魔幻塔羅占卜 《DIY隨身BLOG》

 


  As we all know, an idiom is a speech form or an expression of a language that is peculiar grammatically. It cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements. Here is a story about a Chinese student meeting with an Englishman.
        A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized the importance again and again. But recently, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
        One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised. Gently shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, he said, "You don't say!"  "You don't say!"
        I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this was not a proper topic. "Well, I'd better change the topic." So I said to him, "Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you been to the Great Wall?" "Certainly, everyone back home would laugh at me if I left China without seeing it. It is wonderful." He was deep in thought when I began to speak like a tourist guide. "The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it." Soon I was stopped again by his words: "You don't say!"  I couldn't help asking, "Why do you ask me not to talk about it?" "Well, I didn't ask you to do so," he answered, greatly surprised. I said, "Didn't you say 'you don't say' ?"  
        Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, " 'You don't say' actually means 'really' ! It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms." Only then did I know how foolish I had been. Since that time I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions.


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