“家丑”常见的英文表达是 “family scandal” 或 “family skeleton(in the closet)” 。
“family scandal”:直白易懂,直接表明是家庭内部的丑闻,在多数语境下都能准确传达“家丑”的含义。例如:The media exposed the family scandal, causing great embarrassment to the family.(媒体曝光了这起家丑,让这家人十分难堪。)
“family skeleton(in the closet)”:这是一个较为形象的习语表达 ,“skeleton in the closet” 原意是“壁橱里的骷髅”,引申为“难以启齿的秘密、家丑” 。例如:Every family has its own family skeleton in the closet.(家家都有本难念的经,都有不为人知的家丑。 )