遇到特别重要的考试、面试,或者需要发言的场合,很多人都难免会紧张,而这种紧张最直接的体现就是肚子会轻微绞痛。这种反应自然不会是某个国家的人独有的,所以,英文里也有对应的说法。
Typically a humorous word referring to 'stomach pain or queasiness', collywobbles also refers figuratively to 'intense anxiety or nervousness, especially with stomach queasiness'. The word comes from the fanciful formation of colic + wobble, and in its figurative usage can be equated to the more common butterflies in the stomach, belly. Referring to 'a fluttering and nauseated sensation felt in the stomach when one is nervous', the phrase is often clipped to just 'the butterflies'.
Collywobbles一般是“腹痛或恶心”的戏虐说法,有时也喻指“因为极度紧张或焦虑而伴随的腹部不适”,也就是我们通常说的“紧张得肚子疼”。这个词是由colic(腹部绞痛)和wobble(摇摆)组合而成,这样的结合也是够炫目了。其实,这个词的比喻说法就相当于我们更熟悉的那个英文表达butterflies in the stomach/belly,胃里/肚子里有很多蝴蝶,也就是紧张得发抖,忐忑不安的意思。
For example:
In a recent interview in Total Film with Emma Watson, the actress discussed her upcoming role as Belle in the live-action film remake ofBeauty and the Beast, the journalist characterized Watson's nervousness at playing the role as 'the collywobbles'.
最近,艾玛·沃特森在接受一家电影杂志采访时,聊起了即将出演的真人版《美女与野兽》,采访她的记者用了the collywobbles这个词来描述艾玛表演片中角色时的紧张心情。