Prestidigitating
“Prestidigitating” 为较生僻、略带戏谑的正式词,指用快速灵巧的手法表演魔术或戏法,如 a magician prestidigitating cards(魔术师玩转扑克戏法)。
- “The street performer was prestidigitating coins before a small crowd.” (街头艺人在一小群人面前变硬币戏法。)
- “She amazed the children by prestidigitating scarves from nowhere.” (她凭空变出围巾,让孩子们惊叹不已。)
- “He joked about prestidigitating the budget numbers at the meeting.” (他开玩笑说要在会议上对预算数字玩“魔术”。)
由法语 prestidigitation 进入英语,由 preste(灵巧,同 prestidigitateur)与拉丁语 digitus(手指)组成,字面义为“灵巧的手指”。
“presti-” 表灵巧、敏捷;词干 “digit-” 表手指(同 digital);“-ate” 为动词后缀;“-ing” 表示正在表演手法的过程。
多见于魔术、文学幽默或讽刺“玩弄手法”;日常口语更常说 doing magic tricks,prestidigitating 显文雅或滑稽。
- 原形: prestidigitate
- 名词: prestidigitation
- 固定搭配: “prestidigitating tricks” (表演戏法), “prestidigitating cards” (玩转牌术)
presto(快)+ digit(手指)——靠灵巧手指快速变戏法,就是 prestidigitating。
“Prestidigitating behind the birthday cake, Dad produced the missing watch to everyone’s delight.” (爸爸在生日蛋糕后面施展手法,变出失踪的手表,全场欢呼。)