英語中有很多跟國家或民族相關的復合短語，但是普通名詞前加上這些國家/民族修飾后，意義可就大不同了。每個短語后面都藏著一個有趣的文化典故或風俗。

1. Pardon/Excuse my French 原諒我說話粗魯

例句：Who the fxxk do you think you are...excuse my French.

你以為你是什么東西……不好意思我罵人了。

2. Indian giver 送東西給人日后又討回的人

例句：Toby may have given you these books, but don’t start celebrating yet. He’s famous for being an Indian giver.

托比可能送給你這幾本書了，但是不要高興得太早。他送東西又往回要，是出了名的。

3. Spanish castle 空中樓閣；不切實際

例句：The life science is not a Spanish Castle. Its courses are quite popular with non- science majors.

生命科學并不是不切實際的空談，這門課程在非理工科的大學生中很受歡迎。

4. Spanish athlete 愛吹牛的人

例句：He is a Spanish athlete.

他是個好吹牛的人。

5. Italian hand 幕后操縱；暗中干預

例句：I sensed that fellow’s Italian hand in this matter.

我感覺到那家伙在幕后操縱這件事。

6. Irish bull 自相矛盾，荒唐可笑的說法

例句："It was hereditary in his family to have no children" is a well known Irish bull.

“沒有后嗣是他家族的遺傳”這句話是眾所周知的自相矛盾的笑話。

7. Dutch courage 酒后之勇

例句：The poor man beat his boss by means of Dutch courage.

那個可憐的人借酒勁打了他的老板。

8. French window 落地窗

例句：Hook the French window when you come in.

你進來的時候把落地窗關好。

9. French leave 不告而別

例句：Many of the boys at the school took French leave to go to the football match.

學校里很多孩子曠課去看足球比賽。

10. Greek gift 害人的禮物

例句：It is a Greek gift to you.

這是圖謀害你的禮物。