。驴子大叫一声，老虎吓了一跳，以为驴子要吃掉自己。时间一长，老虎觉得驴子没有什么恶意，逐渐走近去戏弄它，触犯它。驴子生气了，用蹄子踢老虎。老虎心里想：“你的本领不过就是如此啊！”于是立刻扑过去，一口把它咬死吃掉了。 这个成语比喻仅有的一点本事也用完了，在没有别的办法了。

The Guizhou Donkey Has Exhausted It's Tricks

In ancient times there were no donkeys in Guizhou province. Somebody brought a donkey from somewhere and tied it to a tree at the foot of a mountain. A tiger saw the donkey, and thought that it must be a fearsome monster. It hide behind a tree and spied on the donkey. When the donkey brayed, the tiger was frightened, thinking that the donkey was about to devour it. After a while, seeing that the donkey had not moved, the tiger approached it and teased it. The donkey became angry, and kicked the tiger. The tiger thought to itself:"It then all it is capable of?" It then jumped on the donkey and ate it.

This idiom is used to mean that one has exhauseted one's skills.

破镜重圆

A Broken Mirror Joined Together

This set phrase metaphorically means the reunion of husband and wife after an enforced separation or a rupture.

At the end of Southern Dynasties,when the Chen Dynasty was about to be overthrown. Xú Déyán felt very worried.He foreknew that his wife Princess Lè Chāng was destined to separate from him.

His wife is the last Emperor Chén Shūbǎo's younger sister.

Hence he broke a round bronze mirror into halves.

One half is given to the Princess,the other half left with himself.

The couple agreed on it that the wife would pretend to sell the broked mirror in the street of Cháng'ān,the capital of the Suí Dynasty,on the Lantern Festival.

After the fall of Chén Dynasty,Princess Lè Chāng was captured and sent to Chang'an and forced to be a concubine-servant in the mansion of Yáng Sù.

Xú Déyán missed his wife very much and went to the captial to look for her.

On the 15th day of the first lunar month,he found a man selling half the mirror.

After asking the man,he knew that his wife had been a concubine-servant of Yáng Sù. Thinking that he could not see her again,he sighed a great sorrow.

Having known the matter,Yáng Sù felt much sympathy for the couple.He sent for Xú Déyán and told him to take wife away.Thus the husband and the wife were reunited into a happy couple.

自相矛盾

A man of the state of Chu had a spear and a shield for sale. He was loud in praises of his shield.

"My shield is so strong that nothing can pierce it through."

He also sang praises of his spear.

"My spear is so strong that it can pierce through anything."

"What would happen," he was asked, "if your spear is used to pierce your shield?"

It is impossible for an impenetrable shield to coexist with a spear that finds nothing impenetrable.

刻舟求剑

A man from the state of Chu was crossing a river. In the boat, his sword fell into the water. Immediately he made a mark on the boat.

"This is where my sword fell off," he said.

When the boat stopped moving, he went into the water to look for his sword at the place where he had marked the boat.

The boat had moved but the sword had not. Is this not a very foolish way to look for a sword?

井底之蛙

Have you not heard of the frog that lived in a shallow well? It said to a turtle that lived in the East Sea, "I am so happy! When I go out, I jump about on the railing beside the mouth of the well. When I come home, I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well. If I jump into the water, it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks. If I walk in the mud, it covers up my feet. I look around at the wriggly worms, crabs and tadpoles, and none of them can compare with me. Moreover, I am lord of this trough of water and I stand up tall in this shallow well. My happiness is full. My dear sir, why don't you come often and look around my place?"

Before the turtle from the East Sea could get its left foot in the well, its right knee got stuck. It hesitated and retreated. The turtle told the frog about the East Sea.

"Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea's width; even a height of a thousand ren cannot give you an idea of its depth. In the time of King Yu of the Xia dynasty, there were floods nine years out of ten, but the waters in the sea did not increase. ln the time of King Tang of the Shang dynasty there were droughts seven years out of eight, but the waters in the sea did not decrease. The sea does not change along with the passage of time and its level does not rise or fall according to the amount of rain that falls. The greatest happiness is to live in the East Sea."

After listening to these words, the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realization of his own insignificance and became very ill at ease.

Hide the ears and stole the bell(掩耳盗铃)

Once upon a time,there was a very foolish man.But he himself didn't think so.He thought that he was very clever.One day,he saw a family hanging up a beautiful bell.He liked the bell and wanted to steal it.

But if he put his idea into practice,he must touch the bell,and the bell would make a noise.Then other people would hear the noise and catch him.How to avoid the state?

Suddenly a good idea came across his mind.He took action.The man hide his ears behind his hands.Then he used his right arm to leave his right hand.He took his right hand to steal the bell.The bell rang,but he could't hear it.The people heard the bell ringing and caught the man. But the man was still very confused and asked:"How did you hear the noise?"

Ha ha,what a foolish man!

Amazing the World with a Single FeatIn the Warring States Period, Duke Wei of Qi neglected state affairs, for the first three years of his reign, giving himself over to dissipation. One of his minister, Chun Yukun who had a good sense of humour, said to him:”There is a big bird which has neigher taken wing nor sung for three years.” The duke answered, “Once that bird starts to fly and sing, it will astonish the world.” The duke thereupon devoted himself to his duties and built h(来自:WwW.ZW2.CN 爱作文 网)is state up into a powerful one.This idiom is used to indicate that a person may rise from obscurity and achieve greatness.

战国时代，齐威王即位后作了三年国君，只顾享乐，不理政事。有个善于说笑话的人叫淳于髡，一天对齐威王说：“城里有一只大鸟，三年不飞也不叫，你知道这是什么道理？”齐威王说：“这鸟不飞则罢，一飞就冲天；不鸣则罢，一鸣就惊人。”在淳于髡的激发下，齐威王开始治理国家，取得很大成绩，齐国的声威一直保持了几十年。

中国有句俗语，“一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳”。

这个俗语真要讲的就是，很久很久以前，人们还都是用井水的那个年代。有两个小朋友，名字叫做“一朝”和“十年”，他们是好朋友，每天都在一起玩耍、做游戏。有一天，他们在井边玩耍，突然，趴在井口边的“一朝”被一条攀在井绳上的蛇咬了一口。在一边的“十年”听到好朋友的哭喊赶快看过去，这时那条蛇已经逃之夭夭了。他只看到了井绳和好朋友“一朝”的痛苦。因为“十年”很年幼，所以他把井绳和痛苦联系在了一起，认为是井绳咬了好

朋友。从那以后，就流传下来了“一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳”的说法。从这个故事中，可见人们对灾祸感受之深。 解释:比喻遭过一次挫折以后就变得胆小怕事

Long, long ago, people were still using well water in those days. There were two children, called the "once" and "Decade," they were good friends and played together every day . One day, they played near the well, suddenly,” once” was bitten by a snake climbing on the hemp rope when he lying on the wellhead side. "Decade" , on the other side , heard the cry of friend and quickly run to look at him, when the snake had been away. He only saw hemp rope and "once" suffering. Because the "Decade" very young, so he link hemp rope and suffering together, considered hemp rope bitten his friend. Since then, they have been handed down on "once bitten, twice shy".

This idiom Metaphor: people becomes too timid after a setback.

