短语动词(phrasal verb):偷偷地储存、积攒(金钱、食物或其他物品),以备将来之需。强调像松鼠藏坚果一样,悄悄地、逐渐地把东西存起来。
/ˈskwɪr.əl əˈweɪ/
She squirrels away a small portion of her salary every month.
她每个月都会悄悄存下一小部分工资。
Over the years, my grandfather had squirreled away enough money in various hiding spots around the house to pay for a brand-new car.
多年来,我祖父在房子各处的藏匿点悄悄攒下了足够买一辆新车的钱。
这个短语来源于松鼠(squirrel)储藏坚果过冬的习性。松鼠会在秋天把坚果埋在地下或藏在树洞里,留作冬天食用。英语中从19世纪开始将 squirrel 用作动词,搭配 away 构成短语动词,比喻人像松鼠一样把东西悄悄藏起来、慢慢积攒。squirrel 一词本身源自古法语 escurel,更早可追溯到希腊语 skiouros,由 skia(影子)和 oura(尾巴)组成,意为"用尾巴遮阴的动物"。