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首頁 > Grace Tse
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作者: Grace Tse
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Go the extra mile
刊登日期: 2019.06.28作者: Grace Tse
How long does it take to walk a mile? Normally, it takes fifteen to twenty minutes to walk a mile at a moderate pace. If you are told to go the extra mile to help people, does it mean that you are asked to walk for twenty minutes?
The idiom “go the extra mile” means to make more effort than is required or to try very hard to achieve something. This phrase is derived from the Gospel of Matthew (《瑪竇福音》) of the Bible.
“Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.” (5:41)
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作者: Grace Tse
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Take off one’s hat
刊登日期: 2019.06.22作者: Grace Tse
Different cultures have different ways of showing respect to other people. What physical gestures do Chinese people use as a sign of respect? Bowing, shaking hands or a polite smile? In Western countries, men used to take off their hats when entering a church or speaking to a woman or someone who deserved honour.
This traditional practice was recorded in a collection of histories written by Pero Mexía, a Spanish Renaissance (文藝復興期) writer and then translated into English in 1571.
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作者: Grace Tse
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The child is father of the man
刊登日期: 2019.06.14作者: Grace Tse
Some psychology researchers are interested in whether one’s personality in childhood can shape their adulthood or not. For example, a cheerful child will become an adult with good social skills. You might have heard of a Chinese proverb that what goes on in a three-year-old child determines how he or she turns out as an adult. A similar proverb in English is “the child is father of (or “ to”) the man” (三歲定八十).
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作者: Grace Tse
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Pull Someone's leg
刊登日期: 2019.06.07作者: Grace Tse
We all need friends because they can give us support and keep us company. However, do you get annoyed when your friends sometimes pull your leg?
The phrase “pull somebody’s leg” does not mean that they hurt you by pulling your leg. Instead, it has a humorous connotation, meaning that a person teases or lies to someone as a joke. This is often used in informal conversation rather than formal writing.
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作者: Grace Tse
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Down to the wire
刊登日期: 2019.05.31作者: Grace Tse
This year, the Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrated on the 7th of June. On this public holiday, what activities do you plan to do? While some of you stay with your family and enjoy eating sticky rice dumplings, some may go to the harbour to enjoy the International Dragon Boat Races. As described on the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (香港旅遊發展局), it would be an exciting experience to watch the three-day intense racing going “down to the wire”.
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作者: Grace Tse
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Play it by ear
刊登日期: 2019.05.24作者: Grace Tse
Nowadays, a lot of jobs, from sales assistants to teachers, require that their staff are able to respond to unplanned situations rather than following pre-set rules or guidelines. In which job do you think that the employees might need to “play it by ear” all the time?
The idiom “play it by ear” (or “play by ear”) was originally related to music. A London publisher, John Playford, wrote in his book “A Brief Introduction to the Skill of Musick” in 1658:
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作者: Grace Tse
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Bury The Hatchet
刊登日期: 2019.05.17作者: Grace Tse
Since the China-U.S. trade war began about a year ago, the world has been very concerned when both powerful countries will end the hostilities against each other. In particular, the business community hopes that they will “bury the hatchet” and reach an agreement soon.
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作者: Grace Tse
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Alma Mater
刊登日期: 2019.05.10作者: Grace Tse
This year, Mother’s Day falls on the 12th of May in Hong Kong. Have you prepared the best gift which your mum will like? In many cultures, the word “mother” carries a variety of meanings. It implies caring love, kindness and nourishment. The image of mother can be extended to describe our former school, college or university.
The old man has fond memories of his Alma Mater（母校） , Hong Kong Primary School.
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作者: Grace Tse
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Spill the beans
刊登日期: 2019.05.03作者: Grace Tse
Although the world has fewer monarchs nowadays, it is undeniable that the British royal family continues to attract international attention. Thus, the media are keen to report on their private lives particularly if any of their staff spills the beans. Even we, as ordinary people, easily spill the beans in the contexts of families, friends, or work. Have you ever spilled the beans when you were asked not to?
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作者: Grace Tse
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Hook, line, and sinker
刊登日期: 2019.04.26作者: Grace Tse
An international company announced that it was committed to the Hong Kong financial market “hook, line, and sinker” after it made huge profits in 2018. The idiom “hook, line, and sinker” means “completely”. In other words, this company is very willing to make investment in Hong Kong.
