英语中含有as...as结构的比喻性词组及其翻译

英语中含有as...as结构的比喻性词组及其翻译
作者：梁小明
来源：《中学生英语·教师版》2016年第11期
比喻是英语中常见的修辞方法，有很多比喻和比拟都是由“as...as...”构成的，它通常是把一个抽象的概念与一个具体人物或事物中的某一特性进行比较，突出某种相同点和不同点，从而使抽象的概念形象化，易读易记，寓意深刻，使语言生动有趣，增强了语言的表现力和感染力。

本文收集了英语中一些含有as...as结构的比喻性词组，以供参考。

一、以动物为喻体
as black as a raven 像乌鸦一般黑
as bald as a coot 头发脱光的（像黑鹅一样秃）
as blind as a bat 有眼无珠（像蝙蝠一样瞎）
as blind as an owl 瞎透了（猫头鹰在晚上视力很好，白天很弱）
as bold/brave as a lion 非常勇猛（如狮子一般）
as busy as a bee 极其忙碌（像蜜蜂一样忙碌）
as changeful as a chameleon像变色龙一样多变
as cunning/sly as a fox老奸巨滑，像狐狸一样狡猾
as cunning as a dead pig像狐狸一样狡猾
as faithful as a dog 忠诚如狗；像狗一样忠诚
as fat as a pig 肥得像猪
as free as a bird自由自在（像鸟儿一样自由）
as foolish as a donkey像驴一样愚蠢
as fussy as a hen with one chick 在小事上瞎操心（像母鸡对一只小鸡）
as gentle/meek as a lamb 温顺如羊（像羊羔一样温顺）
as happy/cheerful/gay as a lark/cow 非常欢乐（像百灵鸟一样快乐） as lively as a cricket 极活泼的（像蟋蟀一样活泼）
as majestic as a lion像狮子一样雄伟
as mad as a wet hen 暴怒，非常生气（像一只潮湿的母鸡一样生气） as mild as a dove 非常温和（像鸽子一样温和）
as naughty as a monkey调皮淘气（像猴子一样顽皮）
as poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗（像教堂的老鼠一样穷）
as proud as a peacock 极骄傲（像孔雀一样骄傲）
as quiet as a mouse 极为安静（像老鼠一样安静）
as quiet as a rat鸦雀无声（像老鼠一样安静）
as strong as a horse 健壮如牛，壮实得像头牛
as sick as a dog病得厉害（像狗一样生病）
as slippery as an eel像鳗鱼一样狡猾，滑得像泥鳅
as slow as a snail 慢如蜗牛
as stupid as an ass 蠢极了（像驴一样愚蠢）
as stupid as a donkey愚蠢极了（像驴一样愚蠢）
as stupid as a goose愚蠢极了（像鹅一样愚蠢）
as stupid as owl 愚蠢至极（像猫头鹰一样愚蠢）
as stubborn as a mule非常执拗或顽固
as wise as an owl像猫头鹰一样聪明
as tame as a chicken 非常听话（像小鸡一样驯服）
as timid as a hare 胆小如鼠
as timid and tamed as deer温顺（像鹿一样胆小驯服）
as ugly as a toad像癞蛤蟆一样丑陋
as vain as a peacock像孔雀一样虚荣；像孔雀般地炫耀自己
二、以植物为喻体
as beautiful as a flower 貌美如花
as cool as a cucumber 泰然自若，极其镇静（冷静如黄瓜）
as fair as a lily 美如百合
as pure as a lily 纯如百合
as fair as rose 美艳如花
as red as rose红如玫瑰；艳若桃李
as green as grass 少不更事，无生活经验（绿色常表示“稚嫩、没有经验”）
as like as two peas 一模一样
as welcome as the rose in May 很受欢迎（五月的玫瑰）
三、以人（含职业）为喻体
as hungry as a hunter 非常饥饿（像猎人一般，中文常用“饿狼”做比喻）
as drunk as a lord 酩酊大醉，烂醉如泥（主人都酗酒？）
as grave/sober as a judge 严如法官，非常严肃（法官的严肃是可以理解）
as old as Adam 极其古老（像亚当一样古老。

圣经故事中的亚当，够老了吧？） as rich as a Jew 非常富有（像犹太人一样富有）
as thick as thieves 亲密无间，非常亲密（像贼搭档一样）
as wise as Solomon 非常聪慧，聪明绝顶（像所罗门一样聪明）
四、以自然现象为喻体
as black as night 昏黑，漆黑（像夜晚漆黑一片）
as black as a thunder 面带怒容，脸色阴森（像雷声一样黑）
as blue as the sky 蓝如晴空
as clear as day 一清二楚，显而易见，极其明白（像白天一样清楚）
as cold as ice 寒冷如冰
as dark as the midnight 漆黑如夜
as free as the wind自由自在，行动自由（像风一样自由）
as green as grass 绿草如茵
as high as the star 高入云天
as quick as a lightning/flash 快如闪电
as right as rain 完全正常，一切顺利，完全令人满意
as white as snow 洁白如雪
五、以事物或物件为喻体
as black as coal墨黑，极黑（像煤一样黑）
as bold as brass 厚颜无耻（像黄铜一样厚脸皮的）
as cheap as dirt 极便宜，非常便宜（像尘土一样便宜）
as clear as a bell 极佳，十分健康
as clear as a bell=very easy to hear and understand 一清二楚（像铃声一样清晰）
as clear as crystal 一清二楚，极其明白（像水晶一样明澈）
as deep as a well高深莫测，难以捉摸，狡猾（像井一样深）
as dry as a mummy十分干燥（像木乃伊一样干燥）
as dull as lead 非常愚钝（像铅一样迟钝）
as easy as a pie 非常容易，小菜一碟（像馅饼一样容易）
as firm/steady as a rock 坚如磐石；稳如泰山（像岩石一样坚固） as hard as iron 铁一样坚硬，十分严厉，十分残酷（像铁一样硬） as hard as nether millstone 铁石心肠（硬如磨石）
as heavy as lead 铅一般的沉重，非常重
as hot as a steamer 热得像蒸笼
as light as a feather 轻如鸿毛
as pretty as a picture 美如画
as soft as butter很柔软（像奶油一样柔软）
as soft as velvet很柔软（像天鹅绒一样柔软）
as sweet as honey甜如蜜糖（像蜂蜜一样甜）
as thin as a lath 骨瘦如柴
as cold as a marble冷若冰霜
as true as steel 绝对可靠（像钢一样真实）
as white as a sheet面如死灰，面色苍白（像纸一样苍白）
as weak as water弱不禁风
六、以生活常识为喻体
as easy as ABC极其容易；轻而易举
as absurd as putting together the pieces of vase荒唐可笑
as bare as the back of one’s hand 一无所有
as plain as the nose in your face 一清二楚（像你脸上的鼻子一样清楚）
当然，还有更多的例子，本文无法一一罗列。

需要强调的是，语言是鲜活的，除了一些约定成俗的搭配之外，只要喻体的特性是被广泛认同的，或是在特定情况下交谈双方看法一致的，适度的创造亦可增添语言的趣味性。