今天我们要讲的美国习惯用语是:by the book。By是根据的意思,book是书本的意思。By the book这个习惯用语的意思是循规蹈矩,照章办事。我的朋友有一对双胞胎女儿,但是两个孩子的行事风格截然不同。
姐姐Jessica做事总喜欢找捷径,钻空子;而妹妹Rebecca却永远是循规蹈矩,by the book。什么职业的人做事应该循规蹈矩呢?我们听听下面这个例子。
例句-1:If you are looking for someone to do some creative accounting - you know, think up ways to avoid paying what you are supposed to - then I'm not the guy. I do everything by the book. Sorry.
By the book这个习惯用语里的book最初指的是圣经。十九世纪早期,在英国法庭上,大家都要以圣经的名义发誓讲实话,或者说是swear by the book. By the book后来就延伸为遵守规矩、照章办事的意思了。让我们听听下面这个人是如何描述他年迈父亲的转变的。
例句-21:I remember how clever my father used to be at getting around rules and regulations. He always found ways to disobey our City Council. But, he is a changed man since he immigrated to the United States. Now, he does everything by the book!