摘要:“a fool's paradise”的核心语义为:因误解、幻想或盲目乐观而产生的虚假幸福状态——当事人误以为自身处境良好、期待即将实现,实则与现实脱节,面临潜在风险或失望。其字面意为“傻瓜的乐园”,暗指“仅存在于缺乏判断力者脑中的美好幻境”。常译为:黄粱美梦
“a fool's paradise”的核心语义为:因误解、幻想或盲目乐观而产生的虚假幸福状态——当事人误以为自身处境良好、期待即将实现,实则与现实脱节,面临潜在风险或失望。其字面意为“傻瓜的乐园”,暗指“仅存在于缺乏判断力者脑中的美好幻境”。常译为:黄粱美梦;脱离现实的幻想,不切实际的幻想,虚幻的认知(美梦、期待),白日做梦,自欺欺人,痴心妄想,盲目的期待。常见搭配有“be in a fool's paradise”“live in a fool's paradise”;如:
The party’s belief that voters will forget their mistakes is a fool's paradise.
该政党认为选民会忘记其过错的想法,不过是黄粱一梦。
Business owners who ignore rising costs are living in a fool's paradise.
忽视成本上涨的企业主,正活在虚幻的美梦中。
Hoping the conflict will end without negotiations is a fool's paradise.
期待冲突无需谈判就能结束的想法,是不切实际的幻想。
We were living in a fool's paradise thinking that the financial successes of the early 2020s would last forever.
我们沉浸在虚幻的幸福之中,以为2020年初的财务成功会永远持续下去。
Fans who think celebrities have no personal troubles are in a fool's paradise.
认为名人没有私人烦恼的粉丝,正处于虚幻的认知中。
She’s in a fool's paradise if she thinks he’ll choose her over his career.
要是她以为他会为自己放弃事业,那真是痴心妄想。
Believing marriage will fix all relationship problems is a fool's paradise.
认为婚姻能解决所有感情问题的想法,是白日做梦。
Joan lived in a fool's paradise, looking forward to a promotion she would never get.
琼沉浸在虚幻的幸福之中,期待着自己永远得不到的升迁。
He’s in a fool's paradise—his 'friend' only talks to him for free help.
他真是自欺欺人——他那位“朋友”找他只是为了免费帮忙。
Students who skip class and expect to pass are living in a fool's paradise.
逃课还想及格的学生,正活在虚幻的期待里。
The commander warned that underestimating the enemy is a fool's paradise.
指挥官警告,低估敌军实力是危险的幻想。
Everyone who thinks the housing market will never crash is living in a fool's paradise. 《大空头》
所有认为房地产市场永远不会崩盘的人,都活在虚幻的美梦中。
以下题目基于近年命题规律设计,覆盖完形填空、翻译、阅读理解,解析聚焦“短语用法+考点逻辑”:
1. 2022年中考英语(广东卷)完形填空
题目:
"Lisa thought she could win the singing competition without practicing, but her coach said she was in a ______ paradise and needed to work hard."
A. fool's B. bird's C. dog's D. cat's
答案:A
解析:考查固定短语“fool's paradise”,语境“莉萨误以为不练习能赢比赛,教练指出需努力”,需表达“虚假期待”;其他选项无此搭配(bird's paradise“极乐鸟”、dog's/cat's paradise无固定短语含义),不符合语义。
2. 2023年高考英语(全国乙卷)阅读理解(节选)
原文:
"Some parents believe their children can get good grades only by taking expensive courses, but educators say this is a fool's paradise—learning habits matter more."
题目:What does “a fool's paradise” refer to in the text?
A. A useful method for study
B. A false happy belief
C. A cheap course for children
D. A hard task for parents
答案:B
解析:考查短语语义推测,前文“认为高价课程能保证好成绩”,后文“学习习惯更重要”,可知“fool's paradise”指“虚假的幸福想法”,B选项符合;A(实用学习方法)、C(便宜课程)、D(家长的难题)均与语境相反。
3. 2024年大学英语四级(CET-4)翻译题
题目:“很多人以为只要有钱就能解决所有问题,这不过是自欺欺人的幻想。”
答案:"Many people think that as long as they have money, they can solve all problems, which is just a fool's paradise."
解析:考点为“fool's paradise”的语境应用,“自欺欺人的幻想”对应短语核心义;需注意“as long as”(只要)引导条件状语从句,“which”引导非限定性定语从句指代前文,确保语法正确。
4. 2025年硕士研究生入学考试英语(一)词汇辨析题
题目:
The idea that we can avoid environmental problems by ignoring them is nothing but a ______.
A. fool's paradise B. bed of roses C. piece of cake D. cold shoulder
答案:A
解析:考查短语辨析,语境“忽视环境问题就能避免问题”,需表达“虚假幻想”;A(fool's paradise“虚假幻想”)符合;B(bed of roses“舒适生活”)、C(piece of cake“轻松事”)、D(cold shoulder“冷遇”)均不符合语义。
来源:翅膀英语一点号