英语短语(Go) out on a limb的意思及起源

Out on a limb是一个实用的短语，在美国口语中经常出现。Dictionary.com对其的英文解释为：in a dangerous or compromising situation; vulnerable。翻译为中文的意思是“处于危险的境地”，“脆弱”。理解这个词的关键在于limb这个单词，limb在这里并非指“肢体”，而是“树枝”（tree branches），当你on a limb（爬到树枝之上），树枝随时可能折断，处境的危险不言而喻。该短语其实属于一种比喻性表达（figurative expression）。
注意到我们的文章标题中，短语里有一个带括号的go，没错，Go out on a limb也是一个固定搭配，但它和out on a limb的意思是有区别的，来看Knowyourphrase.com对go out on a limb的英语解释：”1. Putting yourself in a risky or precarious situation in order to help someone. 2. Taking a wild guess or expressing an opinion that might not be shared by others.”（为了助人而将自己置于险地；大胆猜测并表达不受欢迎的观点）关于go out on a limb的起源（origin），该网站给出了一种推测：
“Cats will sometimes climb high up into a tree and then, perhaps out of fear, are unable to climb their way back down to the ground. Consequently, a caring pet owner may decide to climb the tree, and thus, go out on a literal limb to save their helpless cat. This is a major risk, because tree branches can potentially break under the weight of a person. As a matter of fact, people have died while attempting to rescue their cats from trees, so be careful.”
实际上，go out on a limb在日常用法中逐渐衍生出一种新的含义，那就是“taking chances”（冒险），而冒险的目的可能并非为了帮助他人。
为了帮助你更好地理解并掌握go out on a limb的用法，Will的美语课还帮你挑选了几个(go) out on a limb的例句，你可以试着比较该短语在不同语境下的（细微）意思差异：
--The company overextended itself financially and was soon out on a limb.
--I don’t think we’re going out on a limb in claiming that global warming is a problem that must be addressed.
--Ok, I’ll go out on a limb and vouch for you.
--Like I said, I love them all and I’d go out on a limb for anyone.
--Taylor Swift is a pretty accessible woman, considering she’s a mega pop star. But in the middle of her Tuesday concert, one fan decided to go out on a limb to get her attention.
以上就是关于go out on a limb的中文意思解释，如果你有任何问题或建议，欢迎通过豆瓣评论一起交流。