20．把辐插入轮子

［词语］to put a spoke in sb's wheel

［含义］阻挠某人的行动；破坏某人的计划

［趣释］【物事喻指】旧时英国的马车轮子多为木制或铁制。轮子上有三个孔，要刹车时或是车子下坡要降低速度以防止翻车时，就将一根特制的棒，叫“辐”（spoke）插入车轮中，起着制动棒的作用。后来，人们就用“把辐插入某人的车轮中”（to put a spoke in sb's wheel）来喻指阻挠某人的行动、破坏某人的计划。

［运用］I hear Shirley wants to be the new secretary, but I think we can put a spoke in her wheel and stop her． 我听说雪莉想争新秘书这个位置，但我想我们可以阻挠她一下，让她当不成。

He ought perhaps to have put a spoke in the wheel of their marriage; they were too young． 也许他当初应当阻止他们，不要那样急急忙忙结婚，两个人的年纪都太轻。

He has high ambitions, and is well on the way to achieving them, but it is not yet too late for someone to pet a spoke in his wheel． 他很有雄心壮志，并且正在顺利实现之中，不过有人要破坏他，也不会为时过晚。