The proof is in the pudding.

2015/05/19 08:41:18 網誌分類: 生活

19 May

         An American official of the World Bank was asked last week if the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank set up by China would succeed now that more than 50 countries have agreed to join. The official replied: "The proof is in the pudding." It is a very common expression but the official did not say it exactly right. The original and correct expression is: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating". My research showed me this expression was first used in the 14th century. That was hundreds of years ago and the words of the expression were completely different but the meaning was the same.

        　　The proverb gradually evolved into "the proof of the pudding is in the eating", which is considered the correct way of saying it. But in America this further evolved into "the proof is in the pudding". To evolve means to gradually change or develop. Some people mistakenly believe that humans evolved from apes or monkeys. The proof of the pudding is in the eating means you can only tell the true value or quality of something by testing or experiencing it yourself. For example, the only way you can know if a chocolate pudding tastes good is by eating it, no matter how good it looks. If your friend says the new movie he just saw was very good, you can reply: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." This means you have to see the movie yourself to really know if it is good.

        　　The government wants Hong Kong people to pocket the political reform framework first. The pan-democrats have refused to pocket it first. They say the central government's one person, one vote reform framework for the 2017 chief executive election is fake democracy. Is it fake democracy or real democracy? Hong Kong people are divided on the issue. But the government can say to the pan-democrats and the people: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." This means they have to test it and experience it for themselves before they can know if it is fake or true democracy.

         上星期一位世界銀行集團的美籍人員被問道，由中國建立的新亞洲基礎設施投資銀行，迄今已有逾五十個國家願意加入，它到底會否成功？這位人員回應道:"The proof is in the pudding." 這是一個很常用的習語，但這位銀行員並未說得精準。原先和正確的習語應為："The proof of the pudding is in the eating"。我研究下發現，這個習語初見於十四世紀。習語的用詞截然不同，但意思是一樣的。

        　　這句諺語逐漸演變（evolved）成"The proof of the pudding is in the eating"，這被認為是正確的說法。但在美國，它又再演變（evolved）成"the proof is in the pudding"。To evolve就是逐漸演變或演化。有些人錯誤認為人類是由猿人或猴子演變（evolved）而成的。The proof of the pudding is in the eating 的意思就是，只有你親自試驗或體會，你才能知道某事物的真正價值或質素。例如一個朱古力布甸好不好吃，無論它外表看來多美，唯一你可知道的方法就是去品嚐。若你朋友跟你說他剛看過的一齣新戲很好看，你可以說："The proof of the pudding is in the eating"。意思就是，你只能親自去看那齣電影，才知道它是否真的那麼好。

        　　政府想香港人先袋着那個政改框架，泛民則拒絕「袋住先」。他們說，中央政府的二○一七年一人一票特首選舉是假民主。它到底是假民主抑或真民主?香港人對此意見分歧。但政府大可以對泛民和市民這樣說："The proof of the pudding is in the eating." 即是說，他們要親身試驗和經歷，才能知道這個民主孰真孰假。

        mickchug@gmail.com

        中譯:七刻

        Michael Chugani 褚簡寧

回應 (0)

我要發表

The proof is in the pudding.

網誌分類

最新網誌

月曆