An allusion in English，according to some reference books，means an implied or indirect reference，especially when used in literature or literary quotation，from history or old classics．But the definition of a Chinese allusion is a bit different from the one mentioned above．典故in Chinese lays emphasis on the historical reference like名落孙山，朝三暮四，一鸣惊人etc．，each of which has a story serving as an instruction or implication．Allusions can be loosely classified into the following categories．

Some allusions originate in historical stories or events．Every culture has its own wellknown historical stories and events．People began to describe them in a brief way，and then formed allusions．The allusion“burn one＇s boats or bridge”originally referred to the story that the army of Gaius Julius Caesar burned their boats after crossing the river Rubicon，by which he just wanted to tell his soldiers that they had to fight with their enemy，and there was no way to withdraw．This allusion is just the same as the Chinese allusion破釜沉舟．Some allusions came from mythology，esp．from Roman and Greek myths and legends．For example ，“Prometheus” (普罗米修斯，为人类偷窃火种而受惩罚的人)says that Prometheus，the son of Uranus disobeyed Zeus＇s(宙斯，宇宙的主宰)great power to steal fire as the gift for benefiting the earth．Some allusions came from folk legends that refer to the illustrations for a certain person or event handed down in spoken form．For instance，it was said that a swan uttered sad and nice sounds to express the feeling reluctant to die before its death．So the allusion“swan song”appeared．Later it is to be used to figuratively denote the last show or last piece of poets，musicians and others．Its Chinese version should be辞世之作，告别演出or绝唱．

Some allusions originate from literary works or fables．The allusion“kill the goose to get the gold eggs” (杀鸡取卵)came from a Greek fable．It was said that once there was a villager having a goose that could lay gold eggs．The villager was eager to be rich quickly，and killed it for more．But he got nothing in the end．Another allusion“cherish a snake in one＇s bosom” ，originating from Aesop＇s Fables，telling the story that a snake was saved by a farmer，but it bit him after coming to life．This allusion implies a person who requites kindness with enmity，teaching people not to tolerate evil，or show mercy to an evildoer．Some allusions are actually the culturally-loaded names of fictional figures and heroes．For example ，“Uncle Tom” (汤姆大叔)，a fictional figure，is a black person who is very friendly to white people and meekly submits to oppression，maltreatment，etc．“Superman” (超人)is a film figure who can do something incredible．

Some allusions come from folk customs and practices．In both English and Chinese，such birds as owls and black birds are treated as ill omen．So we can find the allusion“a bird of ill omen”in English，which refers to a person who may bring bad news．

Some allusions come from sports games in English，which are comparatively unknown in many other countries．For example ，“to carry the ball”is an expression originated in American football meaning to have the main responsibility for getting a certain task or job done．Its Chinese version should be负起责任;承担领导责任．“To not get to first base” ，coming from baseball，means to fail early or at the very beginning of an attempt，which can be translated into出师不利．“To be down and out” ，originated from boxing，means in a hopeless situation after trying．Therefore we may translate it into彻底垮了;虽经努力但无济于事．Some more examples from sports are as follows．

to give somebody a punch打击某人

　to play one＇s trump card出绝招;打出王牌

　to have two strikes against one处境不利;形势不妙

2)Methods of translating allusions

A．Literal translation(直译): It is used to retain the image of the original．This method can be beneficial to the communication and mixture between English and Chinese cultures．

a Judas kiss犹大的吻(比喻背叛行为)

　crocodile tears鳄鱼的眼泪(比喻假慈悲)

　Eden伊甸园(比喻乐园、安乐土)

　forbidden fruit禁果(比喻非法的逸乐或不正当的两性关系)

　sour grapes酸葡萄(把得不到的东西说成是不好的)

　stick and carrot大棒与胡萝卜(比喻软硬兼施)

　the tower of ivory象牙之塔(比喻脱离现实的小天地)

　the Trojan horse特洛伊木马(比喻暗藏的敌人或危险)

　Watergate水门(比喻为击败政治对手而滥用国家权力)

　Waterloo滑铁卢(比喻惨败或致命的打击)

　a kiss of death死亡之吻(比喻胜败之事)

　put someone in check将他一军(比喻为难某人)

　hellfire地狱之火(比喻苦受煎熬的事)

　a Sphinx＇s riddle斯芬克司之谜(比喻难解之谜)

　the Fifth Column第五纵队(比喻间谍)

B．Image-rendering (形象翻译): This method is used to not only show the original image but also amplify some words．

like a dog in the manger占着茅坑不拉屎

　a Aladdin＇s cave宝库(比喻藏有巨大财富的地方)

　Achilles＇heel死穴(比喻唯一致命的弱点)

C．Substitution(套译): It is used to shift the references to the ones that the reader gets acquainted with so that the source language is easily expressed and understood．

be besieged on all sides四面楚歌

　gild the lily画蛇添足

　trust to chance and windfalls守株待兔

　at one＇s wits＇end黔驴技穷

　make a frantic last minute effort临时抱佛脚

　cast pearls before swine对牛弹琴

D．Paraphrase (意译): Some allusions in one language are quite different from those in the other．The reader may not understand the associative meaning when allusions are translated in the above ways．So we can only give up the image and then render the figurative meaning．

a Solomon聪明人;贤人　　　　　　a Pandora＇s box灾祸的源头

　the sword of Damocles即将来临的危险

　a Catch 22 situation左右为难的尴尬局面;无法摆脱的困境

　an Uncle Tom逆来顺受的人　　　　squeeze play施加压力;穷追猛打

　to hit below the belt不择手段　 an Aladdin＇s ring制胜法宝

E．Note-adding(加注): It is a very useful method to translate some allusions that can not be clearly rendered in the target language．We suggest adding notes behind the version or endnotes at the bottom of the page if necessary．

Falstaff: I am as poor as Job，my lord，but not so patient．(W．Shakespeare:

福斯塔夫:我是像约伯一样的穷人，大人，可是却没有他那样的好耐性。

4．5. 3 Allusions and Their Translation典故的翻译

4．5. 3　Allusions and Their Translation典故的翻译