猪流感－－swine flu，在墨西哥正以迅雷不及掩耳盗铃之势传播，而且如野山火般蔓延到友好邻邦美利坚了。
为什么不叫pig flu呢？我琢磨了一番，古狗一通网络，胡乱掰一掰。
请看swine的定义便知一二了。
swine－－Any of various omnivorous（杂食的）, even-toed ungulates （偶蹄）of the family Suidae（猪科）, including pigs, hogs, and boars, having a stout（肥胖的） body with thick skin, a short neck, and a movable snout（鼻子）.
猪：任何猪科杂食性偶蹄目的哺乳动物，包括猪、大猪和野猪，具有肥胖身体，厚实皮肤，粗短脖颈和蠕动鼻子的特征。
The difference between a pig and a hog: In the United States, the term "pig" refers to a younger domesticated swine weighing less than 120 pounds (50 kilograms), and the term "hog" refers to older swine weighing more than 120 lbs. In Great Britain all domesticated swine are referred to as pigs.
pig和hog的区别：在美国，pig指家养的不到120磅（50公斤）的小猪，而hog指上了120磅的大猪。在英国，家养的猪都叫作pig。
因为swine总指猪科动物，pig只是其中的一种，所以，猪流感，不仅仅是120磅以下的小猪会得，猪科动物都会传染，因而就叫作swine flu，人类也难逃了。
平时pig长pig短的，很少用到swine，这次的猪流感让swine在非英语社会‘重见天日’、‘一鸣惊人’。我们乘此机会学一个与swine有关的成语：cast pearls before swine＝对牛弹琴
cast pearls before swine 来源于《圣经》（ from the Biblical injunction not to "cast your pearls before swine."）珍珠，自然是价值连城，而猪往往被认为很愚蠢（ Pearls, of course, are considered to be things of great value, and swine (pigs) are often considered to be lowly animals. ）。在愚蠢的猪面前扔价值连城的珍珠，简直是对牛弹琴，岂不是瞎子点灯－－白费蜡？
于是，cast pearls before swine用于表示：不要把有价值的东西，如言语、思想、劝告、智慧以及其他物质给那些根本不识货或不欣赏的人。
（Thus, the phrase translates as "Don't waste something valuable by giving it to someone who doesn't/can't appreciate it." This can apply to words/thoughts/wisdom as well as physical objects, and the expression is frequently used in a condescending fashion. ）
请看例句（e.g.）：
1、"I read that beautiful Shakespearean sonnet to her, but it was pearls before swine to such an illiterate person."
我给她读莎士比亚优美的十四行诗，但在这样没文化的人面前，简直是对牛弹琴。
2、 Giving him advice is just casting pearls before swine. He doesn't listen.
给他提建议等于对牛弹琴，白费劲。他不会听的。
3、To sing for them is to cast pearls before swine.
给那些人唱歌，真正是对牛弹琴。
英语资料、图片来源网络，中文由whatsthis编写
