這個短語的字面意思是:抓住老虎的尾巴。這是非常危險的局面,如果松開手,肯定對付不了兇猛的老虎。但是抓住老虎尾巴不放,看來也是兇多吉少,因為實際上本來也沒有任何制服老虎的可能。中文所說的“騎虎難下”其實同這個短語的意思非常接近。
Once you start using heroin, you'll have a tiger by the tail. If you get hooked, you'll need more and more, it'll cost you more money, and you might have to steal to support the habit. 你一旦開始用海洛因,就很難找到退路。上癮之后,需要量越來越大,需要更多的錢,甚至還要為了滿足毒癮去偷竊。
毒品是老虎尾巴,說話不算話也可以是老虎尾巴。喬治•布什在競選美國總統(tǒng)成功以后就有這樣的教訓(xùn)。他1988年競選的時候許諾說,當(dāng)選后絕不增加征收聯(lián)邦稅。但是他登上總統(tǒng)寶座之后怎么樣了呢?
He found he had a tiger by the tail. Despite his promise he had to raise taxes to cope with the deficit. And this helped Bill Clinton beat him in his try for re-election in 1992.
布什打破自己的許諾,增加征稅,結(jié)果最終在連任競選中被克林頓擊敗。
也許老虎尾巴還是不抓為好。
Once you start using heroin, you'll have a tiger by the tail. If you get hooked, you'll need more and more, it'll cost you more money, and you might have to steal to support the habit. 你一旦開始用海洛因,就很難找到退路。上癮之后,需要量越來越大,需要更多的錢,甚至還要為了滿足毒癮去偷竊。
毒品是老虎尾巴,說話不算話也可以是老虎尾巴。喬治•布什在競選美國總統(tǒng)成功以后就有這樣的教訓(xùn)。他1988年競選的時候許諾說,當(dāng)選后絕不增加征收聯(lián)邦稅。但是他登上總統(tǒng)寶座之后怎么樣了呢?
He found he had a tiger by the tail. Despite his promise he had to raise taxes to cope with the deficit. And this helped Bill Clinton beat him in his try for re-election in 1992.
布什打破自己的許諾,增加征稅,結(jié)果最終在連任競選中被克林頓擊敗。
也許老虎尾巴還是不抓為好。