英语俚语天天说 第63期:大海捞针needle in the haystack

 　　释义：

　　Stack：干草堆；Something that is extremely difficult to find. Anything that's on the verge¹ of being impossible.很难找到的东西，也就是大海捞针；

　　来源：

　　Today, this phrase is typically said as "It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack." 现在，这个词组更多地说法是It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. This is considered to be an extremely difficult thing to do, and rightly so.这被认为是很难做到事情。 Finding a tiny needle in a big stack of hay, while not impossible, would take a considerable amount of time and effort.也不是说不可能，但干草堆里找针需要花费很大的精力和时间。 Hence, when people are having trouble finding things in modern times, they often say this phrase to indicate the difficulties they are having.因此，当人们很难找到某种东西的时候，他们通常会用到这个词组去描述。

　　As for where the phrase originates from, I don't think it's entirely² clear. 关于这个词组的来源具体不是很清楚。My guess would be farmers because I imagine them working with stacks of hay the most out of anyone. 不过合理的猜想应该是这个词组与农民有关，因为他们经常在和干草堆打交道。Here's what is known: 根据记载，This phrase is written in a old book titled The Complete Works of Washington Irving, published in 1834. 这个词组被用在一本名叫The Complete Works of Washington Irving 出版于1834年的古书里面。其中写道：

　　"If I want to find any particular article, it is, in the language of an humble³ but expressive⁴ saying, -- 'looking for a needle in a haystack.'"意思就是：如果我想找一个谦逊但又有表现力的句子的话，那就可以用大海捞针来形容。

　　举例：

　　1. Searching for my keys in the garden is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

　　在院子里找我的钥匙就好像是在大海里捞针一样困难。

　　2. He tried to find his lost contact lens on the beach, but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

　　他在海滩下找遗失的隐形眼镜，但这好比是大海捞针，希望渺茫。

1 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

4 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。