The literal meaning of some words in English is very different from its actual meaning, so special attention is required. In fact, there are stories behind these words. If you remember those allusions, it will be easy to understand.
The following is a summary of these easily misunderstood words and phrases.
1. Busboy restaurant busboy
False English: bus conductor ✖
☞ He was a busboy, a dishwasher, a caterer and a manager.
He was a busboy, a dishwasher, a caterer and a manager.
Note : Restaurant busboys were once called "omnibus boys". The word "Omnibus" comes from Latin and means "all-inclusive" because the "omnibus boys" take on all the chores in the restaurant.
2. Busybody Someone who is nosy
Fake English: Busy person ✖
☞ Some busybody has been reporting my conduct on a certain day.
There is a nosy guy who has been reporting on me and exposing some things I did on a certain day. thing.
3. Dry goods Textiles
Fake English: Dry goods ✖
☞ The floor was stacked high with bales of dry goods.
There were many packages of textiles stacked high on the floor.
4. Sporting house brothel (old language)
fake English: sports room ✖
☞ In this novel a Samson-like boxer is lured to a sporting house by a blonde femme fatale and drugged.
In this novel, a strong man is generally The boxer was lured into a brothel by a blonde beauty and then drugged.
5. Dead president dollar bill (slang)
Fake English: dead president ✖
☞ I need some dead presidents.
I need some banknotes.
Note: The usage of the word comes from the portrait of the late US president on the US dollar. Black people generally use this word when doing transactions on the street.
6. Senior citizen Senior citizen
False English: Senior Citizen ✖
☞ Many senior citizens' pensions are not enough for them to live decent lives.
Many senior citizens' pensions are not enough for them to live decent lives.
Many senior citizens' pensions are not enough for them to live a decent life.
7. Wash one's hands Go to the toilet
Fake English: Wash your hands ✖
☞ Where can I wash my hands?
Where is the bathroom?
Note: The euphemism of belongs to American usage. If you ask this in Europe, others may directly understand it as the literal meaning. Similar expressions include, Where can I powder my nose? In British English, spend a penny can be used as a euphemism for "going to the toilet".
and: wash one's hands of something / someone means to wash hands in a golden basin and to sever ties with something or someone.
8. A black sheep
Fake English: Black Sheep ✖
☞ She was the black sheep of the family.
She was the prodigal daughter of the family.
9. Pull someone's leg to make a joke, to fool someone
Fake English: to hold back ✖
☞ Stop pulling my leg – you didn't have lunch with Bono!
Don't fool me – you didn't have lunch with Bono!
10. Eat one's words Take back the preface and correct the wrong words
Fake English: Break the promise ✖
☞ I'll make you eat your words.
I'll make you eat your words.
I'll make you eat your words.
11. Mad doctor psychiatrist
Fake English: mad doctor ✖
☞ He is a mad doctor.
He is a psychiatrist.
12. Eleventh hour
Fake English: The eleventh hour ✖
☞ She always turned her term papers in at the eleventh hour.
She always turned in her term papers in at the last minute.
Note: The dictionary comes from the " Bible ". There was a rich man who hired workers at five o'clock in the morning. It was already very late at night when the last person was hired. After the work was done, wages were paid, and those who came early in the morning and those who came at eleven o'clock at night received a silver coin equally.
13. Personal remark Personal attack
Fake English: Personal comment ✖
☞ Did you have to make such a personal remark about her new haircut?
Do you have to attack her new haircut?
14. Confidence man liar
fake English: a trustworthy person ✖
☞ Many childhood experiences teach Felix how to be a confidence man.
Many childhood experiences taught Felix how to be a liar.
Note: confidence as an adjective has the meaning of "deceptive"
15. Horse sense Practical common sense (colloquial)
Fake English: horse feeling ✖
☞ Bob is no scholar but he has a lot of horse sense.
Although Bob is not An intellectual, but he has a lot of common sense.
16. Capital idea Good idea
Fake English: Capitalist thought ✖
☞ Hmm, a capital idea! Unfortunately, we have our own quest we have been charged to complete.
Well, good idea! Unfortunately, we still have our work cut out for us.
Note: capital as an adjective has the meaning of "first-class, excellent"
17. Green hand novice
fake English: green hand ✖
☞ There is a great need for such programs in the region to develop nationals from green hand to any level as future for the nation.
There is a huge demand for this kind of program in the region, which can train citizens from novices to any level of talent that the country needs in the future.
18. Have a fit furious
Fake English: try on ✖
☞ My mother had a fit when she saw the mess we'd made.
My mother was very angry when she saw the mess we'd made.
My mother was very angry when she saw the mess we'd made.
19. Out of juice
Fake English: No juice ✖
☞ My laptop's out of juice. This is so frustrating.
My laptop is out of juice. So annoying.
20. Red tape (bureaucratic) red tape
false English: red tape✖
☞ We are removing the red tape that makes it difficult for our offices to help veterans get the care they need and deserve.
