习语可以是一个词或短语,要理解习语的意思不能脱离其文化背景。习语一词的含义甚广,其蕴含的意义往往不能从词或词组的字面意思推测而得。习语在所有语言中都很常见。英语习语是日常英语的重要组成部分。在英语的书面语和口语中,存在海量的习语。
儒琴今日习语(Idiom of the Day)
a bridge too far
英文解释
A bridge too far is an act of overreaching- going too far and getting into trouble or failing;an act or plan whose ambition overreaches its capability, resulting in or potentially leading to difficulty or failure.
中文解释
a bridge too far 字面意思:遥远的桥;一座离得太遥远的桥。a bridge too far 该习语的形成最初来自于美国作家科尼利厄斯·瑞恩(Cornelius Ryan)的同名小说 ”A bridge too far”。后来改成同名电影,于1977年6月15日在美国上映。
1944年9月,盟军发动了“市场花园行动”(Operation Market Garden),想从德国军队手中夺取了位于阿纳姆那座横跨莱茵河的大桥。盟军伞兵部队空降莱茵桥,不料遭遇德军的顽强抵抗。但在没有任何额外支持的情况下,这支盟军空降部队无法守住这座桥。盟军付出了伤亡惨重的代价。这场堪称二战中最具戏剧性的战役,终以盟军的惨痛失败而告终。
后来,a bridge too far 逐步引申为:目标太过雄心勃勃;自不量力,好高骛远的行为;野心超过其能力的行为或计划,导致或潜在地导致困难或失败。
原文举例
Biden’s Infrastructure Package is a Bridge Too Far. The American Jobs Plan” proposed last week by the Biden administration is a very large ($2.3 trillion over eight years), ambitious and complex proposal. Much of it is also misguided and unnecessary.
拜登的基础设施计划好高骛远。拜登政府上周提出的“美国就业计划”是一个非常庞大(8年2.3万亿美元)、雄心勃勃和复杂的提议。其中的许多内容也是被误导和不必要的。
The multi-million-dollar purchase of the small startup proved a bridge too far for the social media company, as the added revenue couldn’t make up for the cost in the end.
事实证明,对于这家社交媒体公司来说,以数百万美元的价格收购这家小型初创公司是一词自不量力、好高骛远的行为,因为增加的收入最终无法弥补成本。
I also respect people who, like myself, found Trump a bridge too far and could not bring themselves to cast a vote for the man.
我也尊重那些像我一样认为特朗普目标太过雄心勃勃,他们无法让自己为他投票。
A bridge too far? UK’s Boris Johnson suggests span to France. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested that Britain and France should build a bridge across the English Channel to bolster links between the two nations after Brexit.
目标太过雄心勃勃?英国的鲍里斯•约翰逊(Boris Johnson)建议跨度至法国。英国外交大臣鲍里斯·约翰逊(Boris Johnson)建议英国和法国应该在英吉利海峡修建一座桥梁,以加强英国脱欧后两国之间的联系。