[入门须知] 地道英语：不辞而别的“爱尔兰式告别”

同学聚会的时候，有人不辞而别。集体聚餐的时候，有人借故去洗手间却没有再露面。这样的情况大概不少人都遇上过，在英语里，这种不辞而别叫做Irish Goodbye。

　　An Irish Goodbye is when a person leaves a bar or party or other gathering surreptitiously, without saying goodbye to anyone.

　　“爱尔兰式告别”(Irish Goodbye)指不跟任何人告别、偷偷离开酒吧或者其他聚会场所的行为。

　　The Irish Goodbye could be a furtive sneak out the back door, 'running out to get something from the car' and not returning, a trip to the bathroom that never ends, etc. Basically, the Irish Goodbye is when you want to get away without the awkwardness or emotions of an actual goodbye or kiss on the cheek.

　　偷偷从后门溜走、“去车里取东西”然后一去不回，以及去趟卫生间就消失不见等行为都属于“爱尔兰式告别”。基本上，采用这种告别形式是为了避免尴尬，或者不想引发告别时的情绪起伏以及面颊吻别等客套礼节。

　　There's no definitive explanation of how the Irish Goodbye got its name. One theory holds that the Irish Goodbye originated during the Potato Famine of 1845-1852 when many Irish fled their homeland for America. At the time, distance and technology meant that when someone went to America, they were gone forever and it was unlikely they would ever again speak to or see friends or family back home. The departure was sudden and absolute.

　　关于“爱尔兰式告别”这个表达的来源，倒是没有一个明确的说法。有人说这个短语来源于1845－1852年爱尔兰大饥荒时期，很多爱尔兰人从家乡逃到美国。当时，两国的距离和科技手段意味着一旦去了美国，他们就是永远离开，不会再有机会跟家乡的亲人和朋友联络。这种告别是突然又决然的。