We are removing the red tape that makes it difficult for our offices to help veterans get the care they need and deserve.
, so that veterans can better get the help they need and deserve.
21. China policy China policy
fake English: China policy ✖
☞ What's Trump's China policy?
What is Trump's China policy?
22. The (hand)writing on the wall
False English: Big Character Poster✖
☞ The residents can see the writing on the wall and realize that if they don't cooperate with the police, these crimes will continue.
Residents sensed the writing was on the wall and realized that if they didn't cooperate with the police, crime would continue.
Note: refers to the Bible. King Belshazzar of Babylon once hosted a banquet to entertain noble friends, during which he committed blasphemous acts. Suddenly an invisible hand appeared and wrote strange messages on the palace walls. Soon the King of Babylon was killed.
23. Bring down the house won a lot of applause
Fake English: Bring down the house ✖
☞ Karen's act brought the house down.
Karen's performance won a lot of applause.
24. Yellow book Yellow book (Government reports from France and other countries, sealed with yellow paper)
Fake English: Yellow book ✖
☞ The Hungarian government issues a Yellow Book in which it details its charges of treason.
The Hungarian government issued Government report detailing charges of treason.
25. Bluestocking Female scholar, female talent (often derogatory)
Fake English: blue stockings ✖
☞ The bluestocking paused and looked round the circle of interested faces.
The female scholar paused and looked around at the pictures. Interested face.
Note: In the 1850s, there was a group of upper-class men and women in London who met friends at home and talked about literature and art. They dressed simply to show their dislike of evening dresses. Among them was a man named Benjamin Stillingfelitt who often wore blue velvet stockings. Later, this group of people became known as the "Blue Stocking Club" or "Blue Stockings." Since then, bluestocking has been used to refer to an arty or knowledgeable woman.
26. Indian summer Indian summer; happy and peaceful old age
Fake English: Indian summer✖
☞ The book describes the last 20 years of Churchill's life, including his Indian summer as prime minister between 1951 and 1955.
This book describes It describes the last 20 years of Churchill 's life, including his quiet old age when he was prime minister from 1951 to 1955.
27. Greek gift Harmful gift
Fake English: Greek gift ✖
☞ One should always beware of a Greek gift.
Be careful of harmful gifts.
Note: During the Trojan War, the Greeks were unable to capture Troy for a long time, and finally resorted to the " Trojan Horse Strategy " - 20 Greek warriors hid in a Trojan horse. The Trojans thought it was a "sacrifice" worshiped by the Greeks, so they dragged it into the city as a trophy. Unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, the Greeks in the Trojan horse and the army outside the city joined forces and destroyed the city of Troy in one fell swoop.
28. Spanish athlete A braggart
Fake English: Spanish athlete ✖
☞ He is a Spanish athlete.
He is a good braggart.
Note: In the 16th century, Spain established the most powerful navy in the world, claiming to be invincible and indestructible, but was unexpectedly defeated by the United Kingdom. From then on, the British began to laugh at the Spaniards for their boastfulness. Then he mocked Spanish athletes as the best braggarts. It is said that they often boasted before the game and vowed to win the championship, but they often failed, and finally fell into the bad reputation of "bragging".
29. In one's birthday suit naked
false English: wearing a birthday suit✖
☞ I guess he didn't know I was in the house. When I walked into the living room, he was just standing in his birthday suit.
我Guess he didn't know I was in the house at the time. When I walked into the living room, he was standing there naked!
Note: People are born wearing nothing, so this phrase refers to being naked and naked.
30. Think a lot of someone
Fake English: Think a lot for someone ✖
☞ The teacher thinks a lot of Mary and her talents.
The teacher thinks very highly of Mary and her talents. Talent is very certain.
31. You can say that again Well said, I agree
Fake English: You can say that again✖
☞ A: That was an absolutely delicious lunch. B: You can say that again!
A: That meal was so delicious . B: I agree.
32. Have the heart to do have the heart to do (used in negative sentences)
false English: have the heart to do ✖
☞ I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't love her anymore.
I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't love her anymore.
I no longer love her.
33. What a shame! What a pity, what a pity!
Fake English: What a shame ✖
☞ A: The cake is ruined! B: What a shame!
A: The cake is ruined! B: What a pity!
34. Got your number Know what you are planning (slang)
Fake English: Know your number ✖
☞ You can't fool me, I've got your number – you're never going to pay me back.
You can't fool me. I know what your plan is - you have no intention of paying me back.
35. Drama queen make a fuss
fake English: drama queen ✖
☞ A: Oh, it's raining and my new hairdo is ruined! All those hours in the hairdresser for nothing!
A: Oh, it's raining and my new hairdo is ruined! Trouble! My hair was so ruined after being in the barber shop for so long.
B: Don't be such a drama queen. Here, take my umbrella.
B: Don't make such a fuss. Take my umbrella and use it.
