英语习语谚语成语用法精粹 宗教神话类3-43 many a slip between the cup and the lip

【字面理解】在杯子和嘴唇之间还会有许多失误

【英文解析】a situation where things did not happen at the last minute the way they were expected to due to unforeseen reasons

【中文解析】事情往往功败垂成

【典型例句】① There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip! Who knows what may happen.事情往往功敗垂成， 谁知道将会发生什么。

② A: I was to get a raise this year, but it didn’t happen due to the mergCT.

B: Well, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip!

A:我今年本来是要加薪的，可是因为公司合并，却没 加成。

B:哦，凡事总难十拿九稳的。

【注释】该习语源于希腊神话。安凯厄斯(Ancaeus)是主 神宙斯(Zeus)的儿子，在开辟一片葡萄园时，他的仆 人预言说，他将永远喝不到用这葡萄园里的葡萄所酿 成的酒，安凯厄斯很不以为然。当葡萄熟了，酿成了 酒，安凯厄斯倒了一杯葡萄酒，举杯至唇边，把仆人嘲 讽了一番，仆人却说杯到唇边还会失手呢。”话音刚 落，就有人报信说，一头野猪闯进了葡萄园，正在践踏 葡萄，安凯厄斯急忙放下酒杯跑了出去，结果在与野猪的搏斗中不幸身亡。所以在英语里“There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip.” 的意思是“杯到唇边还 会失手;事情往往功败垂成”。相关谚语:There’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip.(万事总难十拿九稳。/ 事 情往往功败垂成。)变体：between the cup and the Up“将 成未成之际;功败垂成之际”。