empty vessels make the most noise

2016/03/31 08:43:38 網誌分類: 生活

31 Mar

         Last week I wrote that I often receive emails from readers asking me to explain words or expressions they have seen but don’t fully understand. One reader had suggested I explain the expression "the lunatics have taken over the asylum", which I did last week. The expression means a situation in which incapable people are put in charge of responsibilities they are unqualified to handle. After explaining the meaning of "the lunatics have taken over the asylum" last week, many more readers have emailed asking me to explain expressions they have seen. As I said last week, I welcome suggestions and will try my best to explain words and expressions that are interesting.

        　　One reader has asked me to explain the expression “still waters run deep”. This is an ancient proverb of Latin origin. In simple terms, this expression describes people who say very little but actually know a lot and are very intelligent. For example, if someone says your best friend must be stupid because he is always very quiet, you can reply: “You are wrong. Still waters run deep.” This expression is the opposite of the idiom “empty vessels (or barrels) make the most noise”. This means that people who talk a lot are usually very stupid people. I think the expression “empty barrels make the most noise” can be used to describe most Hong Kong politicians but I think “still waters run deep” can be used to describe only a few Hong Kong politicians.

        　　Another reader asked me to explain the expression “token of esteem”. The word “esteem” means respect or admiration. If you hold someone in high esteem, it means you respect or admire that person a lot. People such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are held in high esteem. The word “token” has several meanings but when used in the expression “token of esteem” it means showing gratitude or a sign or gesture. A token of esteem, therefore, means a sign or gesture of respect. For example, you can give a taxi driver reward money as a token of esteem for returning the mobile phone you lost in his taxi.

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         上星期我寫到，我不時收到讀者電郵，想我解釋一些他們見到但不完全明白的字詞或習語。一位讀者提議我解釋習語"the lunatics have taken over the asylum"，這習語是指無能者被委派去肩負他們所不能勝任的職責。上星期我解釋過the lunatics have taken over the asylum 之後，更多讀者傳來電郵，想我解釋他們所遇見的習語。正如我上周所說，我歡迎這些提議，也會盡力解釋當中一些有趣的字詞和習語。

        　　一位讀者想我解釋習語“still waters run deep”。這是一個來自拉丁文的古諺語。簡單而言，這個習語是形容人說話很少，但其實靜水流深、大智若愚。譬如，若某人說你最好的朋友一定很笨了，因他總是沉默寡言，你便可以回應說：「你這就錯了，still waters run deep。」這個習語的相反是慣用語“empty vessels (or barrels) make the most noise”，意思是空桶的聲響才大，話多的人通常都是非常愚笨的人。我認為習語 empty barrels make the most noise可以用來形容香港大部份的政客，但still waters run deep 則只能用來形容少數的香港政客。

        　　另一位讀者想我解釋習語“token of esteem”。Esteem 是指尊敬或敬佩。若你 hold someone in high esteem，即是說你非常尊敬或欽佩那人。像甘地、馬丁路德金和曼德拉這些人就備受尊崇（held in high esteem）。Token 有幾個意思，但用在習語token of esteem裏，就指表達謝意，或是一個示意或舉動。因此，a token of esteem 意指表達尊敬的一個舉動。譬如，的士司機交還你遺落在其的士上的手機，你便可以給他一點酬金以示謝意（token of esteem）。

        中譯:七刻

        Michael Chugani 褚簡寧

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empty vessels make the most noise

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