篇三：英语成语典故

英语成语典故

源自希腊罗马神话传说的

1.An Apple of Discord争斗之源；不和之因；祸根

An Apple of Discord直译为“纠纷的苹果”，出自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事

传说希腊阿耳戈英雄(Argonaut)珀琉斯(Peleus)和爱琴海海神涅柔斯的女儿西蒂斯(Thetis)在珀利翁山举行婚礼，大摆宴席。他们邀请了奥林匹斯上(Olympus)的诸神参加喜筵，不知是有意还是无心，惟独没有邀请掌管争执的女神厄里斯(Eris)。这位女神恼羞成怒，决定在这次喜筵上制造不和。于是，她不请自来，并悄悄在筵席上放了一个金苹果，上面镌刻着“属于最美者”几个字。天后赫拉(Hera)，智慧女神雅典娜(Athena)、爱与美之神阿芙罗狄蒂(Aphrodite)，都自以为最美，应得金苹果，获得“最美者”称号。她们争执不下，闹到众神之父宙斯(Zeus)那里，但宙斯碍于难言之隐，不愿偏袒任何一方，就要她们去找特洛伊的王子帕里斯(Paris)评判。三位女神为了获得金苹果，都各自私许帕里斯以某种好处：赫拉许给他以广袤国土和掌握富饶财宝的权利，雅典娜许以文武全才和胜利的荣誉，阿芙罗狄蒂则许他成为世界上最美艳女子的丈夫。年青的帕里斯在富贵、荣誉和美女之间选择了后者，便把金苹果判给爱与美之神。为此，赫拉和雅典娜怀恨帕里斯，连带也憎恨整个特洛伊人。后来阿芙罗狄蒂为了履行诺言，帮助帕里斯拐走了斯巴达国王墨涅俄斯的王后---绝世美女海伦(Helen)，从而引起了历时10年的特洛伊战争。不和女神厄里斯丢下的那个苹果，不仅成了天上3位女神之间不和的根源，而且也成为了人间2个民族之间战争的起因。因此，在英语中产生了an apple of discord这个成语，常用来比喻any subject of disagreement and contention;the root of the trouble;dispute等意义

这个成语最初为公元2世纪时的古罗马历史学家马克·朱里·尤斯丁(Marcus Juninus Justinus)所使用，后来广泛的流传到欧洲许多语言中去，成为了一个国际性成语。

eg: He throwing us an apple of discord,we soon quarrelled again.

The dispute about inheriting estate formed an apple of discord between them.

This problem seems to be an apple of discord between the Soviet union and the USA.

2.The Heel of Achilles 亦作The Achilles' Heel唯一弱点；薄弱环节；要害

The Heel of Achilles直译是“阿基里斯的脚踵”，是个在欧洲广泛流行的国际性成语。它源自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事。

阿基里斯是希腊联军里最英勇善战的骁将，也是荷马史诗Iliad里的主要人物之一。传说他是希腊密耳弥多涅斯人的国王珀琉斯和海神的女儿西蒂斯所生的儿子。阿基里斯瓜瓜坠地以后，母亲想使儿子健壮永生，把他放在火里锻炼，又捏着他的脚踵倒浸在冥河(Styx)圣水里浸泡。因此阿基里斯浑身象钢筋铁骨，刀枪不入，只有脚踵部位被母亲的手捏住，没有沾到冥河圣水，成为他的唯一要害。在特洛伊战争中，阿基里斯骁勇无敌，所向披靡，杀死了特洛伊主将，著名英雄赫克托耳(Hector)，而特洛伊的任何武器都无法伤害他的身躯。后来，太阳神阿波罗(Apollo)把阿基里斯的弱点告诉了特洛伊王子帕里斯，阿基里斯终于被帕里斯诱到城门口，用暗箭射中他的脚踵，负伤而死。

因此，the heel of Achilles,也称the Achilles' heel，常用以表示a weak point in something that is otherwise without fault;the weakest spot等意思。 eg:The shortage of fortitude is his heel of Achilles.

His Achilles' heel was his pride--he would get very angry if anyone criticized his work.

