下面這則新聞不大光彩，給新聞出版行業(yè)抹黑了：《中國食品質(zhì)量報(bào)》、《中華工商時(shí)報(bào)》等4家報(bào)社的個(gè)別記者因涉嫌以新聞報(bào)道為名向基層單位和群眾敲詐財(cái)物，已于日前被捕。

請看《中國日報(bào)》相關(guān)報(bào)道：Four Chinese journalists have been arrested for allegedly blackmailing companies and citizens. The suspects, who have also been fired from their posts, worked at correspondent offices for four national newspapers based in Beijing.

報(bào)道中的blackmail與extort互為近義詞，可以解釋為：“敲詐；勒索”。

Blackmail原指“進(jìn)貢之物”，指早期生活于蘇格蘭邊境的居民為防止海盜搶劫，向有影響力的酋長們進(jìn)貢的“財(cái)物”。隨著時(shí)間的推移，“貢品”開始慢慢演變?yōu)椤袄账髦铩被颉袄账鳌薄Ｅe個(gè)例子：He tried to use the sexual scandal to blackmail the mayor.（他想利用性丑聞來敲詐市長。）

另外，順便提一個(gè)與black相互搭配的詞組--black sheep，指我們常說的“敗家子”。


(英語點(diǎn)津陳蓓編輯）