天空之城竹笛谱:《應用英文》再談接合字(一)

這種接合字一般是由動詞片語、動名詞片語、口語、甚至「自創」字眼而來，多半當做形容詞使用(有時當名詞)。

讀者如想知道更多接合字，可參閱世界周刊第988-989和1373-1375期。下面也是常用的接合字：

stay-the-course:

意思是奮力貫徹始終或堅持到底(stick to the end)

例如：

Mr. Bush used to rebuff critics of his stay-the-course strategy for his unpopular war in Iraq.

Bush先生過去斷然拒絕對他不得人心而堅持到底的伊拉克戰爭策略所做的批評。

(由動詞片語組成，當形容詞、修飾名詞strategy)

Some politicians will want to stay-the-course in Taiwan independence.

一些政客為台獨奮力貫徹始終。

(這裡stay-the-course是動詞片語，當一個字看待，也有人不用連字號)

Your stay-the-course efforts in this project will come to realization.

你對這個計劃貫徹始終的努力，將會實現。

(當形容詞、修飾名詞efforts)

Out-of-the-way:

是指荒僻的、罕見的、不尋常的(seldom seen; not often or unusual)

例如：

Mr. A's out-of-the-way remarks on this issue have made some people upset.

A先生對這個問題不得體的評論，造成一些人不高興。

(當形容詞，修飾remarks)

There is an out-of-the-way roadside restaurant near the river.

靠近河邊的荒僻路旁有個餐館。

(當形容詞，修飾名詞roadside和restaurant)

Sometimes we can find an out-of-the-way item in a yardsale.

我們有時能在庭院買賣時找到不尋常的東西。

(當形容詞，修飾item)

texting-while-driving:

指開車時傳電子短訊(send message electronically during driving)

例如：

The state's texting-while-driving law is to be enforced.

州政府對開車時傳送電子訊息的法律將要加強。

(當形容詞，修飾law)

Texting-while-driving appears quite common among teenagers.

青少年開車時傳電子短訊，似乎很平常。

(當名詞用)

Stop the texting-while-driving habit; it is risky.

開車時不可傳電子短訊，那很危險。

(當形容詞、修飾habit)

on-again-off-again:

斷斷續續地(not continuously)

例如：

After three years of an on-again-off-again romance, she decided to marry him.

三年來斷斷續續的戀愛後，她決定嫁給她。

(當形容詞，修飾romance)

The on-again-off-again relationship between China and U.S. seems to work out fine.

中美兩國時好時壞的關係，進展得似乎還可以。

Lucy does not know if she should break up her on-again-off-again life with her boyfriend.

Lucy不知是否要與斷斷續續生活在一起的男友分開。

be-all-and-end-all:

意思是最終目標或終結(final goal)

例如：

Money is not the be-all-and-end-all of my existence.

金錢不是我生存的最終目標。(當名詞用)

The be-all-and-end-all method to solve the problem is to negotiate and compromise with each other.

解決問題的最終方法是彼此的磋商與妥協。

(當形容詞，修飾method)

What will be the be-all-and-end-all to the Taiwan issue?

台灣問題的終結又是什麼呢？

bricks-and-mortar:

brick是磚頭，mortar是砂漿，也就是指房子等建築物。

(building of any kind)

例如：

All his money has been spent on bricks-and-mortar.

他的所有錢都花在房產上。(當名詞用)

Some shoppers try to get off the Internet and (get) into bricks-and-mortar stores.

有些採購者想從網路上轉到真正的實體商店。

(當形容詞，修飾stores)

Mr. A seems to be a bricks-and-mortar politician.

A先生似乎是位著重房地產方面的政客。

(未完待續)