有的时候，我们在英译汉过程中如果对原文进行直接翻译，就会使读者读起来费劲，甚至会造成误解，这就需要借用汉语中意义相似的表达方式对原来的文章进行归化，归化一般适用于文化气息较浓的表达方式里，可以形象具体地将原文翻译出来，也易于人们接受，下面是几个例子：
as timid as a hare 胆小如鼠
(在西方文化中，兔子是胆小的象征，而在我国，兔子却象征着机警敏捷。人们常说："静若处子，动若脱兔。"鼠在我国才是胆小的象征，所以翻译时直接加以归化。)
at a stone's throw一箭之遥
wet like a drown rat 湿如落汤鸡
as stupid as a goose 蠢得像猪
as stubborn as a mule 犟得像牛
seek a hare in a hen's nest 缘木求鱼
as dumb as an oyster 守口如瓶
lead a dog's life 过着牛马一样的生活
cry up wine and sell vinegar 挂羊头，卖狗肉
put back the clock 开倒车
talk horse 吹牛
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 杀鸡取卵
drink like a fish 牛饮
(1) Once the wife of a parson, always the wife of a parson.
嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗。
(2)One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.
一个和尚挑水吃，两个和尚抬水吃，三个和尚没水吃。
(3) I was limp as a dish rag. My back felt as through it had been beaten with wires.
我软得像一团棉花，脊背疼痛得好像被钢丝抽打过一样。
(原文中limp as a dish rag，如直译为"像洗碟布一样柔软"，既不地道，又让人产生一种较恶心的感觉，不如用汉语中常说的"软得像一团棉花"加以归化。)
(4) Everybody said how well the new Secretary was doing, but old Mr. Carr said shortly, "Yes. New brooms sweep clean."
人人都说新任秘书干得好，但卡尔老先生却简慢地说："新官上任三把火。"
(原文new brooms sweep clean的字面意思是"新扫把扫得干净"，比喻"新任职的人干得好"，和汉语中的"新官上任三把火"异曲同工，貌离神合。)
(5) Among the blind the one-eyed man is King.
山中无老虎，猴子称霸王。
(6) Last night I heard him driving his pig to market.
昨夜我听到他鼾声如雷。
(7) Who would have thought of Mr.Mottram doing so well? And so many of his friends, too, that used to stay here? We were entertaining angels unawares.
谁知道摩特兰先生干得那么出色?还有他那许多朋友，原来都住在这儿的，谁知道呀?我们真是有眼无珠。
（责任编辑:doublejp）
