⽜年学“⽜”词：关于⽜的短语和句⼦
sacred cow：神圣不可侵犯
职位说明书Sacred cow这个说法来源于本世纪初的印度。在印度，⽜是神圣的，它们可以在马路上⼤摇⼤摆地⾛，即便影响交通也没有⼈敢碰它们，因为印度古代的宗教习惯是保护它们的。但是，作为习惯⽤语，sacred cow是指某个⼈，或某样东西，从来没有受到批评或嘲笑，即便在应该批评的时候也没有⼈敢这样做，就像印度的⽜⼀样。
One of our biggest sacred cows is the national social curity program which pays many older Americans a pension
我们最神圣不可侵犯的项⽬之⼀就是为美国⽼年⼈提供退休⾦的全国社会保障计划。
This has become her sacred cow - nothing can change her schedule rain or shine.
这已经成为她神圣不可侵犯的活动了，什么事都不能改变她的⽇程，真是雷打不动。
cash cow：摇钱树反骨
A cash cow is a business that is very profitable.利润丰厚的项⽬。
The new movie theater that they just opened by campus is a real cash cow.
学校旁边新开的那家电影院真是个摇钱树。
Play the lute to a cow: 对⽜弹琴
也写作to cast pearls before swine/ preach to deaf ears
指那些说话或写东西不考虑到听众的⼈。 ⼀般来说，是说话⼈或作者⾼估了听众或读者，所以，这则成语嘲讽的主要是听众或观众，⽽不是说话者。
to kill the fatted calf: 热情款待或者欢迎离家多年的⼈
Sorry this meal isn't much, John. We didn't have time to kill the fatted calf.
约翰，很抱歉，饭菜不多，我们来不及设宴欢迎你。
a bull in a china shop: ⼀只闯进了瓷器店的公⽜
to often drop or break things becau you move awkwardly or roughly.
⽜犊在西⽅⽂化中往往是褒义的，公⽜的形象则并⾮如此。虽然公⽜⾮常勇猛，但它往往表⽰卤莽。“a bull in a china shop”（⼀只闯进了瓷器店的公⽜）表⽰既笨拙⽽⼜有破坏性的⼈，有时⼜可以指明显缺乏机智的⼈。
While the wife was out, the husband tried to cook a meal in the kitchen, but he was just like a bull in a china shop.
妻⼦外出时，丈夫想在厨房做饭，结果弄得乱其⼋糟。
like a bull at a（five-barred）gate：做事情做得很快，雷厉风⾏，快⼑斩乱⿇,
if you do something like a bull at a gate, you do it very quickly.
He wants to finish the shelves today so he's going at them like a bull at a gate.
他想今天把架⼦做好，所以做得⾮常快。
The Augean Stable(s) ：奥吉亚斯的⽜圈（肮脏的地⽅，藏垢纳秽之所，积弊）
这种说法源⾃古希腊神话中关于赫拉克勒斯的英雄传说。奥吉亚斯（Augeas）是古希腊西部厄利斯(E
lis)的国王。他有⼀个极⼤的⽜圈，⾥⾯养了2000头年（⼀说3000匹马），30年来未清扫过，粪秽堆积如⼭，⼗分肮脏。因此，the Augean stable=very dirty place。在这⾥，stable除了泛指地点外，还可代表某些不良的制度，下流的习俗和恶劣的作风等等。由此，⼈们⽤the Augean stable这个成语来⽐喻⾮常的地⽅或长期形成的积弊。它常⽐to clean, to clean, to reform等动词连⽤，表⽰to bring about a drastic reform in some public evil的意思。
Although they know it is not easy to reform the Augean stables of this sociey, they are still trying to do it
尽管他们知道⾰除社会积弊⾮常困难，但他们仍然尽⼒去做。
The black Ox has trod on sb’s foot: 灾祸临头/某⼈已到⽼年
也写作The black ox has trampled on sb’s foot.
I know they have both suffered grief. They have has the black ox tread on their feet
我知道他俩都遭不幸。他们尝到了⼈世的悲痛。
have a cow (American)：担⼼，不开⼼，⽣⽓.
I thought he was going to have a cow when I told him I'd lost his key.
我想当我告诉他我弄丢了他的钥匙时他会很⽣⽓。
ox-eyed：⼤眼睛
The ox-eyed goddess joined her husband, noticed the heifer, praid its beauty, and asked who it was and of what herd
⼤眼⼥神⾛到丈夫⾝边，注⽬于那头⼩母⽜，夸奖它的俊美，⼜问主⼈是谁，属于那个⽜群。
fowl’s beak and ox buttocks：鸡⼝⽜后
preferable to lead in petty position than to follow behind greater leader
"宁为鸡⼝，⽆为⽜后"已⼴为流传，并被⼈们经常使⽤。它⽐喻宁愿在局⾯⼩的地⽅⾃主，⽽不愿在局⾯⼤的地⽅听⼈⽀配。
bull market：⽜市
所谓“⽜市”，也称多头市场，指证券市场⾏情普遍看涨，延续时间较长的⼤升市。 此处的证券市场，
泛指常见的股票、债券、期货、选择权、外汇、可转让定存单、衍⽣性⾦融商品及其它各种证券。
bull point：优势，略胜⼀筹
A bull point for the Lancashire and Midland operators is the new monopoly position within the companies' own areas.
