| 释义 |
Roman holiday
Roman holidayn.1. Enjoyment or satisfaction derived from observing the suffering of others.2. A violent public spectacle or disturbance in which shame, degradation, or physical harm is intentionally inflicted on one person or group by another.
[From the bloody gladiatorial contests staged as entertainment for the ancient Romans.]Roman holiday n entertainment or pleasure that depends on the suffering of others [C19: from Byron's poem Childe Harold (IV, 141)]Ro′man hol′iday
n. 1. a riotous public disturbance, often marked by wanton destruction and licentiousness. 2. pleasure or entertainment obtained from the discomfort or suffering of others. [1885–90] Roman holiday - Enjoyment or profit derived from others' discomfort or suffering, based on the gladiator matches enjoyed by ancient Romans.See also related terms for profit.Translations
Roman holiday
Roman holidayAn entertaining event, affair, or activity that relies on the exploitation, suffering, or failure of others. A metaphor taken from Lord Byron's poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, which refers to the practice of having gladiators fight to the death for the amusement of spectators. I think tabloids exist and flourish as a means of providing people with miniature Roman holidays. Being able to see celebrities at their absolute worst gives us a perverse feeling of satisfaction. I'll never understand the allure of boxing, watching two people beat each other half to death like we're on some sort of Roman holiday.See also: holiday, romana Roman holiday an occasion on which enjoyment or profit is derived from the suffering or discomfort of others. This expression comes from the poet Byron's description of the dying gladiator in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage as having been ‘butchered to make a Roman holiday’.See also: holiday, roman |