3.Helen of Troy

Helen of Troy 直译"特洛伊的海伦"，源自源自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事。

Helen是希腊的绝世佳人，美艳无比，嫁给希腊南部邦城斯巴达国王墨涅俄斯(Menelaus)为妻。后来，特洛伊王子帕里斯奉命出事希腊，在斯巴达国王那里做客，他在爱与美之神阿芙罗狄蒂的帮助下，趁着墨涅俄斯外出之际，诱走海伦，还带走了很多财宝

此事激起了希腊各部族的公愤，墨涅俄斯发誓说，宁死也要夺回海轮，报仇雪恨。为此，在希腊各城邦英雄的赞助下，调集十万大军和1180条战船，组成了希腊联军，公推墨涅俄斯的哥哥阿枷门农(Agamemnon)为联军统帅，浩浩荡荡，跨海东征，攻打特洛伊城，企图用武力夺回海轮。双方大战10年，死伤无数，许多英雄战死在沙场。甚至连奥林匹斯山的众神也分成2个阵营，有些支持希腊人，有些帮助特洛伊人，，彼此展开了一场持久的恶斗。最后希腊联军采用足智多谋的奥德修斯(Odusseus)的“木马计”，里应外合才攻陷了特洛伊。希腊人进城后，大肆杀戮，帕里斯王子也被杀死，特洛伊的妇女、儿童全部沦为奴隶。特洛伊城被掠夺一空，烧成了一片灰烬。战争结实后，希腊将士带着大量战利品回到希腊，墨涅俄斯抢回了美貌的海轮重返故土。这就是特洛伊战争的起因和结局。正是由于海轮，使特洛伊遭到毁灭的悲剧，真所谓“倾国倾城”，由此产生了Helen of Troy这个成语。

特洛伊战争的真实性，已为19世纪德国考古学家谢里曼在迈锡尼发掘和考证古代特洛伊古城废墟所证实。至于特洛伊城被毁的真正原因，虽然众说纷纭，但肯定决不是为了一个美女而爆发这场战争的，与其说是为了争夺海轮而打了起来，毋宁说是为了争夺该地区的商业霸权和抢劫财宝而引起战争的。所谓“特洛伊的海伦”，实质上是财富和商业霸权的化身。中国历史上也有过“妲己亡商”，“西施沼吴”等传说，以及唐明皇因宠杨贵妃而招致“安史之乱”，吴三桂“冲冠一怒为红颜”等说法。汉语中有个“倾国倾城”的成语（语出《汉书·外戚传》：‘一顾倾人城，再顾倾人国’。）这里的“倾”字一语双光，既可指美艳非凡，令人倾倒；也可纸倾覆邦国。其含义与Helen of troy十分近似。

在现代英语中，Helen of Troy这个成语，除了表示a beautiful girl or woman;a beauty who ruins her country等意义外，还可以用来表示a terrible disaster brought by sb or sth you like best的意思。

eg:It is unfair that historians always attribute the fall of kingdoms to Helen of Troy.

She didn't think of the beautiful umbrella bought the day before should become a Helen of Troy in her family.Because of this she and her husband quarreled for a long time.

4.The Trojan Horse木马计；暗藏的危险；奸细

The Trojan Horse直译"特洛伊木马"，是个国际性成语，在世界各主要语言中都有。来自拉丁语equns Trojanus.这个成语甚至还进入到汉语词汇中，毛泽东同志在《矛盾论》中，谈到《水浒传》中宋江三打祝家庄时，就用了“木马计”这个典故。

这个成语出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》。希腊人和特洛伊人交战10年之久，胜负未决。最后，希腊著名的英雄奥德修斯(Odusseus)想出了一个木马计，用木头做了一匹巨马，放在特洛伊城外。全体希腊将士伪装撤退，乘船隐藏在附近的海湾里，而奥德修斯率领20名勇士事先藏进妈肚。特洛伊人误认为希腊人已经败退，大开城门，看到城外的巨大木马，以为这是希腊人敬神的礼物，就把它当作战利品拖进城来，大摆宴席，欢庆胜利。到了半夜，特洛伊人好梦正在酣，毫无戒备的时候，藏在木马里的希腊英雄们都爬了出来，打开城门，发出信号，与附近海湾里返回的希腊大军里应外合，一举摧毁了特洛伊城。

因此，The Trojan Horse经过不断引用而成为一个广泛流传的成语，常用来比喻the hidden danger;the covert wreckers（内奸）;to engage in underhand activities等的意义。 eg:The superpowers are always sending the Trojan horses to many countries in the world. They are defeated only because of the Trojan horse in their country.

