pipsqueak 的词源

此外，pip-squeak是对一个微不足道的人的蔑称，最早出现在1910年，源自年轻或虚弱生物发出的微弱噪音。在第一次世界大战中，这个词被士兵们用来形容一种小型德国炮弹，因为它“从战壕飞过时会发出‘嘀’和‘ squeak’的声音” [Farrow, "Dictionary of Military Terms," 1918]。Pip和Squeak（后来还有Wilfred），这对受欢迎的英国漫画动物于1919年5月首次亮相，出现在《每日镜报》的儿童版块。squeeze (something) until the pips squeak意为“榨取最大利益”，最早可追溯至1918年，源自pip (n.1)。

The grossest spectacle was provided by Sir Eric Geddes in the Guildhall at Cambridge. An earlier speech in which, in a moment of injudicious candour, he had cast doubts on the possibility of extracting from Germany the whole cost of the war had been the object of serious suspicion, and he had therefore a reputation to regain. "We will get out of her all you can squeeze out of a lemon and a bit more," the penitent shouted, "I will squeeze her until you can hear the pips squeak" ; his policy was to take every bit of property belonging to Germans in neutral and Allied countries, and all her gold and silver and her jewels, and the contents of her picture-galleries and libraries, to sell the proceeds for the Allies' benefit. [John Maynard Keynes, "The Economic Consequences of Peace," 1919]

在剑桥的市政厅，埃里克·盖德斯爵士提供了最离谱的场面。此前，他在一次演讲中因过于坦诚而质疑从德国全额索赔战争费用的可能性，这让他饱受怀疑，因此他急需挽回声誉。“我们会榨干她所有能榨出的东西，甚至更多，”这位忏悔的演讲者喊道，“我会榨到你们能听到‘嘀’声为止”；他的政策是没收中立国和盟国中所有德国人的财产，以及她的黄金、白银、珠宝，还有她的画廊和图书馆里的所有藏品，出售所得全部用于盟国的利益。[约翰·梅纳德·凯恩斯，《和平的经济后果》，1919年]