使用者:Sumtec/翻譯台2

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以下內容為Cut off one's nose to spite one's face（Cutting off the nose to spite the face）的臨時翻譯：

「Cut off one's nose to spite one's face」是一句英語諺語，用來表達因為對某個問題過度反應而做出無謂的害己行為，亦即和自己過不去。常見的用法是「Don't cut off your nose to spite your face」，是對因控制不了自己的憤怒，或者為了復仇而以一種傷人八百自損一千的行為的一種警告。

字面解釋

「Cut off one's nose to spite one's face」有許多錯誤的字面解釋，例如「（不要）為了討厭自己的臉而割掉鼻子」 ，或者「（不要）割下自己的鼻子和臉過不去」。 實際上恰恰相反，這裡的字面意思實際上是指「為了讓自己的臉難看而割了自己的鼻子」。這句話當中的spite實際上是指「使……厭惡」，因此這句話裡面的割掉鼻子的目的是為了使得臉難看。而這句話的字面意思並不能完全反映其原本的含義，要正確理解，需要了解這句諺語的來源。

來源

這句諺語已知最早在12世紀時就被使用，據傳和許多為了保護貞操而損毀自己面容的虔誠女性有關。相關的案例包括聖阿瑟比阿、聖艾巴、倫敦埃諾的聖歐妲，以及匈牙利的聖瑪格利特等。

這裡面最為出名的要屬蘇格蘭科爾丁厄姆女修道院的院長小艾巴（Æbbe the Younger）的事跡：公園867年，來自西蘭島和烏普薩拉的維京海盜登陸蘇格蘭。聽聞這一消息的聖艾巴院長召集了所有修女，並敦促她們損毀自己的面容，以便其容貌不至於吸引維京人。這樣一來，她們就有望可保住自己的貞操。院長以身示範，割了自己的鼻子和上嘴唇，修女們也紛紛效行。然而維京族掠奪者卻因她們的面容太過可憎，最後將整座修道院燒毀。

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.

參見

• 劓刑
• 宿主仇恨
• 不公平厭惡
• 皮洛士式勝利
• 自殘
• 前女權主義
• 純潔的殉道者