中式英语之鉴:咬紧牙关

361. 左腿中弹以后，这位勇敢的士兵明白，在获救之前他只能咬紧牙关默默忍受了。

[误] Being shot in the left leg, the brave soldier knew that he had to bite his teeth silently before getting
rescued.

[正] Being shot in the left leg, the brave soldier knew that he had to bite the bullet silently before getting
rescued.

注：我们用“咬紧牙关”来表达忍受痛苦，而英语中却用“咬住子弹”(bite the bullet)。据说它源于以前战场上条件艰苦，连麻约都没有，接受手术的士兵只有靠咬住子弹来使自己不至于疼得叫出声来。这一说法虽然惨烈了一点，但却具有极强的感染力。