fertility and rebirth 生育和重生

　　The image of a snake meant fertility and rebirth for some native American groups, as well as people living in ancient Greece and Egypt.

　　对一些美洲土著群体以及生活在古希腊和埃及的人来说，蛇的形象意味着生育和重生。

　　serpent /ˈsɜːpənt/ 大蛇

　　A serpent was an important god for ancient Mayans.蛇对古代玛雅人来说是一个重要的神。

　　run into a snake遇到蛇

　　Encyclopedia Britannica notes that in Baltic traditions, running into a snake was considered good luck. And it was bad luck if you killed one.《大英百科全书》指出，在波罗的海的传统中，人们认为遇到蛇是好运。相应的杀死一条蛇预示着坏运气。

　　eat forbidden fruit 偷食禁果

　　However, in some religious traditions, a serpent tempted Eve -- the world's first woman -- to disobey God by eating forbidden fruit.

　　然而，在一些宗教传统当中，正是蛇引诱了夏娃--世界上的第一个女人，诱使她违背上帝旨意偷食禁果。

　　be important in many cultures 在很多文化中意义重大

　　This got her and Adam -- the world's first man -- expelled from the Garden of Eden.So, snakes were important in many cultures.这使得她和世界上第一个男人--亚当，被驱逐出伊甸园。因此，蛇在很多文化中意义重大。

　　represent creation 蛇代表创造

　　Sometimes they represented creation.有时候，蛇代表创造。

　　acts like a friend to your face but then does something terrible behind your back 表面上把你当朋友，背地里却给你狠狠下套

　　In the English language, snakes have a bad reputation.A person described as a "snake" is a liar.He or she acts like a friend to your face but then does something terrible behind your back.在英语里，蛇有个坏名头。被叫做"蛇"的人，意思是说他是骗子。这个人表面上把你当朋友，背地里却给你狠狠下套。

　　end up biting you in the end 最后他反咬你一口

　　A snake is someone you thought you could trust, but they end up biting you in the end.这样的人你本以为他信得过，结果最后他反咬你一口。

　　a snake in the grass 伪装成朋友的阴险小人

　　People who act like your friend, but who want to hurt you instead, are a hidden danger - just like a snake in the grass.

　　表面上是朋友，真实意图确实害你，这种人是潜藏的危险所在，就像草丛中伺机而出的蛇一样。

　　avoid human contact 避免接触人

　　Although snakes have a bad reputation, in nature they really want to avoid human contact.虽然蛇的名声不好，但在自然界中，它们确实也不是自己想碰上人的。