核心畫面

Think of a shop window seen from the pavement. Everything in it was put there to be looked at, and nothing in it tells you what the is like. Every use of these words stays with that one picture: the arranged front of something, and the street outside looking in.

window dressing 可以想成「從人行道上看過去的那個櫥窗」。裡面每一樣東西都是為了被看見才擺進去的,而櫥更多收起window dressing 可以想成「從人行道上看過去的那個櫥窗」。裡面每一樣東西都是為了被看見才擺進去的,而櫥窗漂不漂亮,跟倉庫裡是什麼狀況沒有關係。這個詞的每個意思都留在這個畫面裡:一個被整理過、朝外的正面,以及站在外面往裡看的人。

Two branches

真的在擺櫥窗

最直接的一支:講的就是那個櫥窗,一個是擺出來的成果,一個是擺的這件工作。

noun · B2

The goods and decorations arranged in a shop window for people outside to look at.

櫥窗陳列(擺出來的成果)

只做給人看的那一面

把櫥窗的畫面搬到別的事情上:你看到的是被整理過的正面,後面那間房沒有動過。這是用法上的比喻連結,不是說這個意思比較晚出現。

noun · C1

Things that are done or shown only to make a plan, a company or a situation look good, so that people do not see how it really is. Saying it shows you think the real problem has not been touched.

表面功夫、門面工夫