As good beg of a naked man as a miser.向守财奴求助,好比向一无所有的人求助。
此谚语有倒装的成分,如恢复正常的形式应该是:To beg of a naked man is as good as a miser.句中把As good提到句首,主要是为了强调“一样”,而naked man这里则转义为“一无所有的人”。这句谚语对“守财奴”有着很重的讽刺意味。
同样或近似意思的谚语还有:
You cannot get blood out of a stone.
石头里榨不出油。(此句以stone借代铁石心肠的人或吝啬鬼。)
The covetous man is good to none and worst to himself.
贪婪的人对别人不好,对自己更坏。
Misers put their back and their belly into their pockets.
守财奴宁可打赤膊和饿肚皮,也舍不得掏腰包。