Question

Proverbs are quite common in spoken English. We don't normally put them in a composition or a letter. Sometimes it is helpful if you know what common proverbs mean. Here are a few examples：

1       If a dog bites me,I shall be twice as careful in future when I see it. This proverb is also used to apply to many things and not only to dogs. If you have been cheated at a shop,you will not go to the same shop again.

2       If I am a hunter,trying to catch birds,it is better to catch one than to see two birds in a bush but not able to catch them. Thus this means that what you have already got is better than the chance of being able to get something bigger in future.

3       When too many people do something,they get in each other's way and do a bad job. "Pour oil on troubled waters" is to try to calm things down. Oil is lighter than water. If

a ship is in trouble at sea,another ship may come to help it. The second ship can send small boats to rescue people. However,it may first pour oil on the sea to mi^ce the sea less rough.

"Don't be a dog in a manger (食槽) "means "don't be selfish". In a stable (;马厩) ，the manger is the place where the horse's food is put. Sometimes a dog will sleep in the manger and bark when a horse comes to get its food. The dog does not want to eat the hay in the manger but it will not let the horse eat it.

"He is sitting on the fence" means that somebody will not say whether he is in favor of a plan or against it. He is sitting on a fence between two opposing sides,perhaps waiting to see which side will win.

4       A piper is a musician. The man who employs or pays a musician can say what tunes the man will play. Thus this means that if a man provides the money for a plan,he can say how it will be carried out.

5       means that you cannot get something from a person who has not got any of the things you want,for example,you cannot get a million dollars from a poor man.

   A. ^” You can't get blood out of a stone."

   B. "He who pays the piper calls the tune."

   C. "Once bitten,twice shy."

   D. "It is pouring cats and dogs."

   E. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

   F. "It is no use crying over spilt milk."

   G. "Too many cooks spoil the broth (soup) ."

1.                  2.         3.                  4.          5.         

Answer 1

你能根据文中的解释正确选出对应谚语吗？试一试！

1. C "Once bitten,twice shy."意思是一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳。

2. E "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."一鸟在手，胜似二鸟在林。

3. G "Too many cooks spoil the broth (soup) .”字面意思是：太多的厨师反而做不出好汤。也就是说，如果人太多，意见也多，反而不易做出正确决定。

4. B    "He who pays the piper calls the tune."谁出钱谁做主。

5. A "You can't get blood out of a stone."缘木求鱼。比喻方法不对，徒劳无功