| 释义 |
Zelig, n.
Brit. |ˈzɛlɪg|, U.S. |ˈzɛlɪg|
[‹ the name of Leonard Zelig, a character in the U.S. film Zelig (1983), written and directed by ‘Woody Allen’, having the form of a documentary about a man able to change his appearance and persona to suit his surroundings, and (apparently) participate in important historical events.]
A person who is able to change his or her appearance, behaviour, attitudes, etc., so as to seem comfortable or appropriate in any circumstance; esp. one who is unexpectedly associated with important people or events.
[1984Nat. Law Jrnl. (Nexis) 5 Mar. John Doe... Historically, this Leonard Zelig of the law materialized chiefly when necessary to implement a fiction or when a party's true name was not known.] 1984N.Y. Times Mag. 15 Apr. 78/2 It is not that everyone is a Zelig—a chameleon—but that everyone has a complex personality and certain parts respond to certain places. 1985M. Royko in Chicago Tribune 12 Apr. 3 They really didn't notice they had nominated a political Zelig who didn't once mention tax reform. 1998Nation 7 Sept. 30/2 She is too dour, too linear to capture the kaleidoscope of images that made Diana the world's darling—glamourpuss, savior, victim, mother, a Zelig for our times.
Derivatives. Zelig-like adj.
[1983Newsweek (Nexis) 3 Oct. 38 Its length, its seamless ‘Zelig-like’ interweaving of period documentary footage and staged action and its boldly unconventional narrative structure.] 1988N.Y. Times 18 June i. 13/1 We see him performing with his singing partner while in retouched photographs in the background he appears *Zelig-like in company with Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. 1994Esquire May 44/2 Whitewater began..as a metaphor for the Zelig-like nature of Clinton's persona... Who is this guy, really? 2003Vanity Fair Aug. 162/2 Many at the Regent Beverly Wilshire that night knew of Tonken's Zelig-like ability to befriend the stars and twist their arms into attending his events. |