問:二月二十日《壹週刊》英文社評以下一句的punted字,是什麼意思?──Beijing has punted this to the Hong Kong government。
答:這一句前文是說,馬尼拉香港人質事件,固然令港人憤怒,但香港不應糾纏下去,而應邁步向前:「北京當局已把這一點傳達香港政府。」這就是讀者示下那一句的意思。
Punt本是足球用語,指「踢未着地的球」,例如:He purposely punted the ball out of bounds(他故意把未着地的球踢出界線)。引伸其義,to punt something to someone是「把……傳遞給(某人)」,例如:The Ma Ying-jeou government entered into a trade pact with the mainland authorities, and then punted it to the Legislative Yuan for approval(馬英九政府和大陸當局簽署貿易協議,然後交立法院通過)。
問:Health food和healthy food有什麼分別?
答:Health food即今天常說的「健康食品」,多指穀類、豆類等天然植物產品,尤其是不用化學肥料種植者,例如:He is a regular customer at the health food store(他是那家健康食品店的常客)。
Healthy food則是「有益健康的產品」,改為healthful food也可以,例如:You should eat more healthy / healthful food, such as beef, fish, eggs, and vegetables(你應多吃點有益健康的食品,例如牛肉、魚、蛋、蔬菜)。