In my last post, I talked about the English slang, words of mouth, which is mostly referred to words of compliment or something positive. Today, I would like to talk about a similar slang "I heard it through the grapevine". According to the Answer.com, grapevine refers to a vine on which grape grows and the whole phrase figuratively means:
- the informal transmission of information, gossip, or rumour from person to person.
- A usually unrevealed source of confidential information.
我前天在这里谈过英文俚语 Word of mouth,这是主要用于正面及赞美之传言,今天谈到类似俚语 Heard it through the grapevine,则多用于负面及小道消息。Grapevine 是指葡萄藤, 而整句等同中文 "道听途说" "以蛾传蛾" 非正式,八卦消息或谣言的传播。
Example 例子
I am using part of the lyrics of an American popular song of the same title. 我就以美国一首流行同名歌曲部分歌词作例子,并作出中文及西语翻译如下:
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh and I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
¿No sabes que lo escucha a través de la vid
No mucho más largo que el mío
Oh, yo lo oí a través de la vid
Ah y estoy a punto de perder mi mente
La miel, sí la miel
你可知道我听到一些谣言你快不属于我,
哦我听到这些谣言真的使我发疯,宝贝儿,宝贝儿哦!