英语常用短语的来源(什么叫英语短语)

The Origins of Common English Phrases

Have you ever wondered where idioms and phrases like "kick the bucket" or "barking up the wrong tree" originated from? English has many common phrases that have developed over time from various historical, cultural, and literary sources.

Historical Phrases

Many common English phrases come from historical events or practices. The phrase "saved by the bell" may have originated from a fear of being buried alive, where a bell would be placed above the ground and a rope attached to the deceased's wrist. If the person woke up, they could ring the bell and be saved. The phrase "bite the bullet" originally referred to biting down on a lead bullet during surgery in the absence of anesthesia. Other phrases like "rule of thumb" come from a time when it was legal for a husband to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.

Cultural Phrases

English is a melting pot of cultures, and many common phrases come from cultural expressions. For example, the phrase "break a leg" likely originated from the superstition that wishing someone good luck would actually bring them bad luck. The term "on cloud nine" may have come from the United States Weather Bureau's classification of clouds, where cloud number nine was the highest and considered very desirable. Other phrases like "red herring" come from the practice in hunting of using a strong-smelling, smoked fish to distract hunting dogs.

Literary Phrases

English literature has also contributed to the development of common phrases. Shakespeare is often credited with creating many idioms and phrases still used today, such as "all that glitters is not gold" or "in a pickle." Other famous literary phrases include "catch-22" from Joseph Heller's novel and "the elephant in the room" from Ivan Krylov's fable.

Modern Phrases

New phrases are constantly emerging in modern times, often influenced by technology and popular culture. Phrases like "Netflix and chill" have become popularized through social media, while "ghosting" and "catfishing" are terms created to describe modern dating practices. The phrase "throwing shade" originated from black American drag culture and is now used to describe a subtle insult.

In conclusion, English is a rich language full of idioms and phrases with interesting origins. Whether they come from historical events, cultural expressions, literature, or modern trends, these common phrases have become a part of our daily language and will continue to evolve in the future.