Some people say that life without music would be like life without air. Music is certainly a vital part of any culture. Music, together with language, is what distinguishes cultures and habits. So it’s only natural that idioms would be created around the theme of music.

有些人說沒有音樂的人生就像沒有了空氣。音樂是任何文化中至關重要的一部分。音樂和語言一起,把不同的文化和習俗區(qū)分開來,所以很自然地就產(chǎn)生了關于音樂主題的習語。

Here are some examples of how they are used in English:

以下是音樂相關的習語在英語中應用的例子:

1. Elevator Music – Pleasant and sometimes annoying music that is played in public places

Elevator Music——在公共場合播放的愉快的、有時是惱人的音樂

“Apart from finding shopping malls boring, Keith finds the elevator music that is played particularly irritating”.

“除了覺得購商場無聊之外,基斯還覺得公共場合播放的音樂特別煩人?!?/p>

2. Ring a bell – If something rings a bell it reminds you of something even though you cannot remember it very well.

Ring a bell——某件事讓你想起了什么,盡管你記得不是很清楚。

“Yes, the song rings a bell but I am not sure exactly where I’ve heard it before”.

“是的,我對這首歌有印象,但是我不記得我在哪里聽到過?!?/p>

3. For a song – when you buy or sell something very cheaply

For a song——買或者賣出非常便宜的東西。

“I bought this car for a song”.

“我以極低的價格買了這輛車?!?/p>

4. Like a broken record - someone who repeats the same thing over and over again (very annoying)

Like a broken record——重復某件事的人(特別煩人)

“I’ve understood you want me to clean the bathroom. Stop going on like a broken record!”

“我知道你想要我去打掃浴室。別再像個壞掉的唱片機那樣喋喋不休了!”

5. Blow your own trumpet - boasting about your talents and successes

Blow your own trumpet——吹噓自己的才能和成功

“Sometimes it is not a bad thing to blow your own trumpet. After all, if you don’t, who else will?”

“有時候自吹自擂也不是見壞事。畢竟,如果你不這么做,還有誰會這么做?”

6. Jam session - playing improvised music in an impromptu setting. This could happen at a dinner party with friends.

Jam session——在沒有預先準備的場合下彈奏即興音樂??赡馨l(fā)生在和朋友的晚宴上。

“After dinner, Tom and Harry got their guitars out and started a jam session. It was wonderful.”

“晚餐之后,湯姆和哈里拿出了吉他,即興演奏了一段。真是太棒了?!?/p>

7. Call the tune – to be in a position of authority to give orders and make important decisions

Call the tune——位于權(quán)威地位,下達命令,做出決策。

“Peter was always the person who called the tune in our team.”

“彼得總是我們隊伍里那個發(fā)號施令的人?!?/p>

(There is also another idiom “to call the shots” that has a similar meaning)

(另一個詞組to call the shots意思相同)

8. Blow the whistle – to report an illegal or unacceptable activity to the authorities.

Blow the whistle——向權(quán)威部門舉報不合法、不能接受的行為。

“Janet came under a lot of pressure from her colleagues when she blew the whistle on what was going on in the bank.”

“珍妮特在同事那受到很大壓力,因為她舉報了銀行了發(fā)生的事?!?/p>

(a whistle blower is the noun – “more recognition needs to be given to the courage it takes to be a whistle blower“.)

(whistle blower是對應的名詞——“應該對舉報人的勇氣給予充分重視”)

9. Music to one’s ears – to hear exactly what you want to hear

Music to one’s ears——聽到你想要聽和喜歡聽的內(nèi)容

“The ringing sound of the cash tills is music to my ears!”

“現(xiàn)金的叮當聲對我來說就像天籟?!?/p>

10. Face the music - accept punishment for something

Face the music——承擔某事的懲罰

“There’s not a lot we can do, so we are going to have to face the music.”

“我們能做的不多,所以我們不得不承擔后果。”