仿拟（pun）是英语语言学分支修辞学的重要修辞手法。这是一种巧妙、机智、而有趣的修辞格。它有意仿照人们熟知的现成的语言材料，根据表达的需要临时创造出新的语、句、篇来，以使语言生动活泼，或讽刺嘲弄，或幽默诙谐，妙趣昂然。在运用时所仿拟的一般是人们所熟知的语言材料，如成语、谚语、名言、警句。

　　如果大家能够在英语写作的过程中，适当仿拟一些谚语名言，那就可以给改卷老师留下很好的印象。

　　下面举出学生能够有效仿拟的谚语名言:

　　1.to be or not to be, that is a question. (生存还是毁灭，这真是个问题。出自《哈姆雷特》，表达一种犹豫的心态。)

　　仿拟例子：

　　to buy or not to buy, that is a question.

　　to go or not to go, that is a question.

　　to lie or not to lie, that is question.

　　2.no pain, no gain.（没有付出就没有收获。表达一种条件。）

　　仿拟例子：

　　no sweat, no sweet.

　　no water, no life.

　　no trees, no life.

　　3. a stitch in time saves nine. (及时的一针能够补上九针。也就是说小洞不补，大洞吃苦)。

　　仿拟例子：

　　an idea in time saves nine.

　　a candy in time saves nine.

　　4. to err is human; to forgive, divine. (人会犯错，神会原谅。也就是中文中的人孰无过，过而能改，善莫大焉。出自马克·吐温)

　　仿拟例子：

　　to eat is human; to digest, divine.

　　to learn is human; to digest divine. （学习贵在消化吸收）

　　5. business is business. （公事公办。）

　　仿拟例子：

　　study is study.

　　game is game.

　　promise is promise.

　　6. cheats never prosper.（骗人发不了财。）

　　仿似例子：

　　liars never prosper.

　　lofers never prosper.

　　lazyboots never proper.

　　7. children are what the mothers are. 耳濡目染，身教言传。

　　仿似例子：

　　sons are what the fathers are.

　　students are what the teachers are.

　　daughters are what the mothers are.

　　8. where there is will, there is a way. (有志者，事竟成。)

　　仿拟例子：

　　where there is chocolate, there is lily. (表达lily很喜欢吃巧克力。)

　　where there is emergency, there is mr. wang. (表达mr. wang是个“救星”)

　　where there is no water, there is no life. （没有水的地方就没有生命。）

　　9. complacency is the enemy of study. （学习的敌人是自己的满足。）

　　仿拟例子：

　　laziness is the enemy of success.

　　poor plan is the enemy of success.

　　10. look before you leap. (三思而后行。)

　　仿拟例子：

　　plan before you do.

　　think before you do.

　　11. time lost cannot be won again. 时光流逝，不可复得。
　　friend lost cannot be won again.
　　opportunity lost cannot be won again.
　　12. to know everything is to know nothing. 什么都知道，一如什么都不知道。
　　to do everything is to do nothing.
　　to read nothing is to know nothing.
　　13. too much liberty spills all. 自由放任，一事无成。
　　too much love spills all.
　　too much power spills all.
　　14. unity is strength. 团结就是力量。
　　friendship is strength.
　　love is strength.
　　15. all roads lead to rome.条条大路通罗马。
　　
　　all roads lead to success.
　　all roads lead to beijing.
　　all roads lead to heaven.
　　16. do in rome as the romans do. 入乡随俗。（注意：in rome是地点状语）这句话也可以说：when in rome, do as the romans do.
　　
　　do in america as the americans do.
　　do in china as the chinese do.
　　when in his territory, do as he does.
　　
　　17. care brings grey hair. 忧虑催人老。
　　
　　carelessness brings failure.
　　timidity brings stagnation.
　　
　　18. two of a trade seldom agree. 同行是冤家。
　　
　　two of a couple seldom agree.
　　two of a desk seldom agree.
　　
　　19. tomorrow never comes. 明天永不来。
　　
　　wars never come.
　　unfortunateness never comes.
　　
　　20. two wrongs do not make a right. 别人错了，不等于你对了。
　　
　　two failures do not make a success.
　　two successes do not make a failure.