關於teetotaler的淵源,得從英國一個禁酒主義者做演講時的“口吃”說起。
1832年,英國人Richard Turner(理查•特納)參加了在Preston(普雷斯頓)juxingdejinjiujihui。tenashigewenmang,yimaiyuweisheng。youqudeshi,tadangshicanjiajinjiujihui,wanquanshibaozhekaiwanxiaodexintai,quzhiqianhaihedebanyun。zaizhecijihuishang,tajinyongnongzhongdedifangkouyinshuoleyijuhua——“Nothing but t-t-t-t-total abstinence will do”(隻有-- 完-- 完 -- 完全戒酒才行)。
不想,t-t-t-t-total一出口竟一鳴驚人、流傳百世。這句重複了幾遍的“t”,被聽眾認為是帶有強調意義的修辭手法,teetotal由此進入英語詞彙,用來指代“絕對禁酒主義”。隨著歲月的流逝,teetotal或其相應的名詞形式teetotaler也可以用做口語,指“完全不喝酒的人”。
舉例:
---I've got a case of wine and two boxes of beer. I've also got some soft drinks for Granny. She's teetotal nowadays.
我買了一瓶葡萄酒和兩箱啤酒。另外我還給祖母準備了一些飲料;她這些日子在戒酒。
---My father used to drink heavily, you know. Every night he'd have a bottle of Scotch. Maybe that's why I've always been a teetotaler.
我父親過去是個酒鬼每晚他都會喝一瓶蘇格蘭威士忌。這也許是我為什麼滴酒不沾的原因。
---Well, truth be told William, I'm not a teetotaler. I like a drink every now and then but I just can't drink pint after pint of beer like you English people!
說真的,威廉,我並不是一點酒都不喝。偶爾我也會喝點酒。但是並不像你們英國人一樣海喝。
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