英语中有很多跟国家或民族相关的复合短语，但是普通名词前加上这些国家/民族修饰后，意义可就大不同了。每个短语后面都藏着一个有趣的文化典故或风俗。

1. Pardon/Excuse my French 原谅我说话粗鲁

例句：Who the fxxk do you think you are...excuse my French.

你以为你是什么东西……不好意思我骂人了。

2. Indian giver 送东西给人日后又讨回的人

例句：Toby may have given you these books, but don’t start celebrating yet. He’s famous for being an Indian giver.

托比可能送给你这几本书了，但是不要高兴得太早。他送东西又往回要，是出了名的。

3. Spanish castle 空中楼阁；不切实际

例句：The life science is not a Spanish Castle. Its courses are quite popular with non- science majors.

生命科学并不是不切实际的空谈，这门课程在非理工科的大学生中很受欢迎。

4. Spanish athlete 爱吹牛的人

例句：He is a Spanish athlete.

他是个好吹牛的人。

5. Italian hand 幕后操纵；暗中干预

例句：I sensed that fellow’s Italian hand in this matter.

我感觉到那家伙在幕后操纵这件事。

6. Irish bull 自相矛盾，荒唐可笑的说法

例句："It was hereditary in his family to have no children" is a well known Irish bull.

“没有后嗣是他家族的遗传”这句话是众所周知的自相矛盾的笑话。

7. Dutch courage 酒后之勇

例句：The poor man beat his boss by means of Dutch courage.

那个可怜的人借酒劲打了他的老板。

8. French window 落地窗

例句：Hook the French window when you come in.

你进来的时候把落地窗关好。

9. French leave 不告而别

例句：Many of the boys at the school took French leave to go to the football match.

学校里很多孩子旷课去看足球比赛。

10. Greek gift 害人的礼物

例句：It is a Greek gift to you.

这是图谋害你的礼物。