名人教英文：和can有关的惯用语
英语有不少和can（罐）相关的用语。canned（罐装的）可引伸指重复使用于不同场合的「例牌货」，例如一些处境喜剧会在「笑位」播出 canned laughter（预先录制的笑声）；canned news（罐头新闻）是整理好供各传媒引用的资料，例如新闻稿和剪辑好的新闻片段；canned speech 是一稿多用的讲辞。
a movie is in the can 形容电影制作完毕，随时可以上映；但 someone is in the can 的意思却是 someone is in jail，因为 can 在美国俚语可解作监狱。
和 can 有关的惯用语（idioms）大多并非形容好事。open (up) a can of worms 意谓惹来一堆麻烦，有点像广东话中的「搞出个大头佛」。强积金实施后，产生了许多问题，包括回报率欠佳、管理费高昂等，我们可以说：the implementation of the mandatory provident fund (mpf) has opened up a can of worms.
和 open (up) a can of worms 近义的惯用语有 open a pandora's box。此语源自希腊神话，潘多拉（pandora）受好奇心驱使，打开了天神宙斯给她的盒子，结果放出了世界种种灾难。
carry the can 意即「孭镬」、「背黑锅」，例如：
(1) peter was left to carry the can for his colleagues' mistakes.
(2)the minister (部长) had to carry the can for the scandal (丑闻) in his department although he had not been personally involved.
kick the can further down the road 的意思是把问题往后推。例如：a comprehensive review (全面检讨) of hong kong's old-age income security (入息保障) system is such a difficult task that the government has chosen to kick the can further down the road.
英语单词词汇学习
mandatory……强制的
minister……部长
scandal……丑闻
comprehensive review……全面检讨
income security……入息保障