4 Blow Hot and Cold 摇摆不定

People who waver in their opinions and quickly change from being enthusiastic to showing disinterest are said to ‘blow hot and cold’. The saying can be traced to one of Aesop’s Fables. It was a cold winter’s day, and the freezing traveler was blowing on his stiff fingers.

那些摇摆于他们的意见中，并迅速由热情变为毫无兴趣的人叫“摇摆不定”。这成语可以追溯到一篇伊索寓言。这是一个寒冷的冬日，一个冻僵着的旅行者正对着他僵硬的手指哈气。

Mystified, a satyr wanted to know what he was doing. The man explained to him that, with his breath, he was warming his chilled fingers. Taking pity on him, the satyr invited the man to his home for a hot meal. This time, he watched him blowing on the food, which intrigued him all the more. Inquiring why he did so, his guest explained that he was blowing on the stew to cool it down. There and then the satyr told the traveler to leave at once. He was not prepared to entertain, or even mix with, someone who could ‘blow hot and cold from the same mouth’.

一个森林之神大惑不解，他想知道男子在做什么。该名男子向他解释说，他正用他的呼吸温暖他冰冷的手指。森林之神可怜这个男子就邀请他到他家中吃点热的食物。这一次，森林之神看见他更感兴趣的对着食物吹着气。又询问他为什么这样做，他的客人解释说，对着炖菜吹可以使热菜凉下来。之后，森林之神要求这个旅行者立即离开。他没有准备好招待，甚至没有准备好和那些可以“从同一张嘴里既吐出冷气又吐出热气”的人相识。