5.Greek Gift(s)阴谋害人的礼物；黄鼠狼拜年，不安好心

Greek Gift(s)直译是“希腊人的礼物”，出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》以及古罗马杰出诗人维吉尔(Publius Virgilius Maro,公元前70-前19年)的史诗《伊尼特》(Aeneis)中关于特洛伊城陷落经过的叙

述。

据《奥德赛》卷8记述：许多特洛伊人对如何处置希腊人留下的大木马展开了辩论，“他们有三种主张：有的主张用无情的铜矛刺透中空的木马；有的主张把它仍到岩石上；有的主张让它留在那里作为京观，来使天神喜悦”。结果是后一说占优势，把那匹木马拖进城里来，终于遭到了亡国之灾。

维吉尔的史诗《伊尼特》，写的是特洛伊被希腊攻陷后，王子伊尼斯从混乱中携家属出走，经由西西里、迦太基到达意大利，在各地漂泊流亡的情况。史诗第2卷便是伊尼斯关于特洛伊城陷落经过的叙述，其中情节除了模拟荷马史诗的描述外，还做了更详细的补充。当特洛伊人要把大木马拖进城的时候，祭司拉奥孔(Laocoon)劝说不要接受希腊人留下的东西。他说：“我怕希腊人，即使他们来送礼”这句话后来成了一句拉丁谚语：“Timeo Danaos,et dona ferenteso."（原文的达奈人Danaos，即泛指希腊各部族人）译成英语就是：I fear the Greeks ,even when bringing gifts.其简化形式就是Greek Gifts.可惜特洛伊人不听拉奥孔的警告，把木马作为战利品拖进城里。木马里藏着希腊的精锐部队，给特洛伊人带来了屠杀和灭亡。由此，Greek gift成为一个成语，表示a gift with some sinister purposes of the enemy;one given with intent to harm;a gift sent inorder to murder sb等意思，按其形象意义，这个成语相当与英语的俚谚：When the fox preaches,take care of your geese；也与汉语“黄鼠狼给鸡拜年--不安好心”十分类似

eg:He is always buying you expensive clothes,I'm afraid they are Greek gifts for you.Comrades,be on guard against the Greek gifts!

6.A Penelope's Web亦作The Web of Penelope故意拖延的策略；永远做不完的工作

A Penelope's Web或The Web of Penelope，直译为“珀涅罗珀的织物”，典故出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》卷2。

这部史诗的主人公奥德修斯是希腊半岛西南边伊大卡岛(Ithaca)的国王，他有个美丽而忠诚的旗子，名叫珀涅罗珀。奥德修斯随希腊联军远征特洛伊，十年苦战结束后，希腊将士纷纷凯旋归国。惟独奥德修斯命运坎坷，归途中又在海上漂泊了10年，历尽无数艰险，并盛传他已葬身鱼腹，或者客死异域。正当他在外流浪的最后三年间，有一百多个来自各地的王孙公子，聚集在他家里，向他的妻子求婚。坚贞不渝的珀涅罗珀为了摆脱求婚者的纠缠，想出个缓宾之策，她宣称等她为公公织完一匹做寿衣的布料后，就改嫁给他们中的一个。于是，她白天织这匹布，夜晚又在火炬光下把它拆掉。就这样织了又拆，拆了又织，没完没了，拖延时间，等待丈夫归来。后来，奥德修斯终于回转家园，夫妻儿子合力把那些在他家里宴饮作乐，胡作非为的求婚者一个个杀死，终于夫妻团圆了。

由于这个故事，英语中的Penelope一词成了a chaste woman（贞妇）的同义词，并产生了with a penelope faith（坚贞不渝）这个短语。而A Penelope's Web这个成语比喻the tactics of delaying sth on purposel;the task that can never be finished的意思

eg:Mr Jones made a long speech at the meeting.Everyone else thought it a Penelope's web.

