這些不是贊語 - 如何認識英語譏嘲

How to recognize put downs?

上一篇我們討論了英語一個很重要的短字 UP ，英語還有一種大家肯定要 BE UP ON 的句子。這裡就順便談談這種有關 DOWN 的句子吧。

北美英語譏嘲叫做 “put downs” （“放下來”）。這是一個有趣的名稱。別人把您這麼輕輕地“放下來”，您哪能意識到這些“放下詞”其實可能是個譏嘲呢？“Put downs” 的一個特點是句子的前一半通常是褒語而後一半是貶語，因此表面上看似乎是贊語的句子仔細聽候會發現它其實是一種“挖苦”的譏嘲。（也就是這個原因我們在英語相聲常有看到這些 “put downs”。）

下面介紹的一些常見的 “put downs”，網友聽到時必須明白，對您譏嘲的人未必懷有惡意（這很可能是朋友之間的戲謔，是否蓄意冒犯得先看言者和聽者的友情和關係才能斷定），不過要是您想要對別人這麼說，那您可要小心，這些有可能冒犯，不客氣的話是不可以對法官，警察，上司或顧客說，或輕易對陌生人說的。

You excel in making a virtue out of necessity.

I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception.

I'll never forget the first time we met - although I'll keep trying.

You’re not as dumb as you look.

Shouldn't you have a license for being that ugly?

I hear you were born on April 2; a day too late!

I'm glad to see you're not letting your education get in the way of your ignorance.

I can't seem to remember your name, and please don't help me!

Sure, I'd love to help you out...now, which way did you come in?

He is dark and handsome. When it's dark, he's handsome.

A sharp tongue is no indication of a keen mind.

Are you always this stupid or are you making a special effort today?

I don't think you are a fool, but what's my opinion compared to that of thousands of others?

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Who picks your clothes - Stevie Wonder? (Don Rickles)

You’re proof that there's life after death. (Mort Sahl on Ronald Reagan)

You’re the only genius with an IQ of 60. (Gore Vidal on Andy Warhol)

Yeah, yeah, keep talking, someday you might say something intelligent.

美國人怎樣罵人？

如何對老外說“很棒”？

How many ways to say “yes”?

一個舉足輕重的短字 - UP

（資料來自網絡）