对人坦率，无保留地说自己的看法，有的时候是以友好和轻松的态度出发的，但是在某种情况下也可能是语气强硬，情绪对立。我们今天要讲的两个习惯用语就反映了这两种不同的气氛。
我们先来讲第一个：no holds barred。
No holds barred 这个说法是来自摔交运动。但是，在人们争论的时候， no holds barred 是指不顾对方的面子和情绪，毫不迟疑地把自己的想法说出来。比如说，一个美国朋友可能会对你说：
例句-1: My wife and I had a real no holds barred talk last night about all the things wrong with our marriage.
他说：“我和我的妻子昨晚可真是毫不留情地谈了一谈，把我们婚姻方面的所有问题不管三七二十一都说了出来。”
No holds barred也可以形容那些政客们之间进行的辩论。下面就是一个例子：
例句-2: That TV debate between those two guys running for senator was sure a no holds barred affair. They spent more time saying nasty things about each other than they did talking about their plans.
这句话的意思是：“那两个竞选参议员的人在电视上进行辩论时真是毫不留情。他们花在互相攻击方面的时间比介绍他们方针的时间还多。”
下面我们要介绍的一个习惯用语是：to let one's hair down。
To let one's hair down描绘出一幅可爱的画面。过去，西方女子很多都留长头发，出去应酬时把头发盘在头上梳出各种式样来。晚上回家后，她们就把发卡一个个地从头发里拿出来，让头发很自然地披在肩上。 To let one's hair down的实质意思也就是解除表面的装饰，使一切显得很自然、真实和放松。 To let one's hair down不一定用于女子，也可以用在男性。下面的例子就可以说明问题：
例句-3: The president has to make so many official appearances that he seldom gets a chance to let his hair down and enjoy life like ordinary people.
这句话是说：“总统要出席许多公开场合，因此他很少有机会像普通老百姓那样轻松地享受生活。”
To let one's hair down 也可以用在朋友之间，就像下面这个例子一样：
例句-4: Sally, we've been good friends for a long time. But lately I get the idea you are very much upset with me. I wish you'd let your hair down and tell me what's wrong to make you feel this way.
这个人对他的朋友说：“萨莉，我们多年来一直是好朋友，可是最近我感到你对我非常不高兴。我希望你能够坦率地告诉我，到底是哪些事让你这么不高兴。”
* No holds barred 毫不留情，毫不迟疑地把自己的想法说出来
例句：That TV debate between those two guys running for senator was sure a no holds barred affair. They spent more time saying nasty things about each other than they did talking about their plans.那两个竞选参议员的人在电视上进行辩论时真是毫不留情。他们花在互相攻击方面的时间比介绍他们方针的时间还多。 let one's hair down 自然真实，轻松坦率
例句：The president has to make so many official appearances that he seldom gets a chance to let his hair down and enjoy life like ordinary people. 总统要出席许多公开场合，因此他很少有机会像普通老百姓那样轻松地享受生活。
发表于 2016-8-3 12:42:39