【在生活中學習語言】〈 職人英語通〉 格格不入Square peg in a round hole.
圖/老唐 |
文/Dr.J.J. 圖/老唐
〞Square peg in a round hole.〞就字面上來想,如果把一個方形的木樁放到一個圓形的洞裡,總不如把圓型的木樁放到同樣圓形的洞中來得吻合,所以這句成語衍伸出來的意思就是「格格不入」。換言之,你也可以說〞a round peg in a square hole.〞意思完全一樣。
如果我們形容一個人在工作上像是〞a square peg in a round hole.〞,就是指這人可能因為種種原因而感到處處受限,不習慣或很不適合某份工作。
Roger:Mr. Lee, Sorry to interrupt but can you spare a few minutes with me, please?
Roger:李先生,很抱歉打擾你,可以給我幾分鐘的時間嗎?
Mr. Lee:No problem, have a seat. What is it that you want to talk about?
Mr. Lee:沒問題,請坐。你想要跟我談些什麼呢?
Roger:It’s been 3 months since I joined the company…
Roger:我來公司已經3個月了。
Mr. Lee:Oh yes, how time just flies… It’s been 3 months already. Right, is it your probation you want to discuss?
Mr. Lee:喔,對耶,時間過的真快…都已經3個月了。所以你是要跟我談你的試用期的事情嗎?
Roger:Well, kind of. I feel it’s about time we have a chat.
Roger:嗯,也對啦。我覺得我們應該要談一下了。
Mr. Lee:Sure! I don’t have any problem to let you pass. You’ve done well.
Mr. Lee:當然!我毫無疑問會讓你通過的。你表現得很好。
Roger:Oh, thank you for your kindness but I would like to tender my resignation letter.
Roger:喔,謝謝你的讚美,可是我想要遞辭呈。
Mr.Lee:Something wrong with the company?
Mr. Lee:是公司哪裡有問題嗎?
Roger:No, there’s nothing wrong here, it’s just I feel like a square peg in a round hole. I mean everyone has been nice to me but I guess I’m more used to working in a more challenging environment. Things seem too stable and predictable here for me, I’m afraid.
Roger:不,不是公司的問題,只是我個人覺得自己在這裡格格不入。大家都對我很好,但我覺得可能是我自己比較習慣在挑戰性高一點的環境工作。在這裡,我擔心一切好像都太一成不變了。
來源:自由時報
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