chalk and cheese?用英语说“我们不一样”!
怎么用英语形容两个人完全不同,或者两件事毫不相干呢?
你可以用distinct,意思是“明显不同的,差别明显的“。
强调的话,可以在前面加上quite/strikingly/sharply/entirely这些强调程度的副词。
英语习语里还有这几种表达——
①be another/a different kettle of fish
kettle是“烧水壶”的意思,put the kettle on就是开始烧水。
而kettle of fish是用来煮鱼的水壶,这就很格格不入了。
这个习语的意思是“截然不同;完全两回事”。
Having knowledge is one thing but being able to communicate it to others is another kettle of fish.
拥有知识是一回事,但能够传授给别人就完全是另一回事了。
②be a far cry from sth 和…相去甚远,与…大相径庭
2008年上映的恐怖电影《孤岛惊魂》,英语名字就是Far Cry。
far cry可以形容遥远的距离(或时间),也形容大不相同的东西。
This flat is a far cry from the house they had before.
这间公寓和他们以前住的房子相去甚远。
③be like chalk and cheese
chalk是粉笔,cheese是奶酪,这两个从本质上就没有任何相同之处。所以形容“截然不同;迥异”。
My brother and I are like chalk and cheese.
我哥哥和我截然不同。
④be worlds apart
如果你说你和某人根本就是来自两个不同的世界,那你想表达的就是你和他是完全不同的。
be worlds apart就形容“完全相反;截然不同”
They are worlds apart in their political views.
他们的政治观点截然相反。
或者可以说poles apart,pole的意思是(地球的)极(点)。
这个习语有种南辕北辙的意思,也译为“截然相反,大相径庭”。
the North/South Pole
北/南极
My sister and I are poles apart in personality.
我和妹妹在性格上截然相反。
【拓展】
英语习语世界之world——
①
do sb the world of good
使某人感到更健康或更高兴
We had a week away in the sun and it's done us both the world of good.
我们到了别处度假一个星期,尽情享受阳光,这对我俩的身心都十分有益。
②
for all the world
完全
She sounds for all the world like her mother on the phone.
她的声音在电话里听起来和她妈妈的声音完全一样。
③
go/come down in the world
潦倒;落泊
They used to live in a big house with lots of servants, but they've come down in the world since then.
他们曾经住在一所大房子里,仆役成群,可后来家道中落了。
④
make a world of difference
大大提高,使…有很大提高
A little sympathy makes a world of difference to someone who's been badly treated.
对于那些遭到虐待的人来说,一点点同情心就会让他们觉得备受关爱。
⑤
not for the world
不管怎样都不,无论如何都不
If I took that job I'd have to leave the kids and I wouldn't do that for the world.
如果我接受那份工作就必须得离开孩子们,而我无论如何都不会那样做。
⑥
the world and his wife
(尤指某一时间、某一地点的)所有的人,各色人等
It's going to be quite a party - the world and his wife will be there.
那将是个不小的聚会——各色人等都会到场。
⑦
the world is sb's oyster
(某人)可以随心所欲,(某人)可以为所欲为
You're young and healthy and you have no commitments - the world is your oyster.
你年轻、健康,并且没有什么负担——可以随心所欲地做你想做的事。
⑧
out of this world
极好的;非常棒的
What a restaurant - the food was out of this world!
多好的餐馆呀——饭菜真是棒极了!