十二生肖在中国可谓家喻户晓、妇孺皆知，是中华传统文化中不可或缺的一部分，而在英语国家，与这十二生肖属相相对应的动物也分别代表着特殊的含义，具有英语民族浓厚的文化特色和深远的历史渊源。以下是英语中特别是习语中比较常见的用法，供读者参考。

　　1.子鼠Mouse / Rat

　　a) Play cat and mouse with: to let someone think they are getting or doing what they want, then prevent them from getting or doing it像猫捉耗子似的欺负(折磨)

　　b) look like a drowned rat: to look very wet and uncomfortable像落水鼠一样(狼狈)

　　c) (inf.) rat bag: BrE, AustrE an unpleasant person令人讨厌的人

　　d) (inf.) smell a rat: to guess that something wrong or dishonest is happening揣测出(异常事件或某人的不诚实)

　　例：They know we hate them and will smell a rat if we try to be nice to them.

　　2.丑牛Bull

　　a) like a red rag to a bull: BrE very likely to make someone angry or upset像拿红布给牛看一样(极易激怒别人)

　　例：Just mentioning his ex-wife's name was like a red rag to a bull.

　　b) take the bull by the horns: to bravely or confidently deal with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant problem挺身面对危险，毅然处理难局

　　例：She decided to take the bull by the horns and ask him outright.

　　3.寅虎Tiger

　　a) paper tiger: an enemy or opponent who seems powerful but actually is not纸老虎

　　例：All reactionaries are paper tigers.

　　b) work like a tiger:生龙活虎地工作

　　c) the four tigers of Asia:亚洲经济"四小龙"

　　4.卯兔Hare/Rabbit

　　a) as timid as a hare:胆小如鼠

　　b) (inf.) BrE hare off/away: to run or go very fast off快速地跑开

　　例：He hared off down the road.

　　c) make a hare of somebody:愚弄某人

　　d) (inf.) BrE rabbit on: to talk continuously, especially in an uninteresting or annoying way唠叨

　　5.辰龙Dragon

　　a) (inf.)a woman who behaves in an angry, unfriendly way凶狠的女人

　　例：Casey's new teacher is a real dragon.

　　b) dragon's pool and tiger's den: a dangerous spot龙潭虎穴

　　6.巳蛇Snake

　　a) snake in the grass: (inf.) someone who pretends to be your friend but does something to harm you潜伏的危险；暗藏的敌人

　　b) have snakes in one's boots：AmE (slang)烂醉如泥

　　7.午马Horse

　　a) ride the high horse：(spoken)趾高气扬，耀武扬威

　　b) be flogging a dead horse: (spoken) to be wasting time or effort by trying to do something that is impossible白费力气

　　c) A good horse should be seldom spurred.好马不宜多加鞭

　　8.未羊Sheep

　　a) black sheep:害群之马

　　b) a wolf in sheep's clothing：someone who seems to be friendly but is in fact, dangerous披着羊皮的狼

　　9.申猴Monkey

　　a) make a monkey (out) of somebody: to make someone seem stupid戏耍某人

　　例：They got into the palace in broad daylight, and made monkeys out of the security men.

　　b) a monkey on your back: (inf.) AmE a serious problem that makes your life very difficult, especially being dependent on drugs令人极为头疼的事

　　10.酉鸡Cock / Chicken

　　a) don't count your chickens (before they are hatched): (especially spoken) used to say that you should not make plans because you hope something good will happen别太指望没有把握之事

　　例：It should be worth a few million, but I don't like to count my chickens.

　　b) keep an ear cocked: (inf.) to pay close attention because you want to be sure you hear something you expect or think may happen集中注意力(听)

　　例：She kept an ear cocked for the sound of Joe's key in the front door.

　　11.戌狗Dog

　　a) It's dogged that does it.天下无难事，只怕有心人

　　b) a lucky dog:幸运儿

　　c) a gay dog:喜欢玩乐的人

　　d) a dumb dog:沉默不语的人

　　e) help dog over a stile:助人度过难关

　　f) rain cats and dogs:倾盆大雨

　　12.亥猪Pig/Swine

　　a) cast pearls before swine:对牛弹琴

　　b) make a pig's ear of : BrE(spoken)to do something very badly干很糟糕的事

　　例：Jon's made a complete pig's ear of the decorating.

　　(文/叶丹敏；英语辅导报大学二年级版03～04学年第34期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)