就像上面的例子中,在我朋友的大学笔记本里:there wasn't any important information written down, it was all flotsam and jetsam, 里面没有什么重要信息,全都没什么用。
在下面的例子里,我们要看看一个人在他爷爷去世后整理遗物时发现了什么:
例句-1:After my grandfather died, I went to clean out his garage. I found piles of yellowed newspapers and magazines, empty bottles, pieces of used furniture, and broken tools and sports equipment. There was nothing of any value. It was nothing more than flotsam and jetsam.
其实大家经常会在车库里堆些没有用的东西,久而久之也就忘记了。比如我,我每年就得清理一次我的衣橱,能发现好多我再也不会穿的衣服,把他们捐给慈善机构。I clean my closet once a year, and there are always some flotsam and jetsam.
Flotsam and jetsam这个短语,除了指没有价值的物品以外,还有另外一个意思,就是不受重视的人。
下面的例子里,一个记者就要来给我们讲讲当地居民关注的问题。我们来听听看:
例句-2:Citizens who want more upscale living areas have been pleading with the City Council. They want to see more of the poorer neighborhoods redeveloped. They're tired of seeing homeless people wandering around. To them, such flotsam and jetsam needs to be removed.
这也是可以理解的,谁不想要一个安全的居住环境呢?我最近听我们小区的人说,当地学校校长决定启动一个项目,帮助那些问题学生。He believed it was time to pay greater attention to the flotsam and jetsam. And, truthfully, it is those struggling students that need more help,他认为应该给那些不受重视的学生更多关怀。确实,那些问题学生需要更多的帮助。