4

(as) strong as a bull

壮得像头公牛

5

like a bull out of a chute

像一只冲出斜道的公牛；猛然离开

【文化说明】该习语源自牛仔竞技中的骑牛表演。表演中，公牛从斜道冲向斗牛场。人们有时因故从房间或会场突然起身离开，急急忙忙，让人联想到冲出斜道的公牛，因此被形容是like a bull out of a chute。

6

take the bull by the horns

抓住牛角；大胆对付困难，不畏艰难

He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job.

他下决心采取坚决行动，要求老板给他加薪，哪怕因此而失去工作。

You won’t get the money you need by staying here. Take the bull by the horns. Go and speak to your bank manager.

你待在这儿是得不到所需资金的，应该采取果断行动，去和银行经理谈谈看。

Called to the manager’s office, I decided that the best way was to take the bull by the horns and admit it was all my mistake.

被叫到经理办公室后，我断定最好的办法便是勇敢面对现实，承认这都是自己的错。

【文化说明】习语take the bull by the horns的字面意思是“抓住了公牛角”，在现实生活中人抓住公牛角的机会不多，一是古希腊弥诺斯的花式骑牛（bull vaulting）表演，骑牛手（bull vaulters）冲向公牛，抓住牛角，在牛背上翻筋斗。还有是美国牛 仔的“摔牛”（bulldogging）表演。牛仔扑向奔跑的小公牛，抓住它的牛角，扭转牛头，将牛摔倒在地。考虑到牛的蛮力和牛角的尖利，take the bull by the horns肯定是一种大无畏的勇敢行为，由此该习语转喻“大胆对付困难，不畏艰险”。

7

wave a red flag in front of a bull

在公牛面前舞红旗；自找麻烦，自讨苦吃

“The continued insistence that adequate public consultation had taken place has been a little bit akin to waving a red flag in front of a bull,’’ he says in a quiet but firm voice, “Every time the councilor and mayor say it has, resi­dents become angrier and angrier. "

“坚持说已向公众进行了充分的意见征询有点像是引火烧身。”他轻声但坚定地说，“每次议员和市长这么说，居民们就火气更大。”

【文化说明】据说公牛看不得红色，一看见红颜色的东西，它就会低头冲过去。因此斗牛士用红色的斗篷挑逗公牛野性。在公牛面前挥舞红旗，会招致公牛的激烈攻击。由此习语wave a red flag in front of a bull 比喻“自找麻烦”。 

以上内容摘自《英语动物比喻辞典》

本词典收录英语中源于258种鸟兽鱼虫的比喻习语达1300余条，皆为英美人所熟知常用，联想生动，意味隽永。每条词语都探本求源，详加文化诠释乃至中英对比，对于精确理解、充分鉴赏和贴切运用均大有裨益。此外，对了解英美人的生活环境、风俗习惯、价值观念及思维方式已颇有助益。例句权威、丰富。译文准确、通顺、传神。可读可查，雅俗共赏。索引新颖、周全，使用便捷。