dirty work
乍一看會以為是「很髒的工作」，
或者「不正經工作」
真實的情況是怎麼樣呢?
怎麼理解dirty work
dirty 有「髒的，骯髒的」意思，但除此之外，dirty 作為形容詞還有更多含義。
01
dirty adj. (NOT HONEST) unfair, dishonest, or unkind
不公平的;欺騙的;卑鄙的
例：
She played a dirty trick on me by telling me Diane was having a party when she wasn't.
她捉弄我說黛安娜要開一個聚會，而實際上並沒有這回事。
That's a dirty lie!
那是卑鄙的謊言!
02
dirty adj. (NOT POLITE) used to describe something that is connected with sex, in a way that many people think is offensive
黃色的，色情的，下流的
例：
a dirty magazine/movie/joke
色情雜誌/電影/笑話
You have a really dirty mind!
你的想法太下流了!
而dirty work其實就是取上面1的意思，表示
1. 不愉快的，通常是乏味的任務
2. 任何非法或不誠實的交易
《柯林斯詞典》
例句：
《億萬》第三季
還有一個用到這個搭配的表達：
do sb's dirty work
to do something unpleasant or difficult for someone else who does not want to do it himself or herself
替…做髒活兒，為…做爛事兒
例：
Tell her yourself - I'm not going to do your dirty work for you.
你自己去告訴她——我才不會替你干這種爛事兒。
《神盾局特工》第二季：
相似的表達：
do the dirty on sb
to behave unfairly towards someone, usually without their knowledge
給…背地裡使壞，對…偷偷使壞
He can't forgive her for doing the dirty on him and having an affair with his best friend.
他無法原諒她瞞著自己跟他最要好的朋友有染。
give sb a dirty look
to look at someone in a disapproving way
怒視…，瞪…一眼
He gave me a really dirty look.
他惡狠狠地瞪了我一眼。
play dirty
to behave dishonestly, especially by cheating in a game
欺騙，耍貓膩，耍花招
Don likes hockey, but he plays dirty.
德茲喜歡曲棍球但常玩貓膩。
好啦，今天的小知識點，你學會了嘛?