英语地道习语:two-timer脚踩两只船的人

这次我们要学的习惯用语是：two-timer。 timer原来可以指按时计算报酬的工作人员，但是用在儿女私情上就不是那个意思了。 two-timer跟有忠诚不二的含义的one and only可说是恰恰相反。 two-timer指的是那种脚踩两只船的人。这种人三心二意同时交两个异性朋友，而且把两边都蒙在鼓里，骗得那两个人都相信自己是他/她的one and only。

这个习惯用语已经流传了七十五年了，对它的出典众说不一。有人认为two-timer来自two at a time，一次抓两个;也有人说two-timer原来是 making time with two，跟两个人混。不管怎样这种骗局早晚会拆穿。那骗子不但会弄得焦头烂额，最后下场还多半是两头落空。

我们看个典型例子。

例句：my friend pete is a lonely man these days. he'd been going with sally for a long time, and she thought he was serious about her. then he started going with pauline too, and both found out. there was a big fuss, and neither one wants to see the two-timer again.