專題推薦：2008年“兩會”英語學習專題

 

酒會上人頭攢動，清脆的碰杯聲此起彼伏。不知從什么時候開始，舉杯已經不足以表達當時的情緒，一定要“碰了”才算。為什么要碰杯呢？僅僅是為了表示良好祝愿嗎？

Clinking of glasses traces its root to the health and safety of the drinker. In this case, it goes back to when nobles wanted to kill each other off by poisoning their food!

Wine was very commonly drunk during medieval days because it was one of the only safe liquids available. Water was often polluted, and milk was both useful for other things and thought to be for children only. As the wine was often full of sediment, a poison was easily introduced into it.

To prove that his wine was safe, the host would pour a bit of his guest's wine into his own glass and drink it first, to prove it was safe. If the guest trusted his host, however, he would merely clink his flagon against that of his host's when his host offered his cup for the sample.

The 'clink' was a sign of trust and honesty.

Later, as metal and glass became more common, the chiming noise also brought a festive feel to events, and brought to mind the 'safe' feeling of church bells.

sediment: 沉淀

flagon: 酒杯肚

（來源：funtrivia.com 英語點津 Helen 編輯）

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