委婉语和典故是人类文明进程中语言发展的必然产物。什么是委婉语 (euphemism)? euphemism一词最初源于希腊 (Greece)，其中的“eu”意为“好”，“pheme”意为“话语”，�ism是名词词尾，故euphemism为“委婉说法；婉言，雅语”之意。A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, indirect, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might be considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.即尽量使用温和的、间接的、不得罪人而且相对无争议的言语来表达不雅的、粗鲁的、直率而又不得罪人的言语。为何要学会使用委婉语呢？委婉语是社会关系以及人际关系的调和剂，是一种创新的语言表现形式。而典故的应用能表现出言语的具体、形象和生动，属于语言的艺术加工范畴。了解一定量的委婉语寻求理想的交际效果，在英语中的广泛应用有利于语言更文明 (more civilized)、有利于社会交往 (more sociable)，有利于打造更加和谐的 (more harmonious) 的社会群体。毋庸置疑，委婉语及其典故对我们理解英语内涵，学好英语，用好英语有着很大的帮助 (beneficial)。�
一、委婉语(euphemism)
委婉语是一种言语的修辞手法，折射出文化内涵、尊重之情及友谊之光，应用得巧妙且得当，能反射出一个人的文化层次、语言情操及道德修养，让人产生美的享受，耐人寻味。因此，学生们有必要在平时多了解并掌握英语中委婉语的用法。请看《牛津词典》例句：The prison camps were euphemistically called “retraining centers”. 战俘营被委婉地称作“再训练中心”。“User fees” is just a politician�s euphemism for taxes. “用户费”不过是政治家对“税款”的委婉说法。委婉语有以下四大特点：�
彰显礼仪�
在日常交际时一定要学会使用客气的语言委婉地表示自己的想法，以展示自己的绅士风度和文化功底。如：Will / Would you please do me a favor? 请您帮我个忙，好吗? I wonder if I could use your cell phone? 我可以用下您的手机吗? Might I carry the luggage for you? 我是否可以帮您提包呢？Shall we go outing this weekend? 我们周末去郊游，可以吗?�
避开粗俗�
不同语言中的委婉语体现着不同民族的文化色彩。例如，“Pass away” is a euphemism for “die”.“辞世”是“死”的委婉说法。“去上厕所”不必直说 go to the toilet；go to the men / ladies room可说成to see man about a horse；to powder her nose；to freshen up；to relieve oneself；because nature calls等。�
顾及颜面�
委婉语相当于中国的忌讳或者借代之类的意思，就是用其它词含蓄的表达情感。形容某人懒惰 (lazy) 时说under�achiever。表达某人作弊 (cheat) 说depend on others to do his or her work.家庭妇女housewife说成 household executive；无线电修理工 (radio electrician) 说成radio doctor；老人 (old people) 说成senior citizens；清洁工 (garbage collector) 说成sanitary engineer.�
感悟艺术 �
Queen�s English指 (集合了全球英语的优点的) 标准英语，国际英语普通话。�
cry for the moon 指“想做做不到的事；想要要不到的东西”。如：�
The little boy often cried for the moon. 小男孩经常想要得不到的东西。�
turn the corner表达“渡过难关；出现新局面”的含义。�
She was once seriously ill but seems to have turned the corner now. 她曾病得很重，但现在看上去已好转了。�
sit on a volcano意为“危机暗伏，处境危险”。�
Gaddafi sat on a volcano when NATO was trying to track him down. 卡扎菲感到处境危险，因为北约正在设法追踪他。�
drive home可表示“把 (知识、原理等) 讲透彻”。�
The question is so important that the teacher tries every means to drive it home. 这个问题如此重要，老师试用各种方法把它讲解清楚。�
二、典故(allusion)
典故中出现的人、物和事的原形往往出自文学作品 (literature or works of art)、宗教(religion)、传说 (stories)、历史 (history) 和现实生活 (real life)。每个典故的背后都有着怎样的故事或背景呢? 这实在是个有趣的话题。如“Shylock”指贪婪、残忍、追求钱财、不择手段的守财奴；“Uncle Tom”指逆来顺受的人，尤指黑人。传说及神话也是英语典故的来源，如“a Pandora box”、“Achilles heel”、“a Herculean task”.《圣经》中的某些人物和事件也演变成了英语典故，如“a Solomon”、“a kiss of death”、“a Judas”.某些英语典故来自体育运动项目，特别是一些美国英语典故，与美国流行的棒球和橄榄球运动有关，如“to have two strikes against one”转义为“处境不利、形势不妙”。as American as apple pie用来强调某物像苹果派一样是典型的美国式。典故应用举例如下，请欣赏。�
品一品：�
1. ― I�m sure to win the prize. I�m going to buy a new car with the money. 我肯定会获奖的。我要用这笔钱买辆新车。�
― Don�t count your chickens. 别指望得太早。�
2. The smoking gun was the lipstick on his T�shirt. 他T恤上的口红就是铁证。�
3. The manager always went the extra mile in order to satisfy his customers. 经理总是多干工作以满足顾客的需要。�
