迷你对话学地道口语第579期:摆阔气,讲排场

　　Subject：He never put on the dog to show off his money.
迷你对话
A: I heard that he is a man of few words and a rough¹ nut to crack².
我听说他平时不爱言语，并且不太好说话。
B: No, he is a kind person. He never puts on the dog to show off his money.
不是，他是个善良的人。他从来不炫耀摆阔气。
地道表达
put on the dog
1. 解词释义
Put on the dog的意思是“讲排场，摆阔气”。这是一个随着社会物质财富而逐渐丰富流行起来的习语。它出现于10多年前，因为当时有钱人家的太太喜欢花高价购买宠物狗，又喜欢抱着它们在客人面前卖弄，所以就有了这个表达方式，带贬义的色彩比较浓。其英文解释为：to make things extra special or dress formally for a special event。
2. 拓展例句
e.g. Frank³'s really putting on the dog for the big party Friday night.
Frank在周五晚上的盛大晚会上真的是摆阔气。
e.g. They really put on the dog in front of their guests.
他们在客人面前摆阔气。
e.g. Her friends egged on Mabel to put on the dog to show off.
梅布尔的朋友们怂恿她花钱摆阔气。
Ps 1：show off的意思是“炫耀，卖弄”。例如：
She did a quick twirl to show off her dress.
她轻快地一转身,炫耀自己所穿的衣服。
Although he wants to make a hit, I think he hasn't got much to show off.
虽然他想大出风头, 不过我以为他没有什么可炫耀的。
Ps 2：a rough nut to crack 是个习语，意思是：难以说服或影响的人； 难事；难题；难以应付的问题或情况。例如：
They say that she is a rough nut to crack.
据说她是一个难驯服的女人。
He is a rough nut to crack, just ignore him.
他就是个刺儿头, 别理他!
Ps 3：a man of few words是指“很少说话的人，不爱言谈的人”。

1 rough   

adj.粗糙的；粗略的，大致的；粗野的，粗暴的

参考例句：

• It's just a very rough translation.这只是一篇非常粗糙的译稿。
• His reply was a bit rough.他的答复过于粗鲁了一点。

2 crack   

vi.发破裂声；噼啪地响；vt./vi.（使）开裂；破裂；n.裂缝，缝隙；爆裂声，破裂声，劈啪声

参考例句：

• There's a crack in this cup.这个杯子上有个裂缝。
• There's a crack on the underneath of the bowl.碗底有一道裂缝。

3 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。