中式英語之鑑:曇花一現
304. 那好時光卻只是曇花一現。
[誤] The good days were only the display of broad-leaved epiphyllum.
[正] The good days were only a nine days' wonder.
注:“曇花一現”在中文裏是個成語,它在英文中的表達也是約定俗成的。你可以用 a nine days' wonder,也可以用 a flash in the pan,你甚至可以說 last briefly。但象上面的那樣的直譯卻是典型的中式英語,會貽笑大方的。