to each his own
to each his own是一个词典里找不到但使用频率颇高的短语.它的意思就是"不同的人有不同的看法和品位,无所谓谁对谁错",也就是中文里常说的"青菜萝卜,各有所好".美国人在两种情况下特别喜欢说这句话:
1)如果碰到喜欢争论或者喜欢把自己的意见强加给别人的人,to each his own往往是最好的回答,等于委婉地告诉对方"我不会听你的,我也不想跟你争论,因为没什么可争的."比如:
Brian: I’m planning to catch House of Flying daggers this weekend. (brian:这个周末我准备去看《十里埋伏.》)
Justin: Are you kidding me? House of Flying Daggers is boring as hell! Meet the Fockers is so much better! (Justin:你没有搞错吧?《十面埋伏》闷死人了.《拜见岳父胆大人2》好看多了.)
Brian: Well, to each his own. I’ll stick with House of Flying Daggers.(Brian: 青菜萝卜,各有所好.我还是准备看《十面埋伏》.)
注释《十面埋伏》和《拜见岳父胆大人2》均为卖座电影,两者的内容和风格截然不同.
2)如果别人征询自己的意见,而磁过直率的回答可能 会让对方难受时,加一句to each his own可以轻松解决问题.你的潜台词就是:"不用理会我的观点.每个人看法不一样,我觉得不可行未必就真的不可行."这种用法和for what it’s worth有异曲同工之妙(请参考for what it’s worth).比如:
Jance: What do you think of this dress” Is it worth buying? (Jane:你觉得这条裙子怎么样?值得买吗?)
Jennifer: I’d never choose pink, but to each his own. (Jennifer:我是绝对不会选 红色的,但每一个人品不一样,可能这条裙子适合你也不一定.)
现在这个年代,什么都讲究男女平等,所以如果跟你意见不同的是位女士,to each his own也可以改为to each her own.当然,还有很多人说to each their own, 一来表示男女平等,二来省掉了区分性别的麻烦.
英语培训机构Joffy顺便提醒各位学员,类似的用法在英语里已经越来越普遍.比如:"每个人都有自己的看法"以前可以理所当然地翻译成"Everybody has their own opinions.”这种趋势很值得注意.