大家應該很熟悉luck這個字,常搞錯意思是用法運氣。Good luck這字也經常出現在日常口語中。自己但如果聽到有人說Just my luck.千萬不要誤解,幸運以為那是常搞錯說自己很幸運,意思剛好相反,用法表示有一點自嘲地說「我一向這麼倒楣」。自己今天就一起來看luck的幸運道地用法和誤區。
Just my luck.
(X)我就是常搞錯好運。
(O)我運氣向來很背。用法
Just one's luck的自己意思為「某人的運氣很不好」,和表面的幸運意思相反。英英字典的常搞錯解釋是:An expression of exasperation when something bad happens, especially when it seems like bad things happen repeatedly. 這是指一件壞事發生時,對自己運氣不佳的用法感嘆,特別是自己它經常發生。
多讀幾個例句,可以比較熟悉它的語境:
They sold the last ticket five minutes before I got there - just my luck!
在我到那兒的五分鐘前他們賣掉了最後一張票──真倒楣!
That's just my luck! First the flat tire, and now I'm locked out of the apartment.
運氣真壞,一開始是爆胎,接下來是被鎖在門外。
luck of the draw
(X)抽獎很幸運
(O)全靠運氣
Draw是抽籤,意思是「如同抽籤一樣全憑運氣」。
You can't choose who you play against - it's just the luck of the draw.
你無法選擇比賽對手──只能靠你的運氣了。
The team was assembled by chance. It was just luck of the draw that we could work so well together.
這個團隊的組成純屬偶然。我們能這麼好地在一起工作是命運的安排。
Tough luck.
(X)渡過難關的運氣。
(O)活該/真倒楣。
They lost a lot of money on their investment.
他們的投資損失慘重。Tough luck - they should have been more careful.
活該──誰叫他們不小心呢。
Lots of luck.
這句話有可能是正面的意思,意即祝人好運,也可能帶有反諷意味。
真心祝人好運,注意介系詞的用法:
Lots of luck in your new job!
祝你的新工作成功!(=Best of luck to you in your new job!)
Luck不只有幸運的意思,也可以指「成功」。
Have you had any luck with booking your flight?
你訂到機票了嗎?
諷刺性的用法,表面上是祝福成功,但諷刺你沒希望的反語:
Think you stand a chance? Lots of luck!
你以為你有希望嗎?祝你好運!
再來學一句luck的好話,適合用來安慰人:Better luck next time. 意思是「下一次會更好」。
I'm sorry to hear that you failed your driving test. Better luck next time!
很遺憾你沒考過駕照,不過祝你下次成功!
延伸閱讀
- 不要會錯意!當對方說「Nice talking to you」,不是想跟你繼續聊下去
- 常混淆的what、how錯誤:面試時可以問「How much is the salary」嗎?
- 「你人真好」、「多穿點」⋯⋯這些Small talk時的簡單英文,你可能說錯了
本文經世界公民文化中心授權刊登,原文刊載於此
責任編輯:游家權
核稿編輯:翁世航