【在生活中學習語言】〈 職人英語通〉放馬後炮誰都會！ It’s easy to be wise after the event! 
 
文／Dr.J.J. 圖／老唐

常常有些人就特別喜歡在「事過境遷」後講一堆風涼話，譬如「當初你應該要如何如何……」或是「要是我的話，我就不會……」之類的。中文裡常說「放馬後炮」就是這個意思，但在英文裡倒沒有用到任何「馬」或「炮」這樣的字眼，反而用一句簡單的話”It’s easy to be wise after the even（事情過後很容易就會變聰明些）”來做表示。

Mark：This Richard is really irritating!

Mark：這個理察真是令人討厭。

Stella：What’s wrong with him?

Stella：他怎麼了？

Mark：OK, I admit that the party we organized last weekend wasn’t a success. A lot of things could have been done better if we’ve got more time.

Mark：好吧，我承認上週末我們規劃的舞會並不是很成功。如果再給我多一點時間準備的話，很多事情是可以做得更好的。

Stella：I think it’s quite alright. Apart from the blackout for about 5 minutes, everything went well and we all had some fun there.

Stella：我覺得挺好的啊。除了停電5分鐘左右那件事之外，其他都很好啊，大家都玩得很開心。

Mark：I just wish everyone could be so sweet and supportive as you are. It’ll make this world so much more pleasant and beautiful.

Mark：我真希望每個人都可以跟你一樣這麼貼心又大力支持。要是每個人都跟你一樣的話，世界該有多美好啊。

Stella：I mean, it may not be perfect, but you guys had really put in a lot of efforts to make it happen!

Stella：我覺得，即便不算完美，但也是你們投入了這麼多努力才能夠舉辦的。

Mark：Not everyone feels the same way, I’m afraid. Richard was just saying things like “If I were you, I would have blah blah blah…” and “it would not have happened…”etc.

Mark：恐怕不是每個人都這麼想。Richard剛剛才在說「要是我是你的話，當初就會怎樣怎樣……」不然就是「那就不會發生了……」之類的話。

Stella：Oh, that’s annoying. But don’t mind him at all. It’s always easy to be wise after the event. Easier said than done!

Stella：噢，那真的很令人討厭。可是你不用在意他說的，放馬後炮誰都會啊。說總比做來得容易。

Mark：Yes, I will just ignore what he says in the future.

Mark：是啊，以後他講什麼我都當做沒聽到就好了。

自由時報-970716
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