My work is something like the Penelope's web,never done,but ever in hand.

7.Swan Song最后杰作；绝笔

Swan Song字面译做“天鹅之歌”，源于希腊成语Kykneion asma.

天鹅，我国古代叫鹄，是一种形状似鹅而体形较大的稀有珍禽，栖息于海滨湖畔，能游善飞，全身白色。因此，英语成语black swan,用以比喻稀有罕见的人或物，类似汉语成语“凤毛麟角”之意。

在古希腊神话中，阿波罗(Apollo)是太阳神、光明之神，由于他多才多艺，又是诗歌与音乐之神，后世奉他为文艺的保护神。天鹅是阿波罗的神鸟，故常用来比喻文艺。传说天鹅平素不唱歌，而在它死前，必引颈长鸣，高歌一曲，其歌声哀婉动听，感人肺腑。这是它一生中唯一的，也是最后的一次唱歌。因此，

西方各国就用这个典故来比喻某诗人，作家，作曲家临终前的一部杰作，或者是某个演员，歌唱家的最后一次表演。即a last or farewell appearance;the last work before death之意；偶尔也可指某中最后残余的东西。

Swan Song是个古老的成语，源远流长。早在公元前6世纪的古希腊寓言作家伊索(Aisopos)的寓言故事中，就有“天鹅临死才唱歌”的说法。古罗马政治家、作家西塞罗(Cicero,公元前106-前43)在其《德斯肯伦别墅哲学谈》等论文中，就使用了“天鹅之歌”来比喻临死哀歌。在英国，乔叟，莎士比亚等伟大诗人、剧作家，都使用过这个成语典故。如：莎翁的著名悲剧《奥噻罗》(othello)中塑造的爱米莉霞的形象，她在生死关头勇敢得站出来揭穿其丈夫的罪行。她临死时把自己比做天鹅，一生只唱最后一次歌。 eg:All the tickets have been sold for the singer's performance in London this week--the public clearly believes that this will be her swan song

The Tempest was W.Shakespeare's swan song in 1612

8.Win/Gain Laurels获得荣誉;赢得声望

Look to One's Laurels爱惜名声;保持记录

Rest on One's Laurels坐享清福;光吃老本

Laurel(月桂树)是一种可供观赏的常绿乔木,树叶互生,披针形或者长椭圆形,光滑发亮;花带黄色,伞形花序.laurels指用月桂树叶编成的"桂冠".古代希腊人和罗马人用月桂树的树叶编成冠冕,献给杰出的诗人或体育竞技的优胜者,作为奖赏,以表尊崇.这种风尚渐渐传遍整个欧洲,于是laurels代表victory,success和distincion.

欧洲人这种习俗源远流长,可上朔到古希腊神话.相传河神珀纳斯(Peneus)的女儿达佛涅(Daphne)长的风姿卓约,艳丽非凡.太阳神阿波罗为她的美所倾倒,热烈追求她,但达佛涅自有所爱,总是逃避权利很大的太阳神的追求.一天,他俩在河边相遇,达佛涅一见阿波罗,拔腿就跑,阿波罗在后边穷追不舍,达佛涅跑得疲乏不堪,情急之下只好请她父亲把她变成一株月桂树.阿波罗非常感伤,无限深情地表示:"愿你的枝叶四季长青,装饰我的头,装饰我的琴,让你成为最高荣誉的象征".他小心得将这株月桂树移植到自己神庙旁边,朝夕相处,并取其枝叶遍成花冠戴在头上,以表示对达佛涅的倾慕和怀念.

