聪明？刻薄？刁钻？
<p>聪明？刻薄？刁钻？</p><p>一个供认不讳的真理：聪明与刻薄很多时候仅一步之遥，人一聪明，嘴里的机智便也容易流为刻薄。老美口语中一常见词汇“<span word="smart">smart</span> <span word="aleck">aleck</span>”，正是这么一个介于褒贬之间、形容自以为是、话语尖酸的“聪明人”。 先看这么一组母亲和生病小孩之间的对话，或许，我们会对“<span word="smart">smart</span> <span word="aleck">aleck</span>”有一个更为清晰的认识：</p><p><span word="Mom">Mom</span>: "<span word="Hey">Hey</span> <span word="sweetie">sweetie</span>, <span word="how">how</span> <span word="do">do</span> <span word="you">you</span> <span word="feel">feel</span>?" （“宝贝，你感觉怎么样？”）</p><p><span word="Son">Son</span>: "<span word="I">I</span> <span word="feel">feel</span> <span word="great">great</span>!!" （“棒极了！”）</p><p><span word="Mom">Mom</span>: "<span word="Really">Really</span>? <span word="That">That</span>'<span word="s">s</span> <span word="fantastic">fantastic</span>!" （“真的吗？太好了！”）</p><p><span word="Son">Son</span>: "<span word="No">No</span>, <span word="I">I</span> <span word="feel">feel</span> <span word="horrible">horrible</span>. <span word="you">you</span> <span word="know">know</span> <span word="I">I</span>'<span word="m">m</span> <span word="sick">sick</span>, <span word="why">why</span> <span word="did">did</span> <span word="you">you</span> <span word="ask">ask</span>?" （“假的。我难受极了。你明知道我生病了，却还要问。”）</p><p><span word="Mom">Mom</span>: "<span word="Oh">Oh</span>, <span word="you">you</span> <span word="don">don</span>'<span word="t">t</span> <span word="have">have</span> <span word="to">to</span> <span word="be">be</span> <span word="such">such</span> <span word="a">a</span> <span word="smart">smart</span> <span word="aleck">aleck</span>!" （“天啊！你说话怎么这么刁呢？”） 究其渊源，似乎“<span word="smart">smart</span> <span word="aleck">aleck</span>”的现代意与其本意毫无干系可言。据说，<span word="Aleck">Aleck</span>原指一个名叫<span word="Alex">Alex</span> <span word="Hoag">Hoag</span>的骗子，他和他充当妓女的妻子常常合谋偷取、诈骗嫖客的钱财。不过，<span word="Alex">Alex</span>只所以“聪明”倒不是因为他的诈骗行径，而是因为他知道寻求两个警察为同伙，警察帮他一手遮天，而他则私下和警察分赃……</p><p>实际运用中，人们常常忘了“<span word="smart">smart</span> <span word="aleck">aleck</span>”的渊源。反正，你若形容喜欢挖苦、戏谑别人，不正经说话的“聪明”人都可以用“<span word="smart">smart</span> <span word="aleck">aleck</span>”来形容。</p>
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