如今互联网这么发达,什么东西只要一放到网上,就会一发不可收拾。如果你突然发现,朋友没有经过允许,就把你的一张很丑陋的照片放到了网上,你会怎么做?我的朋友Jennifer就被同事这么捉弄过一回。她也不示弱,立即找出一张同事更丢人的旧照片,发给了更多的人。
这种做法在英语里叫:beat someone at their own game. Beat在中文里是打击的意思,game是比赛,游戏。Beat someone at their own game,就是以其人之道,还治其人之身的意思。
我的朋友Jennifer如法炮制,把同事一些见不得人的照片放到网上,让更多的人都看到,就可以说是, she beat them at their own game.
如果说这是一场搞笑的恶作剧的话,那么在下面这个例子里两家餐馆之间的血拼大降价,就没有这么好笑了。让我们听听看。
例句-1:The restaurant across the street from ours was running a special. Guests who ordered a dinner entrée could receive another at half price. So we introduced an even better deal: buy one entrée, get the other free. Now our place is packed. We're beating the competition at their own game.
其中一位老板说:街对面的餐馆推出特价活动,点一道主菜,第二道菜半价。我们以其人之道,还治其人之身, 决定买一送一,结果现在我们餐馆里的生意特别红火。我们在这次较量中战胜了对手。
如果是我,我也会光顾这家餐馆的。经济不好的时候,商家就更要想方设法地吸引顾客。商业竞争真是英语里常说的"Dog-Eat-Dog",形容这种商业竞争真是恰如其分。
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刚才我们谈到了商业竞争的残酷无情。不过有的时候,beat someone at their own game也会给生活增添不少乐趣。让我们一起来听听下面这对夫妻之间的小故事。
例句-2:I thought taking my wife sailing was a pretty cool birthday surprise. But, for my big day, she took me skydiving in Mexico. Every year is the same. No matter what gift ideas I come up with, hers are better. She beats me at my own game all the time.
这个人说:我本来以为带妻子去航海是一个绝妙的生日礼物,但是我过生日的时候,她却计划好了一起到墨西哥去跳伞。每年都是这样。她总能想出更棒的生日礼物来,让我自愧不如。
去年冬天,我跟老公学下国际象棋,怎么也赢不了他,结果我正好有机会采访了一位象棋高手,跟他学了几招,回家就把老公打败了,I finally beat him at his own game.
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最近美国经济不景气,很多公司都在裁员。我前些天做了一个梦,梦见早上去上班,结果接到通知,说我们被另外一家电台取代了。They beat us at our own game. 一下子惊醒过来,好在是个梦。
从上面的例子大家肯定已经看出,to beat someone at their own game,这个习惯用语里的game可以用来指任何努力和工作。这个习惯用语可以追溯到十三世纪中叶,真可以说是历史悠久了。
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