爆料?Spill it!

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24/02/2014

爆料?Spill it! 毛孟靜

叫人爆料,英文係spill it。但中文說爆,英文怎地用spill(倒瀉、溢出)這個字呢?因為原話是spill the beans,直譯倒瀉一籮豆,是指小至把不應說的話說了出去,大至打正旗號告密去。現代用法將之簡化,刪了豆的一筆,淨講spill。這個spill,解let out(訴說)。

很明顯,spill the beans 這個倒瀉籮豆的景象,縱使視覺上甚是麻煩狼狽,但跟我們口語說的「倒瀉籮蟹」沒有關係。而spill the beans 字面雖然也有「撒豆」之意,亦跟「撒豆成兵」一語完全沾不上邊。例句:

? He’s threatening to spill the beans.他威脅會出去爆料。

? This is between you and me. Please don’t spill the beans.

這是我和你之間的事,請勿說出去。

? So who spilled the beans about his under the-table deals?

那到底是誰把他的枱底交易泄漏出去?

比較日常的一句:

? We’re planning a surprise party for Mary.

Now don’t spill it. 我們計劃為瑪麗辦個驚喜派對,不要事先張揚。

Spill the beans 在新一代的對答中亦有其他花款,包括spill the soup,倒瀉湯。但要小心,倒瀉奶又是另一回事了。

? Don’t cry over spilled milk. 別為潑瀉了的牛奶哭。比喻局面已無可挽回,頓足也沒用。(順帶一提,spilled 串spilt 都得。)

Spill 後面常常加out 或over。

? I dropped the mug and the coffee spilled out. 我跌了杯,咖啡都瀉了出來。

? The paint spilt all over the floor.油漆瀉了一地。

還有spillover effect,譯做「溢出效應」,亦可解副作用。

? Hong Kong has spillover effect on democratisation in mainland China.香港的民主化,對中國大陸有溢出效應。人與人之間的感情感染,像見人傷心,自己也不期然流淚, 「人喊我喊」,也都是一種spillover effect。

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