4. The applicants look so worried because they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. 申请者看起来很着急因为他们正在等着公布结果。�
5. This new plan of hers is not worth the candle, I think. 我想她的这项新方案不值得实施。�
6. All his opponents went down before him like ninepins. 所有对手都被他打得落花流水。�
7. That guy doesn�t have a good reputation of play fast and loose with the girls around him.那家伙名声不好，对待他周围的女孩们朝三暮四。�
8. She would always give anyone a leg up when someone is in difficulty. 她总是给任何有困难的人提供帮助。�
9. I had butterflies in my stomach when I went to the stage this morning. 今天上午我登台时心里很紧张。�
10. Such a good chance comes once in a blue moon. 这样好的机会极其难得。�
11. We were caught with our pants down when the physics teacher gave us a pop quiz today.今天物理老师搞突击考试时，我们都被弄得措手不及。�
12. When in trouble, these fair�weather friends of him always leave him holding the bag. 遇到麻烦时，他的这些酒肉朋友总是弃他而去。�
13. Jane pulled strings and got us two theater tickets. 简走了后门，为我们搞到了两张戏票。�
14. Just follow your nose until you reach the second crossroad, and then turn left. 照直走，走到第二个交叉路口左转。�
15. It�ll be cheaper to use real leather in the long run. 使用真皮革最终还是便宜的。�
16. Mary claims that men are all two�timers. 玛丽说男人都是朝三暮四的家伙。�
17. He had few friends due to the fact that he was a sponger. 他几乎没有朋友是因为他是个爱占别人便宜的家伙。�
18. Joe was as high as a kite, so he couldn�t drive any more. 乔喝高了，不能再开车了。�
比一比：�
练一练�
请用以下英语典故填空。�
a catch�22 situation (第二十二条军规式的处境，指不可摆脱的困境)；a good Samaritan (乐善好施之人)；a Herculean task (艰巨的任务)；dark horse (黑马)；Mickey Mouse course (容易的事)；Jonah (带来厄运的人)；a Prodigal Son (浪子回头)；Daniel in the lion�s den (处于危险中的人)�
I�ve just graduated from an average college. It can be a �1�to prepare for an interview. However, I think I�m something of a �2� and often do much better than the expectation of others expect. I have belief in myself though I was not taking a�3�. My first interview is coming up and of course I feel a bit like �4�. My friend David is a real �5�. He has provided me with a great deal of advice. Choosing a good job seems like �6� to me. I don�t deny that I have some shortcomings and maybe I was like �7� in the past, but I really want to change. I think I will be like �8� returning. Do believe me!�
Key1) a Herculean task
2) dark horse
3) Mickey Mouse course
4) Daniel in the lion�s den
5) good Samaritan
6) a catch�22 situation
7) Jonah
8) a Prodigal Son�
（作者：卢刚，海安县曲塘中学）
�
3分钟典藏故事 �
这也会过去的�
1954年足球世界杯上，舆论普遍认为，实力雄厚的巴西足球队将获得冠军。然而，巴西队在半决赛中输了。�
巴西国家队球员回国时，已经做好了挨骂的准备。没想到，总统带着两万多名球迷默默地在机场迎候他们，一条横幅格外醒目：这会过去的！�
全体队员顿时泪流满面，总统和球迷们都没有说话，目送着球员们离开机场，但是，这些队员们都获得了力量。�
4年后，巴西足球队不负众望，终于赢得了世界杯冠军。�
队员们回国时，16架喷气式战斗机为他们的专机护航，从机场到首都广场将近20公里的道路旁，聚集起100多万的球迷，迎候英雄们凯旋。�
球员们走出机场时，又看到了一条非常醒目的横幅：这也会过去的！�
胜利的手势�
洛瑞是一个少年足球队的教练，第一次和小队员见面的那天，他让小队员站成一排，让他们一个个说出自己的名字。�
他从一个个孩子面前走过，夸奖那些自信地喊出自己名字的孩子，最后，他走到队尾一个瘦弱的男孩面前，男孩紧张地看着洛瑞，缓缓把左手伸到他面前，小声说：“我叫鲍勃。”�
洛瑞说：“这可不行！你应该知道用哪只手来跟人握手，而且你的声音还可以再大一点。小家伙，我们再来一次？”�
旁边有个孩子说：“鲍勃的右手生来只有两根手指。”�
洛瑞平静地把右手伸到鲍勃的面前，温和地说：“你愿意跟我握下手吗？”�
鲍勃迟疑地将残缺的右手放到洛瑞的手心，洛瑞用双手握住鲍伯微微颤抖的小手，微笑着说：“鲍勃，你记住，你有一双幸运的手，上帝如此安排，为的是让你比别人更快地打出‘胜利’的手势。”�
鲍勃一听，苍白的脸上露出了灿烂的笑容。几年之后，鲍勃成为了一位足球明星，名扬天下。