simple&Life

实验室开组会的时候经常听到老板嘀咕这个词，不过一直不清楚到底是ion, 还是iron，更不要说确认这个俚语的含义了。后来google了一下，才知道老板说的是irons in the fire。我的听力一向不咋的，上次回国签证面谈的时候VO问我要了几次旧护照，愣是没有听清楚，结果还要Jing提醒我，让VO很是觉得诧异。查玩后再一想，即使没听清楚，iron（铁）的可能性也更大些，既然是生活中的习语，应该不会用到ion（离子）这么专业的词吧。估计我平时ion source这个词说多了，唉，可怜的科技民工。一般我们组会老板谈论最多的都是他的Funding申请情况，这个词便是在这样的语境中频繁出现。Freedictionary的解释如下：

iron in the fire
An undertaking or project in progress.  Example: has many irons in the fire this year.

老板谈话的大意也差不多，意思就是我们现在具体有多少项目正在进行中。UsingEnglish.com上面的解释也是类似的很简洁的一句话：

A person who has a few irons in the fire has a number of things working to their advantage at the same time.

这里又多补充一点隐含的意思，意思是这些进行中的项目都是有好处的，有帮助的。这也很好理解，就像对于教授来说：项目申请到的越多，能花的钱就越多，招兵（学生）买马（设备），一个实验室很快就搭建起来了。至于怎么理解这个短语的起源，应该也是很自然的，在火种的烙铁，自然是正在进行的还没有打好的铁，其引申义不言而喻。

Freedictionary上还有一个十分类似的短语：have too many irons in the fire

to be doing too many things at once. Example:  Tom had too many irons in the fire and missed some important deadlines. It’s better if you don’t have too many irons in the fire.

和Iron相关的还有几个常用的短语：

iron something out
1. 本意：烫平，熨平。to use a flatiron to make cloth flat or smooth. I will iron the drapes out, so they will hang together. I ironed out the drapes.
2. 引申义：解决摆平问题。to ease a problem; to smooth out a problem. (Here problem is synonymous with wrinkle.) It’s only a little problem. I can iron it out very quickly. We will iron out all these little matters first

rule with an iron fist
引申义：铁拳统治。to rule in a very stern manner. The dictator ruled with an iron fist and terrified the citizens. My boss rules with an iron fist. I’m looking for a new job.

Strike while the iron is hot.
引申义：趁热打铁。 When you have an opportunity to do something, do it before you lose your chance. This is the best time in the last ten years to buy a house. Strike while the iron is hot. Ask Lisa for a favor now, while she’s in a good mood. Strike while the iron is hot.

看到了这个熟悉的“趁热打铁”的成语，中英文居然十分的对应。于是想会不会有“恨铁不成钢”这个词的英文呢？去Dict.cn上一查，嘿，居然还真有：“hate iron could not turn into steel” 不愧是中国人自己搞的英语词典网站啊，哈哈。不过其他地方貌似都没有查到，这个搞笑的翻译应该是典型的Chinglish吧。