8 Be on a good footing 有一個(gè)良好的基礎(chǔ)

A pleasant relationship with other people, not least those in a superior position, is portrayed as being ‘on a good footing’ with them. There are two thoughts as to where this saying came from. Some say the phrase goes back to a practice of early apprenticeships. It was the custom, on the first day at work, for apprentices to invite all their workmates for drinks. The new apprentice ‘footed the bill’. If proved a generous host, he made friends for keeps. The hospitality would never be forgotten.

與其他人，尤其是和那些身處高位的人有良好的人際關(guān)系表明了你和他們“有良好的基礎(chǔ)”。對(duì)于這個(gè)短語是從哪來的，有兩種說法。有人說這句話可以追溯到早期學(xué)徒的實(shí)踐。這是一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)，作為學(xué)徒工作的第一天，他要邀請(qǐng)他所有的同事喝飲料。這個(gè)新學(xué)徒付賬。如果大家認(rèn)為他是一個(gè)慷慨的東道主，他就會(huì)交到朋友。他的朋友們永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)忘記他的盛情款待。

Recalling how much it had cost, it was said the novice gained ‘a(chǎn) good footing’. A second derivation links the phrase with an early and bizarre interpretation of human anatomy, the importance given to the length of one of a person’s digits. At one time, the dimension of the middle toes determined a person’s ‘standing’ in the community. Thus, the measurement of their foot decided their status in the eyes of others. Those whom nature and genes had endowed with large feet were lucky to be ‘on a good footing’. Draw your own conclusions on this one!

當(dāng)回顧這花銷了多少錢時(shí)，被說成是初學(xué)者得到了“良好的基礎(chǔ)”。第二個(gè)來歷與一個(gè)早期的人類解剖學(xué)的怪異解釋有關(guān)，尤其是一個(gè)人的足趾的長度。在某一時(shí)期，人的中腳趾的長度決定著他在社會(huì)中的“地位”。因此，他們腳的尺寸決定著他們?cè)谄渌搜壑械牡匚弧Ｄ切┨焐哂写竽_的人就被幸運(yùn)的稱為“有良好基礎(chǔ)”的人。對(duì)于這個(gè)短語的來歷，請(qǐng)讀者們自己得出結(jié)論吧。