用户:Sumtec/翻译台2

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以下内容为Cut off one's nose to spite one's face（Cutting off the nose to spite the face）的临时翻译：

“Cut off one's nose to spite one's face”是一句英语谚语，用来表达因为对某个问题过度反应而做出无谓的害己行为，亦即和自己过不去。常见的用法是“Don't cut off your nose to spite your face”，是对因控制不了自己的愤怒，或者为了复仇而以一种伤人八百自损一千的行为的一种警告。

字面解释

“Cut off one's nose to spite one's face”有许多错误的字面解释，例如“（不要）为了讨厌自己的脸而割掉鼻子” ，或者“（不要）割下自己的鼻子和脸过不去”。 实际上恰恰相反，这里的字面意思实际上是指“为了让自己的脸难看而割了自己的鼻子”。这句话当中的spite实际上是指“使……厌恶”，因此这句话里面的割掉鼻子的目的是为了使得脸难看。而这句话的字面意思并不能完全反映其原本的含义，要正确理解，需要了解这句谚语的来源。

来源

这句谚语已知最早在12世纪时就被使用，据传和许多为了保护贞操而损毁自己面容的虔诚女性有关。相关的案例包括圣阿瑟比阿、圣艾巴、伦敦埃诺的圣欧妲，以及匈牙利的圣玛格利特等。

这里面最为出名的要属苏格兰科尔丁厄姆女修道院的院长小艾巴（Æbbe the Younger）的事迹：公园867年，来自西兰岛和乌普萨拉的维京海盗登陆苏格兰。听闻这一消息的圣艾巴院长召集了所有修女，并敦促她们损毁自己的面容，以便其容貌不至于吸引维京人。这样一来，她们就有望可保住自己的贞操。院长以身示范，割了自己的鼻子和上嘴唇，修女们也纷纷效行。然而维京族掠夺者却因她们的面容太过可憎，最后将整座修道院烧毁。

It was not uncommon in the Middle Ages for a person to cut the nose off of another for various reasons, including punishment from the state, or as an act of revenge. Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker notes that the phrase may have originated from this practice, as at this time "cutting off someone's nose was the prototypical act of spite."

The expression has since become a blanket term for (often unwise) self-destructive actions motivated purely by anger or desire for revenge. For example, if a man was angered by his wife, he might burn down their house to punish her; however, burning down her house would also mean burning down his, along with all their combustible personal possessions.

In the 1796 edition of Grose's Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, "He cut off his nose to be revenged of his face." is defined as "one who, to be revenged on his neighbour, has materially injured himself." The word "spite" is used in the sense of revenge and "face" is used in the sense of honor.

Historical examples

• The Embargo Act of 1807, passed by the United States Congress in protest against British and French interference in U.S. shipping. The Act had the side-effect of prohibiting nearly all U.S. exports and most imports, greatly disrupting the U.S. economy.

参见

• 劓刑
• 宿主仇恨
• 不公平厌恶
• 皮洛士式胜利
• 自残
• 前女权主义
• 纯洁的殉道者