谚语是人类智慧的结晶,是富于色彩的语言形式,它同文学作品、诗歌一样是语言的精华,一般具有生动形象、喻义明显、富于哲理的语言特征。在一定程度上,英语谚语反映了英语民族的文化特点。英语谚语源远流长,它既有民间流传的谚语,又有来自《圣经》的、来自莎士比亚作品的和来自《伊索寓言》的,还有很多外来谚语。英语谚语中有许多有关动物的谚语,本人收集了以下几条:
.Bird
() Kill two birds with one stone. 一箭双雕;一举两得。
() A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。
() Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚,人以群分。
() It’s an ill bird that fouls own nest. 俭不可外扬。
() Fine feathers make fine birds. 人要衣装,马要鞍。
() A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk. 听音识鸟,闻言识人。
() Each bird loves to hear himself sing. 鸟儿都爱听自己唱。(自我欣赏)
() You cannot catch old birds with chaff.(粗糠). 用粗糠捉不住老鸟。(有经验的人难骗。)
() Birds in their little nests agree. 同巢之鸟心儿齐。
. Cat
() A cat has nine lives.猫有九条命;吉人天相。
() Cats hide their claws. 知人知面不知心。
() All cats are grey in the dark.. 黑暗之中猫都是灰色的。(人未出名时看起来都差不多。)
() A gloved cat catches no mice. 戴手套的猫,老鼠抓不到。(不愿吃苦的人成不了大事业。)
() When the weasel and the cat make a marriage, it is a very ill Psage. 黄鼠狼和猫结亲,不是好事情。)
() Who will bwll the cat? 谁去给猫系铃?(谁愿意为大家冒风险?)
() The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream. 帽偷吃奶油的时候总是闭着眼睛。(掩耳盗铃)
() There are more ways of killing a cat than by choking it with butter. 杀猫的办法很多。(达到目的的途径很多。)
() Care kill a cat. 忧虑愁死猫。
. Chicken
() Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. 鸡蛋未孵出,先别数小鸡。(不要过早乐观。)
. Crow
() A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often. 江山易改,本性难移。
. Dog
() He who would hang his dog gives out first that it is mad. 欲加之罪,何患无词.
() A staff is quickly found to beat a dog with. 欲加之罪,何患无词.
() Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌.
() Too much pudding will choke a dog. 布丁太多噎死狗。
() Every dog has his day. 人人皆有得意时。
() Barking dogs don’t (seldom) bite. 爱叫的狗很少咬人。
() Let sleeping dogs lie. 勿惹事生非。
() Dead dogs bite not. 死狗不咬人。
() All are not thieves that dogs bark at. 狗见了叫的不一定都是贼。(不要以貌取人。)
() Every dog is a lion at home. 狗在家门口就成了狮子。
() Don’t be a dog (lying) in the manger. 莫学狗占马槽不吃草。(不要占着茅坑不拉屎。)
() Dog does not eat dog. 同类不相残。
() Scornful dogs will eat dirty puddings. 狗再傲慢也会吃脏布丁。
() A son never thinks his mother ugly,and a dog never shuns its owner’s home however shabby it is.儿不嫌母丑,狗不嫌家贫。
. Frog
() The frog in the well knows nothing of the great ocean. 井底之蛙,不知大海。
. Fox
() The fox may grow grey, but never good. 狐狸毛色可变灰,但是本性难移。 ,