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常用英文短语详解

　　如今这个短语的意思从 "某人挥霍金钱" 发展为"挥霍体力和精力"，也就有了"某人夜以继日地从事高强度工作以至累得筋疲力竭"的意思。现在这个短语有两个含义：(1) 某人工作过于辛苦，睡眠时间极短，如2000年《底特律资讯》上的用法: "Our students are...trying to burn the candle at both ends, they're not only studying, but most of them are working several jobs" ; (2) 某人因参与社会活动过多而导致睡眠时间极少，如2000年《丹佛落基山资讯》上引述一棒球手的话: "I have to keep going to get ahead. That's the only way I know how to be successful. I've played with a lot of guys who had better ability, and...they would go out and party and stuff and burn the candle at both ends and not take it seriously" 。

　　9. Cat's fur to make kitten britches

　　当你对某事的缘由非常好奇，想打破砂锅问到底的时候，自然不自然地会冒出句"What for?"或"What's that for?"，对方如果不想回答的话，可能会用"Cat's fur to make kitten britches"来搪塞你。如果你是第一次听说这个说法的话，说不定会搞得丈二和尚摸不着脑袋，甚至会认为自己没听清对方的答复。