馬肉雖是一種食物，但是由于文化差異，一些歐洲國家不吃馬肉。例如：1.馬肉僅在少數(shù)國家，尤其在中亞是一種主要肉食。Horsemeat is a major meat in only a few countries, notably in Central Asia. 2.由于馬曾起過伴侶和役畜的作用，在一些國家食用馬肉是禁忌。Because horses have played the role of companions and draught animals, eating horsemeat is a taboo in some countries. 最近，歐洲在牛肉制品中檢驗(yàn)出馬肉，或用馬肉冒充牛肉，馬肉風(fēng)波鬧得沸沸揚(yáng)揚(yáng)。例如：3.在英國，他們進(jìn)行了檢驗(yàn)，發(fā)現(xiàn)一些牛肉制品含有馬肉。In Britain, they carried out tests and found that some beef products contained horsemeat.4.在法國，檢驗(yàn)結(jié)果顯示這種凍肉是百分之百的馬肉，盡管它的標(biāo)簽上說是牛肉。In France, tests have revealed this frozen meat is up to 100% horsemeat, although it says beef on the label.5.隨著歐洲馬肉丑聞繼續(xù)擴(kuò)大，許多法國超市已將肉制品下架。Many supermarkets in France have removed meat products from their shelves as the horsemeat scandal in Europe continues to widen.6.這次馬肉丑聞已傷害英國和整個(gè)歐洲大陸的食品業(yè)。The horsemeat scandal has done damage to the food industry, both in Britain and across the Continent. 歐洲馬肉風(fēng)波，使人想到漢語的俗語“掛羊頭賣狗肉”，比喻“用好的名義做幌子，實(shí)際上做壞事”。直譯為 to hang out a sheep's head and sell dog-meat。但英國肉店沒有掛羊頭當(dāng)幌子的習(xí)俗，英國人也不吃狗肉。由于文化差異，英語沒有這樣的說法。西方奸商素有“以馬肉充作牛肉”的勾當(dāng)。英語有個(gè)現(xiàn)成的說法：to sell horsemeat as beefsteak，與漢語的“掛羊頭賣狗肉”有異曲同工之妙。英語還有個(gè)類似的比喻 to cry up wine and sell vinegar，其字面意思是“吆喝的是酒，賣的是醋”，用來比喻“表里不符，狡詐欺騙”?！? （本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）