今天我们要讲的习惯用语都包含这个词,hold。Hold通常解释为“拿住,握住,” 但是也有把守的意思。例如在我们要学的第一个习惯用语里: hold down the fort。Fort是堡垒,要寨。Hold down the fort从字面上看是个军事用语: 把守要寨,但是现在这个短语却被广泛应用在军队以外的各种场合,像办公室、商店、企业、学校的课堂等。
例句-1:Sorry to call you on Sunday, Sally. But I have the flu and won't be able to work tomorrow. Could you hold down the fort for me a couple of days? You will? Great - thanks!
这位经理要请几天病假,要求他的副手hold down the fort for him,显然是要副手暂时为他掌管一下业务。这就是这个习惯用语的意思。
再听个例子,这回是个大学老师在跟同事Ben交谈。
例句-2:Ben, I'm really busy this week. Ann Green is off at an academic conference in Chicago so I'm holding down the fort for her and teaching her freshman English classes on top of my own.
例句-3:The lookout ran out and escaped in the getaway car. But the man inside the safe didn't hear the sirens and was left holding the bag when a dozen cops burst in with their guns ready.
例句-4:Mr Brown ran out of the house boiling mad. All the kids except Danny ran off and left him holding the bag. Well, I agree to pay for the window although another boy had hit the ball.