时差N小时 吹牛

Long ago, when kings, queens and emperors ruled many nations, they often had a system whereby others would announce their arrival in an impressive way. Especially when there was a large crowd of people talkingand making noise, one very effective way to get their attention and make them stop talking was to have one or more musicians blow (or "toot," which is a more childish term) upon a horn.

古时候的国王、皇后和皇帝统治着许多国家。他们往往有一个规定——他们每到一个地方时，会让人用一个令人印象深刻的方式宣示他们的到来。尤其是在聚集了大量人群或人声嘈杂的时候，可以引起他们注意力并使他们停止喧嚷的一个非常有效的方式就是让一个或多个乐师吹响号角（同孩子们的话说，就是吹出“嘟嘟”的声音）。

In very olden times, that horn might be an actual ram's or bull's horn, or even a large conch shell. With more sophistication, these became brass¹ instruments such as trumpets². Today we use the memory of this symbolic³ fanfare⁴ to criticize people who talk too much about their own achievements or good qualities. When we say to someone, "Don't blow (or toot) your own horn!" we are suggesting they should be more modest and not quite so prideful about their own accomplishments⁵.

从前，这种号角就是公羊或公牛的角，甚至是一个大海螺。随着制作工艺越来越成熟，这些号角慢慢演变成了铜制的乐器，比如说小号。今天我们用这个比喻的说法来批评某些人过份地吹嘘自己的成绩或者品质。当我们对他们说：“别吹了！”我们是在建议他们要谦虚一点，不要自满于所取得的成就。

1 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

2 trumpets   

喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花

参考例句：

• A wreath was laid on the monument to a fanfare of trumpets. 在响亮的号角声中花圈被献在纪念碑前。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

3 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

4 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

5 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》