格言和俗语怎么用？(2)

（单词翻译:单击）

    7.A penny saved is a penny earned. 据说这是Ben Franklin 的引语。照字面意义是：能存一分钱，就是赚了一分钱。後来有人改口说： Take care of your pennies（=pence）and the pounds (=dollars）will take care of themselves. 说白些，就是： If you save small amount of money, you will eventually have a large sum of money. 就是中国人所谓「积少成多，集腋成裘」。（这句话也可指小事谨慎，大事自成。）

    8.When in Rome, do as the Romans do.意思是说：当在罗马时，就照罗马人的（生活）方式去做。所以有人也改口说： When in America, do as the Americans do. 就是「入国问禁，入乡随俗。」

    9.What is done cannot be undone¹.意思是：做过的事，不能再还原。（动词时态：undo, undid², undone）。这与另一句谚语 「Don't cry over spilt milk.」或「It is no use crying over spilt milk.」意义相似。也就是说：What is done is done或What has taken place, nothing can be done about it.（take place=happen）就是「覆水难收」、「往者已矣」。

    10.Don't（或Never）cross a bridge till（或until）you come to it. 照字面的意义是：不等到桥边，就不必过桥。也有人说：We have to go across the bridge when we come to it. （it 指桥；bridge也指问题或困难），换句话说：不必为将来顾虑太多「Don't worry too much in advance.」劝人当问题出现时再设法解决不迟。「You have to face the problem or difficulty when the time comes.」这与所谓「船到桥头自然直」，颇有相似之处。

    11.All good things must come to an end. 意思是说：一切好事，总会结束的。也就像咱们所谓「天下没有不散的宴席」或「好景无常」。换句话说：人生的道路是崎岖不平的（Life is bumpy³.）或（Road bumps in our life.）但也不必悲观，生命也有光明的一面（There is light at the end of the tunnel.）

    12.Beauty is but (=only) skin-deep. 意思是：美貌只是一层皮或外表的美是肤浅、短暂的。「Beauty is just as deep as skin.」这与其他两句格言:「Don't judge a book by its cover.」（评价一本书不是只看书的包装）「Appearances are deceiving.」（外表是骗人的）意义相近，所以唯有内在的品格才是永久的重要的，（Personality Counts），不可以貌取人，否则就成为所谓的「绣花枕头」了。