对兰开厦和⽶律兰的经营者来说，略胜⼀筹之处是他们在各⾃公司经营范围内所确⽴的新的垄断地位。
like a red rag to a bull：使⼈愤怒的, 令⼈极端烦恼的
if a statement or an action is like a red rag to a bull, it makes someone very angry.
For Claire, the suggestion of a women-only committee was like a red rag to a bull.
设⽴仅有⼥性的委员会的提议彻底激怒了克莱尔。
hit a bull’s eye：命中靶⼼，达到预定⽬标，取得成功.
科技异化In target shooting: a score made by hitting the center of the target
He hit a bull’s eye in their argument with that witty retort.
他以机智的反驳赢得了辩论胜利。
bull-headed：固执的，任性的，⼀根筋
someone who is bull-headed is determined to do exactly what they want to do, and does not think about what other people want.
He's completely bull-headed. I asked him not to throw out that old table, but he did it anyway.肉做法
他太固执了。我告诉他不要扔了那个旧桌⼦，但他到底还是扔了。
a cock-and-bull story荒诞的故事，⽆稽之谈
a story or explanation which is obviously not true.
She told me some cock-and-bull story about her car breaking down.
她给我讲的车如何坏掉的事情⾮常荒诞。
John Bull约翰⽜，英国佬
a character who reprents a typical English man or the English people.
“约翰⽜”是英国⼈的绰号。19世纪的著名作家狄更斯就曾引⽤过。随着时间的推移，“约翰⽜”的形象发⽣了耐⼈寻味的变化，由最初那个⾝强⼒壮、满脸横⾁的中年船长想象，变成了⼀个年过半百、五短⾝材的矮胖⼦。于是漫画上出现的“约翰⽜”，是个头戴宽边礼帽，⾜蹬翻⼝⽪鞋，⾝穿茄克衫的绅⼠摸样。当年那种杀⽓腾腾的⽓概收敛不少，其原来的贬义似乎变成了褒义。“约翰⽜”逐渐变成了⼀位饱经事故的实⼲家形象，他的⾏为成了英国的⼈的标准⾏为。这样⼀来，John bull这个成语就成了英国⼈或者英国的代名词了；⽽与之相关的John Bullism就指“英国精神”“英国习⽓”或“英国⼈的典型性格”，John Bullist则常指“英国迷”。
In the cartoon, John Bull appears as a short, stocky figure wearing a waistcoat with the British flag on.
在漫画中，“约翰⽜”常以矮⼩健壮的形象出现，⾝穿印有英国国旗的背⼼。
Take the bull by the horns：遇到困难情形果断做出决定，当机⽴断
We'll have to take the bull by the horns and tackle the Medicare question.
我们必须当机⽴断，想办法解决医疗保险问题。
shoot the bull：惬意轻松聊天，随聊
We sat out on the porch until late, just shooting the bull.
我们在⾛廊外坐到很晚，随便聊了聊。
bull ssion: 漫谈，⾃由讨论
Some students of the economics department had a bull ssion last Sunday.
上星期天，经济系的⼀些学⽣聚集在⼀起漫谈。
Till the cows come home：很久，⽆限期
从前乳⽜未经⼈⼯改造，每年都有不产奶时期。在产奶时期，它们乳房充盈，不挤奶会很不舒服，⾃然会主动回家给⼈挤奶；但是，在不产奶时期，要它们主动回家，真不知要等多久了。所以，till the cows come home有“很久”、“⽆限期”的意思。
:He is very long-winded and will keep on talking till the cows come home
他是个话篓⼦，会说个不停的。
holy cow: 对某事表⽰惊讶, 惊奇, 愤怒等.
"A friend of mine is in Hollywood filming a movie this month." "Holy cow, that must be so cool."
“我的⼀个朋友这个⽉正在好莱坞拍电影。”“天哪，这太酷了！”
as awkward as a cow on roller skates：⾮常笨拙，笨⼿笨脚.
The little girl was as awkward as a cow on roller skates when she first began riding her bicycle.
这个⼩⼥孩刚骑⾃⾏车的时候笨⼿笨脚
milk the bull: 做徒劳⽆功的事，缘⽊求鱼
Susan tried everything to train her daughter into a lady, but it ems that she is milking the bull.
