| 词汇 | dirty rat |
| 词源 | dirty rat. Jimmy Cagney is supposed to have snarled this epi- thet in one of his gangster movies, but no one has established which one. The expression, meaning a disgusting, treacherous person, may date back to the late 19th century. In any case, there is really no truth in the saying a dirty rat, for the rat is soiled only by human dirt; it is naturally quite a clean animal, loves water, and delights in bathing in it. One researcher metic- ulously observed the daily ritual of a wild rat rising: “Eyes open. Rises and stretches. Licks hands; washes face; washes behind ears and continues to lick hands at intervals. Licks fur of back, flanks, abdomen. Licks hind toes, scratches with them, licks scratches . . . scratches flank and belly . . . Licks genitals . . . Licks tail while held in hands . . . Licks hind legs while held in hands . . .” Some dirty rat! |
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