carry coals to Newcastle

1. 解詞釋義

carry coals to Newcastle字面上看是“運煤倒紐卡斯爾”，實際它指的是“徒勞無益；多此一舉”。

紐卡斯爾(Newcastle)是英國的一個港市，位于英格蘭北部泰因（Tyne）河口附近，素以產煤著稱，早在1932年就獲得了英國國王亨利三世授予的挖煤特許權，是世界上最早的煤炭輸出港。因此，向紐卡斯爾運煤，無異于白費力氣。由此產生的習語carry coals to Newcastle就用來比喻do something which is completely unnecessary (做完全不必要做的事)。

2. 拓展范例
e.g. Tom is so infirm of purpose that you carry coals to Newcastle, asking him for advice.

湯姆這人優柔寡斷，向他征求意見是徒勞無益的。

e.g. American managers tried to persuade their British employees to drop their tea-break habit but in the end they found that they had carried coals to Newcastle.

美國的經理們試圖說服他們的英國雇員改掉吃茶點的習慣，但通常是徒勞無益。

e.g. You’re really carrying coals to Newcastle. She has many a diamond rings.

你真是多此一舉。她有的是鉆石戒指。

e.g. You tried to pull the wool over my eyes, which was that you carried coals to Newcastle. I knew exactly what was going on.

要想瞞我是多此一舉的，我對所發生的事一清二楚。

來源:可可英語 http://www.ccdyzl.cn/menu/201508/390087.shtml