生活中不能触碰的“高压线”

 　　公司里两个人同时犯了错误，可是处理结果截然不同，一个只是口头警告，而另一个却被炒了鱿鱼。这是为什么呢？小道消息说因为第二个人触碰了公司的高压线，所以死罪难逃。这“高压线”到底是什么东西呢？

　　The term “gao ya xian” in Chinese means literally¹ a high-voltage line which is connected with the danger of electric shock by contact or proximity². But in daily conversation, it is often used to refer to top prohibitions³, rules that one should never break, because it will prove to be as lethal⁴ as touching⁵ the high-tension wire。

　　“高压线”这三个字在字面上指的是高输压电线，触碰或者接近这种高压线都有被电击的危险。不过，在日常生活中，“高压线”经常被用来指代那些绝对不能触犯的规章制度，因为一旦触犯，其后果就可能会像触碰了高压线一样有致命的危险。

　　For example:

　　When you are in a new company, the first thing you should do is to determine the top prohibitions there, something you should never touch。

　　刚到新公司的时候，你首先要做的就是摸清那里的高压线在哪儿，有些事情是绝对不能碰的。

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 proximity   

n.接近，邻近

参考例句：

• Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
• Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。

3 prohibitions   

禁令，禁律( prohibition的名词复数 )； 禁酒； 禁例

参考例句：

• Nowadays NO PARKING is the most ubiquitous of prohibitions. 今天，“NO PARKING”（禁止停车），几乎成了到处可见的禁止用语了。
• Inappropriate, excessive or capricious administration of aversive stimulation has led to scandals, lawsuits and prohibitions. 不恰当的、过度的或随意滥用厌恶性刺激会引起人们的反感、控告与抵制。

4 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

5 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。