因此,古希腊人把月桂树看做是阿波罗的神木,称为"阿波罗的月桂树"(The Laurel of Apollo).起先,他们用月桂枝叶编成冠冕,授予在祭祀太阳神的节目赛跑中的优胜者.后来在奥林匹亚(Olympia)举行的体育竞技中,他们用桂冠赠给竞技的优胜者.从此世代相传,后世欧洲人以"桂冠"作为光荣的称号.

由于阿波罗是主管光明.青春.音乐和诗歌之神,欧洲人又把源自"阿波罗的月桂树"的桂冠,献给最有才华的诗人，称"桂冠诗人".第一位著名的"桂冠诗人"就是欧洲文艺复兴时期人文主义的先驱者.意大利诗人彼特拉克(Francesco Petrarch,1304-1374).他的代表作<抒情诗集>,全部为14行诗体,系诗人献给他心中的女神劳拉的情诗(彼特拉克喜欢了劳拉一辈子,但是劳拉从来都不知道),抒发他对恋人的爱情，描写大自然的景色，渴望祖国的统一.这部被称为西方"诗三百'的诗集,虽不能与我国古代<诗经>相提并论,但不失为世界文学的瑰宝.

中古时代英国的大学,也曾授予过"桂冠诗人"的称好，但是这只是一种荣誉称号,而非目前含义的类似职务,学衔的专用名称.

作为专名的"桂冠诗人"(The Poet Laureate,也称The Laureate),系英国王室赐予御用诗人的专用称号,从17世纪英皇詹姆士一世(James I,1566-1625)开始,延续到现在,已历三个世纪了.凡获得"桂冠诗人"称号者,可领取宫廷津贴,每遇到王室喜庆或官方盛典时,都要写作应景诗以点缀和宣扬喜庆事件,歌功颂德,粉饰升平.17世纪,在英国被封为第一位"桂冠诗人"的是约翰·德莱顿(John Dryden,1631-1700),他一生为贵族写作,美化君主制度,不过他创造的"英语偶句诗体",成为英国诗歌的主要形式之一.从1670到1972这三百年间,英国王室相继封了17位"桂冠诗人"年限最长的是19实际的浪漫诗人阿弗里德·丁尼生(Alfred Tennyson,1809-1892),他从1850年获得这个称号一直到逝世,长达42年，算是"终身桂冠诗人"了.英国最近的"桂冠诗人"是约翰·本杰明(John Benjamin).其实,所谓"桂冠诗人"大部分是徒具虚名

的,在英国文学史上享有盛名者极少;就象中国封建时代的"钦点状元",从公元960到1904(清关绪30年最后一届科举止)近1000年,历代状元341名,在中国文学史上著名的寥寥无几.

eg:Shakespeare won laurels in the dramatic world.

The student gained laurels on the football field,as well as in his studies.

Tom won the broad jump,but he had to look to his laurelsGetting an A in chemistry almosst cause Mike to rest on his laurels

9.Under the Rose秘密地;私下得;暗中

Under the rose直译"在玫瑰花底下",而实际上却表示in secret; privately confidentially的意义,语言外壳与内涵，似乎风马牛不相及.它源自古罗马的神话故事和欧洲的风尚.