苏姗千⽅百计想把她⼥⼉训练成个淑⼥，可这些似乎都是徒劳。
as dumb as an ox沉默不语
He was as dumb as an ox in the meeting. 开会时他沉默不语。巴基斯坦签证办理
play the giddy ox：胡闹，⼲蠢事
Don’t you play the giddy ox with me！你们别跟我耍赖撒疯!
throw /shoot the bull：吹⽜，夸张
He likes to throw the bull. 他喜欢吹⽜
与“⽜”有关的谚语
You cannot flay the same ox twice⼀头⽜不能剥两次⽪。
The cow that's first up gets the first of the dew.早起母⽜先得露。
Not all butter that the cow yields.母⽜所产的未必全是黄油。
Many good cows have evil calves.很多好母⽜，会⽣坏⼩犊（虎⽗⽣⽝⼦）。
You cannot ll the cow and sup the milk.凡事难两全。鱼与熊掌不可兼得
Old oxen have stiff horns.⽜⽼⾓硬。
The ox is never woe, till he to the harrow go.挂耙去耕地，⽜才知⾟苦。
The ox when weariest treads surest.⽜困⾛得稳
The cow knows not what her tail is worth until she has lost it.有时不爱惜，失后徒叹息。
a young ox learns to plough from an older one：⼩⽜向⽼⽜学习耕地（喻⽼⼿和新⼿间的师徒关系）
An ox is taken by the horns, and the man by the tongue. ⽜因⾓被执，⼈因⾆陷⾝。
He that will have his farm full, must keep an old cock and a young bull.农家想富裕，壮⽜⽼公鸡。
网络大数据If the ox falls, whet your knife：⽜⼀倒，快磨⼑；⼈遭难，众⼈踩。
Why buy the cow when the milk is free. 何必为了⼀棵树⽽放弃整⽚森林
A lamb is as dear to a poor man as an ox to the rich. 穷⼈眼中的⼀只⽺，贵似富⼈⼀头⽜。
不能直译为“⽜”的汉语说法：
⽜饮drink like a fish
⽜脾⽓as stubborn as a mule
吹⽜talk hor
⾷量⼤如⽜to eat like a hor
非学历教育九⽜⼀⽑：a drop in the bucket
⽜马不如的⽣活to lead a dog’s life
初⽣⽜犊不怕虎：Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
健壮如⽜as strong as a hor
如果遇到谚语“⼒⼤如⽜”，英语中却没有 as strong as a cow的说法。在历史上战争频繁的西⽅，没有马便⽆法⽣存。⽽在中国，⽜则是⽣活之本。在这种⽂化差异的背景下，上句话当然不能直译。所以英语把“⼒⼤如⽜”译为 as strong as a hor。
水浒传第十五回概括不同的“⽜”
细数起来，英语中与“⽜”相对应的词有bull，cow，calf和ox等，这些“⽜”与汉语⽂化中的“⽜”存在许多
不同的国俗语义。
bull（公⽜）
在英语中，“公⽜”常指“体壮如⽜的⼈”，同时还具有“桀骜不驯”“恃强凌弱”的国俗语义。1712年，英国作家约翰阿布斯诺特(John Arbuthnot)在其讽刺⼩说《约翰⽜的⽣平》(The History of John Bull)中塑造了主⼈公“约翰⽜”（John Bull），意在通过这个赳赳武夫的形象暗喻当年英国⼈的“专横跋扈”。随着岁⽉的流逝，John Bull⼀词的贬义已经逐渐消失，“约翰⽜”现成了“英国⼈”的代名词。
cow（母⽜）
英语中的“母⽜”含有“懦弱”“胆怯”的意思，cow-hearted、cowish均含此义。相关的例句如The men were cowed into total submission.（这些⼈被吓得服服帖帖。）此外，cow还常被⽤来指“肥胖笨拙的⼥⼈（或婆娘）”。⽜在印度⽂化中是神圣的，受此影响，英语在本世纪初出现了习惯⽤语“sacred cow”，⽤以指“神圣不可侵犯的思想、机构、制度等”。
calf（⼩⽜）
英语中的“⼩⽜”指“愚蠢的胆⼩⿁”或“稚嫩的⼈”，短语“calf love”常⽤来指“少男少⼥对异性的短暂爱情”或“初恋”。《圣经出埃及记》(Exodus)第32章讲到，古犹太⼈在摩西（Mos）上西奈⼭之际逼其
哥哥铸成⼀头⾦⽜犊来供⼤家顶礼膜拜。因此，英语
中“worship the golden calf”指“为了物质利欲⽽放弃原则”或“崇拜⾦钱”的意思。
ox（阉割的公⽜）
“ox”⼀词在英语中含有“愚蠢”“呆头呆脑”“笨拙”等义。英语中⽤“dumb ox”或“as dumb as an ox”描述“呆滞（或笨拙、沉默寡⾔）的⼈”;“play the giddy ox”则指“胡闹、⼲蠢事”。
