“公路响马”可译为 “highway bandit” 或 “road bandit” 。
“响马”在古代指拦路抢劫的强盗,常在马脖子上挂响铃,故而得名。在现代语境中,用来形容在公路上实施抢劫等违法犯罪行为的人,“highway bandit”和“road bandit”都能较为准确地传达这一含义。例如:The police have been trying to catch the highway bandit who has been terrorizing travelers.(警方一直在努力抓捕那个让旅客们胆战心惊的公路响马 。)