英語中與智慧有關(guān)的習語十分普遍，了解它們對于提高我們學員們的英語水平很有幫助。下面我們新東方酷學酷玩冬令營就推薦一些常見的相關(guān)習語。

1. an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
直譯為“一盎司的預防勝過一英鎊的治療”。其意思就是從一開始就細心準備，考慮周全的話，就不會失敗。這句話十分地道，形象。下面有一個例子：
a: don’t you think you should deal with this problem now?
b: i will do something about it tomorrow.
a: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

2. appearances are deceiving.
這則典故出自伊索寓言中《老鼠與獅子》中的教訓，告誡人們外表是欺騙人的東西。同樣這句話也可以說成“l(fā)ooks are deceiving.”下面是一個例子：
a: how’s alice doing? are you going to fire her?
b: appearances are deceiving. she’s the best assistant i have.
a: really? i didn’t think she could do anything.

3. brevity is the soul of wit.
這是莎翁名著《哈姆雷特》中的人物尼斯的著名臺詞，意思是“簡潔是智慧的精髓。”這句話對人說話，寫作等都有重要的啟迪。
a: i’m supposed to give a speech today. do you have any advice?
b: just remember, brevity is the soul of wit.

4. fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
按照字面意思來看，這句話是說一次被騙是騙者的羞恥；兩次被騙是受騙者的羞恥。其實是在告戒人們要善于吸取教訓，引以為戒，否則一再受到損失就是自己的問題。下面給大家一個例子：
a: i did a stupid thing. i lent john some money.
b: again? this is the third time.
a: i know. fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

5. rules are made to be broken.
這句話源自1953年arthur c. clarke的 expedition to earth中的話告誡人們要擺脫思想的束縛敢于創(chuàng)新和挑戰(zhàn)。
a: let’s order a pizza for meeting.
b: but there’s a rule against eating in the office.
a: rules are made to be broken.

6. the best thing comes in small packages.
這是用于送禮物的說法，意思是放在小箱子里的禮物總是珍貴的。有時也可以說“precious diamonds come in small packages.”
a: what did george give you?
b: i don’t know, but this package is so tiny.
a: the best thing comes in small packages.

當然這只是有關(guān)智慧的習語的一部分，平時學習中我們可以多加積累，不僅對提高英語水平有幫助，而且可以幫助我們深入了解英語國家的文化。

新東方酷學酷玩英語冬令營 http://www.weisiten.com.cn/xdf/