《中英對照讀新聞》Bermuda gives shorts the chop百慕達打算廢除短褲

◎俞智敏

Bermuda is dropping its shorts. The island nation is in the grip of a sartorial crisis, as its most famous contribution to global couture looks set to be consigned to the history books.

百慕達正打算脫掉短褲。這個島國正陷入一場服裝危機，因為百慕達對全球時裝最出名的一項貢獻似乎已注定要走入歷史。

While content to remain a British Overseas Territory, drive on the left and play cricket and bagpipes, Bermudians are growing itchy about sporting the eponymous trousers seen by many as a relic of colonial times.

儘管百慕達滿足於身為英國海外屬地的現狀、習慣靠左駕駛、打板球和吹奏風笛，但百慕達人現在卻對穿著以百慕達為名的短褲感到不安，許多人視百慕達短褲為殖民時代遺留下來的陋俗。

Members of the ruling Progressive Labour party complain that people do not take them seriously when they show up bare-kneed at formal occasions in black socks, loafer shoes, a button-down Oxford shirt and regimental tie.

執政的進步黨成員抱怨說，假如他們穿著露膝的百慕達短褲、黑襪子、無帶便鞋、鈕扣領牛津襯衫及條紋領帶出席正式場合，就會遭到其他賓客輕視。

The Royal Gazette, the island's leading newspaper, is running a daily poll on the garment's future. Younger readers have complained that foreign businessmen, especially the island’s swelling ranks of Americans, think shorts look silly on males over the age of 12.

百慕達的主要報紙「皇家報」現在每天都針對百慕達短褲的前途進行民調。年輕的讀者抱怨說，外國商人，尤其是在百慕達人數愈來愈多的美國人，認為年過12歲的男子還穿著短褲看起來很荒謬。

Dale Butler, minister for community affairs, meanwhile, revealed how his formal dress raised eyebrows when he represented Bermuda at last year's Olympic Games in Athens. Butler said a Saudi diplomat he encountered had offered to send him the extra material to finish off his trousers.

負責社區事務的部長巴特勒也披露他在去年雅典奧運期間穿著代表百慕達的正式短褲服裝，卻引起他人側目的經過。巴特勒說，他在雅典遇到的一位沙烏地阿拉伯外交官居然主動提議要送給他更多布料，讓他把長褲做完。

新聞辭典

gives…the chop（或…gets the chop）：英國非正式用語，指某人或某事物被砍除、廢除、關閉或裁撤。

in the grip of：陷入無法控制的不愉快狀況；grip 原指緊握或支配，如have a good grip on…即指能夠掌握、控制某事。

raise eyebrows：讓人感到驚訝或不贊同。