矮子看戏
个子矮的人看不见戏,却跟着别人一起叫好。比喻没有自己的主见,跟着别人说好就说好。
A short person at the theater — can't see a thing, yet claps and cheers along with everyone else. Mocking those who just go along with the crowd without thinking for themselves.
从前有一个小个子的人,特别喜欢凑热闹。听说城里唱大戏,他赶紧跑去看。
戏台前早就挤满了人,他个子矮,被挤在人群最后面,根本看不见台上。前面的人一会儿笑,他也跟着笑;前面的人一会儿拍手叫“好”,他也跟着拍手喊“好”。
旁边的人看出来了,忍不住问他:“你看见什么了,为什么一直叫好?”他不好意思地笑了笑,只好老实说:“我其实一点也看不见,我只是看见别人叫好,我也跟着叫好罢了。”
大家听了都笑了起来。后来人们就用“矮子看戏”来形容那些没有自己的看法、别人说什么就跟着说什么的人。
Long ago there was a short man who loved a crowd. When he heard there was going to be an opera in town, he rushed over to watch.
The space in front of the stage was already packed with people. Because he was short, he ended up at the very back, unable to see the stage at all. When the people in front laughed, he laughed too. When they clapped and shouted “Bravo!” he clapped and shouted “Bravo!” as well.
Someone nearby noticed and asked, “What are you seeing, that you keep cheering like that?” A little embarrassed, he admitted, “I can't see a thing. I'm just cheering because everyone else is cheering.”
The crowd laughed. Ever since, people have used “a short man at the opera” to describe those who simply follow along with whatever others say, without any view of their own.
Let's