马肉虽是一种食物，但是由于文化差异，一些欧洲国家不吃马肉。例如：1.马肉仅在少数国家，尤其在中亚是一种主要肉食。Horsemeat is a major meat in only a few countries, notably in Central Asia. 2.由于马曾起过伴侣和役畜的作用，在一些国家食用马肉是禁忌。Because horses have played the role of companions and draught animals, eating horsemeat is a taboo in some countries. 最近，欧洲在牛肉制品中检验出马肉，或用马肉冒充牛肉，马肉风波闹得沸沸扬扬。例如：3.在英国，他们进行了检验，发现一些牛肉制品含有马肉。In Britain, they carried out tests and found that some beef products contained horsemeat.4.在法国，检验结果显示这种冻肉是百分之百的马肉，尽管它的标签上说是牛肉。In France, tests have revealed this frozen meat is up to 100% horsemeat, although it says beef on the label.5.随着欧洲马肉丑闻继续扩大，许多法国超市已将肉制品下架。Many supermarkets in France have removed meat products from their shelves as the horsemeat scandal in Europe continues to widen.6.这次马肉丑闻已伤害英国和整个欧洲大陆的食品业。The horsemeat scandal has done damage to the food industry, both in Britain and across the Continent. 欧洲马肉风波，使人想到汉语的俗语“挂羊头卖狗肉”，比喻“用好的名义做幌子，实际上做坏事”。直译为 to hang out a sheep's head and sell dog-meat。但英国肉店没有挂羊头当幌子的习俗，英国人也不吃狗肉。由于文化差异，英语没有这样的说法。西方奸商素有“以马肉充作牛肉”的勾当。英语有个现成的说法：to sell horsemeat as beefsteak，与汉语的“挂羊头卖狗肉”有异曲同工之妙。英语还有个类似的比喻 to cry up wine and sell vinegar，其字面意思是“吆喝的是酒，卖的是醋”，用来比喻“表里不符，狡诈欺骗”。▲ （本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）