词源趣谈 | the straw that broke the camel's back 压倒骆驼的稻草

相见恨晚的英语公众号:田间小站

the straw that broke the camel's back 指导致承受者崩溃的最后一点额外的压力。这一表达出自查尔斯·狄更斯(Charles Dickens)的小说《董贝父子》(Dombey and Son):

As the last straw breaks the laden camel’s back.
压倒骆驼的最后一根草。

但事实上,在此之前即出现过 ’Tis the last feather that breaks the horse’s back 这样的谚语。人们常将 the straw that broke the camel’s back 缩写成 the last straw 或 the final straw。