时尚双语:英国逾三分之一女性为减肥买小号衣服

【英文原文】

摘要：一项最新调查发现，数百万英国女性购买尺寸过小的衣服，以此作为减肥的动力。

Millions of Britain's women buy under-size clothes as an incentive to help them lose weight, a survey has found.

More than a third of women deliberately buy clothes which are too small for them because they are determined to slim down enough to fit into them one day, it found.

The research found that on average these women confessed to buying three under-size items of clothing each.

This means about 24 million dresses, skirts, blouses and trousers hanging idly in the country's wardrobes --- as their owners battle to fit into them.

The research uncovered Scots as the biggest purchases women make, with one in six claiming to own ten or more items they have bought knowing they are too small.

Christine Evans, Lloyds pharmacy's weight management specialist, which conducted the research, said: "If slipping into a little black dress or a smaller jean size is something someone finds motivating, then buying an under-size garment could be a very sensible investment.

"Many people, women especially, have a daily reminder of their size in the form of an item of clothing they want to fit into one day.

"Deliberately buying these clothes could be an effective strategy."

She added: "Taking control of weight loss is all about setting realistic goals and then taking action to achieve them".

【中文译文】

一项最新调查发现，数百万英国女性购买尺寸过小的衣服，以此作为减肥的动力。

调查发现，超过三分之一的女性故意购买穿不下的瘦小衣服，因为她们下定决心减肥到能穿下去为止。

调查发现，这些女性平均每人承认购买过三套尺寸过小的衣服。

这意味着在英国，有2400万件套装、裙子、上衣和裤子闲置在衣橱里，而此时它们的主人正开展减肥大战，以便有一天可以将它们派上用场。

调查表明，苏格兰女性最爱购买尺寸过小的衣服，有1/6的女性称购买过10件或以上明知尺寸过小的衣服。

开展此项调查的劳埃德医药公司体重控制专家克里斯廷·埃文斯说：“如果对有些人而言，能够穿下小号黑色礼服或者小号牛仔裤可以激励自己减肥的话，那么买一套小号衣服就是一种相当合理的投资。”

“对很多人，尤其是女性而言，一件想在以后穿下去的衣服可以每天激励自己减肥。”

“故意买小号衣服是减肥的有效方法。”

她补充道：“控制体重就要制定现实可行的目标，并付诸行动。”

【词汇讲解】

1. incentive n.激励某人做某事的事物；刺激；诱因，动机

A little bonus will give the employees an incentive to work harder.
一点奖金可以刺激雇员更加努力地工作。

2. deliberately adv. 故意地

They wrote words which were deliberately intended to shock.
他们写的歌词，经过精心推敲，有意使人震惊。

3. idly adv. 懒惰地，空闲地

He was idly turning the pages of a magazine.
他在无聊地翻看一本杂志。

4. garment n.(一件)衣服

This shop sells garments of all kinds.
这个商店出售各种衣服。

5. strategy 战略，策略
By careful strategy she negotiated a substantial pay rise.
她精心策划后，谈妥了大幅增加工资的事。

【语法和词组】

1. More than a third of women deliberately buy clothes which are too small for them because they are determined to slim down enough to fit into them one day, it found.
调查发现，超过三分之一的女性故意购买穿不下的瘦小衣服，因为她们下定决心减肥到能穿下去为止。

slim down表示“消瘦”，例如：

She tries to get fit and slim down.
她努力使身体健康体形苗条。

slim down还有“裁员，削减”的意思，例如：

The Marine Corps began to slim down under budget restrictions.
由于预算的限制，海军陆战队开始裁员。

You have to slim down your holiday plans since costs have risen so much.
既然费用上涨得这么厉害，你们必须削减假日计划安排。

2. The research found that on average these women confessed to buying three under-size items of clothing each.
调查发现，这些女性平均每人承认购买过三套尺寸过小的衣服。

confess to 表示“承认，坦白”，例如：

I confess to some suspicion of your honesty.
我承认对你的诚实有所怀疑。

还可以表示“ 〈宗〉向……忏悔”，例如：

He confessed to the priest before he died.
他临终前向神父忏悔。

3. If slipping into a little black dress or a smaller jean size is something someone finds motivating
如果对有些人而言，能够穿下小号黑色礼服或者小号牛仔裤可以激励自己减肥的话

slip into 表示“ (使)滑进，塞进；(使)滑行撞上(某物) ”，例如：

The car turned on the wet road and slipped into the fence.
汽车在那条泥泞的道路上打滑, 接着撞上了栅栏。

How can you slip me into the concert without a ticket?
没有票你怎么带我混进音乐会上去听音乐?

4. Taking control of weight loss is all about setting realistic goals and then taking action to achieve them
控制体重就要制定现实可行的目标，并付诸行动。

take control of 表示“控制”，例如：

Take control of the situation instead of feeling overwhelmed or powerless.
控制局势，而不应被它左右或束手无策。