“You don’t say!”是“你不要說”嗎？

■山東 劉永科

The following is a story told by a Chinese student about the importance of English idioms.

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized their importance again and again. But recently, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.　　

One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised. Gently shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!”, “You don’t say!”　　

I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this was not a proper topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you been to the Great Wall?” “Certainly, everyone back home would laugh at me if I left China without seeing it. It is wonderful.” He was deep in thought when I began to speak like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was stopped again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?”　　

Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “‘You don’t say’ actually means ‘really’! It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know how foolish I had been. Since that time I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions.