Did you know that long before cats and kittens[baby cats] invaded the internet with their cute and funny videos (and pictures), these loveable creatures invaded the English language with idioms and expressions?

  你知道在小貓咪們通過它們萌萌的照片和視頻入侵互聯(lián)網(wǎng)之前，這些可愛的小生物們就已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)在英語口語中的各種成語與表達(dá)里了。

  Actually, cats are as much a part of the English language as they are a part of your Facebook and Youtube entertainment.

  事實(shí)上，正如貓咪們是你Facebook和YouTube上的重要一部分那樣，它們?cè)谟⒄Z中也占有一席之地。

  In my opinion, you aren’t fluent until you know at least a few cat idioms, and today we are going to teach you the thirteen most important and popular cat expressions that every English learner needs to know.

  在我看來，如果你不知道幾個(gè)關(guān)于貓的習(xí)語，你就不能算是英語流利。今天我們要教你十三個(gè)最重要且流行的關(guān)于貓的表達(dá)，那是每一個(gè)英語學(xué)習(xí)者都需要知道的。

1. Cat Got Your Tongue? (say something!)

  你的舌頭被貓給吃了嗎?(說點(diǎn)啥吧!)

  It’s very common to say “(Has a) Cat Got Your Tongue?” when you’re asking somebody why they aren’t speaking. It’s not disrespectful, and is often very effective communication. This expression originates in medieval times when kings punished liars by cutting off their tongues and then feeding it to their cats.

  當(dāng)問某人為什么他不說話時(shí)，我們經(jīng)常說：“你的舌頭被貓給吃了(嗎)?“。這并不是無禮，而往往是非常有效的溝通。這個(gè)表達(dá)源自中世紀(jì)國王懲罰騙子的手段，他們把騙子的舌頭割斷，然后喂貓。

2. A Copycat (a person who copies/imitates another)

  盲目模仿者(抄襲/模仿他人的人)

  Kids often call each other “copy cat” when somebody copies them, and adults may joke around with this too. For example, a young boy who copies his brother’s haircut may be called a copycat.

  當(dāng)孩子們之間有人抄襲別人的時(shí)候，他們就會(huì)稱那個(gè)抄襲的人為“copy cat”。成人之間有時(shí)也會(huì)用這個(gè)開玩笑。例如，一個(gè)年輕的男孩模仿他哥哥的發(fā)型就很可能被叫做“copy cat(模仿者)”。

3. It’s Raining Cats and Dogs (it’s raining very hard)

  雨下的很大

  This is very commonly used to describe the weather when it’s raining hard. The origin of this expression comes from the fact that cats were once known to symbolize strong wind, and dogs symbolized rain.

  這是經(jīng)常用來描述下大雨的天氣的。這個(gè)表達(dá)來源于：貓?jiān)?jīng)象征強(qiáng)風(fēng)，狗曾經(jīng)象征大雨。

4. Scaredy Cat/ Fraidy Cat (coward)

  膽怯的貓(懦弱的人)

  A fraidy or scaredy cat is someone is afraid to do something. The “y” is a diminutive used by kids. Adults may jokingly use these too. Because cats are known to back down (escape, run from) dogs, kids use this to make fun of their scared classmates.“

  A fraidy or scaredy cat”用來描述某人害怕做某件事。“y”這個(gè)音節(jié)經(jīng)常被小孩紙使用。成年人也可能用這個(gè)來開玩笑。因?yàn)椋娝苤垥?huì)害怕、逃避狗，于是孩子們便用這個(gè)來取笑他們膽小的同學(xué)。

5. Let the Cat Out of The Bag? (accidentally tell a secret)

  揭開秘密(不經(jīng)意的道出秘密)

  To let the cat out of the bag is to unintentionally ruin a secret. An example of this might be if you accidentally reveal a surprise birthday party to the person the party is for. The origin of the idiom is said to be in medieval markets when Piglets (baby pigs) were put in a bag to be sold, and every once in a while a seller would try to replace the piglet with a cat (which was cheaper), until somebody would open the bag and let the cat out (ruining the thief’s secret).

  "let the cat out of the bag”是指無意中泄露了秘密。舉例來說，你無意中向壽星泄露了將要舉行的生日派對(duì)。這個(gè)成語的由來是這樣的：據(jù)說是在中世紀(jì)的市場(chǎng)，小豬是被放在袋子里出售的，有一次賣方會(huì)試圖將小豬換成小貓(更便宜)，如果不是有人打開袋子，讓貓跑出來(拆穿了奸商的秘密)。

6. Fat Cat (rich and powerful person)

  財(cái)勢(shì)過人的人(有權(quán)勢(shì)的人)

  Fat cat is a colloquial way to describe someone who has a lot of wealth and power. If you think about a stereotypical rich person (at least traditionally), the image may resemble a well-fed cat that is almost never skinny.

  “fat cat”是口語上用來描述那些擁有大量的財(cái)富和權(quán)力的人。如果勾勒一個(gè)富人的典型形象(至少是傳統(tǒng)的)，畫面很可能會(huì)是一只肥碩的貓而從來不會(huì)是精瘦的貓。

7. Cat Burlgar (skilled, sneaky burglar/thief)

  入室偷盜(偷竊慣犯、入室偷盜的老手)

  A Cat Burglar is a thief or robber who robs somebody’s home in a silent and sneaky way. Think of a cat walking in the dark, with ninja-like movements, almost without making a noise.

  “A Cat Burglar”是那種會(huì)用安靜而狡猾的方式盜竊別人家的小偷或強(qiáng)盜。想象一只在黑暗中行走的貓，它有忍者般的動(dòng)作，幾乎不不會(huì)發(fā)出任何聲響。

8. Play Cat and Mouse (to strategically chase, tease, torture)

  玩貓捉老鼠的一套(奸詐的追趕，挑釁和折磨)

  To play cat and mouse is for somebody or something to chase the other in a very strategic, teasing, and game-like way (like a cat chasing and playing with a mouse). Think of a superhero movie when the villain is chasing an innocent person in a cruel, strategic way.

  “play cat and mouse”玩貓捉老鼠的游戲，是指某人或某事用戰(zhàn)略性的手段挑釁和追逐著其他人(就像貓?jiān)谧防鲜?。想象在一個(gè)超級(jí)英雄電影里面，反派人物在用各種殘忍狡猾的方式追殺一個(gè)無辜善良的人。

9. Look What the Cat Dragged In! (an unpleasant surprise to see you)