雅思词汇学习：I'm on the game是什么意思

之前在推文里写过，英语中的“熟词偏义”现象很常见，有时候某个单词的表面意思是这个，但是连起来说就是另一个含义。比如说“on the game”，有些人可能就会理解成“游戏在线”。

BUT，这个词真正的含义其实是：working as a prostitute……牛津词典对“prostitute”这个词的解释为：a person who has sex for money。

举个例子：

She went on the game to pay for her drug habit.

为了负担得起吸毒行为，她去卖淫了。

所以大家知道了吧，“on the game”指的是“卖淫;出卖身体”。所以大家千万不要随便这么用哈，不然老外还以为你从事特殊服务呢，尤其是有些国家卖淫合法，万一人脑子没转过来产生误会就难办了。

跟“game”相关的还有几个英语习语，也很容易理解错了，今天就带着大家一起来看看~

give the game away

剑桥词典将“give the game away”解释为“to spoil a surprise or a joke by telling someone something that should have been kept secret.” 意思为“把本该保密的事告诉某人，破坏了一个惊喜或笑话”，咱们可以理解为“露出马脚，穿帮，泄密，露馅等”。

举个例子：

It's a secret, so don't give the game away, will you?

这是个秘密，所以千万得别穿帮，你做得到吧?

跟“give the game away”含义相似的还有“blow sb's cover”，“blow the gaff””，以及“can't hold your water”。

剑桥词典对“can't hold sb's water”解释为“to be unable to keep a secret or unable to stop yourself from talking about something”，指的是某人对某事“无法保密或者保持沉默不谈”。

举个例子：

He's a good bloke - he wouldn't blow the gaff on us.

他是个好人，他不会泄密的。

I bet Teddy can’t hold his water about this one. He's itching for someone to ask his opinion.

我打赌Teddy对这件事保持不了沉默。他渴望有人征求他的意见。

be ahead of the game

剑桥词典对“be ahead of the game”的解释为：“to know more about the most recent developments in a particular subject or activity than the people or companies you are competing against.”

意思是比竞争对手更加了解某一特定事件或活动的最 新动态，可以理解为“比竞争对手消息更灵通”。

举个例子：

A very extensive research and development programme ensures that we're ahead of the game.

大量的研究和发展计划确保了我们的领先地位。

跟“be ahead of the game”含义相反的短语为“have a passing/slight/nodding acquaintance with sb/sth”，意思是指对某人或者某学科略知一二。

举个例子：

I'm afraid I have only a nodding acquaintance with his works.

我有点担心我对他的工作只知一二。

the games (that) people play

剑桥词典吧“the games people play”解释为“the ways in which people behave in order to get an advantage”，中文含义可以理解为“行业行事规则”。

举个例子：

Not telling the whole truth is one of the games that people play.

不说出所有真相是人们赢得优势的方式之一。