| 释义 |
cupboard BrE /ˈkʌbəd/
NAmE /-bərd/► SEE ALLthe cupboard is barecupboard lovea skeleton in the cupboard/closet
●the ˌcupboard is ˈbare (BrE) used to say that there is no money for sth 没钱（做某事）◆They are seeking more funds but the cupboard is bare.
他们正在寻求更多的资金，但一无所获。 ORIGIN This expression refers to a children’s nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard, who had nothing in her cupboard to feed her dog. 这个表达法源于一首儿歌，哈伯德大妈的柜子里没有任何食物来喂她的狗。●ˈcupboard love (BrE) affection that sb shows towards sb else in order to get sth （为得到某物的）有所企图的亲热；出于私利的爱◆The cat seems especially fond of her, but it’s just cupboard love. She’s the one who feeds him.
那只猫似乎特别喜欢她，不过这是有原因的 － 都是她给猫喂食。 NOTE Cupboard here refers to food, which is kept in a cupboard, so this idiom originally meant showing love to somebody in order to get food. * cupboard 此处意为橱柜中的食物。这个习语原指为了得到食物而向别人示爱。 ●a skeleton in the ˈcupboard/ˈclosetsomething shocking, embarrassing, etc. that has happened to you or your family in the past that you want to keep secret （不可外扬的）秘密，家丑；隐情◆The new presidential candidate is certainly popular, but does he have any skeletons in the closet?新的总统候选人的确人气很高，不过他有没有什么不可见人的丑事？ |