最近爆出新闻,比尔要在两年以后淡出微软,然后专注于慈善事业。先看一个标题:Bill Gates passes baton1 at key time for Microsoft比尔·盖茨在关键时刻传递指挥棒外电不少消息称这对微软是有益的Gates" decision "a good thing" for MicrosoftNew leadership will benefit company, analysts2 say先不考虑比尔离去对微软的影响,我们先关注一下这里用到的比喻。将指挥棒比作最高权利baton []n.1. 官杖,权杖;警棒2. 军乐队用指挥杖;【喻】指挥棒3. 短棒
可见不仅在中文用指挥棒来做比喻,英文也有的。用我们熟悉的高考指挥棒举个例子:"national college entrance exam baton" is an obstacle for China to implement3 quality education.高考指挥棒是中国实施素质教育的一道障碍。这在写作当中是个很不错的词汇,记住它吧!