Comic：Selling laziness
【明報專訊】As Chinese New Year is approaching, what are the Smarties up to?
“ Eason: Please take this. ”
“ MoMo: What are you doing again? ”
“ Bill: You're so noisy. What hidden motive do you have? ”
“ Eason: Huh! I'm just selling laziness. What's wrong with that? ”
“ Dr Panda: Ha! Ha! We don't even have to sell that. ”
“ MoMo: Because we aren't lazy, anyway. That's your problem. ”
■English highway﹕''To be up to''
''To be up to'' is used to ask what someone is doing or if someone has any plans. It is not often used in writing but is commonly used in conversation.
e.g. What are you up to this weekend?
What are you up to tonight?
◆Know more
''Selling Laziness (賣懶)'' was widely practised in Guangdong province. On Chinese New Year's Eve, children shouted ''selling laziness'' in the street to sell their laziness. It was believed that by doing so they would be more hard-working in the coming year. Some children sold their laziness in another way. They wrote the words ''God of Fortune'' and the word ''Laziness'' on two pieces of red paper and then sold to their neighbours. If the neighbours bought the ''God of Fortune'' without noticing another piece of paper, the children successfully sold their laziness. This interesting tradition faded out due to changes in society slowly.
■Glossary
motive (n) 動機
practise (v) 習慣做
fortune (n) 財富
fade out (phr v) 漸漸消失
[Smarties' Power English 第267期]
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