| 词源 |
sell the pass. Irish legend holds that when a regiment of Crotha, Lord of Atha, was holding a pass against the invading army of Trathal, “King of Cael,” one of Crotha’s soldiers be- trayed the pass for money, the invaders were victorious, and Trathal became King of Ireland. This inspired the ancient Irish expression selling the pass, “betraying one’s own for money or other gain,” which became common enough in English, both the expression and the practice. |