迷你對話
A: Do you know who the tall man is?
你知道那個高個男子是誰嗎?
B: I don’t know. But he must be a big shot.
不認識,但是他肯定是個大人物吧。
A: Why?
為什么這么說?
B: Because everyone is trying to butter him up.
因為每個人都在拼命地巴結(jié)他。
對話精講
第一、地道表達
【核心短語】a big shot
【解詞釋義】a big shot指的是a very important person,即要人,大人物,名人(尤其是指自負的人)等。
【典型范例1】He acts like a big shot, but he is just a small potato.
他行事象個大人物,但實際上他卻微不足道。
【典型范例2】I saw him there acting like a big shot.
我看見他在那兒活象個大人物似的。
【同意短語1】a big gun
【典型范例1】He became a big gun in scientific circles.
他成為科學界的要人。
【典型范例2】I know of him. He's a big gun in the local politics.
我知道這人,他在本地政界是個舉足輕重的人物。
【同意短語2】a big wheel
【典型范例1】You can tell John is a big wheel, he rides in a limousine everywhere he goes.
你可以看出約翰是個大人物,無論去哪里他都坐豪華轎車。
【典型范例2】He was the tough guy, the big wheel, who gave orders with the crack of a whip.
他是個硬漢,是個揮著鞭子發(fā)號施令的大人物。
第二、詞海拾貝
butter up:對......說好話,阿諛奉承......,巴結(jié)......
【典型范例1】I wish you'd stop trying to butter me up.
我希望你不要再恭維我了。
【典型范例2】He tried hard to butter up the Mayor.
他拼命拍市長馬屁。
【典型范例3】If you can butter up your boss, he won't give you a hard time.
如果你能對老板說逢迎,他將不會為難你。
【典型范例4】I know he tries to butter me up, but I don’t buy it.
我知道他想要拍我馬屁, 但我才不吃那一套。