說到某事、直到最後 - 古德明

說到某事、直到最後 - 古德明

問:讀報見到以下一句:Getting people to change their behaviour will be important when it comes to meeting the new energy reduction target。句中comes to meeting是不是應改為comes to meet?
答:這一句是說:「要符合新的節省能源目標,必須令公眾改變生活習慣。」When it comes to (something)是成語,意思是「說到(某事)」,例如:(1)When it comes to his work, he is a perfectionist(他工作上力求完美)。(2)I have serious reservations when it comes to emigrating to Singapore(說到移居新加坡,我是很有疑慮的)。When it comes to的to,不是帶出原形動詞(infinitive)的to,而是介系詞(preposition),其後應用名詞或動名詞(gerund)。
問:英文歌"Honesty"有以下幾句:I can find a lover / I can find a friend / I can have security until the bitter end。末句意思是不是「讓我直到悲苦的結局都不受到傷害」?
答:這幾句我會翻譯如下:「我可以找個情人,可以找個朋友,可以安安全全,直到最後一刻。」To / until the bitter end也是成語,指「直到最後」、「至死」或「直到再無可為」,例如:(1)The three hundred Spartans fought to the bitter end for their country(那三百斯巴達人為了國家,奮戰至死)。(2)The terminal patient remained cheerful until the bitter end(那沉疴難起的病人,到最後一刻,仍然心情開朗)。