罗马神话中的小爱神丘比特(Cupid),也称希腊神话里的厄洛斯(Eros),在文艺作品中以背上长着双翼的小男孩的形象出现,常携带弓箭在天空中遨游,谁中了他的金箭就会产生爱情.丘比特是战神玛斯(Mars)和爱与美之神维纳斯(venus)所生的儿子.维纳斯，也就是希腊神话里的阿芙罗狄蒂(Aphrodite),传说她是从大海的泡沫里生出来，以美丽著称,从宙斯到奥林匹帕斯的诸神都为起美貌姿容所倾倒.有关她的恋爱传说很多，欧洲很多文艺作品常用维纳斯做题材.小爱神丘比特为了维护其母的声誉,给沉默之神哈伯克拉底(Harpocrates)送了一束玫瑰花,请他守口如瓶不要把维纳斯的风流韵事传播出去.哈伯克拉底受了玫瑰花就缄默不语了,成为名副其实的"沉默之神"

古罗马人对维纳斯非常尊崇,不仅奉为掌管人类的爱情.婚姻.生育的爱与美的神,而且尊为丰收女神.园艺女神.罗马的统治者恺撒大帝甚至追搠维纳斯是罗马人的祖先.由于上述神话传说,古罗马人把玫瑰花当作沉没或严守秘密的象征,并在日常生活中相尚成风.人们去串门做客,当看到主人家的桌子上方画有玫瑰,客人就了解在这桌上所谈的一切行为均不应外传.于是在语言中产生了Sub rosa在玫瑰花底下这个拉丁成语. 据<牛津英语词典>解释,英语under the rose系源自德语unter der Rosen. 古代德国的宴会厅.会议室以及旅店的餐室,在天花板上常画有或雕刻着玫瑰花,用来提醒在场者要守口如瓶,严守秘密,不要把玫瑰花底下的言行透露出去.这个流行于15至17世纪的德语成语反映了这种习俗.

罗马帝国全盛时,其势力几乎席卷了整个欧洲,罗马某些文化风尚也随着他的军事力量渗透到欧洲各国.因此，以玫瑰花象征沉默的习俗,并不限于德国..

under the rose 是个状语性成语，在句中修饰动词,其含义因所修饰的动词的不同而略有不同.如:born under the rose"私生的""非婚生的";do under the rose"暗中进行"

eg:The senator told me under the rose that there is to be a chance in the cabinet.The matter was finally settled under the rose.

Do what you like undeer the rose,but don't give a sign of what you're about...

10.The Augean Stable(s)肮脏的地方;藏垢纳秽之所;积弊

The Augean Stable(s)直译"奥吉亚斯的牛圈",源自古希腊神话中关于赫拉克勒斯的英雄传说.

奥吉亚斯（Augeas）是古希腊西部厄利斯(Elis)的国王。他有一个极大的牛圈，里面养了2000头年（一说3000匹马），30年来未清扫过，粪秽堆积如山，十分肮脏。因此，the Augean stable=very dirty place. 古希腊神话中的英雄赫拉克勒斯(Heracles),亦称海格立斯(Hercules)，是宙斯同底比斯国王之女阿尔克墨涅所生的儿子，自幼在名师的传授下，学会了各种武艺和技能，神勇无敌，成为遐迩闻名的大力士。他因受到心胸狭窄的天后赫拉的迫害，不得不替迈锡尼国王欧律斯透斯服役十几年。赫拉克勒斯拒绝了“恶德”女神要他走享乐道路的诱惑，而听从了“美德”女神的忠告，决心在逆境中不畏艰险，为民除害造福。他在十二年中完成了１２项英勇业绩，其中之一就是在一天之内将奥吉亚斯的牛圈打扫干净。赫拉克勒斯先在牛圈的一端挖了深沟，引来附近的阿尔裴斯河和珀涅俄斯河的?a href="http://www.zw2.cn/zhuanti/guanyurenzuowen/" target="_blank" class="keylink">人嗳肱ＨΓ诹硪欢丝怀隹冢购人骶ＨΓ栌盟逑椿唷Ｕ庋谝灰怪浣常澳昝挥写蛏ü陌乖嗖豢暗呐ＨΓ蛏ǖ母筛删痪弧０录撬乖砼凳鲁芍蟀雅Ｈ旱氖种桓绽死账梗魑投ǔ辏罄吹彼裣ず?/p>字数作文