一日一成语【61】tread/walk on air/clouds

tread / walk on air / clouds

汉语中表示一个人心情非常轻松愉快可以说“飘飘然”或“轻飘飘”。这种表达方式和今天要讲的这个英语成语有异曲同工之妙。Tread解释“踩、踏”，要在空气或云上踏着走，不是轻飘飘或飘飘然，恐怕是办不到的。这个假想的动作用以表示一种前洋洋自得的神态。由于这个动作实际上做不到的，因此这个动词短语在句常见于虚拟式：

Hearing all those nice words people were saying of him, he felt as if he were treading on air.
听到人们以对他的溢美之言，他感到飘飘然。

Father came back home walking on clouds. He had been cited for his brave act in protecting the property of the company and would soon be promoted.
父亲回家时满脸春风，他因为保护公司财产的英勇行为而受到表彰，很快将获得提升。