[俚語] 我不是在詛咒你唷！(give 'em hell )

以下這兩個片語，表面上說得似乎不是好事，但其實是常見的打氣用語啊！！

Give them hell!  (them有時縮寫為'em, 因為這句很口語)

Break a leg!









"Break a leg!" 或許不少人學過，因為很多補充教材都會教，而且歷史悠久。
意思是：祝你好運！

"Give them hell!"可能更口語一點，所以乖乖上課的學生恐怕一輩子都不會學到。
意思是：上啊，給他們好看！


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-----------字典解釋-----------

• break a leg: 

= good luck! 通常用在對要上台表演的人祝福一切順利

<Merrian-Wester> [informal] used in speech to wish good luck to someone (such as a performer) 

<Phrase Finder> Said to actors for good luck before they go on stage, especially on an opening night.

• give them/someone hell: (口語、較豪邁)

 1.  [加油用語]  給他們好看/難看 （中文真有趣啊...)     
something that you say in order to tell someone who is going to take part in a competition to try as hard as they can to win <Cambridge idiom dictionary; Free dictionary>

e.g. Remember, you're the best. Now go out there and give them hell!

2. 讓他們慘兮兮
M-W：[informal + somewhat impolite] : to yell at or criticize (someone) in an angry way
▪ Her boss gave her hell for coming in late.
Random House： Informal. to reprimand or reproach severely

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--------------詞語典故-------------

• break a leg 

這句算是文雅的吧！因為這是跟戲劇表演無關 （但，很可惜，並不是出於幾百年來歐洲舞台劇的傳統）
根據The Phrase Finder 網站解釋：此言來自演員在首演之前的迷信：因為怕"good luck"會跑掉，所以乾脆講反話，祝人上台跌斷腿，反而就能把厄運趕跑。

The term 'break a leg' appears to come from the belief that one ought not to utter the words 'good luck' to an actor. By wishing someone bad luck, it is supposed that the opposite will occur. 

• give someone hell

一般而言，give sb. hell 在英式用法會是「狠狠批評、大罵」；帶有較為負面的意味；

 在美國的用法，這句話還蠻常用來幫人加油打氣，尤其是要上戰場、要參加比賽前（想像大聲喊著「上啊！給他們好看！」）

或許，這是因為此言的其中一個典故，來自前美國總統杜魯門（二戰結束在他手上）：
根據Wikipedia，杜魯門1948年競選連任時，支持民眾高喊 "give them hell, Harry!" (as from "Harry" Truman)，台上的杜魯門聽到了，給了個有名的回答：「犯不著這麼做，我只要揭穿對手的真面目，他們就會如同下地獄了」

The title comes from an incident that took place during the 1948 Presidential election campaign. Whilst in Harrisburg, Illinois, Truman delivered a speech attacking the Republicans. During the speech a supporter yelled out "Give 'em Hell, Harry!". Truman replied, "I don't give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it's Hell." Subsequently, "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" became a lifetime slogan for Truman supporters.

於是後來便常用give them hell 來表示支持對方在競爭當中打敗對手。
就像本post轉貼的那張二戰時期海報，
"give 'em hell" 大有「給敵人好看、把他們打到落花流水」的意思。

不過，也因為此義常用於運動競賽或打仗，所以我前面才說，這個俚語比較「豪邁」一點，當成加油口號來喊ok，日常會話應該不太有人會掛在嘴邊。

另外，此義純為口語、俚語用法。

字典---各大英、美權威字典---通常解釋為「嚴斥、大罵、狠狠訓人一頓」，
且很少會再列出其作為「加油」之詞義。

提供參考囉～～