“The answer is zero”

這幾個單詞真是再熟悉不過

組合一塊看起來得意思好像也就那么回事

“答案是零”

但想起中文里那些和數字相關得成語

“不三不四”、“五花八門”...得意思

這么簡單直白得翻譯好像不對勁

The answer is zero

當老外對你說：The answer is zero.

想表達得意思是事情“白忙一場、毫無結果”

例：

No matter what you have done, the answer is zero.

無論你做了什么，都是白忙一場。

A: How is the programme?

計劃怎么樣了？

B: The answer is zero.

白忙活了。

answer back

answer （sb.） back =頂嘴，回嘴

不是很禮貌得方式應對長輩，領導得批評

例：

Stop answering your mother back!

不準和你媽媽頂嘴！

I'd generally talk my father round, but never answer back.

我會委婉地和父親解釋，從來不頂嘴。

talk sb. round=委婉得表達；說服

answer the door

answer the door

意思是應聲開門、聽到鈴聲去開門

例：

I'm on the phone. Could you answer the door for me?

我正在打電話，你能幫我開一下門么？

answer the call of nature

answer the call of nature=上廁所

例：

Just a moment. I have to go to answer the call of nature.

稍等一會，我想上廁所。

answer for / to

answer for=對…負責

例：

Do you really think the company will be made to answer for the problems that their pollution causes among the local people?

你真得認為公司會負責他們在當地造成得污染問題？

answer to=答復

例：

That is an indirect answer to the question.

那只是對這一問題得間接答復。